Author Topic: Promises, Obligations and Consequences (Read 144415 times)

teddi · « **Reply #105 on:** May 29, 2008, 11:53:27 AM »

I nod yes...but gently...reply out loud to her silent word. "Mom...she told you it was "more than sheer circ-umstance." But...she couldn't tell you why.

"Mom, I had to be sure. Honestly. It was simple, at least for me. I chose you.

"Out of all the hundreds and thousands of mother's...I...well...I did some research...field trips you might say...and sorta became...creative. I know I'm cutting you off of your train of thought...but you don't understand...honest and truly.

"All of the times before I'd been through this I refused to go along with them...I thought the whole system was a load of crap! And I told them so! Mom...before your born again...they give you what shows up or ready if you want to use that word...like O.K....here's an available body... your gonna pop out of this crotch...so off you go...get a life...and oh...be sure you progress...must move on up you know.

"But...they make you feel like you have no choice. The thing is Mom...you do have a choice. You can go along with what they give you...but that includes forgetting everything that's ever happened to you. Or...you can refuse...which means your basically... wasted. But..."

Aside: Elias! Yes you could use that word instead of wasted. I know you liked...ohh please Elias just...O.K. I'll take the word back...yes...I'll say the line.

"Mom, if you refuse, your..."Oblueterrated."

I shake my head and mutter..."Now they're even accessing my favorite movies!"

"From the very first time, I refused. And every time after that, when my name came up...I told them "No." But, if you want I'll play any game you want, you know, I'll bet you. If I lose I'll take a hike, but, I wont walk through the mist. I...I got to remember, everything. A promise was made.

"No one had ever challenged them with that condition before. They accepted.

"Anyhow, that's the game I gave you to think about. You know every time you went to the library there'd be a kid facing you...looking at you...always three rows up and two seats over. You were always pretty regular, on time and stuff, so, since I knew you were going to be my Mother...I could sort of brush by you...from time to time...and offer some suggestions. Touching you was not out of bounds!

"So right after I checked you out...I made my final bet. And if your wondering if they ever missed me...no...no fences and really .... no gates...except for the main Pearly ones...check in you know. So basically, if you were in they always figured you would come back if you went for a round-a-bout.

"Anyhow, I agreed to play this "ludus duodicem scriptorium." Again. You call it backgammon. But this time I doubled down right after the first roll.

"I told them straight up..."You know...I'll bet you again...but if I win...I get what I want, but if I lose, you get the stisfaction of knowing that you've screwed another soul, except with me, you know there'll be a whole lot more; and, you even get to smile about it. Right now, I'll role the cube, and if it comes up sixty four that's a whole lot of times your going to see me run through here.

"Thing is, everyone in the place knew I'd never won a game from Him. I'd always use the wrong strategy and try to double down too late. Every time I doubled down the number of trips I agreed to became longer. And if your into numbers Mom...it's the prime number multiplied by itself by eight. That's two-hundred and fifty six.

"Mom, eventually you were gonna get thrown into the mix as well, I just...just...well ...sort of got...got...what you might call..."creative?" That's how I chose you....and not the other two you were riding with...looked them up too. It wouldn't be their fault...they wouldn't make it.

"Anyhow, I sweetened the pot. I said, "Look, if you let me make my own choice and it gets messed up...again... I'll take your shower. You can even check her out before hand. If I lose, no more arguements, and I'll never tell you again that fish stink, even if they are Your's! But if I win, then I get to take four of all the one's I've been before with me. The rest, you promise to start over again, but as brand new; like no bad marks against them, and they really and truly get watched over.

"That's where Krystal comes in."

Aside: "Look guys , cool your jets, your really all me, and I'm really you, so we've all been in this together: especially Krystal. All I know is that...that I didn't want to play another round of this stupid game. And now, more than ever, I still dont!"

Both the standing room only crowd and the Gallery of the Gods lean forward as if in unison. All await.

