Chapter 8: Return of the Kiefu

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Four days had passed and friction still remained between my father and I. We had not muttered more than halfhearted grunts to each other, and we hadn't argued since. Still, tension was strong in our household, and meals at the dinner table were awkwardly silent. My mother and Kai did not say anything for fear of pouring any more oil on the flame. We still worked all day in the vineyard, yet it carried the same apprehensive feeling. I was eager to work my shift at the bar each night. My father had not gone since the night he had hit me. Duke and some of the other villagers began to ask what had happened to him, for he had not missed a night in a long while. Each time I would shrug and set down their drinks. I did not speak about it at all. I had become silent and untrusting of everyone.

Jack had noticed this about me as well. He never uttered a word of it to me nor to any of the other villagers, but I felt his concerned glance follow me as I crossed the room. We had hardly talked since the day it had happened, and while I didn't feel as if we were any less of friends, I did see it as a delay in whatever our relationship was becoming and I wanted to open up to him again. I wanted to feel him holding me as I cried for awhile into his chest... and have that be the end of it. But something was holding me back, and I didn't know what.

When Duke finally told me I could go that night I had never been more relieved. I didn't know how much longer I could take the questions about my father's absence, the men's drunken jokes, and Jack's burning stare as I passed by his table. I left without a single word to anyone, and as soon as I found myself in the night air I shoved my hands deep into my pockets and hurried toward home. The weather was beautiful, but I took no notice. I focused solely on reaching my bed at home. I felt disconnected from everything, isolated and invisible, yet I was satisfied with remaining this way until I could sort things out in my mind. How I would do such a thing I had no idea, I just hoped that an answer would come to me soon.

As I made my way up the path toward the vineyard I felt strangely calm. I was empty inside—on the verge of breaking down again— yet this time I was hopeful. Things were changing and I knew it. I didn't know what lay ahead of me, but I felt that it was something good. Things were rough between my father and I, but perhaps this was the sign that things would be different. Maybe, just maybe, this would serve as his wake-up call. Or maybe not. But I was a different person now, that was for sure. And I felt that this new me was ready for things to change. I remembered my wishes to leave Flower Bud earlier that year. It almost seemed out of the question now... no matter how bad things got I wanted to stay. For many different reasons.

I entered the vineyard, feeling more peaceful than I had in a while. I could feel myself smiling for the first time that fall, and it felt good. And it was then that I noticed that something was happening. The vineyard was alive with glowing orbs of light which seemed to be dancing among the grapevines. At first glance I thought they were fireflies, but I soon realized they were far too large to be fireflies.

I stepped forward, entranced with wonder, as if I were walking into another world. And when I finally came close enough to see what they were, I stumbled backward in shock. Tiny fairies fluttered among the vines, kissing each grape they came upon. With each kiss the grapes seemed to come alive, a small glowing light would burn inside of them for a moment and they would grow to twice their original size. There seemed to be hundreds, all similar in appearance. Their long golden hair seemed to float gracefully about them as they flew among the vines, and they were clothed in a soft purple. I stood in utter amazement.

I turned and ran. I had to tell someone, anyone, so I would know I wasn't hallucinating. I needed to make sure it was real.

And so my feet carried me to the first and only place I could think of. Jack's farm. When I got there I ran to his door, knocking so loudly I feared I would wake the whole town. Only when I felt a tap on my shoulder did I stop and turn to see a surprised and slightly amused Jack. I took no time to explain, but grabbed his hand and dragged him quickly toward the vineyard. My thoughts and emotions were mixed, for I had never seen anything like it.

Jack had not said anything the entire way there— or at least that I knew of— and when I brought him up to where the fairies still danced among the grapes he remained silent. We stood watching them, taking in the moment. The scene was illuminated by their many lights, which held the faint tinge of green. I only took my eyes away from the glorious sight for a moment to look down at his hand, which still held mine tightly. I prayed that it wasn't a dream.

Soon the fairies started to drift away, satisfied with their work. After the last light had floated away I let go of Jack's hand and turned toward him. His eyes reflected the excitement we both felt.

"My grandma..." I began, a childlike eagerness in my voice, "once spoke of fairies who would come and kiss the grapes. She said they'd become the best grapes in the world with the Kiefu fairy's kiss. They were our family's protectors. I never knew..." I paused, reflecting back on the few memories of my grandmother that I had. "I never knew that these fairies were real..."

I laughed quietly, as if still unable to grasp what I had just witnessed. Jack continued watching me in silence, waiting to see if I had anything else to say.

Yet words failed me at that moment, so I turned back toward the vineyard and made my way to a nearby vine. The grapes still held a faint glow, the only remainder of the Kiefu fairies' visit. I took one in my hand, moving my thumb across its smooth surface. Then, plucking it carefully from the vine, I popped it into my mouth. The taste brought me back to when I was a small child, lazily picking grapes and eating the fattest and juiciest ones I could find. My grandmother's grapes. The best taste in the world.

After I had finished I picked another one from the vine and offered it to Jack.

"Try it," I said, "they're just as I remember them."

He took it gratefully, chewing it as if to savor the taste.

"The best grape I've ever had," he said with a hint of laughter in his voice.

I laughed aloud, happy and excited at what this meant for our vineyard. We could finally produce the wine my grandma had made us so famous for. We would no longer worry over finances and whether we'd have food on the table each night. My mother would no longer cry. My father would no longer yell. I could see it so clearly, so perfectly, as if it had always been that way... as if my grandmother had never left us. I had forgotten about all of my current worries for my family.

I felt my feet beginning to move, as they did when I first heard the music box again on the beach. When I was happy I danced, so I grabbed Jack by the hands, swinging him around with me. We laughed and danced and my mind swirled with memories of my grandma, memories of my childhood. Memories of my mother, dancing. The most beautiful dancer in the world. My father smiling and carrying me on his shoulders. His deep and hearty laugh. My grandmother, holding me on her lap, reading me a story before bed. And a little boy, holding hands with me as we swung each other around in circles, our chins stained with the juice from my grandmother's grapes.

I didn't know exactly when we had stopped dancing, but the next thing I knew Jack and I were holding each other, breathing quickly from spinning in circles. Our foreheads were pressed together, and I heard myself laughing. Out of the corner of my eyes I saw the light of the fairies again, who had come back to light up the night.

"There's one thing I don't get," I said, still breathing deeply, "why did they come back?"

Jack smiled. "I don't know," he said, though as if he really did know, "maybe they just needed to be... woken up."

And then I felt him kiss me softly yet surely on the lips. I didn't know how long it lasted, but I knew without a doubt that it was the best moment of my life.