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Haley
***
It surprised Mary to find she was expecting a second child. She had no idea that the Almighty God would bless them with another child. She prepared a delectable meal for Theo and Ray. Mary wanted to make this important announcement even more memorable.
"This is a Thanksgiving supper, because we have a lot to be thankful for," she said to the boys.
Ray frowned. "What is Thanksgiving, Mom?"
"Thanksgiving is a special holiday that brings us together to give thanks and remember the Almighty for everything He has done for us. God is continually leading and gifting us with wonderful things throughout our lives. For that, we are thankful to Him," Mary remarked, her voice faltering as a little tear slipped from her eyes.
That expression was familiar to Theo. Something bothering his wife. He detected a glimmer of joy, but her twinkling eyes puzzled him. He couldn’t figure out why his wife felt emotional, and the reason for her sudden decision to host a Thanksgiving dinner baffled him.
Theo, concerned, asked Mary. "What’s the matter? Did something happen? Are you okay?"
Mary grinned. She knew the perfect moment had arrived. She gazed at Theo with such love and affection, and told the father and son, "We are adding another child to our growing family."
Theo was surprised, and Ray was shocked. There were no words to convey how they felt. When the reality of it all hit them, they rushed out of their chairs and jumped in delight, hugging and kissing one another.
The whole family knelt and prayed God for the bounty He had given them. They knew they had received God’s blessing because they trusted Him in every situation. They couldn’t stop laughing. The family danced and cried as they thanked God for gifting them with another child. It overjoyed Theo and Mary with their new bundle of joy, and Ray can’t wait to meet his new baby brother or sister.
***
TIME PASSED, AND THEO and Mary busied themselves at their fruit and vegetable stand. They worked hard to give their patrons the best product and service available. Because of their loyal customers, the business flourished quickly, allowing them to expand, save money, and move to a larger stall. Mary expanded their business to include gift baskets. It was a hand-packed assortment of fruits with a delightful touch of flowers, such as roses and gardenias, put in the basket that Theo made by hand. With the holidays approaching, it became an instant hit, and Theo had to employ more staff to keep up with the demand. Sometimes Mary would do a culinary demonstration and hand out recipes that would go well with what they were selling. They always come up with new ideas to improve their business.
Ray helped his parents with their business when school was closed for the holidays. He got up early to go to the field where they harvested vegetables. Ray used rubber bands to bind them together into different-sized bundles. Then he’d place them in the baskets, and Theo would put them on the cart to sell at the market.
Mary climbed up the treehouse to rest one night after they celebrated Ray’s seventh birthday on Christmas Day, since she had been on her feet all day cooking and preparing a magnificent supper for everyone. She’d even made something special for the animals.
Ray was busily combing the horse’s mane and tail as Theo sat on the balcony, gazing at the sky, when a mysterious horse with shining golden wings emerged. Ray approached it and wondered where it came from. He patted the horse’s head, while the other animals moved up to it and bent down. The golden horse made a short and delicate nickering sound, as though acknowledging their presence.
Theo, who was now standing on the balcony, noticed the magnificent horse and wondered where it came from. While he gazed at it and wondered what it could mean, he went down to examine the animal. To his surprise, the horse just glanced at him and neighed. The golden horse then rose from the ground, neighing into the air and releasing a dazzling light that prompted Theo to shield his eyes. It went down after a few seconds of blinding brightness, but Theo was paralyzed and speechless at what he had just experienced. He returned to the treehouse when he remembered Mary. He was almost there when he heard Mary’s cry. The lovely sound of a newborn could be heard all the way over the mountains and into the forest. Theo entered the treehouse and found Mary resting on the bed with a healthy newborn baby girl. His new daughter had wide brown eyes, lovely black hair with a splash of spectacular golden brown on top, and flawless skin, soft and silky, with a flush of red on her cheeks like flowers.
