Wishing Dimes micro story
Annabelle came back in time
to her favourite tree
There was a tiny bouquet of wildflowers
inserted into the tree trunk
The girl had a silver 1902 dime
She inserted it into the tree
The next century when she returned
the flowers were still there wilting
the dime was nowhere to be seen
Annabelle inserted
another dime into the tree trunk
a 2020 dime
making a goodwill wish
upon whoever pulled it
out of the tree
There once
existed a magical body of water in a faraway kingdom, rarely visited by
mankind. Schools of fish, a turtle and assorted water creatures lived happily
within the pool.
One summer day,
a lovely red bird swooped down from the blue sky and dipped her copper colored
beak into the water. Mira spread her crimson wings out full length and the
reflection appeared like a scarlet angel to the citizens of the pool. Such a
vast proportion of redness was something which none of the fish had ever seen
before. The color was so new, so different, compelling, so alluring that curiosity
vanquished their fear and several younger smaller fish paddled up to the
surface for closer look.
Underneath the
surface, an elegant blue angel fish with swirling purple wing like fins floated
furtively behind a large rock. Here was Elroy the largest and oldest fish in
the pond. Elroy crept out from behind his stone shelter. He glanced up warily
and at that precise instant Mira peered down into the pond. Their eyes met.
“How
beautiful…” they each thought. Both recognized love for the first time.
Elroy was
overwhelmed by this unfamiliar emotion and the fish swam rapidly away from
Mira’s mesmerizing splendor, splashing the gorgeous bird in his hurry to
escape.
With a
majestic ruffling of her rosy feathers Mira flew off into the sky. She
did not return for three days. Elroy thought about nothing except Mira. It
certainly did not help Elroy’s growing obsession to hear so many of the fish
exclaiming over the beauty of the red bird. Elroy was miserable with helpless
longing.
MIRA’S EYE VIEW
Mira’s world
was the sky, the endless sky. Sometimes the sky’s vastness made Mira feel
anxious. She envied Elroy’s world. The pond had a bottom, an end. Mira had seen
clearly down to the muddy floor. (Mira perceived the water as sky. The Redbirds
were not swimmers and their experience with water began and concluded with
drinking sips of it now and then.)
“How safe and
beautiful is my darling’s skydom” thought Mira.
Her home
was in a large red tree. This was shared with numerous brothers, sisters,
aunties uncles, cousins and a few non relatives.
Mira was known
to fly away to solitude frequently. Her mother sisters and aunties lectured
constantly about “settling down, making a nest and laying eggs.”
“For more
birds!” Mira would mutter under her beak. “Just what this tree needs –more
birds…”
Mira was
infatuated with Elroy. She thought of Elroy as “The One fashioned from evening
sky by purple twilight”
Four mornings
later Mira flew to the pond .Elroy rushed to the surface and poked his nose out
of the water. He could not help himself, nor could he even begin to disguise
his joy at beholding Mira. Elroy jumped into the air, using his powerful fish
tail as a propeller. He executed a graceful double somersault which
unfortunately ended badly in a thunderous belly flop. Again the pretty bird was
thoroughly soaked. and Elroy swum off in deep embarrassment, despising his
fishy clumsiness .But he swam back up to the surface again in a few minutes
“Such a tail he
has” sighed Mira flying in slow circles above Elroy’s home. “I must bring him a
present!”
Mira appeared
with a yellow plump flower dangling from her mouth and this she dropped in
front of Elroy’s face. The happy fish devoured the offering and it was the most
delectable delicacy that Elroy had ever tasted.
Mira opened her
long narrow beak to emit a short shrill song. It sounded like this…
”I am
mmmmmmmmmmmm Miraaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.” The sound was fine music to Elroy. Once more
he leapt into the air, wishing that he could make some small sound or sing a
little tune in reply. ”Mira Mira Mira” Elroy chanted the name in his head,
rocked on waves of sheer seventh heaven.
Bird and fish
ogled one another for several long minutes and then at exactly the same time
fish and bird turned reluctantly away to their respective dwellings.
Mira’s
inquisitive mother asked Mira where she had been and why she was away for so
long missing dinner.
“Oh Mother, I
was sky studying” explained Mira with a large half truth.
