**knock, knock, knock** I rapidly, but softly knock on the door to The Bee Hive. It's the middle of the night and I'm restless. The brightness of the full moon woke me from my slumber and when I looked out the balcony door and saw the condition of Crystal Lake, I just had to share it with someone special.
**knock, knock, knock** I knock again, a little harder this time. I had dressed quickly, pulling on my jeans and a blue western style shirt, stepping into my boots and placing my hat on my head, I had hurried the short distance between our cabins.
I heard the knob begin to turn and with a small creak, the door opens. “Look,” I say, not waiting for a response… “look at the lake.”
“What are you do…” Brandy starts to say, then I see her eyes widen and brighten. “Oh my goodness.” She says in a soft voice. “Do you know what that is?” She asks.
“Bright, shimmering reflections of the moon on the water,” is my reply, “and it's beautiful.”
The refracting of the moon light on the water is stunning. The water seems to have its own light, its own glow about it. The lights sparkle and twinkle with the movement of the water ripples.
“Those are moon diamonds. They're…” Brandy begins to tell me.
“Want to go rowing?” I ask, interrupting her. “I would love to be out amongst that.”
“Yes,” she answers, “me too.”
“I'll get a few things together and meet you at the boat in 15 minutes.” I say to her… seeing that her eyes also have the sparkle of diamonds to them.
“Ok, I'll see you in 15.” Brandy replies. My hat brim just barely fits in the door opening as I lean and gave her a quick peck on the lips.
Feeling giddy, I turn and head off for The Cove and hear the door to The Bee Hive shut. I get to my cabin and immediately go to the kitchen and plug in the electric kettle, and start heating the water. I pull out a thermos, placing it on the counter alongside a couple of mugs. I spoon in a couple of teaspoons of sugar into the thermos and pour in just enough milk.
Next I go up, brush my teeth and wash up a bit. I then get a couple of blankets from the linen closet, and I take those to the boat and toss them onto one of the seats. Glancing over to The Bee Hive I see a light is on in her upstairs. “What light through yonder window breaks?” Immediately comes to mind. That thought makes me smile. “Wish I had my binoculars…”
I go back to The Cove and into the kitchen. The water is hot… I place some Yorkshire teabags into the thermos and pour in the hot water, I then close everything up. I put the mugs, thermos of tea and the container of maple & brown sugar cookies into a soft sided cooler bag and zip the lid closed. I start to head off to the boat and suddenly remember to grab a can of Spam from the cupboard. I place that into the bag along with a couple of spoons.
Then I go to the boat to wait for Miss Brandy. I see the lights go off at The Bee Hive, and true to her word, it's been 15 minutes, and I see her approaching the boat. She has on my old hat, a pair of jeans, boots… and my green, checked shirt!!
“So, that's where it went…” I think, “I should have known.” I chuckle softly and shake my head.
She's carrying a bag and a net. “I brought some snacks.” Brandy says with a beaming smile. Her eyes twinkle in the moon light.
“Ladies first,” I say once she's reaches the boat, she squeaks a little when I scoop her up off her feet and place her into the boat. She places her bag and net in the boat then unfolds one of the blankets on the seat and sits on it. I untie the boat from its mooring post and push off into the water, while jumping into the bow. Brandy has unfolded the other blanket for me to sit on.
“Is that a tadpole net?” I ask as I sit and place the oars into the water. Using the oars I swing us about, I then begin to build a slow rowing rhythm as we head out into the waters…
