Sister Souls: Fools and Fairy Dust

Rebecca's unannounced arrival on the island came as a surprise to most of the village - very few knew that Rowena even had a sister - no one seemed to know she was, to put it delicately, a bit eccentric. When she arrived at the ferry astride her two-seater bicycle with her silverish hair flying in the wind, her long black skirts pegged with clothespins and an umbrella strapped to her back, even Cap and his crew were at a loss for words. They watched open mouthed as she fairly flew down the slip, zigzagging to a precarious, skidding stop just inches from the edge of the scow.

Well, bless my tattered old soul, Linc Patterson finally observed, If it ain't some kinda daredevil Mary Poppins.

She produced a floppy brimmed black hat from the bicycle basket and secured her flyaway hair in a quick, graceful gesture than dismounted spryly and stood with her face to the spray. She was a woman who had clearly seen better days, so the ferry crew thought, but there was still a little mystery about her, a little of the unknown. When Linc approached her to collect the fare, she turned aside modestly and produced a small black change purse from her bosom, laid a crisp $5 bill in his hand and then in a moment of unanticipated magic, tossed a handful of confetti directly into his startled face.

Fairy dust! she cried and laughed sweetly.

The ferry docked, and Rebecca gave the crew a friendly wave - although she blew a kiss to Linc - then determinedly trudged up the slip, mounted her bicycle and careened off in a cloud of dust.

Ol' Linc liked to jump a foot and a half, Cap laughed as he told the story at the canteen later that day, Ain't never seen a man move so fast!

Rowena, who had stopped in for a cold lunch, overheard the conversation and paused with a thoughtful look on her face.

She threw confetti, Cap? And she were riding a bicycle? A two seater?

Ayuh, that it were, Ro, the old seaman said agreeably enough, 'cept I don't recollect sayin' so. How is it you know'd that?

Rowena gave him a quick kiss on the cheek - he blushed a most alarming shade of red and suddenly took to stammering - then she laughed, snatched up her box lunch and fairly flew for the door.

I ain't never know'd my sister to travel anywhere 'ceptin' on that ol' two seater, Cap, she called over her shoulder, And she don't never, ever go anyplace without confetti! Sometimes glitter!
The sisters met - well, more like collided - at the blind corner by Curt's musty little store. Rowena, her arms so full of packages and flowers that her vision was partially impaired, never saw Rebecca who was speeding like a blind bat out of hell from the opposite direction. Both women let out loud screechy wails just before the crash - packages, flowers, bicycle baskets and confetti went flying everywheres - and then the sisters were tangled up and flat on their backs on the gravely dirt road, and laughing like hyenas. When the dust settled, they helped each other up and hugged, gathered their belongings and arm in arm began walking toward the cove, chattering like chickens.

The sisters were rarely apart the rest of that summer. Linc Patterson repaired the two seater, straightening the front frame and reattaching the baskets - it was, he said, a minor fix and he refused to take any money for it - so Rebecca hugged him and as soon as he turned his back, sprinkled him with a generous helping of glitter.

Fairy dust! she cried, For good luck and long life!

Sweet sufferin' jaysus, woman, Linc growled, quit yer foolishness and be off! 

The two women traveled the length of the island on the two seater. Confetti and fairy dust followed them wherever they went and you could hear them laughing, singing - sometimes shrieking - at every corner and turn. I remember watching them come down the hill one wildly sunny day, missing our driveway by a mile and ending up ass over tea kettle in the strawberry patch like a pair of old rag dolls. When a yoke of placid but determined oxen wouldn't yield them room to pass, they put on speed and weaved around them, landing squarely in the ditch, inches away from the guard rail. Mishaps, like the confetti and glitter they left behind, seemed to trail after them.

Pure miracle one of 'em ain't broke their damn fool neck, Cap remarked wryly the day after the sisters skidded off the breakwater and soared across the sky for a brief second before dropping like a stone into the incoming tide, Dunno how much more that ol' two seater contraption kin take.

Reckon the Good Lord really does watch over fools, my grandmother reminded him.

Ayuh, he shrugged, Else it's that damn fairy dust.

Rebecca stayed for the rest of the summer, bringing her mishaps and magic to the village with each passing day and whether by happenstance or design, a little joy to us all.