Seven Fairies .....by Rita Chu

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Fairies are heavenly supernatural beings that have magic long-haired wands which serve them as transportation vehicles. They can pop up anywhere by sweeping ihe long hair of the wands in the air. Their celestial lives were happy and peaceful.

One day seven fairy sisters played in a park, imitating earthly human life. Finally, the youngest sister sentimentally said,

    "I wish I really knew what the earth is like."

    "Me, too," "Me, too," ......echoed by the other sisters.

    "But, Father and Mother won't let us descend to earth, even though other fairies say it is beautiful there," said the eldest sister.

    "Why don't we go secretly just for a really short time. A simple peek can satisfy all our curiosity," said the youngest.

    "What a Fairy idea!" the others shouted.

The eldest sister kept in sillence, thinking it over thoroughly. She couldn't help being convinced by their begging puppy eyes. She agreed to go with them. So they departed for the earth advanture.

No sooner did they touch the earth, than they were attracted by whatever they saw. They flew around and felt delighted by all the new and wonderful things, especially human beings. They seemed to have no difference from them.
At the corner of her eye, the youngest sister was caught by a handsome young cowherd, who looked thin and pail. He did not havie enough clothing to keep himself warm, she thought. Once a while, he played his bamboo flute for his cows, which amused all seven fairy sisters. Suddenly, the eldest sister reminded them the time to go back. Sadly, they flew upwards with bamboo flute music lingering in their ears.

While they flew homeward, the youngest sister sneaked out and back to the young cowherd's place. She tried to approach him, but her celestial figure was transparent to earthly beings. But, she loved him so badly; she would rather to stay with him than to live the banal celestial life. Then she went to ask an earth god for help.

The earth god has earthly skills to transform from one being to another, but not from human to the celetial, or vice verse. So she was despirate. All of a sudden, she heard her father's voice- he was coming to fetch her back to heaven. Out of her panic thinking, she rashed to the young cowherd's house and found a cow mask and a big piece of fresh cowhide. She put them on and mingled with the other cows. Learning about her problem, these cows made friends with her and hid her from her father. Hereby, she escaped from her father's fetch.

Very soon, she realized that it is not that bad to be a cow because she could play with the young cowherd everyday. Besides, all other cow friends are very interesting and they told her a lot of human stories they observed or heard.

The young cowherd didn't much doubt about this suddenly-appeared-strange-looking cow. He sympathized with her unhealthy cow-look. He played his bamboo flute for her everyday and hoped the music be able to help her grow healthy.

She enjoyed the flute music and cows' friendship, especially the gentle care of young man. Then, she wore the cow's outfit all the time. After 12 years, she really grew into a really health beautiful cow and they all lived happily ever after.


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