Sticky Toffee Surprise: A story retold

Lovisma was planning a big surprise for Halloween night.

Last year Breeze spoiled her surprise, this year she was being careful.

“He won’t ruin my Halloween night.” She muttered. She sat on a fat mushroom watching her spoon do laps of the pot as it stirred the thick bubbling mixture.  “Hmm vanilla toffee apples who can resist them?” She giggled.

On hearing a twig snap she looked up, then relaxed as one of the Muppet Bunnies dashed past her. He was carrying a carrot and intent on getting back home.

“Nothing will spoil this surprise. I am safe here as that stupid Ogre is helping Elegant and the Fairies make bobbing marshmallows.” She said.

Breeze was standing a short distance away disguised as a giant pumpkin.  He got the idea from Bob (click here to see him as a pumpkin.)  Breeze wished to prevent another Halloween disaster created by the tiny witch.  Everyone knew Lovisma hates pumpkins.

Sometime later the wood was filled with the silence, as everyone was preparing by dressing as either their favourite witch or ghost, Lovisma placed buckets of her special toffee apples around the party tables. The apples sparkled and glowed. “What child or ogre could resist these twinkling smiling apples?” she muttered.

Meanwhile, Breeze was holding a meeting with the adults. “I am not sure what will happen when you take a bite so I took one from her basket.” He stared at the Fairies and Elves who were busy shaking their heads as they muttered things like, “well you would have to be mad to take a bite”.

He held an apple in his hand and stared at it.

Tulip said, “Well we won’t know until you take a bite from it.”

Breeze didn’t want anyone to think he was afraid. He closed his eyes and took a bite. Hmm, it tastes lovely. Then as he watched the toffee ran off the apple like a river and lay around his feet. He made an important discovery. I am stuck. He groaned.

Elegant said, “I bet she plans on taking all of the children’s treats while they are stuck to the ground. I am sure it will wear off soon Breeze.”

“How soon? I don’t want to miss the best party ever.”

He sounded so sad that the fairies and elves started working on a spell to free his feet. Once he was free. Breeze said, “I think you should create a special spell for Lovisma.”

The party was great. The children loved the bobbing marshmallows that looked like giant spiders. They laughed when Matt tried to eat a real spider thinking it would taste of marshmallow. The spider was not happy as he scuttled away into the dark night.

The children turned their attention on the toffee apples. Lovisma held her breath and waited.

Matt grabbed an apple. He took a bite. She flew upwards impatient to see his distress when his feet became stuck. However, once he broke the skin, the apple fizzled and sparkled sending bolts of dancing lights into the night sky.

Lisbeth, Lillian and Daisy-Lyah’s apples played a musical tune the minute they held them.  Children were grabbing apples and dancing and laughing with delight as each apple revealed a treat.

Lovisma was angry. Her face was bright red. Something was not right.

“Give me one!” She grabbed an apple and instantly the ground beneath her feet began to shake. Everyone ran for cover as two tall scarecrows appeared carrying pumpkins. They placed the pumpkins on the ground and rolled them at Lovisma.

She was knocked off her feet to land on a huge pumkin. It seemed to swallow her then with a soft, pop, her feet and arms and head appeared.

Lovisma screamed.”I’m Trapped. Help. I’m not a pumpkin.I don’t even like pumpkins.”

Hisilicon K3

She waddled off into the wood crying, “I bet you did this Breeze.  I will get out and then you had better watch out.”

Lisbeth was sitting beside Breeze shivering. “I hope she doesn’t get out. She is nasty.  But why do you look happy? You should be worried Mr. Breeze.”

He smiled and said, “I am not, because Elegant added her forgetful potion to the spell so Lovisma will escape from the pumpkin but she will have forgotten everything and we will have a great party.”

Daisy-lyah and Lillian were kind Fairies and they filled a basket full of treats for the naughty witch.

