The Day Magic Was Killed

Little Joe in Manchester wanted to read Cinderella and took the book and was going to read it. But what was this? It was stuck. No matter how much she tried the pages were just glued.

Same happened in California when Pam wanted to read Snow White.

In India Anu tried to open her copy of Goldilocks, but in vain.

Soon all the major news channels were buzz with the news... the fairy tales were stuck.

Was the magical land closed for ever for us?

The many discussions and debates were the rule of the day. Special editions of Newspapers with screaming headlines about this bizarre happening.

******

The fairy realm was buzz with the recent announcement. Finally they would be having the much awaited conference after almost eternity. It had taken many petitions and many signed requests to get the authorities agree on having the first ever conference of the characters of the fairy tales.

The Grimm brothers and Christian Andersen had agreed to come over to attend it from heaven and reluctantly agreed to listen to the long list of complaints of all the very famous characters they had brought to life. The famous characters had started feeling claustrophobic in their age old world and were tired of living the same life for ages now. Well humans may find it fascinating and why not? They had all the modern gadgets and a wonderful life full of more magic, and real one at that, than could ever be dreamt of in fairy land. Who needed the age old magic of wizards and fairies and goblins? Only a very few handful thought that fairy tales fire the imaginations with the unlimited and almost infinite possibilities in any realm.

The venue was decided to be a plush resort on the seaside. Christian Andersen and the Grimm brothers had approached the resort authorities and made it clear that for one day they would require the whole of resort with no one else entering except for the staff. They had to pay a steep price but then sometimes you can indulge. So the day dawned and everyone was so excited after a long long time. This was something different, this was something new. They would all be going to the human realm and get a taste of the wonderful world of the modern man.

There was all the activity to get ready. Though they had to stick to their age old costumes no body seemed to mind. The Day promised some different adventure so no one had time for petty complaints.

The resort was made ready a day before and a high security alert was announced and strict instructions not to allow anyone except the fairy folk to come inside the premises. Andersen and The Grim Brothers were there to welcome everyone.

The first to arrive was Cinderella’s God mother…she came in her Pumpkin coach and the white horses…

"Its hot!" she exclaimed, the weather as sultry as sea side always is. "Nice place" she said looking over to the vast expanse of the blue ocean and then followed Rapunzel walking with her long tresses and fumbling and stumbling and looking agitated. Here was Cinderella with one glass slipper smiling a soft but coy smile. And then Snow White and the seven dwarfs came along. The dwarfs looked around to the resort surroundings and looked very impressed. Then came the Red Riding hood with screaming red attire and her grandmother looking so very sweet but alert for any sign of the Big Bad Wolf.

"My my!!!" she exclaimed "My child this is just out of the world... and there are no wolves here" she laughed, a tad nervously. Hansel and Grethel, with bread crumbs followed.

The witches from all the tales came together trying to look as wicked as they could but because it was different scenario and they were genuinely happy they could not be that cruelly wicked.

Then came in the Sleeping Beauty, walking sleepily and looking as she would fall any minute with her heavy drowsiness.

All the Princes came along one by one, Cinderella’s Prince was holding her glass slipper. They came on splendid white horses and all fit the bill of a prince charming on white horse which the girls were suppose to dream about down the ages through modern times. But they did not look happy with those splendid mounts.

The huge auditorium buzzed with the sharp, shrill and sweet and soft voices speaking the language of the yore. The staff of the resort looked around wide eyed thinking of this as a great masquerade. They thought it was some movie for Hollywood that was being shot. They were only allowed inside the hall for a short while. The doors soon closed. Paparazzi and the media had not got a whiff of this. Anderson and the Grimm brothers had seen to it with a heavy tip to the resort owner not to divulge any information.

As Christan Andersen went to speak on the Dias the fairy crowd became silent.

"As you all know and well that we have gathered to discuss and talk about certain issues which have become age old laments. There are many grouses you all have. We would like hear all one by one and try and find some solutions. We would call each one by name. You all can have two complaints each."

"The first on the list is of course Cinderella…she is the most famous of our fairy folk."

"Cinderella, my sweet" Christian bowed as she walked in one glass slipper looking as graceful as ever.

"Hello everyone, Sir, and my friends. It is nice to see everyone together. We never ever get the chance to meet each other as we all live in different books.

Now I will mention the two things I feel need immediate attention for my existence."

"First, I am, like, totally tired of rushing back at the stroke of midnight. Why should I leave when I am enjoying myself? When I have just discovered the Prince and have lost my heart to him. I totally hate that big clock. Another complaint I have is that I am tired of wearing one glass slipper, and like, rushing back. Can you even imagine how much it hurts? It's so very unfashionable." she said with a wave of her dainty hand and roll of the eyes. Many of the princesses murmured and nodded their heads in affirmation "Thank you." she said as she walked over.

Christian and Grimm brothers noted it down.

Next was Rapunzel, still very well known admired and envied for her hair.

Rapunzel walked over to the dais, falling stumbling on her long tresses and stood there trying to cope with her hair.

"Friends and masters" a tea break later she started, "I am so happy to come out the tower to meet everyone. Rare it is that we meet on a common ground. In fact it's rare I get to be on any ground."

"I am here to tell you about the problems I face. First I am very, very tired and fed up with my long hair. It is so cumbersome and I can do nothing. No style. You'll be surprised but No L'oReal, Villa and even Garnier won't sign me up to endorse their hair care products. I would like to get it cut into some elegant style short and manageable. A nice razor cut or a blunt and a step with flicks or a mushroom..." she said with dreams of her super-hair-model career floating in her glassy eyes.

