Hello,
My name is Jacqueline and I'm a very proud grandma.
I write stories for my grandchildren and I'm very happy to share them with you too.
So make yourself comfortable because my next story is about to begin.
Kelty and the Magic Door One day,
Kelty was playing ball with Duggee her little dog near the big oak tree in the forest.
It was a really hot summer day and she thought it would be cooler to play here in the forest where the trees would help shade her from the sun.
It certainly was cooler,
But with all the running around they were doing,
They soon were feeling very warm even though Kelty was only wearing shorts and a t-shirt.
Let's stop for a moment and have a drink,
Kelty said to Duggee.
She walked over to her bag which was by the trunk of the big oak tree.
She reached in and pulled out a bottle of water and a bowl for Duggee to drink from.
As they were enjoying their drink,
A strange creaking sound came from behind the big oak tree.
Kelty put her water on the ground and went to see what it was.
The little wooden door she had seen once before had reappeared in the trunk of the big oak tree.
It wasn't there all the time,
It only appeared very occasionally.
The door was swinging backwards and forwards and was making the creaking sound Kelty could hear.
Kelty grabbed the door and peered inside the tree trunk just as the light turned on.
Come on Duggee,
Let's go down into the tree cellar.
They went carefully down the 13 steps and arriving at the bottom immediately noticed the tree cellar looked very different from the last time they were there.
Everything was painted white,
The walls,
The floor and even the steps.
The only thing in the tree cellar was a very large white box which was placed in the middle of the floor.
Kelty thought this all looked very strange.
She looked around the tree cellar again and noticed a white doorknob set into the white wall.
She walked over so she could take a closer look and saw the white doorknob was on a white door.
As she looked again around the walls she could see there were several white doors.
One,
Two,
Three,
Four,
Five she counted.
I wonder what is behind them.
Suddenly a voice said,
Hello Kelty.
Kelty jumped but soon realised it was the teacher of the oak tree who lived in the tree speaking to her.
Oh,
Hello said Kelty smiling.
The tree cellar looks very different today.
Where do the doors lead to?
They are magic doors and each has an adventure behind it replied the teacher of the oak tree.
Can I open them and take a look asked Kelty excitedly.
You can open one but first you must answer three questions and get them all correct with your first answer.
You will not have a second chance.
If you get any question wrong all the doors will disappear.
Do you understand?
Oh yes replied Kelty nervously as she wondered what the questions would be about.
Are you ready boomed the teacher of the oak tree.
Yes,
Yes I am Kelty said looking down at Dougie sitting nervously by her feet.
Here is your first question.
What is the name of the highest mountain in Great Britain?
Kelty relaxed a little when she heard this question because they had been studying mountains at school.
She thought carefully before she answered as she remembered that she could not make a mistake.
She knew the mountain was a person's name but was it a boy's name or a girl's name?
Then she remembered when they had first learnt about this mountain everybody in her class laughed because one of their friends had this same name.
Confidently she said Ben Nevis.
Correct said the teacher of the oak tree in his very deep voice.
Here is question number two.
What is the name of the highest mountain in the world?
I feel positive about this answer Kelty whispered to Dougie but I don't want to be wrong.
So she thought for a moment and then said Mount Everest.
Correct was the reply from the teacher of the oak tree.
Kelty glanced down at Dougie with a happy smile on her face and said to him one more question to go boy.
Wish me luck.
Kelty brushed up against her legs as if to say you've got this I believe in you.
Question number three said the teacher of the oak tree.
Remember there are no second chances I will only take your first answer so think carefully.
Now are you ready?
Yes replied Kelty as she crossed her fingers behind her back for good luck.
Which mountain range is Mount Everest part of?
You have two minutes to answer this final question and the clock is ticking.
Kelty could remember learning about this in school but she also remembered getting the mountain ranges muddled in her school test.
I have to get this correct she said to herself.
I really want to open one of the magic doors.
Mountains didn't seem that interesting at school but now I wish I had paid more attention to them.
As Kelty thought about the question two mountain ranges came into her mind.
The Rocky Mountains and the Himalayan Mountains.
Oh which one shall I go for she thought feeling quite undecided.
You have 15 seconds left on the clock she heard the teacher of the oak tree say.
Kelty shut her eyes.
She took a deep breath and said the Himalayan mountain range.
With her eyes still tightly shut she heard the teacher of the oak tree say you have tried really hard Kelty.
Sometimes there are subjects at school that you won't enjoy studying but they will be important at some time in your life.
From now on begin learning every subject with excitement.
Look forward to all the fun and new information you will learn because you never know when it will be useful.
Kelty opened her eyes and said rather sadly I understand.
I will try harder to learn things in the future.
I feel sad that I didn't know more about mountains.
Needing a hug she picked Duggy up and squeezed him tight while he licked the tiny tears from the corners of her eyes.