Advertisement

Ronald Craig at Meet Your Next Favorite Author — FotoBoek Lieve Snellings

It was in the BookGoSocial Children’s Book FB Group that I First found out about Ronald Craig. He had published a book ‘The Little Witch And The Lost Boy’. As a witch or a witch lover myself, I had to buy that book and I have not regretted. I loved the storyline and the characters, […]

via Ronald Craig at Meet Your Next Favorite Author — FotoBoek Lieve Snellings

A Surprising Catch.

 

Hamish and Breeze were fishing. The moon hovered over them high in the sky.  The river flow was slow.

“The river looks tired.” Breeze whispered.

“Lets hope the fish are hungry and tired.” Hamish stuck his fishing line in the water. The line ran from the water to a low branch of the oak tree. Near the top of the branch Hamish had fixed some tiny bells. “They will wake me when the fish has been caught.” He told Breeze who kept staring at the bells.

“I should have thought of some bells,” Breeze said and settled down for a nap.

They woke when a fox jumped onto Breeze’s chest.  Breeze sat up and shouted “we’ve caught one.”

Hamish looked at their fishing lines.They sat quietly they didn’t jig about in the water.  “I don’t think so, it was Harry the fox, blame him.”

Harry apologised to Breeze for waking him adding, “she scares me. And she is a little crazy as well.”

Breeze and Hamish watched the fox run across some stones along the river bed and vanish into the dark field behind them.

“I wonder who scares him. How shall we find out?” Hamish asked as he spotted a  stripey sock lying on the path close to them. They walked to the sock. Hamish sniffed it. “Lovisma, it smells of lavender and she likes lavender.”

“Lovisma loves her crazy coloured socks, why would she drop it here?” Breeze walked along the path and found another sock, this one had dots on it. They continued through the wood finding out bits of clothes here and there. A hat sat on a gooseberry bush, a  dress hung from a branch and a long scarf blew amongst the leaves in the willow tree. As they went they picked the items up and Breeze stuffed them in his pockets. He smiled because he had solved the puzzle.

“I know a crazy collie who likes to steal socks, but I won’t set Lovisma on her.”Breeze said. “I like crazy collies called Ellie.”

The sun was rising and the moon was heading to bed as they arrived at Lovisma’s house. Elegant and Lovisma were in the kitchen arguing. They could hear because the windows were open.

“I don’t understand who steals our clothes? I mean who would want to do it and why?”

“It is very bothersome. It means we have to keep zapping up new socks. It is  a little tiresome.” Lovisma told her older sister.

“What I don’t understand is how it always happens when it is your turn to do the laundry. It is strange.” Elegant said.

“Let’s be kind neighbour’s and return the washing.” Hamish suggested. “Afterall Elegant is a very kind witch.”

They emptied Breeze’s giant pockets and left the socks and hats in a heap on the porch.

“Go hide.” Hamish told Breeze.

Breeze ran into the wood, Hamish rang the doorbell, then hid.

Elegant answered the door saying, “Good morning….” She stopped and stared at the heap of washing. Then she did a little jig and dance on the front porch before pointing her wand at the clothes and ordering them to march indoors.

Breeze and Hamish heard Elegant say, “Good news Lovisma, you won’t be bored today, some kind neighbour has found our washing.Now lets make sure these socks  in pairs.”

The two friends decided doing nice things made them extra hungry so they forgot about their fishing lines and went to Hamish’s house to cook an extra large breakfast.

 

Spring and the problems it brings

On the first day of Spring, every being, except for Breeze, spend their time cleaning. His plan was to sit and watch Spring work its magic on the wood.

Lilian walked beneath the tree he sat in and shouted to him, “Mr. Breeze how come you get to sit around all day while I work?”

“I dunno ask your mum.” He said, hoping she would go away.

“I did – she said, either you love dirt or you are just plain lazy.”

“I am not lazy” Breeze said.

“That is what I said, you love dirt.” Lilian said goodbye and went home.

Breeze smiled, “I do love dirt,” he told a passing bird.

However he lost his smile when he returned home. His cave sparkled. He screamed and ran back into the wood. Banging his fist on Hamish’s door he tumbled inside the moment the door opened, yelling, “It is horrible, just horrible you got to help me. I can’t live in a sparkling house. Do I look like a princess,no, I don’t. “

Hamish said, “Good.”

