by Rachel Tey
Belle nodded.
He now directed his gaze at Tess. “But finding it hard to keep a secret, Belle tells you about Tea in Pajamas and invites you to join her in Belzerac. All is well and good until you go missing one Wednesday, and Belle comes to me for help. So I get in on the action and we venture into Belzerac to find you.”
He addressed the Musicians next. “Belle and I finally locate Tess when we stumble on your cottage within the Sapphire Forest. You guys hold a grand concert in the basement, and you enlist our help to break the cycle of never-ending music.”
“I’ll always remember that piece of music,” Tess added. “It was so beautiful.”
Belle recalled the haunting tune. “ Mélodie. The composer Gluck based it on the legend of Orpheus and Eurydice.”
“Not this Orpheus and Eurydice stuff again!” Tess groaned, rolling her eyes.
But Julien was on to something and commanded the room’s attention. “At the concert, Belle performs an original tune on the piano, which stops Mélodie from repeating endlessly. Then we return to the Sapphire Forest to locate Monsieur L’Arbre, a certain mystical tree that shows us the way home.”
“That’s right,” nodded Belle. “There were two golden doors on his enormous trunk, and one of them opened into Michelmont. But just as we were crossing the threshold, we heard Mélodie playing again, and I urged everyone not to look back.”
Tess folded her arms. “I’m a hundred percent sure I didn’t look back,” she said.
“Ditto for me,” echoed Julien.
Simone the Squirrel looked thoughtful. “If indeed none of you looked back, then this must mean you’ve yet to complete one last mission.”
Julien scratched his head in confusion. “And what might that be? You find the magic tree, you knock, it opens to home, you enter. What did we miss?”
“Maybe you have to discover the answer yourselves,” replied Raymond the Rabbit.
“That’s not being helpful,” Belle said. “How do we start searching for clues if we don’t even know what we’re looking for?”
“Actually there is something you can do,” chirped Nicole the Nightingale with a playful twinkle in her eyes. “It’s Wednesday and the school day ends at two o’clock. That gives you exactly an hour to get home, kick off your shoes, throw on something comfortable, and put the kettle on.”
“Oui,” agreed François, holding up the school bus keys and giving them a little shake. “The ride’s gonna be a little bumpy, but I’m confident you’ll make it home in time for Tea in Pajamas.”
Lovers Meet Again
The crash of solid gold against the rocky ground awoke Cerberus, who’d been snoozing at his mistress’s feet. He snarled and bared his fangs, his bloodshot eyes searching for the culprit responsible for the noise.
Orpheus’s eyes were exactly as Eurydice remembered them – blue like the ocean – though everything else had changed. It’d only been a few days since she’d left him, but in this time he seemed to have aged a few years. His head of chestnut brown hair had deepened into a dark onyx, and a fine layer of beard now framed his jaw and mouth. Like her, he was still robed in the attire of a newlywed, but his once-white garment was now gray and weather-beaten.
She longed with all her heart to reunite with him, but her head was insisting otherwise. What would she do?
Orpheus had dreamed of this moment over and over during his voyage across the river Acheron and into the court of Hades and Persephone. Now that he was face to face with his beloved, he could hardly believe his eyes. Death had sapped the rosy hue of her cheeks and her eyes held a new touch of sorrow, but Eurydice was still every inch as lovely.
“My darling wife, how I’ve missed you!” They remained embracing for a long while, oblivious to the presence of the court, even the King and Queen.
“Your hands are so cold,” he said, as they drew apart. He clasped her trembling palms in his and planted a lingering kiss on them. Tears flowed from his eyes onto her skin like a warm stream. “O my love, how you’ve suffered and paid the ultimate price. The blame is all mine. Will you forgive me?”
Eurydice felt her heart breaking. Her grief sprang from a deep mourning for the life they once had, and the future they could’ve had if not for the incident.
“My foolish husband,” she said tearfully, cupping his handsome face in her hands. “Why have you crossed the chasm of life and death? It is too late for me, but you must return while you still can.”
