AKA
O C Whiteleather
Illustrations by Doug Drought
okee
ran barefoot down his favorite trail, swift as the sparrows that criss-crossed in front of him, and he laughed-- his joy mingling with the voices of the forest.
Jumping up on Old Man Rock, Lokee stood gazing across Great River, who's misty spray cooled his red face.
The dragonflies came to check him out, and one of them lighted on his out-stretched palm! Lokee grinned at the beautiful creature.
"There can be none as lovely as you, sweet flying dragon. So delicate, you feel like air in my hand!" The dragon fly shone deep green and blue--- accented with sudden bursts of yellow.
Now it came nearer to rest on Lokee's shoulder. They stood that way and contemplated Great River and the landscape together.
A movement caught Lokee's eye. There, in a grove of trees not far away, a vine was inviting him to play.
Leaping, Lokee imagined the dragon's wings were his own.
He was on the vine in a heartbeat.
Swinging
Spinning
Giggling
Lokee delighted in his new toy!
He climbed up higher this time-- and swung way out, like a flying bird. But as he spun, the vine curled around his ankle so that when he let go, he fell face-first to the ground with a "WHUMP!"
***********************************************
Lokee shook his head to clear the stars. He was on all fours about to stand up when he noticed a big bright crystal beside a beaver-chewed stump.
When he reached for it, a flash of light blinded him, and he shielded his eyes. He looked again-- the crystal was growing! Suddenly, it was as big as a castle!
"Wow!" was all Lokee could say, his mouth wide with astonishment. He stared at this ice-like giant for a while. Itglistened and glimmered, catching sunlight and sending it in so many prismed rays and rainbows.
He stood up, and looking 'round realized he wasn't in the same place anymore. This place was more open-- with giant green plants. What were these plants?....Grass! Giant grass!
Lokee looked up. There was his vine, now so high it could be hanging from a cloud.
"Oh my gosh!" he gasped. "I've gotten little...very little! What will I do?"
But, before he could think, a low buzzing caught his ears. It sounded like it was coming nearer.
Lokee hid behind a May Apple.
Peering from his cover, he saw giant winged dragons hovering by the crystal. Wait a minute... he thought, These are the dragonflies! Maybe they can help me!
Swallowing hard, he showed himself.
"Swift Running Boy," he heard, "I am Dancing Star. How are you called?"
Speaking to him was a beautiful winged dragon---- deep green and blue with brilliant yellow splashes; the same who had been with him at Great River's edge!
"I am Lokee," his voice quivered, and he looked down. "Lokee the ... Little."
"Lokee, how is it that you have come to our realm?"
"I...I don't know." he stammered. "It just happened. I...I fell off the vine and...it just happened. Can you help me get home?"
"I'll take you there." answered Dancing Star. "Climb on and hold tight!"
They were in the air, flying over plants; following the trail to the meadow where his mother was tending her garden. But when they flew near enough and Lokee cried out to her, she just swatted them away.
They tried to fly through the window to his room, but the wind kept slamming the shutters.
Realizing no one could see Lokee anyway, the boy and the dragon turned back to the forest.
"I know a wise old gnome-- maybe he can help," Dancing Star was shouting over his shoulder, "he is called Lucian and his middle name is Kindness. You'll like him. Ah! Here we are!"
The dragon's humming wings alerted the old gnome, and he greeted the pair with a broad smile. "Lovely day, eh? Name's Lucian. And you are...?"
"Lokee," answered the boy.
"You like buttercups?" Lucian gestured with his right hand. "These are some of the finest you'll find--- and right here they are, smiling down at us! Sigh!" He looked up. "You two seem excited. Anything wrong?"
Dancing Star and Lokee explained the situation as best they could. "A crystal, huh? Could you show me?"
Lucian pinched silver powder from his pouch, sniffed it, and shrank as small as Lokee!
"Sure! C'mon!" The dragon whisked them away to the place of the Crystal.
Fairies were everywhere! It was if a star-filled sky had miniaturized and danced, twinkling, all around them.
"Wise Lucian! It is good to see you! Welcome in the name of Light!"
"Bright Blessings, Alyssia!" called out the old gnome. "We've come to view the Crystal!"
"Yes, isn't it wonderful?" She was a being made entirely of light! Her body was dazzling! Lokee's heart lept; he felt so much love inside--- and his cheeks burned.
All of a sudden, he didn't care that he was small; all he could feel was joy. And he was dancing, twirling, spinning and laughing!
"Lokee," he heard a voice, but from within his own ears! "You have entered into this unseen realm. How this has happened we do not know. If you wish to return to your own place, your forest soul must be weighed in the balance---- are you willing?"
"Yes!" Lokee didn't hesitate.
Then he thought of his life growing up by the forest's edge. His parents had taught him the ways of the harvest--- and respect.
He remembered the baby finch he had found and his mother tenderly replacing it in its mama's nest.
Lokee frowned. Once he had broken a stick off that very tree. A stick to become his play sword; and he went swooshing and jabbing--- killing pretend giants and evil knights. His father had taken that same stick to his back side. "Feel pain, as did the tree you broke this from," admonished his father.
Lokee was sad. What if his forest soul wasn't good enough? What if he was stuck little forever?
"Lokee?" It was Dancing Star. "Remember when we shared space at the Great River today? I was wishing we could always be friends. I felt your gentle spirit, Lokee. Everything is going to be all right. Don't worry."
The boy smiled at his friend, squeezing his eyes shut to stop a tear.
"Dancing Star?" Lokee opened his eyes. The winged dragon was on his shoulder!
The crystal shone at his feet, and he thought he caught a glimpse of ***stardust***. The vine dangled before him. All was as it had been.
Lokee threw back his head and laughed !
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Comments: 3
And,Carol, thanks for asking!
I wrote this when my children were quite small, as I'd grown tired of the same books. All my life I have enjoyed the company of dragonflies, water and woods, and this story grew out of that.
The kids' godfather, Doug Drought obliged my request to illustrate.