___tessellation___ red ribbon tessellation _tessellation_ __tessellation__ tessellation/ part four at first they sat there in the mild shock of stark abandonment, as if the sun hid behind clouds and a sudden cold wind chilled exposed skin. silence swallowed them like snow melting into the thirsty earth. a soundless absence of former wonder. whispers with unheard words vanished. it was a loss that stung. they surely had found him. worlds collided. now, they felt it where muscle attaches to bone. an impossible pain. the girl searched the immediate surroundings wild-eyed and frantic, emitting a high-pitched, piercing sound of trapped animal desperation. she called his name, a skipped record, over and over until her torn voice burned a hole in the empty air. she pulled at her hair, exhausted. the boy held her, trembling along with her, wiping furiously at the tears that welled up, one replacing the other in a loop of desolation. bird-like and beaten down, the boy screeched his name until the vocal cords in his strained throat stretched the limits of their capability. they were saddened by his unresponsiveness. "where is he? why doesn't he appear?" the boy asked, his face a smudged blur of dirt and misery. 140506 ... red ribbon "he's hidden himself. we must find him again," the girl said, suppressing her doubt. hope was hazy. "he always makes himself known somehow." "will it be more difficult to find him now?" the boy asked. "only if we forget what we've been taught," the girl answered. she looked up. clouds were unresistant, moving freely with the winds urging. a bird floated without effort. "is that him?" the boy asked. "it could be." they tirelessly continued to examine the world for telltale signs of his existence, finding them with relative ease everywhere and anywhere. one question remained. "why did he leave us?" the boy asked. the man in the boy's body hid. "because he was taken from us," the girl said. "by something we can't see?" the boy asked, realizing the world hangs by threads, strings, braids, rope, and steel cords. all will break. "something inside him," the girl answered. "only he can acknowledge it. but he needs our help to escape it. his world cries daily for us." 140507 ... red ribbon rain fell hard for days. at first, they walked in drops and puddles until they were soaked. finally, they took dry shelter in a hollow log. they curled up and listened to distant thunder. "he's whispering his loneliness," the boy said. lightning flashed. "he's shouting his pain." when the storm ceased, they emerged into the light talking about happiness. like the warm sun, they knew it was a perpetual state of being. "we are always everything," the girl said, closing her eyes against the brightness. we learned how and every day we get better." renewing their eager quest to reunite, eye to face to touch, they found their treasure boxes engorged. "it's over, the girl said, sighing. "it's not over yet," the boy said, hope rising with his thick eyebrows. he dumped out the kaleidoscopic contents of his overflowing box. 140508 ... red ribbon "perhaps there's a clue considering his whereabouts," the boy continued. he rifled through several items and then stopped. "look at this!" it was a map. the girl snatched it from him. the boy did not resist. "seek and you will find," the girl read. "find and continue to seek." "where does it lead ?" the boy asked, leaning closer. the girl smelled lemon and honey on his breath. "back to where we started," she said. "i think we should go," the boy said. "we should," the girl said. "there are three more roads for us to try." the boy fist pumped the air. they packed up their treasure boxes and headed due west. the sun was friendly. the moon was kind. they ate happiness. they slept with roses. when they reached the cliff they fearlessly leapt from, they looked up at it with disbelief. "how did we ever survive?" the girl sighed. "we were with him," the boy said, his neck sore from craning. "we have always wanted to be like him." sweat rolled down the girl's temple. they looked at each other with a mixture of puzzlement and dismay. "how do we get back to the top?" the boy asked. "it's so high up there." the girl bit her lip with determination and opened her treasure box. she searched hard for a clue."good idea," the boy said, doing the same. 140509 ... red ribbon "well, look at this," the girl said, lifting up a palm-sized wooden box. painted upon it was a larger than life quetzal with a human rider. "open it," the boy said. she did. wrapped in tissue was an ornate tin whistle. "play it," the boy urged. "maybe the quetzal will appear!" she blew on it. the noise was an uncanny resemblance to the quetzal sound produced when one claps their hands at the base of Chichen Itza. they smiled and shared a moment of recognition. they had heard that sound before. "he used to make that noise," the boy said. "i remember." they gazed about expecting the bird to appear. it didn't. "blow it again," the boy encouraged. she did with enthusiasm. the sound rang out. they waited, studying each and every part of the sky where it could possibly make an appearance. only the echo of the bird sound remained. climbing up the mountain was impossible, so she continued blowing on the whistle. the boy also tried. the bird did not come. it grew dark. they tried to sleep but couldn't, thinking