I Believe

"I don't know about this Paul." Erica said skeptically, folding her arms and looking at him with a raised eyebrow.
"Seriously?" He said disbelievingly, circling her. "What do I have to do?" He paced the length of the near empty stage, thinking hard. "Ok, go sit down. I will prove it to you."
"I don't know." Erica said again, her eyebrow travelling higher.
"Come on. Give me a chance." Paul begged.
"You know I'm hopeless when you do the puppy dog eyes Paul." Erica complained.
"Which is exactly why I do it." He said logically. "Just go sit. Watch. Then, you can tell me what you think."
"Ok then." Erica finally gave in. She rolled her eyes, her arms still folded in front of her as she headed down the steps. "If you're so confident, prove it to me."

Paul nodded, the challenge giving him a fresh burst of energy and a rush of adrenaline. With a click of his fingers, the curtains closed on him and the theatre went pitch black. After a moment, Erica began rhythmically tapping her fingernails on the arm rest. At almost precisely the same moment, the curtains pulled open and the lights came up. But, Paul was nowhere to be seen. Erica continued to tap her fingers on the arm rest as she waited for something to happen.

Suddenly, a group of men emerged from the shadows and pulled a curtain up over all four sides of the long, narrow, box like contraption Erica only now noticed in the middle of the stage. Another moment passed before the men stepped back and the curtain fell quickly, revealing Paul. He stepped down and spread his arms out in question. Erica raised her eyebrow again. She wasn't completely convinced yet.
"Not yet huh?" Paul asked and Erica shook her head.
"Ok. That's alright." He said. "It just so happens I've got another trick up my sleeve."
"Oh really?" Erica asked, folding her arms again as Paul worked off stage. The curtains closed again, opening a moment later. This time, there was a bigger, more dangerous looking contraption in the middle of the stage. It was then that Paul emerged and opened a hidden door in the sort of race car, bug type machine in the stage's centre. With a wink at Erica, he got inside it and closed the lid. His assistants appeared again and set a saw hanging in mid air yet still attached to the machine in motion. Slowly, the saw came down and began to cut into the body of the machine below, the very part Paul had just shut himself inside of. Involuntarily, Erica let out an audible gasp, covering her mouth with her hand as her lips began to form an 'o'. Erica's attention was diverted when there was a light shining at the back of the room. She looked back to see that Paul was standing there, running up toward her and the stage.

"Well?" He asked, spreading his arms out in question once again as he looked down at her from the stage.
"Ok, ok." Erica said, standing up with her arms raised. "You got me. I believe."

The Letter

Dear Joan,
I would like to thank you again for the money you gave me for the baby my wife and I were expecting. We greatly appreciate it. I write to tell you that a few days ago, my wife gave birth to a healthy baby boy and to request that you name him. It is a custom among my people that a baby's name should be given by another who wishes their name to live on. Since you gave us money towards our son's healthcare and education, I believe it is you that should be allowed to name our boy. I hope to hear from you soon. All the best and God bless you,
Michael


Joan stared again at the letter in her hands. This didn't make sense. How did he get her information? Who was he? Why did he want her to name his son? It is a custom among my people he had said. And then, she remembered...

A few months back, Joan had gone on a trip to Vanuatu. In Port Villa, she had gone on a tour, and Michael, their tour guide had told them of the hardships Vanuatu faced in the way of medicine and education and had shared with them his excitement of impending fatherhood. Feeling sorry for the man, and touched by his story, Joan remembered now, she'd given him money as she left the bus. "Take this." She had said, closing his fingers around the notes. "Use it for your baby. For it's healthcare, for it's education. To give it a good life." She remembered clearly now the tear that had fallen from his eye and the overwhelming gratitude he showed. Joan remembered giving him her contact details, hoping to keep in touch. And now, here he was again, writing to her. His wife had had a healthy little boy.

Looking over the letter again, she noticed that Michael had left his contact number and so she dialed it. Only a few rings passed before Michael picked up on the other end.
"Hello?"
"Michael, it's Joan. You took me on a tour a few months ago. I gave you money for your boy." She explained quickly, hoping he'd remember her. She let out a sigh of relief as he spoke.
"Joan!" He said and she could almost see the wide grin on his face. "Of course I remember you! Thank you thank you so much for the money. Our boy is well."
"I can't name your boy, Michael." She said bluntly.
"Oh but Joan you must." He insisted.
"It is too much of an honour"
"You must name our boy Joan. Please. It is a custom of my people that when money is given for a baby, they should name them."
Joan was silent for a moment, thinking about it. This was obviously important to Michael. A custom of his people. "Ok." She said finally. "I'll do it. You must give him my late husband's name, Aaron."

Be Warned

Beth had a huge smile on her face as she approached her, and to Michelle, her sister looked the happiest she'd seen her in a long, long time. She couldn't remember the last time Beth had looked this happy. Not only was her smile the biggest Michelle had ever seen it, she was practically glowing. There was this aura of happiness around her that seemed hopelessly infectious and made her smile too.

"Hey Bethie!" Michelle smiled, hugging her sister before the three of them sat down. "So, this must be the Chris I've been hearing so much about." She smiled toward the man sitting beside her sister.
"This is him!" Beth confirmed excitedly. "Chris, this is my sister Michelle."
"Nice to meet you Chris." Michelle extended her hand across the table. "I've heard a lot about you."
"You too Michelle. I wish I could say the same." Chris shook Michelle's hand and they both turned to look at Beth.
"What?" She asked, blushing a little.
"Why hasn't he heard about me?" Michelle asked, a hint of playfulness in her serious tone.
"I don't know." Beth shrugged. "I guess I never thought to mention you. But he knows about you now." She nudged Chris, who smiled.

