Cyan was pining for, and missing her best friend. Loneliness and pain seared her heart.
“Lost,” they told her. “Stolen by gypsies,” was another ploy they used.
It was useless looking for her now. She would be lost forever. When-ever Cyan brought up the subject, they became angrier and angrier.
Her real mother was gentle, and went misty eyed when anyone talked about angels. She was a real angel, leaving this earth far too soon. Cyan couldn’t believe that her father had married his second wife only three months after his first wife’s death. Cyan knew that this woman only wanted security and her father’s money, as he was a wealthy man.
Panic filled her heart, increasing the blood flow pumping through her veins. Racing helter skelter through the forest, crossing streams, back tracking, and leaving no traces behind. As she fled into the forest, Cyan ran down the track, where the grass was so luscious and green. Then, on the horizon she saw smoke. Surely it couldn’t be her pursuers? Climbing into a leafy bush, she curled up secure and safe as a baby in its mother’s womb. They passed by close to her. Cyan could hardly breathe. She felt she would burst. They went on past her hiding place. She gave a sigh of relief and thanks to her guardian angel.
Cyan was just thinking to herself, ‘I only made it by the skin of my teeth,’ when looking down, she observed a swarthy looking man with an ear-ring in his ear and a tattered headband around his head.
He spoke quietly. “Come down little one, I won’t hurt you. I am a Romany, one of the Gypsy group. We will look after you.”
“How did you know I was here?” she asked.
“The birds and the animals talk to me. We are bonded to Mother-Earth, who protects the wounded, and those hunted down by evil ones who are only out there after money. I see much pain in your heart. You have survived cruelty beyond belief, bruised and scarred in body and mind. Being misunderstood brings mistrust and fear of people.”
She placed her small hand in his big calloused but gentle hand. She was timid and shivering as a mouse.
He said “First you must have a drink.” Cyan was so parched, she gulped it down. It quenched her thirst immediately.
Now he had gained a little of her trust, she went with him to the Gypsies camp. Keeping her hand in his, for the first time in ages she felt safe. But she had a long way to go before she could fully trust anyone.
An unusual noise could be heard. It was a stream bubbling and gurgling on its way down through the rapids, with a woosha, woosha of the trees, and in the background, birds chirping in a beautiful heavenly choir. Watching the birds doing aerial acrobatics brought a half smile to her face.
Cyan saw shadows of someone watching them. She froze.
Franco said, “Don’t worry; they are there to protect us if we get into trouble.”
Her dreams were starting to materialize, but what happened next astounded her beyond belief. An awesome sight. Gaudy bright caravans, all of different colours of the rainbow. She thanked her Guardian Angel for bringing her here, and wished deep down that she could live in the red one.
Standing in the doorway of the red caravan was a buxom lady. Cyan was shaking again; this was way out of her comfort zone. She started to cry. ‘Nonna’ as everyone called her, wrapped her arms around Cyan and gradually the sobbing stopped. She invited her to come inside.
Inside the caravan, there were bright red velvet curtains, green silk cushions, with gold and more gold everywhere. Cyan was shown to a bunk which was adorned with plush, royal purple and silver furnishings.
“This will be your bunk,” Nonna whispered to her softly. “It’s next to mine.”
Now Cyan believed in miracles even more, but she needed one more miracle to happen. She would have to wait until the time was ready.
She was told that there was only one rule she had to obey, and that was not to go near the two caravans that were separate from the camp.
Whilst out walking, she felt that she was constantly being watched. She was sure it was some of the gypsies. They stared at her as if she was a ghost. She confided in Nonna, and was told that it was some of the gypsies on watch for enemies.
Cyan was asked to do some of the lighter chores around the camp, such as dusting out the caravan that she was living in, and also helping with feeding and brushing down of the horses each morning. The horses were her favourite job, she just loved animals. When her work was done, she played chasies with the dusky, smiling children. Squealing little girls, happily playing their games. Grubby cheeked faces, all aglow without a care in the world. Cyan wished it was her. Never mind, she was here at last, loved and cared for. Dressed in bright dazzling colours they were all so proud to wear.
On the brink of darkness they all scampered back to the camp where a huge crackling fire turned their night into day. Sitting around the fire, they shared their food and talked about the day’s events. Then a haunting melody drew them all to their feet. A master fiddler played a dynamic melody, people clapped and danced in a passionate frenzy. They twisted and twirled to the pulsating vibrations well into the night.
Finally, as time went by, Cyan settled in. She was one of them now. Nonna and Franco said that now she had settled in, they trusted her, and she knew whatever they said was the truth.
Talking softly to her, reassuring her as they placed a bandana over her eyes, they guided her to a bright yellow caravan, the one that she was banned from visiting. Undoing the bandana, she screamed with delight. There in front of her stood another girl. Unsure if it was a trick or not, she nervously touched her.
“Oh! My goodness! It’s Cerise, my twin sister! They said you were dead or lost or gone forever!” They were both ecstatic and excited to see each other.
Nonna said, “We had to come up with a plan for your mother’s sake. She knew she was dying and having gypsy blood in her, we were the only ones she could trust. She wanted us to take care of you and your sister. We only managed to snatch your twin sister in time, when we were betrayed by one of our own. Finally we found the informant and placed a gypsy spell on him. He’s gone forever. We knew you ran away from home and were chased and hounded by your stepmother and some of her friends. She wanted you back to be her slave, to do all her work around the house, and to have you around just to take her anger out upon you. Yes, we saw all the bruises on your arms and legs. Trust me, you and your sister will be safe here with me, Franco and all our gypsy friends.”
Cerise and Cyan were welcomed into the traditions and ways of gypsy life.
As the colourful convoy of caravans packed-up and moved off, Nonna couldn’t help but notice how happy the girls were.
Walking along beside the vans, arm in arm, Cerise and Cyan knew deep in their hearts, this was their home.
Hilda Oakley
Copyright © 24.11.2009
