Mummy's Magic
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A little tribute to all those extraordinary mothers out there,
and mine in particular...
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“Pwease…?”
The quivering voice, the moist eyes and the trembling lip usually get the job done very well.
“Stephanus! I told you already: it is bedtime now!” The answering voice is severe, cold dark - almost black - eyes peer down sternly.
Skilfully increase the trembling of the lower lip one notch, blink fiercely to allow one tear to escape and hug the bear while silently rocking.
“Oh, I suppose…” A twinkle appears in the dark eyes, which are no longer cold but soft and caring.
Bingo!
“… It is nearly your birthday anyway; consider it an early present…”
The bed creaks softly when Daddy settles himself close by, a warm and loving beacon in a cold and dark night. Serenity tiptoes over, slides with practised experience under the blankets and cuddles close.
Daddy clears his throat, his eyes look into the distance, a sad look within, looking past the bedroom wall, past time…
“Your mother had magic fingers. She could make the best bacon pancakes in the whole wide world… When you would wake up, you’d be greeted by the most delicious smell of crispy bacon and soft pancakes.She‘d always be singing when she’s baking…
‘Somewhere over the Rainbow’ was her favourite song, and on clear nights with millions of stars, she’d used to drag me outside, and we’d sit there all night, cosy under a blanket in the middle of the prairie. And we’d tell each other stories, and she’d sing her favourite song whenever she spotted a falling star. She always winked and told me it made your deepest wishes come true as long as you just believed in it with all your heart.
She‘d always give me a kiss, whispering I was one of those wishes that had come true, and that later her two lovely children were the others.
She loved you both so much and she was always so very concerned when either of you were sick or hurt. But she had magic kisses that could heal any wound swiftly. She’d used to sing you both lullabies, every night, after she had tucked you in and given you an Eskimo kiss. She’d play with the dolls for you, re-enacting great stories about princesses, princes, dragons and Elves.
She was so smart; she always knew a solution to everything. She looked like an angel; with long wavy gold brown hair and the warmest and compassionate eyes you can imagine. There was a spark of magic in those amazing eyes, which always seemed to see beyond the ordinary.
Your mummy saw something in daddy no one had ever seen before; she gave so much love without asking, yes without caring about my cold rejection in the beginning. Her love gave me hope, the strength to hold on, to overcome all difficulties, to become who I really was deep inside.
You have her eyes and big heart, Stephen… You have her hair and wits, Serry… In a way, she’s still here with us, she’ll always be with us. She’ll guide you, catch you when you fall, whisper in your ear how proud she is and how much she loves you…"
Daddy’s voice falters slightly; with difficulty he pulls overtly bright eyes away from the wall. There is so much love, yet so much sadness in his dark eyes… I bet he misses mummy even more then we do, since we only have some vague memories of warm laughter and bright brown eyes.
A big family hug usually fixes things to a certain degree, but tonight, daddy’s smile is not real. Tomorrow it will be exactly 3 years since the day mummy became an angel. Tomorrow will be my birthday…
Serenity quietly slips into her own bed once more, and daddy tucks us both back in. After he leaves, Serenity and I lay awake for a long time, but we keep silent. Much, much later we hear daddy coming to sleep too in the next room, but guessing from his tossing and turning, he couldn’t fall asleep either. Finally, in the wee nightly hours, all is quiet. Daddy is finally asleep, though moaning slightly in one of his nightmares. Serenity’s even breath tells me at least she is sleeping soundly.
For some reason, I cannot stay in bed anymore, and I decide to get some fresh air outside.
It’s one of the clear ‘million stars’ nights mummy used to love so much. I have brought a blanket and settle in the middle of the prairie.
A small breeze ruffles my hair. I can imagine mummy’s voice whispering ‘I’m so proud of you and I love you so very, very much…’
I look up at the skies and see a falling star. Daddy doesn’t believe in the magic of stars anymore, and Serenity is too level-headed to ever consider it. But I still believe in magic. I do with all my heart. Because I can feel mummy is somewhere out there, looking for me. And as I sing mummy’s special song, I offer my birthday wish to the fallen star and wish with all my heart she’d come back home.
