Warm Summer Grass

Dedicated to my little toy poodle, Bella, an angel in heaven.

Once, A little dog named Bella with white curly fur, and long fuzzy ears came up to a girl in Heaven. The girl had just arrived on a patch of warm summer grass. She stroked Bella's back. Bella just hang out her tongue and panted.She looked like she was smiling, and she was. Bella was fond of children stroking her. She missed her family on Earth, but she knew, not how long, that she'd see them in that summer grass warming her fur. Her heart leaped with joy at the thought. The girl pulled away sad. Bella licked her on the face. The girl was tiny; tears running down her cheeks. "I miss mommy and daddy", she confessed to Bella. Bella brushed up against her and a warm feeling came to the girl's heart. The girl found laughter coming out.

Someone; a man; came walking nearby. He looked bright and glowing. Bella wagged her tail and the girl was at peace. The man picked the girl up in her arms and kissed her forehead. Then he did the same to Bella. Bella smelled him, and he smelled of love. What does love smell like to a dog, as I write this? I believe it's a smell more than roses, and orchids, and freshly mowed glass even. I believe it is something we will never understand with our earth senses. That man smelled of all the love in world. He was Christ. Christ led Bella and the girl to a group of winged angels. They blessed them as they walked by; all singing praises of compassion. The angels even wept too; happily, because they were in a place they'd always be safe, and loved, forever, and ever. Bella smelled relief from the little girl, as she ran to an elderly woman, saying, "Grandma!" Someone approached Bella from behind, and as she turned, it was a cat with brownish-black fur. I'm Sadie. I have been watching over you. My sister Muffin is being brushed by your family's ancestors. Come meet George. Bella felt delight in that name! She ran into George's arms feeling happy and content. George sung one of his songs to her as Arleen came and put fresh pink bows in her hair. Bella met many people that smelled just right; like her family still living on earth.

Bella had waited a long time, before a scent caught her nose. She knew, and ran toward the summer grass dotted with tiny flowers. Mommy, Daddy, Emily, Sarah, I'm here! She jumped into Donna and Richards arms first,and then licked Sarah and Emily ferociously. She was so happy to see them, again. They came home to her like she always knew they would.  Kitty Sue followed them and Bella's tail couldn't wag any faster. George came out and hugged his family.  She thought We are all together now as forever washed over them all.

Opening Your Heart

When a dog comes into your heart, the pain you feel disappears. I encourage everyone to find that dog that is right for you. By doing this, a happier life becomes present. That's how it is for me. Here is the story: 

Emily was a heart sick girl after she lost her best friend, Bella. It had been one year since her death, and still she couldn't shake the feelings of loss for her 7 year old dog who died of an autoimmune disease. She promised she was through being a pet owner. She didn't know if her heart could take more loss. All that changed, one day. Her parents were going to see a breeder in Maryland that had been highly recommended. Emily whined, "I don't want to replace Bella. This is a bad idea!" Her parents, understanding the hurt, thought another dog would be good for her, and for them too. They were also deeply saddened by Bella's death. "Bella doesn't want you to be sad", her mom said to her. Emily decided to go with them, but her mind was set on just "looking","no-buying". As they drove to the breeders house, those long hours made her think of Bella. Tears were shed along the trip, and memories of Bella were revisited.When they reached the breeder's house, Emily carefully stepped up to the door, regretting going in the first place. The breeder immediately came out and the sound of barking filled her ears. Linda, the breeder, welcomed Emily and her family into the house, and showed them into the nursery. When Emily looked at the poodle moms and their babies, her heart melted. Tiny little fluffs of fur squirming beneath their mom's bellies, full of milk.  The family crowded around Paris, one of the moms, with her litter. Her sister,Sarah, picked up a little male poodle pup, and started cooing at the sight, while Emily went for the little female poodle pup.The one thing similar is they both had brown noses, and red fur. They were so small and precious. At that moment she knew her heart could mend. They checked out other pups, but the two they held in the beginning just felt right. They ended up making a purchase. On the ride home she and her family starting picking out baby names. Max for the boy, her dad decided, and Lucy for the girl, Sarah and Emily, and her mom agreed. It was official! 

