Chapter 3

Jadyn's Journey

Jadyn was running down the path behind her cottage. She was a curious and intelligent little girl of six, almost seven. She had a pretty face, curly long golden brown hair and laughing green eyes the color of jade. In fact, that's how she got her name. Jadyn had big green eyes that sparkled when she laughed and a happy smile that she brought with her everywhere she went. She had a cheerful and inquisitive personality and was always eager to explore and learn new things about our world.

Sometimes in our world people are the same and sometimes people are different. All people love the trees and rivers that make our world beautiful. They love the animals that make our world special. And people love their children. Some children in our world can't see like other children and some children can't walk or run like other children. Well, Jadyn was born deaf. She cannot hear through her ears nor speak with her voice. She listens with her eyes and speaks with her hands. She uses sign language to talk to her family and friends.

Sometimes when people cannot hear they learn to use their other senses more. That is what happened to Jadyn. Maybe the reason she loved flowers so much was because she used her sense of smell to help her discover the world around her. Jadyn liked to spend time in front of her cottage where her mother had planted many flowers. The big, green, freshly-mowed lawn tickled her toes as she ran barefoot across the front yard on her way to the garden. Cherry and apple blossoms decorated the fruit trees behind the colorful flowerbeds. Brilliant wildflowers sparkled like jewels in the early morning dew. Jadyn had only to look in the flower beds for her own precious rubies, sapphires, and diamonds. In the flower gardens, sturdy straight stems burst into prisms of multi-colored greens - round leaves and jagged leaves, soft leaves and scratchy leaves, narrow reeds and delicate lacy ferns. Grapevines crawling along the old stone fence stretched out toward the sky. Jadyn reached out to touch the long, slender fingers of the shag-bark hickory. She sampled the sweet-tasting wild berries that were ripening in the sun.

Jadyn loved the fragrant lilacs and sweet-scented lilies of the valley. As she skipped around the garden she stopped to smell the roses - with their petals of velvet, soft and smooth. But best of all, her mom planted Jadyn's favorite flowers - bright yellow daisies. Yellow daisies always made her happy. They were like sunshine and smiled at her even on cloudy days. Nestled next to the garden was a sun-drenched pond. Jadyn would spend hours in the fragrant garden looking at the bright yellow daisies and watching the water beetles dancing among the lily pads.

The only thing Jadyn loved more than flowers was her dog, Sasha. Sasha was a pretty golden retriever with long hair, a cold wet nose and a kind and trusting heart. He was Jadyn's companion and so much more. Sasha came to live with Jadyn's family when she learned to walk and became her very best friend. He learned some of the simple signs that Jadyn used to talk with her family. Sasha knew that Jadyn talked to him with her hands. He learned to watch Jadyn's hands as well as her face when they were together. One sign from Jadyn and Sasha was up and bouncing to the door, ready to follow her anywhere. Everywhere Jadyn went, so did Sasha and everywhere Sasha went, so did Jadyn. They had many happy adventures together.

In fact, that is why Jadyn was heading down the path behind her cottage. Sasha had seen a rabbit and couldn't resist chasing it. Jadyn followed Sasha with a determined look on her face. Sasha was off on another adventure. "Where did Sasha go this time? Life is full of new surprises," Jadyn thought as she continued down the path searching for her dog. The sun and wind danced through her ribbons and curls as she ran down the path. She could see Sasha under a tree near the opposite edge of the field. Jadyn hurried across the sweet-smelling field of clover as fast as she could toward her four-legged friend. Finally she caught up with Sasha. She patted her dog and then reached down to take hold of his collar. "Chasing rabbits again. You never catch them, Sasha," Jadyn said in sign language to her friend as she playfully scolded him. Sasha wagged his tail in greeting and licked Jadyn's face. Jadyn let go of Sasha's collar to give him another pat and the dog quickly ran into the trees looking for Mr. Rabbit.

Walking in the woods is great fun. Jadyn was having a wonderful time. The day was warm and the shade under the trees was cool. The fragrance of colorful wildflowers sweetened the air. Evergreens freshened the breeze with their scent of pine. Jadyn's sparkling green eyes were filled with the colors and sights of nature. The sun was shining brightly through the leaves on the trees. Glistening drops of dew clung to the long grass and butterflies gathered on an old stump. Sasha trotted slightly ahead of Jadyn with his tail wagging and his nose to the ground. Soon they were far down the path into the woods.

