A poor young boy or girl comes into an unexpected fortune.
Use your talent to create something that comes from your heart.
Once upon a time, in a small village nestled among the rolling hills of a far-off land, there lived a young girl named Leena. She was the youngest of six children in a family that lived hand-to-mouth, struggling to make ends meet.
Leena's father worked hard as a farmer, but the land was dry and unyielding, and they barely made enough to put food on the table. Leena's mother worked as a maid for a wealthy family in the city, but her meager wages barely made a dent in their expenses.
Despite their poverty, Leena was a bright and curious child. She loved to read and learn, and often spent hours poring over the few books she could get her hands on. She dreamed of one day going to school, but knew it was impossible with their family's financial situation.
One day, as Leena was walking home from the village well, she stumbled upon an old bottle lying in a ditch. It was dirty and cracked, but something about it caught her eye. As she picked it up, she heard a strange sound coming from inside. It was a low humming noise, almost like a song.
Curious, Leena uncorked the bottle and peered inside. To her surprise, she saw a tiny golden bird, no bigger than her thumb, perched on a twig. Its feathers shone in the sunlight, and its eyes sparkled like diamonds.
"Hello there," the bird chirped in a high-pitched voice." I am the bird of fortune. I have been waiting for someone to find me and set me free. In return, I will grant you three wishes."
Leena was amazed. She had never heard of a bird of fortune before, but she knew enough about magic to know that this was a rare and precious gift. She closed her eyes and made her first wish.
"I wish for my family to have enough food to eat every day, and to never go hungry again," she said.
Instantly, the bird flapped its wings and a basket of fresh fruits and vegetables appeared at Leena's feet. She smiled with delight and hurried home to share the bounty with her family.
Over the next few weeks, Leena used her second wish to buy new clothes and shoes for her siblings, and her third wish to repair their leaky roof. Life was still hard, but it was a little easier now, and Leena felt grateful to the bird of fortune for helping her family.
But one day, as she was walking through the village, she heard a commotion coming from the town square. A man was shouting and waving a piece of paper in the air.
"Attention, everyone!" he bellowed. "The king has announced a contest to find the most talented artist in the land! The winner will receive a grand prize of one thousand gold coins!"
Leena's heart leapt with excitement. She had always loved to draw and paint, and had a natural talent for it. But she had never had the opportunity to develop her skills, let alone showcase them in a contest.
Without thinking, she ran back to the ditch where she had found the bottle and uncorked it again.
"I know I've used up all my wishes," she said to the bird of fortune, "but please, can you help me win the contest? I promise to share the prize money with my family."
The bird of fortune looked at her with a twinkle in its eye. "I cannot grant you any more wishes, but I can give you a piece of advice. Use your talent to create something that comes from your heart. Something that tells a story and touches people's souls."
Leena nodded gratefully and ran home to get to work.
About the Creator
Emma @ Vocal
My stories span a variety of genres, including science fiction, fantasy, and mystery. My work has been featured in numerous literary journals .
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