After Christmas, they traveled back to Maryland to bring the puppies home, after being weaned from their mom. Emily made a promise from that moment on that she would do everything in her power to protect them; making them happy and healthy dogs, no matter what it took! She loved them so much that she didn't feel sad anymore! The sadness had left after the first week of having them in her family's home. The bandaid on her heart was ready to come off, as she was finally healing. She was finally aware that Bella was indeed happy and wanted this for the family. 

Love never dies when you lose someone; it expands, it changes you, and in time you learn to love again. You learn to rise from the ashes, and extinguish those flames that try to consume you; coming back as a new and better person. The "new you" is more complete and whole. The previous loss cannot hurt you anymore, all it can do is make you want to love again. 

The Keeper Of The Vanishing Glass Part III

I looked through the stacks of books on "Vanishing Glass". There was so much to know, that it overwhelmed me. When it was night time I put all the books back on their shelves where I had pulled them earlier in desperate need. I thought I'd returned all of them when I saw a lone book sitting where I'd just left. It didn't look like a book I'd read. Odd, I thought! I brought it closer to me and studied the title. It was a strange title: The Keeper of the Vanishing Glass. As soon as I touched it, I felt a heart beat inside, as if the book was alive. But it couldn't be in the logical sense of the world. I opened it to the authors note, table of contents, and finally, Chapter I: The Power of Glass. This was no ordinary book, I learned. I read on. Glass has magical properties mortals know not. To harness this power you have to reach into the heart of universe. The heart lies in the sea, where it all began. I wondered what this meant, and how it was tied to me. As I turned the next page, my fingers tingled. I got a chill that ran down my spine, but I continued on. For as long as the beginning of time , a keeper makes sure this power doesn't leave the world called Below, a world as ancient as any that has ever exists. Below lies in the realm of the Mermaids. To be a keeper is a great responsibility passed down from a lineage half Mortals, and half Mermaids. The first keeper was Katrina, but she went bad, so the power left her. Ever since she'd been trying to gain access to the mermaids knowledge. Many keepers came into this world and went out. To protect and serve was their purpose. Katrina fell in love with a Mortal but another was destined to hold his heart. He let her go, and she killed him and the Mortal. She still walks the shores even today, but in disguise. Be warned, for she will strike you if she thinks you know a way into Below. Take his book and keep it hidden. You are the keeper, if your reading this. I sucked in air once I read this. How could I be a keeper?! But part of me, I realized, had always knew their was something I didn't quite know about myself. I hoped I never had to face Katrina. I skipped the book in my purse, and headed home. I locked the door, and stuff the book into a locked chest in the attic. For the next days I wore the key around my neck, hiding it from being seen by anyone. I'd read more and more at night, wanting to know a Keeper's duties. There were spells of protection, and others, as well, that served different purposes. I took out the green sea glass that started these changes in me. It glowed bright, and just then, I heard a knock at the door. I put it away, safely. As I opened the door, I saw a woman with red hair and blue eyes. She bit her lip, and then blurted, "I'm your mother; your real mother, and your in danger. Invite me in, and quick."

The Keeper of the Vanishing Glass II

I woke up that morning, wondering while all my dreams were, literally,blue. I looked at my hand, and it hadn't changed back, except now it was traveling up my arm. As I walked the beach, again, I found more sea glass. I piled them in my bucket, and headed back as the tide came back in. When I looked in the mirror, at my always-brown eyes, I was shocked beyond belief. They were BLUE?! How can this happen. I had to see a doctor, no matter what. As I was sitting in the waiting room reading a magazine on the latest breakups, my skin began to itch. Then, I realized people were looking at me. when the nurse called my name I ran towards the door, desperate to rid myself of the stares. As the doctor came in he did a double take; adjusting his glasses. "What's wrong with me, Doc?" I asked. After a number of tests, I was released. "I don't know, Emily. It may seem odd, but all your major organs are working just fine,"He said. As I went home, I was stumped. At lunch time I made myself a sandwich and a glass of water. The sandwich was baloney, and cheddar on rye. As I drank my water, slowly, I thought of the dolphins, and how I hadn't heard them today. I missed their voices. "Hello, anyone there? Yoo hoo?", my own voiced replied. All I heard were echoes of myself in my head. I wondered where they were. Strange things happening, and I didn't know why. I pulled a shoe box from under my bed; a collection of sea glass I'd collected in the past. I even  had red, the rarest. As I touch each one, my fingers turned different colors, besides blue. They glowed like never before. They were cool to the touch. Suddenly another song filled my being. "The girl with the rainbow hands, will travel throughout the land,  she'll bring back the glass from our distant  past, magic someday again will last". Strange, she knew she needed to understand this, so she wrote it down in her journal. As she replayed the words again, she knew what had changed her. It was time to go to the library.

