The Boy with Wings🔊

In the tiny town of Bledsoe was a boy named William, an 11-year-old with a heart full of dreams and a mind full of wonder. Despite the town being small and uneventful, the people of Bledsoe held a secret, a secret as old as the oak tree in the town's square. It was whispered that the tree held a magical power that could grant the single deepest desire of the person who touched it at midnight under a full moon.

Although adults waved this off as folklore, it mesmerized the children. Among them, William was the most captivated one. His deepest desire was to have wings to fly and explore the world beyond Bledsoe. Every day, he drew sketches of himself with wings and told his friends exciting stories of his adventures. As the next full moon approached, William decided to unravel the truth about the magic tree.

On the night of the full moon, William, with a racing heart, reached the Oak and placed his hand on its ancient bark at the stroke of midnight. Nothing happened at first, making him question the legend. However, as he was about to pull back his hand, he felt a strong gust of wind, heard leaves rustling, and then everything became eerily silent. Suddenly, he felt an intense sensation in his back, and within seconds, he sprouted a magnificent pair of wings as splendid as an eagle's.

Shocked yet thrilled, William exercised some caution but soon was soaring high above the town. Every night, under the soft moonlight, he flew over rooftops, the wide meadows, and the tranquil lake. The feeling of freedom, the adrenaline, and the wind on his face were just as he had always imagined.

For months, he kept his secret, hiding his wings under baggy clothing during the daytime and only flying at night. Nevertheless, the secrets never remain secrets for long in a small town like Bledsoe, and one evening, the town's blacksmith, Mr. Jonson, spotted William flying. As one would expect, the news spread throughout Bledsoe like wildfire.

Initially, the people were apprehensive. They were uncertain and scared of the change, and there were whispers of bad omen and devil's work. William became the town's talk, and he wasn't allowed to participate in local activities. However, William was nothing if not courageous and kind-hearted. He convinced the town that his wings were a gift, not a curse and proved it through his actions. He let the smallest children take rides, rescued cats from treetops, and even performed a daring fire rescue of the schoolhouse.

Gradually, the town's perception shifted. They understood that William’s wings were a miraculous gift, allowing him to do good deeds no one else could. The town of Bledsoe even marked the full moon day as a festival and celebrated it as the 'Day of Flight.' The festival included colourful sky lanterns, storytelling, and a bonfire, ending with William’s flight around the town.

Today, the town of Bledsoe is no longer a typical tiny town but a legendary place filled with magic, wonder, and a flying boy with his heart full of dreams. Every child waits for their full moon trips to the magic oak tree, hoping to tread the path of William, the boy with wings.