Teacup Dreams
The oaken door opened and Tess looked out. “Maybe today,” she thought as Mrs. Walker moved toward her. But no. Not today. Mrs. Walker took the plates next to her and set them on the dining room table. Then she closed the door.
Tess sighed, but no one heard. She remembered that day twelve years ago when she first came to this home. The Walkers weren’t married yet, but the woman was thrilled with the exquisite dining set of glass dinnerware, the color of the green sea – a wedding gift from the man’s uncle and aunt.
“These will look stunning on my dining room table. I can’t wait to use them,” she said.
Tess had felt a surge of pride as one of the green glass teacups. “I look forward to holding your coffee and tea, and bringing you happy hours,” she’d thought to herself. But it was not to be. The Walkers married and had their first baby, a daughter, within the year.
Mr. Walker often commented on their fine dinnerware, but Mrs. Walker said she didn’t want the children to break any of the pieces. There were three children by now.
“I’ll use the plates and cups when the children are grown,” she said.
“Too bad,” said her husband. “My uncle spent a lot of money on them.”
“That’s why I need to protect them,” his wife answered.
The others never spoke of their feelings, but Tess felt unloved and silly, just sitting in the china cabinet day after day. Through the glass she could see the lesser quality plates and cups on the dinner table each day, living a good life of service. Mrs. Walker would occasionally take all the dinnerware out and wash the pieces. Tess enjoyed the attention and always got her hopes up – only to be put away without being used.
The years went by and the children were grown. Tess remembered Mrs. Walker’s promise to use the green glass dinnerware when that happened. But no. It was probably out of habit by now that the beautiful pieces were only to be admired but never used.
The Walkers’ first daughter had a baby boy in April. When they were visiting her parents one afternoon, she had occasion to go to the china cabinet. “Mother, these plates and cups are so lovely, why don’t you ever use them?”
“I was always afraid you kids would break them. Now I have grandchildren. They’ll have to look pretty in the cabinet,” Mrs. Walker said. Tess would have cried if she could. Her heart was broken even though her exterior was as perfect as the day she was first made. Time passed and Tess kept her spirits up. “One day I will leave this china cabinet and really live my life,” she told herself. Then one day Mrs. Walker’s daughter opened the door and took all of the dinnerware off the shelves, wrapped them in newspaper, and placed them in a box. She had tears in her eyes, and she treated each piece with gentleness. “I’m sorry my mother never got any use from you. Now you’re off to the consignment shop. Maybe someone will buy you and give you a good home.”
And that was that. Tess’s time with the Walkers was over. When the box opened, she looked around the store. It was filled with fine dishes, clothing, and jewelry. People came over to the table and picked up one or more of the dishes and set them back down. “Oh dear. I hope someone wants us.” Her indomitable spirit never gave up hope.
One day about two weeks later, a young man came into the store and examined the green glass dishes. He had long brown hair tied in a ponytail and he wore denim pants with a red flannel shirt. His blue eyes were kind but his hands scratched and scarred. Tess didn’t think he would buy the dinnerware – they seemed too fancy for his tastes – but to her surprise, he picked up the whole box and walked over to the cash register near the door. The man set the box down in the back of his silver pickup truck and drove off.
When they got to his home, the young man brought the box to a large sunny room that had windows on three sides. It was filled with canvases, paints, drills, metalwork, and woodwork of all kinds. He took the pieces out of the box and examined each one. “Why aren’t we in the dining room or kitchen?” she wondered.
He picked up Tess. “There’s something special about you,” he said. “I know just what we’ll do.” Tess thought for moment that he wanted to drink a cup of tea, but he placed a towel over her and her saucer. Although she couldn’t see what happened next, she felt it. The young man took a wooden mallet and crushed her to bits. It didn’t hurt as you might expect, but she knew she would never be a teacup again.
When he removed the towel, he selected the largest fragments and took them to a grinder where he smoothed all the rough edges – although some of the shards did cut his fingers. Then he took the finished pieces and attached them with wire to a structure on the table. Tess couldn’t see what was happening but something told her to remain calm.
It was many hours before the young artist was finished. He walked around the table examining his creation from all angles and making small adjustments. Then the young man picked up the entire structure and hung it on a wall. Once more he studied at it carefully, and then gave a satisfied smile. He was pleased.
When he stepped away, Tess could see her reflection in a large mirror on the opposite wall. What had she become?! She was part of a magnificent butterfly made of twisted wire, painted wood, and her glass pieces – the color of the green sea – that rimmed the edges of the butterfly wings.
Tess had never seen anything so beautiful before. Emotions overtook her and she was filled with extraordinary joy and gratitude to be part of something so grand.
Although she was in 100 pieces, she had never felt more alive.
Click here to read more.