stories for kids: e-card fables from The Sky!

A few years ago, here in Japan, I was hanging out at the laundromat drying some clothes when I met this older Japanese woman who was very gentle, artistic and good at drawing post cards. She could envision many wonderful images but she couldn`t come up with any stories for the post cards she created.

I have a natural talent for being able to create fantasy stories out of any image that I see. Also, being a self-published sci-fi author myself with an interest in writing children`s stories and Hollywood screenplays (visit cre8tivemv.com for more information); I instantly became drawn to her artwork and began to develop a series of children`s stories based on what she had drawn.

Her artistic style was flowing and full of deep, meaningful expression; so I didn`t want the stories I was creating to be `just any kind of story`. I wanted them to have purpose as a fun way to teach valuable lessons to those children today who may find themselves staring at celebrities on a flat screen TV; unknowingly looking for answers to life which may not actually exist there.

With that purpose in mind, I present to you the first of my `fables from The Sky` series, entitled; "from The Sky!"

In a lush, green forest by the sea

A little brown rabbit lived peacefully

The sky was blue, there was lots to do

And the forest creatures always had plenty of food.

One day while Brown Rabbit was out gathering carrots and greens, some men showed up and started cutting down the trees

The axes mercilessly swung and the chainsaws greedily chewed; the sky grew dark and the once beautiful forest became a pile of wood.

The forest creatures scattered and with nowhere to roam, most of the families abandoned their homes.

But the smart little brown rabbit knowing what needed to be done,

Quickly gathered some seeds in a bag before he started to run.

The men wasted the forest while bulldozers gave chase,

The little rabbit escaped but soon ran out of space.

On the cliff's edge he stood fearfully clutching his seeds,

Till a strong wind blew and tipped him into the sea.

Cold sea water in his fur began to weigh him down,
little rabbit couldn't swim and he knew he would drown.

As he sank in the water he heard a commotion,
and noticed a fish trapped by a fishing net in the ocean.

"My time may be done but that fish still seems strong I'll use the last of my strength to help him along!"

Brown Rabbit reached out with his paw and chewed through the net

The fish said; "thank you" and promised to pay his debt.

With a swish of his tail, the fish was off like a shot,
while the little brown rabbit continued to drop.

The fish swam to the surface to spring in the air free

And with bright sunlight on his skin, became a Large, White Dragon that splashed back into the sea.

Brown Rabbit was sleeping, but when he awoke,
the seeds were still in his paws and he felt he was afloat

"I see you're awake. Thanks for giving me a hand" said the dragon.

"Now we're high in the sky and I'm flying you back to your land"

The rabbit was happy but when they arrived, the once beautiful green forest was cold, dead, and dry.

What once was his home, that should have been there; was now old, cold, lonely and totally bare.

"The humans did this to you, I should make them pay. With a breath of my nostrils I could wipe them away", the dragon snorted.

But the wise little rabbit replied.

"The damage is done and that fact won't change. What the poor fools don't know is that they've sealed their own fate.

This forest was sacred; The trees cleaned and cooled the air,

The soil was fertile and had fruit to bear.

The tree roots were strong and prevented decay. They held the earth together even through large earthquakes.

The cliff I fell off of provided a barrier; between the human cities and all kinds of harsh sea weather.

The men here will eventually realize their mistake, but by then I fear it may already be too late.

I carry the memory of this forest with the seeds in my hand, so for now I think it's best to find a new land.

I'll build a new forest in a year or two, and when I find my new home, I'll share it with you."

The dragon gave thought and laughed with a grin; you've got a deal rabbit, let our search begin!

With that they were off, in the sky they flew freely, laughing through clouds and greeting the moon warmly.

The rabbit grew sleepy, he'd had quite a day! The dragon said, "Rest friend, we still have a long way."

They traveled and traveled from night to dawn And when the rabbit woke up, he noticed his seeds were gone!

"Oh no!" cried the rabbit, "what happened to my seeds?"

The dragon replied:
"The wind almost blew you off my back, I had to catch you with my teeth. But I remember our trail so let's go back and search for your seeds!"

And search they did from morning till noon, until the dragon grew weary and started to swoon.

"You've done your best dragon, let's take a break from this pest, there's a large island below, why don't we take a rest?"

They landed on the island; there wasn't much to see. Just a beach with some green grass but not a single tree!

"The humans got here first, see that boat and the house?" snorted the dragon grumpily but the little rabbit covered his mouth.

"I've found my seeds!" the rabbit whispered quietly. "Where?" asked the dragon quizzically

"There", pointed the rabbit, to a tiny little child and a dog playing in the grass away from the house.

"The seeds are in their reach, we should save them and run. If the man child destroys them too, then the memory of your forest will
forever be gone." cautioned the dragon.

But the rabbit continued to watch as the child and dog continued to play, they seemed to be having so much fun, in their own sort of way!

They discovered the bag of seeds and studied the contents curiously

The dog dug up the ground, while the child planted them carefully.

The wise rabbit smiled at last and hopped on the dragon's back.

"But what about the seeds and your forest?" the dragon questioned. "Aren`t you going to take them back?"

The rabbit contently replied:
"Trees may come and forests may go, but the seeds of a brighter future in that child's hands may grow.

I see hope in those eyes and not that of greed, so let's leave it to them to plant those seeds."

The dragon smiled and drew in a breath.

And when he blew out, over the seeds, a magical blue mist set.

The seeds in the ground all began to sprout, as the child and dog danced happily about

Then the dragon spoke to the rabbit:
"You've done quite well rabbit, this was only a test. You see, I knew all that would transpire and trapped myself in the fishing net!

I waited to see if you were brave and strong, but I knew you were wise and kind beyond your years all along!

You no longer have to worry about the forest or the seeds, for the dog and this child have already been chosen to be entrusted with these.

As for you, my dear friend, since you selflessly gave up your home, you'll live with me in a specially made forest where you'll never have to roam.

Where no men and no chainsaws will ever invade, and the rest of the animals there all say the food is great!

You'll live comfortably and happily in all sorts of ways with a wife and 14 small children to busy the rest of your days.

And when you tell them this tale and want them to notice, just jump on my back and I'll show them your bright forest! "