The Farm That Flies

By Morgan Forbush with ChatGPT and Midjourney

The morning sun bathed the lush pastures of the Ontervia family farm in a golden glow, as dew shimmered on the tall grass. Mia Ontervia, a bright and determined girl of eleven, pulled on her boots and strode outside to feed the horses. She paused to listen for the early calls of birdsong and the gentle whinny of their prize mare, Starfire. Her little brother, Leo, tailed her closely, waving a stick he had picked up along the way.

"Mia! Mia! Look at my wand!" he said, pointing the stick skyward.

"That's nice, Leo. Just don't poke anyone with it," she replied with a hint of exasperation.

The Ontervia family had lived on their farm as long as Mia could remember, but it wasn't like other farms in Warren County, New York. It was a farm that moved. Every now and then, at the wave of Mia's wand, the farm would uproot itself and drift across the land, finding a new place to settle. Mia's mother, Elise, was blind and could not see the farm's journeys, but she could feel the changes through the sounds, smells, and vibrations in the air. She trusted her daughter to lead the way.

"Today is a moving day," Mia announced at breakfast. Her father, Gregor, looked up from his eggs and smiled.

"Where to this time, Mia?" he asked.

"I'm not sure yet, but somewhere special."

Elise smiled serenely. "I'll be ready."

Mia took Leo's stick and, with a practiced flourish, waved it above her head. The air shimmered and the ground began to rumble. All around them, the farm creaked and groaned as it lifted itself from the earth. The trees, fences, horses, and even the little pond all rose gently into the air, buoyed by an invisible force. Starfire snorted and stamped nervously, but Mia's calming voice soothed her.

"It's alright, Starfire. It's just another adventure."

The farm soared higher and higher until it was well above the treetops, casting a shadow over the landscape below. Mia guided the farm across the patchwork fields and rolling hills, looking for the perfect spot to land.

After several hours of flight, she spotted a serene meadow surrounded by forests and a babbling brook nearby. It was perfect. With another wave of the wand, Mia directed the farm to descend. It floated down gracefully, like a feather on the wind, and settled gently into the meadow. The ground folded around the roots of the trees, and the fences dug themselves into the soft earth.

"Here we are!" Mia announced triumphantly.

Leo ran across the fields, waving his stick and pretending to cast spells on the horses. Elise stepped out onto the porch, her fingers trailing lightly over the wooden railing as she inhaled the fresh scent of pine. She could hear the stream trickling nearby and the wind rustling through the trees.

"It's beautiful here, Mia," she said. "I can tell."

The family spent the day exploring their new home, and by sunset, they were ready to settle in for the night. But as Mia lay in bed, she couldn't shake the feeling that the farm had one more journey left in it. She crept out of bed and tiptoed to the porch, her wand in hand. The moonlight bathed the fields in silver, and she whispered a gentle incantation.

The farm shuddered, then slowly lifted once more into the night sky, carrying Mia, her family, and all their horses toward the distant stars. The trees swayed in the breeze as the farm drifted higher and higher until it was just a speck against the moon.

They floated through the night, Mia steering by the constellations. By dawn, she had found the perfect place. It was a verdant valley surrounded by mountains, with a clear lake and fertile pastures. With a final wave of her wand, she brought the farm down gently, settling it into the valley like a jewel in a crown.

In the distance, Mia spotted another farm nearby and realized it was her Uncle Andy's farm. He owned it with his three daughters: Savanna, who was twelve years old with dark brown hair and loved horses as much as Mia did; Autumn, who had been born with only half an arm but could ride a horse like no one else; and Emily, the youngest, who was always ready for adventure.

"Wake up, everyone! We've arrived!" she called.

Her family emerged onto the porch, blinking in the early sunlight. Elise tilted her head, listening to the echo of the mountains and the gentle lapping of the lake.

"Is that Andy's farm nearby?" Gregor asked, shading his eyes to look across the valley.

"It sure is!" Mia beamed.

Moments later, a distant voice echoed back through the morning air.

"Mia! Is that you?" called Uncle Andy from across the meadow.

"Yes, Uncle Andy! It's us!" Mia shouted back.

Soon enough, Savanna, Autumn, and Emily came galloping over on their horses, with Uncle Andy following close behind on foot. They hugged and laughed and talked about all the adventures they would have together.

From that day on, the Ontervia family farm never moved again. It had found the perfect place, nestled near Uncle Andy's farm in the valley where Mia, her family, and her cousins could live happily ever after.

And as for Leo, he never stopped waving his stick like a wand, casting spells on the horses and dreaming of the day when he, too, could make the farm fly.