Maverick's Marvelous Adventure

It was a cool windy day when howling winds suddenly swept across the city and thunder boomed in the distant horizon. Lightning split the sky into a million silver fragments illuminating the backstage of the Universal theatre for a split second in a silvery haze. Maverick the magician stood trembling in the middle of the room, clenching and twisting his fingers in tension. A volatile mixture of apprehension and trepidation engulfed him and his heart was pounding like a sledgehammer in his chest. Rivulets of sweat trickled down his forehead as his conscience began to taunt him. Mavericks pet cat Daisy began circling around him, trying in vain to pacify her master as he stood staring off into space. He knew he had done a wrong thing by stealing his father’s magic sword. “You are yet not ready. Maverick, you need longer hours of intensive practice! Magic can be dangerous

if not handled wisely,” he advised. “Years of practice and yet not ready!” fumed Maverick, ‘I will show him!’ Stealing his magic sword was easy, but now he had second thoughts. He swept his doubts away to the back of his mind when he heard the thunderous applause as the audience impatiently called out his name in unison. His name echoed down the hall as he staged his grand entry. There was an electrifying excitement in the air as the audience held their breath in anticipation. Maverick’s hand trembled as he lifted his magic wand and started chanting a spell. Even before the spell was over Daisy disappeared.

The spectators went mad! They started demanding for more! Growing more confident, Maverick reveals his magic sword that glints ominously under the intense stage lights. He swishes his sword confidently and chants a spell for Daisy to re-appear. Daisy meows in fright as she senses some dark force gathering around them. The wind grew stronger and the windows slammed shut. A dark power seemed to vibrate with quiet intensity in the room. The wind started swirling around them

and gathered speed. Maverick shut his eyes in fright and prayed for mercy. When he regained his senses he opened his eyes and blinked in surprise as he looked around. As he moved his head he saw sea eagles squabbling in the sky and a crab that reluctantly crawled under a jagged rock. He walked around and yelped in pain as he bumped into a coconut tree.

They soon realised that they were stranded on an isolated lost island. The pristine sand glimmered under the intense midday heat and the boisterous waves cascaded swiftly towards the shore. Cool gusts of wind swept across the island and the lofty coconut trees swayed to and fro in the gentle breeze. “It was truly a tropical paradise,” thought Maverick as he hoisted the petrified Daisy on his shoulders. Soon the noon sun made him swelter uncomfortably. He longed to take a cool

refreshing dip in the azure waters, but he could not abandon Daisy. He frantically ran across the golden sand to find shelter from the oppressive heat.

He wandered around and finally spotted a portly old man. He sprinted towards him with great agility as Daisy yawned deeply in exhaustion. He introduced himself to the old man and told him about his sad misfortune. The old man’s name was T’chala and he was an inhabitant of this forsaken lost island since years. Maverick relentlessly questioned him about the location and he finally figured out that they were on a lost island called Mashore in the middle of the Pacific Ocean! He became

extremely agitated as he realised his precarious situation. ‘We could be lost here forever and no-one would find us,’ he realised. Sensing his trepidation, T’chala decided to lend a helping hand and took the petrified Daisy off Maverick’s shoulder and headed off to his hut. They had a sparse but refreshing meal of fruits and nuts and gulped down refreshing coconut water.

T’chala was very friendly and soon started questioning Maverick about how he reached this island. Maybe you can go back the same way, he reasoned. Maverick thought and thought but did not get any clue or hint as to how he landed on this island. Soon, the scorching orb in the sky finally relented and descended into the horizon leaving the sky in a spectacular fusion of majestic colours. It was finally dark and the night sky was studded with silver blue stars twinkling merrily as if to mock

Mavericks fate. “Maybe I deserve this”, thought Maverick, “I disobeyed my father, stole his sword… all for what? For the fame and adulation that I don't deserve.” He blinked away his tears and resolved that he would do his best to find his way back only to offer his father a much

deserved apology.

He finally stumbled into the hut and before he slept he humbly thanked T’chala for his help. He had a very intense dream whilst he was in deep sleep. He had a searingly bright vision of himself waving the magic sword and chanting. He got up with a start and realised he had finally found a way back home! He jumped out of bed and started dancing around in excitement shouting out to T’chala about his brilliant idea.

He realised that he had landed on this remote island by swishing his sword and maybe he had recited the wrong spell. Hence to go back all he had to do was to find the sword and chant the right spell. He impatiently waited for dawn and soon the majestic sun started

rising in all its blazing glory.

Maverick set off to find his magic sword without informing T’chala or taking Daisy. He soon wandered off into the lush green emerald forest hoping to find it there. Suddenly, without warning a powerful beast pounced on him. He yelled at the top of his lungs for help. T’chala heard his desperate cry for help and rushed through the dense foliage to help his friend. He saw that a black panther had pinned Maverick down and was growling with anticipation for his next meal. He grabbed his knife

and jumped fearlessly on the panther and slaughtered him. Maverick gasped in relief and tried in vain to calm down his heart which was thumping loudly and relentlessly. T’chala was angry with Maverick and warned him about the dangers of this tranquil paradise. “Wild beasts lurk around hiding in the dense forest, so don't go wandering off again,” he cautioned. They retreated

back into the hut where Maverick explained his side of the story and T’chala finally understood the excitement and the urgency that compelled Maverick to wander off alone into the dangerous forest. “We will find the sword together”, he promised, “But it’s time to collect some food, for my stomach is growling louder than that unlucky panther,” T’chala exclaimed!

Daisy caught some wild salmon from the shallow waters, Maverick collected some dry twigs for fire and T’ chala set off to collect fruits. He deftly climbed up the slender coconut tree with great agility and started plucking coconuts, when he saw some object glinting half hidden under the fine golden sand. He hollered out to Maverick and pointed out in the direction of the object. Maverick ran at full throttle and yelled out in triumphant jubilation! He pulled out the magical sword and gazed at

it with new respect. He cried with happiness and thanked T’chala fromthe bottom of his heart.

Maverick and Daisy knew that they would really miss T’chala and he hugged his new friend tight and bid him a fond farewell. Maverick settled Daisy onto his shoulder and swished the magic sword and

focused on chanting the right spell. No more mistakes this time! The wind swirled around them stronger and stronger and they began circling with it. When Maverick finally opened his eyes, he was back on the stage where the hordes were astonished and gave him a huge round of applause. He thanked God for helping him out and promised him that he would never ever disobey his parents. As he set off to find his father to apologize to him, he realized he was wrong and vowed

that he would work hard, and simply put…there were no short cuts in life! Respecting elders and hard work was the only path to success… anything else will surely land you in trouble!