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Capreol Writers Page - Michael Shepherd
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The Starry Bridge
The little boy, Jean-Marc, is in bed. It is the middle of the night. He is sobbing. His friend, Shawna, enters his room. She places her hand on his forehead. He is running a high temperature. She makes a notation on his chart. In a small, frightened voice he asks her to stay. She looks at her watch and nods her head, “Just for a little while.” The boy settles back in his bed as she holds his hand. She tenderly wipes his eyes. “You know, when you feel like this, afraid and alone, remember that you are loved by many. Each life is a precious journey where we learn many things. When we complete our cycle it’s time to go Home. We walk across the Starry Bridge of Souls and return to our Mother Earth for rest.” Shawna tells him that her people believe that the stars are the homes of those who have walked across the bridge. He thinks for a moment then says, “Do they ever come back?” “If they wish,” she replies. “Will I?” he asks. “When the time comes you can return into a life of your choice.” He gives a little chuckle. She asks, “What’s so funny?” “I’d like to come back as a dolphin at Sea World. It would be fun to swim like they do and leap out of the water, splashing people sitting in the front seats.” She smiles. Then he exclaims, “Yuck, no! I wouldn’t make a good dolphin, I hate eating fish!” They laugh together, sharing the humour of the moment. She looks at her watch and then checks the tubes feeding fluids into Jean-Marc’s body. She says, “I have to leave now. Is there anything you need before I go?” his response is an almighty snore. She turns down the light and walks noiselessly from the room. Later Shawna is startled to hear a bell ringing in one of the rooms. She checks the display. It is Jean-Marc. She hurries to his room. As she enters, she sees that he has somehow managed to sit up. She hurries over to his bedside. Quietly but firmly she lays him down and tucks him in. Right out of the blue he asks, “How do I get there?” “Where?” she asks. “The Starry Bridge” he replies. She smiles at him and says, “Your spirit guide will show you the way.” He asks about his spirit guide. She tells him that he has had one since before he was born. Watching over him, guiding and protecting him. Sometimes they’re called guardian angels. “Hey, neat!” he exclaims. “Is mine someone I know?” She shakes her head, “No, but they could be one of your ancestors.” His speech is getting slurry. “I don’t know too much about my ancestors, except for Nana,” he tells her. “Was she your Grandma?” she asks. “No, my Mum’s. She died - I mean - crossed the Starry Bridge before I was born” he replies. He is getting sleepy now. She kisses him on the forehead, noting his high temperature. She turns for the door. “Shawna, how can I meet my guide?” he asks. She calls softly “Just ask” as she exits. It is Shawna’s night off. If only she were here. She always helps him when he is feeling really low and scared. She gives his spirit a lift. He thinks about last night’s conversation about Spirit guides. If only -. But no, he didn’t even know if he had one. In a whisper he says, “Spirit Guide, I really need help.” He looks around the darkened room. Nothing. His pain has been getting worse over the last couple of days. Turning to hit the button to summon the nurse he sees a figure standing at the foot of his bed. “Who are -?” she stops him in mid sentence. She says “Hi, Jean-Marc, I’m your Nana.” She steps into the half light toward the side of his bed. To his amazement he finds himself looking at a pleasant, round shaped woman with rosy cheeks, white hair tied in a bun, spectacles perched on the end of her nose and behind them the most sparkly blue eyes he has ever seen. She is wearing a pretty dress, long hooped stockings. On her feet are “granny” boots. “You don’t look like an angel” he tells her. She chuckles. “What did you expect something like this?” In a flash an angel stands before him in all her glory with long flowing robe, wings and a halo around her head. The room is bathed in golden brightness. He can only nod his head. His Nana laughs then says “The night nurse would get quite a shock if she walked in and saw me like this” He giggles. “I’ll get back into my working clothes.” In a nanosecond she stands there as before. He becomes sad. “Is it time for me to ........ leave... to go home?”he asks. She looks at him over her glasses then shakes her head, “No, not yet, little love,” she replies. “I came because you called. What’s wrong?” He tells her, “I can’t get to sleep. It’s the pain.” She sits on his bed, puts her arms around him. After a while he says “That feels better, Nana.” Nana says nothing, she just continues hugging him then in a soft voice sings a lullaby. Jean-Marc thinks it is the most beautiful song he had ever heard. He drifts into sleep free of pain and feeling snug and safe in the arms of his guardian angel. The following day, toward evening, Shawna comes into his room. She is carrying a large box. Jean-Marc sleeps. She turns to leave. The boy opens his eyes and sleepily says, “Shawna, I missed you last night.” She smiles and says, “I missed you too.” He tells her that his family has gone out for something to eat having been at his bedside all day. He sees the box and says, “What’s that, your lunch?” She laughs and tells him that she has brought him a gift, something she has made. By now he is fully awake. He struggles to sit up but she motions to him to lie still. She raises the head of the bed so that he can see better. She tells him to close his eyes. He hears the sound of rustling. He is so excited. He feels her place the gift on the bed. It is not too heavy. “Open your eyes Jean-Marc” she tells him. He does and sees a beautiful model carousel. The roof is striped in red, white and blue. On the bottom half of the roof are paintings of olden day ladies and gentlemen. They are framed in gold and look like real paintings. The roof is held up by eight golden columns which in turn stand on a large wooden platform. His eyes open wide, for on the platform are the most beautiful horses and carriages he has ever seen. They are made of wood. There are steps leading up to the platform. A large cut out of an unfriendly looking man is standing at the entrance. He is a big man dressed in a derby hat, black suit and shoes. He has a large moustache. Jean-Marc thinks that he looks like a walrus. He is the man who collects the tickets and operates the ride. Lucky man gets to ride the carousel every day. Jean-Marc finds enough strength to clap his hands together in delight. Shawna beams down at him then reaches forward to flip a switch on the carousel. Immediately it begins to turn, the horses and carriages moving up and down as the platform moves around. But best of all, he hears music coming from the centre of the carousel. He can’t believe his ears. He recognizes the melody. He excitedly turns to Shawna and says, “That’s the song my Nana sang to me in the middle of the night, when I couldn’t sleep!” Shawna thought for a moment then asks if his visitor is the Nana who had already crossed the Starry Bridge of Souls. He replies “Yes and she is really nice.” Shawna asks if his Nana is his Guardian Angel, he nods. He looks at the carousel and points at one of the white horses as it whirls around. “I like that one the best” he says. Shawna looks at the animal. She understands why he likes it. It is different to the others. While the others look wild, this one has a kind look in its eyes. Its body is pure white and it has jet black hooves and mane. Read on © 2005 Michael Shepherd |
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