The Magic Pencil
Once upon a time, there was a small town called Noros. And in Noros, lived an extraordinary artist named Albert. Albert was so skilled that often, people believed the objects in his paintings were real.
He painted portraits of the town's wealthy people and earned a good living. He carried his canvas everywhere, chose a random spot, and began to draw. He was a wonderful draftsman. He drew sunsets, fruits, and portraits, and they all looked very real.
But because it was a small town, he couldn't make too many paintings. In time, he began to struggle to find work.
Pickle the Fairy and the Magic Tree
Near the river, where Albert usually went to paint the sunset, stood a beautiful tree. Albert loved that tree very much. He had painted it on his canvases so many times, and yet he never grew tired of it. He talked to it as if it were a person.
— Oh, come on, tree, shake your leaves a little. — You know, sometimes I feel like you can hear me.
But Albert didn't know that there was someone in the tree who heard him and loved his paintings. It was Pickle the fairy. The tree was Pickle's home. She was very shy and loved the thick, green leaves that cooled her and took care of her.
— I really wish you could hear me and help me, you know? There's no more work for me in town. I'd like to leave and work in another city, but this is my home. I can't leave this place. Ah, but I think I'll have to do it anyway. All I know how to do is paint. And if there aren't enough buyers for my paintings here, then I guess I'll have to move to another town.
After Albert left, Pickle became sad.
— Oh, I don't want him to leave! I adore his paintings! He's such a kind and honest man. How can I make people buy his paintings? Hmm, wait! That's not the real problem. The real problem is that he won't be able to earn money. I can't force more people to buy his paintings, but I can help him get what he wants.
After thinking for a while, Pickle went into the hollow of the tree and began to work. She worked all night, and the next day, her creation was ready. It was a very shiny and beautifully carved pencil.
— Aha! This will help Albert!
The Discovery of the Magic Pencil
That afternoon, when Albert, as usual, went to paint his favorite tree, there, on a stone, he saw the pencil.
— Wow! It's so shiny! It's the most beautiful pencil I've ever seen! I wonder whose it is? Maybe I shouldn't take it. Its owner will come looking for it.
Albert left without painting the tree that day. He was very uneasy that he had left the pencil there, but he didn't want to take something that might belong to someone else.
The next day, Albert went to the tree earlier than usual. He secretly hoped to see the pencil on the stone. And there it was.
— Oh, it's still here! Maybe it doesn't belong to anyone. I've heard stories about this forest. Maybe they're true. Maybe there's magic here.
Albert picked up the pencil and examined it. He took out his paper and began to draw a beautiful leaf.
— This pencil is extraordinary! My drawings have never been so beautiful. Ah, wait! What's happening?
The leaf was coming to life, and immediately a real leaf lay on the paper.
— How? How is this possible?
Albert carefully took the leaf and put it aside. To do another test, he began to draw an apple. As soon as he finished drawing, the apple came to life.
— Oh, no! This really is a magic pencil! I can draw anything I want!
Albert's happiness knew no bounds. He rejoiced and hurried home. Pickle saw Albert leaving and was happy that she had helped her talented friend. She knew she had done the right thing. She trusted that Albert would use the pencil wisely.
The Pencil's Power and Conditions
Albert arrived home. He set up his canvas and was happy that he could draw anything and everything he needed. First, he drew various delicious foods. But in his haste, instead of drawing a mango, he drew a circle. But nothing happened.
He erased it and tried to draw again. But he was so happy that he only managed to draw a careless oval outline. And again, nothing happened.
Finally, calming down, Albert began to draw again. This time, he was patient and used his talent to draw a mango. Immediately, a mango appeared.
— So, this pencil will only give me things that I draw perfectly and carefully on the canvas. Hmm.
What Albert didn't know was that the pencil was made especially for him and only for him. No one in town could draw as perfectly as Albert. Pickle knew this, so she made the pencil in such a way that no one could steal it from Albert and use it.
She also wanted Albert to always be calm when using the pencil. She knew how important it was not to lose your temper in any situation.
Albert Helps the Community
Once Albert understood how to use the pencil, nothing could stop him. He drew everything he had always dreamed of: delicious food, harvests, clothes, and art objects for his home. He used his paints to color his drawings and drew fresh flowers every day. Albert was very happy and lived a very comfortable life.
But soon, it became too comfortable.
— Well, what now? I have everything I want. What else could I do with the pencil? Hmm. How about helping the people here? I can draw anything they need.
And so, Albert went to all his friends in town and explained everything. At first, no one believed him.
— Oh, be serious! You have too much free time! — Exactly! Now you've started telling stories too? — This isn't a story. Wait, I'll show you.
Albert knew his friend needed a tractor to work more easily in the field. But due to lack of money, he couldn't buy one. Albert put down the paper and carefully drew a tractor.
— Alright, now everyone step aside.
In the blink of an eye, a real tractor appeared before them. Everyone cheered for Albert. Starting that day, Albert helped many people in town and shared his gift with everyone, without any hesitation. The people of Noros were generous and hardworking. No one asked for anything they didn't need.
The Greedy Tourist and the Consequences
Days passed, and one day, a tourist came to town. As he walked through the town, he realized there was something strange there. Although it was a small town, people seemed to live a good life. He decided to inquire. He began to ask questions, and the innocent people of the town told him everything.
— Magic pencil? Is it true? I must meet the painter.
The tourist was a greedy man. He hid behind a tree, and as soon as he saw Albert, he kidnapped him.
— Ah! Who are you? — Quiet! Listen to me! I don't have all day for this, understood? Quickly! Draw me many different and expensive rubies and a bag to put them in. Now!
Albert took out the pencil and began to draw. But he was so scared that he could only draw stones.
— What are these? How dare you joke? Move! I'll draw the most brilliant gold chain myself.
The tourist was not an artist. In fact, he was terrible at drawing. When he tried to draw a gold chain, a long, shiny snake appeared.
— Ah! Help!
But while the tourist tried to run from the snake, Albert calmed down and drew a large cage. As soon as the cage appeared, the tourist ran into it, and Albert closed the door. After the snake disappeared, Albert went to the police and complained about the tourist. He explained how he had been kidnapped and forced to use the magic pencil to satisfy the tourist's greed.
An Important Lesson
Peace was restored in Noros. Everyone was proud of how well Albert handled the situation. Albert himself learned a very important lesson.
He realized how dangerous it can be to have things without working for them. He decided to bury the pencil under the stone where he found it. It is said that even now, the magic pencil is buried near Albert's favorite tree, a tree where a little fairy lives.
