Lianna’s Dream
Both hands resting on her expecting belly, Lianna leaned against
the white railing on the back porch. The
air was cool, moist and peaceful, a welcome relief from the recent sweltering
humidity. The wind picked up lifting her
hair from her face. She gladly welcomed
the approaching black clouds. Relief
washed over her as she took in the fresh smells of the on-coming storm. Lighting flashed and she counted the seconds
before the distance gauging crack and boom followed.
She was pleased, it’ll be here soon, she thought as she moved over to the padded lounge chair and carefully sat back in it.
Very pregnant, she smiles and rubs where a kick was felt. The stiff and sore muscles all over her body already began to melt at the thought of a solid good night’s sleep for a change. Nothing put in her in a wonderfully deep slumber like a good thunder storm. Even as a child she could not relate to the fear filled and sleepless night the other children and adults suffered through. In fact she rarely heard them roll through at all.
Just beyond the awning, through breaks in the thickening clouds, she gazed at the great star Ara. For as long as she could remember it had always shone the brightest. At times it could be the only star seen through some of the clouds. Tonight it looked as if it was at its brightest, like a spot light in the sky pointing down upon the earth.
Her belly was not as big as some of the other women almost due, but was still something she was not quite used to and made chores and even resting a challenge. Still she never complained. She liked being pregnant, nurturing and feeling life growing inside.
A curtain of rain drew nearer gently patting at the trees and leafs all around her. Soon large heavy water drops plopped down upon the awning above her. She covered herself with the throw blanket that lay back of the chair and sighed, such a soft and steady sweet rhythm, then curled up and slid down in the cushion even further. I’ll just rest my eyes for a bit, and then I’ll go in. Before long she felt like she was falling, but it was a good fall as she dozed off.
She heard an enormous BOOM and opened her eyes. That’s odd, that one sounded like it was right on top of the house. Hmmm, I wonder how long I was out. She stood and had a nice long stretch then turned to walk in the house. Before her hand touched the door knob something caught her attention; another rhythm, a strange pattern of light.
She backed away from the door to take a look. The rain had slowed to a drizzle so she stepped out. Through the canopy of trees the sky was an amazing light show. The clouds glowed white and purple as the flashes of light danced above her. And the booms of thunder held their own beat like a massive drum celebrating.
I want to see it better. She thought about the resting wheat field just through the trees, I won’t be gone long. And she found herself running and laughing through the rain droplets like a little girl. The cold wet tickled her face and neck as she dashed through to the field of tall grass.
A moment after she cleared the trees a joint flash of champagne and violet surged and arched like intertwined vines above her. The thrill of it set the hair on her neck and arms to stand on end. She blinked from the brightness against the night and rubbed her arms to get the goose bumps gone. Then she noticed a shadow in the middle of the field. That wasn’t there a second ago. She squinted but was unable to focus with the constant changing light.
The image jumped closer and then closer with every flash after. Lianna grew nervous holding her stomach and taking a couple of steps back as the goose bumps returned. Steadily it zigzagged as it leapt even closer. Finally it was close enough that she was able to make out an old crone covered in tattered rags.
The ground rumbled beneath her and wind blew. Above her the show did not stop even as the still active clouds parted just above the clearing. The sight of Ara took her breath away as it proudly beamed down upon the opening like a mother bursting with wonderful news.
Another blinding light flashed, and Lianna gasped, as suddenly the hunched over spirit woman emerged directly in front of her.
Slowly she out stretched her spotted wrinkled hand and gently laid it on Lianna’s belly. Lianna stood frozen. Without moving her lips Lianna heard the old voice, “To be a star, she must shine her own light, follow her own path, and worry not about the darkness, for that is when stars shine brightest.”
There was another great BOOM and this time when she woke, her husband, and chief of the tribe, was there at her side. With a worried look he kissed her forehead and took her hand urging her to come inside, “You’ll take cold out here. Are you alright?”
Lianna gave him a confused look, “…yes… I’m fine. Why do you ask?”
His face went back to the solemn expression it usually carried, “We have a visitor.”
Her mind was a bit foggy, “What time is it?”
He helped her up from the chair, “It’s late, however there is something about this storm, and this night that are not right. Nomad brings news of at least two births here and one in our neighboring village tonight. The mothers are not yet due. Though you have a few months yet he is concerned that…”
Lianna urgently grabbed hold of his arm and looked down at her legs in shock, “Amon, I think my water just broke.”
