Sham found a very special friend and together they went searching for adventures .
The Discovery
After the nightmare of the storm young Sham had moved into a new place and was reunited with Toby Woby his closed ever sofest and cutest little toy friend .
Sham was the only one who coiuld hear Toby Woby talking and he always lidtened to everything he said .
It was a new day when Sham awoke and the birds were singing and in his heart had found a new set of wings .
He was so happy to have Toby Woby back again . Ever since he was baby they had always been together . They were inseparable. He put Toby Woby down at the end of the bed while he went over to the window to see what the weather was like but as soon as he turned his back a little voice coming from the end of the bed said ,
“Hey Sham what’s happening ?”
Sham spun around and said,
“ Toby Woby is that you . Wow I never heard you talk before .“
“Well they told me its was ok . Mr Bubumpkin and Pouge O’Loan said you would understand because you have a gift and me being you’re one and true friend , everything would be okey doakey .“
Toby pointed to his chest and a red light began to shine and Sham asked .
“What’s that Toby?“
Toby wiped away a tear from his eyes and said ,
“I missed you with all my heart when we got separated in that storm but now my little heart light has returned . Being with you makes me happy “
Sham asked
“Can you move as well ?”
Toby stood up on the bed and said
“Watch this “
He jumped up and down on the bed and sprung up into the air doing a somersault and then he landed upright on the floor standing beside Sham .
“ Well Toby that was just brilliant . I’m so happy as well . to have you back .”
Sham sat down on the ground with Toby and held out his hand ,
Toby jumped onto Sham’s hand and said ,
“I also know , how to fly . ”
Sham looked so surprised and said
“Oh really wow that’s just amazing Toby, I wish I could fly too ”
.
“ Oh all right . Then I think I may be able to help you there Sham ”
He replied . Sham was so excited and took a big deep breath and said
“ You can help me fly ”
“That’s right , but first I have to be the same size as you and look the way you do and speak like to do and be just like you in every way .”
Toby snapped his finger and then went zooming through the air in a twirl of flashing colours making these strange whirling twirling sounds that filled the entire room . Then he returned on the floor beside Sham and started growing until he was the same size as Sham and he stared to change his appearance until he was a double , and an absolute copy of Sham himself .
Sham was amazed and he said ,
“You look just like me .“
.
“ Well then Sham that’s the easy part done so now its your turn to play a part in learning how to fly . First thing you need to do is to open up that window “
Sham went over and opened up the window and said,
“Ok Toby now what do I have to do ?”
Toby replied ,
“Stand beside me now and jump into me ” .
“How do I jump into you ?”
Sham asked
“Well , first stand next to me Sham , shoulder to shoulder ” .
Sham did as he was told and he noticed that Toby Woby’s little heart light started to shine , He looked at Sham and he said , .
“ Are you ready ?”
“I’m ready “
Sham replied
“Good , now lean into me and give me a dunt until you can feel yourself floating”
Sham did as he ws asked and suddenly in an instant he began to float off the ground and in a few seconds he was out the window and flying up in the sky .
“ Ahhh whee Toby Woby this just fantastic , I’m flying . How can it be ?”
”
“Welre just like the breeze Sham .You and me and we are free to go where ever we want unnoticed . Over the streets and over the ocean . ”
As they flew through the streets of the Chapters End , Sham shouted out to the people below but no one heard him and no one noticed them . Just then as things were going smooth a dark cloud descended down from the sky and then it surrounded them . It was as if they had been thrown inside a closet with four dark walls around them . Toby looked at Sham and said ,
.
“ Listen to now Sham ,just relax and don’t say a thing ”
Four purple jelly like creatures with big black oval shaper heads appeared and
began to shout and scream . They were hovering from side to side and one at a time they swooped in and out and up and down preventing them to move . Blocking their way and then one of them with a high pitched squeaky voice said ,
“ So ho , what have we here . Well, well, if its not little Tobu Woby twinkle toes with his little heartlight friend out for a morning flight . Isn’t that just out of sight ”
Another of the creatures continued ,
“ Thats right , looks like they’re stealing the limelight . Toby Woby and his heartlight friend , But this is the end of the line for you both . You are in our space and in our way so I think we will have to clip your wings ?’
