Okay guys, this is the first chapter, I would have added the second but the message was to long, anyway, enjoy and if ya want the next chapter just ask
INTRODUCTION
The doctor gently placed his hand on the boy’s forehead in the nurses’ station to check for fever. He was relieved to find there wasn’t one.
“I still don’t feel well. I’m so itchy all over, and my nose is runny.” The boy moaned as he lay in bed, sniffing his nose and scratching at some sores on his arm.
“Well Caleb, that’s what happens when you get the measles.” His Carer Angie replied softly as she gently pulled his arm away to stop him from scratching.
“Don’t worry, Caleb. You only have a mild case of it. The cure for an eight year old boy like you is simple. All you need is plenty of bed rest with warm blankets and a little calamine lotion dabbed where required. No need to concern yourself.” The doctor replied.
“So the itching will go away?” Caleb asked hopefully. The doctor just laughed and patted Caleb on the head.
“I’m a 100% positive that it will.” The doctor answered, smiling. Caleb looked up and returned the smile. He then snuggled deeply into his blankets. The doctor turned and faced Angie. “Well I think I’m done here for today. I’ll check on his progress in a couple of days, okay?”
“Of course, doctor.” Angie agreed. “He’s a tough little chicken, I’m sure he will be perfectly fine.” She ruffled Caleb’s hair playfully as she said so. He just looked up and grinned from all the attention. As he did so, the doctor collected his leather medical briefcase and was then escorted out into the hallway by Angie.
“You’ve done very well isolating the measles virus so far, especially in an orphanage with this many children.” The Doctor said, commending Angie’s efforts. They were now walking towards the front entrance together.
“Thank-you Doctor, I’ve had the measles myself and it’s definitely not fun to have. I care about the children here and wouldn’t want to see others falling ill to the measles. Caleb’s discomfort is enough for any child to bear. It’s a shame that he caught it in the first place.” She replied compassionately, especially understanding since she was once an orphan herself and brought up in the same place she was now employed in. She knew firsthand what it was like not to have parents comforting you through an illness like the measles. The doctor stopped walking and faced Angie kindly.
“You’re a good carer, Angie and the children are lucky to have you around. If any more cases do happen to appear, just give me a call. You have my number if you need to contact me before my next visit. I’ll see myself the rest of the way out. Take care.” With that the doctor gave Angie a polite nod and smile and walked off towards the exit. Angie returned to the nurses’ station to look after Caleb.
“You know, if I had my own way, the measles wouldn’t even exist.” Caleb said as soon as he saw Angie re-enter the room. As she looked at him, she saw him crossing his arms together stubbornly and . He was annoyed that a bug smaller than the eye could see was stopping him from playing outside with the other children.
“Now now, the fact is, the measles does exist and you are bed bound for the next few days because of it. It doesn’t mean that you need to miss out on having any fun though. Let’s make the best of the situation. How about I read you a story? There are plenty of books to choose from in the library. If you like, I’ll go and choose a few books from there, and you can pick the one you would like me to read to you. What do you say about that?” She offered. Caleb thought for a moment. He loved it when people read him stories so he was quite keen about the idea. He ended up nodding his head in agreement. Angie smiled, liking the idea herself, and went to the library to choose a few books she thought he might like to be read.
It was only a short time later before Angie not only returned with a few seemingly interesting books, but also a warm cup of cocoa for Caleb.
“You know that I do spoil you so.” She said teasingly as she passed the cup to him. A smile instantly formed on his face. He was undoubtedly her favourite child from the orphanage although she would never admit it to anyone. She had spent a lot of her time raising him from a baby and she was always glad to spend some one on one time with him. She was thinking this as she headed towards a nearby chair, sat down, and placed the three books she had chosen on her lap.
“I searched high and low through all the library bookshelves and decided to choose these three books.” She explained. She held up the first book so he could see the front cover. “This first book is called ‘Zachariah and the Great Train Robbery’.” Caleb looked at the picture on the front cover and noticed it was all scrawly and coloured using dark and sinister looking tones. He shook his head, quickly rejecting the book. She put the book down on the bedside table before lifting up the second book.
“How about this book called ‘Creepy Crawlies for Good Boys’ and Girls’?” She then asked. Caleb just looked at the grotesqueness of the title and cover before looking back at Angie and shaking his head slowly with a look of disgust on his face. She laughed at he’s reaction as she placed the second book on the bedside table also. One book now remained on her lap. She knew that he would most certainly want her to read that book. She knew because she had read it herself. Actually, she had read it quite a number of times as a child and had adored the story contained within its pages. She sighed and looked at him, pretending to be giving up hope of him actually choosing a story. He knew her well though, so put his hands on his hips and glared at her with his face screwed up jokingly in retaliation. She just laughed again, shaking her head.
