Chapter One : Birthday Gift

Once upon a time, a girl named “Ida” lived with her mother in a village far far away called “Happiness”. Ida’s mom had a small pie bakery. Every morning, she’d wake up with the fresh smell of apple and cinnamon. When she was just a year old, her father flew away and never came back again. Her mom told her stories about him every night instead of old bed time stories Ida’s friends used to hear. There was no ‘Red riding hood’, no ‘Cinderella’ or ‘Sleeping beauty’ in them. On her 6th birthday, when all her friends were gone and she’d eaten the last piece of cake, Ida’s mom handed her an odd package. “Your father asked me to give it to you when you are six. I guess it’s about time now.” said her mother with a broad smile on her face. Taking the package, Ida stared at it for a while registering its unusual shape. “Go on. Open it. I know you’ll like it!” Ida tore the papers wrapped around it and saw what was like a dream. “Wow!” two silvery color wings were lying neatly on top of a red silk cloth. “Take this and read it.” said her mom handing her a piece of parchment. “What is it?” asked Ida looking at the old weathered looking paper. “It’s a letter from your father.” Ida took it even more excitedly, opened it carefully and started reading:

“My dearest Ida,

I know when you are reading this I might not be around. I also am aware that it’s your sixth birthday so Happy birthday sweet pie! I wish I was there to celebrate it with you and your lovely mother but things won’t always happen the way we want them to be…
The reason I’m writing this to you is to tell you more about the gift you’re holding right now. I know it’s a bit odd for a dad to give his daughter “wings” on her birthday but then again I never been a normal dad!
I want you to use it properly and I want you to use it as often as you can, even every night but always when you can see the moon and stars to guide you through the sky. Remember NEVER fly when it’s cloudy.
The more you try, the higher you will be able to fly so go out there and fly like a free bird! Start from tonight and feel what it’s like to be weightless.

Good bye dearest. I will always love you.

Dad.”