Imagination, Faith And Magic (Part Nine)

Part One Here
Part Two Here
Part Three Here
Part Four Here
Part Five Here
Part Six Here
Part Seven Here
Part Eight Here

Two men sat at an outdoor cafe. They were bent toward each other, urgently gesturing as they spoke with hushed voices. Other diners nearby sipped coffee and rustled newspapers. Above, the sky was clean and fresh - as of yet unsullied by the day's transactions - adorning the graceful architecture of the town like a simple crown adorns a fair queen. The morning songs of birds and the tinkling of a fountain skipped in the air - delicate treasures, like those in a china shop. The two men plowed on.

Under a tree in the corner of the cafe sat a woman, a cup of coffee curling at her table. Her hair was white - pure white - not the kind that is underrun with black or grey. It was pulled back in a simple tie at the nape of her neck. Her skin was the color of creamy coffee and her eyes were a silver blue. The face was lined but not wrinkled - almost as though she had been sculpted like this from the beginning. She wore what appeared at first to be a sari, but on closer inspection it was only one piece - a long, loose-fitting dress of solid white, sleeveless, with a soft silk scarf draped over her shoulders and down her back. Simple brown sandals were on her feet - her feet, which though there was an air of age about her, were the only things that really looked old.

She was writing - at least she held a pen midair. At this moment though, she was watching the two men with open yet benign intensity, as though she were trying to hear what they were saying. They did not seem to notice the eavesdropper, but carried on unheeding.

Andi took all of this in from her position at the fountain - in the fountain, I should say, for she was actually standing up to her knees in the water. Passers-by took no notice of her until finally a little girl with dark ringlets looked up at her and said, "Ooo Mama! I want to play in the wa-wa!" Andi started. The mother said no and bustled the little girl away, but Andi now felt self-conscious standing in the fountain in the middle of the square, so she hurriedly stepped up on the stone ledge of the fountain.

She was completely dry.

Andi did a double take. It was true. Not even a hint of moisture anywhere. She turned, considering the water, but even as she did, she sensed she was being watched and swung back facing the cafe.

The old woman had her head bent, pen flashing in the sun. The two men now sat considering their menus and the other diners carried on their mindless activities. A waiter carried a plate of pastries and fruit to an old man. Like an explosion, a powerful wave of hunger nearly buckled Andi's knees. She hadn't eaten since, well, since before the library, but how long ago was that? It didn't really matter at this point, though, because there was little doubt that she needed food. She started toward the cafe and was almost there when she realized she didn't have any money with her, just a credit card. Was it possible that this place took credit cards? But even as she wondered this, the old man stood and said, "Ah, there you are my dear! I've taken the liberty of ordering for you - your favorites!" and he pulled out the chair opposite of him.

"Ah..."

"Not to worry, come, sit and eat. It is for you" he said softly, taking her hand and guiding her to the chair. "And I will not bother you, for I am late already for checkers in the park!"

With that he pushed the chair under Andi, picked up the bill and left. For a moment Andi considered whether it was safe to eat this food, but that primal need to feed overrode all objections, and she snatched the chocolate covered pastry up and fairly stuffed it in her mouth.

"Breathe" she thought. "This food isn't going to run away!" The waiter filled her coffee cup and she drank it, burning hot, without even adding cream and sugar. As she began to fill up, she noticed a few things. First, the old gentleman clearly didn't know her taste, whatever he said, for though she was grateful, the items on her plate could hardly be called her favorites. Honeydew melonballs and chocolate covered pastries could never compete with bacon and eggs, or even flaky butter crossiants.

She also noticed that the men who had conversed so urgently were still leisurely considering their menus. This stuck her as odd, for the menu was only a two-sided card. But there they sat, study the menus over and over again. In fact, if she remembered correctly, the middle aged couple a few tables over had already finished their breakfasts and yet the waiter was bringing out two more plates. Perhaps it was a buffet...of sorts. She looked around to confirm her guess, and her eyes met those of the Authoress in White. She had her tilted just slightly to the side and was smiling a generous but puzzled smile.

She summoned Andi, but Andi didn't budge. The White Lady sat back in her chair and put her hand to her mouth, still considering Andi. She bade Andi to drink her coffee, but Andi felt this was an odd request for a stranger to make, and besides Andi couldn't quite work out how this lady was speaking to her. Her mouth wasn't moving...or was it? The Authoress said, "Stand on your chair and sing "The Hills Are Alive" from the Sound of Music." Andi was shocked, and very much disturbed by this request, and turned her back on the Lady in White.

Laughter - merry laughter rang out over the courtyard.

"You are not one of mine!"

To be continued...

posted by Headless-in-GR @ 10/29/2006 02:14:00 PM