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.....Dusk fell upon Collinsport with the eerie light of a quarter moon. The mild summer evening found Barnabas Collins alone.
.....He had accompanied Vicki Winters to The Blue Whale, but their evening was cut short by a phone call from Elizabeth. Young David had been ill with the flu, and he was crying for Vicki. The sweet natured brunette obliged, apologizing profusely to Barnabas. He offered to accompany her back to Collinwood, but Vicki insisted he stay and enjoy himself.
.....After she left, Barnabas sat at the table for a few minutes, absently fingering his silver wolf's head cane, alluding to finishing his drink. Although it had been nigh two centuries since his lips had actually touched food or drink, he could still recall the flavors - brandy, port, amontillado. The rich, heady scent of bourbon in his glass was such that he could almost experience the taste of it on his tongue, and for a moment, he considered actually venturing a small sip. But the memory of the unbearable burning in his gut back in 1795, when he ignorantly tried eating mortal food, brought him back to the reality of everything he had lost. The ability to eat, to drink to be merry. And to love.
.....He sighed and left a generous tip for Martha, the matronly red-headed waitress who enjoyed flirting with hm whenever he came in. It was all in good fun, and Barnabas usually played along, flattering her and exchanging bad jokes. But the crowded tavern left her practically no time to chat tonight. And so he left.
.....Walking along the main street, he paused at the small park that he always imagined would be exquisitely lovely in the afternoon sun - children playing, picnics, the pefume of warm, tender new grass. As he stood lost in contemplation, a sound startled him from his thoughts.
....."Hello, mister!"
.....Barnabas was surprised to see a young girl of about ten sitting beneath an oak tree. Her dress was blue cotton, complimenting her long pale blonde hair and blue eyes. She wore a white sweater, and a well-worn brown teddy bear was clutched in her hand.
.....Concerned, he walked over and knelt down to speak to her. "Why are you out here alone so late? You should be at home."
....."Oh no, it's alright," the girl insisted. "I come here a lot at night. It's so quiet and pretty."
....."But this is no place for you to be at this hour. Your parents must be very worried about you."
.....Rising, she replied "Oh no, mister. My parents aren't worried about me at all, because I don't have any parents."
.....Barnabas swallowed hard. "I'm sorry about that, little girl. Where do you live?"
....."At Miss Trefry's orphanage, just down the street. She's really nice, and there are some nice girls there, too. But I like to come here sometimes to be by myself and think about things."
.....Trying to lighten the mood, he said "I'm Barnabas, what's your name?"
....."I'm Alicia. It's very nice to meet you.." She hesitated. "Do you have a last name? Miss Trefry says that it's not polite to call grownups by their first names."
.....Barnabas took her little hand and shook it grandly. "Well, it's very nice to meet you too, Alicia. And you're right that it's usually best if children don't call adults by their first names. But in this case, I would like it very much if you would call me Barnabas."
.....Alicia smiled broadly. "Thank you, Barnabas. You are really nice, just like Miss Trefry and some of the other kids." Her eyes lowered to the ground. "But you know, sometimes I get kind of tired of the orphanage. It's funny how you can feel so lonely, even when there are lots of people around...do you know what I mean?"
.....A melancholy smile clouded his face. "Yes Alicia, I know."
.....She looked at him and touched his hand. "I noticed before that you looked sad. Why, Barnabas? Why are you sad?"
.....He smiled softly. "We can talk about all that later. Right now, I think it's time that you went back home...I mean, back to the orphanage." And with a grin, he added "Perhaps you'd best sneak back in your window before you are missed."
.....Her giggle could not hide her disappointment. "Oh, alright Barnabas. But will you come back and see me again, please? I'm so happy to have a new friend." Her eyes shone hopefully in the moonlight.
....."I'd like that, Alicia," he responded. "But I don't want you to be wandering around at night like this anymore. It isn't safe."
.....Considering the situation for a moment, she exclaimed "I could meet you in the gazebo in the far corner of our yard! It's hidden by trees, and nobody else but me ever goes there. How does that sound? Oh Barnabas, please say you'll come!"
....."Well, alright Alicia, as long as it's not too late. We do need our sleep, you know!' he teased gently.
....."I know you're talking about MY sleep, Barnabas,," she laughed, "But that's okay! Will you come tomorrow night at nine?"
....."That's fine. I'll see you then. But now, let's get you home."
.....As they walked, Alicia took his hand and said happily "Oh Barnabas, for the longest time, I wished and prayed for a new friend. And tonight, I found one."
....."And so did I," Barnabas replied wistfully, 'So did I."
