“I would be less nervous if Hoxley and the others were here.” She added.
“As would I. It sounds like Vickiri is about to announce you so get ready. Don’t be nervous, don’t be anxious. Just go out there and be your sweet self and you’ll have them all eating out of your hand like pets. Now, take your broom and go out there to say hello. There’s nothing at all to be nervous about.”
“Other than the fact that they’re expecting the reincarnation of a deity and not my twin.” Laughed Robert in between nibbles of honeycomb. Ignatius quickly aimed a sour scowl upon him.
“YOU…are not helping.” Said the older brother. “And unless you want more swackins, I would keep that sharp tongue well hidden.” The mention of discipline was enough to rattle the boy so that he fumbled his snack and dropped it on the floor.
“You can’t give me swackins for sharp words.” Said Robert, looking upon the honeycomb before picking it up, dusting it off and eating more of it.
“No, but as your guardian I can drag you out in front of that crowd and tan your bare ass in front of everyone and no one would bat an eye on correcting me. Support your sister.”
“She’s going to be fine.” Robert said with confidence. “It’s not like they’re going to ask her to sing and dance.”
“I’m good at singing and dancing.” Siouxsie added.
“Then perhaps you have a way to enchant them in a way you choose.” Said Ignatius.
“And now, with no more delay…..” shouted Vickiri. “Here she is!”
“There’s your cue.” Whispered Ignatius. “Go ahead. We will be close behind you. Robert, get rid of that honeycomb.” His brother responded by greedily shoving the whole thing into his mouth enough that his cheeks puffed out. “Let’s go.”
Siouxsie found the first few steps to be the hardest. Once her feet were in motion, she gathered the courage to keep putting one foot in front of the other. Past the threshold and out into the light she walked. The sight was almost enough to take her breath away. Thousands of faces stared back at her from every angle. The ones that weren’t on the floor were in the air. She climbed onto the makeshift stage made of tables. They were all fitted together so that there were no gaps and none of them shifted or sagged. Vickiri held his hand out to her, and she took it to be led out to the center where everyone could see her. Audible gasps filled the room as she came into view. Whispers rippled this way and that, but no one spoke. She looked back to find Ignatius and he nodded to her before gesturing back to the crowd.
“Hello.” She said with her hands clasped together in front of her. It was the best way she knew to keep from showing herself shaking. “My name is Siouxsie and it’s lovely to meet all of you.” No one spoke. Instead, they continued to stare in awe. “I-I’m not sure what I should be doing right now but I look forward to meeting each and every one of you.” Still there came no reply. Siouxsie looked to Vickiri who looked as equally dumbfounded and still. It was in this moment that she remembered the words of her sarcastic twin and made an on-the-spot decision. “Would you excuse me for one moment?” she asked before turning around. With a few swift steps she approached Robert and held her hand out to him. “Lute.” She said.
“What?” asked Robert.
“Lute.” She said. “Quickly. Give me my lute.” Robert fidgeted but dug out the instrument strapped under his cloak and handed it over.
“Don’t you play no Piggy Piggy.” he said
“No promises.” She grinned. Six steps later she was back in full view of everyone with the lute hung about her shoulder. “Hello everyone!” she waved as she spoke loud enough to reach the furthest corners of the temple. “I know we’re all strangers here, but strangers are really just friends you haven’t had a chance to meet before. Where I come from, we’re always eager to make new friends and sometimes the best way to make new friends is to share a song. So…. with your permission,” she brought the lute up in playing position “I’d like to play a song I know about making friends. *Ahem* The first strums of her lute flew outward and reverberated on the flat walls of the temple. She played through the melody once and paused at the end. There were so many faces and eyes upon her that she grew nervous once more. Unable to stop, she closed her eyes and let her voice carry away all the bad thoughts to deliver a song she knew by heart.
We’re all friends, we just don’t know it:
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Like…bats in the dark we flitter about
Not knowing what the world is about
But the sounds we make can let others know that we’re near
Let them know there’s nothing to fear...
We’re all friends we just don’t know it!
Like spiders spinning side by side in the grass in spring
Together we could weave the most beautiful things
Our prey caught in our webs intertwined
Feasting together would be so divine...
We’re all friends we just don’t know it!
When the nervousness passed, she strummed and played and circled about to make her sash twirl. It all became a colorful blur of people in which she pretended they were only a painting that wouldn’t judge how she played. On she performed. Siouxsie let the sounds of her voice and strings soar as loud as she could, keeping a wide smile when she could, to let others know she was having a wonderful time. From the back of the room, Ignatius watched his sister with pride and silently envied her as she twirled and sang. For whom else could still hold such bliss and happiness in their soul after enduring so much? He looked out upon the crowd to gauge the witches’ reactions. Like him and so many others before, they had become spellbound by the joy she held and so freely gave away to anyone who would take it. Her words were so sweet and playing so in sync that he could not help but lift a finger and wipe away a dab of wetness that had gathered there. It wasn’t sadness by any means but pride that after all that had happened there was still a glimmer of joy in the world…and its name was Siouxsie.
Not all paths have crossed and some never will
But we’ll happily embrace all that we meet ever still
We’re all friends we just don’t know it.
Some will have ribbons like rainbows in their hair,
Just as some will have crowns that are shiny and bare,
Whether short, tall, thick or thin there’s no reason to compare,
Because our blood all runs red so there’s no need to be scared,
We’re all friends…
Every one of us friends…
From the tops of mountains to where the riverrrrrrr beeeeennnnddddsss
We’re all good friends we just don’t know it!
The last strums of her instrument accented her final words and when the echoes of the final notes finally died, the room was left as silent as the grave. For a moment, everyone just stared at her with their wide eyes as she panted for breath. And then, someone in the back raised their chin to shout:
“More!”
“Yes! more!” Shouted a woman on the other side of the room.
“More! sing more!” shouted others. “Another song! more!” The multitudes cheered and clapped. Siouxsie looked back to Ignatius who smiled and nodded motioned for her to continue.
“Would you really like another song?” She asked the crowd.
“Yes! more!” they cried. “Sing for us, sister! more dancing!”
“Alright.” Siouxsie said as she glared back at her twin with a devious grin. “This next song is my brother’s absolute favorite song in the whole wide world. Sing along if you know the words, and if not just clap in time.”
“Oh no.” Robert gasped as he looked up to Ignatius with worrisome eyes. “She wouldn’t dare, would she?”
“Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh…” Siouxsie sang loud and clear. “My piggy, my piggy is fat and round, he rolls in the mud all on the ground, he weighs so much it does astound, my piggy is a fat little pig!”
“I’m going for a walk.” huffed Robert, pushing his way past Ignatius to exit the temple. “I’ll find you two later.”
Outside, Robert looked out upon the night sky, watching the twinkling pinpricks. The singing and clapping within the temple became more bearable the further he got from it. “She knows I hate that song.” He grumbled. Not knowing where to go other tan away from the clamor, he climbed a small hill on the eastern side and continued on. The night was cool and calm. Here and there he stooped to run his fingertips along the tall blades of grass of the field. And for a bit he wandered, not wanting to go anywhere in particular. As always, he never minded he was alone. It didn’t take long before his ears caught the faint sounds of a rolling creek. He tracked it and in the almost moonless night found the waters’ edge to get a drink. It was perfectly cold and washed out the gummy aftertaste of the honeycomb. The sound of a rock being kicked caught his ear and his head shot up to see a stone tumbling into the water underneath a crude stone bridge.
