Let's Dance

Clarisse eased back into the chair with the oversize backrest and bulky armrests. She had reason to trust the hypnotherapist. They would be married next month… but she wasn’t sure about this. She heard so many stories about hypnotherapy before.

The smell of incense and his serene voice slowed down her heart rate.
“Clarisse, when you hear me say ‘dance’, you will forget about your Chorophobia and will waltz like the famous Barbara Miles… Let’s dance!” he smiled.

Beethoven’s Dance for Orchestra started to play. She accepted the hand of her beloved. Together they performed the perfect waltz.

© Marianna Pieterse

*Have you ever had to do something you felt totally unprepared for, like our protagonist in this story?*

http://www.pixabay.com (edited)

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Scent of Stale Bread

Ranger Muller headed for the truck. She had to stop him. He was the only person who could fit pieces of her past together.
“Do not leave the cabin, wolves are roaming the camp.” Ranger Sullivan warned earlier.
She grabbed a slice of bread off the counter. “Well Max, I hope you like the taste of stale bread!” she whispered. She stepped outside. With a shaking hand, she held a piece to Max, the leader of the pack of wolves. His nose twitched curiously as he accepted the gift. “Thank you for not biting off my hand!” she sighed.

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Not so happily ever after

Prince Charming and Cinderella drove off in their couch. It had been told that before they reached the next town, Prince Charming was lost. “I know exactly where we are.” he said.
“He’s so cute when he is lost.” thought Cinderella. Butterflies fought for space in her stomach.

Going past the same fountain for the third time, Prince Charming finally asked a gnome for directions. Cinderella updated her Facebook status. “Taking in the scenery.” She added some hearts for effect.

On their way again they saw a giant castle looming over a small village. “There it is!” exclaimed Prince Charming, regaining some dignity after actually finding it.

An overhead sign showed two beer mugs. “Lovely.” thought Cinderella, rolling her eyes.

“Honey, would you be a darling and make us a hot drink?” ask Prince Charming. “I’m parched.”

“I thought my days of slaving after someone are over.” said Cinderella sarcastically. She switched the kettle on. She updated her Facebook profile. “Our room is gorgeous!” She added a photo for effect.

Prince Charming couldn’t fall asleep. It turned out the dust from all the years of cleaning affected Cinderella’s sinuses. Prince Charming updated his Facebook status. “Married to the most beautiful girl in the world. I can watch her sleep for hours!” He added a photo for effect. He neglected to mention that it would be humanly impossible to sleep with the racket her sinuses were causing.

Fast forward to a year later… “Honey, would you please make me a cup of coffee? My program is on.”
“That’s it!” snapped Cinderella. “I’m phoning the Fairy Godmother!”
At the mention of the Fairy Godmother’s name Prince Charming rushed over. “I’ve seen this episode before!” he lied. “Have a break while I make you a cup of tea.”
Cinderella plonked herself down. She updated her Facebook status. “Married to the best husband in the world… making me tea while I relax!” She added a photo of the view for effect.

Last I have heard their second child started kindergarten. The Fairy Godmother visits weekly to make sure that things in the castle stay hunky-dory.

© Marianna Pieterse

*A different take on a prince and princess story, with a bit of modern day social media usage thrown into the mix.*

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Seeing a ghost

I ran up the stairs and suddenly gazed upon a face as white as a sheet. It stared back at me from the bathroom door. I froze. I've heard before that when encountering a ghost you should ask if you could help it go into the light. I would have asked if only I could find my voice.
"Oh hunny, please pass me the towel," said Mum excitedly. "I'm trying out this egg-white mask your aunt told me about. It's suppose to make you look two years younger!" she said while I handed her the towel with shaking hands.

© Marianna Pieterse

*Imagine what Mom would have thought if her child asked her very seriously if she could help her go into the light!*

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Jan in the Maze of Mirrors

Jan entered the maze of mirrors with the rest of the tour group. Yellow lights flashed overhead. It made her feel dizzy. The reflections leaving her disoriented.

As she moved forward, panels gave way, opening up to other isles. Fingers of fear closed in around her. With a thud she collapsed.

“Jan!” she heard an unfamiliar voice. She blinked the darkness away. The yellow lights gave way to red and blue. “Where am I?” she whispered.

“You’re in an ambulance. How many fingers am I holding up?” she heard the paramedic say as darkness closed in again.

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An Autumn walk

“Let’s go to the park.” suggested Jock. Taking Lizzy’s hand they set off in the direction of the setting sun. The usual green trees made way for the warm colours of autumn. Trees gracefully shook off some leafs to create a carpet in shades of red, yellow and orange. Beauty created for the pleasure of mortals by a higher Hand. It spread out as far as they could see.
“Do you remember the first time we came here?” asked Lizzy, smiling at the memory.
“Tag, you’re it!” yelled Jock as he chased her down the slope.
“Déjà vu!” she laughed.

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The lost city of Ukryty

Milly smiled to herself and didn’t say a word. She listened to the conversation between her classmates.