“Well Caleb, there’s only one more book to choose from. I guess if you don’t want me to read this one, you’ll either have to choose one of the other books or I just read this one.” Angie said as she patted the big sized book still sitting on her lap.
“Well, what’s that book called?” he asked, pointing to the book while trying to catch a glimpse of the front cover.
“Mmm, I don’t know if you’ll want me to read this book.” She replied.
“Well, what’s the book called?” He asked curiously. She simply smiled as she lifted the third book for him to see.
“It’s called ‘A Children’s Tale’.” She replied. Caleb sat up and inspected the pale red leather bounding covering the entire outside of the book. He could clearly see that the title was scripted in gold near the top of the front cover. At the bottom, in the same writing, it also said ‘A New Choose Your Own Adventure’.
“What’s the book about, Angie? It looks pretty boring from the outside and it also looks pretty old.” He stated, noticing the yellowed pages sitting between the covers.
“Looks can be deceiving. It’s the most wonderful book I’ve ever read actually. I’ve read it before, a few times, when I was a child a little older than you. I completely forgot about the book until I went to the library today.” She answered honestly.
“So have you ever read it to anyone else?” He asked.
“No, you will be the first person I’ve ever read this story to.” She replied. He was glad to hear it and even felt a little privileged.
“So is it one of those books where you get to choose your own adventure?” He then asked.
“It sort of is, but you need to hear the actual story to understand what the book title means by that.” Angie replied.
“Okay then. Does it have pictures?” Caleb finally asked and began to sip on his cocoa.
“Why of course it does! There are pictures in this book like you’ve never seen before! Do you want to see one of them before you decide whether you want me to read this book to you?” Angie offered.
“Okay then.” He replied and put his cup of cocoa carefully back on the bedside table so he could pay full attention to the book. As he did so, she opened the book to the first picture and placed the book in front of Caleb where he could see a two page spread of a beautiful three dimensional pop-up picture. Caleb’s mouth dropped at the awesomeness of the picture. It looked like a faraway imaginary place, but at the same time, it also looked like it was a photograph that was taken rather than a drawing. Within the detailed picture there was a beautiful pink, orange and yellow sky spotted with pink and white marshmallows for clouds in the background. Through the green sugar strap covered ground, lots of lollipops grew in all different shapes, sizes and colours. From the ground, great chocolate tree trunks stood with thousands of mint leaves filling their crowns. There was one tree in particular on the left page, however, that stood out from any other, with bright red candy apples dappling among the deep green jelly babies for leaves. To the right of the picture, there was a giant castle sitting on a tall hilltop to the far right. The castle was made of cake, with a deep pink icing covering it, and above the icing, edible decorations sat including ribbons, cachous, and sprinkles. The castle looked very lavish. There was also a sparkling rainbow stream that appeared to be made of fizzy drink. It ran from the left side of the picture, through the middle of the pop-up and then it stretched all the way up to the top of the hill and filled the mote surrounding the castle. Similarly, a sugar gravelled pathway led from the huge tree to the castle. Finally, there was a small white chocolate bridge crossing over the stream in the middle of the left page. The whole scene looked sublime.
“Wow!” Caleb cried. “I’ve never seen a picture like that before. It even pops up! It just looks so real! I feel like eating the picture it looks that good and delicious!” Angie laughed and was glad at he’s reaction.
“That’s not the only picture. There are others as equally fantastic throughout the book.” Angie explained.
“Can I see another one?” He asked eagerly.
“If I showed you all the pictures now, it will spoil the rest of the story, but there is one other special thing about the book.“ She offered.
“What’s that?” Caleb asked intrigued. Angie paused for a moment and moved her face closer to Caleb, staring into his eyes.
“If I told you that, it would ruin the start of the story.” Angie whispered.
“What? You’re not going to tell me? “Caleb asked incredulously. Angie just sat back and grinned knowingly.
“Then start reading the book. I want to hear the story about the picture I just saw!” He exclaimed.
“So you have chosen ‘A Children’s Tale – A New Choose Your Own Adventure’ I take it?” She asked.
“’A Children’s Tale’ it is!” He replied, eager for Angie to start reading the story straight away.
“Right then, let’s get straight to the story like I have always done.” Angie said, and she flipped the pages to the first page of the story and started reading out loud to Caleb.
Subject: A Children's Tale: Choose your own adventure 
Tue Jul 17, 2012 1:26 am
it seems that the second chapter has vanished from my computer, i fear it's on my old computer thats now occupying my trashcan eep.
