ONCE UPON A TIME IN A TINY HAMLET PERCHED IN THE FOOTHILLS OF THE SAN GABRIEL MOUNTAINS OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, HIGH UPON A SHELF IN A CURIO SHOPPE FILLED WITH WONDROUS ANTIQUES FROM EXOTIC KINGDOMS AND OTHER DOMAINS BEST KEPT SECRET, SAT A DIMINUTIVE YOUNG BOY.
 
   DRESSED IN PATCHWORK OVERALLS AND A RED PLAID SHIRT, A TOUSLED MANE OF STRAWBERRY BLONDE HAIR FALLING GENTLY TO HIS SHOULDERS AND THE LIGHT OF HEAVEN MIRRORED IN HIS REFLECTIVE AZURE EYES; A BLACK VELVET NEWSBOY CAP SITTING SLIGHTLY ASKEW…

BUFFETED IN A SEETHING SEA OF SHATTERED DREAMS AND MISFORTUNE WITH EMOTIONS BORNE OF DISAPPOINTMENT AND TRAGEDY, SHE SAT CROSS-LEGGED IN BEADED BUCKSKIN ON NATIVE BLANKET.

IN RESTLESS MEDITATION, CONSUMED WITH THE TRANSGRESSIONS OF THE PAST...REAL AND IMAGINED; SUSPENDED BETWEEN FORGIVENESS AND FORGIVING, THE REMEMBERED PROMISES OF EVERLASTING LOVE HAD KEPT HER SPIRIT SAFE, BOUYANT AMONGST THE TOSSING WAVES OF TREACHERY, DOUBT AND MISADVENTURE.
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