* They’re Playing Our Song *

YOUNG AND BEAUTIFUL

by PearlAnn SnowStar

Author’s Note: As Ron (Aries) played Vincent (Capricorn), I have Linda (Libra) play Catherine as a Cancer (July Birthday). Various birthdays have been tossed about for Catherine, but for me, an aspiring Narcissa student, I based this on the Astrology tools I had at the time.

* * *

Vincent was setting up the brownstone apartment with the help of his son, Jacob, and granddaughter, Rose.

Things I used to do, can’t do any more. How did I get so old? Vincent took a look around.

“Grandpa?” Vincent turned toward the young lady. “Looks nice.”

Yes, it did. A few roses were scattered around the living room. And a nice area was cleared in the middle of the room. A few balloons hung in the air.

Jacob walked up to him. “I know that Mom had birthdays, but they were rarely celebrated. Glad to see that you are doing a nice private one for her 85th.”

Vincent smiled. He hugged Jacob and looked at him. “I noticed a few days after a small Fourth of July celebration that Catherine was feeling a bit melancholy. When I got a chance to talk to her, she mentioned that this July 12th she was going to be 85. And that she felt so old and…”

“And?” Jacob inquired.

“That she was no longer beautiful anymore. That she was a faded rose.”

“Well, Grandma is OLD…” Rose piped up.

“Rose.” Jacob gave her a stern look.

“But so are you and Grandpa. Sorry.” Rose looked at her feet.

Vincent let go of his son and walked over to Rose. He looked into her eyes. “I can remember when I was young, and the older adults seemed to be so advanced in years. Someday you will be our age.”

“And I hope to have birthdays with a special someone as well!” Rose grinned.

Vincent gave her a gentle hug. He moaned as he put his hand on his hip.

“Dad?”

“Seems I am a bit stiff.”

“You OK?”

“Yes, yes I am.” Vincent looked at Jacob. “Don’t go worrying about me.”

“Well, remember the instructions are on the table, just in case. Should you and Mom get too wild with this celebration and hurt yourselves, just press the help button on the machine. Judas is upstairs and will come running down to check on you.”

Vincent felt a little upset. I am not that old!

As if he read his mind, Jacob smiled. “I know, I know you will be fine. But that machine on the table is a lifesaving tool, just in case something happens. And you have the computer up and ready to play that song by Elvis.”

“Dad, who is Elvis?” Rose asked.

“You’ve got to be kidding.” Jacob looked at his daughter.

Rose giggled. “Another story?”

Vincent and Jacob looked at each other.

Jacob sighed. “Now I am feeling way older than my years.”

“It’s amazing. As I was wondering how to help Catherine feel better, I heard that song. It was perfect. And this is perfect.” Vincent sighed.

“Barbara is helping Catherine to get up here. Say,” Jacob looked around the room, “where is…”

“My cane is over there in the corner, should I need it.” Vincent took a deep breath. He noticed the two comfortable chairs in front of the couch, facing the empty space.

“This is perfect,” Vincent murmured.

There was a knock on the door. He knew it was Catherine and Barbara. Jacob walked over and opened the door.

“Mom, Happy Birthday!” Jacob cried out.

Catherine entered the room, walking in with her cane in her right hand and holding Barbara’s arm with her left hand.

“What?” She looked at Vincent; tears came to her eyes as she surveyed the room.

“A moment for us to be together.” Vincent started to walk up to her when he felt a tug on his arm. He turned and saw that Rose had retrieved his cane.

“Thank you, Rose.” Vincent took the cane from her with his right hand.

“OK, Mom.” Jacob gave her a quick kiss on her cheek.

Jacob walked up to Vincent. Giving him a quick kiss, he added, “No wild and crazy party. Act your age.”

Catherine blushed and Vincent looked at her, then at his son. “We will be fine. “

“Are you sure?” Barbara started to ask, but Jacob shook his head.

Rose went up to Jacob as Jacob turned towards Barbara. “We are leaving.”

Jacob and Rose walked towards the front door and opened it. Barbara glanced towards Vincent and Catherine, then followed Jacob and Rose out of the apartment.

After Barbara closed the door, she whispered, “Is this wise? They could fall and not reach the life alert machine. They could even…”

“Barbara, they are fine, and Judas is on alert, just in case that life alert button gets pushed.” Barbara gave Jacob a concerned look. “They need to be alone together, now and then, without all of us fussing over them. Wait until you reach that age.”

