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The Small Girl That Crossed The River by Melinda Huntley Illustrations by Angie McIntyre Melinda Huntley has been a medical secretary for many years and works at St. Paul's Hospital. She has traveled extensively with her husband Rasik Shah in Africa and in particular, India. She has been published in the Celtic Connection, a local paper in Vancouver specializing in Celtic literature and news. She often writes poetry. She studied dance for 20 years including jazz, belly dancing and in the past year has taken up Flamenco. It is her passion! She has two grown sons and five grandchildren. Angelina McIntyre: "Angelina McIntyre lives in Victoria, B.C. She is a practicing zen student, a printer at a daily newspaper, an artist, poet and dancer. She teaches macrobiotic cooking and has traveled widely in India and Mexico, making many friends along the way. She lives with her cat, Minnie near the sea and invites you to pick up her book, Siren Tattoo, a book of 3 women poets published in Vancouver by Anvil Press.

Listen! This is a story about a small girl who lived in a faraway land called India. She believed that rivers descended from heaven and she wanted to go to heaven. The river beckoned, she followed. She was frightened to do it alone but she knew (even though she was a child) that she and she alone had to do it. Her parents couldn't do it for her nor her brother or sister. You see, she was very sick and she wanted to feel strong again. She wanted to be free! She set off to find the spot where her journey would begin. Her heart pounded madly in her small chest but she was comforted by the moon which seemed to follow, illuminating her way. Soon she came to that part of the river where she would begin. The scent of jasmine was in the air and a beautiful old banyan tree was near the shore, its large gnarled roots barely connected to the earth and yet it was so strong¨.

How did it live?, she thought. It gave her hope. Again, the moon glow was powerful there. She felt someone's presence with her and yet when she look around there was no-one. But her heart told her otherwise. Chandra Moon-woman stood silently hidden in the shadows at the river's edge. She longed to gather the small girl in her arms but she didn' t. She was a wise Moon-woman! Her quiet stillness, her lunar knowledge of the ebb and flow of all sacred rivers enabled her to harness her great power and transmit them to the little girl.

Chandra was so beautiful, wrapped in a diaphanous veil, the colour of the night with miniature stars glittering magically, sometimes a star or two would fall from her veil and they would explode softly then extinguish as they hit the ground, like fireflies in the night, over and over, again and again. The small girl quickly took off her clothes before she lost her courage. She had already decided that she wanted to swim naked. Her small body entered the river so gently there was hardly a ripple. She dunked herself in the river completely and smoothed back her long, black hair making her head seem even small. Her head was as smooth as a seal! Her brown skin glistened as if polished with something iridescent. Still, it was a wide river and she was worried. Could she do it?, she asked herself. Yes! An inner voice said. But the another voice whispered - no!.

She wanted to be delivered to another world so she made a silent vow to never listen to no again. Bravely, slowly she began to swim, small, rhythmic strokes but she soon became very tired. Chandra Moon-woman sensed this was the crossroads for the small girl. If she could get beyond this point, she could make it. She sent her telepathic messages of encouragement. The small girl suddenly stopped swimming and looked up at the brilliant moon and tears fell silently down her small face. Oh, there is someone with me she thought

Chandra Moon-woman smiled to herself and she lifted her cosmic veil up around her head and one small perfect star fell to the earth, sparkling like a diamond. The small girl gave up struggling and surrendered to the spell of the divine river. She was not afraid anymore. In fact, she giggled to herself because she became aware of so, so much more! There were fireflies exploding their light everywhere. There were small silvery fish that swam along side her sometimes tickling her toes.

She felt the gentle, sweet breeze caressing her. She looked up at the moon again and it smiled at her! But - guess what? It was not a man in the moon but a beautiful woman - Chandra, her special guide. Now the small girl's energy was boundless and soon she could see the shoreline. The night was so alive. And she felt it all for the first time! Her small body began to loosen up and her bottled feelings started to flow and became one with the river. How strong her limbs became, how graceful her style was. And so, the small girl crossed the river and made it to the shore on the other side, tired but happy. And Chandra Moon-woman covered her gently with her diaphanous veil adorned with stars.

Chapter II

When she awoke she was in another world and it was dawn. She watched the sun rise gently kissing the sky into daytime. Before her was a beautiful valley. She got up slowly and stretched her body looking around in amazement. She felt light and different but she didn't know why. She walked down a cobbled path and almost felt that she could fly like the birds around her! Everywhere there was beauty, harmony and peace. She was not afraid, she felt no pain. She moved through this world effortlessly simply observing the astonishing sights. The grass was singing! Before her very eyes rocks turned into jewels! In the distance she could see a sacred mountain capped in pure white snow sparkling in a rosy glow. At its base was a very old temple. Soon she could hear the sound of a river and she ran in that direction. As she came around the corner her heart stopped for there was the banyan tree and there was her river - her beloved river that had held her in her river-arms as sure as it was her own mother. She approached it shyly and gazed into it and to her wonder and amazement she saw the image of a beautiful woman smiling sweetly at her and she understood that she had never been alone on her journey. Her soul flooded with an immense awareness and everything was very clear and she understood why she was different now! Yes, she knew that she had come full circle, her struggle was truly over for she was now divine.

Credits

• Editing: Rasik Shah
• Art Work by Angelina McIntyre.