“Who are you…what are you, and what are you doing here in my cabin?”

“You don’t know me?”

“No, I don’t, so you can either go away or start explaining yourself.”

The green glow sprouted legs and climbed back on to the foot of my bunk.

I’m losing it. No, I’ve lost it, gone round the bend, bonkers, daft.

“I’ve been with you since you were a babe, don’t you know that.”

“At my age, I doubt anyone’s been with me that long, especially a fuzzy green ball of light with legs.”

“Well, that’s it…don’t you remember anything your Dad told you?”

“Sure I do, I learned from my Dad…he was a wise man.”

“He sure was, and he hoped to pass some of that wisdom on to you.”

I shivered and pulled the blanket up around my shoulders. What was I doing having a conversation with a ball of light with legs. There was something totally wrong with this scenario.

“Who did your Dad tell you would watch out for you all your life…sit on your shoulder and keep you out of trouble?

I was silent for a moment and then stared with disbelief as the legs sprouted feet…feet encased in pointy toed shoes. Elf style, I thought, and then, speaking to myself, No, not possible. I shook my head willing the curtain to drop on this crazy scenario, either that or for me to wake up from this ridiculous dream.

“You didn’t believe your Dad?”

“Well, I did, sort of, but he would never let me see for myself. If you are who you are inferring you are, why wouldn’t he let me see you?”

“Because at that time I had more power if I remained invisible. It takes energy, you know, for someone like me to appear to a human…they are such unbelieving creatures.”

The ball of light crossed its legs. I watched as it stretched into an oval…pulsating as it did so. Then, two scrawny arms appeared from what I was assuming was a torso. They were encased in green. The hands were gnarled, the fingers long. “Do you see me now?” The headless image danced across the foot of my bunk.

“Well, some parts of you, yes, but why don’t you show your face. Let me really see you.”

“You are such a disbeliever. Here I have sat on your shoulder all these years. I have kept you out of trouble, seen you through some rough times, mostly though I kept you out of trouble, and still you doubt—”

“Oh, at some level I believed, but I never had the proof I needed to really—”

“Proof! Why do you humans always want proof? Why can’t you just believe that there is more out there than you can ever know.” The still headless being threw his arms out in exasperation. “I hate to tell you this, but humans are so low on the intelligence scale. They are learning, but it is a slow process. Trying to make them believe is like chipping concrete with a toothpick.”

“All right, I believe you, but it’s a little unnerving having a headless being riding around on one’s shoulder.”

I flopped back on to the pillow, ready to exit this, the strangest of dreams.

“I suppose—well, we’ve been together so long and all—”

I opened one eye and sat bolt upright. He sat at the foot of the bad, legs crossed, arms stretched out each side and resting on the edge of the bunk. His rosy cheeks glowed. His broad smile belied the fact that his hair and beard were yellowed with age. His green tunic and pointed hat was faded and worn. He was so old. I knew, if I were to believe it, that he had been with me for eighty years. But, he must have been old when he came to me. Despite all, his blue eyes sparkled like those of a child at play.

So, finally, after all these years, I knew what my father had told me had been true. And I have to admit that, despite the lingering doubts that come with being an adult, I had wanted to believe my Dad, and honestly, I had. I heard his words in my head. “A little elf I know is going to be your guardian…he is going ride on your shoulder. He will be there always to protect you. You may not be aware of his presence, but he will keep you safe no matter what.”

I remembered that I had begged my dad to let me see this elf, but he just smiled. “All in good time, my dear, all in good time.” Unfortunately, he was taken from us before he allowed me to see my little guardian.

Sailing in Lemurian waters where anything is possible can make things happen, can even make my little friend visible.

Vi Jones

©January 11, 2009