The storm died right then and there as the sky cleared. The next flash of light was star Ara shooting through the sky, falling.
Copyright © 2012 by Shelia Weiss
She was pleased, it’ll be here soon, she thought as she moved over to the padded lounge chair and carefully sat back in it.
Very pregnant, she smiles and rubs where a kick was felt. The stiff and sore muscles all over her body already began to melt at the thought of a solid good night’s sleep for a change. Nothing put in her in a wonderfully deep slumber like a good thunder storm. Even as a child she could not relate to the fear filled and sleepless night the other children and adults suffered through. In fact she rarely heard them roll through at all.
Just beyond the awning, through breaks in the thickening clouds, she gazed at the great star Ara. For as long as she could remember it had always shone the brightest. At times it could be the only star seen through some of the clouds. Tonight it looked as if it was at its brightest, like a spot light in the sky pointing down upon the earth.
Her belly was not as big as some of the other women almost due, but was still something she was not quite used to and made chores and even resting a challenge. Still she never complained. She liked being pregnant, nurturing and feeling life growing inside.
A curtain of rain drew nearer gently patting at the trees and leafs all around her. Soon large heavy water drops plopped down upon the awning above her. She covered herself with the throw blanket that lay back of the chair and sighed, such a soft and steady sweet rhythm, then curled up and slid down in the cushion even further. I’ll just rest my eyes for a bit, and then I’ll go in. Before long she felt like she was falling, but it was a good fall as she dozed off.
She heard an enormous BOOM and opened her eyes. That’s odd, that one sounded like it was right on top of the house. Hmmm, I wonder how long I was out. She stood and had a nice long stretch then turned to walk in the house. Before her hand touched the door knob something caught her attention; another rhythm, a strange pattern of light.
She backed away from the door to take a look. The rain had slowed to a drizzle so she stepped out. Through the canopy of trees the sky was an amazing light show. The clouds glowed white and purple as the flashes of light danced above her. And the booms of thunder held their own beat like a massive drum celebrating.
I want to see it better. She thought about the resting wheat field just through the trees, I won’t be gone long. And she found herself running and laughing through the rain droplets like a little girl. The cold wet tickled her face and neck as she dashed through to the field of tall grass.
A moment after she cleared the trees a joint flash of champagne and violet surged and arched like intertwined vines above her. The thrill of it set the hair on her neck and arms to stand on end. She blinked from the brightness against the night and rubbed her arms to get the goose bumps gone. Then she noticed a shadow in the middle of the field. That wasn’t there a second ago. She squinted but was unable to focus with the constant changing light.
The image jumped closer and then closer with every flash after. Lianna grew nervous holding her stomach and taking a couple of steps back as the goose bumps returned. Steadily it zigzagged as it leapt even closer. Finally it was close enough that she was able to make out an old crone covered in tattered rags.
The ground rumbled beneath her and wind blew. Above her the show did not stop even as the still active clouds parted just above the clearing. The sight of Ara took her breath away as it proudly beamed down upon the opening like a mother bursting with wonderful news.
Another blinding light flashed, and Lianna gasped, as suddenly the hunched over spirit woman emerged directly in front of her.
Slowly she out stretched her spotted wrinkled hand and gently laid it on Lianna’s belly. Lianna stood frozen. Without moving her lips Lianna heard the old voice, “To be a star, she must shine her own light, follow her own path, and worry not about the darkness, for that is when stars shine brightest.”
There was another great BOOM and this time when she woke, her husband, and chief of the tribe, was there at her side. With a worried look he kissed her forehead and took her hand urging her to come inside, “You’ll take cold out here. Are you alright?”
Lianna gave him a confused look, “…yes… I’m fine. Why do you ask?”
His face went back to the solemn expression it usually carried, “We have a visitor.”
Her mind was a bit foggy, “What time is it?”
He helped her up from the chair, “It’s late, however there is something about this storm, and this night that are not right. Nomad brings news of at least two births here and one in our neighboring village tonight. The mothers are not yet due. Though you have a few months yet he is concerned that…”
Lianna urgently grabbed hold of his arm and looked down at her legs in shock, “Amon, I think my water just broke.”
The storm died right then and there as the sky cleared. The next flash of light was star Ara shooting through the sky, falling.
Copyright © 2012 by Shelia Weiss