Chapter Nine: The Last Glow

 

“Why are we going to Cloudy’s house again?” Liloy asked her father as they trekked through a tumult of grass and reeds. She clutched Comery closer to her as the ground became more treacherous. Meta Knight could see the three-story house up ahead, its shiny paint glistening in the blinding sunshine.

“Cloudy told me she and her family had a surprise for us,” he explained. “But I do not know what it is.”

“Heh, maybe she’s going to give us a scare,” Liloy giggled. Then a  yelp of alarm broke from her as she nearly tripped over a large stone sitting on the ground. Meta Knight reacted quickly and caught her arm. “Are you okay?” he asked, frightened.

“I’m fine. Just a little shaken.” Liloy smiled gratefully at him. “I’ll watch my step next time.”

“I know you will.” The two shared a good laugh and then moved on, picking their way over stones and roots.

 

* * * * *

 

“Oh, oh, oh,” Sniper said in a hushed whisper as he peered through the garden lattice, his ears pricked. “Alert, alert. Everyone to your battle stations! The enemy is approaching the house.”

“Oh, Sniper,” nine-year-old Zach sighed. “Do you mean Meta Knight and Liloy?”

Sniper nodded.

“Is Comery with them?” Eloise inquired. Nika, her twin, was beside her, trying to fix a twisted streamer.

“Erm. . .” Sniper squinted against the sunlight, peering at father and daughter for a moment. Then he nodded again. “Yeah, Comery’s there. Man alive, is he ever so tiny!”

“Of course he is. He’s only a few days old,” Springtime whispered from her hiding place under the picnic table.

Sniper flashed her a knowing grin. “Mommy, when we jump out to surprise them, don’t bump your head on the underside of the table, okay?”

Arrow and Lily, two of Cloudy’s canine schoolmates, giggled.

“Now, Sniper, have a little more faith in your mother!” Springtime begged. “I know I’ve done that before, but do you have to rub it in?”

“It seems to be a bad habit,” Sniper observed. “Like, you can’t stop doing it!”

“Or maybe she likes having bruises on her noggin,” Pancake giggled.

“Oh, by the way, when is Miss Scazzarda going to get here?” Sharkell broke in, directing the question to Springtime.

“I don’t know. She said she’d be here in a few minutes,” Springtime answered. “She also mentioned she’d be bringing an old friend, but I don’t know whom she meant.”

“Shush!” Showerstorm warned, jerking his head in the direction of the pasture. “Meta Knight and Liloy are coming toward the garden! Hide, everyone, and be quiet!”

Everybody scrambled to obey orders. Cloudy crouched down inside the tire swing, her eyes wide and glistening with excitement. We’re going to scare Liloy and her father good, she thought. I can’t wait.

“Hello?” Cloudy heard Liloy call. “Where are you guys? We have arrived!”

Cloudy stifled a giggle and yelled out, “We’re in the garden! Come in!”

There a rustle of leaves and hesitant footsteps as Liloy and her father entered and looked about warily. A cake sat on a piece of cardboard on an overturned washtub, and a few balloons and streamers were strung in the branches of the old oak tree. The atmosphere was festive, cheerful. . .and suspicious.

“Um, guys?” Liloy said, fear evident in her voice. “Where are you?”

Sniper giggled to himself as he silently got up from a tall patch of weeds and, putting one foot in front of the other like an Indian, approached Liloy from behind. When he was right behind her, he opened his mouth and shouted as loudly as he could, “BOO!”

“Eeek!” Liloy shrieked, clutching her baby tightly, her muscles tensed. Even Meta Knight jumped, momentarily startled. Little Comery’s eyes flew open, his face scrunched up, and he began screaming loudly, irritated and upset at having his sleep disturbed.

“Uh-oh,” Sniper mumbled sheepishly. “I just woke the baby, didn’t I?”

“Sniper!” Springtime scolded, standing to her feet to have a serious talk with her son.  Unfortunately, once again, she bumped her head on the underside of the picnic table. “Ouch!” she cried, rubbing her head. “Oh, you stupid table!” she scolded.

“Don’t worry, Mommy, you always do that,” Pancake assured her, trying to sound serious but not quite being able to restrain a smirk. Springtime’s glare shot like an arrow toward him, fire in her eyes, and Pancake relented at poking fun toward her. The other children burst into laughter at the silly scene.

“There, there, sweet boy, it’s okay,” Liloy soothingly assured the crying baby, placing him over her shoulder and patting him on the back. “Mama’s got you.”

“Wow! For a first-time mom, you seem to have a lot of confidence,” Nika said, her blue eyes shining.

“Thank you. It’s all thanks to Father and Grandmother for teaching me about how to care for a child.” Then as if noticing something was amiss, she glanced around. “Um, speaking of Grandmother, where is she anyway? Didn’t she says she would be here?”

“She went to go pick up an old friend,” Showerstorm explained, poking his head out of the garden shed door. “She’ll be here soon. Just be patient.”

As if on cue, the rumble of an engine resounded in the distance and then came the sound of brakes. “That’ll be Miss Scazzarda!” Cloudy sang out. “She’s finally arrived.”

