"Papa. I'm home." Frida said arriving home.

She found her father working on something. He was one of the best clock makers in town but he had a little something special for Frida.

"Did you have a good day in town?" He asked.

"Fine. Papa do you think I'm odd?"

"My daughter? Odd? Where would you get that idea?"

"I don't know. I guess people talk and well I don't really have any friends."

"What about that Django guy? I've never met him but I hear he's friendly and handsome."

"He's handsome alright and rude and conceited and completely- oh he's not for me. To him I'm just a pretty face. Another girl for him to show off."

"Can you blame him? You do have your mother's looks."

"Papa." She giggled. "I'm serious. He doesn't like me for me."

"Well I know what will cheer you up." He turned around and in his hand was a gold music box. Inside were two bluebird figurines. "Happy Birthday."

"Papa it's beautiful. Did you make it just for me?"

"Sort of. It was actually your mother's first. I had saved every extra penny I had to buy enough gold material to make it for her."

"I can't believe you did this."

"I knew you'd like it, after all you are a music lover like your mother."

Frida smiled as she thought of her mother Carmela. She was a kind and loving woman who adored music, books, and roses. Frida remembered how when she was little her family had a rose garden which was Carmela's favorite place in the world. She and her mother would sit in that garden for hours smelling the roses, reading books, and singing songs. But then came that terrible day when her mother became very sick and her father was too poor to afford proper medicine so she died when Frida was just six years old. Shortly after her death every rose in their garden wilted away. It was almost like when Carmela died the garden died along with her.

"I know." Emiliano said gently taking her hand. "I miss her too."

"I wish she was here."

"But she is, in here." He said pointing to his chest. "Once you love someone they stay in your heart forever."

Frida smiled and hugged her father. Then she winded up the music box with the key. Music played and the bluebird figurines began to sing with it. Frida and her father happily danced to the music box's song full of joy until they heard a knock at the door.

"Yes?" Emiliano said answering it. It was the tax collector.

"Pardon the intrusion sir but you still haven't paid back your debts." The tax collector said.

"I know but give me time. You'll get your money."

"You have til the end of the month or we'll take the house."

Emiliano sighed as he watched him leave. Everyday it seemed harder and harder to support his daughter and his home financially.

"What am I going to do?" Emiliano asked himself. "I make excellent clocks but no one wants to buy them because they think I'm crazy."

"Papa why don't you sell my music box?"

"What?"

"There's a market place on the other side of the forest where rich merchants do their business. I'm sure one of them will pay big money for a golden music box."

"But it's your birthday present. I can't."

"You must besides you can always get me another one."

"Very well then. What would you like in place of it?"

"Hmm.." She thought back to her family garden and how beautiful and sweet the roses were. "Bring me a rose. Like the ones Mama kept in her garden."

"Alright then." He packed his bags and prepared for a long trip. "I'll be back tomorrow and I'll bring you the prettiest rose I can find."

"Thank you oh I almost forgot I made you this." She gave him a scarf she had knitted for him. "It'll be cold tonight."

"Thank you."

"Goodbye Papa. And be careful."

Emiliano traveled through the woods to get to the market place unfortunately for him once it got dark it became harder and harder to find his way there. Soon he was lost. He wondered for hours becoming more and more nervous. Suddenly he was surrounded by a pack of wolves. They chased after the man snapping at his heals, luckily he made it to a gate. He opened it and slammed it shut.

"Oh thank heaven." He breathed.

Once he caught his breath he discovered that his bag was empty. During his escape from the wolves he had dropped the music box somewhere. He wanted to find it but he wasn't going to risk his life. He then turned to see a huge castle. He knocked on the door, it freaked open.

"Hello?" He called. "Is anyone home?"

"Who's that?" A voice whispered.

"Don't know." Another said. "Be quiet."

"Is someone there?" Emiliano asked. "I don't mean to intrude but I'm lost and I need a place to stay for the night."

"Oh Jorge have a heart." The voice said.

"Be quiet! Maybe he'll go away!"

"Oh hush up old man!"

"Who said that?" Emiliano asked.

"Over here Senor."

Emiliano looked up to see a candle and clock.

"Hola." The candle spoke.

"Oh my God!" He gasped. "Incredible."

"Well now you've done it T.J." The clock complained.

"What are you?" Emiliano asked examining the clock. "How on earth can you speak?"

"Let me go! Do you mind?"

"Oh I beg your pardon sir, I just...Ah...Achoo!"

"Oh you are soaked to the bone Senor. Come and warm yourself by the fire." T.J said.

"Thank you."

"No! No! Bad idea!" Jorge said. "Stop this at once!"

"Would you like a cup of tea sir?" A teacup asked.

"Of course." Emiliano said.

She poured hot tea into a cup which Emiliano drank from.

"Hi I'm Davi." The tea cup said. "Nice to meet you."

"Why don't you rest here while we look for a blanket for you?"

They hopped away to get a blanket. When they left Emiliano spotted a bush of roses. Remembering Frida's request he decided to get pick one for her. He chose the one he thought was the prettiest which was a red rose then pulled out his knife. But as soon as he cut it a roar was heard and the room became dark. When he turned around he saw a pair of flaming green eyes.

"Who are you?! What are you doing here?!" The figure growled.

"I...I...I was lost in the woods." He started.

"How dare you trespass! You're not welcome here!"

"I'm sorry."

He looked at the rose in his hand.

"And you steal from me! An intruder and a thief!"

"I do apologize...I..I...I just-"

"What are you staring at?!"

"Nothing!"

"You think I'm ugly do you?!"

"Please I meant no harm I just needed a place to stay for the night!"

"I'll give you a place to stay!"