Terra Firma

The audience started to express their angst over the disruption of an otherwise beautiful concert and evening. The performer on stage did not take much time to carry on with her recital that went on for another hour or so.

I heard a giggle in the clouds above me. I leaped into the air and started a chase. I drove myself as fast as I could to the spot where the laughter had been. When I arrived, there was no one there. I heard laughter again erupt from a faraway place.

"You can't find me," her voice sounded out.

This time, I knew right where she was and charged full speed into a horseshoe shaped cloud. As I entered the cloud, I saw her try to slip out of the cloud's far side. Instinctively, I altered my course to intercept her. I was not disappointed. As I came out of the cloud, I saw her heading south. She was flying full speed. I joined the chase. Increasing my speed, I saw her peeking over her shoulder with the biggest grin on her face. Her eyes were sparkling with excitement. There was no doubt in my mind that she was having the time of her life.

She took a hard right turn and threw herself into a high ‘figure of 8’ turn. It took all of my skill to keep the turn. When we came out of the turn, she did an upward loop and disappeared behind a large cloud. By the time I slowed myself, she was gone. My angel was good.

I stood between the clouds. Putting my hand across the top of my eyes, I searched the sky. There was no sign of her. I was exhausted. Even though I knew that it would be a lot of fun to catch her, I did not want to chase her any more. She might get tired or sick.

"I give up my Lady!!!" I yelled into the clouds. "I give up."

I saw her pop out of cloud just five feet away from me. Her entire face was a smile, glowing with excitement. I had never seen her this way before, but I knew that I liked it.

"You give up too easily, my Prince," she said. "I am supposed to hide and you are suppose to come find me. You didn't come and find me."

"Well, my angel, you could have made it easier," I said as I strained to catch my breath.
"Then, what would be the fun of that. Anyway, I don't ever make it easy," she said. If that smile could have gotten any bigger, it did.

"Want to go somewhere else?" I asked her.

"Somewhere more special that this?"

"Yes, a place where nobody else has ever been to. A place of wonder and delight," I answered.

"Oh yes. Let us go, but how?” Are we taking to the winds and flying to this place of wonder and delight."

"Take my hand, angel."

With her signature innocent look on her face, my angel placed her hand in mine again and waited expectantly. She stood like a child that had been told that she was going to the candy store. I laughed.

Leading the way, we flew as birds coasted on nature’s wings. My angel never left my side. As I turned, so did she. We flew with one mind leaving the white clouds behind for the clear blue skies. It was a sight of most extraordinary beauty with a blue sea from horizon to horizon. The moon directed our path with its tropical rays of light. As we closed in on our new destination, we dropped lower in the sky.

I remember the first day she was taken to the piano; not very far ago. She was full of questions in her mind. “Why me, why do you think I should do this” and so on.

Learning the alphabets and grammar was cake-walk. I knew my angel can do it. Her focus and dedication is unparalleled. Give her a task and it will be accomplished, I had no doubt in my mind. The only thing in my mind was the shapely slender arms and the long pointed fingers dancing over ebony and ivory standing side by side on the piano keyboard. The sculpture has begun to come to life! Curiously, this story is never meant to come to an end!