Kelty said the teacher of the oak tree don't be sad you got the last question correct.
Kelty gasped in amazement and nearly dropped Duggy on the floor.
You may now choose a magic door to open.
Oh thank you exclaimed Kelty.
Looking around at all the doors and wondering which one to choose.
They all looked the same.
There was nothing to help her make a decision.
I think I will pick the middle door she said as she walked towards the door which was situated opposite the tree cellar steps.
She stood in front of it and said out loud whatever adventure is behind this door will be the best fun in all the world.
She opened the magic door and looked out.
What she saw before her took her completely by surprise.
On the other side of the door was a ski resort with a huge mountain covered in snow.
Looking to her left she saw people going up a ski lift and looking to her right were people skiing down the mountain having a wonderful time.
Kelty had never seen so much snow before and she had also never skied before.
This made her feel a little worried.
Then she remembered what she had said before she opened the magic door.
She was going to have the best fun skiing.
But as she looked down at her shorts and t-shirt she was wearing she realised she was not dressed for skiing or for the cold snow.
Kelty stepped back into the tree cellar and wondered what she could do.
As if he could read her mind she heard the teacher of the oak tree say look in the box behind you and there you will find all the clothes you will need to enjoy skiing.
She went over to the big white box and opened the lid as the teacher of the oak tree continued.
There is also a tiny bed in there for Duggy to take a nap on while you are gone.
I will look after him for you.
Oh thank you so much Kelty said feeling very excited as she took the items out of the box.
There was a pink ski suit,
A pink knitted hat with a big pink pom pom on the top,
A warm pair of pink ski gloves,
Black ski boots and a pair of skiing goggles.
Duggy was very happy when Kelty placed his bed on the ground beside the box.
He curled up upon it immediately very pleased that he didn't have to go out into the cold.
Kelty started to put her skiing clothes on and told Duggy to be a good boy.
Stay here in the warm I won't be gone for long.
Finally Kelty was dressed for skiing and she nervously walked back over to the magic door she had chosen.
She took a deep breath and then headed outside and over to the ski lift.
As she walked in the soft snow she thought about how much fun this was going to be and wished she had someone to share the experience with.
Not far from the ski lift a group of children came running towards her shouting hello.
Their names were Ruby,
Eleanor,
Ella and Lewis.
They were so happy and friendly as they chatted to Kelty that she felt as if she had known them for a long time.
Go over there said Ella as she pointed to a small building next to the ski lift.
That is where you get your skis and poles.
Hurry we are about to go up the ski lift and you can come with us.
Kelty went into the building and a few minutes later came back outside all ready to go skiing.
As they rode the ski lift up the side of the mountain Kelty noticed that her thoughts were telling her how to ski.
She felt as if she had all the knowledge she needed to be an excellent skier.
The more the thoughts came to her the bigger her belief and self confidence grew.
They arrived at the top of the mountain and decided to race each other down.
3,
2,
1,
GO!
Shouted Lewis and off they all went as fast as they could.
Kelty felt wonderful as she zig zagged down the slope.
She was having so much fun.
They all arrived at the bottom of the mountain almost at the same time.
Ruby said let's do that again it was great fun.
Yes!
They all shouted with glee and headed back over to the ski lift.
They skied down the mountain many times together and Kelty could not remember ever having so much fun in cold weather.
Eventually she thought she should be getting back to Dougie and said goodbye to her new friends.
We have really enjoyed skiing with you Kelty said Eleanor giving her a hug.
I hope we will see you again soon.
Oh I hope so too replied Kelty as she gave each of her other friends a hug.
It was the best afternoon.
Kelty waved goodbye to her friends as she took her skis and poles back into the small building.
Then she walked back through the soft snow and into the tree cellar.
Welcome back Kelty said the teacher of the oak tree.
Thank you replied Kelty closing the magic door behind her.
That was so much fun she said as a very excited Dougie leapt into her arms.
I'm glad you chose a fun adventure and well done for doing splendidly with your schoolwork.
Knowledge is very valuable so keep studying hard.
Oh I will I promise Kelty answered as she put Dougie onto his bed so she could take her skiing clothes off.
Great to hear that Kelty the teacher of the oak tree said.
See you again soon.
Goodbye for now.
Goodbye and thank you again said Kelty as she placed all the items back into the large white box.
As she lifted the lid onto the box she noticed the big pink pom pom from the knitted hat was laying on the ground.
It must have fallen off somehow.
Picking it up Kelty smiled to herself and whispered.
Thank you magic door for my new piece of treasure.
She put the pom pom into the secret pocket in her jacket looked at Dougie and said.
Come on boy let's go home.
Thank you for listening to my story.
I hope you enjoyed it.
Before you go I'd like to ask you a question.
What adventure would you like to find behind a magic door?
Thanks again for listening and come back soon to hear another story from Grandma.
Bye for now.
