Karla the Potion Master

To everyone around the world

Karla was a phoenix that was good at making potions. In fact, she was so good at making potions that everyone called her Potion Master.  

Her furniture was made of wood with potions! There are millions of jars, bottles, and a giant cauldron inside the cave that she lives in.  

Everyday, Karla makes potion recipes. Her easiest potion recipe was “How to make a spider tap-dance”. Her latest one was “How to remove a chocolate fudge from your hair”. 

At dawn, she goes deep into the forest to help animals and plants that are in need with her potions.  

At dusk, when Karla snores, she snores out bubble potions and ravishing music.  

But on rainy days, Karla looks after her pets, three squirrels, two butterflies, a golden cricket and an orange lion.  

There is an island near Karla’s cave. Every Saturday, Karla flies there to buy flowers, herbs, crystals, and other ingredients.  

But wherever Karla goes, the villagers stay away from her. Nobody dares to drink her potions because they think it’s poisonous.  

When Karla arrived home alone, she designed a new recipe which was “How to put a stopper in Death” and ate 3000 snakes for dinner. Then she took a nap for 20,000 seconds.  

One day, by the hill, Karla saw an old lady with a cane. “Wh-Wh-Who are you?” asked the lady, her voice trembling with fear.  

“I’m Karla”, said Karla, and she held out her claw, “I’m a phoenix who studies potions and——” She didn’t finish her sentence before the old lady screamed and ran as fast as her legs could carry her into a bush! 

Next day, by the greenhouse, Karla met an old man, a little boy and a dog. The old man spoke first. “What a strange bird!” he continued, “one minute later, you would be sold——”.  

Karla felt exasperated, she cast a spell, “Hocus Pocus Frozen Folks!” The old man found himself frozen, stiff as a board. The little boy took a closer look at Karla and burst into tears, “Why did you freeze my grandpa? You must set him free immedie——”  

 At the same time, Karla chanted another spell “Topsy Turvy Spinning Tornado” and the boy was spinning in circles up in the air!  

The dog tried to bite the phoenix, but Karla pulled out a star flute and began to play. In seconds, the dog fell into a deep sleep.  

Next day, by the canal, Karla saw a little stray cat. The cat looked lonely. “Meow-meow,” said the cat timidly, “I’m Bella. I don’t dare to cross the river.” 

“Hello dearie, drink this potion, you will no longer be afraid of water!” Karla handed Bella a blue potion with her beak.  

“It tastes like blueberry!” cheered Bella.  

Karla chirped, “I want to build a potion-making factory.” “So do I” exclaimed the cat enthusiastically. “Then you can join me.” Karla replied!  

Two hours later, the duo was still talking about how to set up a potion-making factory. In the end, they’ve agreed that they would build the factory on top of the snow mountain.  

Together they flew back to the cave and collected all the bottles, cauldrons, and equipment. They’ve also packed up all the oldest dusty potion recipes and the newest magical sparkling one.  

Bella the cat told Karla the rumor she had heard about powerful sleeping potions. She read Karla the procedures of each potion recipe. Karla taught Bella how to draw a flip-o-rama potion instruction.  

They enjoyed decorating the potion with flowers, confetti, explosives, lava, glitter, moon dust, star dust and bioluminescent waves. Together, they invented thousands of potions with different powers. It’s a big success.  

They invented potions with funny smells, strange tastes, and mysterious appearance, and most important diverse functions. When night falls, the duo cuddled together safe and sound.   

Then they thought about what to add to their factory, suddenly Karla jumped up, “A banner” she squawked. A banner engraved with golden words “Potions are all here!” was hung up above front gate.  “Potions are all here!”  

Before opening the gate, they did a few rehearsals. They even flew to the town to show the crowd of people their potions. The people gasped, “It’s the phoenix again!” Bella told the crowd that Karla is not scary by using her sign language because town people don’t understand cat language. There was a short silence. 

Karla felt nervous; she couldn’t help plucking a feather from her wings. “It-it’s nice to meet you!  My potions can help solve problems!” She explained as she waved at the crowd.  

“We had all kinds of potions that we’d love to share! Please come visit my factory, 24 hours a day, from Monday to Sunday. Despite some potions are secret ones which you can’t touch,” said Karla 

One by one Bella handed out the golden ticket, “You’re all invited, remember don’t spill any potion while visiting.” All the villagers gasped again. They’ve never seen such shiny golden things before.  

One by one they jumped onto Karla’s back, “One, two, three, hold on tight,” she called out, “three, two, one, take a flight!”  

Karla soared upon the town, swooped through the forest, flew over the canal, glided past the grassland, until they reached the Magic Potion Factory popping out colorful smoke. 

Karla gave a hungry villager a potion that tasted 3 meals at the same time. “Thank you, Karla! I’m stuffed! Whenever I’m starving, I can drink this potion.” said the Hungry Man.  

Karla gave a boy with rash another potion, as quick as a wink all the symptoms disappear, and he would never be sick again. “Hooray!” the boy cheered. 

A greedy villager grabbed a green potion and drank it before Karla and Bella stopped him. It made him turn into a frog, then a fish, then a pig. The shape changing didn’t stop until he promised he wouldn’t be greedy again. 

All the villagers are grateful for Karla and Bella.  

Soon, the whole world knows Karla and Bella’s story. 

When they die of age, they are reborn for kindness.  

They lived happily ever after.  

By Callie Li - 1st Grade Buy this book from Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FD78ZSZ4