Read Online Charlie's Dream by Jamie Rowboat - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Jamie Rowboat
Tags: Fiction Young Adults
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the forest floor, where the communal kitchens and schools were housed, to the upper most branches where the sleeping chambers were situated. Every family had its own dwelling, but each one was linked to its neighbour through an intricate series of bridges and gangways that connected the whole village like a giant cobweb.
"Good evening, my friend," said Kanook, greeting Shamir at his front door. "Is our guest okay?"
"He's sleeping soundly," replied Shamir.
Kanook's study in the upper branches of the giant beech looked out over the valley and it was here that they talked until first light. As Shamir left the study, he looked through the huge picture window that faced East to see how many elves were gathering in the treetops for the dawn chorus. He was not surprised to see that the whole village had turned up and they were all sitting, silently awaiting the sun's first caress. The dawn gathering was their chance to give thanks for Charlie's presence among them and to pray for his safe-keeping.
By the time Shamir reached the cottage, it was pouring with rain and there was little point in venturing too far until it eased. Charlie woke up soon after his return and he didn't seem to have any ill-effects from passing out. He was starving, so they feasted on elfin nut cakes with fresh berry yoghurt, washed down with Dandelion tea, which Shamir served with almond wafers that were so light, they disappeared as they touched Charlie's tongue. The old wizard could not have planned the day better, the poor weather gave him a chance to talk to Charlie about his experience in a way he had never had the opportunity to do before. The shock of the transfer between worlds had always made communication impossible on all but one previous occasion. Eventually, Charlie started to talk about Marie and his time at the nursery. His eyes lit up as he talked openly about his feelings for her and how he had been so lucky to have worked at Gemma's nursery all of that summer.
It took Charlie a moment to notice, but Shamir had gone totally quiet. A notably pasty look on his face had dramatically replaced his wide smile and frequent questions.
"Are you okay?" asked Charlie, touching him on the shoulder.
"Huh," said Shamir, drawn out of his thoughts. "I'm okay, I just need some air," he said, staggering to his feet and heading for the front door. Moments after leaving, Charlie heard the thump of someone hitting the ground and when he raced outside, he found Shamir slumped on the grass. Charlie did his best to drag him back into the cabin, but he was too heavy and he had to make do with getting Shamir comfortable on the front doorstep. Fortunately, it was no longer raining, so Charlie sat with him for a while, without knowing quite what to do. Shamir was breathing normally, so Charlie wasn't particularly worried, but it was clear that he needed to do something to revive him. After thinking for a while, he hopped inside the house and prepared some of Shamir's sweet smelling Dandelion tea. With a small cup in hand, he returned to the sleeping wizard and carefully rested the cup beside him. Eventually, the end of Shamir's nose began to twitch, before his eyes suddenly popped open. He glanced around a few times before focusing on the cup of tea, which prompted a huge laugh to rise from his stomach as he realised where he was lying.
"I should have tea out here more often, it's really very pleasant," he chuckled.
"What the hell was all that about?" said Charlie, kneeling down beside Shamir.
"I'll tell you inside, but I must say, the cup of tea was a stroke of genius. What made you think of it?"
"Oh nothing really, it's the smell I remember waking up to here. Why I thought it would help bring you around is completely beyond me," said Charlie, helping him to his feet. Once inside, they made themselves comfortable on the lounge and Charlie poured them a fresh cup of tea each.
"Gemma Granlin is my sister Charlie," said Shamir.
"Whoa, are you sure?"
"Believe
"Good evening, my friend," said Kanook, greeting Shamir at his front door. "Is our guest okay?"
"He's sleeping soundly," replied Shamir.
Kanook's study in the upper branches of the giant beech looked out over the valley and it was here that they talked until first light. As Shamir left the study, he looked through the huge picture window that faced East to see how many elves were gathering in the treetops for the dawn chorus. He was not surprised to see that the whole village had turned up and they were all sitting, silently awaiting the sun's first caress. The dawn gathering was their chance to give thanks for Charlie's presence among them and to pray for his safe-keeping.
By the time Shamir reached the cottage, it was pouring with rain and there was little point in venturing too far until it eased. Charlie woke up soon after his return and he didn't seem to have any ill-effects from passing out. He was starving, so they feasted on elfin nut cakes with fresh berry yoghurt, washed down with Dandelion tea, which Shamir served with almond wafers that were so light, they disappeared as they touched Charlie's tongue. The old wizard could not have planned the day better, the poor weather gave him a chance to talk to Charlie about his experience in a way he had never had the opportunity to do before. The shock of the transfer between worlds had always made communication impossible on all but one previous occasion. Eventually, Charlie started to talk about Marie and his time at the nursery. His eyes lit up as he talked openly about his feelings for her and how he had been so lucky to have worked at Gemma's nursery all of that summer.
It took Charlie a moment to notice, but Shamir had gone totally quiet. A notably pasty look on his face had dramatically replaced his wide smile and frequent questions.
"Are you okay?" asked Charlie, touching him on the shoulder.
"Huh," said Shamir, drawn out of his thoughts. "I'm okay, I just need some air," he said, staggering to his feet and heading for the front door. Moments after leaving, Charlie heard the thump of someone hitting the ground and when he raced outside, he found Shamir slumped on the grass. Charlie did his best to drag him back into the cabin, but he was too heavy and he had to make do with getting Shamir comfortable on the front doorstep. Fortunately, it was no longer raining, so Charlie sat with him for a while, without knowing quite what to do. Shamir was breathing normally, so Charlie wasn't particularly worried, but it was clear that he needed to do something to revive him. After thinking for a while, he hopped inside the house and prepared some of Shamir's sweet smelling Dandelion tea. With a small cup in hand, he returned to the sleeping wizard and carefully rested the cup beside him. Eventually, the end of Shamir's nose began to twitch, before his eyes suddenly popped open. He glanced around a few times before focusing on the cup of tea, which prompted a huge laugh to rise from his stomach as he realised where he was lying.
"I should have tea out here more often, it's really very pleasant," he chuckled.
"What the hell was all that about?" said Charlie, kneeling down beside Shamir.
"I'll tell you inside, but I must say, the cup of tea was a stroke of genius. What made you think of it?"
"Oh nothing really, it's the smell I remember waking up to here. Why I thought it would help bring you around is completely beyond me," said Charlie, helping him to his feet. Once inside, they made themselves comfortable on the lounge and Charlie poured them a fresh cup of tea each.
"Gemma Granlin is my sister Charlie," said Shamir.
"Whoa, are you sure?"
"Believe
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