"NO DAMMIT! Everyone...I CAN COUNT THAT HIGH. ONE...by itself is only one...and...one more that's TWO....yea I'm on a roll!...so add one more...makes it THREE! AND ONE MORE MAKES...FOUR...SO THERE!!! THERE'S FOUR!! NO ONE'S GONNA ...be...f'ked. Hell, you guys know how many times I've gone throught this! You only get to talk to each other and me...me...I got all the others blasting in my head and now they're about to go ballistic! NO!. Th..."

"Listen, please...right now...everyone. There's too much rummaging in my head going on. So...YES...I did say twins.

"Yea...I know....BUT THAT WASN'T THE BET!!!

"I DOUBLED DOWN BUT THIS TIME I...WE ... WON!!! YEA... I KNOW I TOLD Mom TWINS! But...but...please...think about what She said...SHE didn't ever actually really say the word ...twins...you know how SHE is. You ALWAYS have to figure out what "She's" really talking about!

"O.K! O.K! "She" said: "Two sets. You began the game.

Round you have come to play again. In all of heaven it is known, the mischief you have sown. But there shall be TWO SETS. The four chosen shall come with you, all others shall begin anew. The house your Mother once adored; confirmation sets above the door. Count and recount your rise and fall, but, the summation of the last shall total four."

"That's what "She" said. A set is two, but...if you roll double deuces: it's four. So cool it guys. I mean it. No. It's not a threat...just a rhetorical statement. Thanks...I promised...and I always keep mine.

"Mom... sorry...the watchamacallit...the paradigm...you or really She said...there were three parts. Joachem says it has to do with something called Weltanschauung. He's trying to explain some of the stuff...and some of the stuff you just said, I understood...what you were talking about. Some of it is pretty easy. But...I promised myself we wouldn't get screwed again!

"HA!! What a joke. You know...you know, I'm probably the oldest twelve year old virgin your ever gonna meet!!! I trail off..."Never been really screwed except figuratively of course.

"I think I understand...but...really...I'm afraid... I'm not really sure. So I know...I know what I told you about you having twins. But...that means...if I'm wrong...that means that two...two...including Krystal...aren't gonna...be back with me?

"If that's the case, its not fair. They always cheat you. Sure...you take what they give you and...and...they don't even say good luck. It's worse than wham bam thank you ma'm! You know it's gonna happen...just a question of time.

"What a joke...almost every time...almost every time...except for Joachem...I'd get shined off... I'd only make it to ten.

"If its only two, I promise you, I won't stick around much longer! Besides, its...NOT FAIR! THAT WASN'T PART OF THE BET!..THE PROMISE!..If...if...I won.

"So, I guess another one of my questions is what hangs or hung above your door. The only thing you ever mentioned was some stupid ass letters."

Mom just smiles back at me, or us, damn it! Everyone is waiting and I feel like I'm going to get tossed off a cliff one more time...just for good luck. This time she answers the last question, avoiding the one about her and me.

"What hung above the old sorority house and now the new one are the golden Tri-Delt letters. I presumed that since all of you have such a close relationship you may have answered the question for yourselves. But if that is not the case..." mom really starts to break into a big grin..."the letters represent a particular letter in an alphabet.

"It is the fourth letter. Alpha, the first, is the beginning. Beta, is the second. Gamma, is the third. And Delta, it is the fourth. So, if I estimate, by both the paradigm you have just stated, and your recollection of your bet...there will be four: not two.

"Besides Chris, even a Mother like me can tell when her son goes up and down the stairs; and always counts the number of steps. Your lips move.

"Twenty-two. Twenty-two up. Twenty-two down. The sum of the last integer is: four.

"And before you take this pen in hand, you will relay what you mean by "being creative." Moreover, how pray tell is Krystal involved in this?

"After you tell us all...then I will answer your third question: the three reasons. But, before you do so, Christina will explain why you are both dressed as you are.

teddi · « **Reply #106 on:** June 04, 2008, 10:02:10 AM »

"Oh, and as an afterthought, have you not considered what the word for four children being born at the same time is?"

