fictwrig8 Rama and the Camel

Rama and the Camel

by Will Wright

Rama’s father’s birthing day was in two days, and she had nothing to give him. She’d heard stories of genies that granted wishes when you rubbed an oil lamp. If she could find a genie, she could get her father a mountain of gold or a great palace. Rama loved her father very much and wanted to give him something he would like.

But she was too small to reach the lamp.

Being only six, she could only reach the candleholders, the water jar, the oil cruse, and the incense box. She considered each, but decided that, with her small hands, the incense box was best.

So, she took the incense box from the shelf and began to rub it.

She was glad there was no fire in the box, because as she rubbed, the box started getting warm. She was sure she had rubbed the box longer than the hero in the story had.

Shouldn’t a genie have come out by now?

She kept rubbing the box.

She started rubbing after the morning meal, and was still rubbing at noon. She stirred the soup with one hand while she rubbed the incense box with the other. At table, she ate with one hand and kept the other beneath the table rubbing the little incense box. As she gathered the goats, she had to put down the goad in order to close the gate – she needed one hand to rub the incense box.

Lying in her blankets, she worried that she might fall asleep before the genie came.

Her left eye blinked, but she rubbed the incense box.

Her right eye drooped, but she rubbed the incense box

Just when she couldn’t stay awake another moment, the little box jumped in her hand, let off a puff of incense, and there on her blanket stood a man no bigger than Rama’s little finger.

“I am the genie of the incense box,” said the tiny man in a squeaky voice. “I grant you one wish.”

Rama would have clapped her hands in glee, but her hands were too sore from rubbing the incense box all day. She set her face to her most adult expression and said, “I wish, for my dear father, a mountain of gold for his birthing day.”

The genie crossed his arms, shut his eyes, and held his breath till he turned red… but nothing happened.

“I’m sorry mistress,” he said. “I am not able to bring a mountain of gold.”

Rama was a little disappointed. She remembered hearing her father say, “Our lives will be wonderful when I find us a mountain of gold.”

It was, perhaps, too much to wish from such a small genie. Still, there was one other thing her father desired.

She set her face to her most adult expression and said, “I wish, for my dear father, a great palace for his birthing day.”

The genie crossed his arms, shut his eyes, and held his breath till he turned purple… but nothing happened.

“I’m sorry mistress,” he said. “I am unable to bring a great palace.”

Rama was even more disappointed. She remembered hearing her father say, “Our lives will be wonderful when we live in a great palace.”

It was perhaps, too much to wish from such a small genie.

Once again, she set her face to her most adult expression and asked, “What wishes can you grant for my dear father on his birthing day?”

The tiny genie bowed. “Great Mistress,” he answered, “I can turn his nose into a clove of garlic.”

Rama thought, but not hard. She didn’t think her father would like his nose changed into a clove of garlic for his birthing day.

“I do not wish that,” she told the genie.

The tiny genie bowed. “Great Mistress,” he said, “I can turn his nose into a wad of wet wool.”

Rama thought, but not hard. She didn’t think her father would like his nose changed into a wad of wet wool for his birthing day.

“I do not wish that,” she told the genie.

The tiny genie bowed. “Great Mistress,” he said, “there is only one other magic I can do. I can make his camel smell any way you wish.”

Rama thought, and this time, much harder than the other times. A camel can smell very bad indeed. Perhaps her father would like a sweet smelling camel for his birthing day.

“I do wish that,” she told the genie.

The little genie crossed his arms, shut his eyes, and held his breath till he turned blue.

“It is done, Mistress,” he said, and disappeared in a little puff of incense.

Rama woke early the next morning. Though her father’s birthing day was still a day away, she decided to surprise him with a good smelling camel a day early.

“Jasmine,” she said aloud. She crossed her arms, closed her eyes, and held her breath as she had seen the genie do. “I wish the camel to smell like jasmine.”

She hurried to wash and dress herself. She couldn’t wait to see how her father would like his surprise.

When she got to the table, she greeted her mother. Her father was outside tending the animals.

What if the genie lied to her or couldn’t do what he promised? He was such a tiny genie. Perhaps even the wish of changing the camel’s smell was too great for him.

Father entered the house. He looked angry.

“Papa!” called Rama.

“One moment, dear Rama,” he answered. He turned to Mother. “Did you hear anyone moving around the animals last night?”

“No,” Mother answered. “I would have wakened you.”

“Someone,” Papa said, “has played a trick on me. He has spilled perfume all over the camel. How can I do my business at the bazaar with a camel that smells like flowers?”

It had not occurred to Rama that her father would prefer a camel that smells like a camel. If only she could take back her wish.

What had the genie said?

“I can make his camel smell any way you wish.”

