On the shores of the Eastern Sea and nestled into the highlands lay the rustic town of Kalee. Kalee is not a large town. Rather there are about a hundred or so families. Some of those families are large with many children and many parents. Other families are not so large and have less children and less parents. Like most places anywhere, there are those that have too much power and do not share and those that do not.
In Kalee, the largest and most powerful family is the House of Lasseter. Lasseter ran his house hard and strict. He was a man whom you heard before you ever saw. He often was seen angry and stomping around the grounds of the family estate. As far as anyone could remember, he never laughed and he was never happy.
It was a very strange day indeed when Lasseter announced that he was to marry Alana. Alana was twice as young as Lasseter was old. She was so beautiful that every suitable male had tried to win her heart. However, Lasseter, being the most powerful man in Kalee often took rather than asked. It was his way. It has often been thought that Lasseter ‘bought’ Alana to avoid her family losing their land and home.
So, Alana married Lasseter. The wedding was quick and with very little celebration. Many people watched as she tried for many months to keep her spirits up in the really big house. Then one day, in the middle of the summer as she was busying the household affairs, she fainted. One of the house servants ran to Lasseter who came many minutes later. By then, the senior maiden had awoken her. As Lasseter entered into the large open kitchen, she looked up at him with smiles and holding her belly.
“I want a son.” He said, turned, and left.
Alana’s smile faded slightly but she was happy nonetheless. Many months latter, she had a child. It was a girl and not what Lasseter wanted. She was named Annabelle. Unfortunately, there was a problem that nobody, not even Kalee’s best doctor could do. Alana went to the deep sleep smiling at her beautiful baby Annabelle.
Annabelle grew up mostly in the care of the house maidens. Her education and growth were matched only by her curiosity. She learned much about how to care for trees and flowers and care for the animals. She was a breath of life for the house and everyone marveled at how much she looked like her mother. For almost everyone, she brought a sparkle and a shine to their day. Almost.
Yet, try as she might, and she did often, she could not gain the attention and love of her father. Lasseter shunned her at every opportunity. Yet she did try. She made him crowns of flowers so they could pretend to be king and queen of Kalee, which he tossed into the fire. She made him pictures of her and him and her mother, which he would toss aside without so much as looking at them.
At one point she asked, “Do you not love me because I’m a girl?”
Lasseter’s rage, rarely reached the level it did that day. All anyone saw was Annabelle running into the fields with tears rolling down her cheeks. It was that day that Annabelle met the Sheppard.
She ran. She ran as fast as fast could be. She ran until she could not feel her feet anymore. She ran until she could not tell exactly where she was anymore. She did not care. Her father said some mean things and called her mother meaner things. Then he ran after her when she called him a liar and a fool. She had never challenged him like that. She had never seen him that angry before. But, now, it did not matter. She was lost.
Annabelle walked up a hillside of tall green grass and stumbled upon a small group of sheep. They ignored her as she wandered through them stroking their fur. It would be several more months before they could collect the wool but they were well taken care of. Off to the side, almost asleep sat an old man with a black and white dog. Neither opened their eyes when she approached.
“Excuse me?” She asked politely.
“For what my dear child?” The man answered without opening his eyes. “Excuse you for waking me? Excuse you for wandering through and disturbing my flock? What dear child should I excuse you for?”
“Well, sir,” She began not sure what to say. “I’m kind of lost.”
“You are kind of lost?” He sat up and leaned towards her. “We are all lost in some way. Some have lost their hope. Some have lost their love. Some have lost their ability to see and hear and some have lost their ability to feel.” He sat back and looked her over carefully. “No child, you are not lost.”
“But I do not know my way out of here.” Annabelle turned to point back towards where she thought she had come from.
“I came from over there I believe but there isn’t a clear path back. Could you help me?”
“The path, I will help you find. But, we shall walk that path together. You shall never be alone.” He said.
At, which point, he stood, looked at his dog and spoke. “Watch them for me please, till I return.”
He placed a hand on Annabelle’s shoulder and began walking in a completely different direction than whence she had come.
“But sir, I did not come by this way.” She said.
“When you ask for help, you should not question in the nature of it. I will return you to your home Annabelle.” He said gently.
“How do you know my name?” She asked.
“My dear, your name is written in the stars.” He answered.
“What are stars?” She asked.
“All in good time dear. All in good time.”
For what you may not know, is that Kalee and all the towns around have never ever seen stars like you and I do. Their skies were black like the darkness in your closet or under your bed at night. They only knew that the sun would rise and set and that was all there was. They did not even have a moon but that is another story.
They walked for a long time. The Sheppard asked Annabelle questions and she answered. Annabelle asked questions and the Sheppard answered. But mostly, the Sheppard would sing, laugh, and tell her funny stories about rabbits and fish and all manner of things. Until such time, that they found themselves walking through Kalee. The people watched as they moved through the streets towards her home. The people watched in amazement and surprise but disappeared into doorways and behind curtains if the Sheppard looked in their direction.
“Why do they disappear when you look at them?” Annabelle asked.
“Another time my dear. Another time.” The Sheppard said and stopped. “This is as far as I go. You must go home but, if you wish, go to the west and climb to the highest point.”
“You’ll be there?” Annabelle asked.
“I will.” He said, smiled, turned, and left.
Annabelle entered the house by way of the kitchen. The maidens were shocked and worried but remained very hushed. At dinner, they felt that it was best if Annabelle ate in her room away from Lasseter who was still in a dreadful mood. Later, just before she fell asleep she knew that she wanted to see the Sheppard again.
