NAVAJO WATER GOD

Jeanne HP

(1904 image of  Navajo God of Rain)

Tonenili, the Navajo god of rain, sometimes referred to as the Water Sprinkler, has been described as a bit of a clown.  He always means well, though his mischievous exploits are not always appreciated. Tonenili takes delight in his Rain God role. 

 He takes hold of his wooden spoon and sieve with a chuckle when a ceremony or gathering such as a marriage, birth or feast is set in motion,  He suspends his sieve above a cloud, then pours water into it, which he swirls round and round to create his rain.

 He laughs with glee as he watches people run for cover complaining, cursing or laughing as they escape his folly.  

Sometimes he visits earth, where he hides behind a bush or tree.  In the middle of the event he pops out covered in spruce tree branches and wearing a mask.  With a pot of water in hand, he sprinkles water about helter-skelter.  Much more fun to him than the cloud way.  He dances, performs, and makes people laugh in spite of themselves.

 At times, as in the midst of a drought, Tonenili's rain is  quite welcome, since there would be starvation if the land dried out.  The Navajo people call on him in those times by means of a rain dance.  Their dancing provides so much enjoyment to him, the reason for it slips his mind. Sometimes they dance for days before he finally pays attention to their pleas and picks up his sieve and spoon. 

Not surprisingly, the day came when he confronted the fact that there are times when his acting the court jester is not always welcome.

Tonenili looked down at a gathering.  In the center gyrated eight dancers, with others silently surrounding them.

‘Why do they all wear such long faces?’  He wondered.  ‘Not a flicker of a smile on any of them.’

 Unknown to Tonenili, Chief Haskininni’s son, Atsa, lay in his bed close to death.  No one knew the reason.  They danced to ward off all evil spirits surrounding him.   

‘They all look so grave,’ Tonenili thought.  ‘What they need is me.  I’ll lift their moods and plant smiles on their faces.’   He hid behind a totem pole topped with the figure of an eagle, and like an eagle, swooped into his dance with his usual antics and sprinkling. 

No one stopped dancing, and no one laughed.

Bewildered, he muttered, "What is this?"

Then he created a downpour, expecting to see grumbling, laughing and people running for cover.  Nothing changed - the dancers kept dancing and the watchers kept watching.

Tonenili returned to his dwelling in the heavens at a complete loss as to why his usual antics evoked no reaction.  He would keep an eye on the somber group in search of an answer. 

Night fell and when daylight came, he observed two men carrying a cot, one at each end.  He watched as they carried it into the center of the ring of dancers.  On it lay a small boy eyes closed, unmoving.   Alongside the cot walked a tall man, who he recognized as Chief Haskininni. 

“Is the boy sick?  Is he dying?” He heard himself ask out loud.  Guilt and shame washed over him as he considered the likelihood. To make amends for his foolishness, he needed to do something.  His scattered globoids from the sky would be useless. He needed the help of his friend, Tsohanoaai.

 From behind him came a voice.

 “You called Tonenili?”

“I suppose I did, Tsohanoai.  As Sun God, you may be the one to help me and in turn help a small boy.  I’ve made a terrible mistake and I must make up for it.”  He related his error in judgment to Tsohanoai and asked,  "Would you consider taking the sun down from your back and shine it on that sick boy?"  

 Tsohanoai answered, “I don’t usually cast out much heat in March, but I can cover him with my August warmth until he is well again.”

"Thank you, my friend," Tonenili sighed in relief. "Perhaps someday I'll be able to return the favor."

As the dancers danced and the watchers watched, out of the dark sky came a warm ray of sunshine, which covered only Atsa.  The dancers stepped back, scared. They watched as a faint smile formed on his unconscious face.

Unless he was being provided food, drink or medicine, it became impossible to approach him.  All attempts were met with an invisible gentle nudge back. 

 For three days and nights the ceremony continued on, the sun on Atsa never fading even at night.   On the fourth morning, Atsa sat up. He looked with confusion at the dancers and crowd gathered around.  Afraid, he called for his father, Chief Hoskininni.

Tshanoai decided the time had come to withdraw his August sunlight and return home.  No longer in need of it, Atsa had survived because of it.

