Angels Unaware

She hated the old pump; hated the way it froze up; hated going outside to fetch water every time she needed some. She'd heard of people rich enough to have water piped right into the house; she'd heard that all they had to do was turn a knob and watch that water pour out, never stopping until the knob was turned back the other way. She wasn't sure she believed it, but oh, she wanted to. Just once in her life, she'd like to turn a knob and have water pour out; she wouldn't turn it back the other way, oh, no, she'd let that water pour in until it filled the house. What an idea!

She laughed at her own fancy as she lifted the buckets and headed back toward the house; she saw the men, working hard in the fields behind the house, and she quickened her step. The dishes would wait, and she could always pump more water.

© 2007 Cynthia Newcomer Daniel

Sterling silver, aquamarine, lampwork by Gail Kops of Beadles. Hand fabricated.

Wading In

The bottom of the lake was soft and yielding under her toes; she wiggled them and watched the water cloud up around her ankles. The lifeguard had gone back to school, the kids who had splashed and yelled all summer were gone, and she had the whole lake to herself. The water was warm and inviting where she stood; she knew it would be colder further out, it always was, no matter how hot the summer had been.

She walked forward, her hips undulating as the water swirled around her legs, the weeds and grasses caressing and releasing her thighs until she was deep enough to swim. She dived, and the cold caught her by surprise, as it always did.

© 2007 Cynthia Newcomer Daniel

Sterling silver, aquamarine, zircon, lampwork by Gail Kops of Beadles. Hand fabricated.

A Mermaid's Tale

Did you ever wonder what happened to the little mermaid's mother when her daughter moved from the world under the sea to the world above? This bracelet tells her story:

She felt as though she had been torn in two, but just like this pearl, their connection was not broken. Her life went on, taking its own path, as did her daughter's. At first, she could think of nothing but missing her child; but finally she came to realize that their hearts would always be connected, no matter how far, nor how long, they were apart.

Her tears eventually crystallized into the beautiful aquamarine of the sea, and she wore them on a chain that would spiral through even more generations of her family. She still missed her daughter every day, but in a quieter way.

She would always wish that she could witness the small things in her daughter's life; see the expression on her face, hear her voice, touch her cheek. She was not without recourses: the dolphins, who live in water, but breathe air, carried her daughter's world to her every day. It was not enough, but she made it enough. She went on, as mothers do, taking comfort in the happiness of her child, though she missed her dearly for the rest of her days.

© 2007 Cynthia Newcomer Daniel

Sterling silver, freshwater pearl, aquamarine. Hand fabricated.