Music for the Clouds

There was once a tiny country that was suffering from a long drought. It had gone
so long without rain that the people there were starting to go hungry because of
the bad harvests.
It just so happened that a group of musicians were travelling the country, trying to
make a living from their concerts. But with so many problems in the land, no one
felt like listening to music.
"But music can help overcome any problems," objected the musicians, without
anyone paying them the slightest attention.
So the musicians tried to find out the reason it wouldn't rain. It was very strange,
because the sky was overcast, but no one could provide an answer.
"It's been cloudy like this for many months, but not a single drop of rain has fallen,"
people would tell them.
"Don't worry, we'll bring rain to the country," the musicians responded, and they
began rehearsing for a concert at the summit of the highest mountain.
Everyone who heard the music was seized by curiosity and went up the
mountain. And the conductor of this strange orchestra gave the order and the
musicians began to play.
From their instruments came small, playful musical notes, that rose and rose into
the clouds. The music was so joyous, happy and fun, and the notes started playing
with the clouds' soft, fluffy bellies, running here and three, up and down, and the
whole sky turned into one big game of tickle torture. Before long, the giant clouds
were thundering with laughter.
The musicians continued playing joyfully and a few minutes later the clouds, crying
with laughter, soaked the little country below with their precious tears, bringing
happiness to all.
And in memory of that musical rain, everyone in the land learned how to play an
instrument and, taking turns, would go up the mountain every day to bring joy to
the clouds with their beautiful songs.

Adventures in the Rain

What I'm about to tell you happened a long, long time ago, when I went to visit my
Aunt Nina. She lived in an old house, with a great courtyard and many flowers. I
loved going to stay with Nina because I could play in her garden in the mornings,
help her cook, and above all... have breakfast in bed!
She always made my bed up on a sofa which stood against a wall in her
bedroom. There I used to sleep every night, and as I was drifting off I liked to look
at a big damp stain on the wall. I tried to make shapes out of that stain: faces,
characters. One rainy night something very strange happened. Suddenly, I saw
something extraordinary come out of that wall. It looked like a ghost made of
cotton... except that it was dark, as dark as thunderclouds.
I felt the ghost touching my shoulder, and as it did so, it turned into a grey lady of
incredible beauty. Then, in a deep, but sweet, kind voice she said: "Good evening!
My name is Storm, and don't let my color fool you, I'm really a very good fairy.
Want to come with me?"
And she offered me her hand. It was a slim, transparent hand, and smelled of
raindrops. I was so surprised that I could not answer. The next thing I knew, I had
been carried by some invisible force, taken from the warmth of my bed, and
transported through the bedroom wall, through the middle of that damp stain...
"Come on, come along, you'll love where we're going," said the fairy, and with that
we moved up, soaring, flying, faster and faster towards the heavens. We
meandered through the air while behind us lightning struck and thunder roared,
and through all of it I didn't feel the slightest fear.
Along I went in complete confidence, holding onto Storm's hand, and the rain fell
incessantly beneath us. It seemed to come in waves, softly murmuring through the
sky...
Storm smiled at me, and higher and higher we went. Then, just as smoothly as we
had ascended, we began to float back down. We descended through a gradually
clearing fog, and headed towards an area filled with light. In the blink of an eye we
were bathed in sunlight, and around us were seven other figures. Seven more
fairies, each just as beautiful and transparent as Storm, each as sweet and kind,
and they smiled at me just like she had...!
Instead of magic wands they each had a slim golden paintbrush in one hand, and a
painters palette in the other. Out from the fog which had surrounded we appeared

