Day 20: Bedtime Stories
Tales We Tell in Our Heads
A nervousness ebbed into Mikhail's mind. It flowed like the wind, sending a shiver down Mikhail's spine. Despite the humid air circulating through the advanced campers' cabin, Mikhail tugged his scratchy blanket up to his chin. But when the coolness pervaded, he frowned, peering out at his bunkmates and spotting Quentin fast asleep, leg dangling off. Above him, Phoebe slept soundly. And at the end of the cabin, Kitty slumbered with two cucumber slices over her eyes and a cashmere comforter covering her.
He itched through his scalp, the chill invading his thoughts. He couldn't sleep with such anxiety thundering in his brain. But it was a strange wariness, unfamiliar to the boy who wrestled bears. He wasn't one to cower or shudder, the sensations entirely foreign, but as the chill traveled down his neck, Mikhail realized what was happening.
He closed his eyes, mind buzzing. He pushed through the apprehension until he linked with the source. Immediately, dread washed over him as if cold water had been tossed in his face. But although he grimaced, Mikhail continued, tightening the bond in case the younger boy's fright cut the line.
Tiny boss, he thought, firm and quiet, you are still awake. Is late. I believe is after midnight?
A soft, meek voice replied. Maloof sounded as he had on the first day of camp. Oh, sorry, Mikhail. Was I bothering you? Wait, how did you know?
Your feelings spread to me. Remember, I am teaching you new abilities. Telepathy is one of them, so psychic connection still ongoing. What you feel, I may feel.
A warm pulse ebbed to Mikhail's frontal lobes. Wow, Misha. You're really strong.
The corner of his lip lifted. That was true. Mikhail prided himself on his talents as a fighter, both physically and psychically. Maloof was also a promising student. He took to training like a sponge to water. His telekinesis was vastly improved in a matter of days under Mikhail's tutelage. And his telepathy wasn't half bad, managing to keep contact until he was halfway across the bridge in the cabin area while Mikhail sat in his bunk.
Thank you. Still, why awake? You normally sleep like a baby.
Another throb hit Mikhail, followed by a light bump of anger. Well, uh, I know. You don't have to say it like that. I just…I just can't sleep.
Why? Bullies bothering you? Want Mikhail to come over? Remind them of what happens when they pick on smaller ones?
Ha! Oh, no, no. Bobby and Benny are asleep. I know this is going to sound kind of…
Maloof trailed off like water droplets from a faucet. Mikhail gently urged him to continue.
To tell you the truth, I haven't been sleeping too well since I arrived. I've been sleeping a lot better since you helped me, but recently, the trouble came back. It's babyish, I know, but my mom tells me bedtime stories to help me to get to sleep. Um, do you know any?
Mikhail's eyes widened as he stared at the bottom of the empty bunk above him. He swept his fingers through his hair, humming to himself. When he was younger, his mother liked telling him bedtime stories as well, but he had grown out of them at an age earlier than Maloof. His tiny boss was quite spoiled, in his opinion, so he understood why he still needed them.
You still there, Mikhail?
Am here. Just thinking of proper story to tell.
Oh! Really?
Mikhail grinned. Maloof's sudden jubilation was like a bright, calming light. Yes. I do have one. Details are fuzzy, so bear with me, yes?
Yeah!
Mikhail cleared his throat, despite telling the story in his head. Is a Russian fairy tale called Ded Moroz. Heard of it?
Can't say I have.
Good. Will begin now. Mikhail rolled onto his back, resting his palms on his stomach as if he was preparing for a school presentation. Long ago in a quaint village, there was a woman with a daughter and stepdaughter. She loved her daughter very much but hated stepdaughter. She saw stepdaughter as an outsider, so one day, she ordered husband to take stepdaughter to the deep forest.
Like…like the woods here?
Oh, yes. Very much so. But deeper, darker, and of course, colder. The winter months were harsh for the village, but the husband obeyed his wife. He took his daughter, the stepdaughter of the wife, into the vast woods. It was blistering. But still, he abandoned her at foot of tree.
