Olive - The Chosen One (14 page)

CHAPTER 20

THE ROOM OF RELAXATION

Sunshine, Rainbow and Sperenza offered their help free of charge.  They wanted to help build a relaxation room in the new centre.  A room of peace, love and joy.   They put forward a plan.

    ‘Might as well let them have a go’ thought Oak and Willow.  They seemed to relate well to the teenagers and thought a room with a Moroccan feel would be a different and uplifting experience for everyone.  It was going to be full of Moroccan furniture and a throw back from the 60’s.  Oh yes!  This room was going to be very cool.

    They decided to paint the walls in a turquoise blue, that of calm and serenity and the colour of the sea of Salento.  The main wall was going to be one big mural of flowers, peace signs and trees with a huge rainbow running through it.  Sunshine had an artist friend and he had offered his services.  It would take a while to complete but, it would be a room that everybody wanted to simply chill in.

    Furniture was imported from Morocco.  Big lush leather settees with huge cushions on them adorned the room.  Big Moroccan bean-bags were scattered around the room along with huge wooden candle holders.  Comfortable leather pouffes were in every spare space.  Moroccan wall lights were fitted to the walls which threw colour all over the room when switched on.  Large Moroccan light-fittings hung from the ceiling.  They managed to get hold of a beautiful, ornate wooden door which was fitted to the entrance, it was inlaid with cut-out patterns in dark wood, it was amazing and unique.

    There was to be no television in this room, it would just spoil the ambience of it all.  However, there would be an old fashioned record player in the corner with a selection of vinyl from the 60’s.  It was strictly a no-smoking area!  The way to chill in this room was simply to chat, listen to old skool music, maybe play a bongo or two, strum a guitar, play games and to discuss times old and new.

    There was to be a coffee machine so that the visitors could have a coffee,
latte
or c
appuccino
whilst discussing the day’s events.  It would be a place where people could escape to if they felt lost or alone, a place where there would always be someone to talk to if anyone felt the need.  Nobody need ever feel that they had no-where to go ever again.

    It was funny really because as soon as this room was ready, fairies would say ‘‘meet you in the peace room!’’  It became a room where friendships were built and ghosts laid to rest.  Either Sunshine, Rainbow or Speranza tried to be there at all times. There would always be a welcoming smile when someone arrived.  It became a ritual to say ‘‘peace man’’ as they walked in and to give the
pace
sign. There was a sign above the door saying ‘leave your troubles at the door-way, enter and feel the peace.’

   Relationships were built in this room, relationships were repaired in this room and new friends were formed.  It was certainly a room full of love.

    People would sit around in circles making scrap-books, discussing the North Pole adventure, planning walks, just loving the life that had now been bestowed upon them.  It was this room that became the main hub of the new centre and everyone was very proud of it.

    It is true that Sunshine started to bring her tarot cards in and gave free readings which everyone loved.  Speranza brought some bingo and Rainbow brought the game ‘Stairs and Rainbows.’  Fun was had by all.

    One dreary day a young fairy of about 17 years old came to visit the relaxation room.  He seemed to have a big chip on his shoulder, he was full of moans and groans, stating that no-one understood him.  Speranza decided that he was going to take this young fairy chap under his fairy wing, he had been helped by these fairies and now it was his turn to give, he wanted to help someone who was in a bad way.

    At first, he felt it very hard to get the fairy boy to open up as he was very closed and felt that he could trust no-one.  Sperenza felt that the way to get someone’s real trust was to be open about their own lives and to discuss their own experiences.  The boy was called Matteo and was known as Matty probably because his hair was always matted up but, Speranza felt that there was more to this young fairy chappy, he gave off an air of bravado!  An air of ‘I know more than you, I am always right, I don’t care what you think’ but, Speranza felt that beneath it all, there lay a very vulnerable fairy.

    One morning Speranza said to Matty ‘‘how about a game of chess?  But, this will be a special game because every piece you lose, you have to open up and tell me something about yourself and I will do the same.’’

    ‘‘Whatever!’’ said Matty. 

    Speranza chuckled to himself and thought ‘this is going to be hard work, this fairy is full of enthusiasm!’

    Speranza lost the first move deliberately as he wanted to give Matty a sense of winning. 

    ‘‘So!’’ said Matty ‘‘what are you going to share with me?’’

    ‘‘Well up until very recently I was homeless, I lived in the olive fields homeless for years.’’

   Matty was stunned and smiled thinking ‘I hope he loses the next move so I can find out why.’

    Matty lost the next move, he swallowed hard before saying ‘everyone hates me, I am an outcast!’

    ‘That was not a lot of information’ thought Speranza but, couldn’t help saying ‘‘I am sure that is not true.  We all sometimes feel outcast but, there is always someone who cares, always.’’

    Speranza lost the next move.  He shared his story with the young fairy of how he lost all his family in an awful storm.  Of how they were washed away by the extreme currents and how he just gave up for a good few years.  He felt he had nothing to live for.

    Matty swallowed hard and patted Speranza’s hand in a gruff way saying ‘‘I am sorry to hear of your mis-fortune.’’

     He had a little tear in his eye but, roughly brushed it away and said ‘‘I have had enough of this game, let’s play darts!’’

    Speranza got up and got out the dart set.  Yes, he had made a start, it would take time for Matty to open up to him but, he felt a bond was beginning to form with the fairy boy.  Maybe he could be in his life now, he would show him that there are good fairies and decent people in this world.

    Speranza was a better dart player than Matty but, he hoped in time Matty would learn to hit the board!

    After the game Matty said ‘‘I had better go home.’’

    Speranza said ‘‘you are welcome to come and see my home if you wish, don’t spend time alone dwelling on things.’’

