by Victoria Brown Barquero
For my fifth birthday I asked my father for the Beast, as in the Beauty and the Beast. When that glorious day came, filled with cupcakes of rainbow colors, laughter and a garden full of beautiful flowers, loved ones and music, I was sure my Beast would be waiting for me. As the party progressed and all the gifts were open my hopes were turning to sadness for ... there was no Beast. My father, ever wise and gentle, took me aside and asked me what was wrong. He knew of course. So as I was ready to start crying, he took me in his arms and said: "Victoria, I know you are looking for your fairy tale Beast, can you not feel him within you? I looked up and he further explained. The Beast, he said, was representative of a spirit which was noble,brave, courageous,kind, generous, gentle and ever so loving. The Beast also represented a soul which was beautiful in its pureness and its heart was truly a heart of gold.... Years have passed since I fully have understood the meaning of this. I understood when I held Perseus Magic in my arms the second he was born and when I looked at Yassmine and with one swoop held both of them close to me, in spirit, heart and soul. Until I can again hold them in my arms, I will kiss them in my dreams...