Sarah's Secret Place

Within the mountains there was a young girl, who loved everything adventurous, mysterious, if it was peculiar then it was for her. She loved letting her imagination run wild of the things she wished she would see, touch and even taste. The things that everyone always told her were make believe. Yet, in her mind, who was to say what was real and what wasn’t.

Weren’t there things that people believed in yet couldn’t see? She knew there was, yet why were the things she wanted to believe in considered mythical and imaginary. This made Sarah wonder to herself. One evening she sat on the living floor with her young brother, suddenly she looked up to her mother with a curious expression.

“Mom?” Sarah asked.

“Yes, sissy? What’s wrong honey?” She asked.

“Isn’t there things in the world people believe in, yet that cant be seen?” Sarah asked.

Her mother knew there were many things people believed in that could not be touched or seen. Yet, did not know if she should try to explain this to her daughter at this time. She loved her daughter with all of her heart, yet did not want to give her false hope in something she knew Sarah wanted to be so much.

She knew Sarah knew what things were real and what was not. Yet, how could she deny her daughters fancies. She wanted her to have the insight and time to experience things for herself. With a large smile on her face she turned to Sarah and whispered softly.

“Always believe love. Follow your heart, it shall show you the path.” She spoke softly.

With her mothers words she knew the way she would find out, would be by following her heart. She would find many things in life that were new and different. Feeling content Sarah said her good nights to her mother and aunt, and little brother. As she curled up in bed images of unicorns, fairies, and other creatures ran wild behind her eye lids. As she passed into slumber all the things she so loved came to life.

Sarah awoke early in the morning; she was a very beautiful, happy girl. She looked forward to experiencing new things daily. With a wide smile she began getting out of bed, placing her bare feet on the floor. She knew her slippers had been there when she went to bed, yet, now they were gone.

She wondered where they could have vanished too. She shrugged with a small giggle and walked towards the doorway. She knew her slippers couldn’t get up and walk away…or could they? She wondered to herself. She loved mystical things…things that everyone else believed couldn’t exist.

Sarah believed if you were open to it, you never know what you may find. Along with her mom telling her to always believe that made her feel better inside. With a deep breath she opened her door hearing her little brother playing down stairs. She had a feeling today would be a very special day; she wasn’t sure why, just that it would be.

As she reached the bottom of the stairs she noticed her little brother playing with some of his toys. He was laughing to himself as he looked up to her smiling. Sarah walked up to him giving him a big kiss on his cheek then walked to the kitchen. Her stomach was beginning to grumble wanting some breakfast. As she noticed her mom making breakfast already.

“Morning mom, are there any plans for today?” She spoke hopefully.

“Well I think today, you should spend some time outside and play while I get some house work done. Remember, please stay in the yard…you never know what is out there.” Her mom spoke lovingly.

Sarah smiled to her self as she began thinking about her mom’s statement. Its true she didn’t know what was out there yet she wanted too. She understood within the woods there were dangers. Yet, could there be something else? Could the mythical creatures live in the woods also? She pondered.

As Sarah sat down with her family for breakfast her mind ran to thoughts of things she wished she could see. Hmmm…. Sarah thought. As she finished her breakfast she placed her empty plate in the sink and looked to her mother. Her mom smiled and nodded towards the door. Sarah skipped off to the back door knowing now she would be able to go play in the back yard.

Yet, who was it to say it wasn’t a mysterious land far…far away from where her own back yard was. She giggled and walked into the back yard. She looked around seeing the sand box for her brother, and trees surrounding the yard. She wondered if she had to remain in the back yard how she could experience a new adventure.

As Sarah began thinking she knew there had to be something she could do. She picked up the ball and began kicking it around wishing she had someone to play with.

Suddenly Sarah noticed something move swiftly across the yard as if it were nothing more than a haze. It was too quick to get a good look at, yet the ball was moved from where it was. She tilted her head wondering what moved it. She walked up to the ball and began tapping it with her new white sneakers. Suddenly she felt something bump into her leg and take off with the ball. She could not see what had taken the ball or bumped her; yet, it was making off with her ball.

“Wait, please wait…I won’t hurt you.” Sarah called after the ball.

A small sound immerged from where the ball had abruptly come to a complete stop. Sarah began walking towards the ball as she noticed a blur once more. There was something very small and very fast within the yard. Yet, she didn’t know what could have moved so quickly or been so small. Sarah sat down on the ground with her legs crossed and the ball placed on her lap. She wished whatever it was would come out and play with her.

“Want to play with me?” Sarah asked.

“Who are you?” The tiny voice chimed.

“I am Sarah…I live here.” She spoke.

Sarah began talking out loud to whatever it was. She could not see it, yet knew it was there. Suddenly she noticed the haze sweep across the yard once more and stop directly on top of her ball. With Sarah’s amazement it was a tiny girl. Wait, Sarah thought… she wasn’t a tiny girl. She was indeed a fairy. No wonders she moved so quickly.

Sarah smiled widely at the fairy introducing herself. The fairy smiled in return knowing that she had just met a new friend. Sarah asked the fairy what her name was, as the fairy answered her. The fairy told her that her name was Shimmer. Like what the stars do at night. Sarah smiled and told the small fairy that she had a nice name. Shimmer sat down on the large ball, sliding down its side.

“Weeeeeeee” Escaped the small fairy’s mouth.

