Cruz's Big Secret
Page 4
Chapter 5
The balloon fairly jetted along on the wind. They passed planes full of people going on holidays. Cruz peeked in the windows and saw how excited everyone was.
They overtook helicopters and zoomed over clouds. Oh! It was a very speedy balloon that carried then towards home.
As soon as it was light enough to see Cruz hung over the side of the basket and watched the word speed by under their feet. He was really, really looking forward to their next stop.
Suddenly the wind roared and tossed the basket wildly about. Loyal jumped to grab Cruz by the seat of his pants and hauled him inside where it was safe.
“Whoa young man,” he gasped in terror. “Be very careful or you’ll fall out and then I would be in trouble for centuries.”
Cruz had to admit he was a little frightened. They were really bouncing around madly now.
Soon huge mountains came into view and Loyal nodded his head in satisfaction.
“I thought this might be where we were going,” he said. “This is Machu Picchu and the winds are always fierce here. You must hang on very tight when the balloon descends.”
Cruz nodded his head in agreement, although he wasn’t really frightened anymore. He knew his grandparents had visited Peru and liked it. He was eager to get a good look at it himself now that Balloon had kindly delivered him here.
The balloon gave a hearty wheeze, tipping side-ways into the wind.
Whoops, thought Cruz, hanging on tight to the rope around the edge of the basket. This is certainly a very exciting ride.
With a last big shake, the basket dropped to the ground. Thump!! The landing was a bit rough, tossing Cruz around inside the basket. However, now that they were safely on the ground, Cruz could not wait to explore.
Scrambling over the side he ran to the nearest house to investigate. The homes were all empty of course, the Incas had left this city hundreds of years before. Cruz was eager to learn the story of the people who had lived here so long ago and looked around to see if he could find a story teller.
Loyal caught up to Cruz and made him sit down, wedging him safe and tight into the corner of a house. It was a long way down to the bottom of the mountain if the little boy fell.
Quickly, Loyal whispered the magical words to summon the Story Fairy to help him. He watched as the enchanted mist settled over Cruz’s head once more. It was time for Cruz to learn more history and give Loyal a rest. The fairy now had the boy’s full attention.
Cruz become enchanted by the fairy’s musical voice, it seemed to sing the words in the most beautiful tune he’d ever heard. He paid careful attention as he heard the stories of the people who had built this extraordinary city so long ago.
He heard tales of the Incas and their lives. How they had made statues of gold. How they grew crops up here, so high in the sky and many miles from other people.
He watched all that morning as the beautiful llamas wandered all over the city. The llamas were elegant animals with long, long necks, and covered in wool like a sheep. Loyal explained to him how the Peruvian people cut the wool and made beautiful clothes from the colourful yarn.
The llamas moved easily over the steep streets, nimbly picking their way over the rocks nestled in the steep, grassy slopes. They ate the short grass and kept everything very clean and tidy. What a special place this was and what unusual looking animals the llamas were.
Cruz was very interested in everything he heard and added this place to his long list of places to see when he grew up. Oh! Peru was definitely going to be a place for this perfect little adventurer to explore.
“Come on now young Cruz,” said Loyal. “If you don’t get home and back into your cot, you can’t get on with growing up.”
Cruz thought about all of the things he wanted to do. Gosh, he couldn’t wait to get big enough to begin adventuring for real.
“I’m ready,” he said with a cheerful smile.
And with that said, they ran for the balloon ready for the trip home.
Chapter 6
They hung–on tight for the take- off as the winds were still rough. With a gasp and a gulp they squeezed their eyes tight shut. This part really was kind of scary. However, the balloon knew what to do and soon they were up high in the sky, drifting along gently in the breeze. Cruz liked it this way best. He could hang over the side and watch all of the people going about their business down below.
He saw young men surfing giant waves, as they passed over Hawaii. He saw fishermen catching squillions of fish in huge nets. It took four men to pull the heavy nets on-board the fishing trawler.
He watched men painting the Sydney Harbour Bridge and washing the Sydney Opera House. Ah! What an adventure he was on.
It would only take a few more minutes for his house to come into view. Hurrah, he thought. What a really strong and pretty house his parents had built for them all to live in. He was so lucky.
Suddenly he was gripped with excitement. He had forgotten how much he wanted to see his mother and father. Goodness! How had he forgotten how good it felt when they held him and loved him? This adventuring was fine, but nothing was as good as his father’s cuddles or his mother’s loving smile. Why, even his grandparents loved him to bits.
Oh! He couldn’t make the balloon go fast enough now that he was nearly home.
Then, all of a sudden, there it was -----home.
And there was his daddy coming out of the front door.
“Yippee,” he shouted. “I’m nearly back in my cot daddy and I promise I’ll wake up and smile for you soon.” Cruz was so excited to be home that he almost forgot to thank Loyal for his help.
“Thank you, thank you heaps and heaps, Loyal. I’ve had a great time.”
“It was my pleasure young Cruz,” smiled his relieved fairy guardian. Another successful adventure completed, he thought to himself.
Cruz didn’t forget his manners and waved madly at the departing balloon. “Thank you Balloon. I’ve had a great adventure,” he shouted up into the sky.
Balloon bounced happily about in the sky in reply.
Chapter 7
Cruz raced through the door of Dreamland and back into reality, diving into his cot. Whoosh, he was once again buried under the sweet smelling blankets. Oh, home felt very, very good. He was once again the perfect little boy who caused not a wink of trouble.
He heard his father come back into the house and the television switch on.
VROOM, VROOM, he heard coming from the television. Cruz concentrated on the marvellous sound. What was that fantastic noise? VROOM, VROOM, VROOM, sounded again.
He felt tingles run down his back and the hairs stand up on his perfect little head. He listened carefully and heard his mother and father talking about the racing cars on the television.
Wow!!! What an adventure that would be, he thought excitedly-----racing cars.
“Oh no,” sighed Loyal, as he watched Cruz’s excitement. Then the universe trembled and Loyal felt the ground underneath his feet shake fiercely in sympathy with him.
If only the humans new what a terror their perfect little boy really was.
THE END
More Children’s Books by Beth Sadler
Trouble in Fairyland
Dragon Quest
Cruz’s Big Secret
Freedom
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