Snuggly tucked into bed, Brianna and Ashley looked expectantly at their father, Aaron. What story would he tell? His mind turning, Aaron momentarily stalled waiting for the muse to sprinkle her pixel dust upon him. Then he knew what story to tell.
Aaron began, “I’m going to tell you a magical story about two girls who are named Brianna and Ashley.” Five-year-old Brianna rolled toward her three-year-old sister and the two squealed with excitement. Anticipation bubbled as Aaron continued.
“Brianna and Ashley lived in a land of wonder. Every morning they awoke to puppies licking their faces.”
Ashley interrupted, “Are they chocolate labs?”
“There were chocolate labs, black labs, yellow labs, pink labs, purple labs, all kinds of labs. These puppies loved Brianna and Ashley and the girls loved their puppies. The girls played with the puppies until they were fully awake and then their mommy made them some big, fluffy pancakes with all the syrup they wanted.
“On this special day, when they finished breakfast, their daddy came home early from work. He swooped into the house and gave his wife a big kiss.” Brianna gazed at her father, hanging on every word. Ashley gave a small frown. She didn’t like it when her parents were affectionate.
“Then daddy announced to everyone that today they would do magical things.” Brianna, still enthralled, smiled broadly as her face beam. Ashley grinned at the thought of doing magic and was drawn back into the enchantment of stories.
Aaron continued his tale. It was filled with meadows and flowers, giant trees and fairies, running and laughing. The whole family was without limit. They flew to the highest mountaintops. They swam to the bottom of the deepest oceans. Then they played with dolphins and jellyfish. They ran pine forests with branches laden with snow. They sledded down long hills and, after reaching the bottom, sprinted to the top to do it again and again.
The portraits Aaron painted filled them with rapture. They inhabited the visions. The tale was an instrument that carried his girls to a land of make-believe and their hearts swelled. As the story neared the end, Aaron continued, “Finally, mommy, daddy, Brianna, and Ashley built a big fire and they toasted hot dogs and marshmallows. The moon was full and it smiled and winked at the happy family. The moonbeams warmed them from the evening chill. Fireflies danced about them. Then Ashley asked, ‘Where’s the chocolate and graham crackers so we can make S’mores?’
“Both hands balled up into fists, Daddy presented them to Ashley and asked, ‘Guess.’
“Ashely picked one hand and daddy opened his hand. It was empty. Then with a smile, he pointed to Ashley’s left hand and dozens of chocolate bars spilled out. Brianna hurried to catch them all. Once the bounty of chocolate was gathered, daddy pointed to Brianna’s left hand and graham crackers began spilling out. Then he pointed to mommy’s left hand and gold jewelry bubbled out and fell to the ground.
“For the rest of the evening, the family toasted marshmallows, ate S’mores, and chased fireflies. “
Aaron saw his daughters were asleep. They looked angelic and his heart was full of love and wonder. With gratitude, he bent down to his daughters. Tenderly, he placed a kiss on each forehead.
But he couldn’t leave yet. Aaron wanted, he needed another moment of moonbeams and fireflies. How he yearned to marvel again, to live a life of possibilities. Oh to capture heaven and hold it tight.
Finally, he turned and joined his wife in bed. A smile remained etched on his face as the light of enchantment filled his heart.
No comments:
Post a Comment