Magical fairy tale

Author: Xiaoling Dingdang / Country: Mainland China
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-06-01
Features: The Golden Bird
This is a very sunny afternoon, and eight bird dolls are sitting under the shade of a tree, gathered around the grandmother's feet listening to her tell a story. The grandmother stroked her neck, which dangled down to her chest, and said, "Legend has it that on the other side of the mountain lies a magical world. There is an endless plain covered with golden sunflowers. When the sun rises, all the sunflowers turn their beautiful faces along with the sun. There is also a lush grape garden, with clusters of sweet fruits along the roadside, so sweet that your tongue could melt. In a palace built of gold and crystal, there lives a kind king. If you sing a beautiful song for him, the king will personally place a golden crown on your head."
The eight bird dolls were so amazed that their jaws almost dropped, especially the smallest one—everyone called him "Old Eight." He wished he could swallow every word the grandmother said.
Bird Mother called from the side, "Old Eight, it's time to come home for dinner!" But Old Eight didn't hear a word. He hopped in three steps and two jumps to the grandmother's neck.
"Grandma, Grandma, is what you said true? How can I get to that magical place?"
"Hahahaha, dear child, it might be true, or it might just be a legend. After all, I've lived this long and have never seen the world beyond the mountain!"
The little bird looked up at the mountain—how high it was! The peaks soared into the clouds, shrouded in mist. Then he looked at his own wings, which were like small leaves. Sighing, he thought, "What's the use?"
The grandmother seemed to understand his thoughts. She lowered her head and gently combed the bird's feathers with her beak: "Good child, the wings given to us by heaven are for flying. Whether they are big or small, as long as you keep flying, you'll surely be on the right path!"
Old Eight's wings hadn't hardened yet, but that didn't matter. You see, birds grow so fast—they'll soon be ready for their first flight lessons.
Old Eight's first flight was only half as far as his older brother's, but just one week later, he surpassed his brother and became the second best among the eight siblings. Everyone could tell he was the hardestworking one of the bunch.
P1-3