Chapter Seven

Another day dawned and others in the lung ward opened their eyes, woefully greeted by it, but Vincent’s remained tightly closed. His complexion had darkened. His brain resisted the surge of oxygen sucked into his chest by the movement of the machine’s levers. 

Busied with her morning routine, the nurse had not noticed his critical condition as he slipped away, into a comatose state.

There was an enticement in his dream to remain in fairyland, where his unconscious fight for survival was at its weakest. Peace presented itself there.

But still he knew, from somewhere deep down inside that he must fight on, to claim the healing potion or remain ill stricken, perhaps even die; and what then?

The nurse noticed that Vincent was unresponsive and rushed to his side.

And sitting at the table in her kitchen all alone, Granny was praying for his continued healing.

Suddenly the nurse was yelling for help as another summoned the doctor.

Falling into a trance, Jewel dropped to the ground and began sleeping. But morning would not awaken her, as the night persisted in this place. It was always dark here, summoning the weary to a peaceful slumber.

She dreamed about her dog, Ransome. Her puppy was the reason for this journey, to rescue it, and the vision was a reminder of that, and more so, an urging to return home and to complete her mission.

 In her dream Jewel saw the dog prancing in front of her with a toy held tightly in its mouth. Jewel reached for it, a wide smile forming on her face, and giggled as Ransome lurched backward. The puppy challenged her to a game of ‘catch me if you can.’

Jewel reached for the toy again, faster this time, but the dog ran away. Within seconds Ransome returned, darting back into the room, passing quickly by, her ears floating on the air as she cut through it, her paws airborne more than then they touched the floor, a devilish look in her little eyes.  Ransome jumped over and dodged the obstacles in her path and Jewel laughed in amazement of her skillful maneuvers. She expected the dog to crash into a chair at any moment as it continued to circle and whiz by. But then Ransome suddenly stopped, sat directly in front of the little girl and dropped the prize of the game there, on the floor, as she panted heartily.

Jewel laughed.

She longed to see and play with Ransome once again.

A light breeze cooled her face and Jewel revived some. It was a Guardian, blowing gently upon her.

“Jewel,” it whispered. “Wake up my little angel girl. Your time of lasting repose is not yet come, for now you must return home.”

Jewel opened her eyes and caught a glimpse of the creature that floated there, before it disappeared, vanishing like the mist before the sun. It was formed by triangles joined together, with a head like a box, an upside down triangle that pointed upon the face separating its eyes and spreading them wide apart. Its head was surrounded by thick dark hair that formed a point on top. Its dress was soft velvet with sequins that glittered in the moonlight, and it held a wand in one hand.

She gasped and as her breath misted upon the cool air, and the Guardian faded away.

The doctor held an oxygen mask against his face, covering his nose and mouth when Vincent’s eyes suddenly popped open. They were filled with fear.  He coughed and jerked his head away to free himself of the mask’s confinement.

“He’s coming around,” the doctor announced with relief.

Jewel gazed once again at the waterfall, the moonbow, and the strawberry patch. With purpose renewed, she was gripped by determination. She slowly rose to her feet and looked intently, focusing on the ruby red berry illuminated by the bow. She began to walk that way and took her eyes off of the prize only long enough to find her way around the boulders. She scrambled over them. Lifting her head from the pathway, she again focused on the berry. This time nothing would distract her from the purpose of her mission.

She pinched its stem and held it high to reflect the moon’s ray. It was beautiful, shimmering and shining as if bursting with life. She placed it upon her lips and the sweet aroma of healing filled her nostrils with tantalizing desire. In her mouth it was soft and cool to her tongue’s touch. She bit down gently, felt its juices squirt against the sides of her mouth and her mind began to spin as she was consumed with the berry’s luscious flavor.

Jewel closed her eyes and when the dizzy feeling subsided she opened them to find herself sitting on her living room floor. Ransome was sitting there too, anxiously staring at her as if the dog was concerned.

“We’re back,” she whispered. “Oh Ransome, I'm so glad to see you.”

The dog panted and a drip of saliva fell from the tip of her tongue as it drooled from her mouth. Her eyes brightened like the flickering of a candle in a dark room. There was happiness there. Her excitement was obvious.

Jewel grabbed her puppy and hugged it tightly. “Welcome back.” She released her hold and looked into the dog’s longing eyes. “I really love you!”

#

To the surprise of his doctors, Vincent was completely cured by the age of twelve, but was it a grandmother’s love, or a greater blessing that healed him? 

Three years later, at the age of fifteen, he began working with his grandparents on their farm, picking stones, planting, hoeing, and picking and packing berries.

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