The four of them began to laugh and sing ,
“You ain’t going to be flying around here no more , yeah we’ll make sure that you don’t come back here anymore . Buzz off , cause we’re the boss of the skyways around here , shove off , skedaddle , vamoose , its time to disappear “
At that moment Toby Woby took out large sack from the pocket of the strange creature in front of them and very confidently placed the black bag over its big head .
and then the first of the four disappeared , the other three remained and started to scream as if they were insane . One of them plucked a steel box from out of thin air and opening the lid it attempted to put Toby and Sham inside but Toby Woby’s heart light started to shine and then he began to laugh and sing ,
“You’re in my sky town now and we will fly, while you go down , we’re the breeze and we fly with ease all around my sky town , we fly high and you’ll fly low and no one comes and no one goes , because I’ve got the golden key and now the doors are closed “;
Toby took a sky hook from out of nowhere and one by one he lifted the three creatures placing each of them inside their own steel box and with a golden key from his deep pocket he locked the box that fell into a hole in space .
All the strange creatures were now gone and Sham asked ,
“So tell me Sham, what was all that about ?”
Toby said ,
“What you just saw where there were the four fears of flight . As long as you don’t have any fear of them , they cannot hurt you or stop you . Always remember Sham
the only thing to fear is fear itself . .”
“Are they always out there trying to frighten others ? ”
Sham asked .
Toby laughed and flew through straight through the dark walls around them .
“They’re unimportant beings who always like to get in the way ?”
“Will they ever come back ?”Sham asked ,
“ Don’t be silly . As long as they’re locked up in that box they have no access to the sky plains . They cannot escape because they are now locked up inside their own dark space and there is no way out from there .”
Then Toby and Sham returned back to the bedroom where he popped himself out from Sham and changed back into a tiny little soft toy with a little heart light that shone . Suddenly Mrs Mc Dermott called out ,
“Breakfast is on the table “
Sham parents replied ,
“Thanks for that Mrs Mc Dermott . We’ll be right there .”
Sham lifted Toby up and said
“Thank you for helping me fly : It was just great. We have to go downstairs now “
Toby’s little heart light began to shine and he replied ,
“ From now on , if ever you need to fly , just close your eyes and try really hard to look deep into your heart because that’s where you will find me and when you need me , don’t fear , don’t shed a tear , be happy because life and love will give you a new set of wings to rise above all the things that are in your way .”
Sham opened up the door with Toby Woby under his arm and knocked on his parents bedroom door . As they opened the door Sham stood there and giggled then he said ,
‘Good morning Mum , good morning Dad . I love you”
There was a long brief endless silence that filled the entire room . Emotions of the best kind filtered everywhere all at once . No explanation was needed . It didn’t matter what, why, where, or how , all that mattered was for the first time in a very long time , the most beautiful sound ever was heard . Shams parents were both stunned and overwhelmed . They tried to contain themselves as deep inside they were almost ready to erupt with a joy they had never felt before . They knew a show of such emotions might scare Sham or even render him into silence again soi they remained cool and calm as if nothing had just happened . After they had collected their thoughts , they acted normal as normal could be even though they were over come with joy . They found a moment to say right words to Sham and in a muttered buttered up tone they spluttered out a few little sentences before they became speechless .
“Love you Sham. “ Said Sham’s Dad in a state of silent euphoria and disbelief .
‘”Love you Sham “ Said Sham’s Mum , on the brink of tears .
Then they turned to look at each other with eyes as big as saucers and smiles beaming on their faces ,
Sham smiled as if nothing had just happened and said ,
.
