Once upon a time there was a little boy. The little boy had heard about the magic apples that his great great great great….. grandfather used to sell. These magic apples had the power to make even the most unhappy person very happy again.

The little boy decided he would set off on a great adventure to find the great apple sellers convention in a land very far away from his home, and there he would find the oldest wisest apple seller of all and he would be able to tell the little boy the secret of the magic apples.

The little boy’s name is Joshua and he set out one bright day on his adventure. Along the way he met an old lady and the old lady stooped and said “What is your name, little boy”

“I am Joshua Jack… Ooooh Joshua James Brady”

“And where are you off to?” asked the old Lady

“I’m off to find the secret of the Magic Apples which make you happy even when you are sad” said Joshua

“Well good luck said the Lady” as she continued on her way.

Some time later Joshua came across a very bent old man, “And what is your name?” asked the old man hardly needing to stoop at all to speak to the little boy. “I’m Joshua Jake… Ooooh Joshua James Brady”

“Are you now?” said the old man, “And where are you off to in such a determined way?”

“I’m off to find the secret of the Magic Apples which make even the saddest people happy, my great, great, great, great, great, great, great….. grandfather used to grow them. I’m going to the famous apple growers & sellers convention far far away.”

“Are you now?” said the old man, “Well I’m going to give you a magic stick to help you on your way” and the old man handed Joshua an old rickety stick. It looked like an old walking stick but Joshua was young and didn’t need a walking stick, but he took it happily and thanked the old man graciously, stuck it in his little bag and carried on his way.

Quite some time later Joshua came across a huge river and he saw that the bridge, which usually spanned the river, had been swept away in the storms of the previous night. “Oh no, though Joshua” as he sat down with his head in his hands, “I will never get to the convention now, how could I possibly get across such a river.” Then he remembered his magic stick he took it out of his bag and tapped it three times on the ground while saying the magic words the old man had told him. “Tap, Tap, Tap, with the magic stick, Tap, Tap, Tap will you help me quick?” At this the stick flew out of his hand, it raced off to the jungle and came back with trees, it raced off to India and came back with twine to tie the trees together and it rebuilt the bridge in a twinkling of an eye. When it had done it landed back in Joshua’s hand and Joshua placed it back in his bag and carried on across the bridge, very pleased with himself and his magic stick.

As the journey continued Joshua came across a huge range of mountains, Joshua sat down head in hands again “I’ll never be strong enough to get over this mountain range and across the lakes and valleys to get to the convention Oh what will I do?”

Then he remembered his magic stick he pulled it out of his bag and said “Tap, Tap, Tap, with the magic stick. Tap, Tap, Tap, will you help me quick?” The stick jumped out of his hand and flew off to Persia where it weaved a magic flying carpet, which it brought back to the little boy. Overjoyed he returned the stick to his little bag, then he jumped on the magic carpet and soared up over the mountain, soared across the lakes and valleys until finally he saw the huge open field where the convention would be held. The carpet landed silently at the edge of the field where all the apple growers and sellers of the world were gathered.

Looking out over the sea of heads Joshua was again saddened “Oh how could I possibly find the one wisest apple grower amongst so many people?” then he remembered his magic stick. “Tap, Tap, Tap, with the magic stick. Tap, Tap, Tap, will you help me quick?” he chanted. Out of his hands flew the stick. It flew over the heads of all the gathered merchants. It went up to one end of the field, then down to the other, then around, then back, then in, then out, it weaved and slithered, it ducked and dived, until finally it hovered over the head of a particularly old and wise looking apple seller. Joshua raced up to the man and grabbed his stick and stuffed it back into his bag. “Hello little boy” said the old man. “What brings you to our convention?”

“Oh sir” said Joshua ” I have come on a great adventure to find the secret of the Magic Apples, which make you happy even when you are sad. The ones my great, great, great, great, great…. Grandfather used to tell me about”

“HA!” shouted the apple seller with a roar of laughter ” Silly boy !! HA HA there is no such thing as Magic Apples what nonsense Ha Ha..”

Joshua was really sad he sat on the grass with his head in his hands and he knew even the magic stick couldn’t help him this time. The apple seller said “Oh my dear boy I am sorry to have wasted your wonderful adventure, at least have one of my lovely red apples to make the journey worthwhile”

“I don’t really want one thank you.” said Joshua as the tears were welling up in his eyes. The old apple seller gave him one anyway, and as he sat there he took a bite of the apple, then another bite. Then he took another bite and started to think how delicious the apple really was. Then before he knew it he had finished the apple and he was beaming with happiness. “Wait a minute he thought, perhaps these really are the Magic Apples” he turned to talk to the apple seller, but he had gone. He turned to look at the crowded field, it was empty. Only six bright red juicy apples remained of the whole convention. Joshua smiled to himself and got up he put the red juicy apples in his bag with his magic stick and set off for home.

Copyright TJB Feb98.