Perhaps, if she wished it, the camel would go back to normal.

She crossed her arms, closed her eyes, and held her breath. Silently she thought, “I wish the camel to go back to normal.”

Rama went about her chores without her normal enthusiasm. She was tired and disappointed. She had gotten a wish and wasted it. She should have known her father wouldn’t want a camel that smelled of jasmine. She didn’t even know if her second wish had changed the camel back.

Her father returned from the bazaar at dusk. She walked out to the pen to smell the camel for herself. Her father was feeding the animals when she arrived.

“I can do that, Papa,” she said.

Her father looked at her. “Maybe you are big enough. What a helpful little daughter I have.” He patted her on the head. “Make sure you’re inside before dark.”

The feed sacks were heavy, but Rama managed to pour feed for the goats and draw water for the trough. She put fresh hay in the manger.

She went over to the camel and took a good sniff. All she smelled was camel.

“It was a silly thing to wish a camel to smell of jasmine,” she said.

“I liked smelling that way.”

Rama had never heard the camel speak before, nor any other animal. She had been pretty sure that animals couldn’t talk like humans did. Still, the camel had just spoken to her.

She was only six; there were probably a lot of things she didn’t know.

“You like jasmine?” she asked

“It’s a lot better than how I usually smell,” the camel replied. “Though I think I like the smell of lemons better.”

Rama crossed her arms, closed her eyes, and held her breath. “I wish for you to smell like lemons,” she said.

Instantly the pen was filled with the delicious smell of lemons. It was very strong, but not overpowering.

“Ah yes,” said the camel. “That’s very nice.”

Rama agreed, but she still liked jasmine better.

She was just about to wish the camel back to normal again, when a large group of people she’d never seen before came over the hill from the north. The crowd went right up to the animal pen where she and the camel were standing. They were holding shovels, and pick axes, and rock drills, and every one of them had a clove of garlic for a nose.

“Since the day we were cursed,” said the first person to reach the pen, “I have smelled nothing but garlic. Now, I can smell lemons.”

“We all smell lemons,” another agreed.

“I never thought I would smell something so wonderful again,” added a third.

“Is it you child, that I’m smelling?” asked the first.

“No,” Rama replied. “It is this camel.”

“We are gold miners,” said the first. “If we dig gold for you all night, may we sit by this wonderful camel during the day?”

Rama knew she should ask her father, but here was a way of getting a real present for him. If she asked permission, it would ruin the surprise.

“I agree,” she said.

The miners went to their work.

“If father comes and smells lemons,” said Rama, “he may think someone has tricked him again.”

“It is true,” said the camel. “You should wish me back to normal.”

“I will return in the morning,” promised Rama “and you will smell of lemons then.”

Rama woke before the dawn and rushed out to the pen to see the camel. Next to the pen lay a mound that sparkled even in the deep blue pre-dawn.

“Good morning, Rama,” the camel greeted her politely.

“Good morning, Camel,” she replied. “Are you ready to smell like lemons again?”

“There’s no hurry. It’s not day yet,” said the camel. “I’ve been thinking. I also like the smell of cinnamon a lot. Can we try that?”

“Oh, I like cinnamon too,” said Rama. She crossed her arms, closed her eyes, and held her breath. “I wish for you to smell like cinnamon,” she said.

Instantly the pen was filled with the delicious smell of cinnamon. It was very strong, but not overpowering.

“Ah yes,” said the camel. “That’s very nice. I like it as much as I like the smell of lemons.”

Rama agreed, but she still liked jasmine better.

She was just about to wish the camel to smell of lemons, when a large group of people she’d never seen before came over the hill to the south. The crowd went right up to the animal pen where she and the camel were standing. They were holding hammers, and trowels, and chisels, and every one of them had a wad of wet wool for a nose.

“Since the day we were cursed,” said the first person to reach the pen, “I have smelled nothing but wet wool. Now I can smell cinnamon.”

“We all smell cinnamon,” another agreed.

“I never thought I would smell something so wonderful again.” Added a third.

“Is it you, Child, that I am smelling?” asked the first.

“No,” Rama replied. “It is this camel.”

“We are palace builders,” said the first. “If we build a palace for you all day, may we sit by this wonderful camel at night?”

Rama knew she should ask her father, but here was a way of getting a second present for him. If she asked permission, it would ruin the surprise.

“I agree,” she said.

Rama’s father was surprised to find a large group of people sitting in his animal pen all day, and a different group at night, but as he saw the beginning of a great palace, and the beginning of a mountain of gold, he didn’t seem to mind.

Rama found that her father was right. Things were wonderful living in a palace with a mountain of gold. Many things were different, but as she and her parents still loved each other, the best parts of her life remained the same.