Breeze stopped and stared at Hamish. “What do you mean good?”

“Great,no more dust flying around you, clogging up the air when you walk, I can go visit you, have tea without my allergies kicking off..”

“Then others would want to come visit – I would have to be nice and not eat all the cakes.” Breeze considered the problem. He smiled then said, “ I’d best go and find some dirt for my home.”

Breeze spent the evening spreading dirt about his home. Next morning he went out side for ten minutes to stretch and admire the morning sunshine. Walking back inside he groaned, “How is this possible?” His home was gleaming, sparkling, super clean. “Ahghhhhhhhhh”

He ran to Elegant witches house where he found his favorite baker, Tulip, having breakfast with Elegant. “Did you do it?” he demanded.

“Do what?” Elegant and Tulip asked.

“Put a magic clean spell on my house?”

“No we didn’t but I am sorry I didn’t think of it. And we can’t blame Lovisma she is on spring holiday.””

Breeze marched away, he needed to think about this problem. As he marched through the wood he spotted a pair of purple boots dangling from a branch in a tree ahead of him. “Hello, now that is a funny place to put a pair of purple boots.” He tweaked the boots.

“Hey let go of my boots.” Penelope demanded.

“Sorry I didn’t realise there was a Penelope attached to them.” Breeze chuckled. “What are you doing up there?”

“I was watching for something to happen.”

“Did it?” Breeze looked about him.

“I dunno I slept late today, all of the super cleaning yesterday made me tired.” Penelope jumped to the ground.

Breeze blinked, her dress was brighter than the sun and her gleaming skin made it hard to look at her. “You look colourful.”

“Thanks. Are you going home now?” She smiled at him and waited for his answer.

“Yes. Bye” Breeze was in a hurry to get home for he hadn’t eaten breakfast. His stomach rumbled with each step he took. As he walked he scooped up lumps of earth from the ground and stuffed them in his pockets. When he reached his home he closed his eyes and walking inside he began to drop bits of dirt against the walls, on the floors, furniture and on him. Then he opened his eyes in time to see each bit of dirt roll back outside.

He sniffed the rolling dirt and whispered, “this stinks of Elf magic.”

While he ate his three bowls of cereal he considered the likelihood of meeting Penelope who was watching for something in a tree on a day when an elf spell had been placed on his home.

“Penelope did it.” Now he knew who cleaned his house, it was time for him to persuade her to let him continue as normal. Trouble was Elves are tricky beings to deal with, for they are clever. But Breeze knew they were kind and Hamish’s words gave him an idea.

So he set to work. The next time he met Penelope she got a fright. “Oh my, what happened to you?”

Breeze looked ill, his normally green skin was an unhealthy orange colour and sprinkled with bright blue spots. He sat down and whispered, “I don’t feel well, my house…”

“What about your house?”

Breeze said, “I am allergic to cleanliness. I need dirt to make me feel well, happy and …alive.”

At his words Penelope began to panic, “Oh dear, oh dear. Let me come home with you and see what I can do to help.”

“That would be most kind of you but there is some evil spell working on my house, every time I get it right – poof – it is clean again.”

Penelope looked horrified. “I will do my best, I won’t promise much but I will do my best.”

And she did, of course, though Hamish did scold Breeze for tricking the kindly Elf. “Well she shouldn’t muddle in other people’s lives, we are all different you know.”

Hamish simply shrugged his shoulders.

Christmas and the magical mince pies

It was snowing and yet the huge green ogre named Breeze was asleep. He was tucked onto his favorite branch high in the tallest oak tree in the wood. His excuse was – he was keeping watch for Santa.

Breeze adored the magic of Christmas. So when the very first flake landed on his nose, he stopped snoring and woke in a hurry, slid down the trunk of the wrinkly crinkly old tree and raced through the wood shouting “it is snowing. Christmas is coming, Santa is getting ready to leave the north pole.”

His friends, shook their heads and said, “he is never unhappy at this time of  the year.”

