Pooka

Toys were flying around my head, spinning and wobbling in circles above me. I reached up with my little hand, stretching as far as I could, but they always seemed too far. My fingers opened and closed, trying to grab just one, but the toys floated higher, dancing away like balloons teasing me. The room around me had no end; it stretched wide, wide, wide, as if my bed had been dropped into a sky of shadows. The only light I could see came from the toys themselves, glowing faintly red and blue and yellow, twinkling like tiny stars. 

My bed moved slowly, like a boat rocking on gentle water. I felt cozy and nice, but all I want now is Mama. I wanted to hug her now. 

I slid from the bed the way my brother Houssem showed me. First I lay on my stomach, then I stretched one foot down, then the other. My toes touched the floor. Poof. I was down. But the room outside the bed was dark. So dark. My smile faded. I bent down and picked up my small turtle toy from the ground, holding it tight in my hand. His plastic shell was smooth, his eyes wide and silly, and he always made me feel safe.

I took a step forward, my little feet making soft sounds on the floor. Step. Step. Then, crunch. I stepped on another toy and fell with a squeak. My hands smacked the ground. I giggled for a second, then looked up. The bed was far away now, glowing faintly in the distance, and behind me there was no light at all. The dark pressed in from every side. Fear crept into me. Where was Mama? Why wasn’t she here? My lip trembled, tears filled my eyes, whispering, “Mama?”

That was when I heard it, a voice, old and deep, soft like leaves moving in the wind. “Don’t be afraid,” it said. “We will find Mama. Ride on my back.” I gasped and looked down at the toy in my hand. My little turtle blinked. He was moving. He was bigger now, growing and growing until he was taller than me. His shell glowed green and gold, his long neck stretched toward me, and he smiled with kind, round eyes.

“Mr. Turtle?” I whispered. He nodded slowly, his head swaying like a boat on water. I laughed with delight, running to him. I wrapped my arms tight around his head and squeezed with all my strength. I kissed his nose, and he licked my cheek back, warm and tickly. “Take me to Mama, please, Mr. Turtle.” “Of course,” he said in his old, gentle voice. “Climb on my back, and let us ride.”

I scrambled up onto his shell, gripping the ridges with my small hands. He moved forward, his steps steady and slow, but all around us the world was still dark. Left and right, nothing but shadows. To make me feel better, Mr. Turtle started talking. He told me how much he loved me, how much he cared for me, and begged me to stop throwing him from the bed when I got mad. His voice made me laugh, and my fear grew smaller.

After a while, we reached a forest, Mr. Turtle lowered his head. “Do you hear that, my little boy?” I stopped and listened. At first there was only silence between us. Then, faintly, I heard it, humming. A sound so beautiful it made my chest feel warm, an angelic voice floating through the trees like a secret. Suddenly Mr. Turtle stopped. “Wait here,” he said, and he ran into the forest, his heavy steps shaking the ground.

The humming grew louder as he ran, brighter, like a river of music flowing straight into me. It felt like love itself, made into sound. I couldn’t stay behind. I had to follow. I took a step forward, and as my foot touched the ground, light burst from beneath it. A soft glow, golden and warm. At the same time, a musical note rang out, like a piano key. The humming stopped.  I gasped. I took another step. Another note. Another light. The floor was singing with me. The humming came back, stronger now, blending with the sounds of my steps. The two melodies moved together, like they were meant for each other.

Above me, fireflies began to appear, one by one, shining and floating. They lined up to form a glowing road through the forest. I looked around and saw everything more clearly now. The trees were tall stacks of storybooks, their pages fluttering like leaves. Their trunks were built of colored pencils and crayons. Flowers bloomed from puzzle pieces, balls hung from branches like fruit. The ground was soft, made of blankets. The book-trees had flowers blooming from their pages, spilling letters. Toy animals peeked from behind the bushes, their button eyes blinking. Stuffed bears, bunnies, gazelles, kittens, puppies, all of them began to dance to the music. 

I laughed with joy, running down the glowing road. As I moved, the stuffed animals hopped alongside me. Two bunnies bounced left and right, perfectly in time with my steps. A gazelle leapt gracefully, landing just as the music rose. Even the flowers swayed, their petals clapping like tiny hands. Then I saw him. At the end of the glowing path, Mr. Turtle was standing still, his head raised. He was staring at something. I slowed down and crept closer.