"It is: quadruplets."

Now her grin breaks even wider.

She continues, as she softly caresses my cheek.

"And if, you are into coincidence, my little one, my mischief maker, and it is indeed, more than chance: the ... Fourth ... letter in the word is "d," the same letter as used in three alphabets. The one you speak in and in both the ancient and modern other: and in all three, it is the ... "Fourth"... letter."

At the same time, she genuinely smiles at me. Best one I'd never seen from her since I don't know when.

Mom replaces the pen in her shirt pocket; her attention turns to my sister and gives her the "look."

You know the one, where they don't hafta say a word, its the one where they just look at ya' and you know your excuse or explanaton had better be spot on or your ass is grass and they're the lawnmower!

Before I turn my head away, I spy Melinda. She has now moved silently to stand directly behind her mother. She steals a peak with her right eye from behind her mom: Brisa.

The three within me continue to laugh and playfully sing: "We know something you don't know."

I shake my head and turn away: not from their laughing, 'cause I know: you can't run and hide with what you carry with you, but, from what Christina is now about to say and even more so from the now steady gaze of the last of my dreads: Melinda.

I feel like I'm trying to push a chain up a mountain in a rain storm. My eyes are leaking and so is the rest of me. The pull-up I'm wearing feels like a sponge that hasn't been wrung out.

I begin to read my sister, by mistake, honest. Now I really know why we are dressed like we are. I think to myself ... well ... maybe ... it sorta does kind-a go ... what was the whole word ... they used to call me ... Up there?

"Oh yea" ... I mumble out loud ... "I was called a ... sissy something. Yea, now I remember. "Here he comes or there she goes..."old sissy fuss!"" I shake my head ... "Damn ... I was even called one Up there! Geez Christine ... the ... "sissy walk?"

"Is that why you called me "Chrissy? ... 'cause it rhymes with ... sissy? I could barely take it ... Up there ... from all of them ... but you?"

Christine is about to speak. But, Mom stops her: "Christine, a moment please." Mom again looks at me. She's still smiling? At me? But...she has a puzzled look on her face and I know ... it's not because of what my sister was going to say.

"Christopher, what you just said you were called. Do you know what it means?"

I sheepishly admit, "Yes Mom. It means your not really a boy ... you know ... you're just a fussy sissy. I mean, you are really a boy but you act so much like a prissy girl that you just might as well get used to ralphing every time you hear the word."

Mom quizzes me, "Ralphing?"

"Mom ... it's just another word for puke, vomit, hurl chunks, going liquid ... you know!"

Chris, I know what a sissy is. It is also used to describe a coward or a very timid male, who runs away. You are none of those. You used another term. You said you were called "old Sisyphus." You really don't know the meaning of the word or the term: do you?"

"Sure I do Mom, it means that if you look like a girl, or even made up to look like one, even if you don't like it ... you hafta be one ... but ... if you like them so much you want to be like them... so you just ... well ... it's just not what other boys would be like ... isn't that right?"

Mom can barely contain herself. She giggles as she tries to explain.

"No, my little one, my mischief maker. The word or term as it was used to describe you, was not meant to be offensive.

"In mythology, Sisyphus was purported to be a king, condemned by the gods to roll a boulder for all eternity up a hill. Unfortunately, for him, it would always roll down again, just prior to reaching the summit.

"The term is used to descibe a seemingly quite repetitive, unending or unrewarding activity. It was not used to hurt you. It was stated to offer understanding: of the major or significant and noteworty effort of what you were attempting to do."

"MOM! How am I supposed to know this kind of stuff?! I was too busy trying to find you! Not...researching mythology!

"And all this time I thought ... Oh God ... no wonder He always laughed at me: when He used His jewelers eye to look into me. Everytime, He'd ask if I wanted to complain about anything else. I figured I was on the permanent shit list so I would just say "nothing out of the ordinary ... for me."

