Julie’s Flying Adventures the Beginning
Chapter One: The Girl Who Was Born to Fly
There once was a six-year-old little girl named Julie.
She had long chestnut hair that seemed to have a mind of its own and ocean blue eyes that sparkled whenever she became excited about something, and according to her parents, was almost everything.
Julie had the adventurous spirit of an eagle and the heart of a teddy bear.
She loved fiercely and without judgment or prejudice. She loved people, animals, trees, flowers, bugs, clouds, and even the occasional muddy puddle.
She could find a story in almost anything.
A fallen branch wasn't just a branch.
It was the broken mast of a pirate ship.
A pile of rocks wasn't just a pile of rocks.
It was an ancient castle waiting to be discovered.
And an ordinary afternoon was never simply an afternoon.
It was an opportunity for an adventure.
Her parents loved this about her but they also found it completely exhausting.
Trying to keep up with Julie's imagination and energy was like trying to catch a butterfly in a hurricane.
One minute she was a pirate captain.
The next she was an explorer searching for buried treasure.
Then she was a fairy rescuing lost woodland creatures.
Her parents were never quite sure what adventure they would be joining next.
But there was one thing they could always count on.
Julie would be smiling.
Her dimples appeared whenever she laughed, and her enormous lust for life made her instantly loved by nearly everyone she met.
One beautiful Saturday afternoon, Julie's parents decided it was time for a family picnic.
They had heard about a park on the other side of town that had a beautiful walking path leading into an enormous open field.
According to the stories, the field was filled with flowers, butterflies, birds, and all sorts of mysterious things.
Some people even called it the Magical Field.
Julie had heard the stories and, of course, she believed every word.
Her parents packed her favorite snacks, sandwiches, drinks, cookies, and a few special treats.
"Are we going yet?" Julie asked.
"We're going," her mother laughed.
"Now?"
"Yes, Julie."
"Right now?"
Her father shook his head.
"You've asked that question eleven times."
Julie grinned, skipping towards the car, shouting “Because I'm ready, lets go"
Chapter 2 The Magical Field
When they arrived at the entrance of the park, Julie could hardly contain herself.
She bounced out of the car and immediately began telling her parents all the adventures she was certain she would have.
"There might be treasure!"
"There might be fairies!"
"There could be a secret cave!"
"There could even be unicorns!"
Her father smiled.
"Unicorns?"
"You never know."
Her mother laughed.
"With Julie, I suppose you really don't."
They found the beautiful walking path and started toward the field.
The path was breathtaking.
Tall trees stretched over them like a green canopy.
Butterflies floated through the sunlight.
Lavender wildflowers grew beside the trail.
Yellow daisies peeked through the grass.
Birds sang from the branches above.
The wind carried the sweet smell of lavender and sunshine.
After about ten minutes, the trees suddenly opened.
Julie stopped.
Her mouth dropped open.
Before them was an enormous field filled with flowers.
The sunlight covered everything in a golden glow.
Butterflies danced through the air.
Birds sang from the trees.
The grass moved gently in the breeze.
Julie turned to her parents.
"This is magic."
Her father smiled.
"Is it?"
Julie nodded firmly.
"Absolutely."
She threw her arms into the air.
"Today is going to be my greatest adventure yet!"
Her parents laughed and followed her into the field.
They found a beautiful spot beneath the sun, spread out their picnic blanket, and placed the basket in the middle.
They ate sandwiches and fruit and cookies while Julie talked about everything she intended to discover.
Eventually, Julie finished the last bite of her sandwich.
She looked at her parents.
"Can I explore now?"
Her mother pointed toward the trees.
"You may explore, but stay where we can hear you."
"And both feet stay on the ground," her father added.
Julie nodded, "Of course."
Then she disappeared into the field.
Chapter 3 The Strange Little Tree
Julie skipped toward the eastern edge of the field.
She passed lavender flowers and yellow daisies, stopping every few steps to smell them.
She decided she would pick some later for her mother.
At the edge of the field stood a forest of enormous maple trees.
Julie could hear birds singing and leaves rustling in the breeze.
Behind her, she could still hear her parents talking.
She stepped into the woods.
She searched beneath the trees for buried treasure.
Nothing.
She looked beneath rocks.
Nothing.
She moved branches.
Nothing.
She found moss, twigs, acorns, and leaves.
But no treasure.
Julie was just about to turn around when something caught her eye.
A tree.
It was unlike any tree she had ever seen.
Its bark was twisted and reddish-brown.
Its branches stretched outward like wings.
Julie slowly approached.
"What are you?"
She walked around the trunk.
Then she noticed something.
At the very bottom of the tree was a small hole.
It looked exactly like a keyhole.
Julie knelt down.
She ran her fingers over the strange opening.
"A keyhole?"
She looked around.
"What kind of tree needs a key?"
Then she noticed something shining beneath the leaves.
Julie dug through the dirt.
There, buried beneath the roots, was an old golden skeleton key.
Her heart began to race.
She wiped the dirt from it using the bottom of her shirt.
She looked at the key.
Then at the tree.
Then back at the key.
"Well..."
She smiled.
"I guess there's only one way to find out."
She placed the key into the hole.
It fit perfectly.
Julie slowly turned it.
Click.
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then the ground began to shake.
Leaves flew into the air.
The branches trembled.
The red bark began to glow.
Julie stepped backward.
"What is happening?"
The little tree began to twist and unfold.
Its branches stretched outward.
The trunk widened.
The roots lifted from the earth.
The reddish bark became polished red wood.
The branches transformed into wings.
The trunk became the body of an airplane.
The strange little tree was changing before her eyes.
Julie watched in complete amazement as the tree transformed into a beautiful little red two-seater airplane with a large propeller at the front.
It was not simply red.
It was magical red.
The sunlight seemed to dance across its polished wooden wings.
Leaves remained woven into the edges of the wings.
The propeller shimmered like gold.
And along the side of the plane was a small emblem Julie had never seen before.
A golden eagle with its wings spread wide.
Julie whispered,
"You're beautiful."
The plane answered with a soft hum.
Julie laughed.
"You can hear me!"
The engine hummed again.
She climbed onto the wing.
She slowly stepped into the cockpit.
Her hands wrapped around the controls.
The moment she touched them, a warm feeling rushed through her.
It felt like the airplane knew her.
It felt like she had known it forever.
Julie looked out over the field.
Her heart raced.
"I think I'm supposed to fly you."
The engine hummed.
Julie smiled.
"Then let's go."
And that was the beginning.
The beginning of Julie's flying adventures.
Comments