The sound of lightning roused Toby from his sleep. He didn't know why, but for some strange reason, he love the sound of storms. They sounded powerful. Almost magical. But this storm was different. There was a musical undertone to the sounds of nature. The rhythmic tapping of branches on his window, the staccato drip of rain on the drainpipe on the roof, the wind-chimes resonating on the back porch... the sudden urge to go outside overwhelmed him, so he got up and tip-toed to the door and crept through the house.
Hesitating at the back door, he peered through the glass as the wind swept through the trees and the rain pelted the ground. He was mesmerized. An abrupt movement caught his eye and he noticed a girl about his age (15) dancing around in the rain. Her chestnut hair was long and braided. Her eyes were shut, her face turned up towards the sky as she twirled, swayed, leaped, and sang. Toby honestly thought she was one of the creatures his sister told him about (more like vehemently swore were real). A fairy perhaps? Maybe that might explain how she seemed to float, and how her white, ballgown length, dress and dark hair were completely dry despite the rain. The words that flowed from her lips seemed familiar. Like a long ago lullaby sung by his mother.
"I saw my baby, crying hard as babe could cry
What could I do
My baby's love had gone
And left my baby blue
Nobody knew
"What kind of magic spell to use
Slime and snails
Or puppy dogs' tails
Thunder or lightning
Then baby said
Dance magic, dance
Dance magic, dance
Put that baby spell on me
Jump magic, jump
Jump magic, jump
Put that magic jump on me
Slap that baby, make him free
"I saw my baby, trying hard as babe could try
What c ould I do
My baby's fun had gone
And left my baby blue
Nobody knew
"What kind of magic spell to use
Slime and snails
Or puppy dog's tails
Thunder or lightning
Then baby said
Dance magic, dance
Dance magic, dance
Put that baby spell on me
Jump magic, jump
Jump magic, jump
Put that magic jump on me
Slap that baby, make him free
Dance magic, dance
Dance magic, dance
Dance magic, dance
Dance magic, dance
Jump magic, jump
Jump magic, jump
Put that baby spell on me."
With his eyes closed, Toby got lost in the music. The words came to him and he remembered. There had been a blonde man. He had sung the same song that was coming from the girl in his yard and he couldn't help himself. He sang the next line.
"You remind me of the babe."
Within a single beat of his heart, the singing and storm were both gone. Toby's eyes shot open, fearing it was just some wild dream, but the sight that met him meant that he couldn't be further from the truth. She was still there, although no longer dancing or singing. What amazed him, however, wasn't her being there. It was the fact that she was now staring at him with the brightest blue eyes he had ever seen. Minutes passed in utter silence. Not even mother nature dared to breath. Until, finally, her lips parted in a grin and she whispered "Found you."