Moonlight splashed against the rocky ground as the winter evening took hold on the outskirts of this traveler’s paradise. Desert winters were mild here, but at altitude the thin air and even the slightest breeze brought a distinctive chill. It was the perfect recipe for a cozy night in with family, and that is exactly what was happening in the small home of Thomas and Maria McMasters.
Thomas was working late this night, but Maria was enjoying her evening as she always did, dancing to the radio around their small living room with their twin boys, Rex and Theodore. The boys were nearly ten, and they giggled at their mother as she moved elegantly around the furniture in the cramped space, expertly mouthing the lyrics to every song as she glided on feet that rarely seemed to touch the ground. Her long silky raven hair cast a stark contrast with her striking blue eyes and darkly tanned skin. A fireplace roared in the corner, adding warmth and the occasional crackle to her inspired performance.
“Mommy, why don’t you sing?” Rex asked her as she took a moment’s pause to catch her breath between songs. “You’re just moving your lips and it looks silly.” This brought on giggles from the two twin boys, identical in almost every way on the outside, but never enough to fool their mother.
“Are you telling me I look silly?” she feigned indignation as she tickled the boys’ bellies, sending both into fits of laughter. “That’s so mean to tell your mom she looks silly.” Maria laughed.
“I think you look beautiful, mom,” Rex said once his giggling subsided. “And I think your voice is beautiful too.”
“Yeah, mom,” Theodore added. “Why not share it with the world?”
“Aww, my sweet, sweet boys,” Maria smiled as she sat between them on the small family couch, put an arm around each and hugged them warmly. “You have so much love in your hearts, and I am so proud to call you my own. But you mustn’t let love blind you to the rest of the world. See, that song is one of my favorites, and I think she has a beautiful voice too. It makes me happy to recognize the beauty in someone else. Every person is unique, and when you allow yourself to see the beauty in others, the world becomes a much smaller and happier place. If you take anything from your silly ol’ mom, hold on to that, and you’ll make the world around you a happier place for everyone. Do you think you can do that for me?”
“Yeah, mom,” the boys said in unison.
“Good,” Maria smiled brightly. “Now, before we get you two to bed, let’s Walk Like an Egyptian.”