YOU'RE ALL MINE - ch 6

YOU’RE ALL MINE - ch 6

(the magic of Midnight)

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“So, you’re wanting to learn ley lines, is that right, Mia, mo stor?”

“Yes, Aintin. I keep thinking of Adiran and how much faster I might have gotten her to the clinic if I knew about the ley lines.”

“I’ll teach you, mo chailin daor (my dear girl), but never forget that it was your quick action that saved your friend. Not for a second did you hesitate to pick her up and fly, all the while calling out to Mickey to tell your parents.”

“Aintin, in a few months, I’ll be fourteen. One of mom’s colleagues sent out a notice that he’ll be teaching a first aid course beginning at the end of the school year. I told mom to sign me up for it.”

“Mia, I need to ask this. You’re still quite involved in your gardening, well actually, it’s gone beyond a little garden, but nonetheless, you’re still donating much food to nearby towns. You are still in school with homework and what-not! Now you want to learn the ley lines and take a first aid course? Don’t you think you’re running yourself a bit thin? I don’t want to see you wear yourself out. That wouldn’t help anyone especially yourself.”

“I’ve thought it all through, Aintin. I can get my gardening done immediately after school. I’ve been keeping the weeding and feeding under control so it wouldn’t take more than two hours. Then, right after supper, I can do my homework. My teacher doesn’t give that much anyway, and since it isn’t difficult, I can usually get it finished within an hour. The first aid course is about one hour every Saturday morning. And,” now she looked slyly at her great-aunt, “if you’re willing, you can teach me the ley lines after my first aid class. See? I can get it all done without breaking a sweat.”

Finola laughed and agreed to everything Mia said while adding, “Oh, mo mhuirnin (my darling), you definitely are an elf. They can’t keep still either. Yes, I’ll teach you. Before I do, however, there’s a book you need to read. Come to my house tomorrow after school. There aren’t many pages but it will explain the ley lines and how they work. You need to remember that all ley lines while magical won’t take you from a to b without some deviation. But that’s something I can teach you. In the meantime, the book will explain what you’ll need to know before we get started.”

Mia agreed and Finola stepped on a ley line and vanished. Shaking her head, she said to her familiar, “Midnight, I’m definitely going to learn that. Did she just really vanish? Into thin air? How?”

“Mo ghra (my heart), I have an idea”, the feline said nervously. “Let’s forget the ley lines, whatever they are, and go get something to eat. I’m sure it’s way past lunch and you’ve been in the garden for hours.”

“Midnight, I think I need to have Uncle Ian examine you for tape worms. For a nine-month-old kitten, you eat way too much.”

“Oh, but my love, I haven’t gained one ounce. Keeping up with you will always have me maintaining my girlish figure.”

Mia rolled her eyes and said, “Midnight, I doubt I’ll ever get used to you sounding like a twenty-something-year old woman instead of a cute little cat!”

“Feline, if you please. Cat sounds so, uh, well, so impersonal.”

The pretty teenager laughed as she began walking to the backdoor of her house. “Come on, then Feline. I think I’ll convince mom I need some milk and one of her freshly baked scones. She makes the best and just the thought of her cranberry-walnut scones makes my mouth water.”

Midnight looked up at Mia and all but screeched, “Race ya! And you know I’ll win!”

Mia replied, “Then what’s the point of racing?” but took off like a shot and sprouted her wings to try and get the advantage on her cat, er feline!

Much to Brian’s shock, they all but crashed through the back door. “What the heck? Mia! What’s going on? The door has a doorknob and hinges, remember? You scared the daylights out of me!”

Mia laughed and replied, “Midnight and I decided to race, and I think I finally won!”

Although Mia’s father couldn’t understand the feline, she said, “That wasn’t fair, Mia! You shouldn’t have used your wings! This was a foot race!”

Leaning against the wall, Mia answered, “What not fair? I have only two feet while you have four! My wings made up for that discrepancy. Come on, ‘cat’”, she emphasized, “let’s go find mom.”

As they left the back door, they heard Brian say, “She’s in the kitchen.”

Midnight mumbled, “Like we didn’t already know that! We could smell that delicious food a mile way. Mia, what’s she making this time? And it’s feline! Not cat! Remember?”

She chuckled, “Midnight, we’ll know when we get there. HI mom!”

“Mia,” Morena began and stifled a laugh, “I’m sure you have a very good reason for almost ripping the backdoor off its hinges.”

Mia explained the race to her mother who only shook her head and laughed as she said, “So I guess that means you’re both looking for a snack.

Morena poured some of the milk made especially for cats into Midnight’s bowl and placed a small tray of sardines next to it.

“That should stop her meowing for a bit. Now, milk and a scone for you. I didn’t make the cranberry walnut today, because the blueberries looked too good.”

“Mom, sounds delicious. By the way, this Saturday, Aintin will come here to begin teaching me how to use the ley lines.”

“I knew one day you’d be learning them. Just take it slow. I don’t want you to end up in Timbuktu.”

Midnight jumped on the chair next to Mia and said, “And where the heck is that? Is that even really a place?”

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