The Magic Tambourine. Part One.

One cold, sunny, November day, Lucy was walking down a dirt road and found a tambourine covered in mud. She looked around her, no one was anywhere to be seen, so she decided to pick it up and bring it to the river and wash the mud off. When she dipped the tambourine in the clear, cold water, very soon all the mud came off, to reveal some truly beautiful gold jingles. They started to shine and sparkle very brightly in the sunlight.

In case someone else might see it, she quickly dried it off on her dress and hid it inside her bag. Even though it wasn’t technically hers, she thought to herself: well I found it, and clearly someone didn’t want it, or they wouldn’t throw it in the dirt, so I’m going to keep it!

When she got back home the sun was just setting and her grandmother called out “Lucy, you’re late! Did you bring back the potatoes and onions from the market?”.

“Yes, yes, grandmother. Here they are”. Lucy carefully took out the potatoes and onions, making sure not to show anything of the tambourine she found. “Here we go Granny”.

‘Thank you Lucy, but why were you later than normal?”

“Oh, err, I met my friend on the road and had a chat”

“Oh really, and what did you chat about?”;

“Oh just, just how the day was so cold today”.

“Well ok, but you’re lucky you came back before sundown, it’s dangerous for a girl like you in the dark!”

The next day at school Lucy kept the tambourine in her bag, waiting for a time when she could be all to herself, and look at the tambourine properly. It was her special tambourine, and she never had ‘special’ things. One year though, at Christmas, she was given a small box of coloured pencils from her Uncle Fred, but sadly they were all lost or broken now, they were quite special while they lasted.

So, as soon as school finished, Lucy rushed off into the big green forest, and when she was sure she was all alone, took out the beautiful tambourine once again. She looked deeply at the jingles, they were so gold! Just looking at them made her feel warm and golden, like a summer breeze had wafted through her.

She shook the tambourine a few times, and that sharp, bright, sound of jangling-jingles washed and danced through the air around her. Wow, Lucy thought, it’s so loud! And so wonderful sounding! She shook it again, this time more vigorously, making a really loud, sparkling sound that echoed all amongst the trees and forest animals. When she stopped she noticed something very strange - all around where she was standing, floating in the air, were the tiniest little sparkles of light. They were sort of swaying about, like they were drunkenly dancing with each other. Sort of like how Uncle Fred danced at Christmas after many glasses of wine. But after a short time they seemed to start disappearing and eventually they were completely gone. How odd! She thought. How very peculiar! She took the tambourine and gazed at the jingles. Gosh! I can see something inside them, she thought to herself. So she peered very closely and saw there was a sort of, well it was very difficult for her to describe. It was like she was looking into another world, and she could see a sort of magical golden city? But it was all somehow inside the jingle, or at least through the jingle into another dimension. How very very peculiar!

It was then that she looked at her watch and realised she had been in the forest for too long. She realised she would have to rush back home because she knew her grandmother would wonder where she had been. Then her grandmother would start asking questions, and maybe even search her bag, and then maybe find the tambourine! And then it would no longer be her tambourine because her grandmother would probably sell it. Because they never had any money, and after all, it was a golden tambourine, it must be worth a lot of money.

So she hurried back home, and even though she had been thrilled and excited by what had happened that afternoon, she would have to wait until tomorrow afternoon when she was alone again, and really see what this peculiar magical tambourine was all about.

Glossary 1

to reveal = to make something seen, or known that was hidden before

We can't reveal our secret recipe, otherwise everyone would be able to make it!

She took off her jacket to reveal her beautiful red dress.

jingles or to jingle= the silver/gold/brass discs that are found on tambourine, also the sound of a bell or metal high-pitch sounding when played

I love the jingle on your tambourine, they beautiful

I heard the little bells on the end of his Christmas hat jingle when he moved his head

technically = in this story, it is used to mean 'in truth' or 'actually' or 'really'. If something is 'technically true', it is supposed to be true most of the time.

Although I'm technically supposed to be working now, I can take the time off, and no one will notice because I work from home.

It isn't technically allowed for customers of this restaurant to enter the kitchen, but because you're friend is in there, I will let you enter and say hello.

while something lasts = while something still exists or is true, before something is gone, used up etc.

I enjoyed the prize money I won while it lasted, which wasn't very long!

You should really enjoy this sunshine in England while it lasts, it's quite rare.

Glossary 2

all alone = completely alone

wafted = to move gently by the effect of wind or waves, or some similar movement

When he opened the door to the kitchen, the lovely smell of baking bread wafted through the house

I threw a bottle into the sea and it wafted away to the horizon.

Shook = past simple form of the verb 'to shake', never 'shaked'

He shook the Polaroid picture to make the image come out quicker.

vigorously = very energetically, with a lot of force

You've worked vigorously at this job, well done. But you should also learn to relax sometimes.

The earthquake vigorously shook the building and caused it to fall down.

Glossary 3

Tiniest = the most tiny, the smallest

Swaying = to move from side to side

The boat was swaying a lot because the waves

The dancers swayed beautifully together during the performance

peculiar = strange, odd, not normal

to peer = to look at, in more detail or closely, or more intensely, so see something difficult to see

He peered out at the sea, looking desperately for the ship but couldn't see anything

I peered into the office to see if Josie was there, but she wasn't sadly.

what something is all about = what the real meaning, or purpose of something is, usually something hidden or not obvious

I'm going to talk to Fred and to find out what him quitting is all about

Chess is a game all about strategy, you have to have a winning strategy to win.

Exercise 1

Write your own part two to this story! Or come up with your own story about an item you like or that inspires you.

Narration/Audio

https://soundcloud.com/english-burst-648683513/the-magic-tambourine-part-one