CURCUBEUCURCUBEUTHE RAINBOWTHE RAINBOW

Once upon a time there was a little boy from a village on Once upon a time there was a little boy from a village on the mountain. His name was Alex. He was sent by his the mountain. His name was Alex. He was sent by his

father to be a shepherd to their flock of sheep, far from the father to be a shepherd to their flock of sheep, far from the village. Being alone there, he was amusing himself by village. Being alone there, he was amusing himself by

giving names to his sheep. And talked to them as if humansgiving names to his sheep. And talked to them as if humans

Then he got bored and started to watch the sky Then he got bored and started to watch the sky and give names to the constellations: “This is like and give names to the constellations: “This is like

the chariot of my uncle, that is like our horse” etcthe chariot of my uncle, that is like our horse” etc.. ..

But still he was bored But still he was bored and was very happy and was very happy whenever-once per whenever-once per

week-was going back week-was going back home and found other home and found other

kids to play withkids to play with

Alas! they did not want him in their games, because he did not know how to play

Time past and he Time past and he was growing older was growing older

and tallerand taller

• But not as the usual boys. Every month he was getting one head taller!!

• Now the other kids didn’t want him because he was different.

He became taller than the tower bell of the churchHe became taller than the tower bell of the church. . No door, no room was in his size. And continued to No door, no room was in his size. And continued to

getting taller. His parents were annoyed by his getting taller. His parents were annoyed by his presencepresence

So he decided to stay away from the village, with So he decided to stay away from the village, with the only company of the creatures of nature. the only company of the creatures of nature.

Sometimes, as he was standing, his head among Sometimes, as he was standing, his head among the clouds, he could listen to the birds talking and the clouds, he could listen to the birds talking and

learn new thingslearn new things

One day, many heavy clouds filled the sky. One day, many heavy clouds filled the sky. He stood up and heard: “He stood up and heard: “Ha!ha! How nice! Ha!ha! How nice!

all of us, sister drops, we are gathered hereall of us, sister drops, we are gathered here!!

““We will fall to this place, We will fall to this place, all of us, and travel all of us, and travel

altogether to the sea! We’ll altogether to the sea! We’ll not be separated anymore! not be separated anymore! Pity of these poor people! Pity of these poor people! They will be vanished by They will be vanished by

our fluid!”our fluid!”

• And the drops started to go down happily, contentiously, like a curtain of diamonds.

Thunders Thunders and strikes and strikes started to started to

tear off the tear off the sky!sky!

Immediately Alex started to dig a big Immediately Alex started to dig a big canal all around the village. The water canal all around the village. The water

fell there and the village was savedfell there and the village was saved

Another time, having his head in the clouds he saw Another time, having his head in the clouds he saw and heard some beautiful, white, cold flakes and heard some beautiful, white, cold flakes

laughing and saying:laughing and saying:

““How nice! How happy we are! We’’ll fall How nice! How happy we are! We’’ll fall altogether on this nice village, we’ ll stay for a long altogether on this nice village, we’ ll stay for a long

time, we will bury this area for the whole wintertime, we will bury this area for the whole winter!!””

Immediately Alex started cutting all the dry, old, Immediately Alex started cutting all the dry, old, fallen trees from the forests around the village.fallen trees from the forests around the village.

• He made huge stocks of timber and put them beside the houses.

When the village was almost buried under When the village was almost buried under the snow, people had enough wood for the the snow, people had enough wood for the fireplace and enjoyed their staying at home, fireplace and enjoyed their staying at home,

watching the falling snow flakeswatching the falling snow flakes

Once, he heard the clouds Once, he heard the clouds shoutingshouting::

Run, run! The strong wind had a fight with his brothers and he is coming furious! He will destroy everything in his way!

But one day, what he heard in the clouds from the But one day, what he heard in the clouds from the birds, terrified him: “birds, terrified him: “Run, run, brothers and sisters! Run, run, brothers and sisters! Lets go away from this crazy place! Human race Lets go away from this crazy place! Human race

lost their mind and make wars!...lost their mind and make wars!...

……they throw bullets, bombs, rockets, death they throw bullets, bombs, rockets, death anywhere! And then they say: Sorry! It happened anywhere! And then they say: Sorry! It happened

by mistake!” or “ Sorry! Side casualties!”by mistake!” or “ Sorry! Side casualties!”

Alex was very upset. He did not know what is war. Alex was very upset. He did not know what is war. He heard some terrible sounds, like thunders –He heard some terrible sounds, like thunders –

bombs!- like flying bees –bullets!- and something bombs!- like flying bees –bullets!- and something hit him and he started to bleed!!hit him and he started to bleed!!

He felt desperate! What could he do to protect his village? He felt desperate! What could he do to protect his village? He put his body over it, like a shield, like a bow, and didn’t He put his body over it, like a shield, like a bow, and didn’t

move even when his body was full of bullets. His blood flew move even when his body was full of bullets. His blood flew and falling on the clouds, dyed them red, orange, mauve, and falling on the clouds, dyed them red, orange, mauve,

yellow, green..yellow, green..

Alex vanished. His memory is only the Alex vanished. His memory is only the rainbow trying to help and give hopes to rainbow trying to help and give hopes to

peoplepeople

THIS STORY IS BASED ON THE BOOK OF ZOI PAPAZISSI:

Ζωή Παπαζήση7ο ΓΕΛ Τρικάλων

2009