Sarah began to laugh as she watched Shimmer slide right down the ball onto the ground. With a thud the fairy was on the ground, she had not expected to land on her fanny, yet did.

“Ouch, that hurt.” Shimmer spoke.

“Are you alright?” Sarah asked.

“Yes, thank you. I can’t fly. My mother tells me I will one day. But, I try and try but I can’t.” Shimmer spoke sadly.

Sarah wondered could Shimmer’s problem be that she didn’t believe in herself? Sarah began telling Shimmer what her mom had told her.

“My mom says, Always believe. If you don’t believe you can do it then how can you? Shimmer, I wondered if fairies existed and look here you are. I believed in you, cant you do the same? BELIEVE IN YOURSELF.” Sarah spoke.

Shimmer nodded her tiny head and scrunched her face up as if she was trying to do something very hard. She stretched out her brilliant pink shiny wings and began to try to flutter them. Believe! Suddenly Sarah noticed that Shimmer’s wings were beginning to flutter, very quickly. Faster, and faster. Sarah smiled widely as she watched Shimmer trying with all her might. Suddenly Shimmer was beginning to rise up into the air, higher and higher. Sarah’s eyes widened, watching on.

“You did it! You believed Shimmer. See if you believe anything can happen.” Sarah called out.

“I did it, I did it!” Shimmer called out.

“I knew you could do it. I knew it!” Sarah spoke.

Sarah felt as she just helped Shimmer learn to fly. How is it a fairy couldn’t believe in herself. Sarah was beginning to understand how believing can change things and make a difference. At that very moment she knew her mom was right. With faith and love anything can happen. As Sarah and Shimmer giggled as they began playing with the ball in the back yard.

Sarah began asking Shimmer if other creatures existed too, or if it were just fairies. Shimmer told Sarah there was a whole world full of things people didn’t believe in. Sarah began to wonder if she would ever be able to meet some of the other wonderful creatures that existed and were over looked. Sarah asked Shimmer if they could be friends and play when she was aloud too. Shimmer loved the idea of having a new friend.

She was lonely and didn’t have many friend because she wasn’t able to fly. But, now she found Sarah who believed in her to the point where she tried with all of her might and finally flew. She knew Sarah would always be there no matter what. A true friend, her only friend; the most precious of all kind of friend. One who had faith and love in her heart.

Sarah noticed it was beginning to get darker. Shimmer looked at the sky with a look of surprise. Her mother had told her not to be out to late, and it was starting to get dark.

“Play tomorrow Sarah?” Shimmer asked.

“Yes, as long as mom says its ok.” Sarah answered.

With that Shimmer flew off into the edge of trees. Sarah watched intently as a brilliant pink trail followed her. Sarah giggled and skipped to the house knowing not only did she know she had a new friend but she would always follow her heart from now on. As she arrived in the kitchen she noticed her mom making dinner. Her mom asked her if she had fun today, Sarah just nodded as she began to laugh to herself. Sarah vanished into the living room happily. Her mom was unsure why Sarah was so happy, yet, it didn’t matter as long as she was.

Sarah began playing on the living room floor with her little brother thinking about the wonderful day she had just had. Now, if fairies existed, other things did also. Her eyes widened in excitement knowing she may meet more of the creatures that live in the world. The mysterious, adventurous world everyone seems to over look. Sarah walked to the kitchen as her mother called her for dinner.

She ate her dinner knowing somewhere Shimmer was doing the same thing with her mom. With a smile and a soft sigh she knew that moms were the most treasured creatures in the world even above the mythical ones. Sarah finished her dinner up, placing her plate in the sink she asked her mother if she could go to bed early because she was tired from her exciting day. She had not told her mom what happened but knew if she did her mom would be there and believe her. Sarah knew at the moment this was her special secret, in her very special place; in her own back yard.

Sarah walked up the tan carpeted stairs to the hallway. As she reached the top she began wondering if indeed something had taken her slippers. She would have to look around to see if she could find them. How could she tell her mom they got up and walked away on their own? Yet, it would be funny to see her expression. Sarah pictured that conversation and how it would go.

Sarah began laughing hysterically out loud knowing her mom’s face would contort to the idea of her slippers growing feet and walking off on their own. Fuzzy pink slippers skipping down the hallway was just to amusing to Sarah. As she walked into her room she began to hear rustling coming from under her bed. Her eyebrow rose as she slowly walked up to her canopy bed the noise began to become louder.

Sarah took a large breath knowing that she may encounter something amazing, or surprising. As she slowly bent down placing one of her hands flat on the hard wood floor and squatted down onto the floor. She looked under the bed looking to find where the noise was coming from.

It seemed as if when she met Shimmer a whole new world opened up to her. With a large smile she said hello to whatever was hiding under the bed curled up on top of her fuzzy pink slippers sleeping. With in the shadows a little figure showed snuggled up into the opening of her slipper. As if it had made a bed out of it.

She slowly began to crawl under the bed to see who was sleeping in her slipper. As she grew closer she noticed to be what looked like an old man. Yet, he had pointy ears and some other distinguishing features; like his green skin for one and a pointy chin to go with his ears. She wondered what he could be? Along with why he took her slippers, she needed them. But, at the moment it looked like he needed them more. She reached her hand towards the miniature man sleeping in her slipper.

“Excuse me, um hello?” Sarah spoke.

“Sleeping…as the sleeping do. Go away!” The voice demanded.