Believing In Magic, With #ColgateMagicalStories...

Children are bundles of curiosity. Add to that, creativity, and you'll have an unbeatable combination. Kids always have stories to tell, and an intrinsic curiosity and creativity fuels the budding storyteller in them. More often than not, they come up with imaginative accounts of the most unimaginative scenarios, incomprehensible to us as adults. What I most like about kids when they turn storytellers is that all such stories have the twinkle of innocence in them. Such stories are accounts of mischief, albeit with a message. It is always a joy to enjoy and appreciate a story coming from a child, as opposed to narration from a childish storybook, isn't it? 
It was no different when my six-year-old niece came home a couple of weeks back, on a long weekend. After an hour of her arrival, the doorbell rang for a second time, that day. Being her chirpy self, she ran to the door, prompting me to receive whatever had been brought forth by the person delivering couriers. 

The package was from Colgate and it aimed at inviting #ColgateMagicalStories. The moment she saw the word Colgate, she excitedly proclaimed that it was a gift from her toothpaste brand because she had been wreathing in pain from an aching milk tooth, the previous day at my cousin's place. She liked to believe that it was a surprise for her, to soothe her pain and proclaim the Tooth Fairy's arrival. 

Indeed, the entire package was coming her way, and ensured for her, a fun evening with art 'n' craft and stories. I cut open all the packs for her (that was 'Parental Guidance' for her) and her excitement grew gradually. The next moment she was jumping in joy on seeing all the cute sea animals drawn on the four different packs and it piqued her curiosity to derive meaning out of the titles of the packs, namely Coral Reef, Treasure Hunt, Sea Magic, and Pirate Ship. 
So, here goes the #ColgateMagicalStories she created, that evening. Enjoy it as I did.  She recognized Blackbeard's ship that was analogical to the huge cruise she had been on, last month, on her vacation.  

She read and analysed that Sadie was an adventurous soul helping Blackbeard discover a hidden treasure. 
One of her school friends has a pet parrot and she began squawking on seeing one drawn on the pack too. She also had a story to tell on how that pet of her friend's had learnt to mimic her. 
She established a connect as to how the comical parrot could guide Blackbeard through rough waters by alerting him against approaching enemies. 
Upon seeing the mermaid, she was awestruck as to how we could assume half-human - half-fish form. Nonetheless, I thought I'll have to tell her about Disney's Mermaid some other day. 
She made the mermaid live in the sea castle with her best friend, Dolphin by her side, also making her own the treasure chest Blackbeard was looking for. Blackbeard successfully reached the treasure by following the Treasure Map that he had charted, with help of his sea friends, Shark and Crab. 
Killer Whale and String Ray blocked his way to the castle to protect the mermaid and her treasure. In the ensuing tussle, the ship hits a big rock and is transformed into wreckage in no time. 

Meanwhile, two of his other friends, Star Fish and Puffer Fish help Blackbeard steal the Treasure from the Mermaid. Having nowhere else to go, Blackbeard returned to the wreckage with Sadie and his Parrot waiting for him. While he narrates to Sadie, the episode that ensued at the Castle, their Treasure is taken custody of, by an Octopus. 

The Octopus is successful in scaring the Puffer Fish, that defends itself by filling water in its stomach and called out to the Sword Fish passing by. It helped Puffer by lifting it on its sword-shaped bill, placing her on the huge Sea Turtle's shell and together, they all disappeared into the deep sea. But, the Star Fish faced the Octopus bravely, as it could regrow its limbs. 
While the Octopus was busy keeping Star Fish at bay, Blackbeard and Sadie returned to land, with their cherished treasure. 
I ended up asking my niece about Sea Horse's role and this is what she had to say. She told me that the male sea horse was carrying eggs in its pouch so it was resting in the coral reef. 

Meanwhile, a clever Lion Fish, with its needle-like spines aimed to harm Sea Horse. In the nick of time, however, Barracuda made a quick move and surprised the Lion Fish thus distracting it and foiling its intention to harm. All the animals that had helped Blackbeard, his parrot and Sadie, also returned to the Reef by evening. 
 ~~~ 
Everyone clapped for her as the story ended on this note and she felt elated. Kudos to Colgate for encouraging the imaginative souls that our kids are! :)

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The Tale Of The Jade, The Bake, And...

IndiStar!

BlogAdda's Mention!

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"Mom!

Mom!

Where Are You?

Where Are You?"

This was Jhanvi, frantically searching the entire house for her Mother.

Dad, Grandpa, Grandma, even their pet cat, Daisy, seemed to have no clue!

It was her special day and the most special person in her life, her Mother was nowhere to be seen!

~~~

Just then it dawned upon her...

The one piece missing from the puzzle...

The Teen-ish Treasure Tracker as the Mother - Daughter duo, liked to call it, was a ritualistic game ever since Jhanvi's Thirteenth.

It was her Nineteeth today.

The Last Teen-ish Treasure Tracker for Jhanvi was here.