Back at the cottage Jadyn's mother had gone into the house to answer the phone. Then the buzzer in the kitchen sounded and the cookies had to come out of the oven. Chocolate chip. Yummmm...Jadyn's favorite. It was some time before her mother could go into the backyard to check on Jadyn. She was not surprised to see her daughter gone because Jadyn often wandered into the front yard to smell the pretty flowers and especially to gaze at her favorite - the bright yellow daisies. But her mother became worried when she could not find Jadyn in the front yard. She called for Sasha, knowing the dog would hear her and tug on Jadyn's sleeve as a signal to come home. But no dog and no Jadyn! Running quickly to the phone she called Jadyn's dad and her brother Jeffrey. They soon appeared in the driveway. The family gathered and all three began to look for the lost little girl.

Meanwhile, Jadyn had grown tired. She sat down to rest with her good friend Sasha and soon they were both fast asleep. When they woke Jadyn did not know where she was. She hugged Sasha and looked around. Nothing seemed familiar and the little girl became frightened. She began to run down the path but she ran the wrong way. Sasha tried to stop her but Jadyn continued to run. "If it gets dark I can't see where I'm going and Sasha won't be able to see me sign," she thought. "I won't be able to find my way back home." It was very late in the afternoon and the setting sun was darkening the woods. As they ran down the path the dark shadows made it harder and harder for them to find their way.

Back at home, dad and Jeffrey had searched the neighborhood. There was NO Jadyn. There was NO Sasha. Cookies were burning in the oven but no one cared. Where was Sasha? Where was Jadyn? Soon it would be dark. Jadyn's mom was beginning to get very nervous. She did not want her daughter to be away from home and lost in the dark.

Jadyn and Sasha were running through the woods. They came to a small clearing among the trees. Jadyn sat down by the edge of the grassy area and tried not to cry. Her golden retriever was very sensitive. Sasha began to lick Jadyn and tried to climb into her lap. The little girl threw her arms around the concerned dog, held her close and began to cry. Jadyn was frightened and tired and lost. Shadows were beginning to creep across the edge of the grassy spot as the sun continued on its way over the horizon.

Up in the sky, the Magic Balloon was wondering which direction to go. He had traveled far and was feeling a little guilty because he had had such fun. He had been playing hide-and-seek in the sun and fluffy white clouds all day. He especially liked the way the little rain clouds made him glisten as he danced through them. It had been so much fun! But now he frowned. That was unusual for the happy balloon. Santa would be sad. He had not helped anyone all day. Just then one of the rays of sun highlighted Jadyn's long golden brown curls. "What's this?" he thought. He began to make himself smaller and smaller as he circled down to the sad little girl. Jadyn looked up and saw the balloon descending. At first she was a little afraid but then she remembered the special balloon her father had bought her at the county fair on Sunday. It floated all by itself in her room. It made her feel happy. So when she saw the Magic Balloon she smiled.

Slowly the Magic Balloon came to rest near Jadyn. Sasha was surprised when the Magic Balloon appeared. At first he was concerned and looked rather worried until the Magic Balloon softly spoke to him in dog language. Jadyn was excited and began to sign very quickly. She said, "Hi! I'm Jadyn," and then she told him all about the rabbit and their adventure. At the end she said, "Oh, by the way, we're lost."

Quickly the Magic Balloon came up with a plan. He told Sasha his idea. The smart dog cocked his head and whined in understanding. Slowly the Magic Balloon began to get bigger and bigger. Sasha gently pulled on Jadyn's sleeve until she was right next to the basket. "How are we going to get her into the basket?" asked the Magic Balloon. Sasha cocked his head again and quickly jumped in. Jadyn laughed her giggly laugh and climbed in after her friend. She was a very brave little girl and she laughed again as Sasha licked her hand. "Another adventure," she thought. "More surprises!" Very slowly and gently the Magic Balloon lifted off the ground.

