A STAR FALLS ON ALABAMA

Evening is deciding if it should come or let the pink marshmallow clouds drift a little longer. I watch them move thru the sky, cross my fingers and wish for a mile long fork so I can reach up, poke one, bring it to earth, where I can feel it, taste it and die sweetly.

Addison is a small town. Mama told me only 726 people live here, including my Daddy, Mama and myself. I’m eight years old and I can go where I like, walk, run as long as I am careful and don’t get hurt. She calls to me in her strong voice. ‘Selma, come home. Supper is almost ready.’ As I walk a little faster, I pick up pretty stones from the side of the road. Not one is super special. I toss each towards the cold creek that always gurgles to welcome me. It’s just an itty, bitty creek, perfect for Addison. There are places where I can jump over it and not even wet my shoes. Today it seems angry. It is swollen, noisier than usual. Not one stone I throw makes it across.

Mama calls again. ‘Daddy’s home. Stop dawdling.’ Oh, yes, I hear her but I have to dawdle. There’s a glint, a glow close to the water’s edge and I have to have it. Supper will have to wait. I’ll will be punished but take off my shoes so I don’t get Mama angrier when I come home with damp shoes. I park them comfortably on the edge of the road.

The shiny thing gets brighter and brighter. I have to squint or I’ll fall in the water. A squeaky voice says, ‘Help, help me if you can.’ I look behind me, twirl all around, see no one. The voice starts to sing the same words again, gets as far as ‘Help me,’ and there is only the sound of the water rushing by. ‘It continues, -‘Or you and the world will be sorry.’ The glow begins to shiver, fade. I keep my eyes on it as long as I can as it grows bigger and bigger, but not as big as I am. The glow that had winked now twinkles. I sing to it, ‘Twinkle, twinkle little star,’ and the twinkling stops. The talking does too. I try to talk to get the twinkler to say something. ‘My mother will be looking for me soon. I have to go, little glow stone. Goodbye.’ It works. ‘Lift me up. Lift me up. Help me go home.’ It looks like the glow is crying. It is wet on one side. I try to lift it but it is too heavy. Help comes! ‘Mama , Mama,’ I plead. ‘Help me. This stone can talk, really, really. It wants me to lift it so it can go home.’ Mama spanks me softly on my tush, laughs at my foolishness. Easily she plays my game, lifts the strange twinkling blob, fearlessly holds it in her hand and whoosh, it flies away. We both stand there, surprised, even frightened, waving goodbye. Mother and I walk home together. She lectures me, calls me a naughty child, a dreamer.Supper is good, especially the Angel Food cake Mama made while I was at the creek. I get a big slice and then ½ of one.

At 8 o’clock I go to bed. A familiar voice comes thru my open window. ‘Look up, look way up into the dark sky. Look at the one star, the lowest to the earth, below the clouds. I am twinkling for you and your Mama. You saved me. I’m almost home. Tomorrow the pink marshmallow clouds will visit you again. They are our gift to you for making me, my brothers and sisters happy. I learned a lesson and will be more careful from now on. Thank you.’

My window curtain rustles a little, my eyes close, and I wait for tomorrow.