| Where Rainbows End! By Sharon Holtz Chapter Thirteen |
Lisa looked down sadly, and answered, "I don't need to Father. I know what it is about, I have been corresponding with Peter Martins, the director of the school."
Vincent stepped up, and asked, "You seem upset by the arrival of this letter? Are you anticipating this letter contains bad news of some sort?"
Lisa smiled, as she looked downward at the letter in her hands, and softly she repeated, "Bad news? Any other time this would have been wonderful news. A chance of a lifetime really! Something perhaps every dancer aspires for."
Lisa then heaved an anguished breath, as she opened the envelope. After silently reading through the body of the letter, Lisa thoughtfully shared, "It is an offer to teach at the school. It states they have a furnished apartment prepared for me, and they want me to start teaching in the morning. They would like me to work side by side with the person I am replacing for a few days, before she leaves for her new position at the Kirov Academy in Washington D.C."
Sadly, Jacob nodded, and said, "Ah, I see the problem. Since you have testified, you have your safety to be concerned about now."
Trying to hide her tears, Lisa looked downward, as she relayed, "No Father, it isn't that, the guilty ones are being prosecuted and in truth, I suppose I would be safer now than I was before."
What Lisa said, made sense, and so it caused Jacob to inquire, "What is it then Lisa? What is holding you back?"
Lovingly she looked at them both, Jacob then Vincent and lamented, "How can I accept such a job now? I have finally found my way back home. And I have every desire to rebuild my relationship with you Father, and with you Vincent. We have lost so much time."
She then continued to query, "And how could I leave the children? The children are so excited, and anxious to learn."
As a solution, Vincent mentioned, "Since the school, is located close by in the Lincoln Center, why would it not be a possibility for you to do both? Accept the job, and still teach the children here."
Clarifying the facts, Lisa noted, "I would have to be a topsider again. Oh Vincent, you have gone to so much trouble moving me back here again. I don't think that would be fair for me to just come and go as I please. No, I have made a commitment here to the children. It is here below in the tunnels where I should stay!"
Looking at Lisa, Jacob took her hand in his, and knowingly said, "Lisa, we have come a long way haven't we?"
Holding back her tears, Lisa agreed, saying, "Yes Father, and I don't want to lose what we have gained."
Jacob looked downward, as he collected himself, before he attempted to speak again, and calmly he continued, "Now I know, I am a stubborn old man, but as hard as it is for me to realize when I am wrong, it is twice as hard for me to sway in my loyalties to the ones I...I love."
He then continued, "We will not falter in the progress we have made. I promise you that. Your going above to live, will not change the ties that bind you here. Your chamber will remain as is, kept warm for when ever you come back home. And you will always be welcome back home."
Jacob looked to Vincent, and with a nod of agreement added, "Vincent is right, you could do both, as other helpers are committed to aiding us here, so may you be. You could still remain true to your commitment with the children. I would hate for you to miss out on such an opportunity you worked so hard for."
As Vincent stayed back, he felt such sorrow at the thought, of Lisa moving away so soon! But at the same time, he was relieved to realize, what he felt was not the longing for an old love, but the sorrow of missing an old friend.
Vincent continued with deep emotion as he asked, "How can you not go? Your calling is to teach, and now you may teach, and perform in both worlds."
As she openly cried, she relayed, "I, I don't want to leave you behind, neither of you."
With care, Vincent reminded her, "You told me a part of you longed for the life you led with-in the dance company. Lisa, this is your chance to go back and create that same atmosphere for the next generation of dancers, who are meant to follow in your footsteps."
Vincent looked into Lisa's tear-filled eyes, and with clouded eyes of his own continued, "It is all right to go."
Taking in a breath born of reconciliation, she said, "Well I guess I should give Peter Martins a call then."
Jacob resignedly agreed, "Very well."
In a take charge manner, he next asked his son, "Contact a runner to help Lisa won't you?"
Wanting to hide his shakiness, Jacob turned his back, as he poured himself a cup of tea. However, his attempt was futile, for Vincent and Lisa had seen the tears welling up within Jacob's loving eyes.