The Keeper of the Vanishing Glass Part I

I yawned, and got up. It was still dark outside. The sun would rise soon outside my house; a house upon the beach with no neighbors. I liked it that way. People thought I was crazy to live alone. To me crazy was normal. I had salt water in my veins, so I could never stay away. Dolphins would appear as I got out of bed, as if we had the same sleep cycle. I would hear their calls in my head since as long as I could remember. IT was natural to me by now. Come out, play with us, they'd say through our mental bond. I always did as they told which was why I didn't have many friends. Even my parents left to go North, away from my freakishness. I'd seen doctors when I was little but they didn't understand me. I got a ton of diagnoses. I started talking to dolphins when I reached kindergarten. I heard whispers from my peers until I was told to leave. No one wanted me since unexplained accidents followed me everywhere. Once I cried thinking I was cursed. Now, as I stood on the beach, on my 16th birthday, I saw something glitter on the shore. I walked over and pick it up. It was a weathered-down, smooth piece of glass. I read about these, and never found one til now. It was deep emerald green, like my birthstone; being born in May, that is. I had shells on every wall in my house; I guess it's what you call an obsession. I rolled the tumbled glass in my hand, and felt my fingers tingle. Strangle! I put it deep in my pocket, and pulled my hand out, noticing a blue sheen on my finger tips. It glowed, brightly. As I walked towards the sea, not knowing why, I noticed soon I couldn't see the shore line. A voice in my head sung: "the heart of the sea, as smooth as glass, let the full moon rise at the sacred hour, the girl will learn then of her power..." The lyrics were one I hadn't heard before. I heard a splash, and looked but didn't see what made it. Confused, I walked back to the house. That night was hard to sleep. Suddenly, I heard a knock on the door downstairs, but I wasn't afraid when I pulled it open. wind blew inside, filling the room with the salty scent I grew up around. I closed the door, and saw the fireplace was lit. By the carpet, was a man. Before I could speak, a picture formed in my mind. It was of a mermaid singing to me, as a baby lay in her arms. She was chanting something in a strange language, setting the baby gently on the sand, and swimming away. As the image left, the man was gone. The door was still closed. I wondered if this was real; looking down. At my wrist I saw a bracelet filled with oddly colored glass charms. It wasn't there before, but it was lit up, and my hand was entirely blue.

