Live and Forgive
For Those Who Don't Believe Anymore
B Y   S U S A N N A   H A R G R E A V E S

In hearts and dreams
love lasts and redeems
the belief of the soul within.
For the heart reigns with hope,
our white horses run free,
and the waves of the ocean sing.

A little wizard turns to me, and smiles
"Live and forgive," he says as he counts
the guardian stars,
and he goes back to his magic
as the music consoles
the genuine light of the fire.

THE CLINKING FROM THE OLD HEATER was beginning to ease the thoughts from Kerry's mind. She was finally feeling safe and secure under her fluffy comforter. Her eyelids were heavy and her head was clouded with the memories of what had happened in school that day.

The light from the moon descended through the window filling her with peace. The steady flows of a breeze caused her hair to tickle her face. She pushed her curls back and snuggled deep under her covers. She always slept with the window open just enough to let some of the night's air in. She was too tired to worry about school and the problems her family was having. Everything seemed so difficult to understand.

The breeze blew in again to play with the wind chimes hanging over the window. Her grandmother had given them to her for her birthday. "They will scare away your worries and all negativity. Their pretty song annoys evil spirits and keeps them away." She thought of her grandmother and before she knew it, she was falling into the sleep of dreams with the lullaby of the chimes.

Kerry didn't notice the tiny wooden door that appeared in the wall. The door opened and out crept a little man. Smiling he went to Kerry and kissed her forehead. Kerry's eyes fluttered open and to her amazement she was staring into the most beautiful blue eyes. These all knowing, eyes belonged to the gnome like face of a little old man.

Kerry immediately sat up and rubbed her eyes. When she opened them he was still standing there smiling with his eyes sparkling up at her. He couldn't be more than two feet tall, she thought. He wore a weathered dark blue robe with a matching cape and a worn sagging hat. "Are you real," she wondered? His blue eyes twinkled and then he began to speak,

"I am the fairy wizard, Cod Kingdom. You must come with me Kerry for I have so much to show you. So many people don't believe in the magic. So much has changed," he said shaking his head sadly.

Cod Kingdom took Kerry's hand and led her through the tiny door. She had to crawl because it was so small. The door led them to a dark and cold passage way and then to another door. This was the most magnificent door Kerry had ever seen. It was covered in gold and sparkling jewels. Cod Kingdom stopped to fumble in his robe pockets and search for the key as he muttered to himself. He eventually opened the door with one of his many silver skeleton keys. Once he opened the door, he led her into an even darker room.

"Love light fire," Cod Kingdom said. Several candles brightly lighted the entire room. Kerry stood and looked around the golden-lit room. She realized they were standing in an extremely messy library. Scattered every which way were books and papers pertaining to magic, myth, and faith. "There must be a million books," she thought as she admired the shelves that climbed all the way to the ceiling.

Then Kerry heard a voice say, "Hello my dear child." But she could not tell from whom or from where the voice was coming.

"Over here child," said the voice which now seemed to be coming from the door beyond the over piled desk and stone fireplace. Kerry walked cautiously towards the door.

"Down here," and she looked and there stood a white mouse! But this was no ordinary mouse. This mouse was adorned with round metal-rimmed glasses, a brown-vested suit, and was smoking a pipe!

"Welcome," said the mouse. "I am Hinsdale and it is so lovely to have a visitor. Would you like some tea or perhaps some cheese?"

Cod Kingdom cleared his throat. "Hinsdale is my trusted assistant and friend." Adding, "We don't have very much time tonight to visit."

"Oh what a disappointment," sighed Hinsdale as he sat down at a miniature desk. "We never get visitors, but it is so nice of you to stop by. No matter how brief, every meeting has meaning. Thank you for visiting."

Kerry smiled down at the mouse and could only manage to say, "Thank you," when Cod Kingdom had grabbed her hand saying, "No we hardly have time," and escorted her through a bulky brown wooden door into an enchanted garden outside.

There were hundreds of flowers and the birds were singing with the sonata of the wind chimes. The air smelled of sweet honey and the breeze danced in the branches of the trees. Kerry looked beyond the flowers and saw a golden gazebo on a hill of green waves. In this gazebo was a caldron of fire.

Cod Kingdom explained, "It is the fire of love. As long as the fire keeps burning love will exist." He smiled up at Kerry. This is what I wanted you to see Kerry. I tend the fire and people like you keep the fire of love alive. Come this way, there is more to see in your dreams.

Cod Kingdom led Kerry down a path that had a stream running along its side. At the end of the path was the ocean. They walked over the small sand dunes and through swaying tall grass. Kerry heard the crashing of the waves, but she also heard singing. The ocean was singing along with the birds and the wind chimes. She looked over to the west and saw a dark cloud and heard the hooves of running horses. In the distance, she could see hundreds of white horses.

"Everything is free and true in this land," Cod Kingdom said.

The sun sank quickly into the sparkling water and within minutes, the twilight became a glitter of stars. "1-2-3-4-5-6" Cod Kingdom was counting loudly as he looked up at the heavens.

"What on earth?" She thought to herself.

"I have to keep track of the stars," Cod Kingdom answered. "I count them every night. Each one is special. Every night there are more to count. They are the wishes from every loving heart. They are the protectors and guardians of that love and a reminder that there is always someone who loves. The love from this fire helps them shine bright. Through the distance, the stars shine and tell the heart that there is someone who loves them and thinks of them," Cod Kingdom whispered. "Love is the magic. No one understands how it starts and how it grows. If only people could have more faith in love and realize there is hope. We can make anything possible in the name of love. If only people would truly live and forgive."

"Live and forgive," thought Kerry. She suddenly felt very tired.

"It is time to get you back home," Cod Kingdom said. He whispered magic words and Kerry fell asleep to the singing of the wind chimes. Cod Kingdom magically returned her to her room, into her bed under her warm comforter. He tucked her in and kissed her on the forehead.

"Remember Kerry, live and forgive," Kingdom whispered.

"Live and forgive," she muttered in her deep sleep as the wind blew in and the chimes sang. He slipped through the tiny door and the door disappeared.

© 2007 Susanna Hargreaves, All Rights Reserved