The Door Home
Bells. Not large ones, like the High Church bells, but small ones, like jingle bells, sang on the cold spring wind. Bethany lifted her head and listened. She couldn’t tell exactly where the sound was coming from but it seemed close.
“Do you hear that, Midas?” She ruffled his fluffy ears. He perked up and licked her chin. “Should we see if we can find it?” He barked once and jumped out of her lap.
She rolled her eyes and laughed. “You get excited way too easy. If only you were happy and smart maybe we’d be home now.” The bells seemed to come from just ahead and to the left. She started that way with Midas trotting beside her. It didn’t seem as cold as it had when she had stopped to sit. It also seemed to be getting brighter.
The bells continued to sing but there was something else too. Humming? “Hello?” Bethany called. She tried to peer ahead between the mossy trees but the light was making her squint now. Wet grass smushed under her feet. She stopped beside a tree that didn’t have any green. The music was right here.
Midas whined and pressed his nose against her palm.
“What do you see?” Holding a hand up against the light, Bethany looked up. Tiny bells hung from every branch of the tree, sparkling, spinning, singing. “Oh.” She pushed up on tiptoes to try and touch one. Beautiful!
The humming noise stopped.
“Here,” a branch was pushed down until Bethany could just reach the bell hanging from its tip. The bell dropped into her palm with a happy ring.
“Thank you!” Bethany said.
“You’re welcome.” The stranger had a voice like a jazz singer. Her skin was the colour of chocolate, she wore a coat as white and puffy as marshmallows and her face smiled without smiling.
A worry Bethany hadn’t known she was holding fell away. “I’m kinda lost.” She said. “Do you know the way home?”
“I might.” The woman said. She knelt down to offer a hand to Midas who sniffed enthusiastically then pushed up close to be petted. “Depends on what you mean by home.”
“Mm, I don’t know the address yet. But it is a pretty green and pink house with a white fence. Mr. Tom and Mrs. Amy painted it their favourite colours.”
The woman’s head tilted a little to one side to show she was listening close as she rubbed Midas’ belly. His tongue hung out of his mouth.
“Don’t worry, he does that whenever he gets his belly rubbed.” Bethany said. “His name is Midas and I’m Bethany. Do you know Mr. Tom and Mrs. Amy?”
“Not personally,” answered the woman, “although I do know the way to their house.” The way she looked at Bethany made Bethany feel older and more important. “My name is Daleth.”
“Daleth.” Bethany liked the sound and feel of it. “That’s a funny name.”
“It is.” Daleth smiled. “And Bethany is a beautiful name. Tell me, Bethany, is Mr. Tom and Mrs. Amy’s green and pink house home?”
“What else would be?” The bell in Bethany's hand rang, a clear high note.
“Perhaps this,” Daleth gestured and the light behind her shimmered into an open doorway.
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