CALLA

48: The Blue-Green Card

"Grandpa, I'm going to head home"

It was already almost midnight and I was tired from all the mingling. I wanted to go home and test the sounds which Liebig can produce. Giving grandfather my puppy eyes, I hoped he let me go.

"Escort the miss home"

I smiled and stood with the violin case in hand. After giving everyone at the table a polite tilt of the head, I turned to leave with Andy following after.

"Miss Calla"

We were almost at the entrance when a familiar voice caught my attention. I searched for the face that the voice belong to and saw the adorable girl in her purple tulle dress waving at me so shyly. I asked Andy guard my Liebig with his life and wait for me there while I make a quick stop.

"Well hello my hero" I greeted the little girl with a smile.

When I saw her shy smiles, my heart melted.

"Ms. Lind"

My eyes went to the couple who were obviously Lily's parents.

"Just Calla, please" I stepped forward and took Lily's father out reached hand.

"Paul Zielger. My wife Wendy"

The name Zielger made me paused for a moment before I continued to shake Wendy's hand.

"It's a pleasure to meet my hero's parents"

The man and woman both chuckled softly. As we continued to make small talk, someone was lightly touching my arm.

"Miss Calla"

My attention went back to the little girl.

"You play really good"

"Thank you"

I figured she meant the violin.

"Do you think I'll get as good as you?"

Her innocent question surprised and touched me. In her unclouded eyes revealed admiration that no one ever showed me. Bending down and sitting on my heels, I looked up at the little girl with a warm smile.

"Do you love the violin?" I asked her softly.

She nodded with her shy smiles.

"Then I'm sure you'll play just as well one day"

When her smiles brighten even more, I reached into my pocket for the LV card case. Taking out a blue-green card, I handed it to Lily.

"If you're ever in New Haven, please let me know" I smiled. "We can have a duet"

Lily giggled and nodded excitedly. Standing up, I gave a polite smile and nod to Wendy and Paul Ziegler. When they nod in return, I turn and give goodbye wink to Lily before I finally made my way out.

Just as Calla Lind took her exit.

Lily looked at the pretty blue-green card with simple gold letter CALLA in the front and ALLAC in the back - like a mirror image of one another. Both side of the card held the same 10 digit number.

"Daddy, mommy, what is this?"

The innocent little girl did not know the true value of the card she's holding while her parents seem startled by it. While there only a few in this society who know who Calla was, there isn't one who doesn't know what Allac was. When Paul and Wendy Ziegler saw the card, they understood what the card represented. They also realized that their little daughter is probably one of the few who ever received such a card.

"Take good care of it sweetheart" Wendy smiled softly at her daughter.

Lily didn't quite understand the meaning behind her mother's word, but she nod anyways.