Barbara Kay Hebert

I was in the sixth grade in Venezuela, when we had to write short stories in English class. I had come up with “The Blue Tulip”. I, of course, embellished upon it many years later and changed the name from Rachel to our daughter’s name. Also, changed from needlework to artwork, because Aimee loves to draw! I must warn you though, I read it to one of Aimee’s children, Keira Isabelle, and she had tears rolling down her cheeks…. Barbara

THE BLUE TULIP

‍    There was in this far away land a young maiden of not more than sixteen. Her smooth creamy face held the most beautiful hazel eyes that anyone had ever seen. Her wavy brown hair flowed down past her shoulders emphasizing her thin figure. Aimee was her lovely name.

‍    Now Aimee was the envy of all the other maidens in the land. Therefore, she had no friends to do things with or to just talk to about anything at all. Her mother had passed away some time ago from a great illness. Fortunately, Aimee was too young to remember her. Her father told her all about her every chance he had. It seemed no one could ever take her place.

‍    Aimee took care of her father as best as she could. She didn’t mind the cooking or the cleaning of their humble home. She just wanted her father to be proud of her. That he was.

‍    When Aimee wasn’t cooking or cleaning, she would be working on her sketches. She loved drawing and painting most of all while losing track of time. Father had told her that her art was the most breathtaking works he had ever seen.

‍    Father worked very hard to provide for his precious princess. He wanted to make sure she had the best of everything. One day, Aimee was sketching and waiting for her father to come home. He never did. She was later informed that he had died in a terrible mine accident.

‍    Aimee was so overcome with grief. She had nowhere to turn for her father was all she had ever had. She just couldn’t stay at home any longer. There was nothing left for her there now.

‍    Aimee took off into the woods not knowing where she was going. Just going. She came across this quaint cottage by a clear stream. It seemed to be deserted so she went in and started cleaning it up. A new beginning would be rough, especially all alone. She really threw herself into making a “new home”. Trying to get over the loss of her father was very difficult indeed.

‍    Aimee made friends with a lot of the little woodland creatures. In fact, they kept her from being so terribly lonely. Every morning, she looked forward to feeding the winged creatures from her window. Her most special friend was a cute tiny blue bird. It had the loveliest shade of blue she had ever seen! It would perch on her finger and sing to her ever so sweetly.

‍    Soon winter was on its way. All the other birds flew south except her tiny blue bird friend. It would not fly away. It was like it never wanted to leave her all alone. Then one gloomy morning, Aimee saw the tiny bird lying lifeless on the snow. She was so broken hearted once more. She buried her tiny friend in the ground under the cold white snow beneath her window.

‍    Aimee kept busy with her artwork so as to pass the lonely days away. As the winter melted into spring, something wonderful had happened. Where she had buried her dear bird friend she noticed something had grown up out of the ground. She couldn’t believe her eyes! There was the loveliest shade of blue tulip she had ever seen. She was so filled with joy that tears came rolling down her cheeks. 

‍    Now, Aimee took very good care of the lovely blue tulip for it meant a great deal to her. She even sketched the most beautiful picture of her dear tulip. 

‍    Spring had warmed up to summer. Now, there just happened to be a handsome young prince riding on his horse through the woods. He saw the beautiful Aimee sketching outside the cottage. When their eyes met, they were in true love.

‍    So the prince married Aimee, and they lived happily ever after. Each spring the lovely blue tulip was there to greet them.

THE END