My Dear Ordinary Life

CHAPTER 7: THE BOOK OF TALES

It was easy to find that Book of Tales on the shelf: it was the biggest and most adorned book among the others. (I'm narrating as if I didn't know my own house, eh?) As we came nearer, we heard a muffled voice. The book shook a little. It shook so much that it fell on the floor, but surprisingly, it didn't open on the fall: the book had been closed off. The drawing of the dressed Lion on the front cover was staring at us, frowning.

"Hello there." He roared. "Sorry, I can't help but roar even though I love to sing ballads. Do you love to sing?"

Again, a funny character. I felt used to it now. He began to sing...in a honeyed, husky voice. It was, he said, his favorite ballad. Sporty, Buzz and I looked at each other, not knowing what to do with ourselves, it was so out of the blue. But we couldn't deny he had a very wonderful voice -very sweet...and soothing.

"How was I? The Princess loves to hear me sing. Oh, she's waiting for you by the way."

At his words, all our heads jumped up and we talked all at once in every temper possible.

"Calm down, folks, calm down."

We rapidly calmed down at the Lion's roar. I saw that despite looking poised, Buzz had profound worried eyes, so I spoke up to the Lion:

"Lion, your voice is wonderful, really. No wonder the Princess loves your singing. As it happens, we need to find her and save her as soon as possible. Please, let us inside!"

The Lion thought for a moment. Then he fixed his eyes on me as if he tried to read through me, myself and I. But neither me, myself, nor I were ready when he suddenly roared:

"Name of the operation?"

"R-RODEO!" I awkwardly shouted, as if I had to show him all my determination.

"Entry granted, folks. Now, promise me to remember one single thing: never forget the leaves on the tree."

Huh? Hey, I already heard this before...Why am I told this again? Now?

The lock broke and the book spectacularly opened, spouting sparkling diamond dust! The Lion was humming a melody when the diamond dust sucked us up into the turning pages: tales of all kinds marvelously passed before our eyes. And we slowly landed in a forest, it was nightfall here. One could only see the other one's teeth in this thick darkness. Then the diamond dust we had ridden upon fixed itself into the night sky as stars would, and shone brightly: finally some light. It wasn't possible to know in which tale we had landed. Really no clue. Except for the trees. But trees are in every tale possible, so it doesn't help.

"You hear this?" asked the Carpet.

"Is it the Lion singing again?" I said with a smile.

"No! Sound of violins...it's a waltz!"

There was a faint sound of music fluttering on the wind.

"THE BALL!" We all exclaimed in one voice excitedly.

The Carpet slided among the trees until the imposing shape of a castle was made visible and the music came nearby. The castle was tale-worthy and had all the characteristics anyone would expect it to have, but I still couldn't guess which tale it was. When we walked into the castle, we nervously brushed off imaginary dirt from our suits. Buzz had his gun ready in his inside pocket. We had to walk up countless steps on the red double staircase. People turned heads when we entered the ballroom. I realised it was not because we were Cinderella, but because they saw a walking Carpet in a ballroom. The Carpet proudly sticked out its "chest" while walking. The room was really wide and illuminated by electric lighting. Couples were happily waltzing, ballgowns swept the floor, the musicians touched their instruments with grace, delectable food furnished the round tables...I hadn't forgotten we were in a book and I hoped that it was not only paper. As I was about to help myself to an exquisite petit four, the music stopped and a strident voice announced: