The Magical Flute

By Juni G., 4th Grade

Once, in a world unknown to us, Richard sat playing on a clarinet he had found sitting on the sidewalk. Because Richard loved music, he picked it up. It was spring and the flowers joyfully bloomed, the birds sang in the evening air, and in front of Richard sat a spotted cat. Its ears perked upright listening to the soothing sounds drifting from the clarinet. As Richard stood up, the cat, which was entranced by the music, followed him into his house like it was tame. Richard thanked his clarinet silently for attracting this cute cat.

Many years passed. Richard was no longer a young boy. Once on a field trip, which was to the hiking trails In the woods, Richard saw a tiger. His class was hiking tirelessly. Richard wandered to an easier path because the effort was so tremendous. He walked for a while, and feeling the sun burn him, he started slouching and dragging his feet along. As he walked farther and farther away from his class he plopped onto the leaf-littered floor. Suddenly a bone shaking yowl rumbled from a few meters away. And there stood a tiger with his fiery eyes and muscular body pacing in a frightening cage. Though the tiger was in a cage, Richard still could not stop himself from shaking in fear. He felt amazed. This tiger was so powerful, yet was trapped in a cage as if it were just a puny little bird. Richard felt a sudden notion to free him from this misery. Richard had grown and he was braver than before. He would save the tiger.

The tiger, whose name was Timber, was shaking his head with confusion. None of these furless two-legged animals had looked at him for more than a second. One glance and they would run away screaming. Except the ones who captured him. They took him away from his hiding spot which was near the shiny river and wrestled him into the cage. Richard slowly took out his clarinet. The light reflected off the shiny coating on this magical instrument. He played a melody. The same one he played for the spotted cat years ago. Timber heard a soft sound in the air. It reminded him of sun dappled leaves in the dewy morning. The hairless animal came closer and took a tiny little thing from the pile of dirt next to the door the little thing had jagged edges. “Is he going to stab me?” thought Timber. He cowered to the back of the cage. Richard inserted the key and with a rush of pride, he opened the door. Richard and Timber stared at each other both thinking “will you hurt me?” Richard took out his clarinet and lured the tiger over. He started down the mountain with Timber, and Richard said to himself, “This is the riskiest thing I’ve ever done! Riding a tiger.” He jumped onto Timber‘s back and sped south in the direction of Richard‘s home. When they got there, Timber saw a sweet little cottage painted the color of the sky. Here he was home at last. Tigers and humans can be Friends as long as there is some magic in between.