Theo approached Mary, kissed her on the cheek, then picked up the newborn, cleaned her, and wrapped her in a blanket to keep her warm. He held her close and rocked her, singing, "Go to sleep, my darling, you are truly a miracle from God..."
The infant stared at him for a long time, as if she could see him, before closing her eyes and falling asleep. Theo placed the baby in Ray’s old crib, grabbed another blanket, and tucked her in snugly.
Ray entered the room, stood beside the crib, and watched his baby sister sleep. He already loved her. The infant felt Ray’s presence, and she opened her eyes. It pleased Ray when he saw the baby extending her arms towards him. He and the infant were connecting, so Theo grinned. It also shocked him that they had the same birthdate. Theo and Mary called the baby Haley in honor of Ray’s kindergarten teacher, Miss Haley, who had shown them kindness when Ray started school.
It overjoyed Theo and Ray to welcome a baby girl into the family, and they wanted to pamper her like a princess. The father and son left the child alone to rest. When the wind stormed in to welcome the new baby, it rocked the cradle back and forth, putting the baby to sleep.
Meanwhile, the golden horse reappeared from nowhere and stood outside the treehouse, as if guarding them. Ray patted its back, and it raced out into the vast field. The dog, cat, donkey, cows, pigs, chickens, sheep, and horses all followed. The golden horse returned, remained beneath the treehouse, and did not leave again.
As time went by, Ray and Haley grew up loving and caring for each other. They were kindhearted and had respect for Mother Nature. By then, Ray was eleven years old. As he grew older, his ability to connect with the elements grew stronger, and he felt a surge of confidence within him. Ray learned to have complete control of his unique abilities. He flew with the wind at great speed. He could breathe underwater for a remarkable length of time, and could speak to sea creatures in their own language. His powers with fire increased exponentially, so he could start fires at will or increase the surrounding temperature, but he remained invulnerable to the heat. Ray was becoming an amazing child.
Haley, who was now four years old, was a very special child. She had intelligence and maturity beyond her age. She had a great love and understanding of nature beyond what most kids her age had. Haley was so cute and so good that when she walked around the garden, the sun shone brighter, and the birds sang sweeter when she passed. She talked to the animals so happily and gently, with a smile on her face, and the animals loved her. Theo and Mary discovered Haley had the power to grow any living things with the touch of her hand. She grew up to have a green thumb like her mother. Haley followed her everywhere. She wanted to be wherever she was, and Mary loved it. Haley had strong feelings and concerns about Mother Earth, even at such a young age. Haley created the most extraordinary and beautiful garden full of vegetables and flowers, where the birds and butterflies flew. Everything she touched grew and flourished under her watchful eye. Mary was so proud of her little gardener. It did not surprise Theo and Mary that Haley had some magical powers, like Ray, and they would be there for their daughter when it emerged. They would give her all the love and encouragement, just as they handled Ray’s power when they discovered it. Theo and Mary taught their children humility, kindness, and a great sense of responsibility about how to handle their special abilities.
Thanks to Theo and Mary, St. Matilde now had a strong community spirit. It was now known as the best venue to host indoor or outdoor activities, because of its warm and soft trade breezes, mild temperatures, and sunny sky all year, not to mention wide open spaces for any event. The town’s bustling center was still in the marketplace. It was the focal point where the primary roads into town from the north, south, east, and west intersected.
It still remained a mystery to the citizens of St. Matilde where Theo and Mary lived, because they had kept it a secret. The townspeople never put them under any pressure to reveal anything to them. They had too much respect for Theo and Mary, and believed they would share it with them when they were ready.
***
THE TOWN BUZZED THAT morning, since it was the last day of a month-long series of celebrations commemorating the feast of St. Matilde in May.
