“Hoho! Children. Come on now, pull up your chairs. Tonight’s story is an incredible one saved just for your little magical ears”. Grandpa Mer was such a delight. Every time he said that, I would feel a sting in my ears and imagine them growing tapered tips like an elf.
I could hear my siblings and cousins scrambling through the hallways down to the study. “Where’s Ira?” I heard Jay my brother ask. I was hiding in the bathroom waiting patiently for them to pass. I wouldn’t miss grandpa’s story for anything but I had bigger plans for the night- the black gold. It is what grandpa called it.
Every time grandpa Mer had one of those, he would always boast of how revitalizing and refreshing it was. “This right here is the stuff my dear. Those Good ol’ stories come from the magic that this is. He would add the tiny beans with a cube of sugar and cream into his favorite mug. “Aggh” he'd breathe in and out like he was releasing all the tension in the world. “No little one. Your insides aren't ready just yet”. With a playful spank on my hand, he'd move the mug away from me whenever I tried to take a sip.
Tonight was my night. I was going to make myself a cup of grandpa's black gold. I wanted to tell amazing stories too just like grandpa. When I heard the door shut, I was sure they were all settled in the study with grandpa. I quickly dashed into his bedroom quietly. By his bedside was a tiny bag of black gold. I grabbed it and sneaked into the kitchen. I could hear grandpa as I tiptoed.
“ long ago in the line of the Leos”. Grandpa began to speak softly. His subtle yet baritone voice enveloping the room and echoeing from the hallways down to the kitchen. “Huh! That's our lineage!” Mimzy blurted out sounding so astonished.
“Yes Mimzy. Many centuries ago, it was a very big Kingdom. During the 17th Era, some women in the Kingdom began giving birth to very strange babies. It amazed and terrified the villagers at the same time. Would you like to know what these babies looked like?”.
“Yes, yes”. An eager chorus followed. “They looked very fascinating. They had strange and unusual ‘blue’ skin that looked like glass. With long jet black hair and silver eyes, they appeared like ethereal beings”.
“wow”. I heard mumblings as I added some of grandpa's gold into a mug containing sugar and cream. I added hot water and stirred it thoroughly. Foam with tiny bubbles began to form around the top of the mug. I took a sip and I was encapsulated in a moment of euphoria. It smelled heavenly.
“The people were amazed at their appearances at first. But as time went by, they began to fear the unknown. The group of children were not only gifted with divine looks, they were blessed with the ability to read minds. They would easily tell if a person was planning evil. They had began exposing a lot of gruesome plots in the hearts of the wicked ones”. Grandpa Mer continued his story while I relished the content of my mug.
“The villagers would have none of that. One day, they gathered all the blue children and banished them faraway from the land never to return. The eldest of the blues said to the villagers, “Seventeen eras from now, we shall return to this kingdom. We will come at night and one by one, we shall take all your children to the river behind the mountains. The place where monsters eat little children for dinner. You will never see your children again”.
By this time, I had emptied the mug and I was ready to join everyone else. I had achieved my aim and I didn't even miss the story. “Now I'll be able to tell amazing stories like Grandpa”. I whispered.
“Guess what children. Today marks the 34th Era”. Grandpa added. “Huh” everyone exclaimed. As I squeezed the handle of the door to open it, It made a creaky sound. I entered the study and everyone including grandpa Mer screamed. I screamed too. They looked like they were about to jump out of their skin and run. I looked beside me and I could see my reflection in the window. I was beyond terrified and I could not believe my eyes. Jumping up and down and rubbing my skin all over, I yelled even more on top of their voices. It was a cacophony.
Every inch of my body had completely turned blue. “I only had a little of the coffee grandpa. I swear it was just a sip”. I was weeping profusely.