Sky studying
was an honored bird’s religious experience. And it was condoned and avidly
encouraged. The sky with its different levels had different clouds, airs
currents etc. The clouds changed their shape and palette constantly and the sky
was divinity to the Redbirds. Birds would spend an entire lifetime in the
earnest study of clouds and sky. Still all of the skies mysteries remained
unsolved and intact. (ever leaving a bird full of revere and wonder)
A bird of
course could only fly so high. Above them would still be miles and miles
fathoms of unexplored unreachable sky.
Mira’s mom
Burrda had an uncomfortable feeling about her daughter. All this talk of
devotion to sky study was certainly news to her. Mira had never shown much
interest in Skydom before.
“I wonder what
that young bird is really up to…” pondered Burrda.
Her mother
decided that Mira must be kept busy and to this end she employed her sister.
Mira was
surprised when Auntie PickPick asked for help with her newly hatched nestlings.
Auntie PickPick was as picky as her name and poor Mira flew here there and
everywhere on endless errands. She had absolutely no chance to visit Elroy’s
Pond.
ELROY’S POND
In Mira’s
absence Elroy became increasingly despondent. He stopped swimming and spent
much of his time concealed behind the rock. His friends could not cheer him up
and Elroy’s depression was affecting the livelihood of the pond.. the cycle of
life within the watery world lost its ordinary rhythm. The other fish spent a
lot of time fussing around the angelfish. Guppies were left on their own
getting into mischief and not attending fish school. Cleaning of the pond and
algae eating were not attended to. The pond began to appear murky.
The Pond Elders
assembled without Elroy and discussed the situation at great length. This
meeting dragged on for two hours and Elroy stirred from his deep melancholy to
notice the strange silence of his surroundings.. He knew that something was
wrong! The blue angelfish swam to the center of the pond and his bewildered
eyes saw the gathering of pond creatures. Elroy swam rapidly towards them…
Carl, a large
bullfrog was the residing judge over the Pond Meetings. He was known to be
quite even handed in his judgments, as fair as a simple bullfrog could
be.
Carl decreed:
“That redbird
is the problem, the intruder, the interloper, the alien and
therefore the Bird shall be banished and not welcomed in our pond (nor in the
sky above our pond)for the good and safety of all concerned.. Any sightings of
the Redbird must by law be reported immediately and the bird shall be splashed
and drenched with water until she either drowns or departs!”
Carl looked
around at all in the small assembly. “Does any fish or animal have anything to
say?”
(Fish cannot
speak, so to speak, but they have the ability to communicate telepathically
often with the use of bubbles)
“You can’t mean
that Sir!” protested Spotty who was a close friend of Elroy’s..”We must not
chase away Redbird. Elroy loves, her calls her Mira. Maybe they belong
together”.
. “What?”
croaked Carl “A bird and a fish-whoever heard of such a thing!”
“Well why not”
put in a small goldfish. “There is always a first time for Everything”
“I think the
red bird is pretty” said a green angelfish.
“Well,” added a
pale grey fish. “I think it is Elroy’s business who he loves!”
“I tell you a
bird could never love a fish!” exclaimed Carl
“Elroy is way
out of line!” agreed the turtle.
“Are you
talking about me?” demanded Elroy, bursting in on the conversation.
All stared at
Elroy dumbfounded. Spotty was pleased to see his old pal out of bed. Elroy
appeared remarkably healthy too with his wonderful tail swishing out from
behind him like a ballerina’s costume. His eyes were bright with temper.
“Are you
talking about me behind my fins? ”shouted Elroy
The angelfish opened his mouth to display tiny
razor sharp teeth.
“Not only about
you,” explained the faithful Spotty. “Carl and the others are just deciding
what to do about your romance with that bird you call Mira.”
“I call her
Mira because that is her name,” snarled Elroy.
“Now now
Elroy.” Began Carl.
Elroy turned on
the bullfrog angrily. “Just what business is this of Yours Carl?” he demanded.
“Why I ought to bite your skinny leg-you pompous old-just what is going on
here?”
“Er…well we
were having a Pond Meeting that is all,” said Carl leaping out of the pond. The
bullfrog turned to confront Elroy’s wrath from the safety of the land. ”Your
infatuation with this bird has gotten out of hand Elroy and you know it!”
admonished Carl. “Pond life is begging to suffer.”