In reply to his Father's request, Vincent offered, "A runner will not be necessary, I will help Lisa, and tend to it personally."
As Lisa reached for Vincent's hand, this time he did not pull back, but instead, reached out for her hand too.
After Lisa left his chamber, Jacob called upon Mary to arrange an impromptu Farewell Celebration for
Lisa. And so later that day, the entire community gathered to wish her well, and to bid her goodbye.
As Lisa prepared to leave, Mary presented her with a quilt she had made. Taking a moment to collect herself, Mary solemnly told her, "May this keep you warm in the world above, and be a reminder of your home here with us. We, I will miss you Lisa."
Taking the beautiful quilt in her hands, Lisa tearfully looked at Mary, and gratefully said, "Mary, you have always been most kind to me. I shudder to think where I would be right now, if our path's had not crossed on that day you found me. I thank you, thank Father...thank you all."
Samantha too approached Lisa, and with a tear-filled farewell, she told her, "Please don't forget us."
As Lisa looked down at Samantha, she smiled and with a wink she reached into her purse, and pulled out a gift she had ready for her. Stooping down, so she could talk more privately to her, Lisa warmly said, "I want you to have this Samantha, I have read it many times as a young girl, and it helped me in achieving my dream. Remember Samantha, you must never forget to dream!"
Samantha quickly unwrapped her gift, and saw it was a small book entitled, "My Ballet Slippers." Looking up at Lisa, Samantha hugged her, and said, "I won't forget Lisa."
Lovingly, Lisa hugged her back, and whispered, "I see something very special in you Samantha, you are a lovely girl. Now remember, I will see you on Saturday."
Happily, Samantha said, "I can't wait!"
Looking around, Lisa was overcome with the love from everyone, and as she held her head high, she told them, "I will carry you, my Family within my heart as I begin my new journey."
Waiting for Lisa to say her last goodbye, Vincent stood ready, to escort her to the threshold. Carrying her bags, Vincent teased her, "I am very curious, how mere garments, can culminate to such weight!"
Elegantly, she laughed, revealing to him, "You don't know all the tools it takes for a woman to be beautiful Vincent."
Reaching their destination, Vincent stepped to the pipe, and tapped out a message to Lou, who was waiting above.
After Lou replied, Vincent sadly looked downward, unsure how to say goodbye to Lisa himself. Thoughtfully, she approached, and said, "Vincent, earlier I wondered how I could thank everyone else, but its to you I am truly at a loss for words. I feel as though I have been granted a brand new soul. A new beginning, a chance now to be happy."
As they embraced, they stood holding one another, and after a final squench, she tearfully said, "Be happy Vincent."
And with a grateful nod, he said, goodbye.
As Vincent walked back through the tunnels alone, he stopped at Jacob's chamber. Thoughtfully he said, "Father, Lisa seemed ready to begin her new life."
Jacob nodded, and softly said, "Good Vincent, very good then. Oh my, I didn't expect to feel so melancholy!"
Putting a loving arm about his father, Vincent comforted him saying, "It is all right Father. She will return to us soon."
With a shaky smile, Jacob looked back at his son, and with an agreeing nod, he said, "I know."
As Vincent poured them both some tea, he informatively said, "I checked on Mouse and he is back within his chamber following the celebration, let's hope he has put the chamber expansion idea to rest."
Agreeing, Jacob replied, "I am glad you checked on him. I cannot explain it, but I did sense a shiftiness
about him myself this afternoon."
Looking up at Vincent, Jacob accepted the warm cup of tea, and chuckled, "Although for Mouse, that is not necessarily unusual! He very often is cooking up something!"
Expecting to share a smile with Vincent, Jacob instead saw a restlessness that suddenly washed over his son, changing the sadness of the day, into a palpable uneasiness.
He then asked, "Are you feeling anxious about seeing Catherine?"
To which Vincent lamented, "I pray I have not found my solace too late "
Putting down his tea, he then turned to Jacob and said, "It is nearly time, I will be going above soon."
