Never give up!Lola Starryblossom

Sarah Mars

Sarah Mars

Illustrations by Aicke-Wulf Linsner

Never give up!Lola Starryblossom

1. Edition 2016Silbermund Verlags GmbH, Graz

© by Silbermund Verlags GmbH 2016 - All rights reserved.Print: Impress Druckerei Halbritter KG

Author: Sarah MarsIllustrations: Aicke-Wulf Linsner

Layout: Tenrek Studio

ISBN: 978-3-9503901-2-4www.silbermund.com

For my daughter Laura.

ey, little one…, hello? Open your eyes! Have you hurt yourself? Wow, you came sailing straight into this garden! That was a flight nobody would envy. I have to say though that it may have been a blessing in disguise. What if you had landed in the pond and not in the branches of this cosy yew tree? Well, I wouldn’t even want to think about that. You see, Lady Luck was especially kind to you because I am the guardian of this garden and nothing at all escapes my attention. So it’s not that bad. Tell me, are you in pain? Do you have a name?“ a gentle figure asked the small bird.Twisted with pain because its right wing hurt, the little bird asked, “I am Seven. Where am I? And who are you?““Seven? That’s an odd name. I am Lola Starryblossom and as I said, I am the guardian of this garden, or to be more accurate, a garden fairy,” said the gentle figure who was about twelve centimetres tall with blue, flowing hair, honey eyes, a button nose and freckles. She was dressed in dark green and she wore a cropped top and jaunty trousers. Around her neck she wore an ancient looking amulet.Lola could see that the bird was in pain. “It is a chilly morning, we’ll have to get you some help,” she said in a now slightly frantic tone of voice as she

disappeared as quick as lightning.

H„

Sternenblüte is the German wordfor Starryblossom.

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Tears rolled down the little bird’s cheeks. It felt weak, alone and it missed its family. “Why are you crying?” Lola asked. “But, but… you were just gone there,” the little bird wondered and then explained in a slightly shaky voice, “My wing is so sore, I’m hungry, cold and thirsty; what is to become of me? I don’t know where my family is. I am all alone and I feel miserable.”

Lola took a closer look at the little bird. Fairies know almost everything related to nature, and it seems as if they have built-in antennas with which they can feel everything. Lola sensed that the bird was in need of help and tried to ease it with cheerful words. “You aren’t alone, silly! I am here and I’ll help you,” she said in an optimistic voice and with a small wave of her hand she produced a few leavesto cover the bird.

“We’ll take care of your family when you feel better and can fly.No matter what happens, you have to remember one thing always: Never give up! It is much like reading a book, you shouldn’t flip it shut after the first page, you have to read it to its end.My teacher always told me that. There is so much to discover in this world. Don’t hang your little head. I promise you this isn’t the end, it is just the beginning! You can only take one step at a time. Now I have to take care of the next step quickly… I’ll be back right away,” Lola said encouraginglyand flew off.

A few heartbeats later, Lola was back and peeked reassuringly through the branches of the yew. “Help is underway,” she said. “She has never failed to see my clues. I leave her small glitter beads which shine in the grass. She is a smart girl and we have a connection without her knowing it.Her name is Emma. She is seven years old, incredibly smart and very perceptive. Emma will get her parents for you, and they will help you,” Lola explained. Meanwhile, the little bird was captured by her words and listened closely.

“This family is truly great, they have helped many animals before. The three of them live in the red house that belongs to this garden. The garden is just marvellous. I was absolutely thrilled when it was given to me. Emma’s Mum, her name is Julia, is responsible for this wonderful array of trees, plants and bushes. She has a flair for all things living,” Lola explained with excitement. The little bird quivered more and more and in order to distract it, Lola kept babbling and danced in the air around the baby bird. “As soon as you’re fit and ready to fly, I’ll show you everything… the nibble garden – delicious, the herb corner – fabulous, the fire island – energetic, and of course Julia’s writing island, with the pond and the stream – blissful… Watch out, she’s coming! I will turn invisible, but I am always close by, don’t worry. No matter what happens, believe me, they only mean well, so don’t resist and let them help you. It’s for your own good,” she added quicklyand all of a sudden, she disappeared.

