In today’s episode we read Chapter 36 – Crossing the Line - in which Magpie, after decades of living in Pocket under Farfalla’s identity, finally crosses paths with a familiar face.
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This week's Boopod Network podcast partner is Paranormal Exposed:
FULL TRANSCRIPT:
Things with Wings Productions presents: Episode 36 of The Skylark Bell, Wingspan. I am your host, Melissa Oliveri.
In our previous episode, Magpie was finally reunited with Lucas for the last time, allowing them both to gain closure before he passed away.
In today’s episode we read Chapter 36 – Crossing the Line - in which Magpie, after decades of living in Pocket under Farfalla’s identity, finally crosses paths with a familiar face.
Be sure to listen through to the end of the episode for a preview of another spooky podcast I quite enjoy called Paranormal Exposed.
Now, it’s time to settle in… grab a blanket, and a warm drink… and let’s get started.
Magpie is carrying several jars of blackberry jam in a basket, taking slow shuffling steps toward Tuffeto’s. She’s not as strong and limber as she once was, and the basket feels heavy.
“Good morning, Farfalla,” says Mr. Tuffeto pleasantly as she walks in the door, “I’ve got your package ready to go right here, just a moment,” he says, placing the last of the cupcakes in the display case before stepping behind the counter.
Magpie hears the bakery door open behind her, followed by light footsteps on the hardwood floor. Her heart jumps when she hears a familiar voice say, “Oh my, the smell in here is absolutely divine!”
“Fresh baked bread will do it every time,” says Mr. Tuffeto, turning his attention to the woman.
Magpie can feel her heart shattering into a million pieces. She hasn’t heard her mother’s voice in nearly 60 years. She swallows down the lump in her throat and blinks back the tears that have sprung in her eyes.
“Oh, I didn’t mean to skip the line, please go ahead,” says Mrs. Phaeton, noticing Magpie standing against the wall. Magpie continues to stare straight ahead, knowing she will break down if she turns to look at her mother’s beautiful face.
Mr. Tuffeto, sensing awkwardness, asks Mrs. Phaeton “What brings you in today?”
“My daughter and I are having a dinner date tonight, I thought I’d stop in for a baguette and perhaps some dessert,” she replies.
Mr. Tuffeto points her in the direction of the cupcakes, then grabs a baguette from the basket on the counter behind him and places it by the cash register. Finally, he brings Magpie’s package over while Mrs. Phaeton is busy choosing desserts from the glass display case. Magpie hands him the basket with the jars of jam and scurries away, tears still stinging her eyes. She shuffles home as quickly as her century-old legs will allow. Once inside her house she collapses into her rocking chair and pulls the green shawl over her knees. Only then does she allow her tears to flow. She has always known this day would come, but she has spent so many years lost in the blur of her daily routine, she lost track of time. “And so begins the end…” she says to herself between heaving sobs.
Magpie stays home for a few days, terrified of running into her mother again. Finally, realizing she can’t stay hidden forever, she makes her way to The Early Bird for breakfast, but instead of her routine shuffle to and from the diner she is on high alert, constantly looking around.
She can’t remember the exact day she first encountered Farfalla in her youth, it has been almost 90 years. She knows at some point she will come face to face with herself, and the thought sends a chill down her spine as she recalls Lucas’ final words, “Crossing timelines sparked the silence.” After a few weeks of business-as-usual, Magpie starts to let her guard down. Perhaps the events won’t repeat exactly, perhaps things will be different this time.
On a warm summer day, she decides to spend a little extra time on her front porch before heading to The Early Bird. She sits quietly, soaking in the sun, throwing pieces of dried corn to the little chipmunk that has taken residence under the flagstone walkway on her front lawn. Finally, she starts to feel hungry and makes her way to the diner.
“Farfalla, you’re late!” teases Mrs. Kestrel by tapping her watch as Magpie walks in the door. Magpie smiles at her as she slowly makes her way to her usual booth at the back of the restaurant. She takes her time savouring her usual blackberry waffles and sweet orange tea, watching as the residents of Pocket come and go. Of all the places in Pocket, The Early Bird has pretty much remained the same in the 53 years since she landed here, and it provides her with a sense of comfort and security.
Finally, Magpie is ready to go home. She stands and walks slowly across the dining room to the exit. She pushes the door open and steps out into the light of day, the wind blowing her long white hair wildly around her head. It takes her a moment to realize there is someone standing in front of her. A wave of shock runs through her body when she recognizes her younger self; wild red hair, a spattering of freckles across her nose, bright blue eyes staring at her, opened as wide as they will go. It is only a fleeting moment. Magpie pushes past and walks as quickly as her old feet can handle.
It has happened. The day has come. She feels the electricity in the air, and that invisible heaving of the earth beneath her feet. The crossing of timelines. The silence at Meadow Lane will start to spread now, it has all been set in motion. The memories come to her in a flash, one after the other. Next, she will see her younger self and Lucas having a picnic on the front lawn of the library. She recalls how, back then, she had felt sorry for Farfalla’s lonely existence. Little did she know…
Magpie finally reaches her house and lets herself fall into one of the chairs on the front porch, not having the strength to find her key, unlock the door, and let herself inside. She sits for a moment, gathering her thoughts. Something is tingling at the back of her mind, something off, something wrong.
A blackbird lands on the porch railing, staring at her with its round shiny eyes. Slowly, Magpie realizes what it is that is bothering her. That day she and Lucas had a picnic, just after she had seen Farfalla across the street, a flock of birds had flown overhead and one of them had dropped a blackberry on her lap. She had placed the blackberry in the picnic basket, but later on it had disappeared, leaving a small silver feather-shaped key in its place. A key that had eventually unlocked the box in which the Skylark Bell was stored, beneath the secret floorboard at Meadow Lane. At the time, and for many years later, she and Lucas had presumed Farfalla was the one behind this magic trick, like she was gifted with special powers of some sort.
Magpie is well aware she has no such powers. While she is friendly with the birds on her porch, she certainly cannot control how and where they fly, or when. Nor can she transform a berry into a key. But, if she wasn’t responsible for the strange occurrences, then… who?
Thank you so much for listening. Join me next week for Wingspan chapter 37, The Beginning of the End, where Magpie, still living as Farfalla and knowing she is running out of time, tries to warn her younger self in a final attempt to set the timelines straight.
The Skylark Bell is brought to you by Phaeton Starling Publishing and features original music by Cannelle. If you are enjoying this story, please consider leaving a rating on Spotify or a review on Apple Podcasts, they help give the podcast visibility so others can find and enjoy the story. You can also support my work by subscribing to my Patreon where you get early access to episodes as well as MP3 downloads of the music, artwork, behind the scenes videos and more! Just check the show notes for links to Patreon, my website, and social media accounts.
Before I go, I’d like to share this reel for a podcast I quite enjoy called Paranormal Exposed. Listen to the skeptic host’s take on paranormal stories. If you enjoy the the more ghostly side of The Skylark Bell you’ll want to check out paranormal exposed.
Once again, thank you for listening – I’m Melissa Oliveri, writer, host and producer of The Skylark Bell Podcast.