“And I will be reasonable and sit in my wheelchair and let the others take care of me.”

“No, you won’t. Besides, we aren’t going to leave them for more than four hours without checking up on them.”

“Four hours is too long. They can barely walk. I can’t even think…” Barbara blushed. “Well anyway, is this a good idea?”

“Yes, yes it is.”

“Daddy?” Rose looked at him. “This is Grandpa’s birthday present to Grandma, right?”

“That’s right, Rose, and we will have just a tiny celebration later, if Grandma and Grandpa are not too tired.”

“What are they going to do?” Rose asked.

Barbara rolled her eyes and Jacob blushed. “Whatever they want to. Right now, let’s see how Judas is doing. He just finished a new music box he made.”

“Oh, goody.” Rose laughed. “I have a thing for music boxes. Let’s go.”

* * *

Vincent and Catherine sat in their chairs with their canes tucked into the arms. Catherine looked around the room, then at Vincent.

“Really?” She reached over and touched his hand. “All this? We are not youngsters anymore, we are old, gray and…”

He stood up, smiling.

“What are you up to?” she asked.

“I wanted to let you know that even if you were 101, you are still beautiful to me.”

“Vincent, I know I’ve got gray hair and wrinkles and I am not as lithe as I used to be, and my skin is not as smooth and…”

“And that is just a sign of a well-lived wonderful life.” He took her hand in his and gently kissed the top of it. He tenderly held it as he said, “To me you are beautiful.”

“Your sight has started to fade.”

“Catherine, I see the physical you, but I also see inside of you. And both the inside and the outside are beautiful. So, I wanted this rare alone time to try to convince you that you are beautiful, and you will always be beautiful, no matter what.”

“But the world…”

“The world, excuse me please, my beloved, be damned.”

She looked surprised. “All right, I will try not to be so upset about being this old, but I do miss my youth.”

“As do I. Catherine, whatever life we have after this one, I will always have it with you. Right now, I wish to have 85 more years, here, now.”

She laughed. “While that is sweet, Vincent, we will probably be in wheelchairs, with our minds gone.”

“Maybe not.” He let go of her hand. He turned and walked towards the table.

She sighed. “I know how much I love you and how much you love me. Yet, one moment was young with young children and the next, I’m a grandmother. Sort of depressing.”

“But wonderful?”

She paused, then smiled. “Yes, I suppose it is. Little did I think we’d make it this far.”

He was by the computer on the table and was typing something.

“What are you up to?” she inquired.

“I need a little help from Elvis.”

“Oh no, you are not ‘All Shook Up’ about my mood? It will pass.”

“I know, once you hear this…”

The song started to play. He walked over to her and lifted her up into his arms.

He sang the words, as best as he could.

‘You’re so young and beautiful and I love you so. Your lips so red, your eyes that shine, shame the stars that glow. So fill these lonely arms of mine and kiss me tenderly. Then you’ll be forever young and beautiful to me.’

Tears streamed down her face. All she could do was hold onto him. When the song ended, she looked up at him. They tenderly kissed each other.

“Vincent,” she whispered, “have I ever told you how you seem to change my gray cloudy skies to sunshine and blue?”

“You just did.” He gave her a passionate kiss. Then he looked into her eyes. “I am never letting you go.”

They embraced and lingered for a long time in silence.

Her mood lightened and she knew that he felt her happiness. “I suddenly feel much younger than I am.” She looked up at him. “You are amazing.”

He just smiled and held her close.

After a moment of silence, he asked her, “Can you hear the music?”

“The song is over.”

He repeated, “Can you hear the music?”

She looked at him, a bit surprised, then a memory came to her. Lovingly, she replied, “Yes.”

They started to slowly dance to a music only two young lovers hear in their hearts.

__________

Young and Beautiful by Aaron Schroeder and Abner Silver; sung by Elvis Presley in the movie Jailhouse Rock, October 1957]

Young and Beautiful

You’re so young and beautiful and I love you so
Your lips so red, your eyes that shine
Shame the stars that glow
So fill these lonely arms of mine
And kiss me tenderly
Then you’ll be forever young
And beautiful to me.

You’re so young and beautiful, you’re everything I love
Your angel smile, your gentle touch
Are all I’m dreaming of
Oh take this heart I offer you
And never set me free
Then you’ll be forever young
And beautiful to me.