“Suns up. Hurry, first bell rang seven claps ago. Come on, get up off the floor,” Halo heard Zadie yell from the bathroom.
She rubbed the sleep from her eyes, pushed herself up off the floor, and tried to remember where she was and why she was sleeping on the floor.
“Now I remember. Where are the girls? Morning got here too fast.”
“What?” Zadie shouted.
“I’m talking to myself. I’m still half-asleep. I know, I remember, it’s our Birth Day.” She slumped down into the pillows and wished she didn’t remember.
“It’s going to be okay. You haven’t done anything wrong. We’ll all sit together. The bathroom is all yours.”
She stumbled into the bathroom, hurried to put a band in her hair, and find a clean pair of jeans and a shirt. She knew Zadie was pretending everything would be all right, but it wasn’t. Well, she didn’t want to spoil the day. Today might be the last time they all would be together.
“You ready?” Amber knocked on the door, pushed it open, and entered with her sisters following close behind.
“I guess so. We can’t take anything with us when we leave,” Zadie told them.
“You can take one thing. That’s what the rules say,” Opal corrected.
“Really? I didn’t know that. What are you taking?” Zadie exclaimed.
“Our lockets,” Star answered.
“They match,” Amber added.
The girls showed off the identical silver heart-shaped necklace each of them wore around her neck.
“We made one for you and Halo, too.” Opal reached in her pocket and pulled out two identical silver lockets with matching chains, handing one to Zadie.
“It’s for you,” Amber told her and waited in awkward silence for an answer. “Unless you planned to take something else.”
“Thank you. It’s beautiful. I haven’t got anything to take. I’ll wear it always. Friends.” They grabbed hands and hugged.
“Hi, what’s this about a necklace?” Halo came out of the bathroom, dressed in clean jeans and a shirt.
“We brought a necklace for you, too,” Amber said.
“They are all alike,” Star added, and they all displayed their necklaces for her.
“It’s something to take with you tonight.” Opal handed her the necklace.
“Oh. It’s beautiful, thank you.” She fastened the necklace around her neck. “I can wear them both together.” She zipped the starfish back and forth on the leather cord, making it glow like a blue-green neon sign.
“Sorry, I forgot. You can take the starfish instead,” Star added quickly.
“No. No. I want to keep this one, too. The one like yours.” Halo pinched the two lockets together.
“But you can only take one thing,” Amber reminded her.
Halo thought for only a few seconds. “I’ll take the heart necklace. I love it and will wear it always. Don’t worry. I know exactly what I’m going to do with the starfish.” She joined them in a huddle hug.
“Girls.” Miss Ruth rapped on the door and entered without an invitation. She wore her customary long white apron over a cheerful print dress.
“Zadie, Halo, Opal, Star, Amber.” She gathered them close to her. “Well done. I’ll miss you. I love you.” She adjusted her wire glasses, wiping a tear under the thick lens. “Now, give me a smile, and off you go. May God be with you.” She sniffed and pushed the door open, hurrying them out.
“Have a good breakfast and Happy Birth Day.” They hugged her one by one, stealing a last hug before waving a final goodbye.
“I’m going to TLC first,” Halo announced.
“You don’t have time,” Zadie cautioned her.
“I’m gone. I’m not hungry anyway. Save me a seat at the arena.”
She took every shortcut she knew, barreling through the woods, hopping across narrow places in the stream. Panting for breath, she barged through the gate, up the steps to the porch, slammed through the screen door, and rushed inside.
Dr. Leaf sat in his chair, his spectacles resting on his forehead. The animals were silent in their nests. A large white sheet was draped over something big on a bed in the center of the room where the animals lived. She froze, stared at the white shrouded figure. “Midas?”
Dr. Leaf rose from his chair. He didn’t say a word. He cradled her in his thin arms, his head even with her shoulder.
“No! No! It can’t be Midas.” She shook. There were sobs. First hers then his.
“I did what I could. You did, too. It wasn’t enough,” he whispered in her ear.
“No! No!” She shoved away from him and ran blindly, stumbling over rocks, slipping on the muddy riverbank all the way to the pier of Tranquil Bay. She sank to her knees on the wooden pier, facing the water, her body jerking with sobs. But she knew there was nothing she could do to save Midas.
She was still crying when Jet ran onto the pier, knelt beside her, touched her shoulder, and folded her head close to his chest. She read his lips repeating Midas’ name over and over. He stayed with her until the sobbing slowed.
She heard a big splash in the bay and water spewed over them like a sudden rainstorm when a big blue-gray sea-creature’s tail waved from the depths of the bay. She jumped up and ran with Jet to the end of the pier laughing, crying, and shaking themselves dry, hoping and believing Gamy would be back. A long snout emerged from the Bay, answering them with barking and clapping noises. The odd mismatched eyes glowed as Gamy swam close to the pier.
