“Sometimeago,perhapsbeforeyouwereevenborn,ayounggirlwaswalkinginhergarden.ShemayhavebeencalledMary-that’swhatmostofthestoriessay.Marywasalittlebittallerthantheothergirlsherageandhadbrownishcrinklyhair.Shewasquitethin,becauseshedidn’talwayshaveexactlyenoughtoeat.Shelikedhoneyandwhistlingandthecolourblueandfindingout.“ThisisthestoryofMary,ayounggirlborninabeautifulcityfullofrosegardensandflutteringkites.Whensheisstillverysmall,MarymeetsLanmo,ashininggoldensnake,whobecomesherverybestfriend.ThesnakevisitsMarymanytimes,heseeshercitychange,becomesadderasbombsdropandwarcreepsin.HeseesMaryandherfamilyleavetheirhome,heseeshergrowupandheseesherfallinlove.ButLanmoknowsthatthedaywillcomewhenhecannolongervisitMary,whenhisdestinywillbreakthemapart,andhewonderswhetherhavingafriendcanpossiblybeworththepainofknowingyouwilllosethem.