A little dark-haired girl with brownish green alert eyes and a gentle expression on her face was heading the bird’s way. Emma thrust aside a few branches and said in a low voice and with cheerful astonishment in her face, “Hey birdie, what are you doing here? You look like you’re still just a baby. There’s no need to be scared, I’ll call my Mum and she’ll come and save you straight away – keep calm.”

Suddenly and at the top of her voice, the little girl called for her mother who came running down to her like lightning soon after. “What happened, Emma? Have you hurt yourself?” she asked nervously. Emma was quick to ease her worry and pointed at the little bird which lay shivering underneath lots of leaves.

“Where did you come from, dear? I am convinced we don’t have a nest in the garden, I would have noticed one. I have no idea how this little bird could have landed here, the woods are on the other side of the road across the field. Be that as it may, we’ll have to hurry and bring it into the warmth,” Emma’s Mum said.

Carefully she lifted the baby bird, soothing it the while with a gentle voice as she brought it into the house. The little bird remembered Lola’s earlier words and gratefully accepted the help.

’ll call Phillip to have him take a look at the little bird,” Emma’s Mum

said, “and in the meantime we’ll begin the primary care. We need a nest. For this we’ll use one of the woven Easter nests, some moss, lots of fresh twigs, some hay, a bit of bedding, the rabbit cage,

the infrared lamp from the cellar, a bowl of water, some flies, little

spiders, smooth caterpillars without red colouring and greenflies, but first

of all we need a syringe with a sugar solution – do your best,” the words bubbled

from her mouth.

Emma and her Dad, Stefan, hurried crisscross through house and garden on a mission to gather everything the little house guest might need.

After Emma’s Mum had made the call, she prepared the sugar solution. After that, she drew up some of it into a syringe.Julia talked gently with the little nestling that sat on her lap still shivering.

“What a cute little baby bird you are. We’ll feed you up so that you’ll soon be

ready to fly and experience many more adventures.

Please open your little beak a bit. I have something nice for you.”Julia’s voice was vibrating in the bird’s little head and it started to feel warm all

over. It bowed without hesitation. Later, Emma

was also allowed to feed it.

I„

Meanwhile, unknown to them, Lola was also collecting greenflies, small flies, spiders and the best caterpillars she could find. Fortunately at this time, spring offered its finest delicacies.Secretly she smuggled the nutritious treasures for the little bird into the container that had been put up on the window sill.They were all so busy that no one would have noticed Lola even if she hadn’t been invisible, but she didn’t want to risk it. Only a chosen few are allowed to set eyes on fairies.

After Phillip, a vet and good friend of the family, had been at the house, they could all breathe easily again. The little house guest was a bluetit which luckily had only sprained its wing.According to Phillip’s estimation, the small bird was about twelve to fourteen days old.

“I know you’ll take good care of this little bluetit. If there’s anything you need, just give me a call. If everything goes well, I’ll stop by again in about five days. Don’t forget to weigh it every day, for it needs to gain weight daily, but you know that, Julia.The little bluetit is a girl by the way. Have fun finding a name for her! Knowing you, you won’t be able to resist, even if the little house guest leaves you at some stage,” he said gleefully and took his leave.

The prepared cage now stood on the small table next to the sitting room couch. Emma never tired of looking at her new roommate. “You look so incredibly cute.” She quickly held her right hand under the infrared lamp. “The warmth of the red light helps you. Soon you’ll feel better. Everything will be fine, you’ll see, and perhaps we’ll become friends. I’d love that,“ she said.

The whole family watched the baby bird. Phillip had brought a pack of Beo pearls in case the little bluetit wouldn’t eat insects.“A funny name,” Emma remarked.“You’re right,” her Mum said, “you know, if you dissolve them in water, they can be used to rear the bird or supplement the bird’s feed should it be necessary.

Listen, my lovelies, it is time! We’ll have to find a name before the bird’s next feed,” Emma’s Mum thought, “please tell me your suggestions.”

The three of them had many ideas, and the best ones were written down. Among them were names like Sunday – because it was a Sunday, Sunrise – because the little bird had been found in the morning hours, Honey – because she looked so cute, and many more. But Julia wasn’t quite satisfied.“No,” she said, “those names are all much too normal. I think this little bird is very special. Hey! That’s it – Piepmatz ! Yes, that sounds marvellous, and cute in any case, doesn’t it?“ she asked. “Yes, that does sound quite good, but I think it isn’t enough yet,” Emma objected. “People have a first name and a surname and I think that she should have the same,” Emma said, convinced of her idea. Her parents nodded in approval and Emma’s Dad said, “You are so delightful, do you know that?” Emma smiled and said full of confidence, “Sure, I got it from my Mummy.”