So, this game's rules struck Jhanvi for a while...

~~~

Mom! - Mom had combined that essence of Christmas Day with Jhanvi's Day...

In a game, which concealed her Birthday Present in its folds, each year...

There was only ONE Rule to the Game, followed by Mother - Daughter alike...

Mom! - Mom had stirred a surprise for the concluding Teen-ish Treasure Trove...

~~~

She'd bet her Mother's disappearance was a part of the surprise!

The Ultimate Rule Was...

The House Would Be Laid With Clues For The Day, which J had to reveal and connect.

But J had checked all rooms in search of Mom, and no clue was in sight!

All?

'My Own Room!' - J Exclaimed!

She dashed to her room, and reached out for the wardrobe.

In that small drawer, which had that star shaped key chain, lay the first clue.

Jhanvi's sixth sense was right.

The star held the clue.

The star had 9 edges and a Sun outlined ...

~~~

Jhanvi had been playing this game for the past six years!

'Think. Think.

9 Edges

Star

Sun

Nine - Time Maybe?

Star - A Star Shaped Clock In Her Room?

Sun - Morning!

Time On The Wall Clock!

It Was 8:50 AM.

Ten Minutes To Go...

9:00 AM.

~~~

'Jhanvi! See who's come early in the morn to meet you...' 

This was Dad, calling out to J, prompting her to run down the stairs...

On the door, stood her best friend, Himani!

Turns out she had come, not to wish her but to give her a wrapped box...

No, it could not be! Himani could not forget J's birthday!

But Himani just handed over that box and left.

'I have to unwrap that box this very moment!' - J thought to herself...

~~~

She ran back to her room, unwrapped the box, to find Grandma's favorite Jade ear-ring. 

But, where did the one for the right ear go?

It was only one ear-ring!

How did Himani get Grandma's ear-ring?

And where was the second of the pair?

~~~

'Jhanvi! Have you seen my Jadey?'

Jadey was how Grandma liked to call it...

J ran to Grandma's room, gave her the Jadey.

Turns out Grandma didn't have a clue about the connection with Himani.

Just that Grandma's Jadey's  were restored.

Before she left the room, J spotted a Visiting Card on the bed...

It said - 'The Baker's Brew!'

J's favorite bakery!

It read - 'Collection Time - 3 'o' clock.'

Second Clue?

Jhanvi was quick to comprehend - her birthday cake was due!

Mom, where ever she was, would surely turn up at the bakery for the cake.

She'd bet it was her favorite 'Icy Blue Cream Creation'!

Were Grandma's Jadey & Himani a part of Mom's plan?

~~~

Only 12 Noon by the clock?

Another Three Hours To Go?

J Couldn't Wait Anymore...

But Mom refused to even receive her call...

~~~

And, as she was passing by Grandpa's room, she heard Dad and Grandpa talk in whispers.

Third Clue, maybe?

She could hear Daisy's name and her own.

And, Grandpa called out to her...

'Jhanvi! Dear, could you please clear Daisy's litter box? It hasn't been cleared since last night.'

'Sure Grandpa!'

'And, could you please collect my spectacles from the Optician's?'

'Sure Grandpa!'

One thing for sure.

Dad & Grandpa were a part of Mom's Surprise.

~~~

Two Tasks...

The litter box was a 5-minute affair...

It was the to-and-fro travel to the Optician's and the rush at the shop that made the clock strike 2:30 PM!

By this time, J had a separate plan taking shape in her mind.

She made it a point to visit The Baker's Brew at 3:00 PM.

~~~

3 'o' clock at the Bakery...

Jhanvi noticed Mom's car outside the shop and drove home.

She was sure to find Mom, Dad, Grandpa, Grandma & Daisy geared up for her B'day Bash!

~~~

J reached home by 4 'o' clock, owing to the heavy traffic, of course.

To her surprise, three guests apart from family were there to welcome her.

~~~

First, Mom was back home. With her Icy Blue Cream Creation!

Second, J's maternal Uncle & Aunt had joined in!

Third, Himani was there too!

~~~

Jhanvi put together all the pieces.

~~~

Mom had disappeared for the day.

Himani had given her Grandma's Jade ear-ring, which led J to the visiting card.

Dad & Grandpa had planned to send J out of the house for a whole 4 hours!

~~~

'Mom!

Let's end this last Treasure Trove gracefully.

I've managed to figure that Himani, Grandma's Jadey and Dad & Grandpa have been with you, the whole day.

Let's just reveal my last Teen-ish present too, Pretty Please'.

~~~

Mom & Dad took centre - stage.

Attached to the Bakery Box's side was a small chit which proclaimed...

Jhanvi, you're a smart girl.

For You,

Here's your smarter companion...

~~~

As J finished reading it aloud, she found a Nokia Lumia 820 on the glass table!

~~~

And, that's how Jhanvi's 19th could be summed up as...

The Tale Of The Jade, The Bake...

The Curious Case Of The Lumia!

~~~

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This post is a part of Write Over The Weekend, an initiative for Indian Bloggers by BlogAdda.

BlogAdda gives out a creative writing theme each weekend for Indian bloggers.

This is my second fiction attempt after The Mysterious Look, which had been penned for WOW! in the past.

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