Session October 21, 2017

He hadn't talked about it to anyone, not even his grandfather.
by JL

Daniel walked down the street with his grandfather, looking at the performers. He saw human pyramids, fire eaters and living statues, but what he liked the most was the balancing acts, men and women who balance on everything from pins to poles. One was even found balancing on a wine bottle. Daniel saw these feats and wanted so bad to be there. It was exciting. He was a clumsy onlooker and he thought it was a silly dream. He hadn't talked about it to anyone, not even his grandfather, who knew him better than anyone. 

He pulled his grandfather's wrinkled hand towards one of the performers. He was standing on one leg while his limbs were holding up balancing sticks, much like the spinning plates routine only instead  of holding glass plates he held 2 grinning monkeys. Daniel watched amazed as with a bounce he switched the one he was holding on his foot to the other one. Seeing him performing in such a manner gave Daniel confidence. 

He tugged at his grandfather's sleeve. "Grandpa, do you think that I could be up there one day?" His grandfather looked at him seriously, then at the performer, then back. "You sure you want to make a living on a balancing stick?"

"No, grandfather, I mean as a balancing artist!"

"Maybe one day, if you get a couple of sticks and a monkey."

10 years later, Daniel remembers this time as he was about to perform his act. "I wish I had a monkey!" He walked into the spotlight. "But at least I have skill and sticks."

I tried to stay awake to listen for the sound but couldn't keep my eyes open.
by JS

I'd come to India on the midnight train and met her within minutes of my arrival. She'd offered to take me to all those places I'd read about and longed to see, and so we started off in a hired carriage, not caring about the late - or you might say - early hour. 

As the night progressed, turned into day and again the night, I was mesmerized by her kindness, her beauty, her charm. Exploring one ancient temple, I could restrain myself no longer. "Marry me!" I proposed. "We could live here - I'll move! Or come with me to my country.

I had not slept since leaving the train and could not keep my eyes open only for her presence. 

She smiled. "If you can hear the silvery sounds of the Hasmatic bells, which are rung at midnight, I will go with you as your wife wherever you want me to go." She gently touched my cheek, then we continued our tour, however I could hardly attend to her words, so much in anticipation was I of hearing the bells. I tried to stay awake to listen for the sound but couldn't keep my eyes open.

A Dutch official saved the sacred texts from the flames.

By CC

The dove sat peacefully on the little rock ledge and looked out over the panoramic view, which was largely wasted on its little peanut sized brain. But it wasn’t entirely wasted. It was looking for something: far away on the snowy mountain, a small flicker of flame leapt into being. The dove knew what that meant: The sacred texts were burning today. They were burnt every third Sunday throughout the year, and when they ran out of sacred texts, they burnt doves hoping by this sacrifice to get more sacred texts to burn by the next third Sunday. It usually worked, which told the doves what kind of God this was. So all doves kept their eyes glued on the mountain every third Sunday: if they saw fire, they were safe.  From observing the Dutch, the doves had learned a rudimentary form of calendaring that they used to keep track of this rotation, and thereby spare themselves from certain death if they fancied a picnic in the snow on the wrong Sunday. One third Sunday, a Dutch official saved the sacred texts from the flames, which was a bad move. The doves would never say for sure, but many speculated that they were involved on that terrible day when the Dutch official was sacrificed instead of them.

You tell me to get on with something and your voice is so loud the cat jumps.
by MD

It's a long journey through the sand, but I'm happy to get away from that goose of a mate of mine. She's loud and abrasive, and she's been after me for months to make the annual trek south, but I'm getting older now and my pinions ache.

"Gander," she'll honk. "It's time to map the route and get going. The high season in Florida is approaching and we have to stake out our swimming pool before the other geese do."

I admit it. I lost patience with her. "You tell me to get on with something and your voice is so loud that the cat jumps." I knew that would annoy her. She's never understood my affection for the cat - she thinks it's unnatural, but really, Fizzy is a gentle soul and only meows when it's mealtime. Anyway, even though we birds mate for life, every once in awhile its pleasant to exchange the meow and purr for the honk and squawk. 

Well, here I am on the southward trek now, just as Goosie planned. The difference is that Goosie chose to fly - maybe she'll get lost, but if she finds a suitable Florida swimming pool, I know she'll save me a spot. What she doesn't know (because I told her I preferred to walk to spare my painful pinions) is that the route I'm taking leaves a clear path of my footprints in the sand, and Fizzy will be following along soon after me.

My wife was involved in the Sanctuary program at church.
by BG

Being out in the country so far away from civilization, we were just devastated when it went up in flames. What were we going to do? There wasn't a place for miles around that we could possibly use. If we weren't so far away from the nearest rural community...but of course, silly me. That's why this place was chosen. My wife was involved with the Sanctuary program at church. And indeed they analyzed several possibilities but in the end selected the location because it was perfect  - a sanctuary for Elsie. Poor Elsie, where could we take her now? We had given her sanctuary to avoid return to the Borden Company, where she had escaped from many years ago.

They rode side by side up the swamp road.

By RC

They rode side by side up the swamp road, Madeleine and Stewart both pensive, as they had been all morning, and disinclined to converse. They had an awful business to attend to on this particular morning, and someone to see in the swamp. Madeleine, or Maddie, as she was known to friends, didn’t usually accompany Stewart on his “outings,” but she just had to assure herself that he would be all right this time. No matter what happened, she had her talisman which could ward off all harm to her and anyone she was with.

They were an odd couple, if the truth were to be told. Madeleine had a penchant for dressing like a man, drinking wine, and riding fast horses. And Stewart was a werewolf. Still, they loved each other in their own ways.

Just that morning in the study they had talked about what they should do concerning Stewart’s problem, which was sure to get him into trouble in this little English town where everyone knew everyone else’s business.

“I just don’t know, Maddie,” Steward had said. “It all seems so hopeless. I don’t know how I ever got this way and I have no idea how to reverse the curse.”

“I think it has something to do with that woman you dallied with back in London,” Maddie replied. I think she was a witch.”

“You really think so?” Stewart replied. “I’m terribly sorry. You know that, don’t you?”

“Of course, dear. It was the witch all the time. You would never do such a thing in your right mind. By the way, she’s moved to this town.”

“No!”

“Yes, and I know where she goes each morning.”

“Where is that?”

“She goes into the swamp, to perform her incantations.”

“Interesting, but what is that to us? You don’t think that I want to come near her again, do you?”

“Of course not. I’ve been doing some research, and talking to folks, as well. It’s an old folk legend that if the witch dies by the hand of the person she’s bewitched, all spells are reversed.”

“Really. But I couldn’t do such a thing. Never!”

Maddie gave Stewart that look she was famous for: the steady gaze and the half smile that said she knew something you didn’t. “I know Stewart, you’re so kind,” she replied. “On the other hand, the wolf could do so. And there wouldn’t have to be anything left for people to find. Problem solved.”