(Song: "On This Night of a Thousand Stars" Lyrics by Tim Rice, Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber)
The five sat chatting happily amongst themselves without a care in the world. The young girl with golden blond hair sat desperately conversing with a boy of around her age that appeared to be a native of the area, from his tanned skin to his back hair. The conversation seemed to be concerning the rough shaped book that the girl held clutched in her palm.
The gray haired elderly lady sitting at the girl's side, deeply entranced by their argument, as was the middle aged man and woman who also occupied the round table.
"I'm sure that it is wonderful if Tabitha thinks so," the middle aged woman teased.
"Ah....of course. Everyone must believe the goddess," the dark haired boy smiled charmingly giving a quick wink to the older woman.
The young beauty spoke to the older woman at her side, "Do you hear that Grandma? Now, I'm a goddess. Has he forgotten that I am only an odd schoolgirl, because that was definitely what I remember being called just yesterday."
The occupants of the table all replied, "Ahhh..." in unison and began to chuckle whole-heartedly.
As the laughing wore down, there was quiet as the gramophone's quick step music was changed.
"Ah, this is more like it," said the older man, standing up and offering a hand to what appeared to be his wife, the middle aged woman. She, with golden blond hair and large warm brown eyes closely similar to their daughter's, grinned widely and began to blush a slight pink, "Charles!"
He continued to hold out his work hardened hand defiantly. She waved her hands uneasily in the air and rolled her almond shaped eyes as she stood, "You are crazy!"
"That's why you love me," he smile as he quickly pulled her out on to the dance floor.
"On this night of a thousand stars,
let me take you to Heaven's doors.
Where the music of love's guitars,
plays forever more..."
"You could never find two people who love each other more than your mama and papa," said the grandmother.
"I know, Grandma. I just wonder if the Lord has someone out there like that for me."
"That he does. Oh, but you're way too young to be troubling yourself with such things. Put your mind at ease and enjoy the evening, sweet Tabitha."
"It is nice." Tabitha replied.
The lad across the table sighed loudly, "Too much talk and no dancing. It would be an honor, Ms. Peters, if you would join me on this beautiful night of a thousand stars."
He did a sort of bow and offered his hand. The grandmother beamed, "The honor is mine, Pablo."
Tabitha's great auburn eyes followed the two out on to the dance floor. The candles at the core of every hanging lantern flickered brightly as the incoming breeze quaintly ruffled the large tent.
"In the glow of those twinkling lights
we show love through eternity.
On this night of a million nights,
fly away with me...."
Her gaze slowly followed upward to the gently billowing canvas until she reached the small hole in the center. The stars glimmered brightly against the large dark blue mass of horizon.
"But all of my grief disappeared
and all of the sorrow id feared wasn't there anymore.
On that magical day,
when you first came my way, me amour."
Suddenly a waving hand intercepted her view. Her eyes smiled back lovingly into his. "May I have this dance?"
"Of course, Papa," Tabitha smiled.
That was the last night Tabitha L`etoile would ever remember the people in her life, accompanying her in a remote sense of happiness. Little did she know that it would all end up changing so quickly.
"On this night
On this night
On this night of a thousand stars,
let me take you to Heaven's door.
Where the music of love's guitar,
plays for evermore..."
Chapter2
Tabitha squinted her sleepy eyes uneasily as she began to awaken from her deep slumber. The gleaming morning sun shone brightly through the window at her bedside. "Hmmm..."
Tabitha sighed, stretching her arms as she rolled out of bed.
As she slowly pushed the door ajar from her bedchamber she noticed three faces just down the hall. She rushed to her mother and father's side. "Mama! What is it?....Papa?" she cried, seeing his worried face and her tears.
"It's Grandma.....She..."
"No!" Tabitha screamed, turning quickly to Pablo. He nodded solemnly, carefully removing his cabby hat from his thick mop of black hair. Unbelieving of what she was hearing, Tabitha fled. She raced down the winding stairs and out the kitchen door.
****
"Astrum!"
Tabitha heard calling over the ridge, along with a clatter of running footsteps. She had no need to turn to look at the approacher could be. She new by the panted breaths that drew nearer that it was Pablo.
"Astrum," he muttered again through gasps for air.
"You should not have ran out here....You will wear yourself out and won't be able to work."
"The store is closed today by your Papa's orders," Pablo replied, carefully plopping himself down in the cool sand at her side.
