By the time they reached Thomas's house, the sun had just begun to sink into the horizon. It was so beautiful, Thomas paused for a moment to admire it. Thomas helped Nakoma up onto his bed, quickly left to put on his nightshirt, and climbed up next to her. As usual, Ben and Lon had a very good story for that night.
Ben and Lon got settled and Ben passed Lon a small painting, "Lon, why don't you tell this story? You seem to tell it, or rather sing it, better than anyone else." Thomas and Nakoma exchanged puzzled glances. Lon held up the painting, "Thomas, what is this a picture of?"
"St. Paul's Cathedral."
"Is it in London, your village?" Nakoma asked. Lon nodded, "It is, dear." He passed the painting back to Ben and resettled himself, "When Ben and I were young, not that much older than you, my mother told us this story about someone at the cathedral."
"Who?" Thomas and Nakoma asked in unison becoming more anxious by the second. "Patience now," Ben assured them, "he'll tell you." Lon took the painting again and looked carefully at it,
"Early each day to the steps of Saint Paul's
The little old bird woman comes
In her own special way to the people
She calls, "Come, buy my bags full of crumbs"
"Come feed the little birds, show them you care
And you'll be glad if you do
Their young ones are hungry, their nests are so bare
All it takes is tuppence from you"
"Feed the birds, tuppence a bag
Tuppence, tuppence, tuppence a bag
Feed the birds", that's what she cries
While overhead, her birds fill the skies.
All around the cathedral, the saints and apostles
Look down as she sells her wares
Although you can't see it, you know they are smiling
Each time someone shows that he cares.
Though her words are simple and few
"Listen, listen", she's calling to you
"Feed the birds, tuppence a bag
Tuppence, tuppence, tuppence a bag."
Thomas and Nakoma barely spoke or moved, but stared at Lon in silence. Only through the first verse did they move to look at each other then turned back to Lon. Nakoma placed her hands on Thomas's chest and laid her head down; Thomas put his arms around her and put his head down on hers. Even Ben didn't stir or speak beyond putting his hands on his best friend's shoulders and, at one point, brush a loose tear from his face. The song could touch the hearts of anyone. For Lon, all stayed silent to hear this time-old ballad. Not even a breath of wind could be heard,
"Though her words are simple and few
"Listen, listen", she's calling to you
"Feed the birds, tuppence a bag
Tuppence, tuppence, tuppence a bag."
At the final "tuppence a bag", Thomas yawned and fell asleep holding the already asleep Nakoma who lay peacefully and safe in his arms. Ben and Lon stared at the sleeping boy and girl; Lon sighed, "Such a lovely song, isn't it Ben?"
"Yes, so it is." Gently, he took Nakoma from Thomas's arms and cradled her in his own, "Get Thomas tucked in. I'll take Nakoma back to the village." Lon nodded and began tucking Thomas in. Ben walked with Nakoma to the Powhatan village where he found Chief Powhatan who took her carefully and whispered his thanks to Ben.
YOU ARE READING
"I planned a little surprise."
FanfictionSo, this idea came to me some how, but I thought it would leave readers wondering. Here, Thomas is going to be near the beach where the Susan Constant took John Smith back to England. He's sitting on the sand thinking about him when he feels somethi...
