A Thatcher Party

There is a great deal of knowledge to be gained from a party.For the Thatchers a party was a time of meaning, and family would always be at its core.Family was understood to be more than blood or duty but one of friendships and bonds.The Thatchers were ever bit as likeable as a family could be in Cherrymouth Cove.Only a few Thatchers remained and the city had felt the lack thereof.When a partisan of the cove walked down the street, it would be a rare occasion to see a Thatcher alone.And that is why when the youngest of the Thatchers was going to have a birthday party the town decided to share in the festivity.Needless to say it had nothing to do with pretensions or formalities; on the contrary, the town admired the Thatchers and enjoyed their company.

To be forthright, Aquinas Thatcher had a great deal of establishing the name his father gave him at birth.Being a Thatcher to anyone else would most certainly be hard work, but for him it was second nature.Need milk?Aquinas would go down to the dairy and fetch a fresh quart.Desire fresh barley fish?He would catch it himself.Indeed he was a friend to all friends.And when he went around asking everyone to help celebrate a birthday for his niece, Beth, which would be turning seven, everyone smiled and happily obliged.

The night came and the Thatchers gathered at Ethan’s fire-clayed cottage by the beach.Slowly guests filtered in, placing their gifts for little Beth on a large table.Aquinas would be the first to welcome them and offer a fresh glass of simirian juice.The relaxing mixture would be greeted with a gulp and the citizens of Cherrymouth Cove would smile a great white grin.The tension of the day’s work remained outside of the Thatcher home, and glee was free to roam.And it was no surprise when the house became filled with people, overflowing onto the beach where a fire had been built.

When the time came a large roasted pig was carried out on a platter and sat down beside the presents.Beth was escorted by her mother Sarah and father Ethan.She looked up at the great beast and licked her lips; honeyed ham was her favorite.Beth looked over at her Uncle Aquinas and Auntie Isabel, blowing them a kiss.Eventually Beth’s older brothers, Chad and Thad, came running from the beach, covered in wet sand; she purposely turned her face to them.

“Can I have everyone’s attention,” Aquinas said.“Thank all of you again for joining us this fine evening.”

The crowd cheered.

“All for the family!”Mr. Butlesbe shouted, waving a large glass of simirian. His plump cheeks glowed bright red and his eyes glazed like two round moons. And the people laughed some more.

“True, true,” Mrs. Daton called.Her feathery hat seemed to Beth like one rainbow bird in colorful perch.“We love you, little darling!”The women clapped while the men raised their glasses.

“Thank you all,” Ethan said.“We do appreciate your coming tonight.As you might know, little Beth is turning seven.”Beth looked up at her father and took her hand in his.

“Now everyone let’s sing her to a happy birthday!”Aquinas yelled.And he began a slow melody, “Oh… we bring… joy to you…. our be-lov-ed…” and everyone joined in unison.

“Oh… our be-lov-ed… we come to you to-day… and let the smiles come… all for you… this day!Oh… our be-lov-ed… your day is here… so come… and sing with us… and joy be your true gift… to-day!”Clapping filled the cottage and the younger children standing outside on the beach jumped up and down, setting off a few noise makers.

Ethan helped his daughter take a small carving knife and cut a thick slice from the ham.Again everyone belted a cheer, but after the slicing of the ham they returned back to their idle conversations.

Isabel went over and gave a kiss to her niece.“And this is for you.It’s from me and your uncle.”

“What is it?”Beth asked.“Can I open it?”

“You sure may,” Aquinas said, placing his arms around Isabel.“We had it specially made.”

Beth opened the box and found a delicate golden-hued dress with two violet flowered prints stitched on the shoulders, and a violet ribbon around the waist.Her eyes became filled with tears and she reached out and gave her aunt a hug.“Thank you.I love it.”

Chad and Thad then walked over.Being the twins as they were, they offered only one present to their little sister.“Here you go,” Thad said.“Yep, it’s from us,” Chad smiled.

Inside the box was a whistle made from dragon’s bone.“Wow!” Beth exclaimed.“Is it real?”

“I guess it is,” Chad said.“The man we bought it from said it was.”

“Sure it’s real,” Thad said.“Even if dragons died out a long time ago, this here is as real as they come.Just blow on it and see.”

Beth took the whistle out of the box and took a deep breath.She blew on the curved edge and out the other open end came a deafening roar.The crowd hushed.Mr. Butlesbe stumbled backwards, tripped over a leg and fell down, spilling his drink.He waved and smiled as if he had intended to do that as part of the entertainment.Everyone laughed and one man pulled him up.In the commotion, Mrs. Daton’s feathery hat fell off her head, and she shrieked as she tried to cover her messy hair with her lean hands.Aquinas was nice enough to pick it up and give it back to her.

“Told you it was real,” Thad said.“Sounded like a dragon, I bet.”

“But we don’t know what they sound like,” Beth said.

“I would say they sound an awful lot like that,” Chad replied.“Do you like it?”