A minute later, Scazzarda was at the garden gate, rapping on the paneled fence wood. “I’m here!” she said. “May I come in? Sorry I took so long. I had to pick up a friend.”

“Yeah, your ‘old friend,’ right?” Springtime grinned as she marched to the gate and unlatched it. When she swung back the gate, her eyes widened at the familiar girl standing beside Scazzarda. Scazzarda winked and placed a finger to her lips, making signs to be quiet. “I want to surprise the kids,” she whispered.

Springtime nodded. “Got it,” she whispered back.

The girl went through the gate and there was silence for a long moment. All the children, standing in a group, stared at the girl for a long moment, uncertain as to who she was. But Cloudy recognized her right away, though it had been a few months since she had last seen her. “Wylanda!” she cried, jumping up and down in pure joy. “It’s Wylanda Coven!”

“Cloudy!” Wylanda exclaimed, rushing forward and embracing the puppy. “It’s been a while!”

“Yes, it has!” Star agreed, licking Wylanda’s hand in fondness. “Welcome back, Wylanda!”

“Yay, it’s Wylanda!” Nika cheered, throwing her arms around the older girl’s neck. “We didn’t expect to see you!”

“I was in town checking out the rubble that’s going to be the new church,” Wylanda said. “Can you believe it? A church right here in Spring Breeze!”

“And when it’s finished, we can attend services!” Lily said, her sharp-pointed ears pricked with excitement.

Springtime waltzed in at the moment with Scazzarda. “Miss Scazzarda!” the children chorused together, delight spreading throughout the garden. They swarmed to her like ants at a picnic, hugging her and chattering and laughing all at the same time. Scazzarda fondly returned their affections.

“So what’s been cooking?” Wylanda asked when the group hugs were finished. “That is, besides Tilry’s funeral and Joseph Unswall and Miriam’s moving away and whatnot.”

Cloudy cringed. She didn’t want to be reminded of all the bad things that had occurred in the last couple of months. “Lots of things,” she said dully, then added with a huge grin, “but cake is the main one!”

“Cake?” Wylanda’s brow knit. “What do you mean? Is it someone’s birthday?”

“Yes, as a matter of fact, it is. . .technically,” Cloudy said. “Liloy’s baby, Comery, was born five days ago, and so we’re celebrating his miraculous birth.”

“Oh, that’s so cute!” Wylanda said, looking across the garden at the swaddled bundle in Liloy’s arms. “But what do you mean by ‘miraculous birth?'”

Cloudy scratched her ear and gazed intently at Liloy, who had been listening to their conversation. At Cloudy’s questioning look, she nodded permissibly. “Liloy was thinking of ending her pregnancy, on March 22” she explained, “but a miracle happened and Comery was born on my birthday.”

“Our birthday,” Sniper reminded her, and his brothers and Star nodded.

“I stand corrected,” Cloudy said, giggling. Then she became somber. “But in all seriousness, yes, Comery was a brand plucked from the burning.”

“I seem to be hearing that phrase a lot,” Meta Knight called to her.

“And it’s true!” Wylanda insisted, spreading her hands as if in worship. “God saved Liloy and her baby from harm and regret! We should praise Him!”

“That’s a perfect idea!” Cloudy cried. “Why don’t we sing?”

“But what can we sing?” Zach asked, scratching his head. The other children looked at each other a moment and then shrugged. They couldn’t think of a single song that fit the happy, uplifting mood of Comery’s birthday celebration.

After much puzzling, a sparkle came into Wylanda’s eyes. Cloudy knew that look; it meant Wylanda had an idea. “What do you have up your sleeve, Wylanda?” she asked.

Wylanda leaned forward, her face lighting up with excitement. ‘A few weeks ago,” she whispered, “my aunt found out she had cancer and so she underwent a series of tests. The doctors said she would surely die. But at church the following week, hundreds of people prayed for her, and when she went back to the doctor three days later, they could find no trace of the cancer. And next Sunday, they played a special hymn called ‘Lord of the Dance’ and it was amazing! People were jumping up and down and singing and it was so amazing!”

“So we should sing ‘Lord of the Dance?'” Cloudy asked.

“Yeah! Or I can sing and you guys dance!” Wylanda clasped her hands together. “So, what do you say?”

Cloudy nodded at her friends and family, and they nodded in return. “I say let’s do it!” Zach said, and the children released a cheer that reached to the heavens.

Wylanda stood beside Scazzarda and began to sing as Springtime watched from the back corner of the garden fence. Eloise and Nika and the pups began to dance and swing about as Wylanda sang:

“I danced in the morning when the world was begun,
And I danced in the moon and the stars and the sun,
And I came down from heaven and I danced on the earth:
At Bethlehem I had my birth.

Dance, then, wherever you may be,
I am the Lord of the dance, said he,
And I’ll lead you all, wherever you may be,
And I’ll lead you all in the dance, said he.”

“Whoo-hoo!” Cloudy cried. “Wylanda, you rock, girl!”

