Brightston: The Beginning.
***
Grandpa Hiram’s gaze rested on each cheerful face before him. Here were Roda and Romi, Bennie-Bright, Linna, Sunny, Lacey-Dell, Dinnie, Holly-Ann, and Yoan. Yes, Yoan, who had once yearned for love and joy. His face now reflected that he was at home. Grandpa Hiram’s own ruddy cheeks grew brighter as he thought of the boy’s happiness.
The group sat once more on the velvety hill where he’d previously warned the children of the dangers which lay beyond the kingdom. He’d felt anxious that day: deeply concerned for the well-being and safety of the young ones. Today, however, hope and happiness soared through his being.
“Why did you bring us up here, Grandpa?” Roda asked. She and all of the children waited eagerly for his reply. Perhaps Grandpa Hiram wanted to hand out some treats from his bakery, Bennie Bright thought. His mouth watered as he imagined biting into a frosted cake.
“Well, it’s a grand day for a picnic.” Grandpa Hiram grinned as he opened his backpack revealing a selection of packages. “And, perhaps a story too.”
“Yay!” Linna’s deep blue eyes danced. “A story!”
“And a picnic!” Bennie-Bright reminded his sibling.
“Sounds good to me!” Yoan settled back comfortably in the grass. “Do tell the story first, Grandpa Hiram.”
Everyone agreed that Grandpa’s story-telling was even better than his baking and that the picnic could wait.
Grandpa Hiram set his back pack down in the shade and rested his back against a tree. His face was as bright as a cherry as he cleared his throat and smiled at each child in turn.
“The story I will tell today, starts at the best place one can possibly start: At the beginning.”
Yoan and Roda exchanged excited smiles.
Sunny retrieved a handful of toffees from his pocket, then quickly threw one to each child and handed one politely to the story teller.
“It’s the story of how Brightston came to be. The most important story of them all.” Grandpa Hiram closed his eyes, and began.” Many ages ago in the Kingdom of Light, the home of the Great King, something was stirring. A new idea. A seed sprouted. It was rather like a yearning you might say. For you see, the Great King had no children. He had his servants of course: tremendous, bright beings with ivory wings who flew about tending to the Kingdom and serving the Great King. The King loved his servants, of course, but there was a certain loneliness in his heart.”
“I can’t imagine the Great King feeling lonely.” Romi broke in.
“Oh, but he was,” Grandpa Hiram’s smile was gentle. “His home, The Eternal Kingdom is an indescribable wonderland, but it lacked something, and he knew what that something was.” Little Holly-Anne let out a giggle as a purply-cream butterfly flitted past her face, and Grandpa Hiram nodded as he smiled. “That’s exactly what The Great King longed for. The sound of happy laughter, the delighted bubbling of children.”
“So he made Brightston?” Yoan sat up straighter, then apologized for interrupting.
“Questions are good, young man, never mind. Yes. The Great King made Brightston. Can you imagine the light and power that must have burst forth? Oh, it is hard for us to do so. Then, after he made our world’s foundations, the Great King began to form, sculpt, design, and paint, until each element sang its own melody.”
Grandpa Hiram’s voice trailed off, and his eyes remained closed as though he were seeing that awesome moment.
“But he wasn’t finished yet, was he Grandpa?” Roda hugged her knees in expectation, knowing Grandpa had more to tell.
Grandpa Hiram’s eyes sprang open and twinkled. “No, he wasn’t. He’d made a beautiful kingdom in which laughter could dance, but it was as yet, empty. The breezes whispered through bright leaves, but no voices rang in the air. So, the Great King stood still in the centre of Brightston. He sparkled and glowed with intense diamond light as he formed the most special part of his creation. They say that when the first Brightston-tonians stepped forward to meet their Great King, he kissed them tenderly on each cheek and left a ruby glow on their upturned faces.”
No one spoke in that soaring moment as Grandpa Hiram’s voice stilled.
A ruby glow. The words settled warmly in Yoan’s heart, and he touched his own glowing face.
A ruby glow.
***
Thank you dear friends; readers, for visiting. May the Lord bless you and keep you, may He shine His light upon you, and give you His peace. 🕊️🕊️🕊️
Much love,
Alison
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