Encouragingly, Jacob replied, "Yes Vincent go with great care."
To be continued
Chapter Fourteen
Vincent stepped up, and asked, "You seem upset by the arrival of this letter? Are you anticipating this letter contains bad news of some sort?"
Lisa smiled, as she looked downward at the letter in her hands, and softly she repeated, "Bad news? Any other time this would have been wonderful news. A chance of a lifetime really! Something perhaps every dancer aspires for."
Lisa then heaved an anguished breath, as she opened the envelope. After silently reading through the body of the letter, Lisa thoughtfully shared, "It is an offer to teach at the school. It states they have a furnished apartment prepared for me, and they want me to start teaching in the morning. They would like me to work side by side with the person I am replacing for a few days, before she leaves for her new position at the Kirov Academy in Washington D.C."
Sadly, Jacob nodded, and said, "Ah, I see the problem. Since you have testified, you have your safety to be concerned about now."
Trying to hide her tears, Lisa looked downward, as she relayed, "No Father, it isn't that, the guilty ones are being prosecuted and in truth, I suppose I would be safer now than I was before."
What Lisa said, made sense, and so it caused Jacob to inquire, "What is it then Lisa? What is holding you back?"
Lovingly she looked at them both, Jacob then Vincent and lamented, "How can I accept such a job now? I have finally found my way back home. And I have every desire to rebuild my relationship with you Father, and with you Vincent. We have lost so much time."
She then continued to query, "And how could I leave the children? The children are so excited, and anxious to learn."
As a solution, Vincent mentioned, "Since the school, is located close by in the Lincoln Center, why would it not be a possibility for you to do both? Accept the job, and still teach the children here."
Clarifying the facts, Lisa noted, "I would have to be a topsider again. Oh Vincent, you have gone to so much trouble moving me back here again. I don't think that would be fair for me to just come and go as I please. No, I have made a commitment here to the children. It is here below in the tunnels where I should stay!"
Looking at Lisa, Jacob took her hand in his, and knowingly said, "Lisa, we have come a long way haven't we?"
Holding back her tears, Lisa agreed, saying, "Yes Father, and I don't want to lose what we have gained."
Jacob looked downward, as he collected himself, before he attempted to speak again, and calmly he continued, "Now I know, I am a stubborn old man, but as hard as it is for me to realize when I am wrong, it is twice as hard for me to sway in my loyalties to the ones I...I love."
He then continued, "We will not falter in the progress we have made. I promise you that. Your going above to live, will not change the ties that bind you here. Your chamber will remain as is, kept warm for when ever you come back home. And you will always be welcome back home."
Jacob looked to Vincent, and with a nod of agreement added, "Vincent is right, you could do both, as other helpers are committed to aiding us here, so may you be. You could still remain true to your commitment with the children. I would hate for you to miss out on such an opportunity you worked so hard for."
As Vincent stayed back, he felt such sorrow at the thought, of Lisa moving away so soon! But at the same time, he was relieved to realize, what he felt was not the longing for an old love, but the sorrow of missing an old friend.
Vincent continued with deep emotion as he asked, "How can you not go? Your calling is to teach, and now you may teach, and perform in both worlds."
As she openly cried, she relayed, "I, I don't want to leave you behind, neither of you."
With care, Vincent reminded her, "You told me a part of you longed for the life you led with-in the dance company. Lisa, this is your chance to go back and create that same atmosphere for the next generation of dancers, who are meant to follow in your footsteps."
Vincent looked into Lisa's tear-filled eyes, and with clouded eyes of his own continued, "It is all right to go."
Taking in a breath born of reconciliation, she said, "Well I guess I should give Peter Martins a call then."
Jacob resignedly agreed, "Very well."
In a take charge manner, he next asked his son, "Contact a runner to help Lisa won't you?"
Wanting to hide his shakiness, Jacob turned his back, as he poured himself a cup of tea. However, his attempt was futile, for Vincent and Lisa had seen the tears welling up within Jacob's loving eyes.
In reply to his Father's request, Vincent offered, "A runner will not be necessary, I will help Lisa, and tend to it personally."