Dreaming of Glee: Part 2

I was in the nurses office; my head pounding along with my heart hammering inside my chest. Emma held my hand. "It's going to be OK, Your feeling stressed because of this play the Glee Club is doing. It will pass. Just stay calm." I wanted to protest, but I just listened, thinking, " I'm going to have to act my way through whatever this is; it's just and dream and I'll wake up soon." Finn visited me looking worried. "I'm fine", I said; my voice sounding like's Rachel's. "I was so worried for you." Finn said. "I know, just a headache", I said back. His eyes were blue and full of concern. Emma handed me some water and an Advil for my head. I swallowed it instantly. As I walked out of the office, I realized everyone was waiting for me, even Santana. I smiled and did my best to be Rachel. Everyone was relived. Kurt smiled at me, with a little wave of the hand.   He leaned his head on Blaine's shoulder, and motioned me to the auditorium. I made up a story about my meltdown, and said I was feeling better. I walked up on the stage, and sung a tune as sweet as honey. Then I descended and took my place beside Finn. Finn looked uneasy and avoided my eyes. "What?" I asked. "Nothing, it's just...I never heard you sing like that. It was different. But nice." I pulled out a text book and pretending to be studying. Finn spoke again, "Would you let me know if anything is going on next time so I can help you. I love you." His face turned beet red. I said, "Of coarse, your my favorite person in the world. I love you too." Finn seemed more relaxed. Sue marched in the auditorium that second and everyone held their breath, while she scolded the Glee for being the worst singing group in the history of McKinney High school. Then she left Glee with a triumphant smile on her face. Will wrote something on the dry erase board. It read: Dreams. "Who here has a dream?" Will asked. Every one was silent as they turned to me. I looked back at them. Will decided to move on and started talking about a dream of his. As he was talking I looked past the door where a nose sounded. It sounded like a fire alarm, and suddenly the whole room was in a line heading for the door. I could smell smoke somewhere; probably the kitchens. My first thought was that I would wake up. But when I didn't I believed this might be real. Someone was choking; Finn. " Finn, are you alright?" I asked, concerned. " F f fine....Just need to....Air!!!" With that Finn passed out. I cowered over him, " We can't leave him!!!!" Will agreed as he and I, and Puck carried him out the door. As we wound our way through the halls, part of a ceiling collapsed, leaving dust and debris in the air. We moved over to the other side of the wall and pushed the exit sign to descend a volume of stairs. Carefully, we made our way down. At the bottom. we finally pushed through another door to a hallway where the double doors lay. As we rushed outside, Will started counting heads, including mine. "Where's Kurt?" Will said alarmed. Merecede's  responded, " He was behind us but he must be trapped inside." Without word I pushed my way back in. "Rachel!", Will yelled, although I didn't hear him very well. I pushed through the smoke, "KURT!" I screamed. No answer. stopped as I became out of my breath, got to the ground, and crawled; my breathing came slower. It was hard to see, I shouted again, "KURT!" I heard some faint noise coming from the girls bathroom. I managed to shove the door wide enough to hear muffled coughing. Kurt was on the ground as well, covering his face with tears. "Rachel, I'm so sorry. Blaine is missing!" "He's outside!" I said recalling the last time I saw him. " He's with the group I said again". "Good", Kurt muttered. "Hey," I said I'm getting you out of here!" I shouted as his eyes closed briefly. We both touched the door to see if it was warm. I pushed it open, as we headed out of the girls bathroom. Flames were starting to rise. I held Kurt's hand, believing we had to make it to safety. Then a fire fighter emerged and Kurt latched on tightly, pulling me along. Slowly we got outside. I collapsed on the ground with Kurt. Will was furious, but glad we made it. Kurt let me come to his house that afternoon as the fire was being put out of the school. We didn't know the damage, but Principle Figgins told everyone to go home for now. At Kurt's house, Finn lay on a bed, still partly out of it. I watched him as Kurt slid a fashion magazine under my nose. Finn gasped, "Rachel!" I went over to stare into his big blue eyes. "I'm here, what is it?" I asked. "I was so horrified when you went in there. Why did you do that?!" he said. I looked at the floor. Some things you don't have the answer to. I was silent. "Kurt needed help", I managed to say. "You could have died", he replied. "But we're a family in the Glee Club; I could not leave him." I said. "Your a hero", Kurt said at that moment. I didn't consider that, but I slowly realized I did save his life. Kurt could have died if I didn't reach him, no matter what Will said to me. I knew he cared for us, and that was why he was so harsh when he found us alive. Parents are like that. I was starting to think I was Rachel. The old me was slipping away, that I didn't feel I was that person anymore. Maybe for now I was a new improved Rachel. Maybe I had a purpose here. I realized I was apart of this community, now. This was no dream. So as I stood up, I pulled Finn to his feet. Slowly he put his hands on my waist, and I settled my head on his chest. I closed my eyes, and just breathed a sigh. This was my home, now.