“I do, I do.”And Beth reached out and put both her arms around her brothers.

Sarah came over and knelt down beside Beth.“And this one is from your dad and me.”

Beth’s little fingers tore around the slippery packaging and relinquished a new doll.The stuffed doll had brown curls like the little girl and a pretty yellow dress.Beth gave it a small hug and kiss.“Thank you, Momma.”

“You’re welcome, dear.”

Ethan walked over and picked his daughter up.“Do you like it?The dress matches the one your uncle and aunt gave you.”

“Oh, I see,” Beth said.“Thank you, Papa.This is the best party I’ve ever had.”She leaned over and kissed her father on his cleanly shaven cheek.

“Now go run and play with your friends,” Sarah said, smoothing Beth’s hair.“Go have fun and come back when you get hungry.”

By all means the party was a success for the Thatcher family.That is to say until the last guest arrived with the last present.Oddly enough the gift was not for little Beth but for her uncle, Aquinas.

It had been during the blowing of the whistle the stranger arrived.A woman wearing a dark lavender robe and carrying an elm staff had slipped in behind the crowd.Her hood was down around her shoulders, revealing a full bounty of blonde curls.Surprisingly her face was calm, as though she held a trance of sleep.In her free hand she held a long slender box, also made of elm wood.Upon the lid was an engraving in the form of an eagle’s head.

“Aquinas,” she said.“Aquinas Thatcher?”

“Yes, that is me.”Aquinas answered, staring over the newcomer.He scratched his young beard.By far the woman was extremely beautiful, but not so more than his wife.

Isabel’s eyes grew wide and she held out her hand to her husband’s arm, pulling him back.“What do you want?”She asked.

“I have come to offer this token of appreciation to you.”

“And who shall I thank?”Aquinas responded, taking the box.

“You may thank me.I am known as Sheliam.”

Aquinas took the slender box and it weighed heavy in his grasp.“Thank you, Sheliam, but I can’t…”

“You must,” Sheliam interrupted.“It would mean a great dissatisfaction to me if I would return to tell my family of how you refused our gift.”

“Don’t take it,” Isabel said from behind her husband.“She doesn’t seem right.”

“He must take it,” Sheliam said to Isabel.Then the two women locked eyes for a moment, and Aquinas felt uncomfortable, like he was caught in a strange energy between the two women.He could feel Isabel tensing, she was afraid of something.

“It does seem a bit much to take,” Aquinas said.“What is it, may I ask?”

“Open it and find out.It is already yours.”

Aquinas slid the box covering off and inside was a miniature statue of a robed woman, hooded, and holding a staff.“What is this made of?”

“It is a black-ivory Windar,” Sheliam replied.“The material alone is worth the taking.I only beseech you to take it if you truly want it.”

Looking down into the Windar’s eyes of the glimmering black-ivory and noticing the resemblance of the woman before him and the figure in the box, Aquinas became silent.The eyes of Windar called to him, and he felt that it truly belonged to him.He slid the box shut.

“Thank you, Sheliam.”Raising his eyes to meet Sheliam’s calm blue eyes, “I’d be glad to accept this on your behalf.”

Isabel turned and walked outside.The tension Aquinas had felt was released, and his chest relaxed with a breath.

“Please, have some of the roast pig or the cream condelli cake.”Aquinas watched Isabel leaving, box in hand.“Again, thank you.I hope we can meet again sometime.Please stay and enjoy the food and party.Peace be yours.”

“Peace be yours,” Sheliam said.

Aquinas turned and followed Isabel outside.He found her beyond the fire and down by the rising waters of the cove.She held herself from the wind and stared off into the darkened horizon.He slowly took his place beside her.

“Baby,” Aquinas said.“Why did you rush off like that?”

“It’s that gift,” Isabel replied.“It gives me the shakes.Why did you have to take it?”

“Because she offered it, that’s why.What is so wrong with this gift?It’s just a small statue.Look.We can put it on our mantel at home.Might be nice for our new home, right?”

“That’s all I ever wanted, ‘Quin.”Isabel turned and grabbed hold of Aquinas, burying her face in his chest.“I love you.”

“I love you too, baby.”And Aquinas felt like he had not heard all of the story or must have missed the part of the party that climaxed into memory and the retelling.“What shall you have me do?”

“Throw it in the sea tomorrow.Be rid of the Windar!It’s a curse, I feel it is.”

Aquinas holding his wife in his arms, he could feel her distress as his own.“Anything for you, baby.”

“Really, you’ll do it?”

“Yes, tomorrow; when Ethan and I go out to drop the nets.”

“Thank you.”Isabel kissed her husband and walked back inside.

The fire lit the dark sky as a mountain of leaping flames.Aquinas stared down at the black-ivory Windar, feeling it called to him, belonged to him.He saw the cove glittering against the shadows and fire and he felt the cool wind bring a chill.

The Thatcher party came to an end for Aquinas, out on the beach, clothed in darkened fire.