12% of the book — free to read
The Crystal Chaos
AMAL USMAN
Daastan Publishing
First Published in Pakistan by Daastan PVT LTD
House # A-41, Madni Street, Lala Rukh, Wah Cantt, Punjab 47040
Text copyrights © Amal Usman
Book Design copyright © Amal Usman
Edited by: Mariam Rizvi
The moral rights of the writer, illustrator and editor have been asserted.
All rights reserved
This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or distributed in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
ISBN 978-969-696-669-2
This book is for all the eager readers and my younger sister.
Contents
Chapter 1
The Miracle
On a frosty winter day in London, the sun was being shaved by a mist of clouds. The lakes were a foggy grey, and all the trees in the city were shedding their leaves, floating over tiny heads. Creatures covered in fat sweaters were riding scooters, ready to buck their owners off their boots. Near the big grove of trees with no leaves at all was a tall, blue, fifty-floor apartment building covered with puffed grey snow.
On the 30th floor of this building was an eight-year-old boy with fiery red hair, wearing an eye-catching black gown and matching forget-me-not blue pajamas and socks. Galony Chink had bright green eyes and pink lips. All the walls surrounding him were chalk-white except one, which was a burnt sienna brown. He was sitting at the corner near a wall, reading one of his favorite books:
Timmy Heights by Tom Mins
Gal breezed through the first seventeen pages and was about to turn to the next one when he heard quick stumbling feet coming towards him. He raised his eyes to see his elder sister. It was clear she wanted to talk. Gal lifted his head.
“You want to say something, Lilly?” he blurted out, breathing like a furious rhinoceros. He wanted the answer quickly so he could finish his book.
Lilly Chink had sparkly golden hair, watery blue eyes, and pink lips. She was wearing a pink sweater, blue Pajamas (like Galony’s), and red shoes hiding her funny mismatching socks.
“Yes, mum needs help in cooking,” she snarled. “Your top middle teeth are moving, three of them. I’m surprised they haven’t already broken; it’s time they did,” she drawled in a warm voice. He could see his tiny reflection in those watery blue eyes.
Lilly and Galony both cut through the doors. They had driven halfway to the kitchen when they saw a dog dancing in the neighbour’s balcony from the window. The dog was brown and they found his name when they heard the owner calling,
“Rogge, it’s time to go inside.”
The dog’s dance was amusing to Galony, and he was lost in it.
They realized it was a woman speaking, who they could not see from the window. When the owner turned the key in the door lock, the door disappeared for an instant and then came into view as Rogge kicked it. Galony and Lilly came back to the kitchen just as they heard a distant call,
“Where were you guys? I’ve been waiting!”
They ran beyond speed to reach the kitchen. Their mum, Saloona Chink, was a kindhearted woman, having silky black hair, coming down her back, red lips, and light brown eyes with glasses magnifying them. She was clad in a blue shirt with rainbow flowers and brown pajamas. She had a way of saying nonspecific sentences.
“There you are!” Mrs. Chink shrieked as she gazed at them suspiciously. She stretched her plump arms to get a nice, warm, and clumsy hug. The siblings gave her a great big hug and went to help their mother.
It turned out that all the help needed was for them to brew the food as Mrs. Chink was too tired to do it herself.
To show her gratitude for their help, she gave each of the children candy, and the thick candy broke Galony’s three moving teeth! Rushing to the bathroom, he quickly rinsed his mouth as the scarlet blood on the hem of his gums drained down the grubby gray pipes.
It was at least a good omen: Galony was growing up. He put his teeth in a clay pot.
Just then, the door of the house banged with thuds; it was their father, Mr. Chink. Lilly opened the tremendously jolting door. Sal Chink was a clumsy, loud, but loving man.
Mr. Chink brushed off the little tufts of melting ice and snow off his white, filthy, beaver-skin overcoat.
Gal clapped his hands to his mouth to cover the teeth’s window (gap), carved by the candy, as he wanted to surprise his father.
Mr. Chink had gold hair like most of the Chinks. He looked at all three of them cheerfully, and pointing his sharp nose to Mrs. Chink, asked, “Where’s my food?”
