Even the royal family loves getting into the Halloween spirit. Melinda, especially, always comes up with an amazing costume to wear during the annual Halloween ball. And this year, she gives James and Amber a lesson about her choice of costume. The song she mentioned, Pretty Ballerina by Left Banke, is not mine. Gordon Lightfoot's music is also not mine.
Roland and Melinda were in their room getting ready for the Halloween ball. They had just finished their costumes when James and Amber ran in, looking as excited as they were.
"Mother, thank you for helping me with my costume!" Amber cheered, twirling around in her ballerina outfit.
"There's my pretty ballerina," Melinda smiled.
"And this knight costume is brilliant! I hope I get to be a real knight someday!" James agreed as he came in.
"You never know, sweetheart, but you're a brave knight right now," Melinda said as she looked him over and tucked his stuffed dragon, Sir Blaze-a-Lot, into his belt, to let everyone know that he'd "vanquished" a dragon.
"Daddy looks cute too!" Amber smiled, looking over Roland's black ensemble, complete with a long black cape.
"I wasn't going for cute," Roland smirked as he scooped her up. He spun her around, saying in a strange accent, "I vant to suck your blood!"
"Daddy!" Amber squealed, giggling as he covered her face with kisses.
"Oh, Roland," Melinda smiled as he set her down again.
"What's that costume supposed to be, Mom?" James asked, seeing his mother's costume properly for the first time.
"You like it?" Melinda smiled as she looked over her brightly colored ensemble. A pair of long stockings rolled down from a knee-length skirt to leather shoes. Above them were a loose red tunic and feathered hat. "It's a minstrel's outfit, James."
"What's a minstrel?" Amber asked.
"It's like an entertainer," Melinda explained. "They go around singing songs for people."
"That's right," Roland nodded, "In fact, your mother always sang you to sleep with that song about the minstrel when you and James were younger."
"That's right," Melinda smiled, and she began to sing as she accompanied herself on her lute.
Melinda: The minstrel of the dawn is here
To make you laugh and bend your ear
Up the steps you'll hear him climb
All full of thoughts, all full of rhymes
Listen to the pictures flow
Across the room into your mind they go
Listen to the strings
They jangle and dangle
While the old guitar rings
James and Amber smiled as they recognized their mother's lullaby.
Seeing their looks of remembrance, Melinda kissed their foreheads as she continued the song, The minstrel of the dawn is he
Not too wise but oh so free
He'll talk of life out on the street
He'll play it sad and say it sweet
Look into his shining face
Of loneliness you'll always find a trace
Just like me and you
He's tryin' to get into things
More happy than blue
She smiled as she heard James and Amber singing with her, A minstrel of the changing tide
He'll ask for nothing but his pride
Just sit him down upon that chair
Go fetch some wine and set it there
Listen to the pictures flow
And follow the fingers where they go
Listen to the strings
They jangle and dangle
While the old guitar rings
She took their hands and danced around the room with them as she continued, A minstrel of the dawn is near
Just like a step and fetch it here
He's like an old-time troubadour
Just wanting life and nothing more
Look into his shining eyes
And if you see a ghost don't be surprised
Like me and you
He's tryin' to get into things
More happy than blue
Roland intercepted her in a dance and sang with her, The minstrel boy will understand
He holds your promise in his hand
He talks of better days ahead
And by his words your fortune's read
Listen to the pictures flow
Across the room into your mind they go
Listen to the strings
They jangle and dangle
While the old guitar rings
She pulled James and Amber into a hug as the family finished the song, The minstrel of the dawn is gone
I hope he'll call before too long
And if you meet him you must be
The victim of his minstrelsy
He'll sing for you a song
The minstrel of the dawn
"Try not to fall asleep this time, you two," Roland joked, knowing that they always fell asleep after the song.
"I think they'll be just fine," Melinda smiled, "They might get hyped up on the sugary treats Chef Andre makes, but they'll be fine."
"We'll all be fine," Roland smiled, "Now what do you say we go down and greet our guests?"
"Yeah!" James and Amber cheered.
"Let's go," Melinda smiled.