.....After he saw her safely back to the orphanage, Barnabas returned to the Old House. His thoughts were fixed on Alicia - so pure and sweet of spirit, so generous and caring. How easy it would be for a child alone in the world to become hard, protecting herself from the loneliness. And yet this lovely child was concerned more about Barnabas' sadness than her own sad life. "Oh yes," he thought, "I'll be there."
.....After a restless day of sleep, he emerged from his coffin, and chatted with Willie for a while before visiting Alicia. He hoisted his black wool Inverness cape over his shoulders, took his cane. and left for his rendezvous.
.....When he arrived at the orphanage, Alicia ran to greet him with a giggling bear hug. He held her tightly to his chest for a long moment...he'd almost forgotten how sweet the affection of a child could be. A warm glow surged throughout his entire being until he finally, reluctantly released her.
....."That was a lovely greeting, Alicia," Barnabas grinned. "It's nice to see you again."
....."I'm so glad you came, Barnabas. I've been excited all day long!" Alicia gushed. "I made us some tea, would you like some?"
.....Yes, please," he replied, looking down at the simple pot and unmatched cups, lovingly arranged on the gazebo table. She had quietly filled the pot with water from the always-filled kettle of hot water in the kitchen before sneaking it outside.
.....They sat down and drank their tea - him pretending to - for about an hour. She told him how she arrived as a baby to the orphanage, how they told her when she got older that her parents had both died in a car accident, and how it wasn't so bad, really, living at Miss Trefry's.
.....Barnabas watched Alicia's face as she spoke, feeling himself drawn inside her soul, feeling her pain. How similar they were - the orphan girl and the vampire. Both were intimately acquainted with loneliness, both had experienced tragedy, and both felt a certain kinship with the night and its protective shadows. But at least Barnabas had been an adult when all these horrible things had happened to him. Alicia was so young. So young. It took everything within his considerable powers to keep from weeping in front of her.
.....Forcing a smile, he announced that it was time for her to go back inside.
....."Oh Barnabas, won't you stay just a little longer? I really like talking to you," she pleaded.
.....He squeezed her hand. "Now Alicia, you remember our agreement, I told you I'd come, but not too late. I'll see you here tomorrow." he kissed her softly on the cheek, and disappeared into the quiet evening mists of Collinsport.
.....He did meet Alicia the next evening, and she had another pot of tea waiting for them. They sat in the gazebo beneath the stars, and once again lost their troubles in the sweet intoxication of their newfound friendship.
.....When it was about time to leave, Banabas teasingly commented again about how children needed their sleep.
....."Do you have any children, Barnabas?" she asked thoughtfully.
....."No, Alicia," he whispered, not quite looking at her.
....."Why not? You're so nice to me, you'd make a good daddy."
.....His eyes met hers in a tender smile. "That's very kind of you to say. But since I'm not married, I don't have any children yet."
....."When are you going to get married, Barnabas? You really should, you know. I think if you had a wife and children you would be very happy, and your eyes wouldn't be so sad anymore."
.....He didn't know what to say. She knew him so well, knew what he ws feeling, just like he knew her. He surprised himself by his honest reply. "I was going to be married, once. She was a beautiful girl with long auburn hair and a sweet smile. But before we could marry, she died."
....."I'm so sorry, Barnabas," Alicia said. "What happened?"
.....Hesitating, Barnabas replied "She had an accident. After Josette died, I just never found anyone else to replace her."
....."Josette... what a pretty name" replied Alicia, touching his hand. "I hope you can find someone, someday, Barnabas. It makes me sad to think of you all alone."
.....Impulsively, he took her into his arms, hugging her close. "I'm not alone anymore, Alicia," he whispered, near tears. "I've got you." And with a quick goodnight, he was gone.
..... A couple of nights later, when the girls were away on a rare, special outing to the ice cream shop with Miss Trefry's assistant, Barnabas stopped by and had a long talk with Miss Trefry, about his meetings with Alicia.
.....They had a pleaant conversation. An attractive, middle-aged woman with short, curly, light brown hair, Miss Trefry had a caring, warm nature, and Barnabas liked her immediatey. She was concerned, but she could sense his undeniable kindness and gentleness, plus she was of course familiar with the Collins family, touched that one of them would befriend one of her girls, and happy that he had encouraged her "little wandering one" to not go off through town all alone at night. And when he smiled and suggested they let Alicia keep believing it was a big, grand secret, she was won over completely, and happily agreed to allow their continued gazebo meetings.
