All was at peace in a snowlit Gemstone Glade, its crystals lighting up like Christmas stars, and a secret light playing with the fountain waters, turning them in to a frosty winter rainbow of chill colour.

The Gemstone Glade Christmas Tree stood resplendent in the centre of the glade. Giant baubles graced its branches, a picture of winter landscapes inside, mini worlds of wonder, dainty dimensions of joy.

One of the baubles slowly flew from its branch, hovering above the glade, before slowly floating in to the night.

Claudia sat alone in her bedroom, textbooks littering her bed like a mad scientist’s mess. Homework was a private hell in her head. She hated school, but not as much as it hated her. Bullying – from teachers and pupils alike – belittled her life.

A wind suddenly played with her hair. In surprise she looked up. A giant Christmas bauble hung from the ceiling, a winter forestscape inside. Disbelief turned to delight as she reached to touch it.

Then she was there, in the winter snow. A charming wooden house confronted her. Its red door proudly displayed a Christmas wreath … and it began to open.

A smiling granny face appeared, crinkled eyes laughing under white curls, wizened hands holding a walking stick. “Welcome to the magical Christmas homework club.”

Claudia followed the old woman inside. A bright fire greeted her, with a number of children huddled in front, like metal figurines attracted to a magnet. A large Christmas tree was bedecked with presents hanging from branches and piled high beneath. An air of magic pervaded the room, like a perfume of endless possibility.

“I am Nina, and these are my recruits, like you. These are all children who have had enough of boring school homework, they would like to do real work!”

Nina laughed lightly. “We are making paper flowers. Choose a colour! And choose your quality: for example, peacefulness, happiness, compassion, wisdom. We use magic paint to imbue your flower with this virtue.”

Claudia happily joined the group of children. She felt somehow at home, as if she had been here before and always knew she would come back.

She chose the colour pink, and began to shape a rose out of pliable paper. The magic paintbrush was warm in her hand, and she felt her chest grow hot as she applied the colour.

“What is your virtue?” asked Nina.

“It is peace, peace for all mankind, gentle kindness to all animals, and happiness in all earthly hearts.”

“Well chosen,” murmured Nina. The other children giggled. Yellow, purple, red and orange flowers glowed in the firelight.

Claudia could not later recall how long she painted flowers before the fire in the little house. Time had turned to mist, and a fog fondled her mind. She painted and painted, more and more flowers, the smile on her face the best flower of all.

She chatted with the other children, but afterwards could not remember their names.

The real world had receded, leaving her in a bubble of molten magic. After an hour or many hours, she could not be sure, Nina finally said: “Time to go home. But first, we must set the flowers free.”

The children assembled outside the house, and let a gentle breeze take their flowers far far away. Like Christmas presents they had outgrown, it was time to pass on the gift, a moment to unleash a magic beyond comprehension.

“You have spun a sacred Christmas web of golden wishes. Peace, love, understanding and compassion are now soaring through the air streams, and wherever your flowers come to rest, great blessings will seed. A true healing has taken place today. Time to go home, special ones. Your guide awaits.”

A white unicorn with a golden horn stepped confidently through the snow. One by one, he placed his magical golden horn on each child’s forehead. Claudia closed her eyes as she felt gold energy soar through her mind. She opened them again to behold her bedroom, still a mess, and so strangely ordinary and dull after her adventure.

Claudia opened her notebook, and began to draw a flower, the power of peace in her heart.

Many many miles away, painted flowers floated down rivers and in to the sea, as peace kissed the world with its gentle lips. A brighter Christmas morning would dawn, flower energy in its heart, the winds of tomorrow blowing across the world like a mist of memories, a memory of the future, a hope for all time.