“The lost city of Ukryty does not exist. It’s a myth!” said Jenna with certainty. “I think people are just not looking hard enough.” answered Jake…

Milly was lost in thought. She was back on the boat she boarded with Jane and Luke last Spring. On their vacation in the Bahamas that sunny afternoon they boarded the ship. They were planning to visit the surrounding islands. An hour into their trip a dark shadow crept from underneath the surface of the water. Slowly a shape emerged. What first looked like a submarine soon grew into an island, complete with old ruins of huts and temples and what used to be a castle.
Many local villagers believed that the island really existed. Others thought it to be a myth retold from one generation to the next to entertain the children. It was told that stones from the island contained magical powers. Many villagers had searched for the island, but in vain.

Milly and her friends could not believe their eyes. The captain’s face told them that what they were seeing was real. Here it was, within their reach.

Earlier that day the elderly woman at the curio shop noticed Milly and the others looking at the hand-drawn picture of what the island was believed to look like. She told them the story of how her husband came to draw the picture. Being a fisherman, he went out day after day for months on his fisher’s boat, hoping to find the island. She was convinced nothing would come of it. Her husband would tire of it and forget all about the island.

One morning he left for his daily search again. When it was time to return, there was no sign of him. She waited and waited. Day after day she went to the harbour, hoping that he would return. A week later she noticed something shiny in the water. It was a capsule with a note inside. A strange colour emanated from the capsule and she could not resist opening it. “Dear Greta, I have found the island. Sadly I cannot return yet. I will find a way back to you. I love you!” She stared at the note and the drawing of the island underneath it. The stories that the island was magical were true. How else did the note written in her husband’s handwriting reach her?

“Stay near the harbour and away from the island!” she warned them.
The friends thought that she made the story up to sell the pictures her husband drew. However, here they were, staring in disbelief. A lot happened on the island. Things so bizarre that she never spoke one word to anyone about it. However, here in class today she broke the silence.

“Did I ever tell you about the other world – the one hidden from plain sight?” she asked.
Surprised by her sudden interruption they stared at her. “What are you talking about?” asked Jenna.
“The city of Ukryty off the coast of Nassau in the Bahamas.”
“You have been to the Bahamas, last year, haven’t you. Did the native people talk much of it?” Jake asked.
“Yes. Many believe that it is an island not far from there. Others thought it was a myth. Some of the inhabitants have been searching endlessly for the island. Little do they know it is right in front of their eyes. If only they knew where to look.”
“How is it possible that they can’t see it? I mean, if it is so obvious…” asked Jenna doubtful.

“Let me start at the beginning. Jane, Luke and I left for Nassau for our breakaway. We arrived early morning, the first week in May. The air was cool and crisp, but it was a gloriously sunny day. We couldn’t sit cooped up in the hotel room and went downstairs for a bite to eat. Luke walked over to the counter to order drinks…
‘I’ve just overheard guys at the counter talk about a mystical island which according to legend is not too far from here. The only problem is very few people claim to have seen it.’ he said.
‘Come on Luke, next you will ask us to go searching for the island with you!’ laughed Jane.
‘I vote we go for a stroll through the market and see if we can book a boat trip. I would love to see the REAL islands surrounding the coast.’ I said.
‘There is a little curio shop!’ said Jane, pointing to a sign.   Underneath the windowsill was a stand with postcards. One immediately drew my attention. It seemed to have been hand drawn…. a picture of an island.

‘I’m Greta, the shopkeeper. I see you like that postcard?’ said the lady behind the counter.
‘It’s beautiful.’ I answered.

Luke asked her about the mystical lost city of Ukryty. She told us the story of how her husband searched every day for three years, hoping to find the island and bring and end of their daily struggle for survival. It was believed that the stones had magical powers which could make you rich and powerful beyond your wildest dreams. ‘Many villagers warned him against this search for power and riches. He wouldn’t be stopped. Each night he came home disappointed and even more determined to find it. One windy October morning he left for his daily search again and never returned.’ Greta said.
“Didn’t anyone ever look for him?” Jenna wondered.

“Of course they did, for a while, but after a week or two gave up the search.”
‘People believed that he had drowned. I never believed it.’ said Greta. ‘I waited on the beach every day for him to return. One day I saw a shiny stone capsule in the sand. In the centre was a key in the shape of an animal. I turned it. It opened up. There was a note inside… DEAR GRETA, I HAVE FOUND THE ISLAND. SADLY I CANNOT RETURN YET. I WILL FIND A WAY BACK TO YOU. I LOVE YOU! With the note was the hand drawn picture of the island. The same picture as on the postcard that you are looking at.’ she said.

“It is far-fetched to think she knew exactly where to be at exactly the right time to get the note!” laughed Jake.
“We thought so too. We didn’t make much of it. We bought the postcard just as a joke.
Greta warned us to stay clear of the island and not to go looking for it. ‘You are sure to find trouble if you do.’ she whispered. For a moment we thought she was serious. We bought boat ride tickets, still wondering about the strange warning.”

“The shopkeeper sounds a bit looney!” said Jenna shaking her head.