that any moment the bird would finally show. the girl's lips were too sore so the boy took over. he blew on, punctuating the night sky until patience bowed with respect. the girl tumbled into dream. the whistle fell from the boy's mouth. their dreams were of fingers clutching red feathers, wind in the face, lifting up, pushing against gravity, surrender, willingness, love... 140510 ... red ribbon "it's here!" the boy yelled. he pointed to the giant quetzal. its plumage was red and its brilliant tail fanned out behind it with flourish. it spread wings wide as a sheltering umbrella and called out a soft sound, like a greeting. "it wants us to get on its back," the girl said. as she approached, it bent down on one knee in the grass so the girl could mount. she lifted her leg and straddled its back like a horse. impressed by the bird's tranquility, she acquired a firm grasp and felt the strong skeleton underneath a sure tessellation of red feathers. the boy rushed beside them and observed closely, knowing he'd be next. he watched the bird spread its great, wide wings. the girl beamed. above a swoosh of beaten air, it lifted up, quickly climbing with a graceful, effortless power. the girl leaned forward, hiding her face. when the bird had safely rode the girl to the top of the cliff, it returned. she cheered down to the boy as he gathered the treasure boxes. the bird laid down to make it easier for the boy to mount. he held the boxes to his chest and gripped tight with his legs. "here we go!" as they reached the top, the girl waved her hand like a flag. the bird landed soft as glass. they thanked it, each in their personal way. it bowed its head. they petted it like a dog that saved their lives. it gazed at them as if it wanted to say something important but didn't. "it's thinking we did the right thing," the girl said, rubbing its neck. it closed its eyes. "yeah, we did," the boy added. "we got back!" if the thrill of their fresh success was scented air, it would be strawberry dust they inhaled, dehydrated, full of sweet, dense intensity. happiness distilled down to the concentration of yellow summer. busy bees on plenteous dandelions. everywhere a life bursting to be lived. they wanted to express their sincere gratitude to the great bird so they took turns embracing it, whispering praise and gentle adulation. 140511 ... red ribbon it laid its strong, feathered neck upon their shoulders, heavy eyelids closing like a velvet curtain when a beautiful stage play is over. when they turned to go on, the bird cried out, as if to stop them. they froze in their tracks at the obvious request to halt. "what is it?" the bird repeated the sound with swelling volume, as if to magnify its concern. its eyes wild. "maybe it wants to go with us," the boy said. the girl stepped close to the bird. it quieted, gazing at her with slits for eyes. she reached for it but it turned away, raising its wings. she moved back and it lifted into the air, its voice much different than before, plaintive, as if it was warning them about the future. "that was one weird sound," the boy said. "we need to be careful. "i know," the girl agreed. they both looked up and watched it fly away. the bird disappeared, departing gracefully. committed to purpose. the boy and girl waved goodbye. "i say we go on!" the girl cheered joy. 140512 ... red ribbon "there were three ways to go," the boy said. "let's go back to the beginning." the girl grabbed his hand and off they went searching blind. the sun sank into the sea beyond their sight and still they had not discovered the paths. the white, wooden signs were nowhere to be found. all day they were in grass up to their waist, above them only blue sky. they did not find what they were looking for. they grew exhausted. they made a cozy bed by pushing the grass down like careful deer and ate seeds. the raw flavor was nutty sweet. they drank from the stream. the boy told a funny story about an elephant that saved the zoo from fire. the girl sang until she fell asleep, her head on the boy's chest. the boy fell asleep to the sound of her breathing, dreaming the red bird could fit into the palm of his hand. he put it in his treasure box. they spent the next day searching for the paths. again, nothing. "things aren't as they were," the girl said, frustrated. "they've changed." 140513 ... red ribbon "finding the bird call from the treasure box helped us the last time we were lost," the boy said, embracing her. "we should try it now." "yes," the girl said, letting him go. "shake it, then pull from the bottom. he did so, lifted the lid, and sank his hand all the way down. the girl was excited. "what is it?" she asked, leaning close to see. her eyes were bright suns of expectation. he brought it forth, smiling. it was a palm-sized replica of a white dog handcrafted from sheep's wool and yarn. "let me see it please," the girl said. the boy did so. she studied it close marveling at its intricate details. "it smells like vanilla," she said. the boy agreed. "what do you think?" she asked. "perhaps it's somehow like the great red bird," the boy said. "but it's not real. how can it come to us?" the girl asked. she gave it back. "you're tired," the boy said. "let's sleep with hope for a new day of possibility." their bed was moss. he placed the tiny dog between them. 140514 ... red ribbon