“Beloved, I’m not going anywhere without you!” he insisted, his eyes searching hers desperately for an understanding. “I lost you once and I’ll be damned if I lose you again.”
“But –”
“Slow down now, nobody’s leaving my court until Orpheus has played his famous Mélodie,” Hades interrupted abruptly.
The Queen’s tone was gentler but more persuasive. “Eurydice, your husband has composed a most captivating piece of music just for you. Surely you’ll allow him to perform it before thinking of sending him away?”
The maiden’s eyes dropped to the floor where the golden lyre lay. “You wrote a song for me?”
Orpheus bent down to retrieve his instrument, dusting it and checking that the strings were intact. “ Mélodie is its name. Shall I play it now?”
Eurydice was torn. She was no stranger to the compelling power of her husband’s music and knew she’d be powerless to resist once he started.
“I think the Queen and I have made it plain that we would like to hear it,” said Hades impatiently. “In fact, that is why you’ve been summoned here.”
“That is right, Orpheus,” echoed Persephone. “You might recall that you owe me an ending to my dream.”
The King had grown tired of waiting. “Orpheus, do not tarry. If you wish to return to the Overworld with your wife, then play.”
Teatime
Tess got off the school bus first, followed by Julien, and it was 2.41pm when François the Fox dropped Belle off in front of her home. At least that was the time displayed on the screen of her brother Éric’s cellphone. As she retrieved it from her uniform pocket, she was disappointed to see that there were no missed calls and no text messages. She’d tried calling Dad and Mom on her bus ride, but their cellphone numbers went straight to voicemail.
Time was running out. Tea in Pajamas began punctually at 3pm and if she missed it, she’d have to wait a whole week for her next opportunity to enter Belzerac. Even now, Tess and Julien were getting ready to meet her at the other side.
The fading sound of the school bus engine could be heard as Belle rummaged her backpack for the house keys to unlock the front door.
Where would François be heading to next? she wondered. Might they meet in Belzerac in a few moments? Suppose the Musicians were gathering somewhere to have tea in their pajamas too? She found it difficult to picture the stately François, Simone, Nicole, and Raymond decked out in sleepwear.
Click. The door unlocked and Belle stepped inside, taking off and putting away her socks and shoes.
2.43pm. She had exactly seventeen minutes to change into her pajamas, prepare the requisite snacks and beverages, and sit down at the kitchen table.
Racing upstairs into her bedroom, she got out of her uniform and threw on a clean set of pajamas. This pair was white with dark green stripes. She chose it because its pants had pockets, into which she tucked Éric’s cellphone.
She was about done fastening the last button on her pajama shirt when she heard a loud banging, followed by sounds of thumping and dragging. They came from the Carrolls next door.
Peeking out of her window, she spotted shadowy movements from behind the semi-sheer blinds of her neighbors’ master bedroom window. Perhaps Mr and Mrs Carroll were shifting furniture around or had workmen over this afternoon, she thought, recalling how she’d been abruptly sent away last evening by their mysterious house guest. That experience had left an unpleasant taste in her mouth, but perhaps it was a bad time – after all, she was told to come back again today.
But not right now.
It was 2.50pm when Belle arrived in the kitchen and put the kettle on the stove. There weren’t any croissants or pastries lying around but she was relieved to see that the cookie jar wasn’t empty. Sliding two shortbread fingers onto a small plate and setting it on the table, she heard the whistle of the kettle.
Belle opened the cabinet and reached for a dainty porcelain teacup and matching saucer, well aware that her quirky habit of drinking coffee out of fine china raised most people’s eyebrows. There was no milk left in the fridge, so she’d have to forgo her usual café au lait and opt for a café noir this afternoon. A spoonful of instant coffee granules and sugar went into the fancy teacup, followed by hot water from the kettle, and a fresh brew was now ready.
Tea in Pajamas had begun. Belle took a quick bite of her shortbread finger and a careful sip of her coffee.
