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Description
Zephyr ran up the stone steps as fast as his little feet could take him. Taking two, or sometimes even three steps at a time since they were so small and close together. He loved the feeling of the wind as it cooled his face and zipped through his hair, the pounding of his strong heart against the inside of his chest, and the fact that he was actually out-running his own father, the Captain of the Guards of Paris, who had challenged him to a race up to the bell tower.
Yet, despite him being so young and full of energy, he finally gave into his legs’ muscles’ protests and rested against the stone wall. He still could probably win this race even if he did take a little break. His father didn’t seem to be behind him any more.
Zephyr figured that his father and his mother were probably talking about something important. In fact, it probably would have to be quite an important topic to be talking about if it had caused his father to quit the race early. Zephyr pondered on this interesting thought for a second, then decided to take a couple steps back down to see if he could hear anything. And sure enough, he did. He heard the mutterings of what it sounded like to be his father’s voice, and that of another’s whom he did not recognize. It certainly wasn’t his mother’s voice. Maybe a young man’s voice. But, from the way it echoed up the staircase, Zephyr couldn’t really distinguish who this could be. Curious, he was about to take several more steps down when he heard a very familiar and cheerful voice come from behind.
“Hi, Zephyr!” Quasi spoke as he beamed at his godson, then kneeled down, and outstretched his arms for a hug. Upon hearing his best friend’s greeting, Zephyr forgot all about the mutterings coming from behind him and hugged Quasi back.
“Racing your dad up the steps again?,” Quasi laughed as he saw how disheveled Zephyr’s hair was. But then he turned a little serious.
“I know it’s fun, but you really shouldn’t do that because the air is thinner up here, and it really is harder to catch your breath after a long run.”.
“I know, Quasi! But, aren’t you used to it? That means pretty soon it won’t bother me, too! Right? Because I’ll be older and stronger like you!” Zephyr noted as they continued up the stairs together, this time with himself perched on Quasi’s lopsided shoulders.
“Yes, I am used to the thin air. But that’s because I’ve lived all my life up here, remember? It’s never really affected me. Even when I was your age...” said Quasimodo as he made his way up the remainder of the stone steps.
“Oh... right,” Zephyr muttered and pondered on his friend’s reply for a while. Then, as he was thinking of the bell tower, something shifted in his memory, and Zephyr suddenly remembered something important that Quasi had told him the day before.
“Quasi! Didn’t you say that you had a couple of surprises waiting for me and my parents yesterday?”
“That’s right! Actually there’s two of them today: one for your dad, and another for you... i’m not quite done with your mother’s surprise yet... I keep on forgetting to get some more purple paint.”
“Or..” Zephyr said jokingly, “We could give my dad TWO surprises... right?”
“Oh, alright.” Quasi chuckled, “But we’re going to have to get more creative about it soon before your dad gets tired of the same old thing!”
They both laughed as they entered the door of the great cathedral’s bell tower. And Quasi reached out his hands, picked up Zephyr, and as gently as he could placed the boy onto the floor of old wooden boards, which creaked with every new movement.
Quite suddenly, they heard more noise other than the creaking of the floor, two voices, which came from out of the door that they had just entered moments before. Quasi gave a shushing gesture, and a wink, to Zephyr and then climbed his way up some beams to get to the one just above his door. Zephyr, in turn, quickly hid himself in a dark corner of the tower as for optional viewing.
It was Esmeralda, the raven-haired and emerald-eyed Gypsy beauty, whom also happened to be Zephyr’s mother, who entered the door first. She glanced around, looking briefly out the door for her husband, and then entered the room quietly while whispering her son’s name. A second later she watched as her only child leaned out of the darkened corner and motioned a hand for her to quickly hide in the shadows next to him. She smiled and walked over to Zephyr slowly as to not make the floor creak.
“Where is he hiding this time?” she inquired with a smile.
Her son suppressed a giggle and pointed up above the door she had just entered. Quasi waved to them with a knowing smirk on his face.
Now it was time for Esmeralda to suppress a laugh. Surely Phoebus would never forgive them this time!