Atsa’s recovery brought on an instant celebration.  Once more their dancing had been rewarded, but what about the ray of sun?  Where did it come from?  Why did it protect Atsa?  Could it have had something to do with his recovery?  These questions would haunt the tribe for many years to come. 

 Back in the land of the Navajo Gods,  Tonenili and Tsohanoai too, rejoiced in Atsa’s recovery, and did a happy dance of their own. 

Tonenili learned a valuable lesson.  Gods have responsibilities.  He learned there is a fine line between being funny and shirking duties. He thanked Tsohanoai, then both went their separate ways.  As it should be.  The next time they would come  together, a rainbow would join them.

Tonenili - Ton-e-ne-le
Tsohanoai  - So-ha-noe-ayee.
Hoskininni - hos-ki-ne-ne

Magical Doorway

Magical Doorway

Jeanne HP

A magical doorway.  Is such a thing possible?

Sad and lonely ten year old Kara meandered down a lane in Northern Cork, Ireland. on her way home from school, in no hurry to arrive there, because of the arguing between her dispirited parents. Her father had lost his job at the local factory and though he searched long days for another, no one was hiring.  Money became scarce.

Kara’s day had been a hurtful one..  If only both her legs were the same length so she didn‘t limp when she walked.  Maybe then her schoolmates would stop making fun of her and calling her, “Imp with a gimp.”  The limp of her right leg worsened as she grew, each year becoming more obvious.

A pretty girl with petite features, Kara wore her long henna-colored hair straight, held back from her face with strands of her own hair, knotted in the back.  Her hair was the one thing about herself she was proud of.  She wore a green jumper and long sleeved white blouse, the required dress for school.  

As a result of her limp, poor vision and  shyness,  Kara rarely raised her eyes to make contact with anyone.  She had no friends. She forgot how to laugh as well.  At times she would manage to smile, but it never grew into a laugh.  .

At times she caught sight of a wild animal  on her walk home from school..  So many lived in those dark thick woods.  Kara would light up with delight when she happened to spy a deer, rabbit, red fox or even  the occasional lizard laying on a sun baked  rock..  

This day Kara stopped abruptly and stared into the woods.   .  .

A  bright, yet somehow soft light emerged from deep among the crowded trees. 'The sun’s reflection,'   she thought.  But no, she could feel it beckoning to her, somewhat like the sensation she felt when her mother held outstretched arms to her. 

Before Kara’s startled eyes, the unexplained light grew even brighter as she felt the pull of it ever greater.   Fear of the unknown gave way to her curiosity..  With halting steps she entered the deep woods, unsure and a little frightened   Taking advantage of the large trees' provided cover, she scooted tree trunk to tree trunk slowly peeking around each one, then continued on toward the light.

Finally, she found herself standing before a beautiful open door with a golden light shimmering beyond.  A cloud of candle flies appeared and surrounded her as they gently nudged her toward that open door.  Experiencing  the warmth and encouragement of the tiny glittering creatures, Kara yielded and passed through.  Once she did, the candle flies scattered.   Their warmth lingered on.

Then , , ,

“I’ve been waiting for you, Kara,” came a soft, soothing voice from beyond the light.

Kara froze. 

“I‘m your friend, Kara.”

“Who are you?”  She managed to ask.  .  “I would be overjoyed to have a friend.”

“Please, pass through the light and visit with me,” the voice coaxed. 

She hesitated, then gathered up her courage and stepped into the light. Once through, wonderment spread across her face.  Before her stood a most amazing and beautiful creature   . . . a majestic snow white stag, whose marble-like antlers pointed to the heavens. 

She approached him, all the while thinking, ' Such A beautiful animal, but where is the someone who requested my company?'

"I am the someone, Kara, ”  the stag answered.

Awestruck she asked,  “How did you know what I was thinking?   Even more incredible, how is it that you have a voice?” 

“The Unanswerable answers to those questions must remain unanswerable,“ he replied..  “You have no idea of the things I know of you, Kara.  I know you are lonely and  in need of a friend to talk to.   Here I stand before you. - your friend.

“Thank you,” Kara whispered. .

“With the aid of my winged friends, I chose you out of many to walk through that magical doorway, Kara..  Now I  must ask, why are you so sad?  Why do you never laugh?  Don’t you know that even a tiny giggle will lighten the heart.?”

“You already know my name, so  before I share my thoughts with you,  I would like to know yours.”  Kara said.