Soon they were flying high over the trees. Jadyn looked down at the world below. She smiled and laughed and reached down to give Sasha a big hug. Both the Magic Balloon and Sasha agreed that this was a grand and glorious adventure for Jadyn. The little girl's big green eyes were filled with awe. The ground below looked like a fairy toyland. Lakes and streams sparkled in the rays of the late afternoon sun. As she peered over the side of the basket Jadyn saw birds flying beneath her. She looked to the right and then to the left as she skipped from one side of the basket to the other. She did not want to miss a single thing. All her tears and fears were left far behind as the Magic Balloon sailed majestically through the air.

Sasha stretched out in the bottom of the basket and closed his eyes. He whined a little and refused to look out over the side of the basket. Jadyn stopped moving about the basket just long enough to sign to the Magic Balloon where she lived and then she went back to watching the sights below. This time the Magic Balloon remembered to stay low enough so that his passengers had no trouble breathing. Soon the Magic Balloon began to make himself smaller as he headed for Jadyn's backyard. As soon as they touched ground the Magic Balloon told Sasha, "Quick, get out! I must leave at once." Sasha hopped out but Jadyn did not want to leave the basket. The Magic Balloon asked, "What shall we do?" Sasha took off running. The Magic Balloon watched him run around the side of the cottage. He could not see what Sasha was doing but soon the dog came running back toward the basket as fast as he could run. "What do you have in your mouth?" asked the Magic Balloon. Since Sasha had a bright yellow daisy in his mouth he could not answer. He stopped just out of Jadyn's reach. She smiled when she saw her favorite flower. Sasha carefully placed the daisy on the ground. Then he poked his nose into the basket. He gently tugged at Jadyn's sleeve. She climbed out and picked up her favorite flower.

As soon as Jadyn climbed out of the basket the Magic Balloon thought, "I must leave quickly before anyone sees me!" With a tip of his hat and a wink of his eye he bobbed up and down to say goodbye. Soon he was floating high in the sky. As Sasha barked and Jadyn waved goodbye, he raced off into the distance. Just at that moment Jeffrey, Jadyn's brother, came running around the corner of the house. He ran to his missing sister and gave her a big hug. As he looked over Jadyn's shoulder he noticed something in the sky.

"What's that, up there?" he asked himself. "What IS that?" Just then Jadyn laughed her giggly laugh. She was so excited she began to sign a mile a minute. She told her story so fast that Jeffrey could not quite understand. He just smiled at her, took her hand and led her into the front yard where her mother and father were very happy to see her.

"Where have you two been," signed Jadyn's dad and mom together. Sasha told them but since he spoke in dog language they did not understand. Jadyn eagerly told her incredible story. "What did she say?" her parents asked each other.

Jeffrey said, "She is so excited and signs so fast that I couldn't understand either." Soon their confused and bewildered parents led Jayden into the cottage. Jeffrey stopped to peer up into the sky but by now the Magic Balloon was just a tiny, tiny speck. Jadyn's brother went inside where his sister and parents were sorting cookies.

Dad said, "Here, I found some cookies that aren't burned." Jeffrey helped fill the cookie jar with yummy chocolate chip cookies. That night, as they ate the cookies for a late night treat, he heard his mother and father talking. "Our daughter certainly has a vivid imagination," grinned her dad, shaking his head.

"What a story she tells," agreed her mom. "Maybe she will be a writer some day."

Jeffrey went up to his sister's room at bedtime. Jadyn was playing with her balloon from the fair. She gave him the balloon and a small doll and signed to him to tie them together. "Like this?" he signed. Jadyn smiled with glee. She lifted the balloon and the doll up into the air and then brought them back down again. Jeffrey looked into Jadyn's laughing green eyes and said, "I think I understand how you got home." Sasha, who was lying on the rug, thumped his tail against the floor. Jeffrey looked at the dog and said, "Sometimes I think you two have all the fun!" Sasha's tail pounded the floor. "Was he laughing at me?" Jeffrey wondered as he walked out of the room. "I guess that speck in the sky must have been Jadyn's balloon," he said shaking his head as he walked down the hall to his room.

The balloon with the doll rested on the shelf in Jayden's bedroom. Jadyn turned down her covers and crawled into bed. Sasha jumped up next to Jadyn and snuggled with his friend. Jadyn fell asleep with Sasha at her side. As they drifted off to sleep, the Magic Balloon was already on the way to his next adventure. Jadyn's Journey was safely over.

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