All of a sudden Emma’s Mum cheered, “I’ve got it! Yesterday, I bought violets, I find them particularly beautiful. The colour violet has something magical about it to me, furthermore, these flowers smell very good. In Latin, violet means “Viola”, which is why I think that from now on we should call our little one “Viola Piepmatz”… Yes, I think this feels right! What do you think?“Emma and her Dad found the name inventive. “Very cool, it sounds unique,” Emma beamed. “My friend, Viola Piepmatz, yes, that works!”

Thereupon she hurried to her drawing desk with excitement, wrote the name with a black pen on a sheet of red construction paper and drew an ornate frame around it. Then she cut her little work of art out and turned it into a name tag. With a thick needle she drilled two holes in the corners, threaded

a piece of yarn through them and fastened it on both ends. She attached the name tag to the cage, which she finally decorated with painted violets and golden heart stickers – simply because it looked lovely and every house should have its name tag, asshe explained.

Piepmatz is the German wordfor Birdie.

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iola Piepmatz had already munched an opulent mix of greenflies and flies by noon, she hadn’t been in the mood for caterpillars yet. She was fed and also wasn’t cold anymore. The infrared lamp was turned off and the family were eating their lunch. Viola was content, not as anxious any more, but also not happy. She sat somewhat lifeless in her nest.

“What’s with the sad face,” she heard Lola’s familiar voice say out of nowhere. “You know, I still feel alone in spite of everything. Usually I’d have my seven brothers and sisters around me now and of course my parents. There was always something going on. Sure, it was crowded and you had to yell louder than anyone else in order to get food. My brothers and sisters often nudged me off, but it was my home. I was loved and I belonged somewhere. Now I am no one, I belong to nobody and I’m afraid I mightn’t see my family ever again. What I am to do all by myself in the world? I am just unlucky,” Viola lamented and her eyes were filled with tears.

“Now, enough with the sad words,” Lola protested and in a red puff of glitter she suddenly became visible. She floated about one centimetre in front of Viola’s head, looked as grimly as she possibly could and said, “You mustn’t only see the bad all the time. You have to open up your eyes and your heart for the good things in life. If you don’t do that, you’ll always feel somewhat sad, because there will always be things that don’t go your way. Listen closely now, ok?!” she said with a faint smile on her face.

Viola nodded with her tiny little head and listened mesmerised to the voice of the garden fairy.“Fortune – that is the goddess of luck – means more than well with you: you fell, but not into the pond. You’re hurt, but not severely. You were cold, had nothing to eat or drink and now you’re sitting in a cosy nest, have been warmed and fed. You were alone, but you were lucky enough to get to know me – a fairy!The two-legged friends have taken you in and are taking good care of you. Furthermore, you are certainly someone now – you are Viola Piepmatz! You can achieve anything if you don’t give up,” Lola said.

V

Viola thought about Lola’s words for a little while and then answered, “Yes, you’re right, thank you. Will you help me find my family, and do you think I’ll make friends?”“You’ve already found four new friends, and of course I’ll help you find your family, but as I said earlier… one step at a time,” explained Lola and then decided that she’d have to go back to minding the garden.

“One more thing, you might be able to do something about it. It would be great for

me to have someone to chat to when you’re not here. That way I wouldn’t feel

as lonely,” Viola said. “There might indeed be a possibility. I’ll see what

I can do.See you later,“ Lola said and

suddenly disappeared.

It’s a chilly morning when theenchanting garden fairy

Lola Starryblossomfinds a tiny little bird, hurt and alone.

Lola has to think quickly.She cunningly arranges for seven-year old Emma to

find the bird and, together with her family the girl comes to the rescue. But even with all this help, the

little bird feels cheerless and alone. Lola realizes that just getting it out of

the garden won’t be enough for the little birdto be healthy once again.

Will Lola succeed in helping the little birdnot to give up?

A book about friendships, compassion

and courage.