Swan Lake

Swan Dive

"Ody!" came the screech of a little girl with sunshine filled curls.

"Yes? What matter has caused such distress, Priscilla." Odette gently inquired.

Priscilla soutenu-ed towards Odette, her cheeks rosy. "Can we go to the falls, today?" Her honey-gold cork screw curls swished across her face.

"Certainly Cilly. As soon as I'm done washing these dishes." Odette lifted an aluminum plate and scrubbed the leftover scum. Looking up, she smiled as she watched Priscilla jete-ing through the purple and white wild flowers outside their cottage. The smell of flowers filled her nose. The sound of cow bells, and the bleats from the goats reminded Odette that she still owed the baker milk. She was prideful of her livestock, and she had every right to be. Everyone in the valley knew she had the best cows and goats milk around.

"When will papa be home?" Priscilla asked, holding up a bouquet of wild flowers and sweet grass.

"After he is done working in the village." Odette replied, grabbing the beautiful bouquet and placing it in an empty aluminum cup. She would have to get water for them soon.

"My papa is the best smith around, isn't he?" she stated with cheek.

"He must be if the King believes so."

Odette's thoughts traveled to the tragedy that had happened to Cilly. Priscilla's mum died of tuberculosis of last year. The cost of the medicine overtook Cilly's father's house like a growing mold, and they had to sell. Homeless, heartbroken, and with a motherless daughter, he had no where to go. Soon after, Odette's family died in an avalanche while skiing, leaving Odette's world crumbling. She knew she had an uncle somewhere; he used to come visit every autumn before her parents death. Anyway, the two found Odette, and she offered to take them in, so she could keep the payment on the cottage.

Wanting to clear her mind of such downing thoughts, she said "Well, I'm done with the dishes. Let's get our boots and cloaks on."

"Yay!" Priscilla screamed, and it echoed off the mountainside.

Half an hour later, Priscilla called out to Odette telling her of her find. "Ody! Ody, come look! Look what I've found!"

"You've found wild artichokes. That is amazing, Cilly. We can have these for supper." Priscilla giggled in reply. Odette put them inside her wicker basket with great care.

They walked a couple of steps when the sound of the falls called their names. Exchanging glances, they took off running.

"I'll get there first!" Priscilla shouted.

"I don't think so!" Odette called back. When they reached the falls, Odette and Priscilla stripped off their clothing. Priscilla jumped right into the cold water. Odette enjoyed the feel of the spray on her face, her ghost-like, pale skin sparkled in the sun. With happpiness, she jumped in the water. When she went up for air, Priscilla attacked her with splashes.

"Hey!" Odette cried. Priscilla replied with a giggle. "Don't you just love how beautiful the lake is!"

"Aye, but part of it is not the king's land. We must never venture there."

"Why do people have to have all these different places? Why can't we all share? Have one big place?" She opened her chubby arms wide, showing how big it could be.

"I don't know. But, I think that is a wonderful idea. For another time and place, perhaps. Maybe when you are older, you can change the world. Perhaps become a princess even."

Priscilla shook her head with intensity. Odette knew she pretended to be a fairy princess, so Priscilla's answer surprised her. "I could never be a princess." she replied. "I would have a hard time following the rules."

"Those are the people who usually change history, Priscilla."

"If anyone is to have the title of princess, it is you, Ody."

Odette shook her head, laughing. "Do not be so ridiculous." She pressed upon the young one's head with playfulness till her chin touched the water.

Her words bubbled in the water. "You are kind, gentle, graceful, loving, smart, beautiful, and, dear lord, extremely strong!" She counted on her fingers.

Odette let out a loud hearty round of laughter. "Do not use the Lord's name so loosely, Priscilla. And, please refrain from unrealistic speaking. It does not become you."

Changing the subject, Odette said. "I am gonna go dive off that ledge over there." She pointed to a rocky edge. "Stay close to the bank and do not wander off."

When she reached the ledge, she let out a smile. Diving was the closest thing she had ever felt close to flying, and she loved it. With a jete battu, she grande jete-ed off, completing a beautiful swan dive.

"Hoot, hoot!" When she resurfaced, the sound of an owl from the trees startled her. 'That's odd. Owls only come out at night.' Odette thought. She looked for the owl and saw a giant bird with long black and brown feathers and big red eyes starring at her with red-hot intensity. Several shivers went up her spine. Like an agile water snake, she swam to Priscilla. "Cilly, time to go. Get dressed. Hurry."

"Why?" she complained.

"Just do it!" Sensing her urgency, Priscilla put on her gown with rash quickness, and they fled the lake with deer-like swiftness, leaving behind the falls. But, no matter how hard she tried, she felt the owl's eyes staring.