Michelle waited until Beth had gone before she leaned closer to Chris.
"Now," she said, her voice growing serious. "I like you, but you have no idea how upset she's been, how much heartache she's been through, how she's felt about herself. I'm warning you, right now, if you do anything, at all, to hurt her, you will have me to deal with."
Chris gulped and Michelle leaned back in her chair, a satisfied smile forming on her lips. "Good." She said, her tone more relaxed. "I'm glad we understand each other."

"I warned him." Michelle whispered to her sister through gritted teeth in an attempt to hide their conversation from Chris.
Beth laughed nervously, her face colouring."Michelle! I told you, you don't have to do that."
"No, I didn't have to. But you're my baby sister Bethie. If her hurts you, I swear..."
Beth rested a hand on her sister's arm, demanding her attention. "It's ok Mich." She said, looking at over at Chris, who was nervously swaying from side to side a little way away as he waited for them. "Look at him. I think he gets it."

Spread Your Wings... & Fly

"Are you sure about this?" She asked, turning to look back at her mother.
"Yes, Katie, I'm sure." Her mother lied. The truth was, she wasn't so sure about it herself. But you couldn't hold onto them forever. At some point, there came a time when you simply couldn't for another moment. When they'd suffocate if you did. There came a time in every mother's life when you had no choice but to set them free.

Katie hesitated on the edge of the path, glancing to the building across the street, then to her mother, and back again. She wasn't so sure about this. Wasn't quite sure that she was ready. Being with her mother was so safe. That was where she belonged and she doubted whether or not she was ready. But somewhere inside, a part of her new it was inevitable. Only a matter of time until it happened. Why put it off? But still, it didn't make it any easier. Not one bit. It was still just as scary as the first day of primary school had been, maybe more.

Katie relented, turning to her mother and falling into her open arms. "I don't know if I can do this Mum." She admitted, her voice muffled.
Gently, her mother stroke her hair. "You can." She said. "I know you can Katie."
Katie looked up at her. "You think so?"
Katie's mother shook her head. "I know so." She said. "It can be scary sometimes, I know. All new things are. But, you've just got to grit your teeth and do it."
Katie was still hesitant, but stayed silent, listening as her mother went on.
"Just because you're starting your own life doesn't mean that I won't be here. I'm not going anywhere just because you're 20, finished high school, moving out and getting a job. But, Katie it's because you are a this stage in your life that you've got to get your own life, move on, move out, move up. Spread your wings... Fly."
"I guess." Katie whispered, shrugging her shoulders.
"You can't just be Mummy's little girl anymore Katie. You always will be to me, but you've got to get another title now. I night have one to start with."
"Yeah?" Katie asked, looking up at her.
"Butterfly." Her mother said simply. "Because you're going to spread your wings, and you're going to fly."

Child's Play

The young boy slowly, experimentally leaned forward, then back again, curiously watching himself on the webcam as he moved about. He moved so close that his eye took up the entire screen and almost turned it black. Then he moved back in order to make himself look smaller.

"What're you doing there Collin?" Asked his father, approaching the boy.
"Just playing around."
"Can I join you?"
"Sure Dad." The boy shrugged. Trying not to let his eagerness show too much, Collin's father dragged a chair over and joined his son experimenting with the webcam.

Collin resumed leaning back and forth, playing with his size on the screen. He only stopped to look at his father, who was pulling goofy faces beside him, though he soon stopped when he felt his son's eyes on him.
"What?" He asked innocently, a pout forming on his face.
"Nothing." Collin said. "You're just funny Dad, that's all." He admitted with a giggle.
"Ah!" His father said triumphantly, flinging a hand in the air. "Your old man's still got it!"

"Hey, I've got an idea." Said Collin's father after a while of playing around.
"What is it?"
"Get out of the way a second."
Obediently, Collin rolled back on his chair, allowing his father to take centre stage. He watched curiously as his father slowly moved his head forward.
Calling his son back, Collin's father hit play on his newly recorded video.
Collin looked back at him, confused. "What's it supposed to be?"
"Here, watch." Collin's father tapped his two fingers on the screen, as if they were the legs of a little person walking across his recorded bald head.
His son burst into laughter, suddenly understanding. "Moonwalking!" He said excitedly.
"One small step for man, one giant leap for fingers." His father declared, making his fingers 'jump' off the screen, eliciting another burst of laughter from Collin.
"Can I try?" He asked eagerly. His father nodded and rolled out of the way. He watched as Collin moved his fingers forward, the way he'd done. A smile escaped his lips when his son started sliding his fingers backwards.
"Just like MJ!" Collin said proudly, smiling.


Paula-Rose couldn't help but laugh at her husband and son's playful antics. The saying was as true as ever with them. Like Father, Like Son, although in this case, it could have been switched around. Duncan had always been a big kid, the very reason she thought him such a great dad to their son.

She jumped when they turned around, having been lost in her own world.
"What?" They asked in unison, a similar defensive pout on their faces.
"Oh nothing." She said. "Just watching you two."
"Did you see the moonwalking?" Collin asked eagerly, a small smile replacing the pout.
"I did." She laughed. "Very clever."