A Tale Of Two Worlds

 

On location, but more snow!

            Enid woke suddenly; her eyes flew open. Maybe she had heard something. Maybe not, but she was wide awake. Over on the other side of the bed, Arthur snored peacefully. But he wasn’t anyone’s mother, and she was.
            She flew to Marge’s room, and found that weird basket thing missing and in its place a note. The note expressed love and thanks, and also that Marge would see her soon.
            Enid’s heart sank and she stood there holding the note and breathing hard for a few seconds. Then she ran to the front door and unlocked it and pulled it open regardless of the cold. Outside, dawn was just beginning. The sky was lightening and leading from her door were fresh footprints in the last night’s snow. Obviously they were Marge’s tracks.
            “Oh! I don’t think so, Margie my dear. It’s not going to be that easy!” expounded Enid.
            Though Enid almost always wore skirts and hosiery, she wasn’t stupid and knew that she had better bundle up. So she did. Long underwear, ski pants, puffer jacket, heavy socks and boots, gloves and a knit sock hat. She hardly looked like herself. She didn’t bother with makeup either.
            She put a note on the kitchen table for Arthur. “Going for a walk with Marge. Back later. I have my phone. Enid.” She figured Arthur would sleep for two or three more hours. Who knows? She could be back by then.
            She left the door unlocked just in case.
            She noted that the Honda had not been moved. A relief. Now to track her daughter. Enid had a pretty good idea where this trail ended.
            Once on the trail, her mood lightened a bit. It was incredibly beautiful to be out crunching through the snow at this early hour. She’d taken this path before, on the same mission, looking for Marge years before.
            She noticed that the eccentric old couple’s stone and wood cabin was dark, but that smoke rose from the chimney. Covered in snow it looked like a Christmas card illustration to Enid. Then into the meadow where she had met Marge’s friend, Twigg so long ago when they were both kids. Their meeting place, the big stump, looked massive, dark, and empty except for a snow cap. She went on toward the deep forest. It was hard going for her. She wasn't an athlete or very young.
            There must have been some magic or blessing afoot, because Enid didn’t even give a single thought to the fact that she was entering the Great Forest without a by-your-leave, or an accompaniment. She was following her child’s tracks. That’s all she was doing.
            Just inside of the tree line, a very large raven regarded Enid from a high branch. Enid never noticed, however, her nose was pointed earthward.
            Once among those ancient firs, the weather changed. It was a little warmer. Enid shook her head, because she felt like she heard distant singing, but she couldn’t discern the words or the language. Marge’s tracks continued on, so Enid followed.
            Having been there once before, Enid remembered that there was a central cleared area with a fire that burned night and day. She could just begin to see that fire. Of course, that’s where Marge would have been going, but why at this hour and on this day?
            There was a hubbub of voices around the fire! And there was prolonged cheering too! There seemed to be a lot of characters at the fire this morning. Small lights swarmed and danced over the crowd. Who were these people? Most were Forest Keepers, but not all. She saw the old couple too. No wonder their house was dark, they were here! But why?
            Suddenly the cheering stopped. Enid’s heart beat madly! What could this be?
            Rushing into the clearing, still following the tracks of her daughter, her eyes fell on Twigg holding Marge, her Marge, in his arms and they were kissing like they would never stop. Tears flooded her eyes, but she wasn’t sure they were tears of sorrow!
            At that moment she turned her eyes to the others and saw Ralph standing among the people with his huge hands outstretched above them.
            “Oh, my beloved people!” said Ralph!
            Enid took in a great long breath and her mouth dropped open. She was no idiot. She knew a wedding when she saw one!
            Ramona came to her then and put an arm around her and drew her to her side. Enid allowed herself to be drawn and she took comfort from the gesture. It was just perfect.
            “Now that you are here, Enid, everything is in order,” whispered Ramona with tears in her eyes too.
            Ralph began to speak and all eyes were upon him.
            “The Maker of All has brought us all here today to celebrate a miracle of love,” he said and the crowd erupted in cheers again.
            “Much has been revealed,” Ralph said. “Those whom the Maker has created for each other must be joined on earth according to Heaven.” There was more cheering, then a hush.
            The mothers clung to each other. The lights soared and sang their mysterious song. Cherry drifted down to her mother.  Maeve sat on a high branch where she could keep an eye on the scene and commit it to memory.
            Ralph spoke in both Saslingua and English so that everyone, Enid especially, would understand him well.
            Twigg set Leely down on her feet and she clung to his hand. Both listened to Ralph.
            “Son,” he said, “Will you be joined to Leely, and love her faithfully, as long as you both live?”
            “Yes,” said Twigg. “I have loved her since I first saw her and that love has only grown stronger. Yes I will be joined to her forever.”
            “Leely, will you be joined to my son, Twigg, forever, helping him, and giving him all your love forever?” said Ralph, turning his gaze to Leely.
            Leely, standing there at her wedding without a gown or flowers, looked around the open space between the trees of the Great Forest. She saw that Enid had come. She saw that Ramona and Enid clung together. She even looked upon the Pumas and the white wolf, Blue, waiting by the fire. She looked at Ralph.
            “Yes, yes, I will. I have always loved Twigg since I met him, but I was blind and now I see. Yes, I will have him, and I will help him and love him as long as I live,” said Leely.
            “No vow could be better than that,” said Ralph. “Therefore before the Maker, the One and his own Son, I pronounce Twigg and Leely to be one together!”
            There was more cheering and the kids started kissing again. But they kept getting interrupted by people who wanted to hug them and all that.
             