“Thanks! You dance really good!” Wylanda complimented the children, and continued singing in her bright soprano.

“I danced for the scribe and the Pharisee,
But they would not dance and they wouldn’t follow me;
I danced for the fishermen, for James and John;
They came with me and the dance went on:

Dance, then, wherever you may be,
I am the Lord of the dance, said he,
And I’ll lead you all, wherever you may be,
And I’ll lead you all in the dance, said he.”

“Another verse! We can’t stop now!” Star panted, beginning to get a little breathless. Wylanda laughed and carried on.

“I danced on the Sabbath and I cured the lame:
The holy people said it was a shame.
They whipped and they stripped and they hung me on high,
And they left me there on a cross to die:

Dance, then, wherever you may be,
I am the Lord of the dance, said he,
And I’ll lead you all, wherever you may be,
And I’ll lead you all in the dance, said he.”

“More! More!” Lily begged, furiously wagging her tail in rhythm to the song.

“I danced on a Friday when the sky turned black;
It’s hard to dance with the devil on your back.
They buried my body and they thought I’d gone;
But I am the dance, and I still go on:

They cut me down and I leapt up high;
I am the life that’ll never, never die.
I’ll live in you if you’ll live in me:
I am the Lord of the dance, said he.

Dance, then, wherever you may be,
I am the Lord of the dance, said he,
And I’ll lead you all, wherever you may be,
And I’ll lead you all in the dance, said he.

Yea, I’ll lead you all, wherever you may be,
And I’ll lead you all in the dance, said he.”

The song ended and the puppies, twins, and Zach dropped to the ground, gasping for breath. Wylanda giggled at their fatigued forms. “Man alive, were you all having a good time! I didn’t think you would last throughout the whole song! Good job!”

“Thanks,” Cloudy said, still winded. She smiled at Meta Knight, whose eyes glowed a light green as she held his daughter’s hand. Liloy glanced down at Comery, who had been watching the dance. One finger was in his mouth as he smiled widely at the puppies, who smiled back at him. Liloy laughed. “I think Comery liked your dance,” she said.

“Thanks, Comery,” Star said. Comery cooed and grinned shyly, hiding his face in his mother’s cape. Meta Knight chuckled softly.

 

* * * * *

 

After all the cake had been consumed and the games had been played, everyone was content to lounge on the porch and watch the sun set. Cloudy, lying at the foot of the steps, smiled as she watched the fiery, molten ball slowly descend behind the treetops of the Whispy Woods. Soon, the sky was pinkish-golf, speckled with a few twinkling stars and planets. The frogs croaked and the light breezes stirred the leaves on the rosebushes. A nightingale from far away called “goodnight”  to the citizens of Spring Breeze.

As if the nightingale has reminded her of something, Scazzarda said she would be right back and slipped into the house. Cloudy raised an eyebrow. “What’s she up to?” she muttered, laying her head back on her front paws.

A moment later, Scazzarda was back outside with the baby bird’s  temporary home. To Cloudy’s utter astonishment, the birds were fine and plump and had beautiful plumages. The girls were a glossy brown; the males were a bright red. While they were still juvenile, they were beginning to look like adult cardinals. “Oh, my!” she breathed, unable to believe what she was seeing.

“Pretty little things, aren’t they?” Scazzarda said to no one in particular. “I almost can’t believe it myself. They’re all grown-up now, ad ready to take off on their own.”

“In other words,” Cloudy said, a faint smile beginning on her face, “they’re ready to leave the nest?”

“Yes,” Scazzarda said. One by one, she took each bird out and set them on the porch railing. They teetered for a moment and looked wonderingly at each other, as if to say, “What do we do now?”

“Fly away, little cardinals!” Star said. “It’s time you set out on your own! Go raise families and never forget how much your mother loved you!” With a little nudge of her nose to one of the males, all four birds jumped off the railing and flapped away beyond the treetops, their wings glinting in the last rays of the sun. Everyone watched them until they were out of sight.

Star sniffled and wiped her eyes. “Do you think we’ll ever see them again?” she quietly asked.

“I don’t know,” Scazzarda honestly answered. “There’s really no way to tell that. But I’m definitely sure we will see their descendants.”

“You know,” Liloy said thoughtfully, rocking Comery gently, “it’s funny how the Lord brings about His will through odd, everyday circumstances. We were expecting Tilry to live, but he died. And we were expecting the birds to die, but then they lived. And I was expecting to opt on a different path come the day after Cloudy’s birthday, but I was stopped.” She looked up to the dusty peaks of Mount Moonstem, bathed in the last glow of the sun. “Just a few more signs that God was and is watching over us all the time.”

“That He is,” Lily nodded, a smile growing on her lips.

And as the world was drenched in moonlight and the stars shone down on the citizens of Spring Breeze, Cloudy heard a strange, peaceful voice whisper in her heart:

“Wherever you go
Wherever you roam
I’m always here
I’m always home.

When the rainclouds seize
And the sun disappears
Know I am the Lord
I am always here.”

______

“Lord of the Dance” is a hymn written by Sydney Carter back in 1973.