morning light stirred the girl awake. her gasp roused the boy from slumber. "what is it?" he murmured. "the white dog!" she cried. "look!" eyes wide, the boy reached for it. he was quite shocked to find it twice the size upon discovering it in the treasure box. "this is crazy!" the girl grabbed it and brought it close to her face, inhaling the remembered fragrance. "we must remain," she said. "it might get bigger!" the boy wanted to take it with them and go searching for the 3 roads. the girl laid on the moss curled up with the dog. "please!" she cried. and so they decided to stay and see what would happen. the boy picked plump blueberries and golden raspberries. the girl stared at the dog. all day she hoped, doing nothing but waiting for growth or change. she was sad and anxious. "come on," she said. "we need you to be more." 140515 ... red ribbon the girl didn't eat or drink. she was committed to witnessing the continued expansion of the dog, consumed by being present when it happened. the boy brought her food and water. again, she refused and did not even look at him. in a fetal position, she cradled the dog like a baby. the boy sat beside her, singing the songs the man they were searching for had taught them. song after song. the girl fell into a deep sleep. she dreamt and the boy was unaware. he stayed up late watching the stars move across the sky. the flames made pictures in the fire he built. the boy slept fitfully, tossing and turning,not sure if he actually ever did sleep. he listened to the girl's pitiful sobbing as night died. one final time the boy tried to make her drink. she was unconscious, breathing but too weak to open her eyes. she needed help. immediately. 140516 ... red ribbon the boy thought of the bird and retrieved its whistle. he blew hard on it 7 times and waited 15 minutes. the girl stirred and smacked her dry lips. the bird didn't appear so the boy continued to blow the whistle. after enduring 15 more minutes of agony, the bird was nowhere to be seen. the boy put the whistle in his pocket and packed the treasure boxes in his backpack. he scooped the girl into his arms and headed out with hope. the boy was anxious and scared, a prisoner of the undecided moment. he soothed her sweaty brow and checked her breathing often. he was worried. 140518 ... red ribbon after 3 hours, the boy laid the girl down in a pile of oak leaves. he dug for roots to eat. he dribbled cool water on her lips. she refused. the boy blew on the bird whistle for fifteen minutes. it did not come. he checked on the girl and was surprised to discover the dog had grown. he took it from her. standing it up on the leaves beside her. he worked its body like a puppet. "wake up you sleepy head!" he made it say. she stayed unconscious. he burst into tears, afraid for her life. just then he heard the familiar call that brought warmth to his heart. 140519 ... red ribbon it was the red bird. it flew down to them. the boy gasped and exclaimed his gratitude. he embraced it and wept into the strong feathers. the bird leaned its neck tight against the boy's shoulder, sharing a brief moment of sweet reunion. it then focused attention on the girl. the boy disengaged and followed the bird over to her. it nudged her with its beak. she did not respond. it looked at the boy beseechingly. he wondered if the bird wanted him to lift the girl up to it and he did so, gently. she stirred awake as he stood her on her weak feet. the bird opened its mouth and the girl ate ravenously like a hatchling. the boy looked on amazed, yet also relieved to know she would live. she ate all of the crop. her instinctual baby response kicked in like a survival switch being turned back on. she hugged the bird. 140520 ... red ribbon the boy marveled. he wanted to ask her many questions. "holy christ! what did it taste like?" when she had calmed down, she told him it all. "it tastes of vanilla, cardamom, and valentine's day lavender cookies," she said, wiping her mouth. she was not ashamed. she felt better. the boy was so relieved. he was a bit freaked out by her animal behavior, but he figured she was just surviving, just like everyone else. the girl looked at the boy with a mixture of sheepishness and apology. "i'm sorry," she said. the boy hugged her tight. "it's ok," he said. as they embraced, the bird picked up the handmade white dog with its beak. the boy noticed and he encouraged the girl to behold it as well. they watched the bird toss the dog upon its back feathers with a graceful flair. it carefully tucked it into place, then looked over at them. 140521 ... red ribbon "thank you," the girl said, extending her hand. it bowed, allowing her light touch upon its soft head. "i would have died without you." the bird gazed at them, a pregnant pause. what is it they saw in its eyes? "let's follow it," the girl said. "good idea," the boy agreed. the bird pushed away from them and alighted, leaving them on the ground with arms reaching out. the girl yelled for it to wait. it did not. 140522 ... red ribbon they watched it fly off and heard its plaintive cry swallowed by the dying light. in the stunned silence, they embraced, alone once more. "it took my dog," the girl said, sobbing lightly. "don't worry," the boy said, kissing her hair."it knows what it's doing. we need to trust." 140523 what's it to you? who go blather from