This Tale of the Navel was the result. I brought back a character who's been haunting the back of my imagination for sometime, Madam Journey.
She's returning to Omphalos, only this time she's visiting Gabrielle.
Morning light gleamed upon the icy road running through Omphalos.
Not that this deterred Madam Journey. She pushed her cart along the slick cobblestones, which had changed its shape to something more rustic and rural.
Reality was what you made of it, especially in a town to a Door to unreality.
Gabrielle could sense it, shifting around the the stocky woman, who wore several scarves wrapped around her head, each one faded and musty. It shivered around the worn hem of her skirts and the thick shoes, which were grey and flapping about her feet.
The traveler stopped moving when the cart drew up next to the Navel’s proprietor, who stood waiting outside her shop’s door.
“Good morning, ‘Brie.” Her visitor greeted her in a husky voice, rough with unspoken sorrow and determiation. “Got your hat, just as you wanted.” She eyed the taller woman, or so Gabrielle appeared to most mortal eyes.
Not that Madam Journey was most mortals. Like Gabrielle, she collected the bits and pieces that people left behind and returned them to their rightful owners.
Unlike Gabrielle, she didn’t wait in a Place of Power for those owners to wander in, fooled by the guise of being customers in a store.
Madam Journey went everywhere, pushing her cart, often being mistaken for a tramp. Few people realized they needed her, until they took a closer look into her cart.
Gabrielle herself drew closer, only to blink back tears.
There it was. The hat.
She could remember the first time she saw it, so long ago.
Mireille had pushed it down over coppery curls, a fedora covered with fishnet.
Gabrielle had giggled at the sight of it. “That looks ridiculous!”
“But it made you laugh.” A long, slow wink under the netting had been her answer. “Laughter has a power of its own, just as great as terror. There’s tremendous strength in being ridiculous.”
“Yes, there is.” ‘Brie raised a hand to wipe her eyes. “Thank you for bringing this to me.”
“You’re always helping others to find themselves, girl.” Madam Journey picked up the fedora and brushed it off. “It’s only right that I should help you find a piece of you.”
“Actually, it’s a piece of someone else.” Gabrielle raised a hand to finger the fishnet around the brim. “Someone I don’t want to forget. Ever.”
“Sure, but your memories of that someone and the hat are yours, right?” Madam Journey shook her head, making the dangling end of one of the scarves wrapped around her head come lose. “Glad I could return it to you.”
Gabrielle smiled a bit at the other woman’s words.
How many times had she said something similiar to someone else who wandered into the Navel?
“Thank you,” she murmured, lifting the hand to put it on her head.
‘Brie willed a smile to her lips, threw back her shoulders, and struck a pose. “How do I look?”
“Ridiculous.” Madam Journey snorted, but she smiled all the while. “Ridiculously beautiful.”
Gabrielle looked down at her blue cape. It was covered with tiny, carrot shaped sequins, fasted with a demonic silver rabbit’s head. “I appreciate the compliment. I do try.”
“That you do.” Madam Journey snorted again. “You might try and coordinate that hat with the rest of your outfit. You could do that in a way that’s still bizarre.”
“I could.” Gabrielle reached up to adjust my brim. “Thanks again.”
“No need for thanks.” Madam Journey started pushing her cart down the icy road out of Omphalos. “You take care, girl.”
“Always.” Gabrielle raised her hand in farewell, letting go out of the hat. “Safe journeys.”
“Now where’s the fun in that?” Madam Journey snickered and kept walking.
Gabrielle watched the traveler continue to shuffle down the road toward her next destination, toward whomever needed something from the cart.
She wasn’t sure when she’d next see Madam Journey again.
She just knew she would.
Ooh. Nicely done. Prompt challenges can be so rewarding. Be well!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much! Madam Journey popped into my head during a prompt challenge at Writers Zen Garden a while back. Paula's prompt involving an icy road brought her to mind, while the hat brought 'Brie. I'm glad you stopped by to read their story!
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