“Of course,” he answered.  “My name is Eidolon but you may call me Eidolon.”

His attempted humor almost made her smile.  

“I don’t wish to be sad,” she began,  “but I have no reason to be happy, Eidolon.   At home, my parents are forever scrapping.   I am made fun of at school because of my limp.  I wish I could see the beauty of the world more clearly, have matching legs and  many friends.  As it is now, my little dog Finn is my only friend.”

Eidolon dipped his head until his kind, brown gold-flecked eyes were level with her wistful green ones.  His gaze caused Kara to experience the sensation of being embraced as her deepest secret thoughts became one with his.

“Kara, the ground at your feet is not your friend,” he said.   Why do you face it much of the time?  Lift your head.  Be proud of the unique, wise girl you are, and your world will become brighter.  When someone picks on you, feel sorry for them, because they are sadder than you.  Further, your mom and dad don’t want to argue any more than you want to be sad.  Cheer up their hard days with consideration and a big smile.  Then see how their squabbles will diminish.”   

Placing both hands on the sides of Eidolon’s snow white face, Kara promised, “I will do each of these things you advise, Eidolon.  I will  begin by holding my head up high as I continue my walk home.  Thank you for listening to me, my wonderful new friend.”

“An excellent beginning,” he said in support.

Kara's eyes began to well up with  tears.

She said, “I wish I could stay here with  you a while longer, Eidolon, but my parents will worry.  Will I ever see you again?”

“If  and when you need me with nowhere else to turn, I will be here for you.   Look for the light.  Goodbye Kara until we meet again  . . . or maybe never.”

“Goodbye Eidolon!”

She hesitated, then slowly walked back through the bright light and magic doorway, where the candle flies had gathered once more to lead her back to the road home.

In the one year, four months, two weeks and three days which followed, Kara held fast to all of Eidolon’s advice.  She continued to walk with her head held high,  The world and everything in it seemed so much grander to her.

She made an effort  to be pleasant to those who mocked her. The teasers eventually become her very good friends.  Laughter could be heard coming from her and those friends whenever they gathered together.   She discovered the more she smiled and helped her parents, the less they argued.  She learned with Eidolon’s aid,  that in helping others, she helped herself.. . .

As time passed, Kara’s right leg mysteriously grew to be the same length as the longer left one.  From a distance she could now identify a tiny bug. The world indeed was a beautiful place.   Kara knew that Eidolon’s magic played a part in all those wonderful things.

At the end of that third day of the second week, fourth month and year one, Kara tossed a pillow on her bedroom floor and knelt on it.  With her chin resting on the sill of the open window, she peered into the distant woods, and whispered . . .

 “It’s only been a year, Eidolon, but your wise words have changed my life.  I now have many friends and my mom and dad are content once more.. Most of all, I will be forever grateful for the miracle gifts you gave me“. 

Her eyes became moist as she added, “Looking to the future, Eidolon, if I ever find I have need of you,  I will look for the light, candle flies, magical door and you.  I love you, Eidolon.

From the woods came a flash of light in the shape of a stag, then it disappeared.     Before closing the window, Kara threw a kiss in the direction of the faded light.

THE END


Kara - friend (Irish)

Eidolon - Idealized person or thing - a specter or phantom
  
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Chip, the Tree With a Heart

                                   

CHIP, THE TREE WITH A HEART

Darts of lightening created dazzling zigzag patterns across the black sky.   The howling winds bent stately woodland trees almost to the breaking point.  To escape the fierce storm, animals found shelter wherever they could find it. 

A half mile beyond the New England main road, one very old oak tree struggled mightily to return to his upright position after each gust of wind.  As it happened, Chip stood strong against the wind.  A flaming lightening bolt is what struck him down.

That isn’t the end of the story though, only the beginning.

A week to the day, a sixth grade science class searching for possible medicinal plants, happened to pass by horizontal lying Chip.  Because they were busy using their cell phones to record and photograph each find, they took no notice of him.   Then a sudden loud yell echoed through the trees.  Class klutz, Bennie, injured his leg when he accidently stepped into a rabbit hole.  Through no fault of his own, likable Bennie seemed to find himself in a pickle wherever he went.  Their teacher, Miss Heddington, examined the leg and decided that a splint would be needed to get him home.  But, where to find one?  One of the girls cried out, “Look!  A branch from this fallen tree would be perfect,” Using the students’ sneaker laces, Miss Heddington tied the branch, which happened to be the perfect length, to Bennie’s leg, and he hobbled home with his arms wrapped around the necks of two classmates.
 
