Bedtime Stories

Bedtime Stories

By Mary Founteno

Beverly saw how awake her children were from her place on the couch. She had slaved the day away, as a mother, and finally, when it came time for bed, her children were wide awake. Beverly knew that if she would just get some rest…

Her eyes slid shut, just slightly, but enough for her to know it was bedtime.

“Honey?” she called out to the love of her life, Clarence, and prayed he was nearby.

“Yes, dear?” he called back, and she knew that her night of relaxation could begin. He entered the room with a frown of concern that transformed into a knowing smile when he saw her relaxed pose on the couch. “I suppose it’s my turn to put the kids to bed?” he smirked, tightening the dark blue robe he wore and mentally preparing himself the moment the screaming from the playroom neared him.

“Daddy!” the children called, two in fact, Malcolm and Marianne. The father smiled knowing they would one day achieve greatness.

“Yes, please.” Beverly finally called from her place on the couch, her voice thick with the sleep her body longed for, and Clarence knew what he would have to do.

Clarence guided the children into the room and, after some tries, finally got them in there successfully. “Alright, now, it’s time for sleep.”

“Can we please have a bedtime story?” One of the children, Marianne, called out and she added a pout as her final touch. That was the one thing Clarence couldn’t resist, a pout.

“Oh, alright, but I’m not the storyteller your mom is.” He said, and after a dramatic pause, he began his tale.

“How is it that stories go? Oh yes, once upon a time in a land far away, there were two sisters. These sisters were twins and the word close couldn’t begin to describe them. They did everything together, including the fun and not so fun things. They worked together, laughed together, played together, ate together and so forth. They finished each other’s sentences, even. These sisters were as beautiful as they were smart, and their intelligence was unmatched. Their brown hair and green eyes were identical. In fact, there only separating factor was their names. Isobel and Isabella had been what their mother decided, and their daughters had hated their names for the simple fact that they weren’t matching.

Then, one day, Isobel had decided to take a walk by the sea that waved next to their home, alone. She promised her mother, “I won’t go into the ocean.” But the ocean called her in, like a siren and the moment Isobel’s promise became a lie, the ocean ate her up.

Isabella mourned her sister and cursed their gods for taking her sister away. But, one night, Isabella was visited by a spirit who gave off kind energy to her. This spirit told Isabella that her sister was not dead, just stolen from her by the god of the sea, King Drigon. This spirit warned Isabella that if she goes after her sister, the King will find out and take her, too.

Isabella didn’t care and left for the sea, where she was visited by a siren. This siren sang to her, a song of mourning and danger, and warned her to turn back, but Isabella would not hear of it and entered the sea. But, what Isabella did not know, she did not have the Kings blessing to enter the sea, so the sea spit her right out.

The next morning, a boy found Isabella and took her to his home. Isabella woke up, alarmed and afraid, and screamed out to anyone that would hear, hoping someone was nearby. The boy was alarmed by her screams and sent her a calming emotion to quite her. He explained that she was safe and that no harm would come to her while she was in his care.

However, Isabella did not believe the man would protect her and misthought him to be King Drigon, god of the sea. So, Isabella begged him to return her sister to her, but the boy left, and she cried for three days straight. When her tears finally dried for her sister, the boy returned. She asked him who he was and he admitted to being Leumas, prince of the dead. He had retrieved her thinking she had died by the sea, but her body was warm, warmer than anything he had felt before, and he wanted to protect her warmth and beauty. The woman informed him that his name was something unusual, like him, and she commended his patience with her.

Leumas came up with a plan to retrieve her sister from Drigon, but he told her that it would cost her. Isabella said she didn’t care the cost; she wanted her sister back and they moved forward with their plans.

Three night later, during a undersea party to celebrate the king’s birth, the couple moved in to find Isobel. And find her they did.

Isobel was at the king’s side, smiling and laughing with the people as though she belonged. She had even placed a kiss on the king’s cheek before retiring to her bedchambers! Shocked, Isabella claimed that this was a trick and that her sister was not here, but back home. Isabella felt her mind slipping, but she moved forward with the plan to get her sister. When Isabella arrived at Isobel’s bedchambers, things were definitely not as they seemed. On Isobel’s nightstand sat a ring made of pearl and magic and Isabella reached out to touch it.

“Isabella?” a voice called out from behind her, and she turned to face her beautiful sister. Her hair was no longer it’s brown color, but a bright blonde. Isobel smiled and reached out for her sister, but Isabella stepped back in distrust.

“Who are you anymore?” she asked, and Isobel’s face morphed into shock and hatred.

“I am Isobel, future Queen of the sea, and you do not belong her anymore. Leave in peace and I won’t alarm anyone.” But Isabella stayed put. “Very well. Guards!” Isobel turned around right as Isabella reached to the ring and broke it, breaking the charm placed on her sister. Then, Isobel began to choke and turned into seafoam before Isabella’s very eyes.

Terrified, Isabella faintly heard Leumas calling out to her and taking her away, but that was all she heard before the darkness gave in.

The next morning, Isabella woke up and saw Leumas and asked to go home, but the boy just smiled and shook his head.

“Our deal, Isabella, that you agreed to before hearing? You are to stay with me forever, as my bride.”

That was the moment Isabella knew she had messed up.”

“Wow, dad, what a story!” One of the kids called out, breaking Clarence of his dazed storytelling stare. “What does it mean?”

“It means, my child, do not lie to your parents and do not make deals you haven’t heard. Plan with patience and be kind, always.” The children began to discuss the story until, eventually, tiredness got the better of them.

“Time for bed, dear.” Beverly called out from the door, breaking Clarence of his fond stare at his sleeping children.

“Indeed, my love, it is.”