This is my first offering for a haibun challenge run by call2read. A haibun is prose combined with a haiku. This particular one is 220 words total and the theme is Fantasy.
The Perfect Knight
Luiz put on his backpack, tightened his shoelaces and stepped out into a jungle of concrete trees towering into the sky. He wished he had a sword.
He passed the magic shop and waved at the magician, then came to the river where ships roared past. Luiz waited until the ships stopped, then hopped across the bridge, only stepping on the white and avoiding the black surface of the river
Then he came to troll country.
“Hey, Luiz,” a troll called from a nearby step. “Got any money for us today?” Another troll appeared and they towered over Luiz.
Luiz wanted to shout that he was a knight and they were only measly trolls, but he just stood there, his knees shaking.
A baseball suddenly hit one of the trolls in the chest. A kick knocked the other on its back. “Don’t let me catch you picking on my brother ever again!” Angela shouted at them as they ran off.
“Luiz, what are you doing, walking to school alone?”
Luiz said nothing—just took her hand and started walking.
“I thought knights in shining armor were only boys,” he said.
Angela picked up the baseball. “That’s only in fairy tales,” she said. “In real life, they can be anyone.”
trolls roar and threaten
sister knight saves the day
fantasy survives
The Green-Walled Tower 