flowers, plants, animals, all manner of things, but every one of them was
completely colorless...
Each of the seven fairies took their leave of us and alighted upon a flower, a plant,
an animal; any object of their choosing. Little by little, object by object, the fairies
brought color to the scene, until finally everything was just as we see it every day.
My friend Storm painted some chimney smoke, a beautiful horse, several little
birds, and a cat that was so plump and gleaming that it looked like a silk
pompom...
Well, I was so shocked by all this that I couldn't say a word. But an even bigger
surprise was in store. I turned to look back at the path we had taken to arrive
there, and saw that it was nothing less than... a rainbow, complete with all its
resplendent colors. Meanwhile, Storm and her friends took me by the hands and
began to dance, singing a song:
"How beautiful are the plants after the rain, the soaked flowers;
everything gleaming, raindrops painting in their colors, a fresh coat!
We're on light patrol, and this is our song!"
And indeed I danced and sang with them, clapping in rhythm, and wanting to ask
the fairies so many questions! When the song ended I would ask them. Of that I
was sure.
I was just about to let my curiosity off the leash when, suddenly, I heard my Aunt
Nina's voice saying:
"So now you sing in your sleep, do you? I think you're in need of a good breakfast.
Come on, I'll bring you some hot tea, and toast with peach jam, the kind I make
especially for you!"
I thought that if I told her what I'd seen, she wouldn't believe me. Then she said
this to me:
"So you enjoyed your journey through the damp stain?"
As my breakfast was getting cold, and I was going to be late for school, I didn't
have time to answer her. Anyhow, I still believe that whenever it rains Storm and
her friends come to visit us, and they leave everything looking bright, fresh, and
new... just as though it had just been painted by fairies.

Adalina, the Fairy without Wings

Adalina was no ordinary fairy. No one knew why, but she had no wings. And, whats
more, she was a Princess, daughter of the Great Fairy Queen. As she was so tiny,
like a flower, life was just a series of problems for her. Not only couldnt she fly, but
she hardly had any magical powers, since fairy magic comes from their delicate
crystal wings.
So, from an early age, Adalina had depended on the help of others for many things.
She grew up thanking people, smiling and being friendly, so naturally all the
creatures in the forest were delighted to help her.
But when she reached the age to become Queen, many fairies doubted she could
be a good Queen with such a disability. They argued and protested so much that
Adalina had to agree to take a test in which she would have to demonstrate to
everyone the wonders she could work.
The little fairy became extremely sad. What could she do? She was hardly magic at
all, and couldn't even travel far with those little legs of hers. But while Adalina sat
on a stone next to the river, trying to think of something that would surprise the
other fairies, the news of the test was spreading among the friendly forest animals.
Before long, hundreds of creatures were by her side, ready to help her however she
needed.
Thank you so much, little friends. I feel much better with you by my side," she
said with the sweetest of smiles, "but I don't know whether you'll be able to help
me."
Of course we will!" answered the squirrel,
Tell us, what will you do to surprise those foolish fairies?"
Wow. if only I could, I would love to capture the first ray of sunshine before it
touches the Earth, and keep it in a dewdrop, so that when it was needed it could be

used as a lantern for all who live in the forest. Or Id also like to paint a rainbow in
the night sky, under the pale moonlight, so that the nocturnal creatures could see
its beauty But I dont have any magic or any wings to keep it in"
Well, you must have your magic kept somewhere else then! Look!" an old tortoise
shouted excitedly, as it flew through the air, leaving a trail of green behind it.
It was true. When Adalina had been telling her friends of her deepest wishes, a
wave of magic had washed over them, and there they all were, flying through the
air, making a magic rainbow, and capturing not just one but hundreds of rays of
sunshine within fine drops of water that filled the sky with tiny brilliant lamps. For
the whole day and night you could see squirrels, mice, frogs, birds and fish leaping
through the sky, filling it with light and color, in a spectacle never seen before and
that filled the forest dwellers with delight.
Adalina was declared Queen of the Fairies, despite her not knowing from where
such a powerful magic had come. And it wasnt until sometime later that the young
Queen understood that she was the first of the Great Fairies, whose magic is to be
found not in one's wings but within all ones true friends.