Mom again quizes me. "Jeweler's eye?"

"Yes ma'm. You know ... it's what the guy who fixes watches uses to look at all the tiny working parts to 'em. He doesn't need one, but that's what He says everytime he looks into you. "What do we have here? Let Me use My Jeweler's Eye."

Those within me are silent. The Gallery of the Gods ... I can just imagine.

teddi · « **Reply #107 on:** June 04, 2008, 01:40:23 PM »

Damn am I embarrassed! I pull my pillow up and bury my face in it. Thor's feather now rests at the head of my bed.

Both of my sisters tell me to calm down. Again ... through Christina ... I see Mom smiling: at both of us. She tells my sister to "Go ahead."

At least she doesn't add "make my day!" I giggle ... I really think ... honest and truly ... that that's what's happening ... at last ... were going to make hers!

Christine begins: "The truth ... the truth is ... I ... well ... well ... yes I do ... an explanation ... I have one ... but I don't think it's really all that good of one ... especially now. In fact, now that I think about it ... not only is it awful ... but it's kind of lame too. But it is the truth.

"I know I was mad at Chris ... it was his idea to just stand side by side so that Melinda's mom couldn't tell us apart. But ... I ... well ... took advantage of the situation. It was my idea to dress him up ... the clothes ... the hair ... the ... the make up ... and even the sandals...I took the flats so we would be the same height.

"But ... damn it ... I really wanted to make it clear to them, Mrs. Agapp and Melinda, how more than just look a likes we really are or were. And ... and ... why he was so afraid ... I tried to explain ... but it all came out mumbled jumbled. Maybe I should have just kept my nose out of the whole thing ... except ... I didn't want to see him hurt anymore."

Christina pauses then turns to look at both of them. At least the pains I felt before are starting to fade ... now ... they're just a dull throbbing ache.

Christine continues: "Mom ... you said "with but a touch of your hand you can make him talk. Or is there more to it than that?" The answer is "Yes" a lot more.

"Mom ... I called it "Puppet on a String." I ... pulled the strings ... he ... was ... the ... puppet.

She breaks her explanation. "Chris ... please ... I know I promised that I'd never do it to you again ... crap .. in the last forty minutes or so I've broken a lot of promises I made to you ... and I don't feel very proud or good about it either."

Everyone sees the back of my head nod three times. While I do, I recite the part of the paradigm that has just hit me .. ending in "her fancied desire of him for satin or of lace." While at the same time a lot more of it starts to make more sense.

She continues, "Mom, I'd planned to make a .. ah ... grand entrance. With everyone downstairs all of you would be watching the stairway ... it would only take a couple of minutes ... I wanted to prove to all of you what I told Mrs. Agapp was the truth about the two of us and ...

"Anyhow," she continues, "we'd present ourselves at the top of the stairwell in "our" pink party dresses. I'd have given him a pink silk hanky to hold in his right hand, I'd hold a white one in my left; and that, would launch the beginning of stage two.

"Chris would be on my right and we would start down the stairway. We are mirror images.

"It would begin with a simple nod to each other. Then, we'd move our heads closer: cheek-to-cheek and exchange faux kisses. Then slowly our heads would turn and face the audience. We would hold for a count. Then, give a slight lick of the lips; all synced, even down to the batting of our eyelids: four quick flutters.

"A soft turn of the head, in opposite directions, then return to look straight ahead .. a deep inhale and sighing release. A gentle look down, both inward, to the next step down with but a slight tilt of the head ... another slow but now sensuous lick of the lips ... then ... with nose turned up the free hand moves palm up to hang as limp wristed as can be with the silk hanky held by first finger to thumb with the pinky sticking out.

"We would begin with a soft step down. He steps with the right ... I step with the left ... our hips move softly and roll with the step ... shoulders are back and chest thrust out. Both feet are almost together, except, that before the next step, one heel raises, the one on the outside...forcing us to almost face each other, then a slight curtsy coupled with a mutual nod and hold for a count .. return to standing position, then a soft step down with the opposite foot... look to each other again ... a soft nod ...we repeat the choreophraphy on every step.

