First Wander

THE FIRST WANDER


Tired of problems, people, noise, life, of everything, I was slowly walking home. I entered my room and, and my soul, like a mermaid, dived into pleasant light, that was running out of the evening sun, just like an apricot juice. I felt as if I walked into a wonderful land of silence and slumber. I lay down on my bed and fell asleep.
* * *

My window was staring at night, when I opened it and stepped onto magic, sapphire sky. It was soft and ticklish. Suddenly I heard a voice:
“Watch out, you almost knocked me down!”
“I’m sorry…I didn’t see you…Still don’t”
“I’m right here. See this little shining star?”
“Yes”
“Well, that’s me”, she smiled, “so what are you doing here, on the very top of the sky and so late?”
“I don’t know, just walking around. Can you tell me where to go to find something interesting?”
“Yes, sure. You can go and talk to the Moon, he is friendly, and he likes strangers”.
“Ok, thank you”.
I got to the Moon by the Milky Way, and stood near him, not too close though, because I was afraid a little. I didn’t know with what to start the conversation, so we were sitting in uncomfortable silence for a while.
Then I whispered, “I always wanted to know…It makes me wonder, why there are so many stars around you, but not one of them is with you? You look so sad and lonely. Why?”
The Moon looked at me and answered, “I’m really sad, but not as lonely as you think. Let me tell you my story, listen.”
I grabbed a soft cloud to have something comfortable to sit on and he started.
“Many centuries ago there were only two moons in the sky, my beloved Minoya and me. We used to shine together at night, but the days were gray and gloomy.
…She was like a pretty fairy. We were so happy together, walking down the Milky Way and jumping of it into the fluffy clouds. Minoja loved flowers. Of all the flowers in the world dandelions were her favorites, I always thought it was a bit funny. In summertime we liked to walk in the gardens of lilac clouds and listen to jazz the ghosts played.
One evening the morning spirit Fog had invited Minoja to come with him and light up the days. Of course, she refused, so as she wanted to stay with me. Fog was asking and begging her, but she did not change her mind. The morning spirit got mad and left. Next night, when I woke up, there was only loneliness beside me. Fog has stolen Minoja from me, wrapped her up in shiny clothes and made her the brightest source of the daylight. When people woke up in the morning and looked out the window, they saw a wonderful light in the sky. Everybody was amazed…No one has ever seen such beauty before. People went out on the streets asking each other: “Is it true, or is it a dream?”, “Is it real or magic?”
Every morning, as soon as they woke up, they looked at the sky to make sure that the shining wander was still there. People were happy, because it was. Then they started to call her “Sun”, I don’t know why.
In spite of being loved and adored, Minoja was not happy, because she was missing me, as much as I was missing her. Now we could see each other only early in the morning or in the evening, as we were passing by in the sky. Some times, when Minoja was more sad than usual, she would let the rain out and snick to my side of the sky. We would have lemon tea and look at each other in silence. Words were useless… Time flew, and soon the Sun had to go back. Of course, she could have stayed with me, but having given happiness to so many people, she couldn’t take it away from them.
I remember one night…It was Minoja’s birthday. I invited her to my side of the sky and promised a special surprise. Then I asked my friend, Starry angel to go down and get me lots of yellow dandelions, since she loved them so much. He brought back the whole field of these flowers and spread them all over the sky. What happened next was unbelievable! All of the dandelions started to shine. They were sparkling like thousands of pretty magic fairies. When Minoja saw these wonderful small lights, she simply loved them. I was watching her being happy, and…it made me the happiest one in the whole world. We decided to name those dandelions “stars”, in honor to Starry angel, who had brought them here.
So the stars were the first wonder of the world, as an extraordinary example of what love can do. It happened so long ago, that nobody remembers it now. That’s the end of my story.”


I woke up. It was dark and quiet night. I went out on the balcony and the Moon whispered to me: “Remember – the first wander of the world is what love can do”. I smiled…

Marina Opanashchuk
February, 1999