...Once upon a time.. In a beautiful forest, lived a little mouse, he was a very sweet little mouse, and a funny little mouse, but...he was a curious little mouse, and he was fascinated by the world..He especially loved waking up early, early in the morning, just as the bright sunshine was peeking over the horizon. Haxley would eagerly hop out of bed and wander into the forest to see what new adventures the day would bring. This particular morning was warm and sunny, and busy with activity. The frogs at the frog pond had already begun to sing...the bumble bees where already buzzing around the colourful flowers, the mama birds were pulling worms for breakfast, and the tiny little chipmunks were playing a game of hide-and-go-seek high up in the tree tops. This is what Haxley just loved about the forest, there was always so much going on, so much life, and excitement as the animals went on about their day, working, and playing, and singing...sometimes Haxley would lay down in the soft green grass, and just feel the rhythm of world around him...but not today, today he was feeling adventurous. He continued to skip happily through the trees, and then he saw something...something so lovely, and almost,...magical...it looked like a tiny rainbow shimmering near the lilac trees...he walked closer to it, he was so curious he just had to see what it was...his mother had warned him many times.."the prettier, the more dangerous!" but Haxley threw caution to the wind and came even closer..."Hello, I’m Haxley" he said..."Hello, I’m Bella the Butterfly"..."You are so beautiful, I’ve never seen a butterfly like you before!"...Bella blushed, "I’m from the Secret Garden, but I’m curious, and I love to explore the world, and have new adventures, so I flew from the Secret Garden to explore the Beautiful Forest...I’ve heard so many wonderful things about this place!.." She added. Wowww Haxley was thrilled, a kindred spirit!!..."I love exploring, and adventure too, would you like me to show you around the forest?" He asked..."I would love that Haxley!" she said...Haxley and Bella spent the afternoon together, he showed her the Sparkling  River, and the Big Hill, the Frog Pond, and the Grand Oak Tree...he loved sharing his stories about growing up in the beautiful forest with her...after a while they went to his house for a glass of homemade lemonade...Haxley finally had the courage to ask..."Bella, would you show me the Secret Garden were you live?" Bella hesitated...then she looked down with a sad look on her face..."I’m...I’m sorry Haxley...I can’t..." "Ohhhh its ok Bella, never mind, I’m sorry I asked, I realize that we just met & all..." he stumbled on his words..."No, no...Haxley, it’s not that"...she exclaimed..."It’s just that...you have to have wings to get there...there are no roads, or boats or trains...you must fly" she explained to him. Haxley got sad, and quiet. He looked down at his arms and knew no amount of flapping would make him fly like Bella, he wished he had wings..And as if Bella could read his mind, she whispered to him..."Haxley, there is a way..But it’s a secret magic, you must never ever tell anyone about it!!" she said sternly...Haxley was excited, and scared, and intrigued, "Yes, yes I want to fly like you Bella" he said excitedly..."Ok Haxley, we need a few things first. A white satin sheet, a scoop on wildflower honey, a red rose, and colourful ribbon" Bella sat in the kitchen and sipped on her lemonade as Haxley scurried around the house to find all the things she asked for, when he returned she told him to place all the items in a picnic basket, and they made their way back to the Grand Oak Tree which grew in the center of the forest, it was the tallest, oldest, must magnificent tree...there were stories that this tree was planted hundreds of years ago by a wise Mayan Medicine-Man..."Ok Haxley, now you mustn’t feel afraid, you will feel funny tingling, but it’s all part of the spell..." Haxley climbed the tree as high as he could as Bella flew by his side..."Ok here is good, let’s begin...Close your eyes" she instructed...she began to sing in a language Haxley never heard before, her voice was sweet, and soft...he could feel her wrapping him in the satin white sheet, tying up the top with the ribbon...she dipped the rose in the wildflower honey, and threw the rose pedals at him, she continued to sing, her song was slow and hypnotizing, suddenly Haxley felt more and more sleepy...until he felt himself drift off. He wasn’t sure how long he slept, but when he awoke he felt tingles all over...as he slowly woke up he looked down..and saw...hands..."it didn’t work!" he felt the disappointment deep in his heart...he so much wanted to see the Secret Garden...but then, he felt something funny behind him, it tickled his mouse fur..He turned around and saw big beautiful wings...his eyes grew bigger, and bigger in disbelief.."I have wings, I have wings!!!" he sang in excitement...Bella untied the ribbon, and pulled down the satin sheet..."Indeed you do!" she exclaimed..."Now let’s hurry the magic spell is only good for one hour!" Haxley and Bella flew through the sky together, Haxley fluttered his wings as if he had had them all of his life, he loooved the feeling of the wind in his hair, and the tickle of bursting though the white fluffy clouds...many birds looked at him peculiar as he flew, but he didn’t care...he was FLYING!!!...just as Bella said they flew far into the clouds were there was no land, no water, no roads or boats...then he saw large majestic stone gates...Bella hurried him along, as they entered Haxley was breathless at the beauty of the Secret Garden, every flower was more beautiful then the next, and they sway in a rainbow of colour as the millions and millions of butterflies rested on them..."is this heaven?" Haxley asked...'No silly, this is the Secret Garden where I live" she giggled....then Haxley saw a dragon fly...and a tiny little humming bird..."We share the Secret Garden with them too" she explained...She poured him a glass of nectar from a beautiful purple and red flower, it was the most delicious thing he had ever tasted..."MmmmMmmm" he exclaimed....Bella smiled....they flew together over the flowered trees, and under the shimmering rainbow...by the beautiful aqua colored stream....it was the most magnificent place Haxley had ever seen...but his wings started to feel heavy as the magic spell was beginning to wear off...Bella noticed and said..."let’s get you back home Haxley"....He didn’t want to leave, but knew he had too...they flew back together...talking about the Secret Garden...just as Haxley reached his house he felt his wings fall down...all that was left was the rose pedals...he scooped them up & put them in his pocket...."Thank you Bella, I had the most wonderful day with you...will we meet again one day?" he asked...."One day Haxley, we will, I promise"....she said, they hugged, and waved goodbye, as Bella floated gracefully up into the clouds, and returned back home....