The Birthday Gift - Laszlo Kugler (i am reading a book txt) 📗

In a far away enchanted land of Kali-fornia near the Great Ocean, there lived a princess by the name Fatima. Her eighteenth birthday was coming up fast, and her mother Sereni the queen had yet still to figure out what to buy her precious darling daughter. She asked Fatima’s six younger sisters Jazmine, Tori, Sabrina, Fariha, Eva (pronounced Ava)and Hannah if they could help her out, but the only reply she got was, “Fatima loves candy.”

Alas (yes, alas), this did not bode well with her mom. You see, Fatima was a tad overweight...ok...maybe more than just a tad. Her sweet tooth was beginning to cost the kingdom a lot of money. Princess gowns were not cheap now-a-days, and Fatima was out-growing them real fast. So, candy was definitely out. “But what to do!” cried her mom. “Maybe I’ll ask my sister Queen Jen. She only lives in Bakersfield, not too far away.” But her sister was no help. Then she contacted Fatima’s three aunts from her father’s side of the family, but again, Aunt Tatyana just shrugged her shoulders. Aunt Melissa and Aunt Lenora also simply scratched their heads not having a clue. She was going to ask Fatima’s older cousin Dreamthief, but he was somewhere off probably on some ‘trip’.

“I know! I’ll call Valerie, the Witch of the North.” Well, ok, maybe she really should be called ex-Witch of the North. You see way up where she flew in from, the weather gets quite damp and cold. Her arthritis was starting to bother her, so she moved to Kali-fornia to bask there in the warmth of the sun.

“Val, can you help me pick out a present for Fatima?”

“What does she like?” asked Val.

“Besides sweets, I have no idea.”

Val replied, “In that case I too have no clue...sorry.” Then she added, “but you can ask Felix, the mayor of your royal queendom. He is known to be one who can answer just about any query. Try him. Oh, and there’s my sister the Witch of the East, Wendy; North-east to be exact. Or you can call my other sister Lavery, the Witch of the South.”

“I already tried them both...same replies,” she sighed.

“Oh wait. I know just who to ask for help.”

“Who? Please tell.” begged Queen Sereni.

“There’s a great wizard who goes by the name Lazarus. He is somewhat of a recluse. I hear he hides out somewhere in the Topanga Canyon; not too far from here. I can fly there to see if I can find him for you.”

 “I’ll be so grateful to you. Please be swift!”

A week later, just about ten days before the festivities of Princess Fatima’s day, Wichy Val found the wizard surfing the waves in Malibu. He loved the competition, but mostly he loved watching all those lovely beach bunnies. And who can blame the old fellow. These were some of the land’s finest looking ladies.

After explaining the situation to the Great Wizard, he came up with the perfect solution.

That Grande Day finally came. The parade and pomp were beyond what everyone had expected. Doves, balloons, clowns, food...oh, yes, there was food, tons of it!  Princes and princesses came from all parts of the land...and beyond. Some came by snowmobile wearing parkas, from a land up north called Ka-na-da. Also, exotic birds and animals were displayed for the birthday girl to admire. Fatima was beside herself with excitement! She couldn’t be happier!

Hours later, in the great banquet hall, after everyone had feasted and were feeling thoroughly satisfied and satiated, Fatima opened all her presents.  When she was done, her mother then brought out a special small box. Fatima, although being curious, was a bit disappointed due to the size of the package, but she kept her thoughts to herself.  ‘What can it be?’ she mused.

“Here is your gift from me,” said her mother as she presented the pretty blue box with the scarlet ribbon and bow around it to the eager hands of her beloved daughter.

As Fatima carefully tore the gift’s wrapping off, she froze when she saw its content.

“A glass lollipop! It’s beautiful! Thank you so much, mom!”

Queen Sereni told her that it was more than a mere decoration. At which point she called Wizard Lazarus to her side, and said, “This is not your ordinary candy, but it’s an enchanted one. Lick it and see.”

Fatima first stuck her tongue out and cautiously licked it, and exclaimed, “Wow, it tastes like licorice? I love it! And look at all those wonderful colors swirling just beneath its crystal surface”.

At that point The Wizard stepped in and told her that every day this magic lollipop would have a different flavor, and would continue to display various colors and hues to match all of its myriads of flavors.

Fatima hugged and thanked them both, and stuck the whole candy in her mouth.

Lazarus, seeing how this candy thrilled this young maiden so, suddenly had the idea of giving one or more of such to some of the beach bunnies whom he fancied.

In any case the princess was extremely happy...and so was her mom, the queen.  Fatima could lick all she wanted and not suffer the consequences of overloading on sugar. In fact she slimmed down so much all the princes of the land were falling down at her feet wanting to date her.

...years later when Fatima’s oldest daughter became eighteen she had The Wiz Lazarus conjure up another magical lollipop for her too.

Needless to say....they all lived happily ever after.

Publication Date: 08-23-2013

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