Excerpt for Lily Rose and the RosyCheeksTree by Salima Korri, available in its entirety at Smashwords

Chapter 1


I am Lily Rose, and I am 13 years of age. I am a small little girl with black locks in my hair. I have rosy cheeks and beautiful blue eyes. I was born in Scotland but I moved to Switzerland to live with my Great Aunt Vanucci. I don't like it in Switzerland, especially my boarding school. It's horrible! I have no friends, and it is very boring. 


I am an orphan; My mother died when I was baby, and my Father died when I was only three years of age, but my Great Aunt always speaks about my parents; how they loved me to bits, and how I giggled so much! They named me Lily Rose because it is when the Flowers bloom in summer I was born. They used to say that "Happiness is with the Fairies" but I'm not sure what that means.


My great Aunt is a lovely person. She takes good care of me with great respect, and has never raised her hand or voice at me. She is like my second mother. I Love her so much that I will miss her very much, if she was ever taken away from me. She is so kind hearted.


I love summer and that is why it's my favourite season as the sun shines high, the roses bloom and it’s time for relaxation; The Holidays! It is always a time where I go to my grand mama’s cottage in the country side in Scotland. I love it there, and my grand mama! It is the only place I would rather be in the whole world.


The cottage is small and red, and is in the middle of a huge field that is covered with purple scented lavender. Around the field is a forest, but not just any kind of forest, but a beautiful, lively green forest, that is full of animals wondering in the woods and the magical noises of the birds, surround the place. It never rains, and I always have fun, even though I don't play with anyone, but the animals keep me company and the forest is so big, so there is a lot of discovering to do in an immense forest.


 One of my first ever adventures, was in my Grand mama's home. I was so ever excited that summer, but when I woke up that morning it was raining so much! I wish it wouldn't rain, what a terrible trip this is going to be I thought to myself. I had packed my holiday bag. I put in all my summer clothing, a few books, my lunch and bubble set.


It was so early that morning too, and I was so tired; while my Aunt was telling me to hurry up, I pulled on my laced up boots and shouted to her "I'm coming, wait for me" I ran as fast as I could down the stairs and grabbed my bag without having a slight piece of breakfast, "goodbye Miss Petty" I said. Miss Petty was my nanny. She is nice and a little funny. I hugged her and waved good bye. I wasn't really going to miss this place.


I stopped to look one more time at the big old mansion and opened the door of the carriage and sat down near the window. I hate carriages; they are so tiny and crowded. "Darling", said my Aunt Vanucci. "I am going to miss you very much. Remember to say hello to your grand mama for me" I smiled back and hugged her. I was actually glad I was going away for a few weeks; I couldn't bare the sight of that creaky old mansion, with so many holes in the wall, and the drip dripping sounds of water leaks.


We arrived at the Train station an hour later, it was so crowded, but you should see it in Christmas, It's much worse. My Aunt Vanucci handed me my bag and kissed me on the cheek. "You take care of yourself" She said and smiled. I waved good bye and walked as fast as I could to the train so I could get the best seat. I quickly handed in my ticket and glanced back at the carriage to see my Aunt leave.


I finally pushed my way in the train, and my seat number was number 13 just like my age! I ran to my seat and placed my bag next to me. A little boy was sitting with his mother in front of me, so I gave him some chocolate. They both smiled at me. The train was a little smelly and the seats were not at all comfortable, in fact they had holes in them!


I was so tired, the train was literally packed! The train started going, with all that horrible loud noise. I couldn't even hear myself think. I was really bored but I started to think about those horrible girls in my boarding school. They are just silly little nitwits! I never get along with them, in fact they tease me. I hate them! Especially my school, it is so boring, with not a single proper education of Etiquette's! Fie that school, I never liked it anyway and I never will! I don't see the point in going and plus I have my own private tutor - in the actual boarding school, how silly.


 I absolutely dislike the way they giggle, " HE HE HE". I mean they don't even like skipping, or playing hopscotch or any of those games! What do they do then? What a mystery. But all well, I don't need to bother myself about those old hags; I only need to worry about myself and my wonderful holiday.


