A/N Hi from Australia, back from Sydney, where wifi is almost imposible to find ... but the food and the Opera House were awesome, I even saw La Boheme at the Opera House ... just what an incredible trip! Might have to come back to Australia one of these days, next will be New Zealand in a few, but I digress

I realized this story needs another out - take when I am done posting, I think you can figure what it can be, so tell me what you think after I post Bella's chapter - and let me know if you read the out take I posted for F4SAA. I will post 9 after I get to 20 reviews, so please let me know what you think of this little plot bunny, and if you want to listen to the music that inspired this, go check out Mumford and Son on your source preferee. Now, for another point of view ...

Chapter 8: Esme and The Tale.

Sunday Noon

Dr. Esme Platt, PhD, gave her sister, Irina, a big hug before they sat down to lunch. They had crossed paths in Dallas and had decided to meet at a "La Madeline". Irina was heading back to New Orleans, after helping her daughter move into her first apartment in Phoenix. Esme's flight from London to Chicago had been cancelled. She was able to get on the flight to Dallas, and decided to take a day layover to catch up with her sister. Irina's route crossed through Dallas as she drove from Phoenix back to the Big Easy. Irina loved to drive, her red Saab convertible being her second home.

A few transatlantic texts and the lunch date had been fixed. Hurrah for Technology!

Over crepes and coffee, the two caught up with their summer plans. Irina had just helped her daughter move for her senior year of university. Esme had just finished a Shakespeare Seminar tour with students and had stayed in London to see some old friends there and celebrate her brand new doctorate.

She was also excited to tell her sister she'd started dating again. Her beau was a doctor. He had a house on her "new" street, and what a small world it was, she recognized his name from her days as a TA. It turned out his son had been a student in one of her classes. It had been a large lecture class, and she'd not had him assigned to one of the smaller sessions she conducted as a TR, but his son had definetly been an undergrad in one of her English classes.

Irina pulled the issue of US from her generous purse, flattening it out on the table as she listened to her sister. Esme would be house sitting this summer for their oldest sister, Kate, and her husband, Garrett. As teachers, it was easier for them to take the time to indulge in their other passion, world travel. This year they were "Down Under." Kate told her Australia was great via her emails. Irina had the magazine open to an article on Sydney.

While they examined the desert menu, the radio began to play a now familiar melody through the overhead speakers.

"Oh, is that the song, the one you mentioned from the story?" Irina piped up, recognizing the tune.

Esme had to smile. The story was easy to tell. "I do think so. In each section, one story from each assignment is presented to the entire lecture hall. One had been written, that had seemed preposterous, but the author swore to me that it was based on events from a girl she'd known in high school. She'd only made up the ending about her boyfriend breaking up with her in Italy. Irina, you would think such a series of tragedies in a young life would render the reader to believe this person would be gloomy, living under a dark cloud. Instead, Tanya had portrayed her at the end with her chin up, determined to keep trying, just quietly as not to amuse the muses of mischief and misfortune any more. It had been such a clever phrase. I couldn't get it out of my mind."

Esme liked to think maybe that person in the story had been her other student's personal inspiration. She knew that Tanya Denali, had gone on to medical school. She had seen her with Edward Cullen on campus often enough back them. They'd made a striking couple.

The lyrics of the song, called out each of the low points. It was too much to be just a coincidence. Just then her phone buzzed with a text alert. Esme beamed at her sister. It was a message from Carlisle. She flipped the phone around so Irina could read the message. "I'm getting to meet the famous son, again"

Hi Love, Miss U Care to host a barbecue with me for Edward and his band when you get back?

So, is there a song that really inspires you - press that button and share your thoughts, TTFN, from Down Under for today, Reb