Skyedive - Chapter 31, Skipping Stones
In today’s episode we read the chapter 31 - Skipping Stones – in which Farfalla begins to devise a plan for revenge.
This week's podcast partner is Volsteadland: https://linkin.bio/volstead_land
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FULL TRANSCRIPT:
Things with Wings Productions presents: Chapter 31 of The Skylark Bell, Skyedive. I am your host, Melissa Oliveri.
In last week’s episode Farfalla returned to the moment she was thrown off the cliff by the residents of Pocaid.
In today’s episode we read the chapter 31 - Skipping Stones – in which Farfalla begins to devise a plan for revenge.
Today’s podcast partner is Volsteadland. Hosts Amy and Heather take you to the deepest, darkest recesses of prohibition era Minneapolis while exploring the fascinating real life story of famous Twin Cities mobster Kid Cann. Even if you aren’t familiar with Minneapolis, or Kid Cann, this is a fascinating tale that you won’t want to miss. Just check the show notes for a link to Voslteadland.
Now, it’s time to settle in… grab a blanket, and a warm drink… and let’s get started.
The last time I woke in this bed was the morning they took me away and threw me off a cliff.
I didn’t intend to sleep so long, but it is early morning still. I should be able to sneak away unseen. Before falling asleep I made my way into Carnifex House, and I watched Frannie and Felix as they slept. I hold no ill will toward Frannie, she didn’t know what would happen when she told her parents about what I did to Nurse Betsey. Had I known she was there that day, watching, I never would have carried out my plan. But that is all in the past now…
It’s a funny expression, isn’t it? “All in the past”. As if the past is a set thing, an unmovable point on a line. I suppose to most people it is, but not to me.
Today I set a new plan in motion. The Vanishings. I haven’t even started, yet the stories have been told for generations. I can only conclude that this will not be the only time I make someone “vanish”. From what I can gather, I have quite a reputation to live up to.
Well, I can hardly become the stuff of legend looking like this. It was painful glancing in the mirror this morning. I hadn’t seen my reflection since the day before I was pulled from this cottage. Was it 5 years ago? Longer? I’ve lost track of how much time I spent with the tribe. My hair has grown so long and so tangled I had to find shears to clean it up after the comb broke in my hand. There are small creases at the corners of my eyes and mouth now that weren’t there before. My dress, despite my best efforts to clean it, looks dingey and worn, so I took a fresh gown from the wardrobe. I remember wearing it to one of the fancy dinners Donald and Isabella Carnifex put on. It’s a beautiful, crisp white gown with lace along the cuffs and neckline. I think this will be a good look for Dealan-dè.
The sun will rise soon, it is time for me to go.
I will wait for him on the beach.
~~~~~~
The cool breeze whips Farfalla’s fiery hair around her face. The white dress billows around her legs as the waves lick her feet. She is looking out at the sea, still dreaming of her daughter on the other side. She has tried repeatedly to let go of that dream, but somewhere deep inside here it remains, surfacing when she least expects it. However, this deep desire to be with her child may help her in her quest today.
“Hullo again,” says the small, now familiar voice.
“Hi Ash,” says Farfalla, turning to the boy. She scans the beach behind him and is relieved to see he has come alone. “I told you I’d see you again,” she says, winking at him.
Ash grins and nods. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out two flat stones. He tosses one of them across the water and it skips 6 times before sinking. “Would you like to try?” he asks. Farfalla nods and grabs the stone from his hand. She holds it up to her mouth and whispers something before launching the stone across the water. The rock skips at least a dozen times before disappearing from view.
Ash turns to her, his large blue eyes even wider than they already were. “How did you do that?” he says, incredulous.
“I kindly asked the rock to skip,” she answers in a very matter-of-fact tone. “You could do it to,” she adds slyly.
“Really?” asks the boy, still in stunned disbelief.
“Sure! I can teach you everything I know,” says Farfalla, crouching down to the boy’s level.
“Would I have to go into the woods?” asks the boy, getting suspicious.
“Well, yes. That is where my school is,” says Farfalla, choosing her words carefully. “It’s a beautiful place, with tall trees, and my friend Ru would love to meet you. He’s a red deer,” she adds, hoping to win over the boy with the promise of a new pet.
“A real red deer?! Does he let you pet him!” asks Ash, no longer trying to hold back his excitement.
“More than that, he speaks to me,” says Farfalla, reeling the boy in. “In fact, he told me he would wait for me at the edge of the woods, I bet he’s there right now, by the big ancient rock, do you know which one I’m talking about?” she asks.
“Yes, it’s the one I was hiding behind the first time we met,” he says. “I was playing hide and seek with Felix. I told him I saw you, but he didn’t believe me, and he never wanted to play with me after that. Everyone thinks I’m strange,” he adds, sadness in his voice.
“Well, I think you’re perfectly wonderful and I would love to play hide and seek with you, or any other game you choose. But I need to get back home soon. Ru will be waiting for me,” she says, standing up. “It was nice seeing you again, Ash,” she says, turning to leave.
Ash hesitates as Farfalla takes a few steps up the beach then shouts “Wait!” Farfalla smiles, then turns toward the boy, an innocent look on her face. “I’d like to meet Ru, and I’d like to learn how to skip stones clear across the bay like you can,” says the boy.
“Then all you need to do is follow me,” she says, reaching down to grab the boy’s hand.
They walk across the beach and through the fields. At the edge of the woods Farfalla calls to Ru who appears almost immediately. “Ru, this is my friend Ash,” she says to the deer. The deer looks suspiciously at her, as if it is questioning her motives more so than assessing the small stranger.
“Hullo Ru!” says the boy with a tinge of intimidation in his voice. He reaches a hand up and gingerly pets the deer’s face.
“Ru says he’s very pleased to meet you, and he says he will lead the way through the forest,” says Farfalla. The boy doesn’t hesitate for a moment and falls in line behind Ru. Farfalla walks behind them to ensure they are not followed. They walk for nearly an hour before Ash begins to tire. Farfalla picks him up in her arms and carries him the rest of the way, relishing the feeling of once again holding a child in her arms. By the time they reach the gateway the boy has fallen asleep. She places him gently on the ground with a rolled-up blanket beneath his head.
Farfalla calls to the birds and ask them to bring her feathers and soft grass to make a bed for the boy. Within minutes a flock of birds drops off the requested materials and Farfalla gets to work building a cot for him. Her task complete, she gently places the boy on his bed and covers him with the blanket. She sits back and watches him sleep. The sharp pain of nostalgia hits her in the chest as she recalls watching Elisabeth sleep in her bed at Paloma’s city apartment the night before she and James left for Scotland. Farfalla stretches out on the ground next to the boy and falls asleep, dreaming of her old life. For so long she called it her real life, but now she isn’t quite sure what is real anymore.
Thank you so much for listening. Join me next week for Chapter 32 – Her Prison, Her Fate – in which Farfalla requests of favour from an old friend.
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Once again, thank you for listening – I’m Melissa Oliveri, writer, host and producer of The Skylark Bell Podcast.
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