The Magical Catch

  A short story by Deeya D'Souza, London

“I’m going to search for some deer Lucy,” said Lucy’s mum, who was getting sick of eating weed juice, “ You are going to be alright aren’t you?”

“Of course, mum”, replied Lucy joyfully, “And don’t forget to get those lovely, deliciously, scrumptious berries”.

“ I can only afford them by selling a whole deer, then I have to spend that money on decent food and then, if there’s any money left then we’ll spend that on your berries, but I doubt there’ll be any deer left now that its winter,” said Lucy’s mum sadly.

“Well, by then mum,” said Lucy suddenly moving on to the point.

“Bye”, said Lucy’s mum also jumping to the point.

Lucy’s mum walked from her old, damp hut to the woods. She stomped in her tattered jumper and dusty Wellington boots to the very heart of the woods, where most deer would have rested. She looked around, not a single deer could be seen. She looked at the floor and then a shiny, silver object caught her eye. It was an axe.

She picked up the axe and flung it into the air. There was a loud scream. Then an antlered figure emerged out of thin air. It was a deer.

“Please take this out of my body”, it asked sorrowfully. Lucy’s mum thought about this for a while then said ok.

She thought about what she had just said and then wished she had loads of food.

When she got home she found so much food in the kitchen that she cried. It must have been the deer. Lucy soon found out about the deer and asked her mum for everything, toys, games, servants and a castle to live in. All the wishes were granted. Then Lucy asked for one more thing. She wanted to be a pop star. She became famous and soon her whole personality changed. She became bossy. One evening she came home to the castle and her mum was not there. Lucy felt scared and started to cry.

“ Don’t be bossy,” said a mysterious voice.

“ I wish I was back home with my mum,” cried Lucy. In a flash she was back to her old hut, mum singing in the kitchen and the distant wood seen through the window.

Her mum set of for hunting deer and Lucy called back,“ Don’t forget the berries mum!”

“ She still wants her berries,” muttered Lucy’s mum joyfully.

And now you know what happens to silly little girls like Lucy so don’t ask for more than what you actually need, ok?

The End.