The Skylark Bell - Chapter 13, Cold Pancakes

In today’s episode we continue our adventure with Chapter 12, Cold Pancakes – Where Magpie visits Lucas and sees a photograph at that stops her in her tracks.

Music: Nightbridge by Cannelle (www.cannellemusic.com)

Find The Skylark Bell online: www.theyskylarkbell.com

Instagram: @theskylarkbell

Twitter: @melissaoliveri

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TRANSCRIPT:

Things with Wings Productions, with the support of Whimsical Productions and Collected Sounds presents: Episode 12 of The Skylark Bell.  I am your host Melissa Oliveri.  

In our last episode, Magpie had a terrible dream that involved Scarlett, Farfalla, and Meadow Lane.

In today’s episode we continue our adventure with Chapter 12 Cold Pancakes – Where Magpie visits Lucas and sees a photograph at that stops her in her tracks.

So get comfortable… grab a blanket, and a warm drink… and let’s get started!

“Come on in!” shouts Lucas from the back of the kitchen. It is a bright, sunny day and Magpie is excited to get started on their newest adventure, hoping it’ll get her mind of the terrible dream she had the night before.  Magpie and Lucas usually meet at the bottom of Lucas’ driveway, but this time he is running late and has asked her to come up to the house.  Magpie shyly makes her way through the dark living room to the back of the house. The kitchen is surprisingly bright, with soft yellow walls and sheer white curtains filtering the sunlight. 

“My grandma made some pancakes, want some?” asks Lucas, already shoving a heaping plate of steaming pancakes across the counter toward her. “She makes the best pancakes with blackberries AND chocolate chips in them – you’ve never had anything like it!” he says, beaming.

“Uh, sure… Thanks!”  Magpie pulls the plate closer and pours some syrup on the stack pancakes.  She watches as it slowly makes its way down to the white porcelain plate, forming a pool in which she can see a golden, distorted reflection of herself. 

“Where is your grandmother, anyway?  I’d love to meet her!” she says, trying to make conversation.

“Oh… she’s, uh… napping,” replies Lucas, visibly uncomfortable.

Sensing awkwardness, Magpie quickly changes the subject, “So… Where should we go exploring today?”

 Lucas’ mood shifts immediately to excitement. “Well, there’s the ruins from the old mill in the clearing where the creek meets Pine River.  I think we should check it out!  They shut it down about fifty years ago, but there are still tons of artifacts left behind!” He speaks very quickly before shoving one last, large bite of pancake into his mouth and carrying his empty plate to the sink. “I’ll change into my old clothes and grab my boots while you finish eating.” He says. His words sound muffled as he navigates the big bite of pancake still in his mouth. “Meet me on the front steps!” he adds, his voice trailing as he runs upstairs.

Magpie sits alone in the kitchen, poking at her rapidly cooling pancakes.  She can’t bring herself to eat, for some reason her stomach feels tight, like she’s expecting something bad to happen, but aside from the ticking clock everything is quiet. Tick, tock, tick tock… A cloud passes over the sun and, for a moment, the kitchen is washed in grey. The mood in the kitchen changes instantly and the tiny space feels cold and almost… ominous.  Magpie feels a strange sense of relief when the cloud passes and the soft sunlight is restored.  She’s about to walk her plate to the sink when something on the wall catches her eye.  Amid an artful display of vintage photographs, one in particular has caused her to freeze in her tracks.

 “Hey slowpoke!  I thought you were going to meet me on the front steps!”  The sound of Lucas’ voice makes her jump.  Magpie didn’t realize several minutes had gone by.  Lucas is leaning on the doorframe, ready to go.

Shaking her head in an attempt to focus on the present mom