            “Where will they live, Ramona?” whispered Enid. “And why did he call her Leely?”
            “Don’t worry. I think more miracles are on the way. Let’s wait and see,” said Ramona. “I’ll explain about the name when things quiet down.”
            Thaga came over to be introduced to Enid. She was crying too.
            “It’s like Twigg is my own son,” said Thaga.
            Both the mothers put their arms around her and held her. It was a happily tear strained group.
            But, just as everyone was taking a breath and looking at each other and wondering what to do next, Ralph’s friend Mak began to speak. He was small but very audible. The crowd hushed again to listen to him. Most remembered him from Constance and Ferdie’s wedding, and the vanquishing of the Not Thing that had crashed the party at Thaga’s once.
            “Greetings, it’s good to see you all again,” said Mak.
Enid goggled a bit. She didn’t know him. Who was this very small man in his odd clothing, and where was he from?
            “May I be among the first to congratulate Twigg and Leely?” said Mak, smiling. “I come as a sort of emissary from beyond Earth. “I have been appointed to bring gifts. The first is the wedding feast. If you will all allow it, my sons will carry all from my ship which waits beside your river!”
            But what really happened is that Erl, one of Mak’s four sons decided to bring the ship to the wedding party, to general amazement and admiration. It came to rest silently a bit outside the group, long and silver, a bit cigar shaped and shiny like chrome.             Then Erl and his three brothers, Lim, Renny, and Jasc, popped out of the hatch. Just like their father they were small people, clothed in loose white two piece outfits.
            First they set up a long table, unfolding it from a very small square of material. Then they set out just the right number of plates and glasses!
            There were exotic meats from outside Earth, and fruits, and sweets, and nuts and cheeses, all delicious and unknown to Earthlings. There was a thin sparking wine, tasting somewhat like oranges.
            “Please, enjoy,” said Mak and his sons stood beside him, ready to help if needed, smiling broadly.
            Ralph thanked Mak in the name of the wedding party. Twigg and Leely were first in line, then Ramona and Enid, and then everyone else. Ralph saw that everyone was served and then he came last of all.
            Everyone had a great time ,and  had never seen anything like it, of course, and it was a delight to all.
            When everyone had eaten and had some of the sparkling wine, even though it was still early in the day, Mak asked for everyone’s attention again.
            “Now, I would like to present a gift. It comes from the People of the Stars. Twigg and Leely will you come here?” asked Mak, smiling a bit mysteriously.
            From inside his loose white top garment he drew a small blue iridescent orb about the size of an orange. It glowed in his hands. He held it up, so that it was visible to all. Voices ceased.
            “Twigg, Leely, may I present to you this Oro? It is a gift from the Stars,” said Mak.
            “It is beyond beautiful,” said Twigg, “And we accept it! But, dear Mak, what is it?”
            “It is an invitation,” said Mak.

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