Remembering The Fun Times:

When they woke up the next morning, the nurses told them that I was still in surgery and would be for some time. Ruthie, who had my bag by her, opened it up and took out the portable DVD player and put one of my CD's in, Loreena McKennitt, could be heard throughout the waiting room.

Bonfire dot the rolling hillsides
Figures dance around and around
To drums that pulse out echoes of darkness
Moving to the pagan sound

Martin and Robby went over and sat next to her.

Somewhere in a hidden memory
Images float before my eyes
Of fragrant nights of straw and of bonfires
And dancing till the next sunrise

"What are you thinking about, Ruthie?" Robby asked.

Chorus
I can see the lights in the distance
Trembling in the dark cloak of night
Candles and lanterns are dancing, dancing
A waltz on All Souls Night.

"About what we were doing the last time we got together."

Figures of cornstalks bend in the shadows
Held up tall as the flames leap high
The green knight holds the holly bush
To mark where the old year passes by

"And what did you do the last time you got together?" Martin asked.

Chorus
I can see the lights in the distance
Trembling in the dark cloak of night
Candles and lanterns are dancing, dancing
A waltz on All Souls Night

Flashback:
Laughter could be heard from the attic room where Ruthie and I were. I was singing to an Irish song; the same song that was playing in the present now.

Bonfires dot the rolling hillsides
Figures dance around and around
To drums that pulse out echoes of darkness
Moving to the pagan sound

Everything was moving so fast that the two were lying in a heap on the floor before they knew what had hit them. It was funny to be looking up at Mrs. Camden and seeing her horrified look turn into a smile. She had seen me singing before, but never with such pleasure and fun.

Standing on the bridge that crosses
The river that goes out to the sea
The wind is full of a thousand voices
They pass by the bridge and me

We were having fun and then we started to sing along with the end of the song. (Rachel's & Ruthie's singing will be in bold; as will be the talking.)

Chorus
I can see the lights in the distance
Trembling in the dark cloak of night
Candles and lanterns are dancing, dancing
A waltz on All Souls Night

Chorus
I can see the lights in the distance
Trembling in the dark cloak of night
Candles and lanterns are dancing, dancing
A waltz on All Souls Night

Chorus
I can see the lights in the distance
Trembling in the dark cloak of night
Candles and lanterns are dancing, dancing
A waltz on All Souls Night

Chorus
I can see the lights in the distance
Trembling in the dark cloak of night
Candles and lanterns are dancing, dancing
A waltz on All Souls Night

Mrs. Camden clapped when we were finished and then told us that it was lunch time. All three of us headed down stairs and into the kitchen where everyone was waiting.

"You have no idea how long it took me to perfect that song, and then I go and have fun and screw up the ending just because we decided to sing along to the end of the song. But I do have to say, that it was fun."

"Yeah you're right it was fun Rachel. Hey you wanna head down to the Promenade and see if we can get you a gig singing some of your songs to anyone that will listen?"

"That'd be great Ruthie, but my dad's on his way to pick me up, and you're not even supposed to know about my parent's past. Nobody really is because they gave it up a couple years after I was born so that they could take care of me."

"Alright, well maybe next time then. Look, I'll e-mail you tonight about the next time we can get together."

"That'd be great," I grabbed my bag and headed out the door to my dad's car.

End Flashback

"That was the last time we talked until she called my cell phone before she left to come here. She has to live. She needs to see how many people care for her."

"She'll live, Ruthie. We all know how much will she has to live. She never gave up when she was in the car, what makes you think she's going to give up now?" Kevin said.