“Isn’t it a beautiful day , let’s not waste any time , so what can we do today .
I really love this place , thank you for bringing us here .“
“Wow , yeah , lets go and check out the sights ?
Replied his Dad and his Mum asked,
“Sham , where did you find Toby Woby , I though he was lost”
Sham laughed :
‘
“Ha Ha . Mum don’t be silly he was in my bed with me when I woke up , Just like he always is “
A knock came to the door ,
“Breakfast is in on the table “
Mrs McDermott said .
“ Ok . We’ll be right there,. Thank you “
A short time later they all sat at the table in the dining room with a full cooked breakfast all spread out for them .
Mrs Mc Dermott , approached and asked ,.
‘Dis you all sleep well then and tell me how is Master Sham this fine day ?“
“ I’m so happy to be here Mrs McDermott “
Sham replied .‘
Then Mr and Mrs Greenacre who where still in a state of unbelief and shock replied .
“We slept very well thank you Mrs McDermott ”
‘What’s the plan today ?
She asked them .
“ I’m going to ride a flying horse up into the sky Mrs Mc Dermott ?
Shan replied .
Everybody burst out laughing , Then Mrs Greenacre replied .
“We thought we might do some sightseeing and shopping , maybe we will try to meet some of the locals in town .:
“What a great idea’”
Came the reply
After breakfast the Greenacre family got into the car and drove away .
They called into the convenience store to buy a newspaper and a map of the surrounding areas . Mr Greenacre went inside THE SHOP .
Inside the shop there were so many things piled up from the floor to the ceiling .
My Greenacres greeted the shopkeeper who sat behind the counter on a rocking chair reading a book.
.
“Good morning to you sir ,isn’t it a beautiful day ?
“Sure indeed it is and welcome to the Everything Is Ok Store here in Chapters End . So how long are you staying here ? “
“We have 4 weeks to spend here in this magic place . “
“Time stands still here you know ?
‘So I’m told . Now tell me would you have this morning newspaper .?”
“Oh no sir , we don’t get that until tomorrow . All we have is yesterdays newspaper today, if that would be all right with you and I’ll keep you todays newspaper when it arrives tomorrow if you like sir . “
‘Ok I suppose that would be ok . Yesterdays paper will be fine . Do you have any maps of the local area or travel brochures ?“
“Can I give you a little good advice Mr …ahem
“Greenacre “ Came the hasty reply
“Pleased to meet you Mr Greenacre. “
“ Well you can call me Ted if that’s Ok , Mr.. ah “
My name is O’Kay Ted .
(He coughs then clears his throat with a glass of water)
Sean O’Kay . Now the thing is about Chapters End Ted, is you’ve got to just go and discover the place . There’s no need for maps or brochures “
”Ok Mr O’Kay . I mean Sean :
‘”Now here’s you newspaper Ted . So I’ll see you tomorrow for today’s newspaper then . I’ll be open at 7 then close for lunch at midday to reopen again at 3 O’Clock until 6 O’Clock when I have dinner to reopen at 8 and close at 10 O’Clock . So anytime at all you’re always welcome .
“Thank you Mr O’Kay .”
You can call me Sean if that’s ok with you .:
“Ok I surely will Sean : “
Handing over the correct change for the newspaper , Mr Greenacre turns and walks away . He turns around and waves before leaving the shop and gets a wave in return .
“Go now and just discover for yourself where you are “
Said Mr O’;Kay
Out of the shop he went , with a skip in his toes . He got into the car with a big happy smile and said .
‘You know what . I’m really getting to like this place . Lets go and discover Chapters End ”
They drove for a while on a road that turned from gravel to grass and then to a gate
With a sign that said .
