“Now, to perform the solo Dance of the Moon, I ask Meg Stone to join me.”
Ms. Lilianna held her hand out towards my little sister.
Meg's face widened in surprise. Hesitantly, she took her teacher's hand and was led towards the bright blue spotlight in the center of the stage. The other dancers moved in a line to the back of the stage as the soft music began.
Meg extended her arms to the sky before she began her dance. Her
expressive performance made me feel like she was dedicating it to the moon. I
looked over to Gram, who had tears glistening in her eyes. This tiny little dancer
before me was so elegant and talented. Watching my sister’s graceful
movements, I felt so proud and awed. With a final bow, Meg's dance ended when
she dramatically collapsed to the ground as if put into a slumber. The audience
roared with delight.
Walking out to take her hand, the teacher praised my sister's talent. “Ladies,
come join us.”
The other performers took their places, with Ms. Lilianna and Meg in the
middle, and began soft tapping and clapping. Dancers from each end of the line
moved forward to the front of the stage, clasped their hands together, and gave a
deep bow before waving and dancing out of view. When Meg and Ms. Lilianna
were the only ones left, they both gave a final low bow, and then the lights went
out.
The audience was now on their feet with applause and cheers.
Suddenly, the spotlights began circling the stage. In anticipation, we watched
as a soft mist covered the platform, and the light stopped in the center. This was
different. Ms. Lilliana must have added a new dance to the program.
A tall man appeared abruptly out of the haze, carrying one of the dancers. As
he moved forward, I recognized the child in his arms – it was Meg. She didn't look scared, but rather, thrilled. As my eyes moved to the face of the man, I gasped. His dirty blond hair was longer than it had been when I last saw him, and his rugged face was no longer clean-shaven. Instead, he wore a short beard.
Taking my hand, Gram whispered with disbelief, “This can't be. He drowned
in Sparrow Lake.”
The man stopped at the center spotlight and said with a laugh, “Yes, friends
and family, I have returned from the dead, just in time to see my daughter, Meg,
in a dance that will be talked about for years to come. I know you’ll all have many questions for me, but first, let me reunite with my dear ones.”
As he exited the stage with my sister in his arms, I ran to her. When I reached Meg, she exclaimed, “Mara, he isn't dead. Our father is alive. Isn't this
wonderful? Now, maybe, she will come back.”
Pulling Meg to me, I spoke to the man in front of me. “If you are Elliott Stone, where have you been for the past eight years?”
Taking my hand and pulling me towards him, he whispered, “Caterpillar, I
have missed you so much. Trust me, and I'll tell you everything.”
Chapter
Sixteen
People didn't only surround Elliott Stone, but they flooded him with
questions.
Gram sent them all away while she thanked everyone for their
concern. “This is a shock to us all,” she said, “but I think it would be best for us