The very next day, she slipped out early while the daily chores went on their usual way. Annabelle moved swiftly to the west as the Sheppard had said, through the trees and through the clearings until she found a hill with tall green grass. It was a different hill than before but on the top were the same sheep.
“Mister?” Annabelle called out. “Mister?”
“Hold on there Annabelle.” The Sheppard called as he came from the side with the black and white dog.
“You said I could come and see you.” She said.
“I did. I did indeed.” He said smiling down at her. “Come, there is much we can do today.”
The Sheppard took Annabelle’s hand. He looked down to the black and white dog. “Watch them for me please, til I return.”
Again, they talked about many things. Annabelle skipped and laughed and they talked and talked. Again, as before, they travelled all way back to town and again he stopped at the same spot.
“Again tomorrow?” Annabelle asked.
“If you wish.” The Sheppard said.
So it began, that every day Annabelle would slip out early and take a different way but always to the west to the highest point around. Every day, there were sheep grazing peacefully away. Every day, Annabelle and the Sheppard laughed and sang and talked and talked. Through the early spring and mid summer they continued.
Then, one day when Annabelle was slipping away, she did not know that her father had caught sight of her. He ignored the rest of his duties and followed her remaining far behind. Annabelle climbed the hill and there again were the sheep. They seemed restless though. They looked around nervously. The Sheppard approached and the black and white dog barked. The Sheppard looked around over Annabelle who looked up at the Sheppard not understanding.
“Lasseter!” The Sheppard called out. “Come forward and stand before me!”
Lasseter moved up the hill exactly as Annabelle had moved through the long green grass. His face was dark red. He reached the top where Annabelle looked at her father.
“Father! This is the Sheppard…” She started to say.
“This man is nothing.” Lasseter whispered with venom in his voice Annabelle had never heard before.
The Sheppard looked down to Annabelle smiling, “I am the man your mother loved and wanted to marry.”
Annabelle looked confused and said as much. “Why did you not say so in the beginning?”
“Because he is a poor and lousy excuse of a man. He had…has nothing of any value.” Lasseter spoke hoarsely.
“Yet, Alana told you of our love; it was only because she loved her family so much that she agreed to marry you. You would have left them homeless and helpless. That, Lasseter is not love. That is obsession and possession of things.” The Sheppard said.
“Alana is not a thing. Nobody can be bought or sold. They can give there heart freely but you cannot consume them, try as you might.”
“Father?” Annabelle tried.
“Quiet. I’ll deal with you!” He ordered without looking at her as he closed the difference between him and the Sheppard.
“But father?” Annabelle pleaded.
Lasseter did not even look at her. With his large arm, he threw her to the ground hard.
The Sheppard leaned forward staring Lasseter in the eyes, “That is not how a father is to behave.”
“Don’t you even presume to tell me anything?” Lasseter fired back.
They stared into each other’s eyes while Annabelle rose to her feet. She pushed in between the two men. Lasseter pulled her out by the arm. “Go home!” He ordered.
Annabelle stood her ground for the first time against her father. “No.”
“What?!” Lasseter howled. He pulled his arm back to strike her but the Sheppard grabbed it before he could he finish his swing.
The two men struggled while Annabelle screamed for them to stop. From a rock that protruded from the ground came a loud thump. It was Lasseter. His voice was no more. His anger was no more. He could not cause anyone anymore pain. His eyes stayed open and he would not go to the deep sleep but remain starring out to a world that he did not love and did not love him.
The Sheppard stood but something was wrong. Annabelle noticed it right away. He was bleeding. Her father had stabbed him.
“Come Annabelle, let me take you home.” He said. He turned to his dog who was watching them carefully.
“Watch them for me please, until she returns.”
The black and white dog whined softly but remained.
They walked slowly, softly, and silently until they made it into town. The whole time Annabelle noticed that the Sheppard had gotten slower and slower and had to lean on her more and more. They stopped at their usual spot. Then the Sheppard knelt down and held Annabelle’s hands in his.
“Annabelle, this is the last time we can be together. You know that don’t you.” He said.
“I don’t want you to go. Please don’t go.” She pleaded as tears came down her cheeks and fell onto their hands.
“I am always with you. So is your mother.” He smiled. His arms growing heavy as every moment passed.
He looked up to the sky which was growing darker and darker as the sun set. He cupped their hands together and blew into them. The warmth of his breath soothed Annabelle slightly. A white light shone from within their hands. The Sheppard opened their hands and the tears than Annabelle had shed were turned to shimmering points of light that flew up into the darkening night.
“For every song, for every laugh, for every memory we have ever shared, each light is one of them.” The Sheppard said.
He smiled deeply into her eyes and fell into the same sleep her mother had so long ago.
The town of Kalee held the largest ceremony in memory to honor the man who loved Annabelle’s mother whom it was learned had opposed the marriage but to save her and her home he agreed to back off.
Every day, for the rest of Annabelle’s life, she slipped away and climbed the green-grassed hill. At the top was a small flock of sheep. There a black and white dog would walk along side Annabelle and listen as she told stories and sang songs and laughed. And, as evening approached, she remembered her time with Sheppard with each star that shone so brightly.
I am the songs that you sing in your sleep
I am the whispers of the secrets you keep
I am the sun and the stars and the moon
I am the love, the memories of me and of you
Authors notes: I wrote this a number of years ago. Now after reading it again, and having what little understanding that I do of life and love and all the things that go with it, I would like to dedicate this to my best friend Shelley. She believes in me in a way no one else does. She awakens in me joys I never imagined, hopes I barely thought possible. She is my angel on earth, but she is a twit! A beautiful, amazing, easy to love twit, but a twit nonetheless!
