Georgy and his Magical Hat

Once there was a 7-year-old boy named Georgy. He used to like hats very much. He had hats of all kinds. Flat, tall, of different colours and he used to like them soo much that on each and every dress he wore he used to have a hat on his head and that too of same colour as his dress. One fine day, Georgy and his daddy were in their house’s attic sorting up things like junk separate and useful ones separate. While separating things, he found a hat of shiny copper colour. It had a velvety belt of black satin and on than black satin, it had a gold pendant in the centre of the belt. As you know Georgy was fond of hats. He asked his daddy that could he have it as it so gorgeous. As his father knew his love for hats, so his father gave him the hat to wear. Georgy was very happy and excited to wear his new hat. He felt like when he goes into his room and keeps his new possession in his shelf. After the cleaning, he and his father went back and Georgy dashed into his room with new valuable discovery in the attic. He kept staring at his hat all day long.

His mom had to call him at least five to six times and at last she came in his room and pulled him out to the kitchen. That day Georgy did nothing but gazing at the hat. Next day he wore the hat and went to school. Soon he started to feel weird. As soon as he reached home he told his mom that he was feeling weird since he had worn this hat he was feeling weird. But his mom told him that it must be because it was too big for him. But Georgy was not satisfied. He went to his room and told himself, “I think that this hat is not ordinary… hmmm… Mummy and daddy are hiding something from me… I will find it out myself.” As soon as he said these words, He heard a voice pop out from nowhere saying, “Hey buddy, you are right…” Georgy got very amused by this sudden answer and asked, “Who are you?? Show yourself...” The voice again replied, “I am on your head pal.” Then it was that the tube in Georgy’s head got lighted. He realised that it was his new, dear possession, his hat. And he took the hat in his hand and what he saw next left his mouth open. He sow that when the hat spoke, it had eyes and mouth just like him.

Georgy was not able to get words out of his mouth. He just kept staring at his hat and after sometime the eyes and nose of the hat disappeared and again the hat became as an ordinary one. Next morning Georgy decided not to were the hat today and wore other hat. He did this purposely to see the hats reaction. So, as decided Georgy wore his one of the old hats and was about to leave his rom when the new hat popped up again and said, “Good morning Georgy!! Not wearing me today??” Georgy replied, “Nope. I won’t were you today. Not only today, but I won’t were you anytime now.” This hurt the copper plated hat very badly. It said, “Why dear friend?? Don’t you like me?? What have I done to you??” He said that, “I wore you yesterday but you weren’t nice to me. But if you will be nice to me I will wear you everyday.”

Then the hat promised him that it won’t trouble him anymore. Georgy wore the hat again today. The real story behind it was that the hat was growing bigger in size and so it was causing pain to Georgy. When he returned home, he went in his room and hurriedly removed the hat and throwed it on his table. The hat as if it was a human moaned in pain. Georgy wanted to know all about this mysterious hat. H asked the hat, “Who are you? Tell me your true identity. I want to know everything about.” The hat said, “Fine friend. But to know about me you will have to pass three difficult tests. I will give you three maps. You will have to follow the maps and travel accordingly. There are three conditions: 

You cannot stop travelling during the day. You are allowed to take rest only in the night. You have to follow the map and have to travel by foot.If you follow these conditions my friend, then you will be able to learn everything about my past.” Georgy told the hat, “Don’t worry my friend. I will find out the mystery behind you at any cost.” Then hat turns upside down automatically and from the hat come out a bamboo stick, a strong rope, three maps of his tasks, a tent and a big sack and told Georgy, “These things will help you through your route. But I will also come with you friend.”

Georgy was utmost happy to find that the hat was also coming with him. He put the hat and all his things in the sack. The next morning Georgy was up too early than usual ready with his sack, some dry snacks, dry fruits and three bottles of water. Before his mummy and daddy got up he wore his school uniform and took three pair of clothes extra. As it was a picnic day of school and picnic was for five days mom dad would not suspect his absence. He then went out of his house following the map. The first map was through a dense forest. A forest where not a single ray of light could reach the ground. Georgy started his journey. He travelled the whole morning and by afternoon he reached a river. He was about to climb the bridge but suddenly he heard desperate screams of a man. He saw that a man was drowning in the water and was screaming for help.

