That One Magic Rose

• Ashley Kleemann, Grade 6
• Short Story
• 2018

This was it. Luna was finally going to her dream school to pursue her love of photography. The sweet, warm, summer air was dancing in the Parisian wind. Rosewood School of The Arts was the best school in all of Paris. It got its name from the beautiful ruby red roses surrounding the school. Luna had moved from a small town in Canada where she grew up most of her life. Just to think that she would be living in Paris was a dream come true.

As Luna was walking up the concrete path to the giant brown door, she couldn’t help but sniff the sweet-smelling roses. She bent down and delicately picked up the rose, her golden hair dangling freely just above the beautiful flower. Luna sniffed the rose. Its scent was sweet like honey but also bitter and fruity. Luna was spellbound! The flower mesmerized her with its beauty. Then there was a twitch and the rose was dropped. ‘Ouch,’ wailed Luna. Suddenly there was a loud crash and Luna’s body laid helplessly on the ground.

Luna woke up to a pair of eyes. ‘Where am I?’ she managed to say. ‘Avonlea hospital,’ the pair of eyes replied. Luna sat up. ‘Avonlea? I’ve never heard of Avonlea before, also why am I in a hospital? She questioned. ‘You had a minor concussion and Avonlea is the home of magic,’ answered the nurse. Luna soon realised that the kind lady had shimmery pearl wings poking out her back. ‘But I’m not magic!’ said Luna, ‘I’m normal.’ ‘Or are you?’ said the nurse, ‘Click your fingers and you will see’. Luna followed her instructions and soon a blazing hot flame appeared in the middle of her palm. Luna was well and truly amazed.

As brave Luna walked out of the magnificently tall building, she couldn’t help but wonder to herself how a silly old rose made her have fire powers? Luna’s mind was a hot mess, so messy that she bumped into someone. As she gazed up, she noticed a tall figure with black and blue hair smiling down at her. ‘Sorry!’ blushed Luna as she tried to talk to the tall man. ‘Ha! That’s ok,’ he replied, ‘I’m Axel.’ ‘Luna,’ said the shy, photography loving girl, ‘Also could you help me with a favour.’ ‘Sure,’ smiled Axel. ‘This will sound crazy but help me get out of here!’

‘Wait so you’re from a place called Paris and you got pricked by some ‘magic’ flower which made you get fire powers?' Axel questioned as he dug around in the dirt. ‘Pretty much,’ responded Luna. The smell of manure wafted around them. Luna’s fingers were embedded with dozens of red cuts. ‘This is it, the last flower’,’ Axel said. Luna tapped one of its sharp thorns. Blue, pink and purple started swirling around Luna. Before she could say goodbye, she was swept away moments later to find herself walking to a photography class at Rosewood School of The Arts.