Bouncey the Elf and Friends Bedtime Stories Read online

Bouncey the Elf and Friends

  Bedtime Stories

  Brian Leo Lee

  Published by Brian Leo Lee

  Copyright 2012 Brian Leo Lee

  Cover and Illustrations by Brian Leo Lee

  Copyright 2012

  The moral right of the author has been asserted.

  All rights reserved

  Contents

  Bouncey the Elf Meets a Wizard

  Henry the Caravan and the Troublesome Family

  Bouncey the Elf and the Goblin Goldmine.

  Skipper the Kangaroo has a Lucky Day

  Eddy the Lifeboat and the Seal Island Rescue.

  Peta the Plane and the Lost Little Girl.

  Bouncey the Elf

  Meets a Wizard

  It was a lovely sunny day, so Bouncey the Elf decided to go for a walk. He went to find his backpack and put in a bottle of pop and a pack of biscuits.

  He then set off into the forest with a bouncy walk, along the banks of the River of Dreams, singing a song to himself.

  He was just wandered around when he saw a blue and red bird he had never seen before. It seemed very tame.

  Suddenly, Bouncey heard a grunting sound in the bushes. It was a wild boar.

  Bouncey was not scared, just curious, so he began to follow it.

  The wild boar went here, there and everywhere. This way and that way, up tracks Bouncey had never seen before. He was really enjoying himself - until he realised he was lost.

  ‘Oh no!’ he said in a worried voice. ‘It always happens to me.’

  He was standing still, wondering what to do next, when he heard a strange noise - a whooshing - sound.

  He looked up the path, and saw a big hill and what appeared to be the entrance of a cave. So he crept slowly towards it.

  Bending low, he crept towards a big rock resting by a big tree and keeping as quiet as he could, looked into the cave and saw the strangest person.

  He was tall, dressed in long dark robes with a tall pointed hat, patterned with stars. He had a long, straggling grey beard, pointed nose and crooked fingers, which held a wand over a bubbling cauldron.

  ‘This must be the Wizard’s cave,’ Bouncey said excitedly to himself.

  Kneeling behind the rock opposite to the entrance to the cave, he watched curiously as the Wizard threw something into the cauldron.

  The Wizard then started to wave his wand again and - whoosh - a big puff of smoke came from the cauldron.

  The sparks from the fire flew out all over the cave - some of them even found their way to the entrance, not far from where Bouncey was hiding.

  He moved away hurriedly to avoid some of them.

  The Wizard noticed his movement. ‘Who’s there?’ he called out sharply, looking round with glaring eyes.

  Then he pointed towards Bouncey with a bony finger. ‘Come here,’ he said in a stern voice.

  Bouncey crept forward, shivering with fright.

  ‘Who are you?’ The Wizard asked loudly.

  ‘I - I - I’m Bouncey the Elf,’ stuttered poor Bouncey.

  ‘Why are you spying on me,’ demanded the Wizard. ‘I usually turn spies into frogs or toads.’

  ‘I wasn’t spying - honest,’ protested Bouncy in a trembling voice. ‘I just came upon you by accident and was curious - please don’t turn me into a frog.’

  ‘Go and sit over there. I’ll deal with you in a minute,’ ordered the Wizard.

  He pointed to a stool in the far corner of the cave.

  Bouncey went and sat down, wishing all the time he had acted more sensibly and not played chasing games with a wild boar.

  The Wizard waved his wand over the cauldron again - there was another - whoosh - smoke and more sparks.

  ‘U’m - that’s finished now,’ said the Wizard, taking the cauldron off the fire.

  He turned to Bouncey. ‘I won’t be long. Don’t touch anything.’

  There was a little door at the back of the cave and the Wizard unlocked it and went through to the next room.

  Bouncey looked around the cave. It was full of jars - stacked on stone shelves carved into the rock. Inside the jars were things like bat’s wings and snake’s eyes - lots of the most horrible things you can imagine.

  He was too scared to move.

  The Wizard soon came back with a little jug in his hand.

  He dipped it into the bubbling cauldron, took a sip - and immediately disappeared.