The builders and miners were happy, her parents were happy, and even the camel was happy, with all his new friends, and smelling like lemons during the day, and cinnamon at night.

And during dusk and dawn, when it wasn’t fully day, nor was it fully night, and the world was most beautiful, Princess Rama rode out among the hills on her wonderful camel that smelled of jasmine.

fictwrig7 Splashing Far From Home

Splashing Far From Home

by Will Wright

Shiny, Sparkly, Flinty and Jagged loved to bask in the sunlight flowing through the shallow water at the edge of Lake Petras. Though they were all pebbles, they each liked the sunlight for a different reason.

Shiny liked the sunlight because it let her reflect a beam of light at little human children who played in the water.

Sparkly reflected sunlight into smaller beams, and sent them through the water in all directions, making pretty patterns on the sunfish and rainbow trout.

Flinty stored the sunlight beneath his dark surface until he was toasty warm all the way through.

Jagged just liked the sunlight. He couldn’t really say why; he just liked it!

The four young pebbles lay in the sand each day from morning till evening. Sometimes they rolled when a boat wave came to shore.

“Wheeeeee!”

They liked boat waves.

When the sun went down each night, Mother Stone, who watched the children through the day, rolled over and nudged the youngsters out of the sand.

“Off to bedrock,” said Mother Stone.

The sleepy little ones drifted off to bedrock, and nestled tight together. Flinty shared the warmth he’d gathered in the sunlight and they stayed snug and comfy. The sandman came, and helped them nod off to land of dreams.

It was a particularly sunny day in the shallow waters of Lake Petras, when the pebbles first met Skippy. Shiny was dazzling a little boy who was trying to catch a trout with his mother’s catch net. Sparkly was sending sparkle messages to the trout, telling the fish where the net was. Flinty and Jagged were watching the game. Everyone knew the little boy wouldn’t catch the fish--even the little boy--but it was a fine way to spend a summer afternoon.

Splash, splash, splash, SPLASH!

“That was four!” shouted a new pebble as he settled down among the others.

“Wow!” said Jagged. “That was something! Are you a magic stone?”

“No,” said Skippy, for that was, of course who the new pebble was, “but some people say I have charm.”

Everyone laughed but Jagged, then Jagged laughed too because he liked to be included.

“So what was that thing you did?” asked Flinty as he shifted to catch more of the sun’s heat.

“It’s called a skip. That’s why they call me, Skippy.”

“Our names are Shiny, Sparkly, Flinty and Jagged,” said the pebbles.

“Skipping looks like fun,” said Sparkly. “Can we all do it?”

“Maybe,” said Skippy, looking doubtfully at Jagged, “but if you’re a beginner, you need a human to help you get started.”

“Like that little boy?” asked Shiny.

“Maybe,” said Skippy again, “if the boy knows how to skip stones. But first you’ll have to get his attention.”

“I can do that,” said Shiny.

Skippy’s skipping had scared the trout away. Trout can be real scaredi-fish when there’s splashing going on. The little boy had put down his mother’s catching net and was looking for something else to do.

Skippy hid himself under a clump of weed, so his new friends would get a chance to have fun.

Now the best rocks for skipping are flat rocks, and Shiny had some layers of mica, so she was a very flat rock. When she reflected the sunlight up at the little boy, he jumped down from the dock and splashed in the water. He picked up Shiny and pulled his arm back.

Then he threw Shiny with a side-armed throw, close to the water.

“Wheeeeeeee!” said Shiny as she skipped one, two, three, then four times! She settled down in the water, way far away.

The boy looked down in the water for more flat rocks. Flinty was mostly flint, which is usually a pretty flat rock. The little boy picked up Flinty and pulled his arm back.

Then he threw Flinty with a side-armed throw, close to the water.

“Wheeeeee!” said Flinty as he skipped one, two, three times! He settled down in the water, far away, but not as far as Shiny.

The boy looked down in the water for more flat rocks. Sparkly was mostly quartz, which is not a particularly flat rock, but Sparkly was flatter than most quartz pebbles. The little boy picked up Sparkly, and pulled his arm back.

Then he threw Sparkly with a side-armed throw, close to the water.

“Wheeee!” said Sparkly as she skipped once, and then twice. She settled down in the water, not so far away, but further than she’d ever been from home before.

The boy looked down in the water for more flat rocks. Jagged was made of granite, which is not usually a flat rock, and Jagged wasn’t flat at all, but he was the only rock left except Skippy, who was hiding, and Mother Stone, who was too big to skip. The little boy picked up Jagged and pulled his arm back.

Then he threw Jagged with a side-armed throw, close to the water.

“Whee--glub!” said Jagged, because he didn’t skip at all. He just settled down in the water, not far at all from where he started.

