Magical Mystical Baubles and Bubbles

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. Magical Mystical Baubles and BubblesBy Leonora, Brenda BurgardTrafford PublishingCopyright © 2014 LeonoraAll rights reserved.ISBN: 978-1-4907-3073-8CHAPTER 1A small boy reluctantly left his house early one morning for his music lesson. Over his shoulder he carried a rope and tied to that rope was a heavy cloth bag. Because it was too heavy to carry, he dragged the bag along. He dragged it through the woods, he dragged it over rocks, and he dragged it through a brook, before stopping beside a cave, where he settled it and himself under a tree to rest.The sweet soothing sound of a flute played from within the cave. The boy smiled and hummed along. He opened the bag, reached in, and withdrew a wooden box. He unbuckled the belts on the box and opened it. Inside, nestled in a bed of crushed red velvet, sat an old and very used violin. He listened carefully to the music of the flute and memorized it. He then lifted his bow, touched it to the strings of the violin, and began to play along. The flute played a note. He played a note. The flute went faster. He played faster. The flute slowed to a faint whisper. And he slowed to a faint whisper. The flute stopped. But the boy played on.A figure appeared at the cave entrance. It was a man. He was bejeweled and bedecked in silken robes. On his head sat a turban and in his hand he held the flute. The boy stopped playing. "Who are you?" the boy asked. "I am Makesh," the man said as he bowed. "Are you a genie?" asked the boy. "That I am," said Makesh. "I've heard about genies such as yourself, in books, tales, and by word of mouth. I know you grant wishes and if you do ... I wish to have a flute the same as you." The genie folded his arms, thought a moment and said:"Magical Mystical, Baubles and Bubbles, And what will you give me for all my troubles?""Give you?" asked the surprised boy. The genie nodded and spoke. "Tradition states that only a genie set free grants wishes. I was in no bottle, no box, nor a bag. You did not set me free but came upon me by chance." The boy was now saddened. The genie studied him, thought a moment, and spoke. "If I grant you your wish, you must give me something in return.""All I have is this violin," the boy said. "Then your wish is granted. You may have this flute in exchange for your instrument."The boy looked down at his violin. He played it so well. Just like his father and his father before him. "Should I trade this instrument that I know for one that I do not?" he asked himself. He looked at the golden flute - shining and new. He looked at his violin - loved, treasured, but worn. He closed his eyes and held out the violin. The flute appeared magically in its place."Now that I have this magnificent instrument," said the boy, "I wish that I could play it." The genie folded his arms, thought a moment, and spoke:Magical Mystical, Baubles and Bubbles, And what will you give me for all my troubles?""I have nothing left," said the boy, "nothing but time." "Then your wish is granted," said the genie. "The time you give to the flute is the reward it will give to you." "I don't understand," said the boy. "Every day come to this cave and sit and play," Makesh said as he disappeared.And the boy did so every day. (Continues...)Excerpted from Magical Mystical Baubles and Bubbles by Leonora, Brenda Burgard. Copyright © 2014 Leonora. Excerpted by permission of Trafford Publishing. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site. Product Description A young boy, bored with what he already has, wants more. He meets a genie who offers him just that-but not without a price. A lesson is learned with the help of a melodic, repetitive chorus that charms the child who will recite it along with the reader.