children

There is a place that we children like to go, and mine is the Butterfly Palace.
When the sun was out and the flowers smiled in their little flower garden,
in the middle was me! as I sat in the hot July sun with so many different colors,
at the age of five I had the most wonderful refuge. A place to go and hide.

Bumble bee's looked as if they could carry me away. The buzz they made sounded as if we could
go to another land. The hummingbirds that shook their bodies knew, with the brilliant yellows and
blues they knew we'd be missed. And sitting still not knowing why the black and orange
butterflies would land on my shoulders and hands, and leave the special dust with the colors of
their wings. They�d leave messages to just stay with them and play with them so mommy and
daddy wouldn�t worry as we played!

The ladybugs with their special glow. I remember things the butterflies told me. One day one of
the pretty ladybugs said to me they have a lot of magic, those butterflies do! And if your lucky
you'll listen to them too....and then she walked away!

As dusk came, the butterflies would say good-bye and brush against my cheek. Next in this magic
garden out back as the dusk came down the fireflies would return with just the right amount of
light to see, and we'd chase them through the garden my cousin and me.

Then her mother would call, but I wouldn�t be lonely at all. I would chase the fireflies everywhere
they went, and catch them in my hands then let them go again...

Then I was called home for dinner and a bath, and I was so excited to see my friends in the
butterfly palace that I would run so fast. Just to see what tomorrow would bring was the biggest
thrill of all.....and I played all that summer until it turned into fall.

I cried as the butterflies went away until the next year, but they promised they'd be back with
more secrets to hear. The big orange and black one crawled up on my check
We'll see you in your dreams in less than a week!
So I visit that little flower garden when I go home
It reminds me of love and never being alone.
And that was the butterfly palace of my dreams,
And there will never be one brighter,
For there I had dreams.

Children's Stories
by Catherine Short
Copyright � 2002

THE BUTTERFLY PALACE

Timmy was a 9 year old boy, and unlike other children, he had no favorite toy!

Animals were his world, living on the farm, and from them he learned so much,
and with his special gift he had the golden touch.

He talked to all his best animal friends, and all they gave him
was a lot of love and special caring to understand.

Now Timmy had 2 dogs, 3 cats, a horse and a pig; and he cleaned, fed and took care of all of
them!! You see, the other boys would ask him please come play,
but he would tell them he must stay.
He soon got a rabbit, and he felt so complete, whatever he had to do
seemed better than anything else, he believed.

So much work for such a young boy, then he got a new neighbor another young boy.
Tommy was 10 and just a little older. He came from a far off city called Bolder.
He came over and met Tommy and asked if he could help that day!!

The days ran together, the boys were quite close, and they played on the farm,
and learned more than most!! The innocence of these boys was so surreal
and they seemed so happy as they talked what a deal!

They decided together that they would become vets and take care of everyone�s
healthy and sickly pets. They kept their pact when Timmy and Tommy grew,
and when they came back ''the animals had two''.
One a vet, the other a trainer. Their dreams were combined.

So sometimes when you give up a regular childhood of fun,
you'll find you'll accomplish your hopeful dreams of being what you want to become.
So the men remained friends and worked side by side everyday,
and came back home to the animals they loved and never betrayed!

So when you have a dream never give up!
For the animals needed them and they gave so much love!

Now the boys are all grown-up and married too, and their wives love all the animals too! And
their children they learned as they watched their father�s in motion, the only difference is Susanne
and Kerry want to take care of the fish and mammals in the ocean!

Never give up what you really want to do, as you can become anything...
someday you'll find this is true!

JUST A DREAM