Jamie Can Fly! (Chapter 6)

The clouds felt cool against Jamie’s cheeks as he glided through them.  For a moment all he could see was whiteness, brighter than a snowy day.  His eyes squinted as he emerged from the clouds to be confronted by the bright glaring sun resting upon them. 

‘Wow!  It’s beautiful!’ remarked Jamie as he slowed down to hover above, what looked like, a vast mountain range made of clouds.  ‘I feel like I could walk on them!’

‘You can walk on them!’

‘Who was that?’ said Jamie as he spun around in the direction of the unexpected voice.

‘Don’t be alarmed!  It’s just me.’

As Jamie looked down he saw a small creature, resembling a turtle, staring wide-eyed up towards him.

‘Who… or, should I say, what are you?’ asked Jamie.

‘Ah, my dear boy, it’s been a while since I’ve seen the likes of someone as curious as you up here!’  The creature spoke in a soft friendly tone of voice.  It was a voice that reminded Jamie of his dear old grandpa.  ‘Of course, you won’t have seen anyone like me before, I’m sure,’ said the creature as Jamie continued to listen.  ‘I am a clurtle.’

There was a short pause before Jamie replied, ‘I’ve never heard of a ‘clurtle’ before?’

‘Of course you haven’t, for this is your first experience of the cloudscape.’

‘The cloudscape?’

‘Yes, the cloudscape.  Not the landscape, like you know, but the cloudscape made of the clouds!  Up here you will find miles upon miles of clouds to roam and wander through.  And amongst these clouds you will find all sorts of wonderful things!  How do I know all this, I hear you ask.  I know this because I, Clarence the Third, have lived here for more than three hundred years!’

‘Clarence the Third – is that your name then?’ asked Jamie.

‘Yes, after my father and after his father before him,’ replied the clurtle with a twinkle in his eye.

‘And you’ve lived here for three hundred years?’

‘More than three hundred years my dear boy!’

‘Wow!  That is a long time.  I’m not even 10 years old yet!’

Clarence chuckled as he beckoned Jamie down with his foot.  ‘Come down here my boy.’

Jamie used his finger to point his way down to where Clarence was sat, even though he was a bit nervous of falling through the clouds.

‘Don’t look so worried,’ said Clarence.  ‘It’s safe enough for you here!’

‘It’s amazing!  It feels so soft and secure.  I thought I might fall through it,’ said Jamie as he landed gently next to Clarence.

When you’re on the cloudscape there is no need to fear!  Well, almost no need to fear… LOOK OUT!’

[Chapter 7]