However when Breeze bumped into Lovisma, he lost his happiness. For she had hold of a wooden santa claus and was dangling him upside down. “I’ think I should fly up to the moon and drop him, lets see him fly then, ” she giggled at her own joke.

Lily, was sobbing “Please, don’t do it, he is only made of wood he can’t fly. He needs reindeer and magic.”

Breeze frowned.  “Lets see if Lovisma would fly if we took her broomstick away and tied her up nice and neat like a Christmas pudding.”

Lily stopped sobbing and looked at him. “Could you do it?”

“I would if you asked me.”

Lovisma instantly dropped the wooden Santa and flew away. Breeze told Lily some jokes to cheer her and then they made a giant snow rabbit before they both went home for tea.

All evening long Breeze thought about the nasty witch. “Time I scared her good and proper,” he decided. He needed to think long and hard because Breeze knew that every witch has something she is terrified of.

It was Christmas eve and the wood was looking sparkling and festive. The trees were wearing their best winter coats and the birds had decorated some of the lower branches with holly, though the berries were missing.

Elegant witch had solved the problem by asking the knitting group to knit holly berries and attach them to the branches. She added her own dash of magic then making the berries twinkle with bright lights.

Breeze had baked. This was an event in itself and the mince pies did smell awesome, which he kept saying. However, Lily wondered why he had put a box of six pies to one side.  The label on the box said, For Lovisma, “Mr Breeze why did you give that nasty witch six mince pies and there will only be one for everyone else.”

He winked at her and said, “these are special pies just for her. Don’t let anyone touch them or there will be trouble.”

She wondered why he sounded a little cross but decided one of his mince pies would be enough for her. Besides Santa was coming.

The table for the midnight party was set and suddenly there was a cold rush of air. A cackle of laughter announced Lovisma’s arrival. She was looking really nasty in a purple and silver pair of leggings and a huge purple flouncy dress.

Yuck, you look like a giant blueberry. Matt announced.

Her answer to him was with a flick her wand to turn him into a snow ogre. Breeze said, “Be nice or no Santa.” She flicked Matt from snow ogre back to green ogre.

Ooh mince pies, Lovisma said. I want one.

You can’t have one, Breeze told her. But you can have six to take home to Elegant witch. I made them for you both.”

Lovisma smiled sweetly and said, “I think I will have one, just one now.”

However, once she started she couldn’t stop. Lovisma kept stuffing mince pies into her mouth until the box was empty.  “I feel a little odd.” She said.

Lily smiled. “YOu do look a little odd.” And she moved further away.

Not a moment too soon as Lovisma began to shake like a jelly, then spun around so fast she was a purple blob. Suddenly there was a loud pop and when everyone looked she appeared to have vanished leaving the purple dress in a heap on the ground then it began to move in hopping movements. Lily was the first to spot the new improved Lovisma. “OOh a frog I love frogs, can I pet her?”

“I can’t be a frog. I hate slimey frogs.” Lovisma the frog shouted.

Lily said ” but you are, look in the reflection in the glass. This is you a cute purple frog. ”

Each time Lovisma attempted to jump onto her broom she slid off, instead she hopped away screaming in horror.  “I hate you Breeze almost as much as I hate frogs.”

After that everyone was happy she had left but they were a little afraid of eating any of his mince pies.

Breeze has a nasty moment.

It was Halloween. Breeze, the ogre, was not happy. He had put a basket of cupcakes,  baked by a very kind fairy named Tulip, at the bottom of the tree trunk. Then he climbed the tree to see who was doing what and well…he fell asleep.

When he woke there was not one cupcake remaining. Lilian, his niece, was running by and she said, “I didn’t eat them, Bob did.”

Breeze muttered, “I bet he did. But he won’t do it again.”

Lilian who liked Bob ran back to Breeze, “please Mr. Breeze don’t hurt Bob. He is a very cuddly dog.”

Breeze frowned. He knew something had to be done or the dog would eat every cupcake he found in the wood.