2.57pm. The warm beverage left a bitter aftertaste on her tongue but it complemented the sweetness of the buttery cookies. A slight tingling in her toes signaled that the process was starting and that she’d soon be brought into Belzerac.
Belle was about to shut her eyes to ready herself when a sudden thought crossed her mind. Up until now she’d been using Éric’s cellphone as a clock, or to make calls. Why hadn’t she thought of utilizing the text messaging function?
Whipping the device out from her pocket, she composed a quick text message.
Hi. This is Belle Marie, Éric’s younger sister. I need to reach him URGENTLY. If you know where he is, please call or text back. Thank you.
It was exactly 2.59pm when she hit “Send to All.”
Phone safely back in her pocket, Belle finished her last stick of shortbread and drank the remains of her coffee.
A gentle breeze was now meandering its way through her curly red hair, making her feel weightless and sleepy.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
3pm.
“Ready or not, Belzerac,” she whispered, “here I come.”
The Bigger Picture
“Painters, your sixty minutes start now!”
Painters? Painting? When was the last time Belle had painted anything? She recalled her art lessons with Miss Brady between the ages of six and nine. Back then, she particularly enjoyed doing autumn scenes and nature. There was just something wondrous about the moment when brush met canvas and something new was created.
But with her discovery of Tea in Pajamas and other distractions along the way, painting had taken a backseat – actually, an attic seat, because that was where Belle’s trusty “art stash” sat, patiently awaiting the day when their owner would be bitten by the creative bug again.
Who knew that would be today?
Opening her eyes, Belle saw that she’d arrived in Belzerac, right in the middle of an art contest. A long silken banner above her head read “Belzerac’s Annual Painting Competition” and she found herself in an open field, flanked by life-sized forest animals going about their masterpieces.
Placed directly in front of her was a blank canvas supported by a wooden easel, and as with every other contestant, she was equipped with a small side table that came with an apron, artist palette, oil paints, brushes, thinner, and charcoal pencils.
Presiding over the competition were the town mayor and his wife, Monsieur and Madame DuPorc, the kindest and most popular pig couple in Belzerac. Clutching a loud hailer in his front left trotter, the mayor looked dapper in a powder blue tuxedo, and his wife was elegant as always in a yellow shift dress and pearl necklace.
Tess and Julien were among the competitors and easy to spot, being the only other humans around. Tess, seated two rows behind Belle, had already started painting, and it’d be hard to miss Julien and his hedgehog-like hair, stationed one row behind Tess.
Belle sighed in relief. They’d coordinated their arrivals in Belzerac perfectly, and were now that little bit closer to finding the missing clue that would unlock their way home completely. For now, though, there was a painting contest to get through.
Fastening the apron over her pajamas, she examined her art supplies. Most people began with a detailed sketch, but Belle did not like to spend too much time on an intricate drawing, preferring to start with a very simple outline and improvising as she went along.
She still hadn’t decided on what she’d be painting, but found herself dragging the charcoal pencil around the canvas in circles. As she added shading, she still had no idea what the object was going to be. Bigger swirls spiraled from the initial round shape and extended into a cylinder-like tunnel.
“THIRTY MINUTES LEFT!”
Monsieur DuPorc’s amplified voice heightened her sense of urgency. Half an hour had gone by in a flash without her realizing, and she’d have to pick up the pace if she hoped to complete her painting in time.
Using black and gray paints, she intensified the blackness at the innermost part of the tunnel and lightened its peripheries to create a three-dimensional effect to its walls. But this wasn’t just going to be a boring tunnel leading nowhere. With wavy strokes, she introduced a dark stream that flowed through the inky underground channel.
“TEN MINUTES!”
It was time to add her pièce de résistance. Belle put down the black and gray paints and started mixing in a dark brown. An empty wooden boat soon appeared at the entrance of her tunnel. Empty and ramshackle, it had a single oar.
“TIME’S UP! PAINTERS, PLEASE PUT ALL BRUSHES DOWN!”
