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User:Ariella
Empty Hand Puzzle Story
A little girl walked along the seashore, her little feet leaving small prints that were washed away as if swallowed behind her. Head down, she was oblivious to anything but the pretty shells along the beach. Suddenly she squealed and bent down to pick up her treasure. She had found a rare blue starfish!!
It was just what she had hoped to find but dared not dream she would. Little Ariella ran on barefoot over the sand, up a sparsely grassed hill and onto the road that led into town. She clutched it tightly to her. Breathless she came to the main seller and held it out for him to inspect. "Humph, this will do..." he mumbled, and took the girl's treasure. In return he handed her a bright orang key. The girl's eyes went wide and her smile lit the day. She tucked the big key into her pocket and raced back to the seashore.
This time Ariella was not so patient and she overlooked another blue starfish in her rush. After trotting down the beach very far she stopped because it was too far away from her castle home. She shaded her eyes and squinted at the sun...it was getting late and sunset was starting. Ariella paced back towards the way she had come. Eureka! A second blue starfish lifted and was run back into town for a second shiny orange key.
"You are the lucky one, my dear lady," the crusty seller gibed as he handed her the second key.
Now to wrap the pretty keys up as presents. Ariella chose a pretty flowered paper for her mother. For her father she chose a royal purple to match his status. Once the gifts were covered with the paper, she started searching for her parents in the big castle.
She found father first and proudly handed him his birthday gift. She remained silent but rocked on her tiptoes as he was taking too long to open it.
The King (for her father was the king of the land) in his flowing golden yellow robes took his time to unwrap the gift so to prolong the suspense for his child. "Oh my! Ariella you are thoughtful to give me such a present. I will always treasure it, " the King exclaimed and tried to hold his daughter in his arms. He laughed. She was already out the door in search of her mother.
"Oh my dearest little one, it is so kind of you to think of me on my birthday, but I must wait until tomorrow, " the Queen explained patiently as she sat curled up on a sofa. She wore a blood red dress made of the finest silk. 'She will remember,' Her Highness thought.
Ariella's little brow furrowed in thought. Why would her mother want to wait when it was... "Oh yes! I forgot," and Ariella was perplexed. "It is your birthday tomorrow." And so her mother laid the gift down on the table next to their bed.
"This is a beautiful key. And I suppose it goes to unlock my heart?" the Queen teased.
Ariella giggled and gave her parents a kiss.
As soon as they were dressed the whole family went out of the castle taking the keys that opened nothing but the power of love with them.
The End
The next day Ariella came jumping onto her parents bed early in the morning and pointed to the gift.
