THE MAGICAL FLOWER

Once upon a time there lived a boy named Joy. One day Joy went for a picnic to Naseem Gardens. He and his friends had a lot of fun there, playing and running all around the vast gardens. Some boys started breaking some low branches from the trees. This angered Joy immensely. Joy told them that plucking flowers or breaking branches is a bad habit- not only it destroys the beauty of the place, but it hurts the tree too. After all, the tree is a living thing just like us!! The kids understood and stopped. Joy was very proud of himself.
Someone else was proud too –
The Blue Fairy.
The Blue Fairy came in Joy’s dreams the next night and said, “Joy, you take care of your environment. It’s a very good habit. As a reward, I give you this magical flower. Whoever smells this flower would immediately grow very fond of you, though only for five minutes. Remember, you can use it only thrice. Bye!”
Joy was thrilled to get the magical flower under his pillow in the morning. As he boarded the bus to school, he saw Sid.
“Do you like me, Sid?” Joy asked him.
“Of course”, replied Sid, as a matter of fact. “You are my best friend.”
“Then I should not use my flower on you.”, muttered Joy. There Joy noticed Robby, the mean class bully. He asked Robby to smell the flower.
“What a silly looking flower- Just like you. I’m sure it smells silly too.”, said Robby as he smelled the flower. Suddenly his curt tone changed to a loving one, and he said, “Joy, you are the best boy in the whole school. Your flower smells wonderful. From now on, I’ll always help you.” Joy smiled. He knew that Blue fairy’s magic was working.
When Joy reached his class, he realised he had forgotten to do his homework. Now the teacher would surely scold him. Joy left the flower on teacher’s table. As the teacher came in, she noticed the flower. She smelled it, and quietly put it in her purse. It was then that Joy approached the teacher and told her about the undone homework. The teacher replied affectionately, “It is okay Joy. You are my favorite student. I’m sure you’ll do the homework properly next time.”
Happy that the magical flower had worked its magic, Joy asked the teacher for the flower back. The teacher gave it to him happily.
Joy wondered where to use his magical gift next. That evening his father took him out to visit a zoo. They saw a lot of animals, including a huge elephant. Elephants are the biggest land animal. They are quite intelligent, and have amazing memory. It is said that they never forget anybody. Joy offered the flower to the elephant. Just as the animal smelled it, it picked Joy up with its tusk and put him on its back. Then it gave Joy a wonderful ride around the zoo. Even as the flower vanished, Joy was very happy indeed, knowing that the elephant would never forget him and his friendship.