The first event was a procession featuring floats constructed entirely of tropical fruits and vegetables. Following that, Ray and his St. Matilde Elementary School classmates would compete in a street dancing competition. The winner would get a ten-day pass to an exclusive summer camp for boys and girls, where they can participate in activities such as hiking, horseback riding, backpacking, river rafting, mountain biking, archery, sports, crafts, and woodworking. Ray and his friends were excited, and they worked tirelessly to win the grand prize.
Photography, film, video, sculpture, pottery, and oil painting were among the scheduled visual art exhibits. Mary and two of her pals enrolled in a pottery class. She wanted to make a vase for her flowers at home. There were competitions in golf, basketball, and soccer. Theo and a few other fathers signed up for the amateur golf event. The festival offered a range of pleasant activities for both locals and visitors.
The weather was lovely that morning, as people lined the streets to see the parade. Theo, Ray, and Haley were already there, sitting on the curb and watching people dance in the street. Theo looked for Mary, but couldn’t find her anywhere and wondered where she was.
The parade started a few moments later. People stood and applauded in delight as the St. Matilde High School band performed the National Anthem, and a youngster carried an American flag to begin the ceremony. They decked the first float with tropical pineapple and coconuts, and when it passed, everyone cheered and shouted. Lucy, the governor’s wife, and Mary rode aboard the float. Mary’s hair was styled wonderfully in an updo, and she wore a gorgeous crown diamond on top of her head.
"Mom! Mom!" Ray and Haley both yelled.
When Mary heard them, she turned her head toward their voices. She spotted her husband and children in the crowd and grinned as she saw their radiant smiles, blew a kiss, and waved. Theo couldn’t believe his wife was taking part in the parade. She did a fantastic job of keeping it hidden from him. He stared at his wife, amazed at how lovely she was, and whispered, "I love you." Somehow, Mary heard it and giggled. Some of her shyness vanished as she grinned even larger and waved to the crowd, which cheered and applauded for her.
Following Mary’s float were a few motorcades, followed by fireworks and poppers. As the last float passed, people whistled and threw confetti into the air.
The street dance competition was up next. Dance teams of young elementary and middle school street dancers from various towns would participate in many rounds of elimination and finals, with one team winning the title and the big prize. They had to beat Sergio Middle School, the four-year defending champion of this prestigious dance competition. No one could beat them, but Ray and his friends were determined to win. They intended to do a series of backflips and cartwheels to earn their way into summer camp. The boys put one hand on top of the other and yelled, "This is for our school! We can do this!"
Soon after, six groups of dancing crews competed to show off their street dancing talents. When Ray and his friends came on stage and danced, the audience became denser and louder, and the atmosphere was strong. They easily defeated their opponents in the preliminary rounds. The judges eliminated three teams, and the remaining teams faced off on the floor, taking turns, while allowing each crew their own space on the floor as they performed. In the final round, Ray performed many excellent routine handstands across the stage, balanced on his left hand, and displayed some clever footwork. The audience applauded, and everyone knew they were going to win.
Mr. Leo, the town’s mayor, took center stage and thanked the event coordinators and everyone who made it a highly successful event. When he announced St. Matilde Elementary School had won the street dance competition, everyone stood up and applauded. Ray’s school had won for the first time. Sergio Middle School couldn’t believe elementary children had defeated them.
After the event, everyone visited the various booths. Some looked at the food kiosks, while others rummaged through the home decor areas. Some visitors were preparing to return home, while many shoppers waited, hoping to find last-minute discounts, and it paid off. A few shops competed for sales by reducing prices by up to 50%.
There were many people at Theo and Mary’s stand, and everything was practically gone. They weren’t selling anything that day, but they were giving each guest a bag of fruit to take home. Mary showed how to prepare her famous mango salad, while Theo chatted with a few visitors, offering them fishing suggestions. Men, and even some women, were interested in hearing his style, since Theo was a natural-born speaker.
When he noticed a few women paying attention to his instructions, Theo explained that bait fishing was one of the simplest ways to catch fish, and a brilliant strategy for a starting fisherman or fisherwoman.
