Author: lazaruscarpenterauthor

A Children’s Story

Image Courtesy of Gill Brooks https://www.gillsplace.com/

Once upon a time, in a magical forest filled with talking animals and enchanted creatures, there lived a toadstool named Cedric. Cedric was not an ordinary toadstool – he possessed a magical power that made him the happiest toadstool in the entire forest. Whenever Cedric was around, everyone else couldn’t help but join in his infectious laughter. One beautiful day, Cedric was out for a stroll in the forest when he came across a group of animals who were huddled together, looking very sad. Cedric asked them what was wrong and they explained that they had lost their homes due to a recent storm that had swept through the forest. Cedric felt sorry for the animals and wanted to help them feel better, so he decided to use his magic to spread laughter and happiness. Cedric started to laugh, and as he did, magical energy began to emanate from him, filling the air with an infectious joy that soon spread throughout the forest. All of the animals, even those who had lost their homes, couldn’t help but laugh along with Cedric.

The forest was filled with the sound of joy and happiness, and for a while, everything seemed perfect. But then, something strange happened. Cedric found that he couldn’t stop laughing. No matter how hard he tried, he just couldn’t control himself. Everywhere he went, everything he saw, just made him laugh uncontrollably. Even when he tried to sleep, his laughter kept him awake. It seemed that Cedric’s magic had gotten out of control. At first, the animals in the forest found Cedric’s constant laughter amusing, but soon it became clear that something was wrong. They could see that Cedric was becoming exhausted from his constant laughter, and they grew worried for his health. They tried everything they could think of to make Cedric stop laughing, but nothing worked.

One day, a wise old owl came to visit Cedric. The owl had seen many things in his long life, and he knew just what to do to help Cedric. He explained to Cedric that his magic had become unbalanced and that he needed to find a way to restore the balance. Cedric listened carefully to the owl’s advice, and he realized that he needed to find a way to bring sadness back into his life. He needed to experience the full range of emotions, not just happiness. So, Cedric set out to find something that would make him sad. He searched the forest high and low, but he couldn’t find anything that would make him sad. Everything he saw just made him laugh even harder.

Finally, he came across a group of animals who were crying. They had lost a friend, and they were mourning his passing. Cedric felt a pang of sadness in his heart, and for the first time in a long time, he stopped laughing. As Cedric watched the animals mourn, he realized that it was okay to feel sad sometimes. It was just another part of life, and it was important to experience it fully. Cedric’s laughter began to naturally balance itself out, and he found that he could control it once again. From that day on, Cedric continued to spread joy and happiness throughout the forest, but he also knew that it was okay to feel sad sometimes. He had learned an important lesson about balance and the importance of experiencing all of life’s emotions. And so, Cedric the Magic Toadstool who still laughed whenever it was appropriate also knew when not to, and once again all was quiet in the forest.

Lazarus Carpenter

A Children’s Story

Image courtesy of Gill Brooks https://www.gillsplace.com/

Midge the dragon had always been fascinated by the world beyond her mountainous home. She had heard tales of great cities, bustling markets, and towering structures that reached toward the sky. So, one day, she decided to leave her home and explore the world. As she flew over the rolling hills, Midge marveled at the beauty of the landscape. She saw fields of golden wheat swaying in the breeze, and rivers that sparkled like diamonds in the sunlight. She flew higher and higher until she saw something that caught her eye. Down below her, a caravan of barges was making its way down the viaduct at Llangollen. Midge had never seen anything like it before. The barges were huge and piled high with cargo, and Midge could see people bustling about, loading and unloading crates. Curious, Midge the dragon decided to get a closer look. She swooped down towards the barges, flapping her wings to slow her descent. As she landed on the deck of one of the barges, the people on board were stunned.

“What is that?” one of them exclaimed.

“It’s a dragon!” another shouted.

Midge looked around, feeling a little self-conscious. She had never been around so many people before, and she wasn’t sure what to do. But the people on board were friendly. They offered her food and water and even showed her around the barge. Midge was fascinated by everything she saw. She watched as the crew worked together to steer the barge, and saw how they used ropes and pulleys to move heavy crates. As they sailed down the viaduct, Midge felt a sense of excitement and wonder. She had never experienced anything like this before. The wind in her face felt different and warmer than usual, the sound of the water lapping against the barge, and the sight of the countryside passing by so slowly for a change – it was all so exhilarating. But eventually, it was time for Midge to say goodbye. The barges were heading towards a port, and Midge knew it was time for her to continue her journey. As she took off into the sky, the people on board waved goodbye. Midge flew off into the distance, feeling grateful for the experience. She had seen a new part of the world and made some new friends along the way. And as she soared through the clouds, she knew that there were many more adventures waiting for her out there. I wonder what the next one will be, don’t you?