As Lisa reached for Vincent's hand, this time he did not pull back, but instead, reached out for her hand too.
After Lisa left his chamber, Jacob called upon Mary to arrange an impromptu Farewell Celebration for
Lisa. And so later that day, the entire community gathered to wish her well, and to bid her goodbye.
As Lisa prepared to leave, Mary presented her with a quilt she had made. Taking a moment to collect herself, Mary solemnly told her, "May this keep you warm in the world above, and be a reminder of your home here with us. We, I will miss you Lisa."
Taking the beautiful quilt in her hands, Lisa tearfully looked at Mary, and gratefully said, "Mary, you have always been most kind to me. I shudder to think where I would be right now, if our path's had not crossed on that day you found me. I thank you, thank Father...thank you all."
Samantha too approached Lisa, and with a tear-filled farewell, she told her, "Please don't forget us."
As Lisa looked down at Samantha, she smiled and with a wink she reached into her purse, and pulled out a gift she had ready for her. Stooping down, so she could talk more privately to her, Lisa warmly said, "I want you to have this Samantha, I have read it many times as a young girl, and it helped me in achieving my dream. Remember Samantha, you must never forget to dream!"
Samantha quickly unwrapped her gift, and saw it was a small book entitled, "My Ballet Slippers." Looking up at Lisa, Samantha hugged her, and said, "I won't forget Lisa."
Lovingly, Lisa hugged her back, and whispered, "I see something very special in you Samantha, you are a lovely girl. Now remember, I will see you on Saturday."
Happily, Samantha said, "I can't wait!"
Looking around, Lisa was overcome with the love from everyone, and as she held her head high, she told them, "I will carry you, my Family within my heart as I begin my new journey."
Waiting for Lisa to say her last goodbye, Vincent stood ready, to escort her to the threshold. Carrying her bags, Vincent teased her, "I am very curious, how mere garments, can culminate to such weight!"
Elegantly, she laughed, revealing to him, "You don't know all the tools it takes for a woman to be beautiful Vincent."
Reaching their destination, Vincent stepped to the pipe, and tapped out a message to Lou, who was waiting above.
After Lou replied, Vincent sadly looked downward, unsure how to say goodbye to Lisa himself. Thoughtfully, she approached, and said, "Vincent, earlier I wondered how I could thank everyone else, but its to you I am truly at a loss for words. I feel as though I have been granted a brand new soul. A new beginning, a chance now to be happy."
As they embraced, they stood holding one another, and after a final squench, she tearfully said, "Be happy Vincent."
And with a grateful nod, he said, goodbye.
As Vincent walked back through the tunnels alone, he stopped at Jacob's chamber. Thoughtfully he said, "Father, Lisa seemed ready to begin her new life."
Jacob nodded, and softly said, "Good Vincent, very good then. Oh my, I didn't expect to feel so melancholy!"
Putting a loving arm about his father, Vincent comforted him saying, "It is all right Father. She will return to us soon."
With a shaky smile, Jacob looked back at his son, and with an agreeing nod, he said, "I know."
As Vincent poured them both some tea, he informatively said, "I checked on Mouse and he is back within his chamber following the celebration, let's hope he has put the chamber expansion idea to rest."
Agreeing, Jacob replied, "I am glad you checked on him. I cannot explain it, but I did sense a shiftiness
about him myself this afternoon."
Looking up at Vincent, Jacob accepted the warm cup of tea, and chuckled, "Although for Mouse, that is not necessarily unusual! He very often is cooking up something!"
Expecting to share a smile with Vincent, Jacob instead saw a restlessness that suddenly washed over his son, changing the sadness of the day, into a palpable uneasiness.
He then asked, "Are you feeling anxious about seeing Catherine?"
To which Vincent lamented, "I pray I have not found my solace too late "
Putting down his tea, he then turned to Jacob and said, "It is nearly time, I will be going above soon."
Encouragingly, Jacob replied, "Yes Vincent go with great care."
To be continued
Chapter Fourteen
