Read Online Always Something There to Remind Me by Lilian Kendrick - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Lilian Kendrick
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spoiled the continuity of their stories and the spell was almost broken. At last Jonathan called for Des to get up and tell a story. I wished him luck and silently prayed that it would go well for him. I was struck at once by his confidence as he stepped up and smiled at the audience.
‘I’m going to share one of my own stories with you tonight. I hope you like it. It’s called
The Storyteller’s Handmaid.
’ He paused for a moment and then continued:
‘Every month when the Storytellers’ Circle met in the back room at the Old Crown, Lee was the star of the show. He would stand in the centre of the room and spin his tales to the group who willingly lost themselves in his words. Others stood up and took their turns and all were greeted with polite applause, but Lee would take the audience on a journey to distant lands and play with their emotions in a way no other performer could. You could almost say that he was worshipped in this tight-knit group of story addicts.
‘One night, as Lee was telling his most enthralling story, he noticed that a woman had crept forward and was sitting at his feet, gazing up at him in awe. He smiled at her and continued with his tale. When he had finished and the sound of the applause was thundering around him, he stooped to pick up his glass of beer from the floor. The woman took his hand.
‘“Teach me.”
‘“What?”
‘“I want to be a storyteller. Will you teach me?” Her blue eyes glistened with unshed tears as Lee started to turn away. “I’ll give you whatever you want in return.”
‘“Whatever I want? That’s a dangerous offer to make. You don’t know what I’ll ask for.”
‘“I mean it. Teach me to tell stories and I will give you anything that you desire, but only when I can stand here and tell a story as well as you do. Until then I am your handmaid.”
‘So Lee agreed and Ella became his handmaid. For three months, he schooled her in his art. They met at his home and at the beach and sometimes in the big city park as he taught her how to observe life and nature and people and include them all in the stories she told. At the Circle meetings, she continued to sit at his feet and learn.
‘At last it was time for graduation.
‘“Tonight’s the night. I think you’re ready.” Lee was clearly proud of their achievements.
‘The Circle was in session. Lee stood up and told his tale, receiving the usual rapturous response. He raised his hands and the group fell silent.
‘“Friends, tonight I am pleased to introduce a newcomer, about to tell her first story. Please welcome my … er … apprentice, Ella.”
‘There was a stillness in the room as Ella took up her position. She told the most wonderful story. Lee was stunned that he had not heard this tale before. In all the hours they had spent together, she had clearly saved the best until now. He watched and listened, captivated as she moved him first to laughter and then to tears with the truth and tenderness of her performance. When, at last, the story ended he was drained as he looked at the radiant face of his former student smiling across at him as the audience shouted and screamed for more.
‘Lee leapt to his feet, but no one noticed. He stood on his chair and raised his hands. Eventually, the applause stopped and Lee returned his attention to Ella.
‘“It’s time to settle your account. Remind me, my dear, what was the fee for your lessons?”
‘“I believe I offered anything your heart desires, and you have indeed earned your fee, so name your desire.”
‘The room fell silent as everyone watched the master storyteller cross the room.
‘“My heart’s desire is that you should never tell another story.”’
Des stepped back from the microphone and the room erupted with applause. He resumed his seat and the show continued, but the rest of it was lost on me. I squeezed his hand by way of congratulation, but found I was reluctant to release it. As he made no attempt to pull
‘I’m going to share one of my own stories with you tonight. I hope you like it. It’s called
The Storyteller’s Handmaid.
’ He paused for a moment and then continued:
‘Every month when the Storytellers’ Circle met in the back room at the Old Crown, Lee was the star of the show. He would stand in the centre of the room and spin his tales to the group who willingly lost themselves in his words. Others stood up and took their turns and all were greeted with polite applause, but Lee would take the audience on a journey to distant lands and play with their emotions in a way no other performer could. You could almost say that he was worshipped in this tight-knit group of story addicts.
‘One night, as Lee was telling his most enthralling story, he noticed that a woman had crept forward and was sitting at his feet, gazing up at him in awe. He smiled at her and continued with his tale. When he had finished and the sound of the applause was thundering around him, he stooped to pick up his glass of beer from the floor. The woman took his hand.
‘“Teach me.”
‘“What?”
‘“I want to be a storyteller. Will you teach me?” Her blue eyes glistened with unshed tears as Lee started to turn away. “I’ll give you whatever you want in return.”
‘“Whatever I want? That’s a dangerous offer to make. You don’t know what I’ll ask for.”
‘“I mean it. Teach me to tell stories and I will give you anything that you desire, but only when I can stand here and tell a story as well as you do. Until then I am your handmaid.”
‘So Lee agreed and Ella became his handmaid. For three months, he schooled her in his art. They met at his home and at the beach and sometimes in the big city park as he taught her how to observe life and nature and people and include them all in the stories she told. At the Circle meetings, she continued to sit at his feet and learn.
‘At last it was time for graduation.
‘“Tonight’s the night. I think you’re ready.” Lee was clearly proud of their achievements.
‘The Circle was in session. Lee stood up and told his tale, receiving the usual rapturous response. He raised his hands and the group fell silent.
‘“Friends, tonight I am pleased to introduce a newcomer, about to tell her first story. Please welcome my … er … apprentice, Ella.”
‘There was a stillness in the room as Ella took up her position. She told the most wonderful story. Lee was stunned that he had not heard this tale before. In all the hours they had spent together, she had clearly saved the best until now. He watched and listened, captivated as she moved him first to laughter and then to tears with the truth and tenderness of her performance. When, at last, the story ended he was drained as he looked at the radiant face of his former student smiling across at him as the audience shouted and screamed for more.
‘Lee leapt to his feet, but no one noticed. He stood on his chair and raised his hands. Eventually, the applause stopped and Lee returned his attention to Ella.
‘“It’s time to settle your account. Remind me, my dear, what was the fee for your lessons?”
‘“I believe I offered anything your heart desires, and you have indeed earned your fee, so name your desire.”
‘The room fell silent as everyone watched the master storyteller cross the room.
‘“My heart’s desire is that you should never tell another story.”’
Des stepped back from the microphone and the room erupted with applause. He resumed his seat and the show continued, but the rest of it was lost on me. I squeezed his hand by way of congratulation, but found I was reluctant to release it. As he made no attempt to pull
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