Breeze went in search of Lovisma which was not normal because this mischievous witch was not his favorite witch. But on this occasion Breeze needed her help.

Much later, he left Lovisma’s house with a smile on his face. “That stupid fat dog won’t be able to find any cupcakes for a while.”

He glanced at the picture Lovisma had given him of poor Bob, and smiled. “That will teach you for eating all of my pumpkin cupcakes.”

Though Bob didn’t look happy, Breeze did wonder what Sara was smiling about,

A Dragon named Frank with a hot problem

Breeze was smiling because he could smell his favorite smell – cakes baking. He slid off the branch and began to wander through the forest. He knew if he took his time he would miss the messy washing up bit and land at Tulips door in time for afternoon tea and cake.

His smile lasted for about ten seconds. It was the saddest looking dragon who took his happy smile away. The dragon was green and miserable.

“Hey, What is wrong with you buddy?” Breeze asked.

“My life is ruined and all because of my hot breath.” The dragon mumbled.

Breeze frowned and sat down, a safe distance away, from the grumpy dragon.

“But, Frank even I know that your speciality is fire breathing” Breeze spoke softly not wishing to annoy the small dragon.

“Yes but not when you love flowers and want to be a botanist.”

“A what?” Breeze looked about him wondering if he had fallen on his head and was having a terrible nightmare, because not one bit of this conversation was making sense to him.

“I like studying and growing flowers but it won’t work cos often, much too often they end up looking like toast.”

Breeze opened  his mouth, closed it and opened it again. He was afraid to say what he was thinking.

The dragon spoke for him. “No burnt flowers do not taste like toast. They simply look burnt.”

“Okay I know what to do lets talk to Elegant witch.” Breeze stood, told Frank where to meet him and ran off to see Elegant.

Unfortunately for him she wasn’t baking, she was cleaning her house using a broom.

Breeze watched her work and frowned. The world is gone upside down, he thought, dragons who want to potter about in the garden and witches who use a broom for sweeping. 

Her chuckle startled him. “I heard that Breeze and no I am not crazy. I just like sweeping.” Putting down the broom she asked him, “What problem have you brought to me today?”

Breeze told her about Frank. It was Elegants turn to look worried. “If I stop his fiery breath, the others will not like it.” Elegant began to pace about the room. There was a bee dancing on the window ledge, very gently Elegant shooed it from the room. Then she turned to Breeze, “That is the answer.”

Breeze frowned. He didn’t think a bee on a window was an answer to anything but he knew Elegant to be a clever witch so he waited for her to return.

Frank arrived as Elegant finished her spell. When the dragon nervously asked her if she could help, she smiled and held out the hat for him. “It is smashing but won’t it go on fire too?”

Breeze moved out of the way and said, “Try it” then as fast as he could he ran to Tulips house. Afterall if the magical beekeepers helmet worked the dragon would be happy and if it didn’t then Breeze might have a lot of ashes to sweep up and Breeze hated sweeping.

 

The kite with a sting in its tail

 

It was hot. There was not the sound of a single bee buzzing. The wood appeared to be empty of animals, and magical beings.

Breeze was on his way to the river. He wanted to paddle his feet. A loud rustle among the leaves above startled him. He spotted a long tail and wondered if it was a giant mouse. It darted away from him. Breeze followed. He ran from tree to tree, staring upwards. Suddenly he tripped. He hit the ground with a loud thump.

Breeze discovered he had fallen over Hamish.

“Have you no manners?” yelled Hamish. “What are you doing squishing Elves?”

Pulling himself to his feet, Breeze replied, “Sorry there is a giant mouse in the trees.”

“Don’t be silly. They live on the ground, not in trees.” Hamish lay back on his bed of moss. “Go away, it’s nap time.”

Breeze decided to leave because a grumpy elf is better left alone. He walked on looking for the mouse and Tulip stopped him to ask why he was looking upwards. He told her about the mouse.

“Lets look for it together.” She said and then they heard it.

When they looked high amongst the trees they spotted a tail with ribbons on it, in a tree.   “If it is not a mouse, what is it?”

