Sunshine sat in a bright pool of light shining from the solitary window, holding a book high in his hands. The glossy white paper send bright quiverings of light into the dark corners of the room, to sparkle on the dust and spiders' silk. The building creaked, moved by some wind from the sea, as slow fingers of the cold outside reached through the seams of the walls. But Sunshine was in a ray of warmth. When Bluejay looked away, to the unlit remainder of the room, he was blind. He stared blankly at the fabric in his hands, waiting for his eyes to adjust.
"Once upon a time, there was a castle by the sea," Sunshine solemnly read. A collective groan went up from the audience.
"not again," wailed a young boy near the front.
"Hush, you," said Sunshine good-naturedly.
"I like this one," said a tiny girl on the edge of the light, raptured eyes urging him to continue.
"We know you like it," grumbled another boy. "That's why he's reading it. Again." The chorus agreed, and began to complain in harmony.
Bluejay glanced up momentarily from his mending as Sunshine tried to regain the interest of the children, keeping track of the course of his needle by touch. Sunshine was laughing at their grumbling, the brightness of his form in the light seeming in great contrast to the rest of the room.
His elbow was jerked suddenly and the needle went through his finger. Startled, he turned his eyes to the source of a problem: a young girl, intent on the shiny point of his needle. "You'll get hurt," he announced to her unrepentant face, holding it away and pushing cautiously against her.
"It's a good story," insisted Sunshine with a smile.
"It's just like all the others," said Match, an older boy, his primary opponent. "Bad things happen, then someone rides in to save the day. It's stupid." He rolled his eyes for emphasis.
"That's every story," said Sunshine with a laugh.
"Stories are all stupid."
Bluejay had managed to ward off his attacker, but he kept a watchful eye, only half=listening to the argument. The girl slunk off into a corner, pouting and seeking sympathy from one of the others.
"Stories tell you about life," said Sunshine is his most educational, self-satisfied voice.
"I don't think life is like that," said Match skeptically.
"Once upon a time, there was a castle by the sea," Sunshine solemnly read. A collective groan went up from the audience.
"not again," wailed a young boy near the front.
"Hush, you," said Sunshine good-naturedly.
"I like this one," said a tiny girl on the edge of the light, raptured eyes urging him to continue.
"We know you like it," grumbled another boy. "That's why he's reading it. Again." The chorus agreed, and began to complain in harmony.
Bluejay glanced up momentarily from his mending as Sunshine tried to regain the interest of the children, keeping track of the course of his needle by touch. Sunshine was laughing at their grumbling, the brightness of his form in the light seeming in great contrast to the rest of the room.
His elbow was jerked suddenly and the needle went through his finger. Startled, he turned his eyes to the source of a problem: a young girl, intent on the shiny point of his needle. "You'll get hurt," he announced to her unrepentant face, holding it away and pushing cautiously against her.
"It's a good story," insisted Sunshine with a smile.
"It's just like all the others," said Match, an older boy, his primary opponent. "Bad things happen, then someone rides in to save the day. It's stupid." He rolled his eyes for emphasis.
"That's every story," said Sunshine with a laugh.
"Stories are all stupid."
Bluejay had managed to ward off his attacker, but he kept a watchful eye, only half=listening to the argument. The girl slunk off into a corner, pouting and seeking sympathy from one of the others.
"Stories tell you about life," said Sunshine is his most educational, self-satisfied voice.
"I don't think life is like that," said Match skeptically.