When I wake up – having crawled into bed some time earlier -, I feel very refreshed, especially considering the fact I have only managed to get very few hours of rest. I stretch lazily and breathe a quiet sigh.
Suddenly my nose twitches at an unfamiliar scent, wafting from the hallway. A delicious smell of crispy bacon and soft pancakes…
Daddy is not bad a cook, but he never cooks breakfast in the mornings, and he has never before made pancakes…
Curious, I tiptoe to the kitchen. There, standing at the counter expertly wielding a giant pan, is a young woman – an angel? - with wavy gold brown hair exactly the same shade of Serenity’s.
She hears my gasp and turns around. She smiles widely, bright brown eyes identical to my own lighting up with magic sparks. She whispers conspiringly: ‘The best bacon pancakes in the whole wide world… Want one?’
I think I’m still dreaming, but I like this dream very much, so, afraid any wrong move may end it, I just nod and accept a plate.
“Well, Stephen, do give it a try, it’s not that horrible” She laughs.
I blush, duck my head and take a bite. It is the most delicious thing I have ever tasted. I keep my head down, afraid that when I look up, I will be sitting alone in a cold pancake-less and angel-less kitchen. But then I hear her warm voice singing ‘Somewhere over the Rainbow’ and my head snaps up involuntarily.
Angel-Mummy winks. “As long as you believe in it with all your heart, your deepest wishes can come true.”
“Are you an angel?”
“No, sweetie, I’m not.” Her eyes twinkle merrily. “You used your own magic tonight. You wished upon a very special star. It guided me the way, and your love gave me the strength to journey home…” She drops a kiss on my head, and I feel pleasant tingles running over my spine.
Mummy’s magic…
And I believe, with all my heart, that she’s there, that this dream is real, and suddenly she looks less angel-like and more solid in a way I cannot explain. She ruffles my hair. ‘Thank you for believing.’ She smiles and I feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
Suddenly, a crash from the doorway makes me swivel around. Daddy is standing there, his mouth slightly open, a broken glass at his feet. “Helena?” He whispers, afraid to break the spell. But then, a tousled-haired Serenity pushes past him, runs straight for mummy and jumps into the opened arms. I quickly join her. We all look at daddy.
Mummy smiles soflty. “Come, Sebastius, this is no dream. It is very real and I would very much like to hold you again.”
With a great sob and one giant pace, daddy reaches us and nearly crushes us in his embrace. Mummy gives him an Eskimo kiss and he kisses her back fully on the mouth, hesitantly at first, but then they seem to forget about the rest of the world as they kiss… and kiss, … and kiss…
Mummy’s magic…
Serenity and I share a look, shrug and attack the feast of bacon pancakes waiting for us at the table.
After an eternity, and three pancakes, mummy carefully disentangles herself. “Not now, Sebastian, we have some children to feed.”
And daddy laughs.
He really laughs!
I’ve never seen him do anything more than smile softly.
But now he laughs, laughs more vibrantly than I’ve ever heard.
He has a wonderful laugh. He should do it more often.
Mummy’s eyes catch mine, full of sparkling promise.
And suddenly I know daddy will be laughing more often from now on. I also know that there will be family nights out watching the stars, Eskimo kisses and songs, and stories about Elves…
She blows me a kiss full of love.
Mummy’s magic…
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Dedicated to all mummy’s… and their most extraordinary magic…
Mothers are amazing. They are the foundation of a family, the epitome of unselfish and undemanding love. They have so much courage, so much strength and so much hope. Yet they are willing to sacrifice everything for their children’s happiness.
She is always there for us, guiding our unsteady feet, kissing away our bruises, telling us how proud she is at every step of the road of our lives.
She believes in you and loves you with all her heart... and she always will…
Sometimes it’s good to remember mum.
Keep her always with you; let her live forever in your heart…
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