“Nonsense!”
cried Elroy. “It is gossip and fish interference that has caused any problem
here .Why can’t you all simply mind your own business.”
“We only mean
to help you Elroy” said Carl quietly. “and after all you Are head angelfish…”
Elroy addressed
the small crowd of pond animals and fish. ’I will say that I am sorry to all of
you for causing worry about nothing. I love Mira and I in tend to be with her
one way or the other. If you were really my friends you would help us, not swim
in judgment. .I love her. Can’t you see that?”
Elroy wept
although no liquid streamed from his eyes. The angelfish cried behind his
eyes(and maybe that kind of dry weeping hurts the most!)
“I believe that
there is a solution to this er predicament,” said Carl speaking tactfully.
“Elroy, do you still say that you are unwilling to relinquish this doomed love
affair?”
“I cannot.”
answered Elroy sadly.
Carl was moved
by the passion he saw in Elroy’s unblinking eyes but he remained unmoved in his
verdict. The bullfrog spoke the rest of his judgment delicately.. “Elroy, you
will have to retire from being Head AngelFish. Perhaps Spotty could replace
you. Then pond life can continue on as before and you Mr. Elroy are
hereby released from all Pond responsibility. Well I am afraid you will have to
find your own answers. You must know of course that if you actually leave the
pond you will die.”
“We are taught
that in roe school!” said Elroy
“Then what will
you do dear Elroy?” inquired Carl with concern.
“I will simply
wait for her,” declared Elroy. “Yes I shall wait for as long as it takes!”
“And what if
she never comes back here?” asked Spotty.
“O didn’t you
hear spotty you are to be made Head AngelFish?"
“Elroy” sniffed
Spotty “How can you think that I would accept with you putting it like
that!”
“Take it easy
my dear friend.” said Elroy. “I truly want you to be head angelfish. Yes I
really do. My life is riding a different wave now. Why who knows I may be
leaving the pond. Mira may carry me away.” Elroy laughed with glee.
Carl hopped off
to his own dinner shaking his head in sadness.
The rampaging
hunger that consumed Elroy’s fish soul and the desire to see his lady bird love
would not be slackened. Seven days passed and Mira did not come to the pond
.Elroys' thoughts twisted further out of reality and he all but ceased to
breathe. What did he care for breathing? What was life without the hope of
Mira’s love? Just her presence at the water’s edge or hovering so gracefully
above it, just her attendance was all that he hoped and prayed for! “Only one
more look at Mira and I can die a happy fish.” thought Elroy.
Carl and the
turtle and most of the other fish stopped trying to reason with Elroy. Spotty
wished his dear friend the greatest of life’s blessings and tried with all of
his fish heart to be non judgmental regarding Elroy’s unusual choice for a
mate..
But every
single morning Spotty and the turtle pushed Elroy to the surface in the hope
that Mira would return and see Elroy.
MIRA’S TORMENT
Mira's family
kept close watch over her at all times, giving her no opportunity to visit
Elroy.
She told no
bird about her heartache.
“Hail Beautiful
Sky,” prayed Mira with all of the devotion that she could muster. Her thoughts
always returned to Elroy. ”He has such incredible feathers(of scales she knew
nothing).”And I can see both eyes with one look! I wonder what he thinks about
me. I do believe that he loves me! I wish that I was not so big compared to
him! I hope that he admires my extra long wingspan. I heard his friend
call him Elroy.” Mira put her head under her wing and sighed deeply,
singing his name under her breath. “Elroy! Elroy1Elroy!”
Her wistful
reverie was rudely interrupted.
“Miraaaaaaaaaaaa”
squawked Auntie PickPick. I need you to watch my nestlings! Whatever are you
doing sleeping in the daytime?”
Mira flapped
her wings in irritation and awkwardly alit from her perch . ”Sorry Auntie” said
Mira and busied herself singing songs and telling stories to the baby redbirds.
The stories were all about a grand angelfish and although the little ones had
no idea what an angelfish was they listened attentively and soon were lulled to
sleep.