Georgy without waiting splashed into the river. He swam towards the man and hurriedly took him towards the river bank. The man thanked Georgy profusely and told him, “Thanks Georgy, for saving me. In your further journey if you need my help just call my name three times. My name is Sam.” Saying this the man went in the woods. Georgy again started waking according to the map. Soon it was dark and Georgy had to set up his tent. The next morning Georgy woke up and got ready. He looked at the first map and realised that he has to start with the second map. He packed his things and started travelling as per the second map. It was the map of an icy place. While travelling, he came across a tiny little mouse who was shivering in the cold, harsh weather of the place. The mouse asked Georgy in a humanly voice, “Hey friend, do you have any rug? For I am feeling very cold.” Georgy, who was ready to help anyone at any time, agreed to help the mouse.

He checked his backpack for a rug. He did not have one, so he tore one of his T-Shirts and gave it to the mouse. The mouse was very happy and told Georgy, “Hey friend, you helped me in my difficult times. I promise you that if you are in trouble anytime, call my name three times. My name is Mooshak.” Georgy then left from there and continued walking. Soon it was dark and he set up his tent and went to sleep. The next morning he woke up and saw the second map and was very happy that it was over. Then he started with the third map it was a not so scary forest. He travelled continuously and came across a river which was full of crocodiles. He saw the river and was feeling confused about how to cross it.

Suddenly he remembered his friend Sam. Sam had promised him that whenever he will want help he had to call Sam’s name three times. So Georgy decided to call Sam for his help. He said, “Sam. Sam. Sam.” And Sam appeared on the scene from the woods and asked, “What happened Georgy? Do you want any help?” Georgy said, “Yes Sam. I want to cross this river which is full of crocodiles and aligators.” Sam replied, “Ohh. That’s the matter? Don’t worry. Do as I say. Close your eyes and say TAKE ME ACROSS THE RIVER three times and you will be on that side. Bye friend.” Georgy did as he was told. He closed his eyes and said, “Take me across the river. Take me across the river. Take me across the river.” And then he opened his eyes. And what a miracle. He was on the other side. He thanked Sam profusely who was waving his hand at Georgy. Then he continued his travels. After travelling for some time, he was stopped in his tracks by a huge dark black cave.

Now Georgy was thinking that how to go to the other side of the that’s when he remembered his friend Mooshak the mouse. He called, “Mooshak. Mooshak. Mooshak.” As soon as Georgy called Mooshak he came running towards Georgy. He asked Georgy, “Hey!! What’s the problem friend? How may I help you?” Georgy replied, “Dear friend I want to surpass this cave but it’s too dark in there and I haven’t got any torch with me.” Mooshak said, “Ohh!! Only this? Don’t worry friend I will help you go to other side.” Saying this he turned Georgy from his original size to a small one just like him. He then told Georgy, “Once you reach the other side of the cave, you will come back to your original height again and can continue your journey again.” Georgy thanked Mooshak and went inside the cave. As soon as he reached the other side of the cave, he reached to his original size and height. Then journeying ahead he reached a very beautiful garden.

There were shiny fountains and flowering plants everywhere. The scent of the flowers wafted through the air. There Georgy saw a hut and went inside the hut. Inside the hut he saw a sage meditating and no one else inside. The sage felt like someone was in the hut and slowly opened his eyes. Georgy greeted the sage and asked about his wellbeing. After some time, Georgy told him about his mysterious hat. He asked, “O’ great sage… I want to know about this hat. How can it talk like a man and have eyes nose like a human? And how does it grow bigger everyday?” The sage said, “I know your curiosity my child. Let me tell you the story of a boy. The boy lived in a village not far from here. He liked studying. But as he was from a poor family who could barely make ends meet so the boy studied only till class two.

Once there was a severe flood in that village. It caused huge destruction. And the boy was flow away with the flood waters to a totally different land. And he died there. But his soul did not get freedom as his dreams and wishes were not achieved so the soul came to me for help. I told it to go in your house’s attic and be in a hat. But now as I have told all this to you, the soul will get freedom, and the hat will become an ordinary hat.” Georgy was left open-mouthed after hearing this story. Then his mother came in his room and asked him, “Georgy for how much time are you going to sleep? The school bus is already honking out loud in front of the gate. Get up quickly.” Georgy woke up hearing these words and went towards the shelf thinking about his magical hat. But it was not there in his shelf. He realised that had been dreaming about it all.