27 January 2013
Once upon a time, a long time ago, and I mean a very long time ago, in the magical land of Nahloo between the Picawawa and Latootoowa Mountains. In this wonderful land, there were bright blue skies with clouds like spun sugar and tiny red birds that fluttered together in groups of eight. The mountains were covered with tall trees that smelled of maple syrup and their peaks were surrounded by swirling purple mist. The ponds on Nahloo were home to white swans with pink tipped feathers who spoke fluid French. All was FANTASTICAL here in this special land, which was ruled by a kind and beautiful princess named Autumn Renee.
Princess Autumn Renee had long, dancing golden hair, that glistened in the sun and fell over her shoulders like a waterfall. Her eyes were big and the warmest of brown. Her cheeks were like ripe apples and her manner was just as sweet. The princess lived in a castle full of kittens who painted pretty pictures with their small paws. She ruled over a kingdom filled with kind-hearted people who shared FLUFFYPOPS (a cereal similar to Poppyfluffs which are similar to frosted flakes) in the morning, tea at high noon, and snacks in the afternoon. The animal citizens of Nahloo always waltzed in the sparkling moonlight until they went to the campfire before bed.
Nahloo was a land of plenty, with lots of wonderful food to share. Fat grapes grew on vines over thatched, stout, and cozy houses and fresh eggs were laid by agreeable chickens. Pink and white cows gave strawberry milk, brown cows gave chocolate and blue colored cows gave the most delicious and smooth blueberry milk you have ever tasted (if you have tasted blueberry milk before). Baker badgers made chocolate chip cookies for everyone and squirrels took charge of toasting wheat nut bread in the golden sun and the bees covered it in sweet honey. The Princess herself made peanut butter and jelly-filled donuts and the little red birds delivered them as the literally smiling sun rose in the sky. Everyone gave to each other, so their hearts were happy.
Nahloo was a peaceful place until one day a dark blue bear came down from his dark, dreary CAVE in the mountains in a neighboring land. He didn’t want to waltz by the moon’s light and he DEFINITELY did not want to share. His name was Broon and he was most quarrelsome.
Broon gobbled up grapes and in the process frightened the chickens so that they couldn’t lay eggs. He grabbed cookies (they were his favorite snack) and stuffed every single one into his mouth, leaving crumbs all over the poor badgers’ kitchens. He gulped down gallons of milk and splashed through the French swans' ponds. When the bees saw what Broon was doing, they buzzed hurriedly away and kept all their honey while the squirrels stopped their chattering and hid their nutty bread. Broon caused chaos everywhere in the now devastated land of Nahloo.
When the princess heard about Broon she exclaimed, "Oh my! This will not do!" She came down from the castle on the high hill and finally found Broon, who was busy raiding a honey pot. "Mr. Bear,"she said. “You are most certainly welcome in Nahloo, but not your ways." Startled, Broon stopped his pursuit of the pot and looked up at the Princess. She quipped, "Here we give to others, not take from them. I think you would feel quite disagreeable now and not just because of all you’ve eaten!" Broon thought about it for a moment it and realized that was true.
"Well," he grumbled (because he always talked with a GRUMBLE). "Maybe all that strawberry, blueberry, and chocolate milk wasn't the best idea..."
The princess continued, "Mr. Broon Bear, you can eat and eat, but you will never ever really feel good. That comes only from giving. I think you’ll find that it is better to be full in your heart than in your stomach." With that, she pranced back up to the castle and started a batch of doughnuts, leaving a dazed Broon behind.
Broon continued with his greedy ways for awhile after their conversation. However, no matter how much Broon ate, he still felt empty inside. One day, after he’d just taken a batch of cookies from the badgers he paused for a moment and remembered what the pretty Princess Auburn said to him. He slowly turned around and then gave them back.
The badgers were surprised but pleased and said, "Thank you, Mr. Broon for your kindness. These cookies will now taste twice as sweet because they were given to us by a friend. If you’d like, come back tomorrow and we’ll have a batch fresh out of the oven for you." Broon was in turn surprised, but then filled with happiness. He skipped around all of Nahloo and gave back all the things he had taken. Broon became very popular in the land for giving, and he soon opened a business with squirrels. He made BANANA jelly and it went wonderfully with the squirrels' nutty bread. The land of Nahloo lived happily ever after and it's still there, nestling happily in a valley between the Picawawa and Latootoowa Mountains. through the land, giving back everything he’d takehim anddjjrtner.
Broon In Nahloo • Opuss № I