Tulip said, “It’s a kite.” she said and flew high above him to release it.

The kite landed at his feet. “What does it do?”

“I’ll show you.” Tulip took the kite and flew a short distance away. The wind caught hold  and the kite flew after her, swooping and diving. With it’s long tail dancing in the wind, it attracted a lot of attention.

Mrs. Groundsel and her grandchildren came to watch the fun.

As the kite tumbled about in the air something strange happened.

Each time it danced in a certain direction so did everyone on the ground.

If the kite dived to earth, everyone watching fell to the ground.

When the kite flew high into the sky, then everyone jumped off the ground and they rose high into the air.

Lily, a tiny ogre, was screaming, “make it stop, I don’t like it.”

The kite began to dance as it moved.

“This is not funny.” Mrs Groundsel puffed as she jigged about.

“I think I know who did this.” Breeze said and marched into the wood.

Tulip couldn’t pull the kite down. It continued to dance in the sky. Everyone watching danced on the grass.

“I’m too old for this.” Mrs. Groundsel said.

Breeze arrived back with a squealing young witch called Lovisma, tucked under his right arm.

“Let me down you oaf.”

He plonked her on the ground, saying, “Lovisma, I’m not an oaf. I’m an ogre.”

Lovisma saw the dancing crowd before her. She cackled with delight. “Oh you do look funny. My friends would love to see this.”

Breeze said,  “make it stop or I will lock you in with Hamish’s pet skunk, Smelly.”

“No, No, No.  You can’t. He stinks.”

“Why shouldn’t we? You have been nasty.” Breeze said.

“You are nice.” She looked at her feet. “You don’t do stuff like that.”

Breeze said, “Lovisma, make it stop.”

She clicked her fingers and the kite raced landed on the ground. Everyone sat for a rest.

“You are one mean witch,” Tulip said.

“But it was funny, wasn’t it?” Lovisma whispered.  “It wasn’t that nasty. Maybe I should try it in another part of the wood and tell my friends to come watch.”

Breeze said, “No you won’t.”

Lovisma trudged away saying, “Breeze is an oaf, a big spoilsport oaf.”

Everyone shouted after her, “No he is an Ogre!”

 

 

Breeze discovers a scary thing – And makes two new friends.

At almost seven foot tall, Breeze is not afraid or so he believed until the morning he almost trod on the scariest looking object he has ever seen.

He was walking slowly. The reason for this was simple. He could hear an unusual sound. It wasn’t the usual morning sound of bee’s buzzing or Mrs. Groundsel shouting at her grand children to hurry up and get out of bed. No this was a tiny sound that echoed inside his head.  The voice was high pitched and all he could hear was “No, Lizzie I said no.”

Who is Lizzie? He wondered. And looked down – then he saw a small tea pot. He questioned if this was Lizzie. A tea pot was for making tea.

Hisilicon K3

The mention of tea reminded him why he was walking towards the witches house. They had invited him to come visit them and enjoy breakfast.  As Elegant witch was a very brilliant cook, Breeze was looking forward to his breakfast. He picked up his pace and as he did so he heard the same tin high pitched voice say, “We should have taken a left at the fork in the river not a right.” Breeze decided to leave them lost, whoever them was. He trundled on a little faster and soon smelt, pancakes, raspberry jam and berry compote much to his delight.

When he arrived it was to discover there was an argument taking place between the two witches. “Did you send the invitations to them Lovisma?” Elegant stood with a wooden spoon twitching on the table before her. Breeze noticed the spoon was keeping pace with her right foot which was tapping the ground.

“I did. It is not my fault if our stupid relations don’t want to come and visit us. They probably think you clean too much and don’t want to be bossed about.” Lovisma said.

Elegant was now looking angry and Breeze considered sneaking away however Lovisma spotted him. “Hello Mr. Breeze, would you like some of Elegants amazing pancakes?”

In answer Breeze sat down and held out a plate. When he had eaten six pancakes and drank three mugs of apple juice he said, “What relations are you missing?”