Just as she thought this, they all heard Phoebus’ metal shoes clanking outside the door. He was almost going to make it into the room when Quasi swooped down and bellowed “BOO!!!”
Phoebus let out a loud, girly yelp and tripped on a loose floor board and laughter burst out from two different corners of the tower. It didn’t take long for Phoebus to gather what had just occurred.
“Phoebus, you scream like a girl. You know that, right?” Quasi jested as he slapped him on the back. Phoebus, in return, incoherently murmured something in Quasi’s direction as he winced from the pain now coming from his right shoulder blade, but looked mostly amused all the same.
“What was that? Did you say something, Phoebus?” Quasi jested again with a smile.
“Uh... nevermind. Uh... Quasi didn’t you say something about a surprise yesterday? Was that it?” said Phoebus trying to change the subject.
“Actually, no. It wasn’t. You’re real surprise is waiting on my work table.” Quasi replied.
“Is mine on the table, too?” Zephyr asked interestedly.
“Nope. I’ll show you soon though... don’t worry.”
In a few minutes time, they had all successfully made it up the ladder to where Quasi’s living space actually began.
It was a most wonderful place to live. Peaceful. Quiet. Gorgeous. The relaxing cooing of doves and the sounds that the bells made as they still slightly moved from a recent ringing were normally and naturally occurring here. The air felt magical and full of happy life. Even the floor and the walls held a welcoming feeling. Zephyr loved this place more than any other. It was his second home and he couldn’t remember a single day in his life where he hadn’t visited the bell tower. In fact, he was almost born here as his parents once told him a long time ago. Zephyr’s mind began to wonder... to daydream... to remember random things... and suddenly he was snapped back to attention by his father’s voice.
“This is really nice, Quasi. How long did it take you to make it?”. Phoebus had picked up the little miniature figure of himself which was the ‘surprise’ that Quasi was referring to. The golden armor on the little figurine was quite detailed, the work of a true craftsman.
“Oh I think a half an hour or maybe a little longer than that. I couldn’t really get the face shape right... had to redo the figure over again twice thanks to that little beard of yours.”
Then, as Zephyr was admiring the wooden figurine he noticed something out of place.
“Quasi! You forgot to put little black dots in his eyes!”
“Oh! Sorry!” said Quasi as Zephyr handed him the little figurine. Zephyr also handed him the paintbrush with black paint on it.
“Thank you.”
Then Quasi started to say something else...
“Guess what, Zephyr? I’m going to...”
“Stop trying to surprise Phoebus when he least expects it?”
“No.” Quasi smiled, put the paintbrush down on the doll’s face twice, and then set the figurine aside to dry. Then he continued on with his interrupted sentence.
“...I’m going to wake up your surprise!” Quasi said as he walked up the wooden ladder that lead to the outside balcony of the bell tower.
Now everyone was interested. How does one “wake up” a surprise? Zephyr, Phoebus, and Esmeralda followed their bell ringer friend up the steps, with Zephyr leading the way. Once outside, they found Quasi talking to one of the stone gargoyles. Or so it appeared at first. Upon walking closer, they saw that he was actually talking to a bird in a nest that lay in the open mouth of the fattest gargoyle that they’ve ever seen. They watched as he carefully picked up the little nest and place it on a lower part of the balcony where Zephyr could see since he was so short.
Zephyr walked slowly to where the bird was, as so not to frighten it. He carefully reached out a hand and placed one little finger on top of the bird’s head. He stroked the soft feathers slowly. The bird was so pretty... and so calm!
“See. She likes you.” said Quasi with a smile. “Would you like to name the new birds...?”
“New birds?” Zephyr was confused. Surely there was only one bird there. That was until he looked more closely and saw that there were indeed three glossy small blue eggs.
“Yeah! I’ll name them Adelle and Apollo and...!!!” Zephyr exclaimed but then quickly extinguished his voice at the sight of the startled bird.
“Well, actually, you can’t name them NOW. I meant after they’re born.” said Quasi.
“Oh, ok!”
They all laughed.
