Papa and Kyra are walking down the beach on their way for ice cream when a man and his son approach them. The man speaks of need and solicits money from Papa.
K: Papa, why did you give that man all our money?
P: I did it for the son.
K: But we can’t get any ice cream now.
P: Ice cream might make the belly smile, but to give love makes the heart smile, or, as I’ve heard it put, makes your soul shine.
K: Soul shine? Really?
P: (kneeling down) Look closely at my eyes.
K: Oh.
P: Soul Shine.
K: Can you make my eyes do that?
P: No.
K: (frowns)
P: Only you can do that.
K: Show me how.
P: (smiles) I just did.
K: (looks confused)
P: Every day we are blessed with opportunity, the opportunity to give, to smile, to paint the world around us with yellow, to touch the canvas of another with the paintbrush of our heart. Do that, and your soul will shine. Do it enough and . . .
K: And what?
P: (looking more serious) And you become a light unto the world.
K: (looks with wonder)
P: Yes, but can I tell you a secret?
K: (Kyra leans in) Only if you promise to tell and not show.
P: (Papa smiles) Look into the heavens my precocious one, just above the horizon. What do you see?
K: I see my star, the Kyra star. (Papa had named the brightest star in the Hynerian sky after Kyra)
P: And?
K: It is the brightest most brilliant star in the whole sky.
P: Yes it is. And do you know why I named it the Kyra star?
K: Because you like teasing me with lessons.
P: (Papa laughed—sometimes he forgot he was conversing with a child) Because, my child, you have a gift, an ability, a potential, if you will.
K: (looks somewhat puzzled)
P: (Papa puts his hands on Kyra’s shoulders, his eyes looking into the endless cisterns of her young sapphire eyes) You are that star Kyra.
Kieran: I must go now.
K: I know.
Kieran: You know, Papa was right.
K: (looks searchingly) About what?
Kieran: You are the—
John: Hey, I appreciate the family reunion, but we best get moving before reinforcements arrive. And they will.
Commentary and Reading: The Kyra Star
Categories: Story, Papa, Kyra, Kieran, John Discovery
38 comments:
The chapters that involve Papa and Kyra are so full of love always, as light-hearted and joyful as they are deep and meaningful, they make the heart smile to read, to watch Kyra as a young child (though her life was not perfect, absent parents etc) bask in her grandfather's devotion, for it to be the most natural thing in the world for her to do.
Just the word soul shine brings a smile.
Presumably, Kieran is communicating this memory, speaking Zeke's words, reminding Kyra of who she is in the aftermath of her having seen a side of herself that she was at least mostly unaware existed. Perhaps she is questioning herself and he seeks to offer comfort, to remind her that she is the hynerian, the exceptional hynerian, she has always been.
Off to re-read a favourite. :-)
Sunshine, the Papa/Kyra chapters, more so than any others, take my heart places that is hard to explain, but there is an emotion underlying those chapters, an emotion deep and sustaining, an emotion that burns with a seemingly eternal flame. So, I think we might see a few more in the future. ;-)
Your insight as to what is happening in this chapter warms my heart. Both Kieran and Papa know, "The Kyra Incident" has the potential to affect Kyra in a negative way. And so, the two, working in tandem, bring forth in her mind, memories to guide her back home, so to speak. :-)
As always, your kind words are very much appreciated. Enjoy the audio. :-)
By the way, this chapter was written while standing in queue for my flight back home. Call it a first. And maybe call it a last. :-D
I do so appreciate when you take time to do an audio commentary and the deeper insights we get into the inspirations, motivations and thoughts behind a chapter.
I debated whether to only go into the second part of the following comment, as the first might ruin somewhat what I want to say, but on a recent crime programme there was a story about a conman who would ask for money for a train ticket home from people in a parking lot and he was able to survive this way for years. He would average about 10 such scams a week. What struck me about the reinaction was not that there were so many people scammed, but that in these times where people are more aware that there are people who will do such dishonest deeds, they were still willing to take this man at his word, to give him the benefit of the doubt. Your story was wonderful for this reason, for the very reasons you state. Imagine, if, and from what you told us and just plain inexplicable and I don't care gut feeling, it seems that way, this man's story was true, then you truly did something amazing that day, not in the giving of money, but in the giving of trust and faith. Shine a light onto others and its glow will reflect upon you. For the very reasons you stated so eloquently, that story was so thoroughly heartwarming, to know that there are people such as yourself who do not take everybody else with a pinch of salt, so to speak. The theory being of course that though we may get burned (decieved, be disappointed, etc) sometimes, weighed against the times where we were right to be trusting, to look for the good, matters less.
Papa just as yourself has a way of making things that are simple sound that way too. One act and four people. Beautifully executed.
