The Lost Children - Picture Story Book

 The sun was high in the sky, right above them causing the clouds to take on a glow as the huge multi-coloured balloon lifted off from the grass and began slowly rising into the sky. Loud cheers and clapping accompanied the launch as a group of parents waved happily to their children.

 

Inside the balloon’s large wicker basket, initial anxiety and nervousness was replaced by sheer wonder as the balloon rose majestically into the blue sky. As the flame burned more gas to fill the colourful canopy, the balloon rose higher and higher opening up a beautiful sight of the landscape below.

The four friends gasped in amazement as they looked at the ground slowly receding below them as the balloon rose even higher into the sky. Together they could see a large blue lake and open fields leading to a small forest of dark green trees. In the distance they could see a large mountain range rising up from the plain.

 

Bill, Jim, Mary and Rosemary had been waiting excitedly for months after they won a singing competition at their local shopping centre. With their pilot Robert, they had planned to fly for a day in the balloon before returning to the launch site to be met by their parents.

 

Bill, Jim, Mary and Rosemary upbeat children watched the chirping birds fly in the soft white cotton clouds, soaring in the sky. The beautiful scenery underneath, a lake of greenery swishing in the sudden gust of air.

 

Robert became a little concerned after gliding for an hour when he saw a large bank of dark clouds building on the horizon, signalling that a storm might be approaching. He explained to the group that it would be best to return early because of the possible danger of the storm and the group reluctantly agreed.

 

As Robert started to guide the balloon in the opposite direction, large drops of water began to fall and the wind began to increase suddenly, causing the balloon to rock unsteadily. Within minutes the previously blue sky had changed to a dark gloomy grey and black as enormous storm clouds swept from the west. 

 

The pilot, Robert, worked hard to control the balloon, but the strong winds pushed it towards the dangerous looking mountains. Suddenly, lightning flashed and thunder boomed and the storm began to rage causing the balloon to be thrown about violently. Everyone in the wicker basket crouched down and hung on tight.

 

The frightened group gasped as the mountain peaks skimmed by just below the balloon’s basket and everyone thought that they would tragically crash and be killed. The pilot fought with the controls, but the balloon was at the mercy of the wild storm and seemed destined to crash.

 

“CRASH! CLATTER!” The ignition died down deflating the balloon dramatically. The suffocating smoke left the group coughing and hacking. They rolled out of the strangling lump of cloth relieved to be able to breathe in the fresh air.

 

The pilot Robert got his tools out ready to fix the engine from the zap of lightning as the children sought help. The luscious forest flowered like glitter was sprinkled on top of the thickets and bushes.

 

They followed a dug out path taking them to a tall sign towering over the mystical bluebells bowing down, absolutely untouched. The sign read “Welcome To Treeland” and the town behind it was like a vividly coloured child’s book.

 

The four greeted each other and told their story to a kind woman. She guided them to the castle shadowing the blazing sun. The guards tilted the levers opening a gate to a luxurious granite coloured carpet covering the neatly placed wooden flooring.

 

Bill, Jim, Mary and Rosemary were escorted to a waiting room lined with chandeliers, glass wall window and comfy crystal embroidered plush chairs. Though the room looked antique it glowered with beauty. Everything was neatly arranged looking too perfect to touch. The crystal chandelier glittered with every strand of light, the plush chairs, too soft to get out of and the glass wall overlooked the village below.

 

An elegantly dressed woman entered the room covered head to toe with glittering jewels. “Hello my dears, your request has been granted. Six of my loyal engineers will follow you down to help with that balloon of yours.”Announced the proud young Queen with her lavishly crisp accent.

 

The four children trotted out of the palace followed by six engineers. They watched as the scenery flowed past them like waves on a beach as they wrapped around the warmth like a child’s blanket and entered the forest once again.

 

They reached back to Robert, who was still tweaking and turning his tools. “Help has arrived!” the children yelled excitedly. Robert  and the engineers quickly got ready to start working.

 

The evening passed slowly so Bill, Jim, Mary and Rosemary got to work on setting up overnight tents. After the tents were set up, one of the engineers named James came to inform them that they would be finished by two days' time. 

 

They watched the sun’s glow descend down behind the horizon as the moon glistened in the dark like a soldier amongst its many glittering peers.

 

The night went smoothly, birds humming a lullaby, owls hooting and stars shooting across the blanket of darkness, wishing for the very best ahead.

 

In the morning Rosemary lolled up first along with Mary. The two tidied up and woke their lazy friends, Bill & Jim. They all quickly helped to clean the boys' tents and got ready for a new day ahead.

 

As the foursome approached the food tent they saw Robert and the six engineers working on the balloon.

“ Good morning children! It seems we have some good news about the balloon. We've worked on a lot of the problems so I think we should be departing in an hour!” announced Robert.

 

“ What wonderful news! Thank you so much for fixing the balloon for us.” Bill said to the 7 engineers. 

“Come on, let's go and pack,” Mary told her friends and followed the group to pack the tents to give back to the engineers.

 

After packing they helped the engineers & Robert. They also paid the Queen a good bye visit.” I'm so glad that you're getting back to your families.” She said kindly, proud to have helped.

 

As the children headed back to Robert they picked peculiar looking little flower seeds and dry leaves as souvenirs which they found hiding behind the thin strands of bright green grass.

 

Robert got ready to take off to the skies as he ushered the children inside the large wicker basket while they said goodbye and thanked the engineers floating into the clouds.

 

Being back in the skies surrounded by fresh, white, relaxed clouds was soothing. The birds flew side by side along the outlines of the balloon. Their eyes followed the pretty birds across the squareness of skies.

 

 

When the children reached home Bill, Jim, Rosemary and Mary split to their families. Parents strangled their children with hugs and wandered about the two complicated days. Questions were thrown everywhere. What stories they had yet to tell and what a time they had.