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Description
Zephyr ran up the stone steps as fast as his little feet could take him. Taking two, or sometimes even three steps at a time since they were so small and close together. He loved the feeling of the wind as it cooled his face and zipped through his hair, the pounding of his strong heart against the inside of his chest, and the fact that he was actually out-running his own father, the Captain of the Guards of Paris, who had challenged him to a race up to the bell tower.
Yet, despite him being so young and full of energy, he finally gave into his legs’ muscles’ protests and rested against the stone wall. He still could probably win this race even if he did take a little break. His father didn’t seem to be behind him any more.
Zephyr figured that his father and his mother were probably talking about something important. In fact, it probably would have to be quite an important topic to be talking about if it had caused his father to quit the race early. Zephyr pondered on this interesting thought for a second, then decided to take a couple steps back down to see if he could hear anything. And sure enough, he did. He heard the mutterings of what it sounded like to be his father’s voice, and that of another’s whom he did not recognize. It certainly wasn’t his mother’s voice. Maybe a young man’s voice. But, from the way it echoed up the staircase, Zephyr couldn’t really distinguish who this could be. Curious, he was about to take several more steps down when he heard a very familiar and cheerful voice come from behind.
“Hi, Zephyr!” Quasi spoke as he beamed at his godson, then kneeled down, and outstretched his arms for a hug. Upon hearing his best friend’s greeting, Zephyr forgot all about the mutterings coming from behind him and hugged Quasi back.
“Racing your dad up the steps again?,” Quasi laughed as he saw how disheveled Zephyr’s hair was. But then he turned a little serious.
“I know it’s fun, but you really shouldn’t do that because the air is thinner up here, and it really is harder to catch your breath after a long run.”.
“I know, Quasi! But, aren’t you used to it? That means pretty soon it won’t bother me, too! Right? Because I’ll be older and stronger like you!” Zephyr noted as they continued up the stairs together, this time with himself perched on Quasi’s lopsided shoulders.
“Yes, I am used to the thin air. But that’s because I’ve lived all my life up here, remember? It’s never really affected me. Even when I was your age...” said Quasimodo as he made his way up the remainder of the stone steps.
“Oh... right,” Zephyr muttered and pondered on his friend’s reply for a while. Then, as he was thinking of the bell tower, something shifted in his memory, and Zephyr suddenly remembered something important that Quasi had told him the day before.
“Quasi! Didn’t you say that you had a couple of surprises waiting for me and my parents yesterday?”
“That’s right! Actually there’s two of them today: one for your dad, and another for you... i’m not quite done with your mother’s surprise yet... I keep on forgetting to get some more purple paint.”
“Or..” Zephyr said jokingly, “We could give my dad TWO surprises... right?”
“Oh, alright.” Quasi chuckled, “But we’re going to have to get more creative about it soon before your dad gets tired of the same old thing!”
They both laughed as they entered the door of the great cathedral’s bell tower. And Quasi reached out his hands, picked up Zephyr, and as gently as he could placed the boy onto the floor of old wooden boards, which creaked with every new movement.
Quite suddenly, they heard more noise other than the creaking of the floor, two voices, which came from out of the door that they had just entered moments before. Quasi gave a shushing gesture, and a wink, to Zephyr and then climbed his way up some beams to get to the one just above his door. Zephyr, in turn, quickly hid himself in a dark corner of the tower as for optional viewing.
It was Esmeralda, the raven-haired and emerald-eyed Gypsy beauty, whom also happened to be Zephyr’s mother, who entered the door first. She glanced around, looking briefly out the door for her husband, and then entered the room quietly while whispering her son’s name. A second later she watched as her only child leaned out of the darkened corner and motioned a hand for her to quickly hide in the shadows next to him. She smiled and walked over to Zephyr slowly as to not make the floor creak.
“Where is he hiding this time?” she inquired with a smile.
Her son suppressed a giggle and pointed up above the door she had just entered. Quasi waved to them with a knowing smirk on his face.
Now it was time for Esmeralda to suppress a laugh. Surely Phoebus would never forgive them this time!