“We are not missing them, they were invited, I think” Elegant paused to look at her sister. “To come and visit with us.”

“And they didn’t bother so there is more for Breeze and me.” As Lovisma spoke there was a soft pink hiss of smoke and there before them appeared – Lizzie the teapot.

Breeze smiled. “It’s okay if they are teapots. I like tea.” He said.

Lovisma held onto her hat and laughed so much she rolled off her seat. “They are not teapots, it is their house.” Bending low she shouted “Come out and hurry up we have almost eaten all of your breakfast.”

There were two loud pops followed by rainbow coloured smoke and two large smiling witches appeared before him.

Breeze decided they were too big for a tea pot and decided not to ask any questions but to eat as many pancakes as he could before they ate them.

The story of Star the stubborn duck.

Breeze decided today he would find the answer to the question, – why would a duck wear wellington boots?

He dressed early, long before the sun was up, packed a snack bag full of berries, oat bars, apples and a giant raspberry muffin. “Best not take any chances for I could be waiting a long time for this strange duck to appear.” He muttered.

When he arrived at the pond he was happy to see the only occupant was a frog. Spike popped out of Breeze’s pocket and went to have a chat with his friend on a lily leaf.

Breeze climbed into the nearest tree close to the pond and sat. Soon he was rewarded by the sight of a long thin duck clomping his way across the grass to the pond. Breeze decided to stay where he was, so he wouldn’t frighten the strange duck.

“Morning,” he said.

The duck looked at Breeze and said, “Morning.” Then turned to the water and bending low took a long drink.

“Nice boots.” Breeze said.

“Thank you. I rather like them as well.” The duck sat down on the grass and stared at Breeze.

“I don’t see many ogres hiding in trees.” The duck said.

“And I don’t see many ducks wearing blue boots with yellow stars.” Breeze politely replied.

“No seems like we are both a little different.”

Breeze decided then and there he liked this strange duck. “I am Breeze, would you like an apple?” At the duck’s nod he threw an apple to the duck.

“Thank you I am Star.” the duck said.

“Can I ask why you wear boots?”

Star the duck smiled. After a few moments of thought he said, “Because I am allergic to water, it makes my feathers itch and turn red.”

Breeze looked at the duck and at his blue boots. He didn’t believe this story and decided beaks are pointy and a snip from a bird can hurt. His answer was tactful.  “That makes sense I suppose. I should go, but would you like the rest of my picnic?”

“Thank you. It does get boring watching my friends playing in water while I simply sit and stare.”

“Good bye Star, I will ask my friend Tulip to solve your problem.” As he left he noticed a sadness in the ducks eyes.

Later Breeze discovered the truth from Tulip, his best friend. “Star is one silly stubborn duck. She got her feet trapped in those wellies by Lovisma because she kept stealing Lovisma’s fish dinners. If the duck asks for help the curse will be lifted, but she is one stubborn duck.”

“So I  should help her if she won’t help herself.” He muttered.

Breeze went in search of Lovisma. He found her concocting a smelly potion in her favorite bright red cauldron.

“I’m busy.” She said.

“I don’t care.” Breeze said. He walked over and gave the witch a nudge with his elbow sending her wand flying some distance away. She fell over and he sat on her.

“Now you are not busy and I want you to release Star from the spell. I will make sure she doesn’t eat your dinners anymore. Do we have a deal?”

Lovisma was turning a nasty shade of pink, a colour she detested. She squeaked, “Yes but get off me you oaf you are squishing me and ruining my potion.”

He stood and helped her to her feet. “You don’t look squished merely pink.” He said with a smile. “Do it now, release Star.”

Lovisma grumbled and groaned but she did as he asked for one simple reason Breeze knew too many people whose magic was stronger than hers.

Breeze returned to the pond and wasn’t surprised to see a pair of blue boots with yellow stars sitting beside his empty lunch bag. Sitting on the bag was a note. It read: Thank you for helping me, I am flying to the nearest orchard to find some sweet apples, they taste better than fish.

Breeze hoped she would leave some apples for him because he would hate to have to squish a pretty thin duck.