We're mirror images. The entire length of the stairway is the ramp. It takes us to the floor show.

teddi · « **Reply #108 on:** June 06, 2008, 05:02:51 PM »

"Anyhow, that's why we have the dresses on."

Mom asks: "Stage two? To, the floor show? Explain and do ... it ..." Mother never finishes her sentence. Only now ... for the first time does she take a closer look at all that we're wearing. I guess even most moms have them and break them out sometimes ... their "jeweler's eyes" that is.

With a smile she asks, ever so gently, "Sweet thing .. not you Chris..."

Damn! Does that make me feel just great!

"...Christina, I will grant, without question, your ability. Moreover, I will not, nor do I think will your Father, be upset with you: as it appears, that if it were not for your "sticking your nose into it," the paradigm itself may have gone unfulfilled.

"But I wonder, why the two sets of clothes? You mentioned stage two. Then by deduction I presume what you both wear beneath the dresses was to be "stage one."

"Yes, you both wear dresses, and each so well, I might add: yet, beneath them is hidden another set.

"When I entered your room, you held a boom box ... yours. Moreover, since you made no mention of musical accompaniment, as your brother called it for your "sissy walk," I must presume it was to be used for your: "floorshow."

"Yes, in addition, I must acknowledge: your sometimes joyful use of sarcasm, coupled with such a finely honed and sometimes warped sense of humor, that it would have to be a ... classic ... in fact knowing you as I do, dare I say it? What would it be...?"

For some reason I think Mom is playing with my sister.

Damn! It's like whenever He looked into you He'd smile ... nothing said ... but ... it wasn't like it was a liars face. Nope. Looked like the one He always had ... when He knew the outcome before you even thought of what you were going to roll ... before you even thought of a word to say.

As I try to think of the phrase he would always say ... Mom continues.

"Christine, I will not say it. Instead, I will write the title down. If I am wrong, I profoundly apologize in advance and will double your allowance. However, if I am correct ... I'll halve your allowance and increase your brother's by that amount. A bet?"

Christina's mouth drops open and it looks like she gives a nod of "Yes." I could be wrong ... but she really doesn't think Mom has that much going for her ... at least not on this one.

Mom quickly makes her way to my desk and on a note pad quickly writes her "guess" to be on it. While at the same time asks, "Melinda, if you please, down the hall and to your immediate right is Christina's room. In plain sight there is a boom box. If you please, bring it to me."

With a nod of consent ... the living specter of my dreads ... quickly turns and leaves. Within seconds ... she returns and passes the box to Mom. Again she assumes her previous position ... behind her mother ... Brisa.

Now I remember! What He said to me ... every time ... just before I tossed the dice. "Consider, Mine is the pat hand."

I blurt out, "Christina ... she knows something! She ... has a pat hand! Your toast!"

At the same time ... I look at the boom box and start to laugh. Because ... because the box is nothing but clear plastic. You can see everything ... inside ... including the cassette my sister loaded.

I look at Christine ... giggling as I speak ... "you know ... you know ... Christine ... if your going to bet, at least make sure who your betting against hasn't loaded the dice!! She can read you know! Its her tape!

"It's in Royal Blue ink labeled: RHPS!!!! It only has one song on it!

But it's recorded back to back to back to back .... four times!!!! And Mom's right you do have a "Warped" sense of humor.

So who was I going to be? Columbia or Magenta?

teddi · « **Reply #109 on:** June 10, 2008, 03:01:44 PM »

My sister shakes her head slightly and giggles. Then gives a shrug of her shoulders and smiles at Mom with an impish grin and with those Dondi eyes; then nods ... and begins to speak.

"Chris, it would have made no difference, we are mirror images. Mom, can I explain part of the paradigm?"

Mother smiles and nods her consent.