And Chip  in his heart, smiled.

Ylsa, the German Shepherd lost her way home.  She had taken off after a chipmunk into the woods behind her home,    It was a long twisted chase through the woods.  She knew she was in trouble when she stopped the chase and looked around.  Where am I?  A sudden rain storm wiped out any traces of her prints and scent.  Which way was home?  Ylsa was lost and sad.  She lay next to a damaged  tree - Chip.  Her cries were breaking his heart.   She crawled beneath the cover of the Chip umbrella, and waited out the storm.  When it ended, she checked her surroundings.  Nothing seemed familiar to her.   She  came close to giving up when her ears perked up - she heard something.  From far off, Ylsa heard her worried owner’s calls and  excitedly raced in that direction..

And Chip in his heart, smiled.

Kate and her husband Benjamin walked hand in hand toward the woods off the edge of the road..  Their conversation centered around the heat to their home being  turned off.  That morning they had placed the last log in their fireplace..  Ben's job as a telephone repairman had been eliminated and  they had three small children to somehow keep warm.  Their only option would be to search for firewood.   They searched over an hour, but nothing was right.  The branches they found were either bug infested, wet, or too small.  Tired, they sat on the trunk of a large downed tree - Chip..  Benjamin glanced around him and said,  “Look Kate this tree we are sitting on is perfect.  Its branches will keep us warm for the remainder of the winter.”  They went to work with their saw and ax.  Eventually Benjamin said, “We have what we can carry now, Kate.  Tomorrow we can return for more.” 

And Chip in his heart, smiled.

Eventually nothing remained of Chip, except for his huge trunk.  But that happened to be where his heart lay.  He knew that someday that would be gone too, but he did have a good long life.
As he pondered these things, a squirrel came running by.  He raced around Chip, then suddenly found what he was looking for.  He picked up the acorn in his mouth, dug a deep hole and dropped it in.  He had hidden so many, by the end of the day he would forget all about that one.

That forgotten acorn would grow to be a tall beautiful leafy oak tree just like his dad, Chip - the tree with a heart.

And Chip in his heart smiled.
.


  

Christmas Eve in a PeculiarVillage

Christmas Eve in a Peculiar Village

(It's complicated!)

                                                                                           By:  Jeanne HP

Far far away in the near village of Gnarlyville, it was the day or so before Christmas. The villagers were as usual, cranky and irritable. They were a strange looking lot - they had a young appearance but had aging grey hair, pot bellies and mushroom ears. Each of them stood tall in a stumped sort of way. Their tiny feet they could have used as surfboards.

Things were just not right in their wide little world. Bernab, the jail keeper was cheerfully the most ill-tempered of all. How he beamed while he locked the cell door on someone who maybe crossed a street when they should have crossed an avenue.


Oh yes, and then there was Eldora. She lived in the first house on the block at the end of the street. Eldora never got up on the right side of the bed. Of course, there was no right side. Left or right, it didn’t matter - she was dependably crabby and disagreeable. The fact is, all of Gnarlyville displayed the same ill-natured even-tempered personalities.

Every Christmas Eve the whole village showed up at the Town Circle. It was something they always did - as displeasing as it was. Gripes and grumblings could be heard emanating from the sprinkling of people making up the crowd. “Get off my foot!” “Close your trap!” A moan here, a wail there. It was the same every year .

That year, it happened in one life changing moment, as Bernab was standing next to Eldora, (who he loved to not like), that a very disquieting. calming thing happened. A shining clouded fog began to blanket the village and all the people in it. It quietly wrapped itself around some of everything and everybody. They all ceased being belligerent with one another as concern for their own well-being became firstly in their minds.  No sound was heard coming from the real illusion, but something similar to a thought or a feeling came over each of them - a peaceful calming, a desire for friendship, a hope for all the forever tomorrows.