Just as she thought this, they all heard Phoebus’ metal shoes clanking outside the door. He was almost going to make it into the room when Quasi swooped down and bellowed “BOO!!!”
Phoebus let out a loud, girly yelp and tripped on a loose floor board and laughter burst out from two different corners of the tower. It didn’t take long for Phoebus to gather what had just occurred.
“Phoebus, you scream like a girl. You know that, right?” Quasi jested as he slapped him on the back. Phoebus, in return, incoherently murmured something in Quasi’s direction as he winced from the pain now coming from his right shoulder blade, but looked mostly amused all the same.
“What was that? Did you say something, Phoebus?” Quasi jested again with a smile.
“Uh... nevermind. Uh... Quasi didn’t you say something about a surprise yesterday? Was that it?” said Phoebus trying to change the subject.
“Actually, no. It wasn’t. You’re real surprise is waiting on my work table.” Quasi replied.
“Is mine on the table, too?” Zephyr asked interestedly.
“Nope. I’ll show you soon though... don’t worry.”
In a few minutes time, they had all successfully made it up the ladder to where Quasi’s living space actually began.
It was a most wonderful place to live. Peaceful. Quiet. Gorgeous. The relaxing cooing of doves and the sounds that the bells made as they still slightly moved from a recent ringing were normally and naturally occurring here. The air felt magical and full of happy life. Even the floor and the walls held a welcoming feeling. Zephyr loved this place more than any other. It was his second home and he couldn’t remember a single day in his life where he hadn’t visited the bell tower. In fact, he was almost born here as his parents once told him a long time ago. Zephyr’s mind began to wonder... to daydream... to remember random things... and suddenly he was snapped back to attention by his father’s voice.
“This is really nice, Quasi. How long did it take you to make it?”. Phoebus had picked up the little miniature figure of himself which was the ‘surprise’ that Quasi was referring to. The golden armor on the little figurine was quite detailed, the work of a true craftsman.
“Oh I think a half an hour or maybe a little longer than that. I couldn’t really get the face shape right... had to redo the figure over again twice thanks to that little beard of yours.”
Then, as Zephyr was admiring the wooden figurine he noticed something out of place.
“Quasi! You forgot to put little black dots in his eyes!”
“Oh! Sorry!” said Quasi as Zephyr handed him the little figurine. Zephyr also handed him the paintbrush with black paint on it.
“Thank you.”
Then Quasi started to say something else...
“Guess what, Zephyr? I’m going to...”
“Stop trying to surprise Phoebus when he least expects it?”
“No.” Quasi smiled, put the paintbrush down on the doll’s face twice, and then set the figurine aside to dry. Then he continued on with his interrupted sentence.
“...I’m going to wake up your surprise!” Quasi said as he walked up the wooden ladder that lead to the outside balcony of the bell tower.
Now everyone was interested. How does one “wake up” a surprise? Zephyr, Phoebus, and Esmeralda followed their bell ringer friend up the steps, with Zephyr leading the way. Once outside, they found Quasi talking to one of the stone gargoyles. Or so it appeared at first. Upon walking closer, they saw that he was actually talking to a bird in a nest that lay in the open mouth of the fattest gargoyle that they’ve ever seen. They watched as he carefully picked up the little nest and place it on a lower part of the balcony where Zephyr could see since he was so short.
Zephyr walked slowly to where the bird was, as so not to frighten it. He carefully reached out a hand and placed one little finger on top of the bird’s head. He stroked the soft feathers slowly. The bird was so pretty... and so calm!
“See. She likes you.” said Quasi with a smile. “Would you like to name the new birds...?”
“New birds?” Zephyr was confused. Surely there was only one bird there. That was until he looked more closely and saw that there were indeed three glossy small blue eggs.
“Yeah! I’ll name them Adelle and Apollo and...!!!” Zephyr exclaimed but then quickly extinguished his voice at the sight of the startled bird.
“Well, actually, you can’t name them NOW. I meant after they’re born.” said Quasi.
“Oh, ok!”
They all laughed.
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