I spent half of the hour just looking at the plain green fields from my window. I decided to read a book for an hour or so but after that I was beginning to feel a little hungry. I opened my bag and grabbed the chicken pie and Raspberry pudding Miss Petty had baked for me. I curtsied to the woman in front of me and tried to go find the dining room to eat there. I went down a long corridor and a tall thin girl shoved me. I turned around and looked at her angrily. Why did she shove me? Oh. She is so disrespectful.


"I am so sorry! Please forgive me" She curtsied and offered me some sweets. "Oh it's all right. I was just looking for the dining room to eat my lunch" I replied to her. She smiled and held my hand to lead me the way. Maybe I had underestimated her. "I am Anna Vanelli. I am going to Scotland to visit my relatives and then I will be going to London, as I am invited to her majesty's Royal ball!" She said cheekily.


I gasped. How I would love to meet the Queen in person. When I grow up I would want to serve her, maybe as a maid of honour. You see the Queen, is such a nice, lovely, kind person. She is my role model. She is the most charitable person too, giving her shillings to the poor, how sweet of her, she is not greedy or selfish, just a gracious person.


We finally came to a small room with red chairs laid around a small table. I sat down and shared some of my oats with her, and in return she gave me her blueberry sweets. At home in Switzerland, I rarely had sweets, my Aunt Vanucci, says they rot your teeth, but I sometimes hide in her privy garden were she will not find me eating them! How smart I am!


Though, Anna looked like a really nice girl, I think she was more than that. She comes from a rich family, so tends to criticize everything that is lower than her and she gossips too much. In my opinion I would call her a posh totty, so why bother about that old hag too! I quickly ate my lunch and curtsied good bye to her and skipped happily back to my seat.


The train stopped after a while, and a man shouted out "Scotland Yard!" I guess that was my stop, I took my bag and hurried to the exit to wait on a nearby seat outside the station. I waited and waited, and I thought to myself that maybe Grand mama would never come but then out of the corner of my eye I saw my Grand mama! Oh how she looked so gentle and sweet, small too, and she did not look a tiny bit old.


I ran to hug and kiss her. She held my hand and we walked on the long path that led to the cottage. It was not far from the train station, only about half of the hour to get there. We passed those beautiful and cheerful trees, those smooth rich fields and those simply wonderful flowers.


On the way, we talked about how we missed each other, and then not to my surprise she said "Oh my dear, I have baked your favourite, Brownies and Milk". I was so happy to see her! We crossed over a wooden bridge with many flowers swirling all the way long and there in front of me was the marvellous cottage that I longed to see that day.


When we arrived, I slammed the door open and a beautiful aroma of roses smacked my face. I put my holiday bag on the side and rested for a while in the kitchen whilst eating the delicious brownies my Grand Mama had baked. Then I went to the living room and sat beside my Grand mama on the luxurious soft and comfy sofa.


The room did not change one bit. It was still that calm and pleasant room, with many paintings hung up on the wall. The chandelier glistened with its sparkly crystals, and the fire was sizzling and crackling.  


 Night had fallen; the stars shone high up in the sky, and you could hear the wonderful melody of the crickets. The moon was as white as a ghost and you could see that the sky was as black and blue as ever as before, and the gentle breeze and the flowing sound of water was in the air. It was a silent and peaceful night.


So she began telling me a story, as I got closer to her, "One day, there were these two girls who were such little angels. They used to play games from dawn till dusk, and then one day they discovered a magical land where they turned into fairies!" As she started to get more into the story my eyes were sparkling with amazement. I believe in fairies, but never managed to see one or find one yet. Especially in that forest, there must be millions hiding! I yawned and laid my head on a pink cushion and then let myself wonder into a beautiful dream.


Chapter 2

It was about six of the clock when I woke up the next day, and I could hear my grand mama singing in the bathroom. I decided to spend some time with my Grand mama instead of going to the forest that day. I put on my blue smock and my laced up shoes.


"Honey, Darling! Please get me a towel, and prepare some chairs for breakfast" yelled my Grand mama. I ran to the kitchen, to get two chairs. To surprise Grand mama I made her breakfast. Some bread, omelettes, milk, juice and Yogurt. I was so clever! I had to thank her for spending the holidays with me.