  Bouncey couldn’t believe his eyes

  There was a chuckle and with a snap of fingers, the Wizard reappeared.

  ‘That’s marvellous!’ cried Bouncey, forgetting his terror.

  ‘Oh! Just one of my little spells,’ said the Wizard, a little more kindly.

  ‘I’m going to a Wizard’s party and this is what I’ll be taking.’

  ‘Is it far away?’ asked Bouncey.

  'It will take me a good week travelling on my magic carpet’ answered the Wizard.

  Bouncey’s eyes opened even wider at the other mention of a magic carpet

  By now the Wizard seemed quite friendly and he asked Bouncey if he would like something to eat.

  He left the little jug on the table, went out to the room and came back with a delicious-looking piece of chocolate cake and a glass of ginger beer.

  ‘Here you are,’ said the Wizard. ‘It’s been quite nice to have some company. It gets a little lonely here sometimes,’ he said sadly.

  Then the Wizard smiled and said. ‘I don’t really change people into frogs and toads you know.’

  Bouncey gave a nervous little laugh and then relaxed and enjoyed his cake and ginger beer.

  ‘I’d better be off now,’ said the Wizard, looking at his pet owl, which had just given two loud hoots.

  He took out a key and locked the little door at the back of the cave. Then he poured the now cooled contents of the cauldron into a large green jar and jammed in the stopper.

  The Wizard slowly walked to the entrance of the cave and snapped his fingers three times.

  The carpet that Bouncey was standing on suddenly started to move.'

  ‘Wow,' he cried, jumping off it quickly.

  The magic carpet moved towards the Wizard, who sat down on it, keeping a tight hold of his magic brew.

  ‘Bye for now, Bouncey,’ shouted the Wizard, as he and the magic carpet, started flying out of the cave.

  Higher and higher they went, until they were over the treetops and out of sight.

  Bouncey was just about to go himself, when he noticed the little jug on the table.

  I’m sure the Wizard won’t mind me taking a little drop, thought Bouncey.

  So he emptied his water bottle outside the cave and then went back and poured some of the magic mixture into it.

  Then he walked out into the sunshine with a bouncy step and tried to find his way home.

  After wandering around for a time, he was lucky enough to find a path he knew and was soon back at the Elf Village.

  He was trying to creep through the palace gates when two guards noticed him.

  ‘Come with us, Bouncey - the Elf King wants to see you.’

  So Bouncey went to see the Elf King, who said sternly. ‘You have been on one of your walks again without telling anyone - haven’t you?'

  ‘Well, your Majesty, I found the Wizard’s cave.’ announced Bouncey proudly.

  ‘What do you mean?’ exclaimed the Elf King. ‘Nobody can go in there without coming out as a frog or toad.’

  ‘It was alright, really,’ said Bouncey. He then told the Elf King everything what had happened to him that day

  Then he took out his water bottle. Unfortunately, he hadn’t screwed th
e top on tightly enough. It had spilled out and there was only one drop left in the bottle.

  Bouncey took a sip and disappeared

  The Elf King was amazed. ‘Where are you?’ The Elf King asked.

  ‘I’m here your Majesty,’ replied Bouncey from across the room.

  ‘Where?’ asked the Elf King again, looking around the room and not seeing Bouncey.

  ‘Here!’ Laughed Bouncey who was standing behind the Elf King.

  ‘Stop playing around, Bouncey!’ ordered the Elf King in an angry voice.

  So Bouncey clicked his fingers twice and re-appeared.

  He then had to tell the Elf King there was no more magic mixture left.

  ‘Oh dear, what fun I could have had with that,’ sighed the Elf King.

  ‘Never mind Bouncey, as a reward, you can go to the royal kitchens and ask for whatever you wish.’

  So Bouncey rushed down to the royal kitchens and asked for:

  - a huge fresh cream chocolate éclair - a drink of fizzy apple juice and then a giant chocolate ice - cream cornet.

  Bouncey, when he’s in the forest, often looks up, hoping to catch a glimpse of the magic flying carpet and the friendly Wizard

  Perhaps, one day, he will