“Don’t go back . You’re On the right track . Shut the gate behind you “
On the other side of the gate they drove along a stony path until they came to a circle of trees . Inside the circle was a large heart shaped stone . On the stone there was message engraved on a steel plate that said
You are here in a mystic place within the circle of Orlosscomuckindo . In a time long ago here , all in our tribe used to meet once a week . We lived simple lives and hoped that one day other people would come here and appreciate the simple things as we did . When you leave this place to where ever you are going take us with you in your heart and discover a simple way of life as we did long ago .
All ,of them touched the heart stone and they smiled . Then they left the way they came a little better for the experience . As they made their way back to the gate they felt a peace come over them . They drove around for a while through the quiet roads before returning to the village . As they approached the Storytellers cottage they noticed someone there cutting the grass . He waved and smiled at them . Ted stopped and parked the car and they all got out to speak to him . Mr Greenacre approached and reached out his hand . With a warm handshake and said ,
‘Good afternoon sir , Nice to meet you . My name is Ted , my wife Sally and Sham my son . All of us are on a holiday here for 4 weeks and we’re just beginning to discover the beauty of this place “
“Hello and welcome to Chapters End my name is Mr Gardener . People around here call me Tom .“‘:
“Tom did you know the storyteller that used to live here in this cottage ?
Oh yes , His name was Pogue O’Loan and he was a gifted man with words . He would often go walking around the country telling stories . It was his profession .
and people loved to see him coming , Back in the day when he lived here many people would come to the cottage here to listen to his stories .”‘
Mrs Greenacre asked ,
“What happened to him Tom ?”
“ Well now Sally , a little while ago , there was a shooting star that fell from the sky as off he went racing across the fields to find the place where it landed and since that day he never returned . “
Sham asked ,
“Did he tell stories to the little creatures of the hills ?”
Tom’s eyes lit up , He squatted down and looked into Shams eyes and said ,
“ Now little Sham how ever did you know that , Sure it would seem that you must know him yourself . Yes indeed Pogue was a very gifted man . It was common knowledge that he could talk to the animals and charm them all with his stories . There was no one like him anywhere and there never will be . All of us in the village hope that he will return to us again some day “‘
Mr Greenacre was intrigued and asked .
“ How old was the storyteller Tom ?
“Well no one really know to tell you the truth . Some say he was as old as the hills but no one knows the exact number of years he has lived . That knowledge is kept secret . Some say that only the salmon of the silent lake would know the answer . “
“I used to do a bit of fishing myself Tom . Do you know where the salmon are running around here ?:
“ There’s a road on the east side of the town that goes on forever but it will eventually take you to a bridge . Around that bridge is the Silent Lake that’s nestled between Alapacap Mountain and the hills of Lore . So if you go there , you’ll find a friendly but very wise and very old salmon who lives in the lake . That salmon is known as Cormac and he owns all the knowledge of the ancient Orlosscomuckindo tribe . They say that anyone who would catch Cormac and eats him will inherit all of all of the knowledge that he has . The only person who every caught Cormac was Pogue O’Loan , the storyteller who captured the fish with a story of enchantment from a place known only to the fairy folk . He held that salmon in his hands and looked into its eyes . The fish was helpless , but the storyteller threw him back into the silver lake where he still remains free to this very day .“
”Can we go there Dad?”
Little Sham asked .
“We surely must do that tomorrow son . I’ll get us some bait and tackle and a few fishing rods from the Everything Is Ok Store . Then we will go in search of Cormac from silent lake”
“Its getting close to dinner time folks so if you excuse me I’ll bid you all good day “‘
“Nice to meet you Tom ‘
Sham said , then everyone waved goodbye . .
The Greenacres all returned to Mrs Mc Dermotts and she had dinner cooking . They all told her about the places they went and the people they saw .
After dinner Shams father made a phone call to the specialist Doctor who was part of Shams care team to inform them what had happened .
The advice he gave was not to mention to Sham anything about him not being able to speak and to continue with everyday normal activities . He offered the possible scenario of a brain function known as the cognatic rewire connection . After some severe trauma the brain goes through some temporary shut down modes where it it can prevent some of the senses and abilities of the mind to work .