The villagers never did figure out what that eerie fog was or where it came from, but since that Christmas Eve, it became a much happier and contented village, and nowhere near as mean or nonsensical. Smiles would appear now and then on those old frozen faces, and even a good word or two would be passed one to the other - "Hello, - you're looking spendid.". Their grey hair, pot bellies and little oversized feet disappeared. Though they remained tall in that stumped sort of way and still sported their mushroom ears, none of that seemed to matter any more. Magic happened on that Christmas Eve far far away in the near village of Gnarlyville.



The Mystifying End

Ma'at - Egyptian Goddess of Serenity

Ma'at - Egyptian Goddess of Serenty

                                                                     
                                                                                                                                        JeanneHP


In the Hall of Two Truths, she picked up the lifeless heart and placed it gently on the left tray of the scale . On the right side, she placed a feather, then watched as the scale came to rest.

As a Goddess, Ma'at's responsibilities were many - to maintain fairness, justice, truth, order and morality in the world . She lived in the Old Kingdom of Thebes in a beautiful temple dedicated to Amen Ra, her father. Pillars of gold supported a great ceiling overlaid with images of the Gods and Goddesses of Egypt.  A headband holding an ostrich feather encircled Ma'as head of beautiful long black hair.  Both arms were wrapped in large hawk wings symbolizing her duty to protect the world from chaos. Dressed in a delicate white robe, she carried in one hand, an ankh, the "key of life". In the other, she carried a scepter, symbol of her authority.

This day she weighed the heart of a woman known to her for many years. Would the scale balance? If the heart was heavier than the feather, it would be devoured by Ammit, a she demon who was a mix of crocodile, lion and hippo. If it balanced with the feather, the dead woman would be worthy of meeting Osiris the God of afterlife who was a merciful judge of the dead.

Ma'at's thoughts turned to the goodness and the weaknesses of Amenmeit, a Priestess in the temple of her father.   Amenmeit performed her temple duties unfailingly with her heart and soul as she had learned from her Mother, also a Priestess in the Ra temple - never straying - until that one day.

It was then Akhet, a time when the Nile flooded.  Amenmeit, lighting incense before a likeness of Ra, glanced out the rectangular floor to ceiling wall opening. The Nile had risen many feet, but she knew from previous years it would never reach the temple - the gods would not allow it.  She noticed a light reed boat with a man veering side to side, straining to reach shore. He appeared to be tired and in a need of help or he would surely drown. Without a thought, or any idea of how she could help, she left her duties and ran to help. She removed the long gold braided cord from around the waste of her white tunic and tossed it to, as she could see now, was an old man. He missed it on the first and second try, but the third time he held tight as she pulled him and his boat in to shore. By Amenmeit's attire, he realized immediately that she was a temple Priestess  He fell on his knees and kissed the hem of her tunic. 

"Thank you Priestess - I would have perished but for you. The Gods have witnessed it." 

Amenmeit then returned to the temple, never leaving it again for the remainder of her long life.

Which way would the scale lean? It was against the laws of the Temple of Ra for a Priestess to leave the temple for any reason. It was an act more forbidden than murder or high treason. The scale tipped first one way and then the other until finally stopping. A smile spread over Ma'at's face. The woman's goodness far surpassed the one transgression. She belonged to Osiris.

The End
                                                                        

AINE', FAERIE GODDESS OF MOON AND SUN

                                                                                          

                                                                                             
                                                                                         Jeanne HP
Springtime -


The three sisters, Aine, Fenne and Grainne stood looking up to the heavens. On this night there appeared a full moon over County Limerick. A lunar month had passed since they had left their sidhes (underground mounds where fairie goddesses live) to ride to Lough Gur.  There, the sisters laughed and played in the moonlit waters.  They were often referred to as The Triple Goddesses.
----

Aine had a bewitching mane of red hair, held back from her face with a headband of  fallen  stars, and was always seen wearing the color yellow -  the complexion  of the sun and moon.  Her beauty was legendary as were her sisters'. 

 Fennel had reddish hair as well, but much shorter and curlier than  Aine’s.  Her faery wings sparkled like the morning dew. 

 Grainne was strikingly different.  She had long straight dark hair laced with flowers, and possessed the gift of a sweet singing voice, able to calm the stormiest sea.

