- Chapter 12 -

Spinning, twirling figures tempted Tutu to try

On one of the strolls through the city, music blearing through loudspeakers attracted them. Spinning, twirling figures on ice tempted Tutu to try. They found a pair of very small skating boots for rent. She stuffed them with some of her pink cotton candy to make them fit her. She wobbled onto the ice. Nobody paid attention to this little girl in her garish pink. Slowly her legs did what she wanted them to do. Her first simple round of skating encouraged her. Faster and faster she glided, the force of the speed carrying her on. Like dancing. Maybe I should spin. She did. After a few rotations, she fell down. But she picked herself up, continued. The music drove into her consciousness. Her gliding and spinning took on the character of the melody.

She lost herself into this dance. Intense oneness with the music slipped into her core, she was no longer in a foreign element. Her eyes could not focus on her surrounding, a dreamlike state of effortless lightness. Suddenly she became aware of two dark green eyes pulling her in. Intensity and longing flowed from them. The pull could not be resisted. Nothing else mattered. Then the face came into focus. Black, unruly hair tumbled into the forehead of a young man. She tried to recognize him. Drifting shreds of fog dimmed her vision.

“You remember, don't you?”

“Candice, Candice, can you hear me? Are you back?” Stuffed cotton seemed to swallow those words. “Candice, wake up, it is I, Milo. You remember, don't you, we will be married soon, aunt Rosemary has the garden ready, we are just waiting for you, her pink and white roses are in full bloom. And the rabbits have eaten none of them yet.”

Ever so slowly came recognition to her fuzzy mind. She looked down over a white sheet, her arms limp on it. Where is the pink? Her coach Beth in her signature brocade coat, stood beside the bed. Her gold broach, embedded diamonds glittering and flashing, perched almost like a real spider on her shoulder. A few balloons, tied to a ribbon, rose up from a colorful bouquet of wildflowers, her favorites.

As her eyes drifted over to the window, a lace curtain billowed in the breeze. The sweet scent of clover filled the air. Beside the window hung a picture of precious little rabbits with some birch trees in the background. The gilded frame embellished with a small crown on the top edge. Under the picture, on a small chest with inlaid mother of pearl birds, stood a mirrored music box, dainty carrousel horses circling it and a tiny skater in a pink tulle tutu, frozen in a spin, on the reflecting surface.

A painted bird perched on top of the instrument

On the other wall, a carpet with elaborate flower and bird patterns, filled the space. A small boy came running into the room, whistling on a metal flute, a painted bird perched on top of the instrument. On the rim of his hat dangled black and white pompoms. “Would you like some of my cotton candy? It's so pretty pink, like the tutu on this skater on the music box.”

”No, my little brother, but I am very thirsty, can I have a glass of sugar water?” she sang.

“I think, you are still in your dreamland,” her mother stroking her forehead gently, said, careful not to touch the white bandage. We are all so happy, to have you finally back. You had an accident, training for your next show in the big city. But you will be fine. The doctor said it would take only a few days now for you to start skating again. You were in a coma for two weeks. Welcome back my lovely daughter.”

- Chapter 13 -

In Candice's dressing room, Beth sat on top of a translucent white exercise ball, her legendary brocade coat draped around her ample self. They were going over the routine again. Beth's gravely voice brought a smile to Candice, so happy to be back, but sad, she could not visit her friends from the dream, they still seemed so real. “You know Beth, I think I am calling you Brocade from now on. It just makes me feel good to be reminded of that lady, and I do think, you really were this spider. Seems to me, you have eight arms moving all at once, giving me this advice of yours. Have I thanked you ever, for being so patient with me?”

With that they hugged. “Get ready now, my pretty Tutu Girl. Get dressed.”

She slipped into her new cloud of a dress, endless layers of silk, close to the legs white, slowly turning pink, until the outer layer ended in a bright pink. A glorious tutu. The bodice woven in a delicate filigree of pink silk threads and thin golden ribbons. The ends of the threads and ribbons, studded with crystals the lengths of the free floating wisps. A finely knotted net of gold, diamond sparkles blitzing and sprinkling prisms onto her naked shoulders, crowned her.

Symbol of waves, stars, sun, seahorses. Divider.