Author's note: Basically English is not my native tongue, and I grew up with Chinese-cultural upbringing. Please forgive me for any typo or grammar errors.
Rattan Cane: Long flexible stalk from either very tall perennial grasses, or roughly 600 species of palms in the tribe Calameae (Greek 'kálamos' = reed), native to tropical regions of Africa, Asia and Australasia. It can be use as a tool for administering punishment.
To kittyhawk09, thanks for the review
Summary: Upon further exploring, I realized the snoring came from the roses. It was as if the roses were alive. "They are sleeping." A voice behind me broke my trance. I turned around and saw a blue sparkling glow. "Sleeping?" I asked in astonishment . "Yeah, sleeping. These roses are enchanted. I named them 'The slumbering beauty'." The blue sparkling glow replied.
Disclaimer: All Beauty and the Beast characters belong to Disney. Only the original characters belong to me. The story is purely fictional. Any resemblance to actual individuals or events are coincidental.
Beauty and the Beast: The Story Writer
By beautyding
Chapter 3: The slumbering beauty
While heading towards the direction of the kitchen, I knew sure enough, reddish welts or bruises had appeared on my arms and shoulders, when I felt the unbearable stinging sensation surfaced. I had overslept and the last thing I needed was to get myself into further devastation.
Usually being stroked with a normal rattan cane did not caused so much anguish. This one was different because the long flexible stalk was being pared and it was thinner. The impact caused will be much greater with just a few light strokes on the flesh. If imposed with more forces, it could damage tissues beneath the skin. Some may caused bleeding.
Being poor, basically we did not had any pocket money to eat at school or outside. So the first chore in the kitchen was to prepare breakfast and lunchboxes for school and for my parents. Sometimes we had fried rice if there were any leftover of cooked rice from previous day cooking, or when some friendly neighbors gave us any cooked rice they could not finished by themselves (which some of them actually overcooked so as to gave us the rice without making us feeling humiliated). Most days, we just had fried noodles, but, once in awhile, financially abled, we might managed to get some eggs and sausages.
Once the lunchboxes were prepared, after washing up, waking up the rest, I changed into my school uniform, and had breakfast together with everyone before we headed for school or work respectively. The rest of the day will be the same as yesterday after school.
Being tired constantly, when it reached bedtime, I fell easily into deep slumber. Once again, I found myself in the garden full of rose bushes of many colors. The young lady whom I saw yesterday was no longer in the garden. "I might well explore the garden further." I thought.
Facing the waterfall, I examined it closely. Looking through at it, since I was wearing a sleeveless cotton nightdress, I could visually saw the reflection of the reddish welts or bruises on my arms. They were still stinging and looking ugly while I touched and traced the marks along my arms and shoulders.
Suddenly I had an urge to touch and feel the water, so I knelt down and splashed the water playfully on my arms. A cooling sensation eased the stinging pains and I felt better. Spotted a small boulder nearby, I stood up and started to climb onto it. Once I seated down and getting myself comfortable, I dipped my feet in the water.
While relaxing from the small boulder, I could saw the stone pathway leading down to a small cottage. "Maybe the young lady live there?" I mused out loud. Feeling contented, I decided to checkout the cottage.
Before reaching my destination, I strolled past the rose bushes inhaling the floral scent which was luring me to pluck one of the rose nearby. While reaching out my hand, I stopped when I heard light snoring sounds.
Upon further exploring, I realized the snoring came from the roses. It was as if the roses were alive. "They are sleeping." A voice behind me broke my trance. I turned around and saw a blue sparkling glow. "Sleeping?" I asked in astonishment . "Yeah, sleeping. These roses are enchanted. I named them 'The slumbering beauty'." The blue sparkling glow replied.
"Who are you?" I asked suspiciously. "Oh, forgive my manners. I'm rose. I believe you have met my cousin, Hui, yesterday? Would you like to have some tea?" The blue sparkling glow swirled towards the small cottage as a gesture of pointing in that direction.
"Oh, so her name is Hui." Remembering the encounter yesterday, I pondered for awhile. "I did not have a chance to talk with her yesterday." I said. "Anyway, thanks for the invitation, but I can't because my stomach feels winded after drinking tea or coffee." I sighed.
"Oh, It is fine with me. I can't drink in this form too. It had been ages before I was ..." The blue sparkling glow trailed off. I waited patiently for it to continue but after a long silence, I decided to speak. "Ah, your cousin, Hui... What is the meaning of her name?" I asked.
"Smart, intelligent, clever, bright, brilliant, knowing, quick-witted, intellectual..." The blue sparkling glow replied cheeringly.
"Oh, I see. So her name 'Hui' is the Chinese character word as '慧intellectual" I acknowledged.
"Yeah." The blue sparkling glow swirled and flinted. "I like your name too. It mean beautifully precious or beautifully cherishable or a beautiful pearl."
"You know my name? How?" I asked feeling stunned.
"Well, We have means of some power like magic or enchantment." The blue sparkling glow chuckled.
"Magic or enchantment..." I repeated out loud. Hearing my alarm clock ringing in the back of my mind, I assumed it was time for me to go. "Rose, I have to go now. If I'm able to come back here, can I visit you and Hui tomorrow?" I asked.
"Sure. We will be waiting for you my little friend." The blue sparkling glow chuckled.
"Friend?" I felt butterflies in my stomach while musing at that word. "I like that." I smirked.
End of chapter 3