A lantern grew dim on the library table as I closed the heavy book. I was stunned. It had 3022 pages. I counted! Yet, the desire for more wounded me. But isn't that a tell-tale sign of such a wonderful story? A blissful sigh escaped my breath as I held the chronicle close to my heart. I was so engrossed in dreamy thoughts, the fact that my father was now standing right beside me escaped my attention.
"Jinora!" He uttered my name with a rushed silence.
"What are you doing up at this hour young lady?! It is well past your bedtime!" His words thickened and the once considerate whisper grew loud.
"I was reading." My reply was muted. "Shhhhhhhh, you're going to wake the entire island."
He's really upset! My dad's face turned red! Recognizing it quickly, before he exploded, I excused myself with a well-placed yawn. "You're right, I should get to bed." I stretched, rather convincingly, and toddled towards my escape.
As I tried to pass him, he stopped me. It must of been curiosity, his eyebrow quirked, one hand thoughtful on his chin. "What were you reading, Jinora?"
"The Legend of Avatar Aang!" I gleamed. "I loved, loved, Loved! This story! It was so marvelously written, I wonder how their journey ended up so perfectly, they had a habit of getting into a lot of weird circumstances, the cabbage merchant seems to show up everywhere, I wish the writer had elaborated more on the details of Fire Lord Zuko's mom, thousands of pages and I wish there were more!"
The smile on my face shrank as his grew. I knew what he was thinking. My voice had carried, I was now the one who broke the silence. Something that mere seconds ago, I had corrected him on. Not only that! Repeating a word needlessly, followed by ecstatic rambling? I sounded like my sister, Ikki.
"There is more to the story you know.." He knelt down to my level. "The book ends with the formation of Republic City, but that's only a small part of my father's legend."
"Will you tell it to me, Dad?"
"Of course, ...but not tonight. It is an ongoing tale, and you'll need a good night sleep before we can start." He took the book from my hands, gently placing it on the table. "Leave the book here, and get to bed."
Somehow he knew I would peruse my favorite parts of the book instead of dreaming. Hanging my head in disappointment, I moved towards the door. Waiting until tomorrow to learn more seems like an eternity! Then it hit me, I perked back up, and asked a question. I simply had to have it answered. If not, there was no hope of sleep!
"What did you mean by ongoing tale? Grandpa Aang died. As did many of his friends."
"Yes, Avatar Aang is gone..." He looked mournful for a moment, then, he smiled. "But now, we have Korra. And just seven short years after he passed, you were born. My dear Jinora, the story continues. Today and tomorrow. My children are heroes in an ongoing legend. Someday, a young girl will stay up all night to read about you."
The afterthought was well received. Grateful, I hug my father and head to bed. He can be so wise, just like Avatar Aang. On the way to my room, I peered up at the statue of grandfather. I bet grandpa and I would have been great pals! If only we could have met! My eyes lingered on the statue for awhile before letting out a sorrowful sigh, "If only."