This shut down can last for weeks , months or even years in some cases but once the brain has dealt with the unbalance caused by the trauma , normal functions do return .
They spent most of the evening talking and playing games until night fell and then they got ready for bed .
Sham went to his bedroom and looked out the window at the ocean .
The wind blew a kind of melody with whistle and a hushing sound and then it whispered his name , Sham , Little Sham , come away now , for its time to go .
He was in a trance and reached for his soft shoes and then he quietly went down the stairs and out the door into the street , He made his way to the Storytellers cottage in a trace and opened the door . Moving the treasure away he one again opened up the trapdoor and climbed down the ladder to the door . On the other side of the door he could hear a voice he recognised . It was Peggy the flying horse .
‘Come little Sham . Its time to fly “
When he opened the door there was a mirror there and the reflection of Peggy looked back as him . Sham instinctively took one step into the mirror world and Peggy lowered her head down for Sham . He grabbed on to her neck and she lifted her head pulling Sham up on to her back .
‘Hold on tight Little Sham we have an appointment to visit the Princess Of Happiness who is going on a mission to bring happiness to the Keeper of the chains of sorrow . “
Up into the sky they flew over the Olden hills and past Puggles wood , across the Mermaid sea and over Popple mountain to the Island Of Awesum near Giggle Bay and the Happy Kingdom .
The King and his daughter the Princess of happiness were there with a welcome committee for Peggy and Sham . There was the Captain Pogues of the ship The Good Yarn and Seesum the oracle of Popple Mountain , Oman the of Navigator and the Willeck the kind beast from the misty caves of Ruin who could see through darkness and fog .
Peggy landed to a rapturous applause . Peggy folded his wings and Sham dismounted . The King called for a welcome and everyone there responded in their own wonderful way . Then the King called for the cook, who called for a carrot cake and two servants to feed Peggy the flying horse . Then the King called for a song and the Princess called for a musician , who called for an audience and the audience arrived on a Swanship from the sky that landed nearby . All the audience took their seats and the Princess she began to sing a welcome song for Sham and Peggy ..
The Princess dazzled and everyone who listened were amazed and overjoyed with
The song she sang . The Princess always made everyone happy when she sang . There was nothing she could do better than bringing happiness . It was her gift and she shared it freely with anyone , anywhere at anytime she wanted and when she did everyone smiled and laughed and danced , She lived up to her name and throughout the Happy Kingdom her voice echoed with the love , peace and joy .
At night when she sang the stars in the sky would gaze down in wonder and in the morning in the meadows the wind danced with the flowers and in the Bay the ripples flowed back and forward with emotions reflected by the sun .
.
After the song the Princess invited Captain Pogues to explain to all those gathered of was going to happen .
“Thank you Princess of Happiness .Hello as you know my name is Pogue O’Loan , the Pirate of the Forbidden Seas . Now its time now for us to begin the mission we have always dreamt of . Yes , for this we have waited so long and now is the time , for us to make the voyage across the bay , through the blue mists , where we rise above the storm and make our way beyond to the shores of Popple mountain .
What the heck there’s no turning back now , so lets cast off into the unknown where we’ll have stories to tell and songs to sing . We must bring happiness to those held captive by the Green eyed goblin of Popple Mountain . Come away now , lets go and we’ll break the chains of sorrow and see things that no one has seen and hear things in places where no one has been before “.
Peggy looked at Sham and said ,
“Be happy and enjoy the voyage Little Sham . When you return I’ll be here waiting”
The Princess , Sham and the all the crew made their way to the ship down at the bay and climbed the steps that brought them to the upper deck of The Good Yarn.
Within seconds of their departure their ship was engulfed by a thick blue mist and within the mist there was growling and howling of wild dogs all around the ship .
