Tila, Glass and Treasure
Fiction Literature
Tila jumped into the kitchen looking for her mother after sleeping late.
"Where is Mamee?"
"At work already. A shipment of vegetables from the north arriving. Why little Hen? Tell Mame your secret."
"Secret? Mame, I am not engaged. I am too young!" Tila smirked at her own joke.
Mama laughed. "Here. Go and find Miguelito and
give him this fruity bread. He wants to stay out until dinner, but he will be hungry."
Tila grabbed the basket filled with warm bread and gently tucked a kitchen cloth around and yelled as the screen door shut.. "Ok. I'm off to meet my secret admirer…"
Mame was half listening bent over the stove stirring a simmering pot of chicken broth.
Tila followed the trail from the house along the cliffline to Miguelito's shack.
"Fresh pies. Fresh pies!" Tila chanted merrily.
Miguelito scurried out. He shut the door to his roughly built wood shack and stood in front with his arms crossed at the sound of his sister's voice.
"You can't come in…"
Tila stopped abruptly. "Miguelito. Shame on you. I travel from so far away. This is how you greet me! I have a mind to turn back around now."
"Mmmmmm. That fruity bread smells good. For me, no?"
"Your salutation was so cold I can't remember. Maybe, they are all for me!" Tila was vexed. Ever since Miguelito finished building his clubhouse, he had tried to exclude her from hanging out with him. Today was the final straw. Tila grabbed one bread cake and threw the basket at her brother's feet." She ran back along the cliffside, and carefully down to the sand thru a hidden rocky descent overgrown with sharp leaves and woody stemmed flowers.
She didn't stop. Her anger at her brother's dismissal and exclusion was too much. She wrapped her cake in her shirt, set it neatly with her shoes and shorts and quickly jumped into the clear blue water.
Floating lazily on the calm coastline, Tila let her anger at her brother's words go. She looked at the round marshmallow clouds above. Someday, she would build herself a house too. Only, she would let her brother visit.
She waded a bit to the east. A piece of glass caught the sunlight on the wet sand at a distance. She swam sideways and returned to her clothes. She balled up her dry stuff and tied a neat ball to a single piece of thin driftwood. She wanted to swim more, but the water temperature was slightly cooler than its appearance.
The spot with the glimmer was less visible from the sand. After a few minutes, Tila found a glass and wood box with a latch. She dusted off the sand and scurried back up the cliff using the more popular smooth dirt and rock steps.
Arriving home to the smell of potato soup. Tila hugged her Mame tightly upon the threshold. "What is it Little Hen?"
"Miguelito said his shack is only for boys. I helped him build it, Mame. It is just not fair!"
"Listen Tila. Today… Now, this kitchen is only for women! Let's have lunch." Tila looked at their table covered with an old colorful tablecloth and ceramic vase overflowing with red trailing roses. "Yes, Mame. No boys allowed."
After helping Mame with the afternoon chores, Tila unwrapped her shirt hiding the glimmering box. Inside, a stained off-yellow folded paper nestled. "O, my, this must have belonged to a pirate!"
Miguelito had returned home. Mame's whispers were inaudible to Tila. However, Miguelito repeated the phrase 'No girls allowed' loudly before exiting to his room and closing the door.
The next morning, Mame and Mamee sat at the kitchen table drinking cafe con leche. Tila lay in bed quietly. Carefully, she unfolded the weathered paper.
A map! Tila looked at the black turned grey outline and pointed to a large 'X' just off center. Could this be our island! Tila was excited. She leaped up, map in hand and strode into the kitchen.
"I'm ready to reveal my secret!" Tila exclaimed. Her mother and Mame swallowed their giggles at the sight of Tila's serious face.
Just then, Miguelito appeared. "Found this by myself." Tila smoothed the creases and lay the map open on the tablecloth.
"O, my Little Hen. You have found a map!" Tesi, Mame and Miguelito sucked in their breath in surprise. Tila smiled.
"Tila, where did you find this?" Miguelito asked charmingly.
Her mother dropped her mug in the sink, kissed all three and then grabbed her purse and jacket. Might be late this evening. Start eating without me. You too - get along. Mame better tell me glowing reviews of your brother-sister behavior. I don't want Mame bothered with your squabbles. Wait till I return. Tila. Miguelito." Tesi eyed both kids with an even gaze they both understood.
"Little Frog. You go to your work. My work is this house and my grandkids. They are never a problem, Tesi."
Part TWO
Tila sat staring at her precious map. She had been waiting a whole week for Miguelito's curiosity to reappear. She needed his help to decode the map.