I'm Dreaming Of Glee: Part One

Once there was a regular girl named Emily who dreamed of being more than she was. She loved to sing, and she dreamed that one day her name would be in lights. One Christmas she was sitting by the fire with her friend, Liz who was spending the night. They were watching their favorite show Glee. Emily sung Fireworks along with Lea Michelle who dominated the screen. "I want to be like her", she said. Liz looked at her friend,  and replied, "Your way better than her." Emily considered it, but wasn't convinced. That night when they went to sleep, Emily dreamed of stars. When she woke the next morning, she was on the set of Glee in Rachel's bed. She saw Rachel's two dads bust in the room. "Good morning Rachel!", they said. Huh, I'm Emily! She thought. Then she closed her eyes, only to open them back to the two people she saw in her room. I'm dreaming! They hurried her to the school bus after singing songs on the piano to her during breakfast. School was not the same. She figured she was still dreaming, when Finn came up to her and planted a kiss on her lips. Whoa! "Finn?" Emily asked. "Is this real?" He looked at her confused. Then Emily knew this wasn't a dream. She'd wished it on a shooting star before bedtime last night, after Liz zonked. I'm RACHEL BARRY! "Rachel, are you OK? Should I take you to the nurse?" Finn was still talking to her. "I'm OK  just didn't sleep to well." I hope he kisses me, again. As they went into the quire room Tina came up and told her Mike said the three-letter word to her; the one all girls dream of their boyfriends telling them. When Will came in everyone sat down. Emily looked at herself in the mirror. She saw Rachel's brown bangs and straight, perfectly long hair. That was proof that she was Rachel. She touched her hair, until Finn nudged her in the ribs. Will had called on her to sing in front of the group. She rushed up in the center of the choir room, and started with a simple tune, ending with a long drawn out note. "Thank you, Rachel!" Will said ushering her back next to Finn. Finn said, "That was amazing!" Emily smiled. This was too cool! Then he kissed her, and Emily felt like she'd melt into a puddle. Quinn cleared her throat rather loudly, "I can't hear Mr. Schuster with all that lip-smacking going on!" Santana giggled, while Britney just stared into space, then said, "You can borrow my lip gloss." After Glee Club, Puck was eye balling her in her reindeer sweater, and rather long dress. "Rachel, Please tell Finn to show up to practice and stop drooling like a love-sick puppy." Then he also said, " And wear something sexy for a change." Emily stuck her tongue out at Puck, and brushed him aside. She was walking to Algebra when a jock came up and thew a red slushie in her face with such force that she swallowed some of it. Red streamed down her arms and hair. Emily yelled at the jock, " That wasn't nice!" He just laughed on. So she just muttered, "Jerk!" Why am I such a pushover! After School Finn walked her home, and they held hands."Finn, I'm not Rachel, my name is Emily and I made a wish, but I didn't know I'd wake up as her. How do I switch back to my old life?" Emily said. Finn had an odd look on his face. He was silent. Then laughed like it was a joke. "Finn," Emily tried again, " I am not Rachel, I'm serious. This is a TV show in my world." Finn looked around for a hidden camera, found none, and just stared. Emily  walked away, knowing he wouldn't believe the truth. He called out, "Rachel!" But Emily left. She missed her old life. She wanted to cry! Why did I make this wish!? Kurt bumped into her and she dropped her books. "Sorry" she said. "Why are you sorry? Have you been crying? Oh no, is it Barbara Streisand? Did she die a horrible death?" Kurt blurted out in one sentence! "No, it's just Finn doesn't believe me that I'm not Rachel, I'm Emily." "Is this about Charlotte's Webb in English class?!" Kurt asked. "No!" Emily yelled! Kurt was quiet. "Your not the Rachel I know, today." He replied. "FINALLY, someone realizes!" Emily shouted. "Kurt, listen, I woke up as Rachel, but I'm not her. I'm serious!"  Kurt nodded. He pulled her aside, and then started asking excitedly about what she was going to sing for Valentine's Day. She couldn't get through to anyone. She ran back to the school, where she found her way to the empty choir room. She started crying! "I want my OLD life, back!" she repeated. " I want to be myself!" As she continued to cry, Will saw her, and suggested she see his fiance' Emma, who was the guidance counselor. On the way he muttered, "You've changed, you sing different." As she entered Emma's office she told the whole story; all about the real her. Emma was quiet.