The Quest For Aureole
Lady Blue is the copyrighted work of the talented Amy Brown
IV.
My 13th Birthday
We had long ago moved out of the root cellar to build rooms higher up in our, now, tree house home. My room was nearest the ground built on the bottom most limb. It had two windows which looked out into the clearing in these Enchanted Woods , named "The Hollow."
I awoke to the sound of Jatholomew, tapping at my window pane. He wanted to be first to wish me a happy birthday as he had done every birthday since we became friends.
I opened the windows.
"Hello, Jatholomew, come in," he leapt over the window sill.
"Happy Birthday, Laurie Yew," he said as he handed me a lilac bouquet. "Am I, the first?"
"Yes, my dear friend, you are and thank you. I love the smell of lilac, what a wonderful way to start, what looks like, a very beautiful day!" I took a deep breathe as I stuck my head out the window.
"Yep, great day for lots of fun, sunny, blue skies, no hint of rain. So what's the plan?"
"Father has been busy, all I know for certain is that he and Mirth have been building something in the root cellar. Mother has been baking and sewing and very, secretive about it all. She hides whatever it is when I enter the room."
"Jolly-olly-elfkins, Laurie! What could it be, he asked cocking his head to one side and winking at me? "Whatever, it be, it be Birthday besty!!!"
"Mew, will you be staying for breakfast?"
"Yep, hungry I be and your Mums pancakes...yum ummy in my elfkin tummy. I have my own very big surprise for you, later MyYew."
"Jatholomew you are my best friend, truly you are! I can't imagine what you have gotten for me"
"You'll see, and Me too, Laurie yew. You're the best friend anyone could ever have or want." He looked down at his extremely long elfkin toes, embarrassed.
Jatholomew was older than I. He had long hair, an easy disposition and made every day special to me.
"Laurel, breakfast, love!" It was Mum. She was in the meeting room.
We went into the meeting room where we always gathered whether to eat, to talk, to warm ourselves by the fire or to listen to stories. Mother prepared our food in this room as well. There was a big table set off to one side with wooden chairs gathered around it and then there were two big comfy chairs, a wooden rocker and a couch set before the fire place in the middle of the room with another low, long table set in front of the fire. We sat at the big table eating. Mother turned to bring us her platter of pancakes.
"Happy Birthday, child," she kissed my forehead as she put the platter down.
"Thanks Mum, I invited Jatholomew to breakfast."
"Well it wouldn't be a birthday without him, now, would it. I made extra as I expected as much." Mother was always cheery and kind and today was no exception. I never feared to ask for or talk about anything with her, ever.
Father came in carrying something almost as large as himself. "Happy day Darlin', wait till you see this. We all worked on it together."
"Can I open it, Papa?"
"H'mmm, how about after breakfast, Mum worked very hard on these pancakes. Now, didn't she," he said eyeing the platter and the syrup beside it. "Where is Mirth? Mirth! Come on son, breakfast."
Mirth as usual was not happy! He entered the room scuffing his feet and scowling. He seemed very grumpy, indeed. "Hi Mirth," said Mew and I.
"Yah, big hi back. Happy Birthday," he said very unhappily, seemed more like growling than a greeting.
"What's wrong Mirth, said Papa? Get up on the wrong side of the bed? Son, it is a beautiful day, lots of reasons to be smiling don't ya' think?"
He just scowled and reached for the pancakes with his fork. Papa did like wise. He was hungry I could see that. Mew speared two on my plate and then took four for himself. I chewed but wondered what was in the pretty wrapped package.
(To be continued)
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