Castle of the Moombeams

The Castle of the Moonbeams
By Jennifer Joy Arend

         Silver snowflakes tickled as they landed gently on her nose. In the
distance Christmas bells were ringing and a choir was singing for peace on
Earth. Brianna watched the sleigh approach through tiny twinkling eyes. The
anticipation was overwhelming and she squirmed violently trying to escape the
grasp of her mother’s hand.
         “Be patient,” her mother scolded. “He’ll be here in a minute.”
         As promised, it was but a moment before the sleigh had driven up
beside the pair.
         “Papa!” The child cried.
         Now the mother let go of the girl and Brianna ran to her father’s
embrace.
         “Well, well! Look at you! You’re getting to be such a big girl,
aren’t you?”
         “I’m six years old now, papa! I’m quite a young lady!”
         Her father’s eyes shown with the same brilliance as his
daughter’s, but there was something sinister present beneath the shine. The
mother perhaps saw it for she shivered and pulled the child back to her.
         “How long will you be in town, John?”
         “About a week and then I have to head back to work.” His face
showed neither regret nor sadness despite this fact.
         “Oh. Whom are you staying with?”
         “I’m staying at the bed and breakfast on the corner of Maple. It’s
a quaint little place just to my liking. Feel free to drop by with the girl
anytime.”
         The mother smiled wearily and took her daughter's hand once more.
         "We shall do so," she replied.
         The sleigh was then driven away as Brianna and her mother waved
good-bye.
         "Why does daddy never stay, mommy?" The timid little voice asked.
         "Because honey, his job requires him to live in Bridgeport and
that's a good hundred miles away."
         It wasn't until Brianna was much older that she learned the truth
about her father. He was a swindling man who knew no home except the bed in
which he slept at the moment. He had been arrested many times, but he just
didn't seem to know how to make an honest living. He had met Brianna's
mother in Dreastle. At the time she had been a prostitute. He had slept with
her and left her with child. Of course, that was probably the best thing that
could have happened to the woman. Ever since Brianna's birth she had taken it
upon herself to give her child a better life and had since become a
seamstress in a local tailor's shop, a much more respected profession for a
woman.
         Brianna didn't have it easy growing up. Most children in the area
had parents who were familiar with her mother's reputation and the one's
that didn't found out from those who did. For a long time Brianna didn’t
understand why the other children were mean to her and when she did it left
her bitter towards them all.
         At sixteen Brianna took work at a flower shop to help out after her
mother had taken ill. She was a lonely little lily with no one in the world
but the woman who had given her life. Just three months after Brianna had
taken the job, her mother died, leaving the young girl completely alone. That
was when she started to have the visions.
          Brianna took to sleeping in her mother’s old room after her death.
Late at night she would pear out the window and look out at the stars,
imagining what her mother’s life might be like in heaven. Then one night, a
castle appeared before her, glowing with an eerie light. The castle looked
like it was made of pure crystal and shone with the light of a thousand
moonbeams. Brianna began to call it the castle of the moonbeams. She thought
to herself that it seemed so close, but it was as far away as heaven to her
because she could never be there. Eventually she began to muse that all of
her dreams were sleeping within the silver walls of the castle. The thought
comforted her on the cold, lonely nights when she cried frozen tears upon her
pillow.
         She told no one of her vision. She simply went about her work and
daily existence. It didn’t take much effort to keep quiet. People in general
still avoided her. She had the notion that they did so because they didn’t
know what to say. To lose a mother at sixteen was such a tragedy and hindered
the conversational abilities of the every day man. Because it was so, Brianna
wasn't used to speaking with people. So when she was approached by the young
man, she only stared blankly at him.
         "Excuse me, Miss. I was wondering. How much is a dozen roses?"
         Gathering her composure she hesitated but then answered.
         "Six dollars, sir."
         The gentleman pulled the currency from his wallet and handed it to
her.
         She went about arranging the roses into a bouquet and he spoke with
the matron of the shop. Brianna could not hear what they were saying, but she
felt that perhaps she did not want to know.
         She came back with the roses and a pleasant smile, and the
gentleman took them from her only to hand them back to her.
         "Is there something wrong with the bouquet, sir? I can customize it
if you'd like. It only costs a bit extra."
         "Oh no lovely lady! It's not necessary. You see the roses are for
you!"
         Brianna blushed and curtsied.
         "You are kind, sir. Thank-you very much. They will make a fine
centerpiece for my table."
         The young man laughed.
         ”Why don't you take a ride in my carriage with me? I'd very much
like to know you better."
         Brianna did not know whether or not she should trust this stranger,
but the matron was smiling and urging her on. She began to suppose that it
might be bad for business if she did not agree. This young man seemed as if
he might be someone of importance.
         "As you will have it, sir. I will go with you," she answered.
         The carriage was breathtaking. The exterior was crafted of the
finest metals and it sparkled with polished elegance. The interior contained
plush benches with red cushions. Brianna had the feeling that she could fall
asleep inside, and just as she thought this, dreams overcame her weary little
eyes.
         Before her was the castle of the moonbeams. She approached it
slowly, taking in the radiance of its glow. She laughed a little to herself
imagining how the site must look, a poor flower-maid with a rag wrapped
around her dirty blond ponytail walking towards a magnificent palace of
crystal. She just didn’t seem to fit in the picture.
         Still she trudged on. The she realized that she was walking through
glittering snow. Oh how lovely, she thought. And it's not even cold!
         When she reached the door she was almost afraid to knock, but she
managed to lift the heavy door knocker and knock three times. The door
creaked open, and she entered.
         Before her were all of her dreams. The finest of furnishings and
stylish decorations ornamented the fantastic palace. Mystical music floated
through the air, sounding of songs unsung. From the top of the room, rose
petals were raining down. There was a feeling of friendship in the atmosphere
unlike any companionship she had ever felt. Lovely people in beautiful gowns
were laughing together. In a grand ballroom, she watched as she danced with
prince charming who looked suspiciously like the young man who had given her
roses.
         Suddenly she felt the vision slipping away from her. It was as if
she had been looking through a pool of water and a ripple had come. The
marvelous castle rippled away and she woke to see only the coach in which she
had fallen asleep.
         "Did you sleep well, Miss?" The young man inquired.
         ”Oh yes, sir. I dreamt such lovely dreams."
         "Well, I hope the place that I'm taking you will live up to those
dreams dear one."
         "What!" She exclaimed. "Where are you taking me?"
         ”Well, I found out from your matron that you are a single little
lily quite alone in the world and I wanted to take you under my wing. I have
a very pretty little place some ways away from your city. I thought you might
like it there, and of course, I have servants that will wait on you hand and
foot."
         Brianna was still trying to catch her breath when the carriage
stopped.
         "Ah, my dear. We are here."
         He opened the door to the carriage, and took her shaking hand. She
dared not to look as he led her down to the ground or even as he walked with
her. He opened a door and finally she opened her eyes. She did not believe
what she saw before her, and she begged him to pinch her to assure her that
she was not dreaming any longer. Her eyes rested upon the castle of the
moonbeams and her heart was full of joy.
         "I built it sometime ago. It glows very brightly at night. You can
see it from incredible distances. I am surprised that you never saw it."
         ”Oh I did see it," Brianna answered. “I saw it, dear sir, but I
never believed in it."

The Castle of the Moonbeams 2001©Jennifer Joy Arend

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