Why would he do that?
Mikhail blinked, surprised at the sudden harshness in Maloof's tone. Er, to appease wife.
He sounds like a coward!
Indeed. Can I continue?
Oh! Yeah. Sorry, Misha.
So, he brought his daughter, the stepdaughter, to the foot of tree in deep, freezing forest. He left her to die. But as the girl shivered, hardly dressed for winter, an old man found her. He was dressed in thick blue Russian coat with a matching Russian hat and full white beard. He carried, uh, oh, yes, a magical ice staff.
"Little girl," he said, "what are you doing? Is no place for a child."
The stepdaughter smiled. "My father told me to stay, so I am."
Why wouldn't she tell him the truth? Or be mad?
Maloof's question cut through Mikhail's train of thought. Mikhail pursed his lips, trying to focus on the story.
Because that is point of story. I will get to it later.
Oh, oops.
Mikhail sighed.
The man introduced himself as Ded Moroz. He and stepdaughter talked for very long time. Her sincerity charmed him, as she bore no ill will for her father. She was a gentle soul, and Ded Moroz rewarded her kindness. With a wave from staff, he gifted her a box of priceless jewels and warm clothing to protect her from elements. So long as stepdaughter was in danger, Ded Moroz protected his young charge.
So, days later, cruel mother sent her husband to fetch stepdaughter's body for burial. But when the father returned with his stepdaughter with more finery than they had ever known, mother was shocked! She demanded to know what happened to stepdaughter.
Stepdaughter said, "It was Ded Moroz. He saw my plight and aided me."
Greed quickly consumed the mother. She thought if stepdaughter was rewarded, so would her daughter. So, she ordered husband to take daughter out to where stepdaughter had been abandoned.
It was, of course, same cold, blistering winter. Beating winds, snow so thick you couldn't see. Daughter was dressed in same shabby dress, hardly ready for winter.
Mikhail stopped. He listened for Maloof, but no thoughts came forth. He asked if Maloof was still present.
I'm here, Maloof thought, a bubble of eagerness. What happens next?
Father brought daughter to same spot. She waited, and Ded Moroz arrived as she shivered and quaked.
Again, he asked, "Little girl, what are you doing? Is no place for a child."
But the daughter was not like stepsister. She was angry. She glared at Ded Moroz. "Waiting for you!" she shouted. "I wait and I wait, and it took you too long to come! Hurry and give me the same gift as my sister! I'm freezing, hag!"
You see, tiny boss, first girl was kind. This girl? Rude and greedy as the mother. Ded Moroz wouldn't take to her demands.
When it came time to get daughter, father returned. But there was no daughter. There was the body of the daughter, however, a sickly blue body. (Maloof gasped.) Her face twisted in anguish. Icicles hung off her limbs. No escape was for her because she was already dead. The father carried her body back to grief-stricken mother as lesson for all boys and girls.
Mikhail grinned. The end.
That's it?
The immediate, blase remark startled Mikhail. He almost sat up as if Maloof was in the room with him. Uh, yes? That's it.
How is that a bedtime story?
His cutting comment darkened Mikhail's cheeks. It's…it's one in my country.
How? She died! It was an unhappy ending! Bedtime stories are supposed to be optimistic.
No, not…all of them are? Maybe your mother only told nice ones.
Well, it was a good story, but now, I'm wide awake! Do you have any more amicable ones?
Mikhail felt a humid draft blow in the room, and he dragged his hand down his face. He should have anticipated the tiny boss' criticisms, but when Maloof eagerly prodded him for another, he sighed.
Well, fine. But this is last one, okay? I must sleep, too.
Okay! Go for it!
And as Maloof's enthusiasm returned, Mikhail supposed it wasn't too bad regaling him with fairy tales from his country, even Maloof fell asleep in the middle of it the third time around.