Lazarus Carpenter

WHERE: YSTRADGYNLAIS LIBRARY

WHEN: TUESDAY 13 JUNE 7PM

HOW CAN YOU HELP – BUY THE BOOK OR KINDLE ON THESE LINKS – Kindle https://amzn.eu/d/eaEFi40 Hard Copy https://amzn.eu/d/aSVFdjr

POST A REVIEW HERE – https://www.amazon.co.uk/…/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_wr_but_lft…

Come to the launch and HEAR & SEE

Introduced by Lazarus Carpenter

1. Stairway to Heaven – written and read by Paula Wales

2. Serendipity – written and read by Jo Paine

3. Mega Proud Woman – written and read by Rosalind Mary Gough

4. In the Arms of Morpheus – written and read by Matthew Gough

5. Hours after the Wedding – written and read by Opal Wales

6. The Violin – written and read by Jane Levi

7. Reggie the Rampant Rooster – written and read by Adrian Levi

If you can’t get to the launch in person why not join us on Zoom

Lazarus Carpenter is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Ystradgynlais Creative Writing Group – Book Launch – 500 Words Anthology of Collected Stories at Ystadgynlais Library

Time: Jun 13, 2023 19:00 London

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89393166360…

Meeting ID: 893 9316 6360

Passcode: 401590

Find your local number: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/kbwhWM7R0e

A Children’s Story by Lazarus Carpenter

Image courtesy of Gill Brooks https://www.gillsplace.com/

Once upon a time, in a quaint little cottage, Mr. Fox sat at a wooden table on his veranda, wearing a stylish fedora and sipping on a hot cup of tea. The sun was shining bright, and the birds were chirping so sweetly, creating a serene and peaceful atmosphere that Mr. Fox enjoyed immensely. Mr. Fox was a dapper and sophisticated character who enjoyed the finer things in life. He had a love for cream teas, which he enjoyed often on his veranda, accompanied by the stunning views of the countryside.

His cottage was surrounded by lush greenery, and the scent of fresh flowers filled the air, which made his tea time even more enjoyable. Mr. Fox’s tea set was a beautiful sight to behold. The porcelain cups were adorned with intricate designs, and the silver teapot was polished to a shine. He poured himself a second cup of tea and added a dash of cream, which he stirred delicately with a silver spoon. As he took a sip of his tea, he closed his eyes and savored the creamy taste that filled his mouth. It was a peaceful day, and Mr. Fox was enjoying his solitude. He took another sip of his tea and looked out into the distance, admiring the beauty of the countryside.

Suddenly, he heard a rustling sound coming from the bushes nearby. Mr. Fox cautiously looked over the edge of the veranda and saw a group of rabbits hopping along the grass. Mr. Fox was delighted to see the rabbits and invited them to join him for tea. The rabbits were a bit hesitant at first, but Mr. Fox’s charm and warm hospitality soon put them at ease. They sat around the table with him, and Mr. Fox poured them each a cup of tea, which they sipped on with delight. As they enjoyed their tea, Mr. Fox and the rabbits chatted and laughed, sharing stories about their lives and experiences. The sun began to set, and the sky turned a beautiful shade of orange and pink. Mr. Fox and the rabbits sat in silence, admiring the stunning view as the sun disappeared behind the hills. It was a beautiful day, and Mr. Fox felt grateful for the wonderful company he had. As the rabbits hopped away, Mr. Fox sat back in his chair, feeling content and happy. He took one last sip of his tea, and with a smile on his face, he retired to his cottage, ready for a peaceful night’s rest.

Lazarus Carpenter

Short Story for Children by Lazarus Carpenter

Image courtesy of Gill Brooks https://www.gillsplace.com/

Once upon a time, in a far-off land called Dan yr Ogof, there lived a dragon named Dracul. Dracul was known throughout the land for his love of cakes. He would eat any cake he could find, whether big or small, rich or plain, and he would eat them all day long. But as he ate more and more cakes, Dracul began to notice that he was getting bigger and bigger. He didn’t mind at first, but soon he realized that his size was becoming a problem. One day, as Dracul was flying over the village, he heard some children talking about him.

“Look at that dragon,” said one child. “He’s so big, he can hardly fly!”

The other children laughed and pointed, and Dracul felt ashamed. He knew he needed to make a change. Dracul decided to go on a diet. He stopped eating cakes altogether and instead started eating healthy foods like fruits and vegetables. At first, it was hard. He missed the taste of cake and would sometimes sneak a bite when no one was looking. But as time went on, he began to feel better. He had more energy, and he could fly higher and faster than before. The villagers noticed the change in Dracul too. They saw that he was no longer as big as he used to be and that he was flying with more grace and ease. The children even started to cheer for him as he flew overhead. Dracul was proud of himself for making the change. He had learned that too much of a good thing can be bad and that it’s important to take care of oneself. He still loved cake, but he knew that he could enjoy it in moderation. From that day on, Dracul lived a happy life in Dan yr Ogof. He flew through the sky with ease, enjoying the beauty of the land below him. And sometimes, when he was feeling particularly happy, he would bake himself a small cake as a treat. But he always made sure to share it with his friends, because he knew that sharing a treat with others was the best way to enjoy it.

Lazarus Carpenter