Hannah began her ballet lessons the week after they returned from their holiday. She was given strict instructions to take it easy and Phoebe was very watchful over her during lessons making sure she didn’t over strain herself or get too out of breath. She started her off just with gentle stretches and light bar and floor exercises. She had shown remarkable natural talent and flexibility and had a perfect little dancer’s body. Phoebe had begun casting for the end of the year eisteddfod in a neighbouring town and she contacted Ben to ask if she could cast Hannah. It would not be an exhaustingly demanding role, if he agreed she would let Hannah tell him her role once she had been cast. Hannah had been overjoyed the day she had come home from ballet class and told Ben and Chloe that she had been cast as Sleeping Beauty.
They were thrilled for her and also relieved that she would not have a strenuous role of dancing throughout an entire performance. Her role really only demanded her on stage at the beginning and end. They were astounded at Phoebe’s sharp thinking and clever casting. It was also a fitting princess theme for Hannah. The time of her illness had been very much as though she had been asleep, waiting for a prince to awaken her and rescue her.
She was so dedicated to her rehearsals and when they started with costumes she would squeal with delight when she came home to tell them how beautiful her dress was. James was so proud of her, he began selling tickets long before the production was due and by the time it had arrived, he had rallied almost the whole village to travel through to go and watch Hannah. Her performance had been brilliant and there was not a dry eye in the audience when she was woken from her sleep and did her Joy for Life finale.
Grace and Joel decided that before they got too old, they were long overdue for their journey aboard the Amazing Grace. She had been beautifully restored and looked after. Joel felt he was not able to sail her himself for this voyage and so they gathered a crew of willing young sailors and deckhands to take them safely on a month long trip to nearby islands. They left the day after Hannah’s performance and had a brief breakfast picnic beneath the oak with all their family and friends before they left.
Chloe continued to produce a top quality magazine and went on to receive numerous awards for her writing and editorial achievements. She continued to touch lives, seeking out community needs and exposing them nationwide with her writing influence, creating awareness and eliciting support from sources that were otherwise unaware of where their resources could be used.
James was awarded the village’s prestigious community builder award as well as the country’s most inspiring work by children award. He had received bursary’s for the remainder of his school years as well as scholarship for whatever tertiary study he would choose when the time came. He already knew what he wanted to be: a journalist like Chloe Dane. Either that, or a marine biologist like granddad Joel. Perhaps he would be both.
Love blossomed unexpectedly between Jessica and Blake. He was welcomed and absorbed into the community. He brought valuable skills to the village and was invited to work closely with the conservation department in creating awareness for increasing sustainability in all areas of life in the village – from the growing of produce, to the implementation of effective recycling facilities. Jessica was smitten with her flower child suitor and James approved. It goes without saying that Grace and Joel did too.
And the oak…She continued to reach higher and higher, wider and wider, spreading dreams and giving hope. Every autumn the children of the village would gather to harvest acorns and every spring new love was born or celebrated under the branches. These became annual village celebrations that drew people from all over the country. She was recognised as a main attraction and her story was passed down from generation to generation. Tourists would pose for pictures with a hand on her bark and would take acorns home to loved ones needing a bit of encouragement with fading dreams.
No one visited the tree without leaving with a sense of magic and wonder. She became a landmark of hope and the realisation of dreams.
The End
Harvesting Acorns Page 15