"Tila, Tila." Mame called through the window. Tesi was soaking in the warm sun on her favorite large rock.
"Take lunch to your mam'. She needs you to work some after."
"Ok, Mame." Tila stuck the paper in her pocket, grabbed the lunch pail steaming with hot fish and chips and skipped towards the market.
After stocking three bins with potatoes, bright chili's and hand picked fruit, Tila stretched and sat down at the cash register. Her mom was talking to a gentleman delivering the dockside fuel. She opened her map.
"Hi. I need a pound of potatoes and milk please." A tall man had entered the tiny market and smiled broadly.
"Hi. I'm Tila. Do you have a tote?" The man approached the main counter resting a plastic sac. Will this do?"
"Sure. If you want to leave a potato trail in your wake!" Tila laughed and man laughed too.
"I'm James Effering" The man lifted his hat slightly.
"You get the milk over there - two sizes." Tila pointed to an open cooler near the right side. "I'll get the potatoes. We've got extra totes with our name. No charge, Mister James."
Tila grabbed a cloth handled bag Mame had sewed and filled it half way with purple and orange potatoes. Your lucky, Mister. This time of year is usually just gold."
Tila slowly rang in the two items glancing at the current price list taped nearby. "Do you need fuel?"
"All set, thanks Tila."
"That looks like a map of Glass Cove."
Tila looked up in surprise after handing the tote.
*
Glass Cove was on the north side of the island just past the crags and tidepools. Tila sat at the kitchen table examing her treasure map.
"What kind of treasure Miguelito?"
Miguelito was finishing his cornbread and ham breakfast.
"Wish I knew, but can't tell from looking…"
Today, Tila had decided to search. Miguelito was busy repairing his shack. She gathered an empty grain sac, her rain slicker and a flashlight and set out for the cove.
A flat white beach appeared as Tila rounded the crags wading in the ankle deep calm water. She took a moment sitting on the smooth sand and finished a buttered cornbread. I wonder what the treasure could be? Jewels, potions, coins…
The cove lay directly in front of her. The sun was high above. The sand colored rock formation sheltered a cool blackness. Tila clutched her flashlight. She was exactly twenty feet into the cave-like hollow that gave Glass Cove it's name. Her eyes adjusted to the darkness. She used the light to scan the rock walls for marking. Tila lowered her head in order to continue. Now, above an opening showered a bright light similar to a window to the moist sand and rock floor. It was harder to see. Tila opened her map. She could see the notation for the Glass opening indicating 'the Glass Cove'. Only one mark was visible on the stained parchment. A scorpion tail twist.
Tila refolded the map. Just as she turned, ready to count her steps backwards to the cave opening she noticed a u-shaped brass candlestick sticking out from the sand near the grey cave wall. Carefully, she pulled the object out the sand. Turning it around, taped to an opening in the interior of the brass was a necklace made of silver.
Tila grabbed the single jeweled necklace and made her way quickly. She ran across the quiet beach. Zipped up and down the crags, made a beeline across the cliffs, and started shouting half out of breath.
"Miguelito, Miguelito!"
Miguelito appeared crossing his arms again, dirt smearing one of his cheeks. "I'm busy. What is it now, Tila?"
"Guess you're too busy to see my treasure!" Tila shouted.
"Treasure? You mean you found something with that fool's map?"
"It is not a fool's map. Treasure map. You will have to wait till' later to find the truth now." Tila headed home swiftly. In the distance, her brother yelled, "Wait Tila. Show me the treasure!" Tila continued without stopping.
At home, she placed the necklace in the glass and wood box and closed the latch. She hid the map under her pillow and changed out of her sand filled and seaweed smelling clothes.
"Tila. Would you pick some lemons? We are having lobsters tonight!"
Although, they ate an ample amount of seafood throughout the year. Tila, her mother and brother all loved lobster days. "Sure Mame. I have big news."
"Yes, I wondered where you went this morning. Did you play in the tidepools?"
"Tila was giddy with delight. Even better, I found pirate's treasure!"
Mame dried her hands after dropping a lobster in the pot. She hugged Tila. "You are my treasure Tila." She smiled broadly and skipped outside to pick lemons.
"And Miguelito is my lemon." She shouted as Miguelito approached home.
Tila, Glass and Treasure Copyright 2024 Navsky
FICTION. The Ocean Glass Mystery Series centers around a delightful girl named Tila. Her antics as she grows up on an Island, finds pirate's treasure and later discovers a surprise mystery right before her wedding. More information at author's page at:
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