“It was quite warm when we boarded the boat. We haven’t been far off the coast when we turned and saw pigs swimming in the water around the boat.
‘Will you look at that!’ said Luke fascinated.
‘Thank goodness we are not swimming to the islands.’ I joked, not in the least interested in swimming with the pigs. For a split second there was a bright reflection in the water. I almost thought I imagined it. The captain mumbled something about the compass going crazy.   Suddenly a dark shadow appeared under the clear blue water. It grew bigger until rocks broke through the surface. We looked closer. What we saw were ruins of temples and huts and footpaths and what looked like what used to be a city. ‘The Captain looks spooked!’ Jane said as we realised he moored the boat.
We disembarked. The air felt eerie. There was a rattling sound in the distance, like a million rattles being shaken at once. Other than the rattles, it was too quiet. Jane suddenly squealed, making everyone jump. She pointed towards a ruin of an old castle. Tied to the post where the entrance would have been was a baby doll with raggedy clothes and missing eyes. Above its head was a sign. ANYONE WHO MAKES IT TO THE OTHER SIDE WILL ENDURE A TEST AS OLD AS TIME ITSELF. SOLVE THE RIDDLE AND BE FREE. We noticed three more creepy-looking dolls hanging from posts from nearby ruins.
Something drew us inside… an urge to know what was on the other side of the wall. Luke went in first. We followed. The sound of the rattles increased a thousand fold. For an instant my heart stopped. We were standing on a platform not more than a meter wide, about fifteen feet above a pit of rattle snakes. We turned around to leave. We never saw the door closing behind us. The captain tried the lock. It was jammed. The only exit was on the other side. The way to get there was crossing a narrow dilapidated wooden bridge. Jane noticed an inscription on a wooden panel next to the bridge, FROM MEAGER TO BOLD, DO MAKE HASTE.
After a few moments of urgent discussion Luke suggested that Jane, the smallest of the three of us goes first. I was next, and then the captain, selflessly Luke would go last. Crossing one at a time the bridge could barely take our weight. Luke’s turn came. ‘Run Luke!” I yelled as the bridge started crumbling underneath his weight.   He darted like a bow from an arrow across the bridge. The captain grabbed his arm just in time as the bridge finally collapsed. We’ve made it.
We jolted out into the sunshine. ‘Here’s another sign… a warning.’ said the captain. EVEN IN GREED YOU MIGHT SUCCEED, BUT TRYING TO LEAVE AGAIN WILL BE IN VAIN. It looked much older than the other signs.
Luke saw sudden movement behind us. ‘Come out, I know you are there’, he said. I held my breath, not knowing what creature might crawl out from behind the ruin. An unpleasant-looking man with an expression of sorrow mixed with greed crawled out. He stared into the distance, without really seeing. ‘Who are you and how did you get here?’ Luke demanded to know. Suddenly realisation dawned on us. Greta’s husband. It could only be him. We were right.
He told us the story of how he found the island. ‘My compass jammed. I looked up and for a second there was a reflection in the water. I was exhausted and thought my eyes were playing tricks on me. The next thing I knew I was staring at the island I’ve been searching for, for years. I have found it…’ he sneered. ‘The island seemed peaceful with beautiful ruins and plants I never saw before. I was ecstatic at first. After investigating I came across a temple with the magical stones the villagers always spoke about. I soon realised I could control the stones through the power of my mind. It protected me when the island went under water. I could breathe without trouble as long as I stayed in the temple.’
“Before long he became fearful."
‘If I could find the island so could others. I was not prepared to share any of my stones. This was my island now.’ He grinned. ‘I found some primitive-looking dolls in stone trunks inside the castle. I put them up on the post to scare nosy people off should they come across the island.’ he looked at us begrudgingly. ‘At first I thought it was enough, but I was getting anxious that people don’t scare so easily. So I converted the first ruin into a snake sanctuary.’ he barked. ‘You saw it. Nicely done, don’t you think?’
Rattle snakes were common on the island. They were also protected by the stones. With careful precision he captured and moved them into the pit. He was convinced that was enough to scare people away. Either they would be scared to death and return to the boat and leave; or would fall into the pit of rattle snakes. It was a win-win situation for him.
He jammed the door behind us when we first entered the castle. His greed and anxiousness about being found was his downfall. He just couldn’t leave things to chance and had to come and see what our next move was going to be. That was when Luke spotted him.”

“The notice, the one you saw when you excited the ruin of the castle, was that what happened to him?” asked Jenna.
“Sadly yes. He was so overtaken by greed and determined to keep the stones to himself, that he could no longer leave the island. As much as he missed Greta, he couldn’t part with the stones. After all those years he was still trying to find a way to have both. Fear of not finding the island again should he leave, or that someone else might find it kept him there.”

“I still don’t see how the island could be hidden in plain sight” sighed Jake.
“It is quite simple actually. It is the way the water bends at that exact spot. When the compass jammed and the captain wasn’t quite sure where to go, he sailed into an area marked on the maps as very dangerous waters. Sailors avoid it. Chances of anyone deliberately sailing into that spot are very slim. We weren’t supposed to be there.”
“What was his name?” asked Jake.
“Greta’s husband? He never told us. If you ever visit Nassau and you come across the island, you can ask him!”

© Marianna Pieterse

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