Starlight - Chapter 3+4

ADDED BURDENS

But her happy visits to her beloved grandfather were long forgotten. His eyes which had been as doors into other worlds had lost their usefulness and since he was of no more use among the scholars at the college, he had been brought to be yet another burden to the struggling family.

"Mousel Mousel' was all the child was hearing all day long, and Yes, yes, lam coming, was all she managed to gasp as she ran in from gathering the eggs to seeing to Grandfather's toilet needs.

Instead of the darling little girl who had taken such joy in responding to his love she seemed to resent these ministries which piled up as intrusions into her already mountainous duties.

It was her brother who seemed to be responding to the old man's needs, so that he was there before he needed to call for help, who had taken on himself the responsibility of continuing the struggle to learn to read and to pass on to his grandfather the news of what was happening in other lands, not the edited versions that came from the Pharoah.

One day they were alone in the house and she was surprised when her brother did not address her as Mouse, but as Starlight. Immediately, their beloved grandparent, lying on his pallet between them, was alert.

1 won't be here much longer, Sister. Any day now I may be called and sent away with the army and that is why I try to spend time with our precious grandfather. Remember, we may call you that, but you are not Mouse but Starlight.

'Egypt is in a dark place and it is only through the light that comes from the heavens that we can have any hope.

'Hope?' the girl asked herself. Is there any hope? Hope which could include her, Little Mouse?

DEEPENING DARKNESS

Starlight lay in the darkness, wondering what it was that had disturbed her sleep, for she knew she would need all her energy to face the demands of a new day. Dawn was yet to break but she slipped on a robe hoping to go outside and make herself comfortable, but nevertheless trusting that she might to be able to return to grab some more sleep. Gradually, however, she became aware of what had disturbed her in the first place.

Her brother was crouched beside her. 'We are having to send Grandfather away,' he told his sister. Starlight's face was like one big question. Why?' it was asking. 'He is an old man. How can he prove any threat to Pharoah?'

'No more questions till we are in a safer place.'

Starlight had to concentrate so that she not only knew how to find her grandfather but how to return to her home too. There was to be no further sleep for her that night, Yes, Grandfather was no longer of use in working with these ancient manuscripts, but a recent letter had come to light that spoke of a recent message from their God to the people of Egypt, 'Pharoah regards it as being against the state and so all those who had anything to do with it are to be thrown into his dungeons,' Ahmed whispered.

Starlight wondered why so many familiar faces seemed to have left them to struggle on alone but now she was glad that it was only she and her brother who knew of this secret hiding place for her grandfather.

Yes, I know you are weary and need to sleep, but remember your name is Starlight, and if we do not keep the light burning it may go out completely in the land of Egypt.'

At last they had reached Grandfather's hiding place, seen to his physical needs and when Starlight saw her brother pull out the precious manuscripts and light yet another lamp she thought this was the opportunity to snatch some much needed sleep. Ahmed, her brother, was usually full of compassion for his hard worked little sister but now he handed her a tablet which she knew was intended to keep her alert.

'Why?' she queried, crossly. 'Am I, a Mouse, to also become a scholar?

'God has given you another name. Are you content to be a little Mouse, or are you going to answer to your new name? Come on now, Grandfather gave you the name Starlignt because he believes the great God wants to use you to shine light on our people, but unless you learn how to read his precious manuscripts, he may die, and there will be no one left alive who is able to bring God's messages to us,

How glad Starlight was that she had agreed to become Grandfather's latest pupil. Yes, her body cried out for sleep but at last the miracle happened and she found that the meaningless sounds began to join up into meaningful phrases so that yes, she did sometimes fall asleep bot not until she had read enough to have satisfied the longing of her soul with these promises sent to them from this faithful prophet living in Babylon but still writing messages as a servant of the God of Israel.

Starligh - Chapter 2

 Dear Reader,

After the passing of our dear Pauline Lewis, we will continue and finish uploading her whole story 'Starlight' over the next few months. Thank you for your support and faithfulness to Pauline.

Chapter 2

The child had been trembling when she had first arrived, but the security of the old man's arms and yes, a few sips of the precious beer too, and she was quiet, content. But the old man realised that she needed a security that would keep her when she was no longer within this safe circle of his arms. He was old. He would not always be there for her.

He set her in front of him so that she had to look into his eyes.

'So, little visitor who comes to me in the night, what is your name?' The child hesitated. 'Little Mouse?' she queried. Certainly that was the name by which she was known. To be named after this, least of all Egypt's many godsshould have been indignity enough, and a diminutive after that! Well, she was a girl, and girls were not good for anything except to serve.

'No, no, no!' She was almost startled by the severity with which he spoke. 'The night you were born it was a night as tonight. Not moon lit, but the stars were twinkling down as if looking on this tiny babe. They were joyful that you were born, and I knew in my heart that this was your name - Starlight.' Once more he reached out his arms and held the child close to his heart. No matter what your family or others call you, always remember that this is your name - Starlight. Know that the stars are shining down on you, and that God has made you to shine for him.

There are many people who study the stars, and there are some who believe that there is a god, greater than all the gods of Egypt, who made the stars and calls each one by name and who has set each one on its course. ...........

Starlight, for so we must call her from now on, had no idea of how she had made the journey home. It is certain that she had not walked it alone. Had grandfather called on one of his young apprentices to carry the sleeping child to her bed, or maybe the same older brother who alone of their household seemed to have some compassion for his little sister, on finding her bed still empty had come to bring her home?

She did not know, but she knew that she must go again to visit her beloved grandfather Old Asim, the ancient scribe, and hear more about the stars and the one who had set them in the heavens to shine light on the people who otherwise would be stumbling about in the dark.