Fenne and Grainne mounted their loved horses, Ebony and Snowflake.   Aine shape-shifted into Lair Derg, (the Red Mare").   She was the swiftest horse in all of Ireland.  None could outrun her, though many tried and failed.  Large for a mare, Lair Derg was 17 hands high at the withers with sturdy legs which allowed her to travel faster than western Ireland’s goeth (wind).  Her plentiful red mane flowed outward as she ran - a sight to behold.


When the night air became too cool for their frolicking in the lake, the sisters began their trip home to their sidhes.   On the way,  they came upon a family and their wagon who from appearances, were a Da, Ma and two sons.  They appeared  to be in dire straits, stranded off to the side of the lane, which led to the hills of Knockainy . 


“Can we be of help?”, Grainne asked sweetly.


“Are ye blind? - Get down from yer horses and lend a hand, and be snappy about it,“ the Da growled. “My wagon has lost a wheel and my sons are good for nothing.”  With that he shoved his wife with a mighty blow. She had simply accidently stepped in his path.   

In faerie or equine form, Aine had powers greater than her sisters. Lair Derg began to paw the ground and snort, angrily glaring at the man.  He  looked up in shock and terror as she blasted him, “You are a nasty cruel man. Our intention was to help you, but you have sealed your fate."   The man began to flail his arms and run in circles howling at the moon. He had gone mad.  His wife and two sons climbed on Lair Derg’s back and  continued on to their much more peaceful Limerick home.


The faery sisters then returned to their sidhes - it was an eventful night


Autumn -


Aine peered out of her sidh and took in the bright and warming sun, and felt strong inner stirrings to emerge and see to her duties as Sun Goddess . The sun as well as the moon, gave her powers to heal, teach love, watch over crops and animals, and bestow good will or bad on those to whom she came in contact.

She decided to travel east to Annagh. The harvest there did not do well the previous year.  It was not a plentiful one and the farmers and their families nearly starved.  If need be, she would make certain of a better harvest this time.   It was a very long walk, so once again she shifted into the Red Mare. People who happened by wondered about the rider-less horse, but most in that part of Ireland believed in minding their own business and they walked on.

She began to feel thirsty and paused at a modest, welcoming looking cottage halfway to her destination. Shifting back again into her faerie form, she rapped lightly on the brightly colored door.  A  bent over grey-haired, old woman slowly opened it.  Seeing immediately it was someone from the otherworld, 

the woman's face lit up with happiness, as she was knowing about such things.


“My name is Aine.  I am on my way to Annagh.  It's a terrible thirst I have.  Would you be so kind as to allow me a bit of tea?" 


“Welcome Aine!  It's Matty I am.  Of course you may have a bit of my tea  and any further thing you may have a need for from my simple home .”  Matty motioned Aine to sit by the fire in her only chair .  After serving Aine the tea, she picked up a basket holding one lone scone and offered it to Aine. “Please take it - I baked only two this morning - it was all the flour I had.  When I opened my eyes this day, a strange feeling came over me - I felt it would somehow be special. - and oh that it certainly is.”

Aine looked over the woman's the few possessions.  Yet she was willing to share what she did have.  “Mo run”, (my dear) Aine said, “You will never want for life’s necessities again."  

How could that be?  Matty knew it would be impossible, because this was her meager life now and ever.

When Aine had finished her tea and scone, Matty walked her out as far as the boreen (narrow lane). “Please come by again Aine.  Since my visitors are few, I have enjoyed this day deeply."  

“Never let hope die,"  Aine said as she walked away.


Matty returned to her cottage.   Astonished, she beheld the most beautiful furnishings she could only ever dream about.  On the table rested abundant food and a notebook.   Her hand trembled as she opened it to the first, last and only page. On there written in gold, was Aine’s gift of poetry:

The whisper of the mountains,
The soft song of the lakes
They tell of a giving woman,
Her kindness, warmth and grace.


Aine, Goddess of Moon and Sun


She quickly made her way back to the door, about to call out her thank-you, but it wasn’t  Aine she saw, but a beautiful red mare looking back at her.

                                                                                                 
The End　
　
　
　
　
　
　　
　

"THE MYSTIFYING TALISMANIC* CAPE"

                                              By:  Jeanne

From the smudged window of her school bus as it stopped for a red light, she spied the beautiful red cape.  It was displayed in the alcove of Clarice's "Second Hand Treasures."  As the bus rumbled to life again, Kylin's head twisted, keeping the cape in view until the very last second.  It seemed to be beckoning to her.  "I'm waiting for you," she imagined she heard.  Everyday the same thing, except -  each day the cape changed its' color.