.....They met almost nightly throughout the summer for their "secret" tea parties - laughing, talking, becoming close friends. Alicia drew him pictures of princesses and horses and castles. Barnabas had never felt more happy and alive since his curse. She brought to his existence the miracle of love and hope, and he prayed he could do the same for her.
.....One night after meeting Alicia, he went to Collinwood to see Vicki. He told her all about the little orphan girl, and knowing Vicki was herself raised in an orphanage, he asked her if she would come with him sometime to talk to Alicia. Perhaps seeing how Vicki had emerged such a lovely, well-adjusted young woman from her background, it would give Alicia something positive to cling to.
.....Oh Barnabas," exclaimed Vicki," Alicia sounds like a very special little girl. I'd be very happy to meet her!"
....."Thank you, Vicki. You don't know how much this means to me, and I know it will also mean a lot to her. When would you be available to join us?"
.....She thought. "Well, tomorrow night I promised David I would take him to a movie, and I have to help Mrs. Stoddard with some things around here the night after that. How about the following evening?"
.....Barnabas was clearly pleased. "That's wonderful! I'll stop by about 8:30, if that would be alright?"
....."Yes," Vicki assured him,"That's fine, Barnabas. I'll see you then. I'm looking forward to it." She saw him to the door, and he kissed her hand before putting on his cape and leaving for the old house.
.....The next evening, Alicia looked especially pretty in a plain pink cotton dress, her hair tied back in a matching ribbon. Barnabas took the cup she offered him and took his usual seat.
....."Alicia," he said. "I have surprise for you. There's a friend of mine that i would like you to meet."
....."Who is it?" asked Alicia in wide-eyed curiousity.
....."Her name is Victoria Winters. She lives at Collinwood and takes care of my little cousin, David. She grew up in an orphanage, just like you, but now she's all grown up, and she would very much like to meet you."
.....Alicia looked up into Barnabas' eyes. "She lives at Collinwood? I've always dreamed about living in a big, beautiful house like that! And she was an orphan too? Really?..." Her voice trailed off, lost in happy, hopeful thoughts.
....."She'll come with me Wednesday night, how does that sound?"
....."Oh yes, Barnabas, I can't wait to meet her!" Alicia's mood remained bright all evening long.
.....The next night, Barnabas arrived at the gazebo and thought it strange that Alicia wasn't there, eagerly awaiting his arrival with tea and hugs as usual. He sat and waited.
.....A few minutes passed, and the front door opened. He looked at the figure approaching him in the early evening darkness, and could easily see it was not Alicia. It was Miss Trefry, wearing a strangely bittersweet smile. She sat down.
....."Good evening, Mr. Collins. Alicia wanted me to come and talk to you."
......Barnabas was concerned. "Is she alright?"
...."Oh yes, she's fine. And, by the way, I just wanted to thank you for befriending her. The past few weeks have brought about such a change in her, she is so much happier than she was."
....."Thank you," he smiled softly. "Where is Alicia this evening?"
.....Miss Trefry spoke softly. "A very nice couple came in today and just absolutely fell in love with her. She's staying with them for a week, and if all goes well, she'll have a new mommy and daddy before long." Reaching into her apron pocket, she pulled out an envelope, handing it to him. "She left this for you. And, I am very sorry, Mr. Collins."
.....He looked at her with a small smile. "Oh no, please don't be. The thought of Alicia finding a family at last is... just so wonderful. It is what she has been dreaming of, and I am so very happy for her."
....."As am I, but we will certainly miss her, won't we?" she said, looking at him. A tear began to trail down her cheek, and she headed back inside. "God bless you, Mr. Collins!" she called out as she closed the door.
....."And you" he whispered to the wind, sitting down at the gazebo table and opening the envelope. Sighing, he retrieved the letter inside and began to read.
...."Dear Baranbas: I'm sorry I couldn't meet you tonight. You probably heard that I might have a new family. They live kind of far away, and it makes me sad that I won't get to see you anymore. But I promise I'll never forget you, Barnabas, and I hope you won't forget me. You made me believe this day would come, and today, it did. I love you, Barnabas. Your friend foreve, Alicia."
.....As he brushed a tear from his eye, another piece of paper fluttered from the envelope. Unfolding it, he found a crayon drawing of a man and a little girl, both smiling, drinking tea in a white gazebo underneath the stars. Above the picture, two word were scrawled.
....."Remember me."
....."Yes, Alicia," thought Barnabas. "I'll always remember you." And with that, he tucked the picture in his cape, close to his heart, and walked off into the night, alone.
....."Always."
THE END
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