By Ruby Bonham
Gema pondered as she walk/flittered along a familiar path. She could hear voices as she neared the picnic area. Uh oh, sounded like someone was upset. Gema could see several people at the Bocce Ball area. They were scratching their heads in dismay and questioning each other.
“Did you see that? I know I threw that ball with force and it just suddenly stopped like it had brakes!” a man said.
“Me too! I barely threw it so it would go just a little way and suddenly it picked up speed,” a woman complained.
Gema looked to the play area a caught a glimpse of Pika, a mischievous pixie. Pika silently laughed as she interrupted the play with her pranks. Gema shook her head and motioned for Pika to follow her. Gema sighed as she led Pika away from the perplexed players. Gema was her mentor but the pixie was more interested in mischief than learning to be a help along with the other elementals. Gema reminded herself that Pika was young and still had much to learn. She would talk to Boi about helping to keep an eye on the young prankster. In the meantime, Gema would give her a task that would keep her busy.
The bushes rustled as a handsome young elf stepped out to join Gema and Pika.
“Good afternoon ladies,” he greeted with a stately bow. “What has Pika been up to now? She has the whole park questioning their sanity with her silly pranks.”
“Ah, Trig. I don’t hurt anyone. What’s the harm in a little fun? You guys are way too serious,” Pika laughed.
Boi joined the group and looked sternly at Pika. “What have you done to the music lady? You gave her too many versions for the new song she is working on. She was having a hard time choosing just one when she had a revelation. You know she can feel you and is very sensitive to our presence. She realized what happened and is OK but many in the park are not so gifted. To them the unknown can be very frightening. We have worked for many years to win the acceptance of the humans in the park. More and more of them are making contact and are working together with us. Please don’t endanger that fragile relationship.”
Pika hung her head. She had never meant to cause trouble. She only wanted to have a little fun. Gema looked at Pika and saw her remorse.
“Pika, you still have a lot to learn about unintended consequences of your actions. You must learn to think before you act. Everything we have accomplished in the park can be reversed if we are careless. You should confine your pranks to your fellow elementals and even those should be carefully thought out. Wouldn’t you get more satisfaction doing things to help make peoples lives better than scaring them with your silliness?” Gema explained.
Pika was silent for awhile then spoke to Gema. “I’m sorry. I never thought about how others saw my playing with them. I’ll try to do better. Gema please tell Tia I want to be more like you two. I love working with the plants and seeing them grow. I love singing to them and with the birds. Life is good in this park. I don’t want to do anything to harm it or the people.”
Pika kept her word and in the coming days showed a new maturity that the other elementals took note of and approved. Life returned to harmony.
Tobi pruned the berry vines and tried not to eat too many of the black berries as he worked. Zing! A black berry splattered across his face, leaving a purple trail from his left eyelid to across his nose. A giggle erupted from the bushes. A pixie couldn’t reform completely. Could she?
Ruby Bonham
8-8-2026