"Except for the height difference, we are indistinguishable. We are two, but perceived as one: just like the flower. I saw the same flower at Meadow Watch. The entire meadow is covered with them: its called a daisy.

"At the center of the flower, is the disk floret. Around it are the petal florets. Believe it, cause its true, they look like one flower, but in fact are two! Furthermore, my sweet, the flower was and still is known; for its purity and innocence. I do believe you qualify on both counts.

"I understand how Elias could not help but stop and smell all of the flowers. I found myself doing the same thing. It was surprising to walk in the meadow and have everything seem to meet you. I mean it. It was as if everything knew me. Except, it wasn't me they thought they first recognized: it was you! Or, rather you as Elias. You made some impression!

"What's more, in the same field, along with all of the daisies were the other flowers: the other in the paradigm. Bet you can't guess the other one that applies, can ya?"

Bewildered ... and with unblinking eyes ... I simply shake my head ... "No."

Christine chimes back at me, "No problem-o my little one the .."

I cut her off. Hey! You promised you'd never call me that in front of anyone except our cousins or aunts and uncles: family. You know."

She giggles back at me, "Oh, so I did. It must have slipped out. I'm really sorry Chris. But, Mom has already called you that so can you forgive me?" She gives me the same impish look she gave Mom.

I shrug my shoulders and whisper, "Sure, whatever. Gonna be wrecked when I get to school anyway with her, you know, Melinda, being here. Seeing me like this, dressed like a girl."

"Thanks," was her smiling and almost laughing reply.

"Now, before you interrupted me. I was going to tell you the name of the other flower which grew wild in the Meadow: almost as many as the daisies. The flowers name is the Iris. Again Christopher, there is another meaning, or two, maybe even three.

"The first has to do with the colors. At Meadow Watch there were three. Purple, yellow and white. Purple flowers are supposedly for royalty; and I haven't figured that part out yet. But it also stands for courage and admiration. On those two counts, I have to give you full credit.

"Yellow is for passion. Here again, I quite don't have that one down either.

"Lasly, white for sympathy. You defintely; have mine, and I'm pretty sure Mom and Dad's. I told you, if I had to go through that and remember I'd be mental!

"Oh, I almost forgot. In mythology, Iris was the name of the messenger for the gods. It was her or his job to communicate what had happened either between them or what had happended on earth back to them.

"Now for the rest of the paradigm: that I can figure out. You remember the name of the first troop I belonged to: it was called the Iris Girls. In addition the name of my second troop was the: Up-C-Daisy Girls.

The first time I met our Angel was when I was in the Iris Girls. That is what she was teaching me about ... how to see. Sorry, no pun intended. Chris, when I went to Meadow Watch I was in the Daisy Girls. That's when she said I'd grown up. Well ... maybe I did mean to use it as a pun there.

"Now, for the kicker! "The lens of sight to both through her shall apply," that's part of the paradigm. Chris: it is what we all see through with our eyes. Even the lens openings of cameras are named for it. The Iris.

Mom ... my allowance, it's way worth it and more ... besides, the way we're dressed also has something to do with present company."

To my surprise, Christine turns away ... from Mom ... to look straight at Melinda.

"Chris," she continues, "I told you that there were some things you didn't know anything about.

"Chris, everyone, and I do mean everyone knows something that you do not!

"And to quote you it's been, "...sort of like a pact that remains among friends," except in your case, it's every one you've ever been. They all know! And if you haven't figured it out yet, one reason is because She's had a hand in it all: right from the very start. Of course, there was a lot of help, from Higher Up along the way.

"I told you, Melinda, that you were barking up the wrong tree. But you wouldn't listen. It wasn't me you saw at the mall ... and it wasn't my sister ... it was him. Not my twin ... " she pauses and points to my crotch "my fraternal twin...you missed it by that much!"

She gives a quick head jerk... back to me .... she doesn't even try to look me face on. My sister continues as I try to take this all in.