Willeck the kind beast was able to see through the mist and with soft and kind voice he put top sleep the growls and howls of the wild dogs of the sea . As the mist lifted Oman the navigator took the wheel of the ship and steered a passage to Popple Mountain , Half way across the bay a storm arrives , strong winds blew and the rain fell down as waves like mountains threw the ship up and down but in the midst of the storm ,
Pogue O’Loan began to tell some stories to the crew that were calmed by his voice and the calmness went out to the storm and the storm died away. Immediately the Princess began to sing her songs and all the crew started laughing and dancing . The happy crew of The Good Yarn made their way to the shores of Popple Mountain where they dropped anchor and lowered the small boats .
Once they set foot on the shore, Seesum the oracle of Popple Mountain led the way up the unknown paths of the mountain to the cave of the green eyed goblin .
Possessed with supernatural powers the green goblin was aware of the intruders outside the cave but brave Princess wasted no time in singing songs of happiness that cut through the chains of sorrow releasing all the captives from the cave .
The green eyed goblin was so upset that all of his prisoners were set free and scast a spell and darkness fell all around the mountain . But Willeck the kind beast could see through the darkness and led the way back to the shore where the small boats sat . As they made their way back to The Good Yarn , the sound of moaning and weeping from the green eyed goblin could be heard . The sad sound soon disappeared when the Captain and crew were back on board the Good Yard , Then the darkness lifted and Oman steered a secret passage back across the bay to the Happy Kingdom
.
What a joy it was with their mission was complete . They sang and told stories all the way back and above in the sky the sun shone brightly in a big blue sky ,
At the twilight of the day the ship docked in Giggle Bay . All of the crew disembarked to a wonderful welcome and Peggy flew down from the sky and stood there beside Little Sham .
The Captain and the crew were congratulated by the King who presented them all with medals of courage and appreciation .
Then the King called for a trumpeter who called for a trumpet and then he sounded out a blast of triumph through the horn . The sound was heard all around the Kingdom and across the bay to the mountain beyond , The echoes of that sound continued as he took another breath a blew the sound of attention . Then above in the clouds came the Swanship to collect the audience who had gathered and before long the Swanship disappeared through the clouds .
PEGGY AND Sham said farewell to the King and the Princess of happiness and Pogue O’Loan came over and looked close into Sham eyes and said .
“Things will get better Little Sham , lets not say goodbye but hello . Now go with Peggy up through the sky where rainbows of many colours are there for you to see and when you return again let me know if you were able to catch Cormac the salmon from Silent Lake.”
Peggy lowered her head down and Sham grasped her neck . She raised her head
And Sham fell on not her back ,
‘Hold on tight now Sham . Its time to fly “.
Up in the air they went like an arrow through the sky passing The Mermaid Sea and Puggle Woods to past The Olden Hills and then eventually back to the Storyteller s cottage by the river of Dreams Sham was amazed to see Pogue O”Loan was already standing there by the door waiting for them and he said .
“Time and space mean nothing here in this place
Come in if you have some time to spare I’ll tell you a tale of a King and a Castle .
On the edge of the universe where no one had been or somewhere in that direction” .
The door of the cottage opened up by itself and the storyteller said
.
“Come in and stay a while “ His voice was welcoming and hypnotic .
Once inside the little cottage Sham saw a long corridor to a door .
He opened the door to where he saw another corridor to a double door .
He opened that door and found he was back in the storytellers cottage in Chapters End . In that room was a treasure chest that he put back again in its usual place . ,
He opened up the door of the cottage and walked back to Mrs McDermotts guest house and noticed that it was the same time as when he had left . He walked quietly up the stairs and back into his bedroom where he took a book from the shelf and started to read a story about a King who lived In a castle in the sky on the edge of a universe where no one had ever been .
He finished the story and climbed into bed . He looked out the window at the moon shinning down on the ocean and heard the wind that whispered softly a lullaby in his ear and he fell fast asleep .
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The Discovery