Belle believed she’d made a breakthrough with her artwork – the finished product mesmerized as much as it surprised her, because it was unlike anything she’d ever painted. The more closely she stared at it, the more it seemed as if its walls were swirling and sucking her down into an unknown abyss.
Belle felt exhausted from all that painting. She was curious about Tess and Julien’s pieces, but couldn’t see their works from where she sat. However, she was impressed by some contending creations in her immediate vicinity.
A bespectacled wolf had produced a bowl of juicy-looking oranges, a tall brown bison had somehow managed a convincing self-portrait without the help of a mirror, a furry raccoon was smiling at her picture of a pine tree, and a white owl seemed pleased with his depiction of a cloudy sky.
While the judges deliberated, contestants adjourned to a waiting area for refreshments. Belle hoped the judging and prize-giving ceremony wouldn’t drag on for too long – she’d already lost an hour to this painting competition, and they had two hours at most until sunset.
“Over here!” Tess waved Belle over to join her and Julien near the buffet table. Like her, they were barefoot and in pajamas. Everyone had removed their aprons by now, and Belle could see that Tess had on a cream-colored nightdress that reached her ankles while Julien sported a buttoned-shirt-and-pants combo in a brown gingham fabric.
As the children savored delicious mini sandwiches and drank iced lemonade, the animals around them seemed indifferent to their peculiar presence in Belzerac. However, one particular creature recognized them immediately.
His name was Cheesy Bear, and his eyes widened with delight at the sight of Belle, Tess, and Julien.
“You’re back! You’re back!” he cried, putting aside his plate of cheese tartlets to embrace them affectionately.
Belle was ecstatic to see him. “Cheesy! We’ve missed your bear hugs!”
The lovable grizzly, along with Monsieur and Madame DuPorc, shared a warm friendship with the children. Weeks ago, when a particular Tea in Pajamas session had gone awry, resulting in Tess’s disappearance within Belzerac, the bear and pigs had accompanied Belle and Julien into the Sapphire Forest in search of her.
On their way back, the group came upon a magnificent magical tree known as Monsieur L’Arbre. Carved upon his enormous trunk were two golden doors, one of which opened into a way home for the children. After saying their goodbyes, Belle, Tess, and Julien crossed the threshold that transported them home to Michelmont.
The bear seemed to be re
calling that exact moment two weeks ago. “I must admit I’m pleasantly surprised to see you here again,” he said, with a worried expression. “Is everything all right in Michelmont?”
Julien shook his head. “Not really. Tess and I did return home to our families, but Belle can’t find her parents and brother. Also at school, the Musicians have turned up.”
Cheesy’s eyes narrowed in confusion.
“That’s right,” Belle nodded, “I need to find my family and know if they’re OK.”
“This reminds me,” Julien took the opportunity to ask, “have you seen any humans in Belzerac since we were last here?”
The bear shook his head. “Can’t say that I have, although you should also check with the DuPorcs. You’ll have a chance to catch up with them after the prizegiving segment.”
Belle had almost forgotten entirely about the art competition, but Cheesy was right. It was crucial to get an audience with the mayor and his wife, who might be able to provide them with some clues.
“THE JUDGES HAVE MADE THEIR DECISION AND WILL NOW ANNOUNCE THE WINNERS!” Monsieur DuPorc’s jarring announcement filled the air and elicited squeals of excitement from the crowd. “PAINTERS, PLEASE GATHER UP FRONT!”
All around them, animals were streaming toward the designated grass patch facing the stage, and the children followed the tumultuous throng, with Cheesy trailing closely behind.
Monsieur and Madame DuPorc were standing on a makeshift wooden podium. It was an overcast day but warm. Even where she stood, Belle could see sweat beads trickling down the sides of the mayor’s face. His wife, meanwhile, was daintily dabbing her snout with a lacy handkerchief.
Three golden trophies fashioned in the shape of an upward-pointing paintbrush were displayed on a table at the center of the stage, arranged in descending order of height. Propped directly behind them were the corresponding winning paintings, obscured by cloths draped over each of them.
