Read Online The Amazing Flight of Darius Frobisher by Bill Harley - Free Book Online Page B

The story made him think of the Daedalus who had fixed his bicycle chain.
    “Right again, Darius,” said Ms. Bickerstaff. “And he had a son named Icarus, whom he loved very much.”
    Darius smiled.
    Ms. Bickerstaff went on with the story. “But King Minos learned that Daedalus had once betrayed him, so he had him locked away. And then Daedalus did the most amazing thing.” She stopped, looking at Darius with dancing eyes.
    “What? What did he do?”
    “He built wings to fly! He made them of bird feathers and wax and string. One pair for himself and one for his son.”
    “His son was in prison with him?”
    “Yes! Daedalus planned for them to escape together. When he put the wings on his son he said, Icarus, when we fly with these wings, don’t fly too close to the sun. The wax will melt and you’ll fall.”
    Now Darius knew it was just a story. You would have to fly millions of miles to get close to the sun. But that didn’t bother him at all. When you’re listening to a good story, you can ignore little things like how far away the sun really is. “What did Icarus do?” asked Darius.
    “He didn’t listen. He was too excited about flying. Or perhaps he thought he knew everything. Who knows?” said Ms. Bickerstaff, holding her hands, palms up, in the air.
    “I bet he was a teenager!” said Darius. “I know someone just like that!”
    “Yes,” laughed Ms. Bickerstaff, “he probably was a teenager. He probably rolled his eyes and said, ‘Sure, sure, sure, whatever you say. Just let me fly.’”
    “Then what?”
    “Daedalus and Icarus took off. The wings worked! Soon theywere over the prison walls and soaring out over the sea. I think it must have been beautiful. Can’t you just imagine it? The sun was shining, and the sky was blue, and so was the sea. And the wind was rushing through the feathers of the wings. It would be wonderful to fly like that.”
    Darius nodded. It
would
be wonderful.
    “They flew on and on. Daedalus loved flying. But Icarus was completely entranced. ‘Look at me!’ he yelled. And he flew higher and higher.”
    “Oh no!” Darius exclaimed.
    “Oh yes!” said Ms. Bickerstaff. “Icarus was so fascinated with flying that he forgot about the ground. He forgot he was just a boy. He forgot his wings were made of feathers and wax. He forgot what his father said.
    “‘Icarus, come back!’ Daedalus called to him. ‘Don’t fly any higher!’ But Icarus still didn’t listen. Maybe he was too far away already. Maybe he was in the spell of the sun and the wind and the sea. But he flew higher and higher. The wax melted. The feathers fell out. And then he fell into the sea.”
    Darius’s eyes filled with tears. At first Ms. Bickerstaff didn’t notice. She went on with the story.
    “Daedalus tried to find him. But his son was lost in the ocean. Daedalus never saw him again.”
    Darius tried not to cry, but he couldn’t help it.
    “Oh dear,” said Ms. Bickerstaff. “What have I done? What’s wrong?” She reached out and touched Darius’s arm.
    “It’s all right,” said Darius, wiping his eyes with his sleeve. “It’s okay. It’s just a story, I know.”
    Ms. Bickerstaff handed Darius a tissue. “No, Darius,” she said, softly but seriously, “you’re wrong. Nothing is ever ‘just a story.’If a story speaks to you, then it can be a way to understand how and why things happen. I know that, because my whole life is about stories, real and imaginary. And they’re all important.”
    They were both quiet for a moment.
    Perhaps you think silence means nothing is happening. But often, silence means more than words. Words are wonderful, but, as you may have discovered yourself, sometimes they aren’t enough.
    Finally, Darius spoke. “It’s a good story,” he said.
    “Yes,” said Ms. Bickerstaff, patting his arm.
    “It reminds me of my dad.”
    “I see.” Ms. Bickerstaff knew that more words were of no use right then.
    Darius sat up straight in his chair.