As Galony gave him the surprise, his bewildered father gasped and, aiming to keep his curiosity up, said, “First tooth you broke!”
Galony told him, “……… I looked a bit funny at first, but it was OK.”
“You look different.” Mr. Chink mumbled, looking up as though exploring his past. “I like it. You should have broken more teeth by now, though. Want to put it under your pillow tonight? ‘Course, the tooth fairy won’t come, but still?”
Galony got up and wished his dad goodbye, resumed reading Timmy Heights, and closed it at 8:00 pm. He dragged himself to the clay pot, examined the lid, and with his hands trembling, he brought it to his bedside. Inside the clay pot laid Galony’s three moving teeth. They were sleeping in his world.
Galony picked these silent snorers, lifted the stationary pillow, and after a glimpse of the teeth, put the teeth beneath it and slept.
Next morning when he woke up, the real adventure began. The first thing he did was to look at the shine of his broken teeth, but to his sheer surprise, it was The Shine of a Diamond!
He knew that diamonds were crystal, and was surprised to see them. He shook his head in disbelief, but realized that what he saw earlier was the truth. The teeth were now indeed diamonds.
This could only mean one thing: Tooth Fairies Existed! But how could they? He called everyone in his house to see them. They all stared at the diamonds and were immensely surprised.
“Bless my soul.”
“Terrific.”
“Unbelievable!”
“Isn’t it wonderful?” spat little Galony, spraying everyone with spit, he had to yell for being heard over the amplifying noise.
From that day onwards, Lilly started calling Galony, ‘Diamond Gal.’
Diamond Gal went red in the cheeks each time she did this.
“Oh, don’t!” he would shriek.
“Oh, come on,” Lilly would mutter.
And then he remembered: it was his birthday in the coming week. How could he have forgotten his favorite day of the year?
He quickly read his novel till 8:00 pm, as always, and went to bed. Before sleeping, he looked out of the window and saw moonlit streets, with bats howling in each direction and, though this did not happen often, he glimpsed two men having a vindictive fight as he fell asleep.
Chapter 2
The Great Invitation
From the windows, the ruby red sun glared, half-hidden behind the rainy clouds. The sky was a shade of bright orange, and only a tinge of blue echoed through the unblemished, shiny windows.
As 27th December, Galony’s birthday, drew nearer, Galony would not choose to abate his joy.
Finally, as the day arrived, chants of “Happy Birthday” were echoing in the house. In a rush of excitement on seeing the presents, Lilly spotted a pink decorative bag.two pause sign lights near the birthday table. The table was decorated with balloons and buntings of brights colors of carmine red, cobalt blue, cerulean blue, yellow, and Chinese white, and glittery table cloths that were reflecting light, “Look at the rainbow on the tablecloth!” you would hear every now and then.
Everyone was enjoying the birthday, and before Galony could realize it, they all dived towards the presents and tore them open. Lilly pulled out two strange shapes from the pink decorative paper bag and pressed the green light projecting a pause sign first, and Galony did the same with the other one. It was from the same person because each pause was carrying a large alphabet; ‘S.’ Suddenly, a voice rang out from it:
“Dear Ms. Chink,
Welcome!
Only the most scientific students are permitted at Science for Nines.
“Science for what?”
We keep track of all the science lovers across the town, and we believe you are great at science. Term begins on February 1st; we are waiting for you to enter the magnificent gates of our school!”
____________________________________________
Deputy Headmistress,
Ms. Anne
Lilly and Gal looked at each other in disbelief. There were nothing more than a hundred questions going on in Gal’s and Lilly’s head. It sounded so exciting, only if there was such a thing as ‘Science for Nines’. Galony started processing things in his head.
Mr. Chink stepped forward and laughed aloud. He revealed, “It was my voice, and you are going to the amazing summer school we always dreamt for you!”
That’s the end of the free sample
You have read 12% of The Crystal Chaos- YA Fantasy Book. The full e-book picks up right where this stopped.
- Unlocks the moment your payment clears
- Reads in any browser — nothing to install
- Amal Usman earns a royalty on every copy
Login with Google
