Modern Day Fairytale

Once upon a time there was a boy by the name of Soren. He was rather small though he had a large personality. He was known all around town for his mischievous nature and devious pranks. Every night he’d fall asleep thinking of his next plot and every morning he’d wake up with a new way to reek havoc on the towns folk. Now Soren’s pranks were never harmful, at least not to him. What was the harm in gluing coins to the sidewalks or rearranging Mr. Allen’s general store shelves? To him, it was all in good fun when he would tie people’s shoe strings together or when he would saran wrap door ways. The towns folk, however, thought differently. As innocent as Soren’s pranks were meant to be, they were a big inconvenience to them. The people of the town were generally serious in nature. They were hard workers and barely had time for shenanigans, unlike Soren. Something had to be done about he’s carefree attitude. He needed to work just as hard as everyone else in the town. So, a town meeting was called on Soren’s behalf. Something needed to be done. That evening the town was deserted and it left the young boy confused. He looks high and low for someone to prank but found no one. Sighing softly, he drug his feet along the dirt roads. He trudged along with dust flying up behind him, until heard a cough. Brushing a few curly brown locks from his face, he peeked into the dark alley where he’d heard the noise. There in the alley was an old man leaned up against the wall.

“Come here, lad,” he called. Soren was hesitant, but inched closer nonetheless. “Are you looking for the townsfolk?” The young boy nodded and inched forward into the alley more. He could see a dusty blanket was laid out in front of the older man. There was a round object that glimmered in the light sitting on top of it that intrigued Soren. The old man noticed Soren’s gaze and motioned him closer. “Come boy…let me show you where they are…”

Nervously Soren walked into the alley and sat down in front of the old man. The sphere shown with light and a fog like substance swirled inside of it. The boy’s eyes grew wide as the old man waved his hands around it. The fog turned into the shapes of people in a large crowded hall and voices began to flow from it. Soren was shocked to see that the figures were that of the townsfolk. They were having a meeting…a meeting about him. For hours, each person stood and told their Soren stories. Person after person angrily told the group about how the boy had wronged them and tears began to form in Soren’s eyes. He never meant to be hurtful. All he had wanted to do was share his fun with others. He didn’t understand how his pranks could cause so much pain. The old man placed a hand on his shoulder as the youngster began to sob. His wrinkled fingers pointed to the globe as a girl about Soren’s age clamored up to the podium. She stood up straight and looked all the townfolk in the eyes as she told how Soren had switched the heads on her dolls and how upset she’d been. She had cried right there in front of him, but instead of laughing he’d picked up his own action figures and switched their heads too. He acted out a play with her dolls and his to make her laugh and to cheer her up.

Once she finished the townsfolk began to think. The next man that stood up talked about how Soren had done graffiti one the side of his shop and how the goofy pictures brought more customers into his shop. Soon, everyone was talking about how the young boy’s pranks were positive in some way. Rather than being angry and serious, a lot of the folk were smiling and laughing about it all. Soren sat watching the ball in confusion. This was what he wanted, but he still felt bad for all that he had done. He looked over to the old man, who smiled at him gently. “Your heart was in the right place, but now that you have seen and heard all of this, you must make a decision,” Soren looked on in confusion. “Do you continue with your old ways, knowing they both hurt and help? Or will you figure out a new way to help others share in your laughter?” Before Soren could answer, the old man vanished, leaving him alone in the alley. Stunned the boy wandered out as the people began to leave then town hall. No one spoke to Soren about the meeting, though he began to change. He went to bed at night thinking of what the old man had said and the next morning, he began to find different ways to make the townsfolk smile. As the days passed the town grew to appreciate Soren and he began to appreciate them.