Everyone loves a fairy tale. Say the four magic words, “Once upon a time”, and images of princes and princesses, witches and ogres, white horses and glass carriages conjure up in the mind. Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Rapunzel, Snow White…even Fiona and Shrek.
I have a fairy tale to tell. It’s not set in the usual kingdom, forest or castle however, but it does start way, way up in a timber treehouse.
Let me begin my story in true fairy tale fashion…
Once upon a time there was a little girl who dreamed of playing in the timber treehouse with her brother and his three friends. But boys didn’t play with girls, did they, and they definitely did not invite them into their treehouses.
One day, the middle brother of the three friends invited the little girl up to his leafy penthouse. Like a monkey, she eagerly clambered up the tree to join her hero. Oh, the view from up there…king and queen of the castle.
Not long after, her hero moved away to a school in a distant city and for years they didn’t see each other much.
The little girl grew up and moved away to follow her dreams in a big city, far, far away. As she searched for her prince, her one true love, she kissed a few frogs along the way. Her prince, sadly, was not to be found.
Years later, on a visit to their home village, the little girl saw her hero sitting on a wooden pew in their childhood church. He’d come home to spend the weekend with his kin. It was hard for her not to notice what a handsome young man her treehouse hero had grown up to be. The hero, himself, was not blind to the fact that the little girl he’d invited into his treehouse had blossomed into a beautiful woman.
It wasn’t long after and they were betrothed. She’d often remind he
r hero how, as young children, they had played together in his treehouse, never knowing one day they’d make a home of their own together.
Soon after their betrothal the young man and woman said their own four magic words:
“I do.”
“I do.”
And they lived happily ever after.
THE END
In my true-life fairy tale, I’m not quite sure who wooed who. As a ten-year-old, Noel invited me to share his treehouse; as a 23-year-old, I invited him to share a picnic (it was the twentieth century, after all). From that day on we were inseparable.
Yesterday, Noel and I celebrated our Pearl wedding anniversary. Thirty years and our love burns as bright—we’re still living the ‘happily ever after’.
Do you have a fairy tale tucked away in your life story?
USA Today bestselling author, MARION UECKERMANN’s passion for writing was sparked when she moved to Ireland with her family. Her love of travel has influenced her contemporary inspirational romances set in novel places. Marion and her husband again live in South Africa and are setting their sights on retirement when they can join their family in the beautiful Cape.
What a sweet story, Marion. The whole time I was reading it I was thinking “I’m going to buy this book.” :) lol
Beautiful story Marion. I love it. I am a big fan of fairytales. I met my husband when we were in college but I would love to have met him as a ten year old. Such a sweet story. Thanks for sharing it with us. Blessings.
What a great idea, Kimberly Rose. I’m certain I can extract many elements out of my own romance and turn it into a novella :)
Thanks, Belle. I’m certain there’s fairy tale magic in your college romance, too.
Sweet story. Thanks for sharing it.
Thanks, Ann. I always love telling the story of playing in my husband’s treehouse as a child.
I love the way you share your story…yes, everyone loves a fairy tale. (If you ask me, I think you have the material for a book!)
What a lovely story and I too love fairy tales. The photo pic is awesome and reveals everything about the fairy tale .
Thanks for bringing so much happiness into our lives as well.
Marion, I love your story :) Thanks for sharing.
My little sister, how well do I remember the day of the picnic. It was a frantic scream, that came tearing down our parents passage of their house! I was busy in mom’s bedroom and you has sucked up the courage to phone and ask Noel – with a beaming face, smile as broad as the Grand Canyon, you rushed in and in an excited whisper looked at me and jumping up and down, said “He said yes!!” Well the rest of the story has now been told from beginning but not to the end as it is still happening. I watch the magic between you and Noel and in my heart I say a silent prayer “Thank you Father for a match made in Heaven”. I agree with the ladies here – this is a story in the making. Love you and so proud of all you have achieved!
Oeps Marion I did it again hahahahaha…………. commented under you name! Sorry, did not realise you are still logged in on my pc !
What a fun story, Marian! Your title makes me think of G. K Chesterton’s chapter in Orthodoxy “The Logic of Fairy Land” which he aplies to Christianity.
Thanks, Donna. Sounds like an interesting read :)
LOL, Lyd… well, keep me logged in – I’m there in two days time :) Thanks for the reminder of the day that Noel FINALLY said yes to my picnic invitation. Can you remember how miffed I was that he said he would think about it? LOL.
Thanks, Narelle. I do love hubby and my love story. And my first published devotion article in The One Year Book of Joy and Laughter, as about the first date we had – entitled: Flipflops and Mountain Streams. Ah, it’s good to reminisce of young love :)
Thanks, Karen :) And thanks for your kinds words, always.
Sara, the more I think about it, the more I’m getting tempted to write scenes of my own love story into one of the next novellas :)
hahaha oh yes I remember! Almost hard to believe that so much time has passed. Life passes by far too quick!
Ahhhh, makes my romantic heart swell!!! Here’s to 30 more to you and yours……
Thanks, Trixi. Well, my parents set the benchmark having just celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary in December. I have some catching up to do :)