From the journal of one Michael Gideon
June 23, 2010
It’s Wednesday.
My first full week in Timber Haven is behind me. Just read over everything that’s gone down since I showed up here, Journal, and I gotta say, I sound…well, I don’t sound okay.
But I’m not crazy. I’m looking out the living room window right now at proof that things have played out just as I’ve described here. Angela is watching from her porch as little Corabeth runs all over the yard, chasing what appear to be butterflies.
Corabeth said very little at first, during our walk home the other night. She kept stopping and looking back toward the way we had come, like she was anticipating something.
“What is it?” I asked, peering along the tops of the tree line like she was. Short of a semi-full moon coming up, I didn’t see anything.
“I’m looking for Thayne. He’s up there, but I haven’t made him out yet.” she told me, her eyes darting all over the sky.
“Oh, I see.” was all I could come up with. I’m not very good with children.
“You should not be so demissive, I think. Dragons do not take very kindly to that.” she actually almost glared at me as she said it.
“Well, then, tell your dragon I’m sorry. I meant no offense. And I think you meant dismissive. That’s an awfully big word for a little kid.”
“That’s because I am not a little kid. I’m almost seven, I’ll have you know. Though…” she looked somewhat lost, “I really don’t ‘member much about being six.” I felt sorry for her, though I was way out of my depth so I just hurried us along to Hurd and Angela’s place.
When we were about a block away I could see that Angela was waiting for us in her front yard. Corabeth was looking just beyond the house to the trees, listening as the wind danced through them. Once we got to Angela’s fence line, Corabeth looked up at her.
“I like your forest. Do any monsters live there? I have a dragon named Thayne. He likes to catch monsters. He cuts them to ribbons and gobbles them up! Does the moon always shine so brightly here? I heard a song once, about a lady who lives in the moon. She sings a birthday song while the moon hides, and a…some other kind while the moon is bright. I guess the moon doesn’t like birthdays but I do and mine is coming up! Soon, I think.”
Angela took the opportunity to get a word in once Corabeth paused to take a breath.
“My, but aren’t you an imaginative child. We have not been properly introduced.” she held out her hand for Corabeth to shake, “My name is Angela. Who might you be?”
Corabeth took Angela’s hand and held it rather than shake it.
“I’m Corabeth and I’m a princess. But not the dim cell in the stress kind. I can climb trees and throw rocks and my dragon can kick anyone’s butt!”
“I think, my dear, what you mean to say is that you are not the damsel in distress kind of princess, and I’d wager that you are surely not. But we mustn’t say butt. Rock throwing is one thing, a lady must protect herself after all, but you will not be crude, you will speak like a lady. Do you understand?”
“I understand. Are you my mother?” Corabeth asked from behind a yawn, rubbing her eye with her free hand.
“I will care for you; see to your needs, your education and overall welfare. You will live with Hurd, he is my husband whom you will meet later, and I in this house.” she pointed behind her, “We will play games and learn together, you and I. I will hold you when you’re scared and mend you when you’re ill. I will explain away your questions and teach you to capture your finest dreams. Does this sound to you like a mother?”
“I don’t know. Maybe.” Corabeth said, yawning again.
“Why don’t you go inside and pick a bedroom. Any on the second floor will do. I will be in shortly to tuck you in, after I’ve said goodnight to Mr. Gideon.”
Corabeth shouted goodbye to me as she ran inside the house. Angela and I just stood there quietly for a moment as the wind picked up through the trees again. Just as I started to say something, Angela began instead.
“I know that you don’t understand tonight’s events, Mr. Gideon, but I thank you just the same. This, Corabeth’s coming here to stay, is very important to me; to Hurd and me.”
“You’re right; I don’t understand anything about what happened tonight.” I told her, “But, I promised I’d do for you what you asked. Besides, once I knew what the third item of discussion was about, I couldn’t see her go off with that Mr. Trepp.”
I swear that Angela flinched at his name.
“I’m sorry, Angela, did I say something–”
“It’s nothing, Mr. Gideon, I’m just tired. Thank you, once again.” She turned to go into the house. I could see Corabeth wandering from room to room through the upstairs window.
“Just so you know, Angela, there was some talk tonight at the Gathering. About Corabeth.”
“Oh?” she turned back to me.
“It’s just, well, they said-some of them said she was evil. That she shouldn’t stay here in Timber Haven.” Which was a decent enough summary of how that conversation played out, I think.
“Nonsense.” Angela nearly spat, “I’ve known evil in my life, Mr. Gideon, felt its ramifications quite thoroughly. It is entirely too soon to know who Corabeth will become on that ever elusive someday that people talk about. As for now, she is as any beautiful child who comes into this world, made up of slivers of darkness and light.” She turned back toward the house, “Tell the council of the Gathering I am quite adept at finding the inner radiance in a soul and coaxing it out. They needn’t worry so.” She stopped at the door, turning her head only to say, “They should also know, however, that even shadows need a place to play. Goodnight, Mr. Gideon.”
And she went inside and closed the door.
I don’t know what will come of this strange situation, but as I watch the two of them chasing butterflies in Hurd’s front yard, I’m glad I helped Angela out. I don’t understand even the smallest thing about it, but I’m glad I did it.
Now, enough spying on the neighbors. According to the note from Lady Nicoline I found on my door, I’ve got a lunch to get ready for.
Weaving For Dummies, here I come.
Loooove it!!!!
I would label this entry as a “bridge”. And a pretty damn good one.
I keep gobbling it up, please keep serving!
“even shadows need a place to play.” what a great line.