"Another issue which I want you to look into is that as I have to spend more time in that high tower without steps. I have a suggestion, Can we at least have an elevator which man has invented? I am fed of letting my hair down all the time anyone wants to visit me. It hurts." Her eyes suddenly had big tears.

"Thank you all."

With these words she stepped down

"Next is our own Sleeping Beauty, who every girl is till she finds her Prince."

Sleeping Beauty came along with difficulty. Keeping awake needed lot of effort.

"Friends and Writer masters. A good day to you all." She went to sleep and broke off for another tea break.

"Am happy to come here though it is not easy for me to keep awake as all I have to do is sleep and sleep…years and years.." and she fell asleep again. All broke again for another tea break, only to realise she was still asleep when it got over, so they went for a lunch break.

"So if you can give me more wakeful years it would do me good and let me enjoy life which just passes around me while I sleep and wait and wait to sleep..." She went to sleep again.

Her prince was in middle of his third lunch of the fourth lunch break when all eyes turned to him.

"...for him to come." she looked shyly at her Prince and all eyes turned to the prince, caught with a full mouth and cheese casserole all over his apron.

"Another issue I would like to draw immediate attention is the palace I and am sleeping becomes too dusty and dirty with the dense foliage growing around. There are lot of mosquitoes, and creepy crawlies and..." she made an ugly face as she tried to recall rest of the creatures. It was pure disgust that kept her awake this time. "Can't you get some pest control done so that I can finally catch some peaceful sleep?"

As she dropped dead in sleep on the floor, Christian made an important announcement

"Now due to lack of time we have asked everyone to give us written complaints. Goldilocks, Red Riding Hood, Hansel, we are sorry but we do not have much time. And we invite one from each category to represent all. One Prince can come over."

Cinderella’s Prince came over to represent all. "Masters and Friends a good day to you all. I am glad to meet all my fairy folk out of the books. I represent all the Princes. We all do not want to ride the horses. It takes long. Yes it may be more romantic to ride away with the beautiful Princess but it is a bit uncomfortable too." Many princes shifted in their seats in unison and let out a groan. Snow White's prince clenched his legs tightly with the sourest expression possible on his face. "Can’t we opt for a nice car? A six door limousine, or a Mercedes some charter Planes...to zoom in and out?"

There was laughter all around.

"Well well but we are Princes right and we are supposed to be very rich. And another thing, we always have to rescue a damsel in distress. We can do it more easily if we have a mobile. How about an Apple Iphone? They tell me the biggest Apple store was recently inaugurated at Boston. and our Princesses should have one . We can send an sms if there are budget constraints."

Everyone looked impressed by his manner. And he was after all the Prince Charming and charm he sure had.

The next to represent was a stepmother. Cinderella’s mother came over. She was reluctant to come but was forced by other step mothers saying that she was more well known. The lady seemed like any other and though she was supposed to be wicked there was nothing which made her one.

"Friends and masters", she began, "Good day to all."

"I am here to speak for my clan and it is not easy. First issue which I would like to draw your attention is that though we do love our own children more than any other we don’t loathe our step children. Cinderella as you all know is a sweet girl yes but she is sometimes adamant and as a mother I had to scold her. Well but that beyond our discussions. I just want you to make us more human. And we would like to get our daughters married too. They are not bad so do find some good match for them. Cinderella can have her Prince, no objections to that" she smiled kindly.

There was soft silence with some whispers the other side of a stepmother had never ever being thought of everyone agreed.

Then came the witches turn and then who would be a better option then the witch who met Hansel and Grethal.

She walked over to the stage.

"Friends and foes” she said as her voice drowned in laughter.

” I am very happy to be here and do something else than just being wicked and cruel. We witches have no life other than that and can get really boring. And my house with all chocolates is a hot spot for ants. It takes long to keep it clean. An anti-ant spray could come handy as well as a vacuum cleaner. Thank you, this is all I have to say."

The conference took another tea break as Andersen and Grimm brothers were preparing the final report, though there wasn't anymore tea left. The tea less tea break saw everyone talking and chatting and laughing without doing their usual jobs. There were innocent flirtations, shy smiles, roaring laughter, intelligent observations, malicious remarks as they enjoyed the cakes and pastries and juices a coffee and snacks. The final report would soon be announced later at night.

The conference ended with a gala dinner and dance which went beyond midnight. And for one night only, Cinderella didn't have to run and Sleeping Beauty didn't fall asleep and no one tripped over Rapunzel's hair which were no longer sweeping the floor around her.

******

The next day the fairy books opened easily and could be read.

Cinderella had a mobile which would have an alarm at midnight. She would had to wear only one glass slipper but had invisible stockings to protect her feet, which she wore proudly.

Rapunzel had an invisible lift and continued to have long hair [grew back magically the next morning, Dues Ex Machina, you can call it] as it was crucial for her existence but yes an expert beautician was arranged to help her with her hair and keep them lovely.

The witches had vacuum cleaners instead of magical brooms. All the Prince”s dashed around in planes super jets flashing jazzy mobiles and the damsels in distressed looked less distressed because they were receiving the short msgs from the ones the needed.

But Joe , Pam and Anu... and many more were unhappy with the fairy tale books.

This was not magic this was so predictable, this was all they saw around. This could not fire the imaginations.

They were sure now that day Magic died.

Read the sequel here

http://requiem.sulekha.com/blog/post/2008/05/the-day-magic-was-born.htm