"It’s simple in that all you have to do is bait a hook and cast your line into the water. It works because live bait is irresistible to fish. They think it is a gourmet food."
The audience burst out laughing.
Theo was ready to show them how to choose the correct bait when he heard a few men talking about Vedasto City.
Vedasto City? Theo mumbled. That’s our old town!
Theo didn’t want to listen to the men’s conversation, but his curiosity got the better of him. He'd heard nothing about their former town since they’d departed.
"It was unfortunate. That town was thriving with goods, and it was the best farming community in the country. For some weird reason, awful things happened one after the other, as if they were cursed."
"What do you mean?" one man asked.
"Many years ago, Vedasto City thrived as an agricultural town and fishing harbor. People moved to this small community from all around the state in pursuit of better opportunities. For a long time, they were the finest farming community, providing more jobs, more houses, and a better way of life. The town died because of devastating storms, followed by a drought. Because no one understood what had happened, many people left their homes to start new lives elsewhere. Some inhabitants stayed because they had no other option."
"That is dreadful. What do you think happened?" another man asked.
"From what I’ve heard, this small community is full of ghost stories, creatures, strange occurrences, and curses. Many people say the woods have grown silent, with no birds or animals, and no one dares to wander into them since no one ever returns. It all started when they banished two hideous creatures from their community. They were the ones who cursed them, and the plague has destroyed their land ever since. These are merely urban legends, but I’d want to know what devastated the town."
I’m also curious! Theo murmured to himself.
That night, Theo sat by himself, leaning against the treehouse and gazing up at the sky. He was worried by what he’d found about Vedasto City. He knew those men were talking about Mary and him. Theo couldn’t believe the town had blamed them for the disaster. He was eager to learn more about the curse. Vedasto City was their home, and he intended to clear their names if they were being condemned. Theo didn’t sleep a wink and decided not to tell his wife until he knew for sure what had happened. Ray and his friends were off to summer camp, and Mary and a few other moms were accompanying them. They were getting ready to leave the next day, and he didn't want to spoil his wife's trip with their son. He exhaled hard, not knowing what to do.
***
RAY WAS THE FIRST TO get out of bed. He didn’t sleep because he was so excited. Today was the first day of their summer camp excursion. When Mary and Theo awoke, they saw Ray seated on a tree stump, waiting for them.
Ray grinned at them and added, "I’m all dressed and ready to go."
As he walked by, Theo grinned at his son and messed up his hair as he made his way to the barn to feed the animals. Ray was excited and couldn’t stop talking about the new adventures that awaited them. Mary was anxious about meeting new people in a strange place. She wasn’t sure how they’d respond to her. It was different in St. Matilde. The villagers welcomed her and Theo heartily, but going to a different place may be difficult. However, as she glanced at Ray, who was so cheerful and happy, all her doubts and concerns disappeared. How could she say no to a smile like that?
She had packed everything they would need for their trip, and it disappointed Haley that she could not join them.
Mary consoled her and said, "The pass is only good for Ray and his friends because they won the competition. I promise we’ll go another time."
"Yay!" Haley screamed.
Mary smiled, thinking her daughter was so easily pleased. "Take care of the animals while we’re gone," she reminded Haley.
Haley smiled and assured her mother that she would take good care of them.
The mother and son were soon ready to leave. The family kissed and waved goodbye as Mary and Ray floated away on a cloud to St. Matilde. Haley was crying as she waved, and Theo tried to comfort her by telling her they would have a lovely time together at home. Haley calmed down and walked with her father to the barn to check on the animals.
When Mary and Ray arrived at the town hall, they noticed the school bus was already there. The other parents were waiting in line. Mary greeted them as Ray and his friends gave high-fives, and couldn't believe they were on their way to the most elite summer camp they could imagine. A few moments later, the bus driver announced it was time for everyone to board the bus.
And a whole new world of exciting activities awaited them!
