Mercoledì, 10 Marzo, 2004 | Posted by Silvia Rose at 19:54

Valerie Flock was only 21 when she had her first child. Well, actually, she had two first children. She had twins. Both girls. Both healthy.

A couple of years later, Valerie, her husband Charles and their two daughters were out camping. Both children fell asleep to the gentle, slumbering sound of their father's guitar.

Birds sang in the trees as dusk fell so gently you hardly heard it. Crickets trilled to the beat. Even the atmosphere sighed deeply and for a while the very air around you felt as if it had been sucked away by some magical force.

The girls slept deeply in their tent as Valerie and Charles danced around the camp fire and made love under the stars.

Of course, the stars were very discreet and looked away so as not to embarass the happy couple. They did however steal a peek at Charles's very white bottom as it bobbed like a float on a fishing line line in a sea of darkness.

When Valerie and Charles were sated, the entered the tent. One of their daughters was gone. She was no where to be seen. An investigation was held, the area scoured and then scoured again. But no trace was found.

Nothing.

Every evening before bed and every morning before dancing, Valerie would look up at the stars and say a little prayer for her daughter. The toll was great on the family and Valerie and Charles soon parted.

Many years later, Valerie was at a party. She spied a young girl across the room. The girl looked so much like her daughter Matilda whom she had left at home. She was curious. Very curious.

She asked the girl if she could borrow a small piece of her beautiful auburn hair. The girl agreed.

Valerie had it tested. The DNA results found one amazing result. The match was unmistakeable. This was her daughter. The very same daughter that had been lost so many years ago.

This daughter's name was Silvia Rose.

Lunedì, 12 Aprile, 2004 | Posted by Silvia Rose at 17:23

My mother would often change character totally. One day she'd be Jackie Onasis. The next, she'd be Mrs Fruit Cake.

For a while, she wanted to go straight. She thought she should no longer be a dancer and she'd try to be a proper mother. You know what I mean. She'd do the whole "twin set and pearls" thing. It would drive me mad.

She even wanted to do the whole "Meet the Parents" caper. "Oh, isn't it wonderful how your son and my daughter are ... you know ..."

She would lean over and whisper in my ear, "What is it you're doing, dear? And what is his name."

"Seymour", she'd look at me stupidly. "I know what you're thinking, just don't say it. I promise, his name is Seymour."

Seymour's parents were a lovely pair, Rachel and Abe. They treated me as the daughter they never had. We were both 14 years of age and they thought we spent our evenings in Seymour's room doing homework.

How quaint.

Anyway, my mother and I were there for lunch. Rachel served up soup with Matzo Balls. Rachel was very proud of her Matzo balls. "Best balls in town" Abe would shout.

Silvia looked at her bowl. She picked up her spoon and pushed the balls around. She looked very hesitant.

Rachel stoppped and noticed.

Silvia hadn't touched a drop. "Are you okay, Silvia? Everything alright?"

"I was just wondering," said Silvia "are the balls the only part of the Matzo that you eat?"

Martedì, 08 Giugno, 2004 | Posted by Lionel Gerkin at 16:50

It was the wings I always remember. She kept them well hidden, but I would sneak a peek early in the morning. She would always rise before me. She stood there in the early morning light, her eyes peeking through the heavy sleep and she would stretch.

Some day, when I'm awfully low,
When the world is cold,
I will feel a glow just thinking of you
And the way you look tonight.

I remember the distinct sound of her wings. It was like the snap of an umbrella opening. Not that she ever used them, even though she couldn't exist without them. I would peak through the sheets trying to make sure she couldn't see me.

She would open the blind slowly and the sun would rush in foolishly, trying to see what was going on. It would wrap itself around her until she glowed and you could feel a warmth spread through the room, even on the coldest mornings.

She looked quickly around on one such morning. She caught me looking. I quickly clutched my eyes closed.

I slit an opening to see where she was and if she was still watching. I found her face only centimeters from mine. The glow of her skin was magical. Her wings were outstretched and fluttered. I could see their shadow against the wall. Quickly I snapped shut my eyes again. I felt her warm breath on my cheek as her lips pressed against it with a kiss.

Yes you're lovely, never, ever change
Keep that breathless charm.
Won't you please arrange it?
'Cause I love you
Just the way you look tonight.

I didn't want to open my eyes again. I didn't want the scene to disappear. I wanted it to be there always.