I look at Mom's face. I could be wrong but she's downright smiling and crying at the same time. In fact, the only person besides me who hasn't a damn clue is ... Melinda. She looks just as befuddled as I feel.

'Cept ... there's still something wrong with the way she looks. I mean ... her face ... just ... just isn't the same as the picture.

Acknowledgment: Dondi....Gus Edson and Irwin Hasen

teddi · « **Reply #110 on:** June 11, 2008, 04:03:14 PM »

Christine continues, "And, ... and ... uhh ... well ... sorry Melinda ... I tried to tell you a couple of times ... but you wouldn't listen. You were so adament! You ... you ... thought you had a crush ... on me ... but I kept trying to tell you, how much we really looked alike. And I didn't want you to blow him out of the water on the guided tour by thinking ... well ... you know ... he's my brother. Not a ..."

At least my sister doesn't say the obvious.

It doesn't take much of a brain to read Melinda's lips. "Ohh ... crap! ... all this time?" She never gets to start saying what she's thinking 'cause now Mom cuts her off by addressing Aeron D.

"Aeron, it is Aeron is it not? And the last name is ... Deryn?"

The woman who calls herself "Sachem of the Northern Tribes smiles" ... then replies.

"Mrs. Markison, or may I call you Julie?" Mom nods as Aeron gives more than a casual nod towards Dad and Mrs. Agapp. She continues, "Julie, permit me a rhetorical question..."

I think to myself ... how many ... rhetorical questions are there?

"How may I begin ... indeed, this is more than mere chance or circ-umstance. To you and for all others: I am the "Uninvited guest."

"Yes, the first name I use is my given one. It is the same as used, by all women, for generations in my family. And as your daughter Christina has begun the interpretation of the paradigm which you brought forth; I will clarify: for you, for her, for your son Christopher and for the one, the one, who was and still is called, Elias ... the unknown facts.

"After all, you yourself announced me as the "guest dramaturge." That, Julie Athena, would be an understatement.

"Julie, my given name of Aeron, means "goddess of battle or of slaughter." The second, Deryn, is spoken with less emphasis on the first letter of the name, which is indeed the fourth letter of the alphabet: and pronounced as in the paradigm; "There in." It's meaning is but one word: bird. All of my ancestors use it to describe but one: the eagle.

All within me are silent ... except for Elias ... I know ... and I cry for him. While at the same time wonder as to what Christine has just said. And Melinda ... she stands with her mouth open ... staring at me ... with those eyes that I know so well.

The look on Mom's face says it all ... looks like she's holding her breath ... waiting for the other shoe to fall.

Aeron steps from the proscenium arch, on to the apron, and begins.

"Julie, I am known, as "The Sachem of the Northern Tribes" and yes I am Algonquin; mostly. It, Sachem, is for the most part today, as it was long ago, a hereditary position. Yet, for today, for your son and the one called Elias it takes on a greater meaning."

The raven-haired Aeron, removes the handbag she carries from her right shoulder and reaches within. From it she removes ... OHH CRAP! ... it's the same brochure that Mom has just shown Christine. I close my eyes ... and turn away. Both of my sister's look on for me.

Aeron shows the copy to Mom ... who now just shakes her head. Looks like she's going over the edge! Instead of a smile ... her face now gimaces and the tension in her ... well it's not gonna take much of a push to make her fall!

"Julie, no doubt you have seen a copy of this brochure; please, do not worry. For its contents reveal more to all concerned. The grave markers, within the gated cemetery; are discernable. Have you considered their individual significance? I'm sorry, for I do not wish to burden you with further riddles.

"But have you not considered why ... only the headstone of Edwina contains one significant word the other does not? The first one, not chiseled in stone and missing from William's headstone is: faithful.

The one called Aeron D. turns to face me.

"Christopher/Elias ... one and the same ... I carry a last name as well. It was taken, yet not uttered. Not one of my ancestors has spoken it: for to us it was told, it was forbidden, until summoned by the one who in ages past had bore the name, the name of the beloved, of the most feared warrior of all time ... Achilles. The name of his beloved was: Brisa.