“Gamy, I thank you.” She untied the starfish necklace and tossed it to her beautiful blue-gray friend.
“Keep it alive,” she instructed her giant friend. The fish blinked, hooked the necklace on its snout, and disappeared back into the bay. They stood there, watching and waiting until a blue-gray tail waved goodbye. Gamy was already far into the depths of Tranquil Bay. “Race you to the arena,” she gave the challenge, and they ran across the lawn to ready to face whatever fate would bring on this, their Birth Day.
~ ~ ~
The arena seats, festooned with star-trimmed ribbons marked the middle front section as Reserved Seating for students celebrating Birth Day. Professors, teachers, and housemothers scrambled to find seats in the assigned sections behind graduating students. Outside the arena, Birth Day girls and boys lined up around the food plaza saying final goodbyes, hugging, friends crossing fingers in hopes of being placed together, all of them wishing for their dream assignment. Chimes rang, conversations stopped, and students began filing into the arena. Joyful music from an unseen source began to play.
“Where is Halo?” Star whispered.
“I don’t know, and I don’t see Jet, either.” Zadie shielded her words with the back of her hand. She watched an instructor usher a group in front of them to their seats. Zadie and her three friends slipped to the back of the line, fidgeting as they waited for their two missing friends.
“I’m going to check the outside queue.” Zadie gave up her spot, and the sisters followed, opening their space for another set of latecomers. They planned to take the last seats available.
“I see them now. They’re together, running across the grass,” Zadie announced.
Jet and Halo hustled to join Zadie, Star, Opal, and Amber to their seats moments before the stage lights came up, highlighting the feather-shaped podium. Angel Vesta materialized behind it, the gauzy folds of her long flowing gown sparkling with hundreds of tiny silver stars.
She opened the program with a welcome, “‘Happy Birth Day.’” Next, she presented special feather awards of excellence to groups moving into realms. Next, she presented student group awards for gifts in the various fields of medicine, science and engineering, liberal arts, sports, and for special achievements. There were also special feathers awarded for individual innovation and inspiration.
~ ~ ~
Halo fidgeted in her seat, clapping for deserving and enthusiastic classmates as they accepted their feathers and bowed in appreciation to the audience.
She gripped the edge of her seat, trying to appear calm. Would Angel Vesta call her name? Would she be happy if she did? Zadie continued to crack her knuckles; the triplets twirled golden curls with their fingers, and all the nervous activity was making her crazy. What should she do when and if Zadie, Amber, Opal, and Star heard their names called?
Jet sat perfectly still, his shoulders stiff, his face showing no emotion at all. She wondered if he could understand what Angel Vesta said.
Angel Vesta congratulated members of the group presenters and asked them to stand. A circle of snowy white feathers fell, finding a place in each of their hands. She understood the joy on their faces reflected their hard work in finding a talent, and she joined the audience in applauding them.
Next, Angel Vesta asked the remaining Birth Day students to stand. A second cloud of feathers floated down and circled above them until each beautiful white feather floated found the correct student.
She watched Zadie gasp and grip the white feather floating to its place in her hand. She watched her hug Jet who was staring at his own feather in disbelief. The sisters, Amber, Opal, and Star squealed so loud it hurt her ears when their feathers landed into each of their hands. Finally, a miracle occurred. A feather floated down, inserting itself into her balled fist. She couldn’t believe it, but she wasn’t about to let it go.
The arena came alive with clapping, shouting, and laughter. She joined the sisters, Zadie, and Jet in the celebration by holding hands in both relief and awe.
The celebration was interrupted when bells chimed and a tall creature dressed in red with flashing golden eyes joined Angel Vesta on stage. Next, an elf-like man, his few strands of hair standing straight up and his wire-rimmed spectacles resting at the end of a long, sharp nose marched across the stage, pointy-toed boots clicking against the floor like tap shoes. Halo took a deep breath and put her hand over her mouth as the audience sat in awe at the odd twosome.
She heard Angel Vesta announce, “Please welcome my assistant, Koze, and our friend of the animals, Dr. Leaf, of TLC.” Everyone clapped.
“Koze is here today because two students, Halo and Jet, risked their new lives to rescue him. Bravery and love are their gifts to Koze and the angels. I award Halo and Jet a feather each.
“Zadie, Opal, Star, and Amber gave away their own talent to help their friend, Jet. They were willing to sacrifice their own future life and share his punishment.” Halo held her breath in fear as she waited with her friends to hear the final verdict.
“They are awarded a feather each for obedience to the Golden Rule.
