Star Light, Star Bright

“Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!” shouted Rosa, slamming the door to the deck shut and running out to stand in front of her father who was sitting on his chair reading the newspaper. He smiled knowing there probably wouldn’t be a chance for him to finish the sports section highlighting the swimming competition which was held the day before at the turtle sanctuary.

He had placed a large bet, on Benne's insistence, on a turtle he had found wandering in the middle of the road not quite sure where it was going. He had scooped it up in his beak to the shouts of obscenities from the public, who just stood around and wouldn’t help the poor turtle. He then flew it to the turtle sanctuary and deposited him where he had deposited others, at the front door.

“The turtle actually thanked me,” Benne told George, “that’s the first time a turtle actually thanked me. That’s why I think he will win the races.”

But now that Rosa had run out on to the deck just as he was about to check the results of the 3pm race, he would have to wait to see if he had won enough to take his family to Wilmington for dinner to Elijah’s or just have Julia cook dinner as always. The fact the race took place yesterday and Benne hadn’t called him, meant that the chances of them all eating at home, yes, their new home, was pretty high.

George lowered the newspaper and looked at his daughter, who had crashed into his chair and stood there rocking. “Yes, Rosa, how can I help you?”

“Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!” she repeated sounding out of breath, “please tell mummy that I want to stay up late tonight.”

“How can I?” he asked her. “Tomorrow’s a school day.”

“Yes I know daddy,” pleaded Rosa, “but it’s only tonight.”

“Why just tonight?”

“Because Timmy said he’s going to stay up until its dark so he can see the stars,” and then for added effect added, “I’ve never seen the stars before.”

“That’s not true, Rosa dear. You’ve seen them before when we lived in the old house.”

“No daddy, those were different stars.”

George laughed at Rosa’s logic. “We only moved less than 200 yards from the old house. In fact, if you look over there,” and George pointed towards the beach, “you can quite clearly see our old nest.”

“No daddy,” continued Rosa not swayed by her father’s impeccable logic. “No daddy, those are different stars.”

George had been in this predicament many a time and as always, it needed him to pause for a moment to decide how he was going to diffuse the objections that no doubt Rosa had already formed in her mind. Pure logic would not work for him and neither could he ask Sybil to grant Rosa her wish. So, he had no alternative but to take his wife’s side.

Sybil for her part was standing just inside listening to the conversation. She had her toes crossed that her husband of many years would finally take her side. “Actually, no Rosa. I’m not going to ask your mother if you can stay up, because that would be wrong.” Sybil fell over. “What was that?” asked George panicking slightly.

“I don’t know,” replied Rosa also sounding a little concerned. They both ran to the door and saw Sybil getting up from the floor.

“What’s the matter?” asked George opening the door.

“Are you ok mummy?” asked Rosa a little teary eyed.

“Yes,” laughed Sybil. “Silly me. I thought I had hold of the door handle and was trying to turn it, when my wing must’ve slipped off and I fell down.”

George had other ideas and smiled to himself. “As long as you’re ok, then that’s all that matters.”

“Yes, yes,” replied Sybil and then took a step forward to hug Rosa who had tears running down her face. “It’s ok, little one. Your mummy is fine.”

By this time, Rosa’s other three siblings appeared in the dining room, and Brenda who hadn’t quite mastered the art of walking crashed into Rosa calling her mummy. Sybil rolled her eyes.

“It takes time,” replied George, “we’ve only been here two weeks.”

Sybil turned, “come on little one, bedtime. Mrs Benjamin won’t be happy if you fall asleep in her class tomorrow.” Rosa wiped her tears and hung her head down.

“Not staying up with me Rosa?” asked Timmy knowing the answer. “I borrowed Max’s telescope.”

“They are the same stars as the ones from our old house,” she replied and then turned to followed her mother into the house, only to appear a few minutes later now wearing her Barbie doll pyjamas. “Daddy, can I be a party animal?”

George laughed. “Why do you want to be a party animal?”

“Because I can stay up late then.”

“Ok, I have a solution to all this. During the week you go to bed early because of school and then on Friday and Saturday nights, you can stay up late and watch the stars with Timmy. Then you can be a party animal with whoever, as long as it’s not a boy.”

“Ok yuck daddy! Why would I want a boy. I have you,” and with that she walked back into the nest, shouting good night to her father and the rest of the family. She closed the door behind her and jumped into bed. Rosa looked around at the walls that had all her drawings on them and smiled because she was the only one in there. Brenda had her own bedroom now.

Sybil came in and sat down on Rosa’s bed. “I have to tell you little one, that I’m very proud of the way you handled what happened this evening.”

Rosa smiled and looked at her mother. “I guess I’m finally growing up, right mummy?”

“Yes, little one, you seem to be. Soon you will be a big girl.”

Rosa looked out of the window at the ocean in the distance. “Mummy,” she began, “if I’m becoming a big girl, then is it possible for you not to call me little one anymore? Brenda is now the little one.”

Sybil smiled, “yes, of course. Are you ready to say your prayers?”

She nodded, closed her eyes and folded her wings. “God,” she began, “thank you for giving me such a wonderful family and making all my dreams come true. I have my own bedroom and I don’t have to share it anymore with my little sister. Thank you for my mother and father especially….” and she paused for a second adding, “my mother.” There was a bang. Everyone came running into Rosa’s bedroom. Sybil was on the floor.

“What happened this time?” George was now getting very concerned.

“Oh, it was nothing,” she replied, “I was listening to Rosa’s prayer and slipped off the bed. That’s all.” Rosa giggled. George shook his head. Julia turned and walked out with Timmy. Brenda shouted, “good night mummy,” and crawled out of the bedroom.

Sybil closed the door and turned off the light. “Good night, Rosa dear,” she whispered, “I love you.”

“Me too, mummy. Goodnight,” and soon, the entire Blau household was deep in reflection.