Here Comes Treble: A String Of Pearls, Part One
"I’ve just finished reading Stephenie Meyer’s remarkable and beautiful book, Host, about two souls living in one body – and so much more,'' writes Isabel Bradley. "It reminded of a story I wrote, which I’ve revised. The first of five episodes appears in Open Writing today.
"This story was written in 1994 when the newspapers were filled with beautiful pictures of a comet heading for Jupiter, breaking up into what was described as ‘a string of pearls’ that plunged into the gaseous planet
"Aren't the stars glorious tonight? So clear and bright, so close I can almost hear them singing. It's as if the rain washed them all, and then God polished them lovingly, one by one. By the time our baby grows up, maybe mankind will have conquered space. Maybe he'll be able to go out there and explore, discover new worlds."
Debbie leaned against her husband, sighing happily. She fingered the string of glowing baroque pearls around her neck. Mike had given them to her for their first anniversary.
Mike laid his hands on her pregnant tummy. Young life kicked against him, and he smiled.
"A universe full of mysteries.” Mike smiled down at Debbie's starlit head. "`There are more things in heaven and earth', Devorah … more marvellous than we can even begin to understand. I remember my gran quoting that when I was a child. It's true. Who can tell what - or who - is out there in space? Is that, I wonder, where souls go between lives on earth to absorb beauty and glory, before returning to strive again?"
Mike often called his wife by her given name, Devorah. Debbie didn't mind, though she sometimes felt she wasn't quite wise enough to be a "Devorah".
For a long moment Mike and Debbie gazed at the velvety heavens, sprinkled with a multitude of precious stars. The stars gazed back, winking to each other at the delight of keeping their secrets.
"Our son should have an unusual name," Debbie said, rubbing the back of her head against Mike's strong shoulder, "I like Kevin, but it's too - ordinary, somehow. But, maybe something like that, don't you think, Mike? Oh well, we don't have to decide tonight - leave it to my subconscious to figure something out!"
"Mmm..." Mike sighed. He turned Debbie in his arms, gave her a kiss, then pulled her gently towards the car. "Time to go, Love, we don't want to tire you."
Debbie let him lead her to the car, open the door for her, help her into the passenger seat. She sighed in contentment as she sank back against the smooth, cool leather. The rich smell hung heavy in the clean, spring air.
"Not so long to go," she murmured to her unborn child. Closing her eyes, she leaned her head back against the head-rest. The car began to move.
Though the skies had cleared after the late September rains, the road was still wet and slick.
To be continued.
Until next time…. ‘here comes Treble!’
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by Isabel Bradley
