[Bou’s Lullaby][Private]

[Yu-Baaba]

Yu-Baaba gently pulled the warm billowy quilts close around Bou’s chubby neck. She fluffed the pillows around his face a bit and kissed her precious child on the forehead. She stepped back and admired her work. Bou was completely submerged in bedding. The only sign of the baby was the tiniest patch of forehead still visible along with one droopy eye. His eye watered up and he slowly let the lid fall shut. He murmured slightly and shifted his weight, all the blankets, pillows, and stuffed toys shook as if a mild earthquake caused a mountain to shudder. Yu-Baaba could hear her baby’s deep breathing.

“Good night my sweet thing” Yu-Baaba whispered in the kind voice she saved for just this one person. She walked over to the wall and hit the magic switch that shifted the entire room to night. The Sun and happy clouds on the ceiling transformed into a pale Moon and twinkling stars. She bent down and picked up a few scattered toys, rearranging everything in its place. She realized she did not yet want to leave her Bou alone.

She sat down on her rocker and conjured up a list of the day’s expenditures and a floating candle to light her work. As she meticulously rocked back and forth in the chair, she subconsciously began humming a soft melody. It was a sweet, sad song - a song from a time and place long ago. A song she thought she had forgotten. . . .

[Yu-Baaba]

“Yuu-uuuu . . .” a soft, sweet voice called off in the distance.

Yuu opened her eyes lazily. She was lying in a vast field of wild flowers. The sun shone hotly on her face. She yawned and rubbed her bright blue eyes. Her long platinum hair waved messily down her back, and she wore a simple light blue frock. Her knees were scraped and bruise from excessive exploring and adventuring.

“Yuu!!!!” the voice was coming from the surrounding wood and was quickly approaching. Yuu sat up and absently brushed the dirt from her dress and pulled a few leaves from her hair.

Suddenly, out of the brush, a young girl pushed through and stopped abruptly. She stared at Yuu with astern look and her arms folded across her chest.
She had the same face as Yuu, only her features were slightly softer-more delicate. Her hair was brushed neatly and pulled back into two long braids. Overall, she simply looked more clean and well-kept than her wild, untamed, spirited sister.

Yu grinned widely, “What are you yelling about Zen?”

Zen sighed in an exasperated tone. “I’ve been looking for you. Where have you been all morning?”

Yuu looked around at the wild meadow. “I’ve been here . . . taking a nap!”

Zen looked hard at Yuu, then broke into a soft giggle. Her laugh rang out like the clear chime of a bell. Her twin could always make her laugh – even when she was furious with her. “Come on. Lets get back home. I’ve made lunch for botth of us.”

Now Yuu laughed. Her laugh was deep and full of life and adventure. “Alright. But first, I made you something!” she reached down and picket up a wreath of wild flowers from the ground next to where she had been laying. She placed the crown on top of her sister’s head. “I dub thee ‘Queen Zen’ – ruler of the entire forest.”
She held a solemn expression as she gazed at her sister.

Zen looked positively heavenly. She shone in the golden afternoon glow; her platinum hair radiated as the flowers atop her head formed a halo.
She tried to keep a serious face, but couldn’t hold in her laughter.

“Well, maybe just queen of the front garden. I’ve been tending to it all morning!” At this remark, they both laughed gleefully and headed towards the woods arm in arm.

***

They were about to reach their hidden cottage, tucked carefully away in the woods. The sisters had been chatting and giggling the whole way there.
Suddenly, they saw a mysterious figure in the distance.

Yuu paused and tried to make out the figure. She realized it was a young man.
He took a few staggered steps towards the sisters’ cottage, then he trembled and collapsed.
The girls both gasped and ran towards the distant figure.