The little boy looked around, but didn’t find any more stones to skip. He went up to the woods to look for raspberries.

“You can come out now,” said Mother Stone to Skippy. “The little boy has gone.”

Skippy wriggled out from under the weed. “They sure had fun, didn’t they?” said Skippy.

“Yes, they did,” said Mother Stone, “but they’ve never been so far away from home. How will they find their way back?”

“They don’t know their way back?” asked Skippy.

“No, they don’t,” said Mother Stone.

“I didn’t think,” said Skippy. “I’m made of slate, and slate is skipped by people all the time. We always know how to get back home.” He thought a moment. “I know where Jagged landed. I can go get him, and then I’ll go look for the others.”

“Do you think you can find them all?”

Skippy didn’t want to lie to Mother Stone, so he didn’t say yes or no. “I’ll go get Jagged,” said Skippy, and he flipped himself up into the air, and landed on his sharp side so he sank down instead of skipped.

Sure enough, a few minutes later, Jagged tumbled home.

“Wow!” said Jagged, “that was fun sailing in the air. I think I almost skipped.”

“You almost did,” Mother Stone agreed. “Did you see Sparkly out there? She landed closest to you.”

“No,” said Jagged, “and I wouldn’t have found my way home if Skippy didn’t come to show me.”

Mother Stone didn’t say anything, but she looked worried. Jagged rushed over to give her a hug.

Click!

“Sorry,” said Jagged, “I didn’t mean to bump into you that hard.”

“Do it again,” said Mother Stone.

“Do it again?” asked Jagged.

“We made a sound,” she explained, “and sound carries under water. Maybe the others will hear it and follow the sound home.”

Click, click, click-click CLICK!

Sure enough, a few minutes later, Sparkly tumbled home.

“You heard the clicking?” asked Mother Stone.

“I did!” said Sparkly, “and I’m so glad, because it was a deeper and darker part of the lake than I’ve ever been in.”

“Let’s click some more!” said Jagged. “Then Flinty and Shiny will hear us!”

“I don’t know,” said Sparkly. “I could barely hear you where I was, and they both skipped farther away than I did.”

Sparkly pointed her facets to color a brown trout swimming by, while Mother Stone thought about the problem, and Jagged tried to think about the problem.

“Sparkly,” said Mother Stone. “How far away can you send those sparkles?”

“A long way,” said Sparkly, “but I have to be careful because light bends in the water.”

“Do you think you could put sparkles on a fish near where Flinty and Shiny went?”

“I don’t know,” said Sparkly. “I could try.” Sparkly stood on Mother Stone so she was closer to the surface, where the sunlight was stronger.

“Is it working?” asked Jagged.

“I don’t know,” said Sparkly.

And then they saw Flinty tumbling home.

“Great!” said Jagged. “Do it again, so Shiny will come home.”

“I don’t know,” said Flinty. “I barely saw Sparkly’s colors on that fish and Shiny was a lot farther out than me. I don’t know if I can even see where she went.” Flinty jumped up into the air to look, and bounced against the steel support holding the dock. Bright sparks flew.

“Can you see where Shiny went?” asked Sparkly.

“Maybe,” said Flinty. “It was a long way away.”

“Why did those sparks fly like that?” asked Jagged.

“Oh,” said Flinty, “that happens anytime I hit something made of iron or steel—-at least when I’m out of the water.”

“Really?” said Jagged, and he jumped up into the air, and banged against the dock support. There was a loud gong, but there were no sparks.

“Did I make sparks?” asked Jagged.

“No,” said Sparkly and Flinty.

“Don’t be sad,” said Mother Stone. “You’re made of granite, and sparks only fly when steel and flint collide. You made a lovely loud gong, though.”

“Do you think my gong was loud enough for Shiny to hear?” asked Jagged.

“Or my sparks bright enough for her to see?” asked Flinty.

“Or my sparkles far enough for her to notice?” asked Sparkly.

“I think,” said Mother Stone, “that you should all three try at once.” So Sparkly got back on Mother Stone and sent her sparkles as far as she could. Flinty helped Jagged jump into the air to make a gong against the support, and then Jagged helped Flinty jump to make sparks.

Sparkle! Gong! Spark! Sparkle! Gong! Spark!

And finally, Shiny came tumbling home.

Throughout the rest of the bright wonderful Summer, Skippy showed each of the pebbles how to keep track of home, as they skipped across the lake. They had wonderful fun exploring all over, and always tumbled home in time to go to bedrock at night.

But they didn’t just learn about skipping and exploring. They learned how to work together, and help each other use their different abilities.

By the end of the Summer, they even helped Jagged to skip.

But that’s for another story.