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. .
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.
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.”
“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
.
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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