There, in the middle of the forest, stood a giant teddy bear. Bigger than any building, taller than any tree. His fur was golden-brown, glowing in the light of a million fireflies swirling around him. He was the one humming. His voice poured into the air, deep and beautiful, making everything bloom and dance. I froze behind a tree, my eyes wide. Mr. Turtle didn’t see me. He was staring at the bear like he was under a spell.

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“Mr. Turtle,” I whispered. “I’m here.” But he didn’t answer. I stepped out, slowly. The music rose, brighter, grander. All the stuffed animals around me paired up and danced in circles. The fireflies connected themselves into strings of light, weaving through the branches until they formed a chandelier that spun above us. The whole forest glowed like a palace of stars.

It was beautiful, but I was scared. The teddy bear was so big, and his eyes were glowing. I thought maybe he would hurt me or hurt Mr. Turtle. “Mr. Turtle,” I whispered louder. “Let’s go, please.” But Mr. Turtle was busy. He was dancing with a lady turtle, her shell sparkling with jewels. He didn’t hear me.

The giant teddy bear turned. His eyes fell on me. He stopped humming. The music trembled, waiting. Slowly, he stretched out his huge paw toward me. I stepped back, tears filling my eyes, my chest hurting. The bear looked surprised, then he smiled, soft and kind. He spoke in a deep voice that made the ground hum. “Don’t be scared, little guy.” I shook my head, my tears spilling down.

So he did something amazing. He shrank. His giant body folded and folded until he was my size. A small bear, soft and huggable, walking toward me slowly, his fur glowing gently. I gasped. “How did you do that?” He chuckled. “I am a Pooka. I can be anything I want to be. I can become water. I can become a tree. I can fly. I can be big or small. Whatever you need me to be.”

I wiped my tears, still staring. “A Pooka? Really?” “Really,” he said, smiling. Something inside me melted. I ran to him and hugged him tight. He shrank even more, until he was just the size of a small teddy bear in my arms. His fur smelled like jasmine trees, sweet and warm. I buried my face in it, and all my fear disappeared.

The Pooka took my hand and led me into the dance. We spun together, round and round, with all the animals, the flowers, the fireflies, even the trees swaying to the music. I laughed so hard I almost fell, but the Pooka caught me. Then I stopped, suddenly. My smile faded. “I still want Mama,” I whispered.  “No problem. I will fly you to her, " he said.  He grew bigger, his body stretching and stretching until he was a giant bird with golden wings. He lowered himself to the ground. “Climb on.”

I nodded, but before I did, I turned to the animals. “Goodbye,” I said. I hugged each one of them, pressing my cheek to their soft fur. The bunnies wiggled their noses against me. The bears kissed my face. The gazelles bowed gracefully. I laughed and laughed, covered in cuddles and licks. Then I ran to Mr. Turtle. “Come with me, please.”

But Mr. Turtle shook his head, looking at Mrs. Turtle with gentle eyes. “I want to stay a little longer. Then I’ll come.” I hugged his head tight, pressing my face against his shell. “I’ll miss you,” I whispered. “And I will miss  you, my little boy,” he said softly. I kissed him one last time, then climbed onto the Pooka’s back.

We rose into the sky, soaring higher and higher. The whole world spread below me, green fields, blue rivers, tiny houses glowing like toys. My mouth opened in wonder. We flew into the clouds. They were made of candy, soft and pink, smelling like strawberries. I touched them, giggling as sugar stuck to my fingers.

Higher and higher we flew, until at last I saw my house. Mama was inside, her face worried as she searched for me. My heart leapt. The Pooka landed on the roof, then shrank back into a teddy bear. He hugged me close.

“I want you to stay,” I whispered. He thought for a moment. Then he smiled. “Yes. I will stay.” We jumped together, landing softly on my bed. Mama was right beside me, her hand resting gently on my head. I curled up next to her, holding the Pooka tight in my arms. He smelled of jasmine and candy clouds.

I closed my eyes, smiling. I had Mama. I had my Pooka. And I was safe.

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