Cinderpaw’s Gift

The door showed up on a Saturday night. Out of nowhere. I mean, it hadn’t been there until a few minutes ago! It was a special Saturday night – the night before my eleventh birthday. Excitement and anticipation for my birthday had kept me awake long after my parents had gone to bed.

The door was inviting. Emerald green, standing out against my ivory bedroom walls. Size – just able to fit me. There was an ethereal golden glow around the doorframe. There was no knob or handle, but as I reached out towards the door, a crystal knob appeared, with fireflies dancing within. I paused for a minute, a little scared at first, but then couldn’t resist turning the knob to explore what awaited me on the other side.

I stepped into an enchanted forest. A lush, verdant glade, with the sweet, melodious sound of chirping birds. Colourful and fragrant flowers added vibrant splashes of purple, pink, and yellow against the green backdrop.

I was drawn deeper into the woods, entranced. I walked past babbling brooks, chattering squirrels, and lakes as clear as glass. My journey so far had been uneventful, but I sensed that someone (or something) was following me.

Gradually, the sky changed from azure to a mix of violet and orange, and eventually, into a blanket of indigo, with stars dotting it like sugar crystals. I chose to spend the night on a tall tree, nestled among the branches. I slept fitfully, and upon waking up, saw a huge grizzly bear sleeping under the tree. I was too scared to clamber down. However, it wasn’t long before he woke up with a big yawn and spotted me.

He called out in a booming voice, “Come down, little one!”

I said, “P-please don’t hurt me!”

He replied, “Of course I won’t! I am Cinderpaw, and I will guide you through this magical land. I have been watching over you all night.”

When I came down, he offered me fresh honey and explained, “I have guided many birthday boys and girls through Phantasmagoria.

They call me Cinderpaw because I can adjust the heat in my paws to burn enemies or to keep my friends warm and comfort them on cold winter nights.”

Amazed, I exclaimed, “I trust you completely and place myself under your kind protection.”

He seemed overwhelmed with joy and placed me on his enormous, furry back and we travelled for days. During the day, we would chat, walk, or I would ride on his back. At night, he would hold me close. We feasted on honey, fresh rainbow trout and sweet fluorescent berries.

 One day, Cinderpaw said, “I am taking you to meet the friends of the forest.”

 I asked, “Who are they?”

 He just gave me a mysterious smile and kept lumbering along.

After four days, we reached the home of the first of the four friends – a fox called Oleander. She welcomed us warmly and invited us to spend the night with her. In this way, we continued our journey and met the others. Raymond, the rabbit, gave us golden carrots; the badger, Brian a compass, and the weasel, Wisteria gave us the map to the Lake of Memories.

When we arrived at the Lake of Memories, a tawny owl emerged and hooted, “Too-whit, Too-whoo! To drink from this lake, you must answer the question I ask you. Owls are the symbol of which Greek goddess?”

I promptly responded, “Athena.”

The owl, impressed, let me pass. Cinderpaw told me to drink from the Lake’s magical waters. I obliged eagerly. Suddenly, I could remember everything I had ever experienced, even my memories of being a newborn baby!

Cinderpaw said, “You are the first child to have come here. I have never brought anyone else to this place.”

I wanted to ask him why, but lost in nostalgia, I forgot.

Cinderpaw added, “Little one, it is time for me to take you home.”

A few days later, we returned to the Emerald Door.

He said, “This is where we part.”

I begged him to come with me or let me stay behind.

He said, “Your family must be anxious, you should go back to them.”

Cinderpaw enveloped me in a tight hug and said, “You and I share our birthdays. That is why only you got to visit the Lake of Memories. You also get another exclusive privilege. While other children get to visit Phantasmagoria once in their lifetime on the eve of their eleventh birthday, you can visit every birthday eve till you turn eighteen. That’s another seven magical visits!”

He proceeded to clasp my wrist with his large, furry paw, leaving a smouldering paw print, saying, “Wherever you may be, this print will glow and the Emerald Door will appear in your room, every birthday eve, as a reminder that the choice to visit me and Phantasmagoria is yours to make.”

I couldn’t believe my luck! Parting with this choice “in hand” would be easier.

He bid adieu after offering a final piece of advice.

“As we grow older, most of us lose our curiosity and wonder. I want you to hold on to them. When the Emerald Door appears, some children choose to enter while others who don’t believe in magic stay behind. Magic and miracles exist, little one. Never forget: it is your belief in these that brought you to me.”

With that, he turned and slowly disappeared into the forest.

I stepped through the door and found myself back in my bedroom. Eleven days had elapsed in Phantasmagoria, but only eleven hours in my world!

It was a bright Sunday morning, and I had turned eleven. My mother was calling me to come open my birthday gifts. Visiting Phantasmagoria was the best gift of all. I can’t wait for the door to appear again next year.I love doors. They are mysterious. Some doors take you away. The best ones bring you back.

FAQs Cinderpaw's Gift

 What is Cinderpaw’s Gift about?
Cinderpaw’s Gift is a magical fantasy story about a boy who discovers a mysterious emerald door on the eve of his eleventh birthday and journeys into the enchanted world of Phantasmagoria.

Who is Cinderpaw?
Cinderpaw is a kind and powerful grizzly bear who serves as a guide and protector for children visiting the magical land of Phantasmagoria.

What special ability does Cinderpaw have?
Cinderpaw can control the heat in his paws, using them either to defend against enemies or to provide warmth and comfort to friends.

What is Phantasmagoria?
Phantasmagoria is a magical realm filled with enchanted forests, talking animals, magical lakes, and extraordinary adventures.

 Why was the emerald door special?
The emerald door appeared only for the protagonist on the eve of his eleventh birthday, serving as a portal between the real world and Phantasmagoria.

 Who are the friends of the forest?
The friends of the forest are Oleander the fox, Raymond the rabbit, Brian the badger, and Wisteria the weasel, each of whom helps the boy on his journey.

What gifts did the forest friends give?
Raymond gave golden carrots, Brian gave a compass, and Wisteria provided a map leading to the Lake of Memories.

Where can you buy the books?
You can buy the books at Bookosmia and Amazon.

https://www.amazon.in/dp/816855552X
Voices of Play: A National Play Manifesto By Children, Of Children and For Every Caring Adult is a Bachpan Manao Collabaction by REACH India Collective, Shiksharth, and EkStep Foundation. Published by Bookosmia. Contributors: Deepika Mogilishetty, Ashish Shrivastava, Archana Mohan, Keren Sam, Samyuktha Udupa. Made possible by 22 partner organisations who captured the voices of over 4,000 children across 10 states. Does Play have a voice? What does Voices of Play mean? Across ten states and shaped by over 4,000 children, Voices of Play is a joyful window into the world of play told by children themselves. Brought to life with the support of 22 organisations, achored by Ek Step Foundation’s Bachpan Manao program, it gathers stories, games, and memories from anganwadis, community spaces, preschools, and classrooms—capturing a rich tapestry of childhoods and the worlds of play around us we may have never noticed before. With artwork recreated from children’s own drawings and moments captured from the field, this book, published proudly by Bookosmia (smell of books) is made with children, not just about them. Built on their trust, it celebrates play as imagination, memory, and a language that belongs to every child.

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This article is published by Bookosmia, India’s #1 publisher for and by young people. Bookosmia publishes stories, books, podcasts, events, TED-Ed talks, workshops, bedtime stories and more related to kids and young adults.
Photo Credit – AI generated images from Chat GPT and Magic Media from Canva .
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