    Matty gave a half smile.

    ‘‘Really, are you cooking dinner?’’

    Speranza laughed and said ‘‘yes, what do you fancy?’’    

       ‘‘A big juicy burger would be nice’’ said Matty. 

       Matty smiled a little to himself.  He felt his heart skip a little happy beat as he followed Speranza home.

   
Mio Dio
- OMG!

    Speranza’s house was so cool.  The first thing Matty spotted was a picture of a really beautiful fairy alongside two lovely little fairy children. 

    Speranza saw him looking and said ‘‘yes, that’s my family, they will always be in here!’’

    With that said he tapped his heart.  Matty understood and felt a connection with Speranza like none other.  Speranza had lost his son and Matty wanted a father figure.  Even though they didn’t know each other too well, they both felt that a strong family connection was beginning to form.  A little seed had been planted as after all a family does not have to be blood, it can be someone you choose to love, someone you can look up to and respect.  Matty was feeling this for Speranza.

    Matty’s story was one that was quite similar to lots of other fairies in the world.  He felt he was unloved by his parents, totally mis-understood and felt like he was the black sheep of the family.  He used to try so hard to fit in but, now he had accepted things for what they were.  It was their problem not his and he had learned to accept certain things in his life were what they were.  Both his mother and father were forever putting him down!  He was ugly!  He had big sticky out ears!  He was not clever enough!  He would go no-where in life!  The list went on and on!  In the end it made him loose the will to even try but, then he met Speranza who was such a great fairy.  He was a teacher, he seemed to bring out the best in Matty and he saw things in Matty that his parents just couldn’t see.  He gave him the strength and belief that he could be whoever he wanted to be.  Matty had even started College to learn a new trade.  He wanted to be a mechanic and Speranza had given him the confidence to do just that.  Nobody should be outcast, everybody in this world has something to offer and everyone has their worth!!! These were the words that Speranza taught him.

    Matty had always been good with his hands.  He liked to fiddle with cars and bikes so he had a natural talent for becoming a mechanic.  He also learnt that he had green fingers, he was a lover of plants. Together along with Speranza, they made an allotment.  They started to grow their own vegetables.  They donated a lot of it to the ‘
Pace
Centre’ for the under-privileged.  Fairies would always be able to have a hot meal if they fell on hard times.

    It was through things like this that Speranza felt that he was giving back.  He had been bestowed such an amount of understanding and love, he had been accepted into a new community without any conditions and he was willing to the same for Matty.

    Matty was like a different person, where before he was withdrawn, he now had a sense of humor.  He was actually quite funny, he could have been a comedian so the other fairies christened him ‘The Laughing Mechanic.’  All around the olive fields he became known as this.

    It was strange because one day his father came by.  He had a problem with his car and had heard about the laughing mechanic and decided to give him a visit.  He didn’t know that it was his son just that he was a happy chappy and did the work quickly and for a reasonable price.  When his father arrived, Matty was under a car in the pit whistling happily away to the radio.  He shouted ‘‘I will be with you in a minute!’’  His father waited patiently and when Matty showed his face, he was literally stunned into silence and started stuttering. 

    Matty saw his father standing there and secretly began to tremble inside.

    He said ‘‘what’s the problem?’’

    His father explained that the car kept cutting out and stalling.  Would it be possible for him to have a look as he could not be without a car as his mother was sick.  Matty offered his father a coffee whilst he had a peep.  The silence was deafening as the whistling had stopped, you could cut the atmosphere with a knife. 

    Matty’s father Fred said ‘‘how have you been son? Your mother and I have missed you.’’

    Matty told his father that the car needed a new spark plug along with another part which he didn’t have in stock but, if he returned the next day, he would fix it for him. 

    Fred looked relieved.

    ‘‘What is wrong with
mamma
?’’ asked Matty. 

    Matty learnt that his mother had a small fall whilst hanging the washing out, she had twisted her ankle and would really appreciate a visit from Matty as she missed him so. 

    Matty thought to himself ‘what she missed him?’

     All the times he sat there feeling the love in his heart whilst she and Fred pulled him to pieces and now that they didn’t have him or see him, she missed him!!!

    ‘‘Ok, well I will see you tomorrow 9.00am sharp, give my love to
mamma
.’’

    Fred gave him a very awkward hug and left.  Matty put the radio back on and started whistling to ‘Fire up that Engine.’ 

    It was strange seeing his father after all this time and his father looked sort of humble not like the bully he had always been.

    When his father swung by the next day he asked Matty whether he would go and visit his mother.  Matty was apprehensive, he sort of wanted to but, he also felt why should he?  Speranza had taught him all about forgiveness and people’s failings in life.  He explained that sometimes it is because they have suffered themselves in their own childhood and then it carries on in their lives.  Matty accepted the invitation but, said that he would like to bring Speranza with him as he had made him aware of his self-worth.  Fred wasn’t too happy about this but, agreed as surely Matty with a friend was better than no Matty and he knew that it would cheer Maria-Tia up (Matty’s
mamma
.)

    The car was easily fixed and Matty told his father that it was on the house but, next time he would have to pay.  Matty smiled and his father smiled, maybe they could renew family bonds after all.

    The day for the visit to Matty’s parent’s arrived.  They turned up loaded with vegetables from the veg patch, a bottle of red
vino
called
Primitivo
which was the local wine of Salento and a positive attitude.  Matty felt very nervous, his hands were shaking but, his parents were his parents and he loved them unconditionally.  He was prepared to let bygones be bygones if they could accept him for who he was.  Maria-Tia was sitting in the rocking chair and struggled to stand up to greet her son and his friend.