I went in the garden with the two chairs. I set up the table, with a lace cloth embroidered with pink flowers, while I could see the sun come up. The sky was turning a fantastical orange and blue colour, it was impressing!


The field was dazzling that day. A nice scent was in the air and you could see the lavender swishing side by side. The air was so fresh and relaxing, I could almost think I was in heaven. The birds were singing and the trees were looking tall and not a single weed in sight. What a marvellous scene I said to myself.


My Grand mama came outside after a long time and was mumbling. She walked so slowly, but gently at the same time, as if she was floating."Hi Grand mama! How are you today? I have made breakfast for us two, please do come and sit" I said. How funny my grand mama was, she was saying that she had forgotten to make some sort of spring puff which were for the ‘hidden one’s’, which I utterly had no clue what she was speaking about. "I am very fine, but I need to get the cream, or else they won't be pleased with me rolls." She said as she tapped her head and frowned.


My grand mama was a charming person though. She had blue Innocent eyes, long black smooth hair, soft gentle skin, and she was sweet and Kind. She loved to sit in the big chair made out of white hay - It made her look like a queen - She looked pretty too that day, wearing a long white gown, a hat with pink ribbon and was holding some sort of wooden mirror with black patterns.


"Darling, I would like to give you this mirror, it was mine when I was just about your age. I had given it to your mother, but as she passed away, I kept it, as she wanted to give it to you too. So this mirror is from your mother, a gift, a memory" said my grand mama. Suddenly, tears ran down my cheeks, like a flowing stream, my rosy cheeks had turned sad. A gift from my mother, no one had ever given me something which belonged to her. I was sad but also happy, for it was a gift which you would never break, like my grand mama said, a memory.


I dried my cheeks and began eating my breakfast. Grand mama persuaded me to go down to the forest, I did tell her I wanted to spend time with her, but she insisted. So I wore my red clogs, my puffy jacket, and my gloves. I skipped down to the river with a watering can in my pocket, and there before my eyes was a white rabbit! It was a little baby one, so cute! I tried to catch it but it ran away, so instead I tried to catch some fish, but they were so slippery!  


I soon decided to do something else, so I went further down into the meadow. It is a lovely place with beautiful fluttering butterflies, daffodils and daisy's everywhere. I picked up a mixture of flowers, tied them with a piece of white ribbon, and put them gently in my pocket; I decided they would be for Grand mama, maybe a present for her.


I watered some plants, with my can, but I soon got distracted, for something more interesting caught my eye. I had spotted a butterfly, with two big blue eyes on its wings, which had laid on the ground; I crawled on my knees, and made no sound. I tried to catch it, but it flew away, I spotted several others, and did the same trying to catch them.


But then I heard a small voice, which cried out "Don't hurt them Butterflies!" and a "Shh" I turned around but I did not see anything, was it my imagination or were there other children here too?  If there were, then I would be the jolliest girl, for I wanted to play with them.


In a rush, I Ran back to the cottage and slammed the door open. "Grand mama, are there any children in the meadow?” I stammered, “Um, no dear, not that I am aware of" Said My Grand mama hesitantly. "But I heard voices, little voices, voices to be the ones of children, is it possible?", my grand mama quickly hushed me, and told me to say no more and to go up to my chamber and start colouring, so I did as I was told and did not argue.


I wondered why my grand mama had hushed me, maybe I said something wrong? Grand mama was surely not telling me something. I was glad if there were other children, I would be able to have fun with them, but why would grand mama not tell me if there were children in the meadow. Mmm, it was another mystery to be solved, but what?


I sat on the end of my bed, kicked off my shoes and laid back. I opened up a brand new page of my Colouring Book, I coloured a fairy, with bright purple wings and her dress blue. Blue is my favourite colour. I think it is a colour of peace, and it is the colour of the sky and sea, which I love the most.


All of a sudden something twitched my nose, I looked on my bed, and there was some sort of dusty powder which had fallen from the ceiling. Strange, first I hear voices then there is this dust. Could it be? No that would be nonsense, maybe though maybe! I ignored it and carried on colouring, but then I felt so sleepy. My eyes started to close; this was getting stranger by the minute. . . And then I fell asleep.


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