Elroy’s Vigil
Spotty took on
the role of head angelfish and did his very best. Elroy may have been gratified
to learn that every creature in the pond missed him. Fish friends brought him
food or he would have perished.. Basically Elroy was left to to his own
solitary misery.. He became something of a legend., an underground romantic
hero. Some of the younger female fish were terribly impressed by the high drama
of this doomed love affair. Parents used the story of “Poor Elroy Who Had-Fallen-in-love--with-the
Red One from the Sky and Fallen From Grace" to scare their progeny away
from foolish love affairs.
Pond life
trickled along. Elroy became a shadow of a fish. He was emaciated in body and
even leaner in spirit. His fins drooped. His brilliant colors were fading paler
and paler each passing day. The summer was nearly over and still there was no
sign of Mira. Elroy never ceased to believe that she would return. He never
stopped waiting. Every single morning Elroys friends lifted him to the surface
to watch for. Mira. Their faith persisted even as Elroy watched the land trees
begin to change into their autumn apparel.
Carl alone
remained sceptical but he kept his doubts to himself.
Now there came
flocks of noisy migrating birds, flying high above the pond but there was no
Redbird in sight. The air grew colder. By September’s last days Elroy was in a
sorry state. His eyesight was dim and his body convulsed uncontrollably. His
friends were filled with sorrow and could only swim nearby, helplessly watching
their old leader die.
Still each
morning the turtle Spotty and three or four others pushed Elroy to the surface
of the pond.
MIRA’S GIFT
Mira awoke from
a vivid nightmare in which a school of fish gathered around Elroy who appeared
to be right at death’s door. .Mira knew in her heart that she must at any cost
return to the pond... The red bird flew to a distant corner of her world to the
remote dangerous marshlands. She landed on the ground. under a tall blue tree.
Mira pecked and searched and finally pulled up a long stringy blue weed from
the depths of the soggy ground. This strange plant was sacred to the Redbirds
and probably not known to the fish world...
So as the small
fish pond continued their daily sky watch yet prepared for the worst, Mira made
her graceful appearance out of the blue. She carried the long stringy blue
plant in her beak. This Mira dropped directly into Elroy’s wide gaping mouth
and he gulped at once swallowing the curative weed .Elroy fell asleep and Mira
flew away with a hopeful heart.
Spotty and a
few of the others fluttered Elroy’s sleeping form back to his homestead rock.
Hope reigned in the depths of that small body of water .Elroy awoke after two
days.
“O tell me that
it was not a dream!” were Elroy’s first words to the crowd gathered around him.
A cheer rose up from the assembled pond creatures because they knew Elroy was
going to be alright (if his strong shout was any indication)
“No it was not
a dream. Mira did return” said Spotty “It really happened! Mira flew over and…”
“As a matter of
fact,” interrupted Carl. ”We watched her feed you a strange plant and it
appears to have restored your health. It would seem that this lady bird of
yours loves you very much after all Elroy. Please accept my sincere apologies.”
“O Carl,” said
Elroy. “I know that I have been selfish about this. I have doubted all of you
and you stood by me .I see that now. Will you all please forgive me?
“There there
quiet now,” said Carl soothingly as he was speaking to a guppy.. “You just rest
now Elroy.”
“Mira loves
me!” sang Elroy to himself transported on waves of rapture. “She loves me! Mira
loves me!”
Mira
returned to the pond many more times, always with a gift of a plant or flower.
The fish and
the bird gazed with loving eyes upon each other and began and ended each visit
with fish nose touching orange beak.
This kissing
ritual was exhilarating to both of them. The pond inhabitants would cheer for
their love.
They were the
inspiration for many bedtime love stories
Mira’s family
never met Elroy, never visited his pond and grew to believe that Mira was a
serious sky study student who required time for herself. The Redbirds allowed
her to fly off on her own.
Maybe
this is a true story for true love has no boundaries.
If you ever
happen upon Elroy’s magical pond you may consider yourself extremely blessed.
Look very
closely into the water.
You may see a
red birds reflection if you have an open mind and a trusting heart.
Angel Edwards
July 2000
Revised January
2012
Published in
Vancouverweekly
Feb 23 2013
Published in
ShortStoryAvenue
Jan 5 2021
Angel Edwards is a singer songwriter guitarist published writer published poet with 4 books from Vancouver BC Canada
member of AFM local 145
BMI SOCAN
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