“Jet is guilty of going past the Star Points to rescue Halo. He is guilty of staying out after suns down to bring Koze, Halo, Dr. Leaf’s and Halo’s dog, Midas, back to White Feathers. The penalty is the loss of one feather for each violation of rules.”
Halo wanted to help him, when his face lost its color, and help him steady his shaking hands as he surrendered his feather to Angel Vesta. The angel ignored the offer and continued her speech. “Although Jet did not have an opportunity to present his gift at the Birth Day celebration, I recognize his gifts in mechanics, engineering, and art, and most of all, his bravery. Jet risked his new life to find and rescue Halo. My assistant Koze accompanied Jet in the search and suffered mechanical damage during the rescue. As you can see, Koze has been repaired.” Halo held her breath as the students cheered. Koze went into the audience to shake Jet’s trembling hand.
Halo was confused and concerned that they might all lose their feathers.
Angel Vesta continued, “Jet found Halo stranded on an inlet of Rogue Sea, as well as finding Dr. Leaf and the dog Midas, who had formed their own search party for her. The three of them risked their new lives to bring a disabled Koze and suffering dog, Midas, back to White Feathers. I award Jet two feathers for his bravery.”
She was surprised at the applause from every person in the arena, and overwhelmed when, row by row, they stood in a tribute to their friend and fellow student. But Angel Vesta continued to talk, and this time the conversation was about her. “Halo came here with only four months to develop a talent. She and Jet were the first students ever to apprentice at TLC for Dr. Leaf. She risked her new life to save Zadie, when their team was thrown into the sea during the Star Festival raft race. “She risked her new life a second time to help Jet bring Koze and Midas back to White Feathers. She did not participate in the gift presentation yesterday.”
Halo gritted her teeth in anticipation of Angel Vesta’s coming remarks.
“Once every seven decades, an Earth student arrives at White Feathers. The selection is random. Halo joined us without the benefit of village training and gave the perfect gift. She gave us and the creatures of TLC her love, which is the greatest gift.”
She was getting dizzy again and hoped she wouldn’t faint when Angel Vesta asked for the feather.
“Halo, I award you one feather for your bravery and three feathers representing the love you gave to Zadie, Koze, and Midas.”
Her knees shook, dots danced before her eyes, and the floor moved under her feet sending her tumbling backward into her seat.
She woke staring at a concerned Dr. Leaf and hearing him order everyone to move away, to give her air. He pulled something out of his pocket and waved it under her nose.
“I’ve really got to do something about this dizzy thing.” She held up the five feathers and asked, “I really do get to fly up?”
Dr. Leaf laughed at her, revealing every single one of his crooked teeth. Then both Koze and Dr. Leaf helped her stand.
“Thank you, Angel Vesta. I don’t know what else to say, but thank you so much.”
The transparent shell canopy circling the arena slid back into the stage as the suns sank into the waters surrounding White Feathers. A silver star, brighter than the suns, appeared over the arena. Every head turned to witness the awesome star.
~ ~ ~
A single silver feather floated into the arena, dancing its way past the stage and into the front row, planting itself in Halo’s hand. She heard a musical voice above them say, “Halo, I give you the gift of your heart.”
“What does it mean?” she intended to whisper to Koze, but her shaky voice echoed throughout the room.
“You have been given one wish,” Angel Vesta announced.
“You can have any talent you want,” Zadie exclaimed, hugging her.
“You can choose…” Star started.
“Where you want to go,” Amber finished
“Even with the Guardian angels,” Star said.
Halo was dizzy again thinking about all the things she wanted, things she hoped for, things that were now a reality.
She could ask for a talent, to be good at something like Zadie, the triplets, and Jet.
She could ask to go back home to Earth, but she didn’t remember much about being there before.
She could, yes, she could ask for the impossible. She cleared her throat and stood. She wanted to say this loud and clear.
“The wish of my heart is for Jet to speak and hear.”
She heard the audience gasp, and muted conversations like a swarm of bees buzzing then people started to clap when Jet stood, his face shining, tears streaming down his cheeks. He took her by the hand.
“Thank you. Thank you for your gift.” She heard his voice for the first time, watched him form words with his mouth, and smile in amazement at the sound coming from inside him.
Bands of angels circled the sky above the arena, reaching out to claim their newly selected students into the heavens to fly with them to their chosen realm.
Six thirteen-year-olds fluttered their new wings, joined hands, and soared up to meet a beautiful Guardian angel with one blue eye, one purple eye.
Halo suddenly began to clap and laugh out loud at the sound of a familiar growl as a big golden dog tried to flap his fluffy, new golden wings and run at the same time.
“You can do it!” the triplets yelled in unison.
“Hurry, Midas, we’ll help you.” Halo held out her arms.
All six angel students clapped and cheered as Midas raced through the clouds to them.
A boy with long black hair and green eyes cheered the loudest.