"To you, Christopher/Elias, I also have a last name. It is ... Worthington.

teddi · « **Reply #111 on:** June 17, 2008, 11:17:50 AM »

Stillness ... and for the moment all are statues, the silence is overpowering.

All within me are calm and await ... my sisters ... and I ... "through three pairs of eyes" are enthralled and spellbound.

Aeron Deryn ... Worthington? Elias ... you ... no ... me .. or is it us ... were relatives to ... her?

She's what ... a long past and distant sister? So that'd make me ... all I know is that I'll never look at a plate of spaghetti the same way again!

Mom's face is just as thunderstruck as is Dads. Mrs. Agapp ... well ... chocolate cream pies in the face would be a treat she could better understand ... she looks from Aeron to her daughter ... back to Aeron ... her eyes then move to us ... or is it me? And me ... damn! What a joke! Recalls a bitch! Couple that with what I'm dressed as and sitting in ... pull-ups aren't made to hold this much!

Anyhow ... for now ... I guess just calling her Aeron will do. At any rate she speaks once more.

"Julie, as stated, I am Algonquin," briefly smiles and adds, "mostly."

She continues, but the smile fades from her light pink colored lips.

"The Northrn Tribes are numerous, among which are the: Nipissing, Oji-Cree, Odawa, Anishinaabe, Patawotomi, Abanaki, Saulteax, Mississaugas, Algonquin and many others as the Blackfoot, Cheyenne, Menomenie, Fox and Shawnee to name but a few; and others, if you were to include the numerous plains tribes.

"Your daughter began the interpretation with the significance of colors; yet was unable to complete that portion or expand upon it. I will begin there." She looks at me.

"Christopher/Elias, for the moment, we shall address your sister's interpretations." She smiles at me ... and for some reason ... as if it really mattered to her flatly states, "You do look as foretold, in appearance, you are indistinguishable from your older sister. You, and the others, will comprehend shortly. Personally, I too think you are cute!"

With that last bit ... my moaning reaction of, "Ohh no" ... again brings a smile to her face. For me ... the flood gates are open ... pull-ups ain't made for this kind-a crap! At least ... well ... I don't have to worry about that end of it! I think ... did I just make a joke?

She continues. But just as quick ... she's dead serious.

"Please understand, I have both a personal and a professional interest in the matter. Obviously, the personal portion is that we have a past mutual blood relationship. The second, professionally, coincides with the first. I am also a Professor of ancient cultures, folklore and mythology; and hold degrees in each.

"Julie, it would seem that our young wanderer has several talents. Christopher/Elias, you were indeed creative. Would you like me to explain, but a portion of how creative you were?"

I hesitantly nod "yes."

Only now do all within begin to understand. Christina and Krystal are puzzled ... as is Mother and those at the procenium arch ... while The Gallery of the Gods ... the muses* themselves ... smile ... they know!

*(Muses. Muse in mythology, was one of the nine daughters of Zues and Mnemosyne, the goddes of memory. The Muses inspired and presided over the "creative" arts. They were Calliope,Clio, Erato, Euterpe, Melpomene, Polyhmnia, Terpsichore, Thalia and Urania; responsible for epic poetry, history, love poetry, lyric poety, tragedy, sacred song, dance, comedy and astronomy respectively.)

Aerons eyes move to my sister and begins.

"Purple does stand for royalty.

"Christina, according to Homer and mythological text, Astyanax, was the son of Andromache and Hector, Troy's greatest defender. All were members of the royal family in the House of Priam. Astyanax was to be heir to the throne, second only in line to his father: Hector, son the the King. Astyanax his son: was a prince. Alternatively, if you fancy the word, a noble.

"Symbolically, purple , is historically the reserved color of royalty; and as you stated representing courage, purpose and one of resolve; in essence, it presented the finest qualities of nobility.