The Invisible King of the Jungle

In the jungle of Maluba there lived a fly called Mozzie, and Mozzie could roar like a
lion. He discovered his special ability while still very young, and as he grew up he
travelled to the farthest reaches of Maluba, where no one would know him. As soon
as he arrived he would let rip with his petrifying roar, moving here and there,
frightening everyone. He would always use the same method, hiding behind
bushes, and letting out a threatening roar; then he would quickly fly behind his
victim and roar once again:
GraaAAARRR!"
Expecting to see a terrifying lion, no one noticed the little fly, who repeated his
tricks time and again while making fun of his victims, saying:
Youll never see me. I am Leon, the fastest and strongest creature in the jungle."
See? I could destroy you with one swipe of my paw, before you even realized it."
Are you afraid? You would be wise to be so, for I am the most ferocious lion there
is."
Finally, terrified, all the animals ended up accepting Leon the lion as King of the
Maluba jungle. And so Mozzie started living happily. He had all he wanted, and
when he needed something or he fancied a bit of fun, he only needed to get up to
his roaring tricks.
However, one day, along came Tuga Tuga, a slightly crazy tortoise. They said he had
spent years working in a circus with the human beings, a process that had sent him
just a bit crackers. Mozzie wasnt going to miss this opportunity to have his fun with
a new arrival, so he prepared his usual fright.
But as soon as Tuga Tuga heard the invisible lions roars and threats, he began
killing himself laughing

Ha ha ha! A ghost lion! I once knew a ghost lion, as well as a bald donkey and a
weasel with a pronounced limp and what fun they were when they danced! Come
on, lets dance, little lion!"
All the animals began trembling, feeling sorry for poor Tuga Tuga. It was the first
time anyone had dared to treat the terrible Leon in such a way, and surely the
fierce lion would take no pity on the tortoise.
However, Mozzie could not bite or hit the tortoise; his only option was to continue
roaring and threatening. Yet the crazy Tuga Tuga just kept laughing, paying no heed
to the lions furious warnings. After a few minutes it was clear that the lion wasnt
going to carry out any of his threats, and a daring little bird joined in with Tuga
Tuga, making fun of the lion. Mozzie tried scaring the little bird, but it didnt work.
Gradually, the other animals began to join in. Finally, all the animals were laughing
at the invisible Leon, calling him things like: the lion that barks but doesnt
bite", the King with no subjects" or the phantom Lion King, the one that does
nothing"
And thus ended Mozzie's golden days of happiness; the fly that roared, that
threatened, that lied so much so much so that when the time came to keep his
word, there was no way he could.

The Seeds

Once upon a time there were four seeds who were good friends of each other.
Taken up by the wind they finally landed in a jungle clearing. There they remained,
hidden on the ground, hoping they would be able to grow up and become beautiful
trees.
But when the first seed began germinating, they realized it wouldn't be such an
easy task. In that clearing there lived a group of monkeys, and the smallest
monkeys would amuse them by throwing bananas at any plant they noticed was
starting to grow. Using this game, the monkeys learnt how to throw bananas and
they also kept the clearing free of vegetation.
They threw so many bananas at that first seed that it was almost split in two. And
when it told the other seeds what happened, they all agreed it would be better to
wait for that group of monkeys to move on, before they attempted to grow.
Well, they all thought that, apart from one, who thought she should at least
attempt it. And when she tried she was pelted with bananas, and was left folded
over in two. The other seeds got together and asked her to stop trying, but that
little seed was completely determined to become a tree, and time and again she
would try and try. On each new occasion the little monkeys had slightly improved
their aim, and so the little seed ended up doubled over yet again.
But the seed didnt give up. Every time they pelted her with bananas, she tried
even harder, despite her friends begging her to stop, and telling her to wait until
the monkeys left. And so, for days, weeks and months the little plant was attacked
by the monkeys, and she always ended stooped and doubled over. For a few days
she would manage to avoid the bananas, but then the next day some monkey
would hit her, and it would all start over again.
And then, one day, she didnt double over. She was hit by a banana, and then
another, but none of them managed to make her stoop. She had taken so many
blows, and been doubled over so many times, that she was full of hard knots and

scars that helped her to grow more strongly than the other seeds. So, her slim
trunk got thicker and more resistant, until it could withstand the impact of a
banana. And she was already neither so well developed that nor could the little
monkeys uproot her from the ground. And there she stayed, growing, growing and
growing.
Thanks to the extraordinary strength of her trunk she could continue overcoming all
difficulties, until she became the most majestic tree in the jungle. Meanwhile her
friends remained hidden in the ground, and they continued as ever, hoping that
those horrible monkeys would abandon the clearing, never realizing that those very
same monkeys were the only ones capable of strengthening the seeds' trunks by
their method of throwing bananas, something that would prepare the seeds for all
the problems they would confront during their growth.