(I'm reminded of the story of the little boy who crawled up on the lap of his elderly neighbour who had lost his wife, and when his mother asked him later what he had been doing, the boy said; 'I was helping him cry.')
Lovely was the story of the star, of being able to look up at any time at something so far away and to be connected to another.
In short, awesome commentary. You know, you really should do more of them. :-D
Now you're just bragging. ;-D
I was actually doing a little CYA. :-D
You know, you can actually feel the love between Papa and Kyra. This was so beautifully done. I really enjoyed listening to some of the gabcasts, too. Kudos!
Thank you SJ. The story centers around that relationship and spins outward from there. The heart of the story is and I think always will be Papa and Kyra and the love between them.
Wow. Not many plow into the audio commentary and readings. I'm impressed.
You can tell from reading just a few passages that they're crucial characters, perhaps because of the special bond between them.
Well, of course, I listened. I had to hear the voice that defines the writer.:-)
Well, if I had known I was going to have company I might have dressed up or at least pretended to try to make a good impression. Instead, you got the full babble. :-D
Sunshine, I could do audio for almost every chapter but fear I'd bore the heck out of most everyone--then again, to listen is a choice, so, well, maybe :-D. I do enjoy doing them, for, as you know, I could talk for hours about the story, the characters and the process of writing, a process that just fascinates me to no end.
As always, thanks for your sincerely engaged comments and the wonderful insights and interaction you give to me as a gift so consistently. Truly a marvel you are. :-)
and u r the star Tre!
Keshi.
As are you my southern angel. :-)
papa will ever call Kyra back home..to disperse with a promise to a stiller night..whenever there is commotion.
Kyra has guidance of star papa
A Papa Star. I like that idea Mona. I like it very much. :-)
That's the great thing about this kind of broadcasting -- you can do it in your pajamas if you want to. I thought your "babble" sounded just fine.:)
Awww SJ, you can have my pillow anytime with a comment like that. By the way, for the record, I do all my recordings in my robe, Scottish style. :-D
I'm going to hold you to the pillow promise.:)
True REAL Scottish style? Woo-hoo! I come by this red hair honestly, you know -- Scots-Irish.
SJ, yes. I used to do business in Scotland and on many occasions attended events that protocol required the wearing of a kilt. I have to say, the experience (don't ask about the mirrored dance floors) was invigorating. :-D
So, my robe audio, is a pleasant memory for me. ;-)
That must have been quite touch and go back in the Disco days.:)
My partners were smiling more than usual and I decided not to question the source of their mirth. :-D
LOL. I can well imagine. Girls do like to have fun.:-)
And they did. Oh my. Hail Scotland or at least the bounty of her fairer sex. :-D
Tree!
Hugs!
Mona I accept your hug and raise you a kiss or two. Peace and Joy to you this weekend my dear brilliant friend. :-)
All I can say is "wow" - although I have enjoyed following the storyline for quite some time, this one perhaps struck me most. Awesome work, stud! :-)
J, thanks for those very kind words. I am always amazed at which chapters people find interesting and I have long since given up trying to guess. I suppose like most things in life, we all have our own tastes. Thanks for the feedback and so glad you liked this one. :-)
Hope you get settled in and situated into your new digs. I'll actually be in California next week. Thanks again J.
Do you need a travel-along PA? :-) I know it's not all fun and games travelling up and down the country, but it sure does sound exotic and exciting from the other side of the Atlantic.
xo
I do. Are you applying? :-D
I'll send you my resume, however I should probably ask for a job description and about benefits. :-)
Dreams sweet, x
Most Spectacular One, like Papa, I'd rather show than tell. Actually, I prefer both, so if you can't multi-task, that could be a problem. :-D
I was hoping you would say that. :-)
Morning, poppet (giggling away here and tempted to remind you of the definition of that word). LOL Sweet and deliciously naughty, that's what you are, the perfect combination. Becoming almost like a superpower if used correctly, which is to say naturally. :-D You're a sweetheart and people are going to love you for it, might as well get used to it. :-)
Well, when you add that "deliciously naughty" bit, even though you left out the "decadently wicked", I can live with that. ;-D
Afternoon Sunshine. :-)
You are a joy.
As are you my Dear Beautiful Soul. So nice to see you again. You bring so much love when you visit it makes me wonder why the whole world doesn't work this way. Thank you, as always, for your very kind words and for following the story so faithfully. Means a lot to me. More than I know how to say. :-)
This is awesome... the soul shining is a fantastic concept and it's one of the most beautiful things to see in our world too.
Thanks Karen. I would like to see more souls shine. It is a beautiful sight, a tear inducing sight when they do. :-)
Lovely sentiments.
Interesting too... :]
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