Elona of the Great Green

Magenta’s head bows in grand splendor and she takes a deep breath. Her arms float to her sides as she peppers her tale with a graceful gestural flair. Scarlet, her four year old sister, listens breathlessly waiting for Magenta to continue. A tall tree looms over head and a burst of wind rustles the branches. Magenta’s hair sways with the breeze. Her head slowly returns to the upright position and her arms rise…

Magenta’s mother watches her children play on the grass from the front porch. She sees Magenta’s long slender arms dance through the air and her thick black curls spiral to the sky in twirling strands. She looks on in wonder as her beautiful children tell stories to each other under the old tree in her sister’s yard. While watching them there together, Magenta and Scarlet’s mother remembers back to the time when Magenta first came home as a tall slender two year old who was shy and quiet with large brown eyes. Magenta’s mom loved her from the minute she laid eyes on her and felt the same when Magenta’s baby sister was born.

She had always wanted children and her daughters were a blessing to her. When she was younger, before she was a mother, she had decided to adopt children rather than give birth to them. It was one of the many wishes that had come true in her lifetime and she loved each of them in her own special way.

Magenta the wild haired story teller and Scarlet her quiet, yet inquisitive sister. Magenta, now nine, was a great kid, full of life and popular with her friends at school. It was a shock when Magenta’s mom was called in for a teacher’s conference last month to discuss Magenta’s vivid imagination.

“She’s not seeing things in reality,” her teacher told Magenta’s mom. “She’s a bright kid, but we worry about her facing the truth.” added the principle. “It concerns us that she tells the other children her birth mother was a bird.” added her teacher. “It’s fine for a five year old, but at nine, Magenta should be more truthful.” continued the Principle.

“More truthful?”, Magenta’s mother thought was not necessary, she believed that it was Magenta’s right to see her life as she chose to see it. Magenta never lied, she simply loved telling stories and if Magenta wanted to believe that her first mother, the one that gave birth to her, was a bird who flew away so be it. Magenta’s mother knew that she and Scarlet understood their adoption story, but have over chosen to share it in a different way. Magenta’s mother didn’t see the harm in Magenta’s story telling and loved listening to the beautiful things her daughter could imagine.

Magenta’s mother thanked the Principle and her Teacher for their concern and said she would speak to her daughter about it. That night at dinner Magenta’s mother simply told her to stop telling her teachers the stories she created, but to never stop believing in them. She praised Magenta for her creativity and spirit. Magenta gave her mother a beautiful smile, “why mother, that’s just silly!” Magenta exclaimed. “I know dear,” Magenta’s mother continued, “but some people just aren’t ready to hear your wonderful tales.” “Very well,” Magenta agreed, yet the look on her face was perplexed.

However today was a warm spring afternoon and Magenta’s arms were fully engaged in a lilting dance, as she continued telling a story to her little sister, whose face is full of awe and wonder. Magenta’s mother watches them smiling with pride.

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