She approached me slowly while chewing her bottom lip. “Are you sure? I know you’re a busy guy. I don’t want to get in the way of your plans.”
“I am sure,” I smiled at her over my shoulder. “There is nothing I’d rather do than take you to the beach this morning.”
She continued to hesitate, but I knew what she needed.
“Get on, Fatima,” I commanded, but there was no bite in my tone.
She gave me a pleased smile and held her chin up high.
“Fine. I’ll get on since you’re being so bossy about it.”
“Good girl,” I complimented as soon as she settled herself onto my back.
She let out a choked laugh and I wondered if I’d said something wrong, but when I looked back she was nothing but smiles.
“Please keep your hands around my neck for the duration of the flight,” I began my usual speech. I’d taken Vianna on many flights as a child, and my safety speech had always made her giggle.
“Keep your legs locked around my waist, and refrain from touching my wings at all times. They are pretty, but they are also made of fire.”
Fatima’s eyes were filled with laughter and it warmed my soul that she enjoyed my speech as well.
“No touching the flaming wings, got it.” she repeated in a light tone.
Then she pressed her front against my back as she wrapped her arms around my neck. I made sure her legs were securely wrapped around my middle and looked over my shoulder one final time.
“Ready?”
“Ready,” she nodded.
I spread my arms out on either side of my body and let my flames spread from my shoulders to my finger tips. The air beneath me grew lighter as it always did and I beat my wings over and over again until we were high in the sky.
Fatima let out an excited squeal once we were high enough to start gliding through the air. I looked back to find her beaming with a bright smile as she looked down upon the tree tops with her hair whipping behind her in the wind.
“This is amazing!” she shouted.
“I’m glad you like it,” I replied. Then pointed with my chin toward the horizon.The beach was already in view.
“That was so fast,” she exclaimed.
“That’s the beauty of flying,” I commented unable to keep the satisfied joy out of my voice. It felt so right having Fatima up in the clouds with me.
I kept soaring until we reached the sandy beach and softly floated to the ground until the sand was firmly beneath my feet. Fatima slid off my back then stared in awe at the body of water before us.
I had never looked at the ocean with as much reverence as she. While she looked at the water, I looked at her. Fatima was my ocean. I wished to know the depths of her. I wanted to know her mighty storms as well as her soft waves. I would even risk dousing my flames if it meant I could get a little closer.
“Come on, let’s get a better look,” I held out my hand and Fatima took it.
Together we walked to the edge of the beach and listened to the waves crash upon the shore.
Fatima took it all in, drinking deep of the view. The tense line of her shoulders grew more relaxed and she allowed the wind to sway her as it pushed against us.
“I wish it was warm enough to get in,” she remarked.
“I will bring you back in the summer,” I vowed.
“Will you be able to fly me and a baby?” she asked in a teasing tone.
“Yes,” I replied easily. I’d strapped heavy stones to by back like one would swaddle a baby and practiced flying them out of the village. If there were ever an emergency I wanted to help get everyone out as quickly as possible, including the babies.
