“What to do?” The woman whispered while the men left her home with parting threats.

Shaking her head, “The amount of pay I make cannot make do.” 

With each attempt to work, a new issue seemed to plague this woman. At times, it was as if she were a sheep placed in a den of deceptive wolves with each seemingly kind hand causing more trouble than help. Frustrated, her exhausted eyes began to slowly close as she began to give in. But she did not, as a voice called out.

“Mama? Are they gone now, can we come out?”

“Of course!” Any hint of struggle replaced by a warm smile.

With that, a small boy lifted one of the floor boards to the tiny room meant for small cattle rather than a family. He climbed out and continued to hold the board up as an even smaller figure struggled to crawl out. Before having the opportunity to replace the board’s position, the little girl dashed towards the mother and hugged her legs.

“Mama mama, are you ok?? I stayed quiet like you told me!” 

Looking down, the mother then bent down and embraced the little girl while patting her softly. “Yeah, you did great.”

“Does this mean you’ll take me to the place you promised!” 

“Of course.” Looking over to her son she asked calmly, “Voland, would you like to come as well?”

“It’s alright mom, you already showed me that place before. I’d rather go out and play later if that’s ok.”

Knowingly, the mother smiled, “All right.” Looking downwards to her daughter once more, she whispered, “Make sure to sleep well because we’ll  be leaving quite early tomorrow.”

And so the day came to a close. With it a promise of tomorrow, each woke before the sun could even peak at the town filled with shadows. 

“Follow me closely, Charlotte, It’s dangerous at night”

“Can you hold my hand mama?”

Without need for a second ask, the mother held her daughter’s delicate hand with care as they passed through the arches and by the many closed doors. And when they reached the city’s western edge, where the homes slowly thinned into the vast forest, the mother whispered, “Come this way and be careful with your steps. There are many roots and bushes that you could be tripped by. Oh! And stay quiet too, we wouldn’t want to scare any of the animals sleeping near here.” 

The little girl replied with a giant nod. With a more careful pace, the pair of mother and daughter traversed a little ways more into the forest toward where the first light shines.

They wandered in darkness as they escaped the lights of the town and walked in shadow. A home-sized opening within the many trees showed itself. With the assistance of the now-visible endless stars in the sky, the mother held her daughter’s hand and led her across the glade. They stopped at a point where the pair could see the very top of the palace towering above the city so high.

“When will it happen?” the smaller voice whispered.

“Just wait dear, it will happen if you patiently wait.”

“Will It really? What if it won’t happen today or tomorrow, uaaaa! Would we be doomed?”

A soft giggle. “Of course not, silly, just look.”

And so the little girl raised her head toward where her mother was pointing. At first, the stars in the sky disappeared one by one, replaced with a brilliant orange and purple hue. Then, slowly, that light covered the sky as if someone had just dripped a bit of orange paint on a canvas of water.

And on the other end of that orange came the brilliant, bright gold signaling to all those asleep that dreams and nightmares alike were for them no longer. At the very end of the opening act, the main actor then peeked at the pair from its point at the very top of the palace. And, as if to greet the sun in its splendor the little girl squealed in excitement.

“Shhh” the mother softly scolded. “There’s still one more thing to see, remember?” 

Covering her own mouth, the daughter nodded once more and let her eyes wander away from that sun only to see a trio of foxes playing in the grove.

“Mama, is it that?”

“Yes, you see those? Those are foxes, they come here every morning. Before mama got so busy, I would always come out here and play with that one.” She pointed. “Then, one day, a few more showed up, so I just ended up watching them from afar from time to time.”

“It looks like so much fun! They keep jumping and yipping!”

With a smile of satisfaction the mother watched as her daughter gazed at the animals with awe.

Once again her vision started to blur as she fell forwards, nearly falling on her daughter, only to catch herself during the act. The daughter looked up at the sudden movement. 

“Mama, are you alright?”

A warming laugh, “Of course I am, I just got caught up looking at the foxes just like you.” Unbeknownst to the little girl, this time the smile was slightly forced. “We should head back now before you end up catching a cold, alright?” 

“Can’t we stay a little longer?”

“Hmm, not today but we can always come back another time.”

After giving in and staying for a few more moments, the two once again trekked home. It was no longer a deserted town; plenty of people of all sorts were busy, some carrying furniture with others, some running around, and others just walking towards destinations unknown. 

“Yip” and another “yip” followed by yet another “yip” came from the little girl’s mouth.

“What are you doing Charlotte?”

“I’m copying the foxes Mama! They looked like they were having so much fun so I thought I would also yip!” 

“Hahaha!” Laughter of pure joy flowed from the mother.

“Dont laugh at me!”

With the laughter slowing down, the mother spoke solemnly. “I’m not laughing at you dear, if anything that may have been one of the most wonderful things I have ever heard you say. You should keep doing it and don’t just think of the foxes when you are yipping, but think of me too.”

It seemed that on this day the mother was able to smile more than she had ever been able to in a very long time.

When the two made it back to their shack filled with shadows, the son stood there watching as the two happily stepped inside. But as each sun rises, the end of dreams held dear, so, too, as each sun sets, it leads to a nightmare that can’t be forgotten. The mother fell forward, her exhaustion from endless work finally catching up to her.

When she awoke she found herself on the foraged bed she had made for her young ones. Through the weakness and unable to move, she called out weakly.

“H-lo? Is anyone there?”

“Mom!” A boy ran into the room.

“Sh-hh, be nggh quiet your sister is sleeping right beside me, correct?”

This time much quieter yet still carrying a panic unbetrayed. “Yes! Is there anything I can do? You were asleep for so long... I couldn’t get a doctor... none of the neighbors would come help...I… I don’t know what I can do...” 

As if to stop the tears bound to fall, the mother spoke. “I’m sorry Voland… I wish I could have been better for you. Both of you.” Continuing, her voice dragged “And… I fear now I may be unable to make up for it anymore.” She groaned in pain once more. “I wish I could have seen you two grow. Ha! How mighty you would have been and how adorable Charlotte would have become. At least now I won’t have to worry about you two ever seeing fit to be against me.”

“Stop please.” Voland’s brewing tears had begun to drip.

“I wish I could have seen who my daughter-in-law would have been. I wish I could have seen you tackle the academy with those smarts of yours, Voland. I wish I could have been there whenever Charlotte needs someone to cry to. And I wish I could’ve done so much more for you two.”

The pained mother continued. “Are you awake Charlotte? I feel you ruffling around down there. Now, I want you to listen carefully, alright, Charlotte? Just one last time.” A small nodding motion was the reply, and the mother felt herself being hugged from under the only quilt they owned.

“I might not be able to come back for a long time,” the mother told Charlotte. “So, if you ever want to go back to that place again just remember that it’s on the edge of the city by forest, where the sun first reveals itself to those who are patiently waiting. I… There is… so much more I wish for, so much more I want to see, but if anything, just know that I love you two deeply. So, please don’t wait for me to come back, and find others to love you just as I have. Because more than anything, the only wish I truly ever want to come true is that the two of you grow up happy and healthy.”

The voices in the room began to grow louder and louder, more frantic and filled with sorrow. Yet In the very end of it all no one replied. One last thought was a silent farewell. 

Read a story about who Charlotte and Voland befriend.

Youth

DoDEA

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