Silence followed as Pablo joined her in starring out to the horizon and the endless opaque waters. "Wouldn't you like to talk about it?" he asked.
Her voice could hardly be evident over the crashing of waves. "What was that?...We used to talk about everything."
There was another awkward silence. Then it all just began to come flowing out.
"I don't understand! She was just fine at the fiesta last night," Tabitha muttered, her eyes filling with tears. Pablo gently wrapped his arms around her comfortably, and whispered a few calm and soothing words, "Ponga su mente en la facilidad. Todo está bien. Somos juntos." ::translated - Put your mind at ease. All is well. We are together.::
"Merci. Ce qui je jamais ferait sans vous." ::translated - Thank you. What would I ever do without you.::
"Astrum, you're talking in French."
"Oh, I'm sorry. I guess I got a little carried away. It's just... I will miss her."
Pablo nodded sadly, "Sí, amigo. That we all will."
****
"I can not believe we told her," Mrs. L`etoile murmured as she shakily sipped her after dinner tea. "You know that we had no choice, Mam," Pablo nodded nervously. "No! if only, if only, you had never joined up with that wretched group of ruffians, those wretched Liberals," Mrs. L`etoile shouted.
Mr. L`etoile jumped up angry, "Don't you dare bring this up again, Mary. I had no choice, but to join them. You said it yourself. There was nothing else that I could have done."
"Let's just hope that they don't find us out," said Mr. Hernandez, the laundry Shoppe owner from across the street. He clutched his wife's hand tightly to ease his shuddering from the awkward silenceness.
"You have my silence," Mrs. Hernandez said, forcing a smile.
"And ours," Pablo muttered, wrapping around Tabitha. She pulled her rose embroidered shawl uneasily tight around her small shoulders in an effort to stop her shivering. But nothing changed for her shaking came not from the cold, but from fright.
****
Let's try to enjoy ourselves." Pablo smiled the next afternoon as they sat quietly at the town square's small trickling water fountain. He nudged Tabitha quaintly to force a smile. Her eyes glimmered.
"How about a fiesta down by the sea?"
"Don't be crazy!....Just the two of us?" Tabitha laughed.
"Si...just the two of us....Come on, It'll be fun," Pablo replied.
"All right, but I must remember to pick up some tortillas for Mama before night falls."
****
They carefully laid out their lunch picnic along the Mediterranean shore of their little village, Adja. Pablo stuffed his belly full of the tortilla sandwiches, Mrs. L`etoile had crafted for them, while Tabitha lounged about, sipping her lemonade.
"How about a dance?" she smiled mischievously.
"What?" Pablo asked, eyebrows raised.
"You can't have a fiesta without dancing."
Pablo groaned, "I'm too full... besides, we don't have any music."
Tabitha's eyes narrowed mystically, "Let the waves be your song."
Pablo went double with laughter, "You are crazy. You know that?"
"Ahh... come on, amigo. This whole fiesta thing was your idea," Tabitha paused. "What? Would you like for me to sing to you?"
He grinned, "That would be nice."
"Only if you dance," Tabitha said, keeping her hand outstretched. Pablo sighed loudly and relentlessly stood to join her in cha cha stance.
"On this night of a thousand stars,
let me take you to Heaven's doors.
Where the music of love's guitars,
plays forever more..."
Pablo groaned, "Can't you sing something else?"
"Could you try being a little less grumpy?"
He smiled, "Yes, if you sing something else." Tabitha's eyes narrowed in concentration, obviously searching her brain for another song. They continued to dance though there was still no singing. "Sorry, can't think of anything else....You know the words. Why don't you sing along?" Pablo smiled, "If you insist."
"I used to wander alone without a love of my own.
I was a desperate man.
But all of my grief disappeared,
and all of the sorrow I'd feared wasn't there anymore.
On that magical day
when you first came my way, me amour."
"I thought that you were going to sing along!" he exclaimed after finishing up the verse solo.
"Shhh! That was your verse. Here's mine!" She closed her eyes quickly and gritted her teeth as if she were actually feeling the music. Pablo muttered stubbornly under his breath what sounded remarkably close to "..such a crazy..." Tabitha gave a trod on his toe for silence. He wondered what was actually going on in her odd mind. Pablo admired her more than anyone else he knew in the world, though he never went too far to let onto it.
"On this night
On this night
On this night of a thousand stars,
let me take you to Heaven's door.
Where the music of love's guitar,
plays for evermore..."