The Brooch

The Mask

"He's here! He's here!" The lighthearted voice called out again from across the room.

Just then, Maple saw her longtime friend, Josephine blissfully was on the move.

"Oh hi, Mrs. H!" Josephine said racing up to an obviously nervous Maple and a curious Grandma Hastings.

"Little Jojo." Grandma Hastings cordially replied as she greeted a bubbly Josephine who giddily danced around like she didn't have a care in the world. "Umm Maple, shuga, since yo friend is here, you wouldn't mind if I__"

"Oh she'll be jest fine!" Josephine boldly interjected as she momentarily appeared to come back down to earth!

"Well alright but umm..." Grandma Hastings concernedly uttered looking at her undoubtedly nervous appearing granddaughter. "If you are sure, Maple?"

"Course she is! I'm here. I'll keep her company for the time bein, Mrs. H! Don'tchu worry none."

But Grandma Hastings was slightly worried.

"Maple?" Grandma Hastings spoke grabbing her granddaughter's chin.

With a hug and a kiss, Maple quietly replied as she leaned into her Grandma's arms.

"Gone, Grandmama. Appears, Josephine ain't gonna let up till you do. And you know she kin go all night."

"You don't have to tell me twice." She smirked. "Nonetheless, but foe you, I will stay."

"No worries. Sides, I told myself I would have fun tonight. And whut fun would it be, if I stayed hidden by the way side? Especially after you jest talked me out of the frost."

"Hmm..."

"Go and be merry..." Maple said nudging her grandma away.

"Well I guess if you say so. But you me wan me to come back and check on you in a few?"

"No need." Maple smiled. "Sides, if my eyes ain't mistaken me, I do believe you have a curious gent spyin on you. And I must say, it sure ain't Mr. Hoffman. Perhaps it is yo Robin Hood, me lady." Maple coyly grinned.

"Oh hush!" A blushing Grandma Hastings uttered as she bashfully looked around to see just who Maple was inquiring.

"Oooo landsakes!" Josephine interjected. "Maple is rat!" She giggled. "And He sho is a looka in that there fancy costume! Mmm-hmm!" She said teasing Grandma Hastings along with Maple.

"Y'all leave me be!" Grandma Hastings sheepishly fretted as she scrambled the opposite way of her so called secret admirer.

"Don'tchu worry none!" Josephine called out to a scurrying Grandma Hastings. "Sides, I have some em to show her. And there ain't no where she can hide." She said now looking into Maple's beyond curious eyes. "Cause he is comin right towards us as we speak.

"Who?" Maple wondered.

Maple still had no earthly idea of just who the "he" Josephine was so overzealous and overly eager about. And frankly at that point, she didn't know if she really wanted to know.

Maple inquisitively and evidently on edge, gawked around the large ballroom in fear of what her eyes might just come upon. Moreover, her patience was starting to wear thin.

"Josephine Louise Pearl..." Maple exasperated. "You got me here standin like uh owl in daylight! Naw, I have indulged you in this curiosity long enough. I have been standing in this here spot from the moment, I stepped in them doors. So if you know whuts best, you'll stop playin this game of hide and seek with my fried eyes and jest come out with it! Before I scurry and take cova like grandmama so wisely did."

"Oh!" Josephine outcried suddenly feeling foiled. "He's gone!"

"Oh." Maple uttered with a sudden sigh of relief. "Well in that case, I'm jest gonna go and__"

"Wait!"

"Glory alive Jo!" A startled Maple fussed.

"There he is!" She squealed in sheer excitement!"

"For the love of all that is holy, girl... who?"

"Him!" Josephine gleamed like the stars in the sky, as she pointed to image coming towards her path.

And then as if the crowd departed and split in two, right on cue, there he was. Maple could not believe her eyes...

"You see him?" Josephine asked.

"I see him... The, the wolf..." Maple breathlessly spoke.

"Yes!" She screeched overjoyed. "You finally see him! And oh does he you!" She said as she could hardly contain herself. "And he has been waitin all night, just to see no one, but you..." She whooped!

"Has he?" Maple gulped.

She gulped so loud, it sounded like she swallowed a barrel of Mrs. Hanes famous candied caramel apples that sat idly by in the caddy corner.

Just like that, seemed the music stopped. And only the sounds of her incessant gulps and heartbeat filled the air. Louder than the strokes of the violins. The beat of the drum and the guitars strumming away in the ambience of all the merriment that blissful gathering could contain. Maple was froze...

"Isn't it wonderful!?" Her closest friend Josephine squealed! Temporally bringing Maple out of her stupor. "The wait is ova!"

"Calm down Jo!" An annoyed Leslie Anne grumbled, rolling her eyes as she snuck up from behind.

"Oh hush Leslie." An over excited Josephine said bopping around.

On the tips of her toes. Josephine, gleefully danced around an unamused Leslie Anne, and a stupefied Maple. She jovially danced about as if she had suddenly become light as a feather. So much so, you would have thought she was on the verge of flying out of her white pumps and into the sky with her silk angel costume in tow!

Maple on the other hand, could feel her knees start to buckle under. Maple could not believe her eyes. It had been over two years, from that infamous night with Maple and the wolf. And just like that all the memories and overwhelming feelings of uncertainty, came flooding back to her like Noah to the ark. Almost as if it were yesterday. And her heart was now, more than ever on the rage.

Who were the eyes that awaited her underneath the mask? Did she dare inquire? Was she ready to confront what she had been trying to desperately avoid the past several months? Moreover all those years? Was she even ready at all? But before she could even answer that herself. Or even think of possibly escaping the inevitable, The wolf, now stood before her....

Right as he started to remove his mask....

THUNK!

Maple was out for the count...