Kylin lived only a block away from that store and the beautiful cape.  An unsure, shy nine year old with long straight blond hair, blue eyes and a charming smile, she would often just stand at the store window dreamily wishing the cape belonged to her.  She knew somehow it was meant for only her, but money was tight at home and there with no chance of it ever being hers.

One sunny, warm Spring day as she stood there wishing, she became aware of someone standing beside her.

 

"What  a beautiful blue cape", the woman said. 

"Oh yes," Kylin replied.  

Somewhat old looking to Kylin, she figured the woman was probably in her fifties.  She took in her piercing green eyes and the mop of curly red hair plopped on the top of her head, with a shocking pink ribbon weaved through it to keep it from tumbling in her face.  She was dressed funny - kind of like pictures Kylin had seen in a book she read long ago about gypsies.


"I believe it's magic too," Kylin added.

 "Is it now?"     


"Yes, it's true - yesterday it was yellow.  The first time I saw it, it was red and sometimes it's blue, green or purple.  At times it talks to me too, I hear it in my head."


"My goodness, what does it have to say?"  The woman asked.

"Things like, 'I belong with you,' or 'Please take me with you.'  Things like that."


The unusual looking woman smiled strangely at her.  "Someday it will be yours " she said.  "I'm certain of it."

"Oh dear me," the strange woman said.   "My time is up - I must leave at once."  She then hurried  on her way singing to herself as she disappeared around the corner.


Two days later, Kylin walked to the town library to return two books due back that day - "Blackfeet Indian Stories" and "Are You There God, It's Me, Margaret".  Mrs. Potts the librarian, who knew her well from her many treks there, called her over to the counter.  

"This package was delivered here for you.  Someone must know you're a regular visitor."  Kylin thanked her and went off to a corner of the children's section to open her unexpected package.  To her shock and delight, folded neatly inside, lay the beautiful magical cape.  She searched for a note, but found none.  Then, with shaking hands, removed it gently from the box. 


As she positioned it around her shoulders, she had the feeling it was hugging her, and at the same time experienced an "I can do anything" belief in herself, wiping out the many self doubts she always carried with her.       With her package in hand, Kylin left the library and hurried to the Second Hand store.   She had no idea who could have possibly sent it.   She hoped that it hadn't been stolen.  Yet, there was that strange woman.

At the store, Kylin approached the short, round shaped, happy faced owner, Belinda.   Belinda claimed that  she had never before seen the cape and was certain it had never been in her window.  Kylin was mystified. 

 They discussed the cape for some time when she became conscious of  Belinda staring at her. "You know," she said.   In some ways you remind me of my sister.  She was quite a character. Your smile is so like hers when she about your age.   Her name was Clarice, and this store was her joy.  Belinda pulled out a finger worn picture of her.   "I realize that she's an adult woman here, but that sweet loving smile never changed over the years."

 Kylin looked at the picture, but couldn't believe her eyes.  It was the funny looking woman standing beside her at the window that day.

 When Kylin was able to find her voice again, she asked, "Where is your sister now?"

 "It's a said story," Belinda sighed.  "Clarice loved to make children happy, no matter the cost to her.  Most of all she was able to make each child feel special.   That day she was strolling down the road singing her favorite tune and throwing out candy from her multi colored pouch to the children following her.   They were all , singing along with her and laughing at her comical antics.  Her eyes were on the happy children - not the road in front of her.  She tripped over a brick lying in her path, falling backward and hitting her head.  .  She slept for two days, but before her spirit began its journey, she awoke for a short while.  She gave the gift of Second Hand Treasures to me, and with fire in her eyes swore that she would never leave the children - ever."

 As Kylin listened to Clarice's story, she became aware of a faint melody in the background.  It was the same tune she heard the woman singing as she walked away that day. 

She thanked Belinda and left the store pulling the cape tightly around her.   Absentmindedly Kylin placed her hand into the left pocket and out came a pouch containing all the colors of her beautiful cape.    

 "Thank-you Clarice," she whispered.  

Talismanic:   Anything whose presence exercises a remarkable or powerful influence on human                                feelings or actions.