The Story of Winter, Part 5

"On the third night, the earth took a different approach. Instead of causing another disaster, the earth produced a bounty of its rich resources -- food, fuel, and shelter. See how my riches allow humanity to survive the worst that the other elements may bring, boasted the earth.

"Fire, on the fourth night, took yet another strategy. Rather than spreading itself in wild contagions, fire decided that it's absence would make a far greater threat to humanity. So fire for one night removed itself from the land, leaving humanity cold and afraid. See how humanity calls out to me in their need, boasted fire.

The Story of Winter, Part 4

"The air was given the first night, for a reason which has unfortunately been lost to antiquity," my mother explained, in an obvious attempt to suppress my question. "And on that first night, tornados tore through the land, uprooting homes and sending humanity scurrying for cover. See how I have obliterated all of man's achievements! the air boasted at the end of that first night."

"Water went next, but its plan to flood the land on that second night was thwarted by the air, which did not permit rain to fall, and the earth, which fortified its river banks and sea shores. You cannot allow this interference!, so water complained to the Sun, yet the Sun replied -- yes, dear, the Sun could still talk even though it was sleeping -- that no rules had been made against such actions. May I assume, then, that alliances are permitted as well? asked water, and when the Sun said yes, water and fire made a pact not to interfere with each other's plans. Water then removed heat from the land, causing fearsome ice to form on humanity's roads, crops to spoil, livestock to die. See how I have taken away humanity's ability to survive, boasted the water at the end of that second night."

The Story of Winter, Part 3

I interrupted my mother at that point in her story. I told her that, even though I was just a kid, I knew enough about science to know that the sun was a star, and Earth a planet, and like all planets the Earth rotated around the sun, which meant the sun never really went to sleep like she said in her story. I then asked if the Sun was so smart then why did it need to stage a silly competition in order to figure out which element was the strongest, and by the way, what did any of this have to do with winter?

My mother closed her eyes a moment, then reopened them slowly and spoke softly. "You've asked me three questions. I am glad for your first, for it shows that you do not completely trust storytellers -- no, the sun does not sleep, my little scientist. But when I finish this tale, you may learn that there are truths in stories that cannot be expressed by science. Your second question demonstrates your impatience, for it will be clear by story's end why the Sun's competition is necessary. And your third question -- 'what does any of this have to do with winter?' -- speaks to your lack of faith."

I reminded my mother that she had praised me for not trusting storytellers before so why was she questioning my lack of faith now. She frowned, and said "Johnny Carson's on in ten minutes, kid. You wanna hear the rest of this story, or not?" She tossled my head, which made me laugh, and she continued.

The Story of Winter, Part 2

Resuming her normal tone, my mother continued, "The argument among the elements was felt throughout creation -- wind stirred up the oceans, fire swept through the lands and clouded the air, rivers overflowed their banks. Humanity, driven to desperation by the devastation, cried out to the Sun for deliverance, and the Sun showed mercy on humanity and spoke to each of the elements. 'If you will agree to cease your hostilities,' the Sun decreed, 'I will agree to judge a competition between you. If you will accept my decision as final, I shall determine which of you elements is the mightiest.' The elements agreed that the Sun, whose light shines equally on all, would be the best to judge such a contest, which the Sun set down as this: on each of the next four nights, while the sun slept, one element would be allowed to show its power. After the fourth night, the Sun would determine which element had shown the most power."

The Story of Winter, Part 1

One bitterly cold February evening when I was child, I asked my mother as she was putting me to bed why winter was so harsh. She smiled, tucked the thick blankets under my chin (we turned the thermostat down low in the evening to save money), and asked, "Would you like to hear a story my uncle told me many years ago, when I was a child, a story of how winter began?" Yes, I said.

"Do you know the four elements?" she asked, and I replied that I did -- earth, air, water, and fire.

"Which of these are the most powerful?" she asked me. I told her I was not sure, and she smiled. "Well, if you were to ask the elements which was the most powerful, you would get the same reply from each -- It is I, of course," my mother said, lowering her tone and lifting her hand in imitation of the elemental voices.

Kiss Part 2

Her kiss warmed her deeply, and that warmth emanated out to the cool of her skin, giving her goosebumps. She kissed him to generate that warmth, and hoped to send some of that warmth over to him, through her lips, her hands.

Kiss Part 1

His kiss felt like an explosion, his desire for her releasing after months of suppression, his energy unleashing upon her. He kissed violently, slobbering his lips and thrusting his tongue deep into her mouth -- no thought of technique, just energy and enthusiasm.

Foam Pit Part 4

Bernie pushed yellow foam blocks aside until he was face to face with Annie, who smiled with nervous excitement. He hesitated a moment, then Annie touched his left shoulder, pulled him gently towards her. Bernie reached down, and kissed her lips, swiftly and gently as if they were hot to the touch, and pulled back, pushing against the foam blocks to lift himself up. Annie sat up suddenly, causing Bernie to sit back a moment. He then lunged at her, plunging her deeper into the pit, their lips locked and limbs embraced in an awkward, enthusiastic embrace.

The Eumenides

Ah, you gotta love the Furies. "And now my lungs are blown with abundant and with wearisome work, mankilling." Legend has it that at the initial performance of Aeschylus' play, their site was so fearsome that a pregnant woman in the audience suffered a miscarriage and died. Theirs is a poetic language of violence and terror, and there are few more terrifying figures in literature. Yet there's a point to their terror -- the fear they generate in men is meant to be a constraint on pride and criminal thought. "Men's illusions in their pride under the sky melt down, and are diminished into the ground, gone before the onset of our black robes."

They probably don't generate as much critical attention as the Furies or the other main characters, but you gotta feel for the citizens who are called by Athena to serve on the jury. They're verdict on Orestes' killing of Clytamnestra is a choice between the Furies and the gods Apollo and Athena. Which is worse -- risking the violent wrath of the ancient, vindictive Kindly Ones, or the disapproval of the young, powerful dieties? Aeschylus gives the jury a break by having them split their vote evenly, leaving Athena to intervene divinely and spare Orestes. For me it's all a little too neat at the end, Athena appeasing the Furies by giving them a seat of honor in her city, but it's the language of the Furies that I'll always love about this piece. "There are times when fear is good. It must keep its watchful place at the heart's controls."

Reason

"So why did you join the fencing team?" asked the Coach.

Bernie shrugged. "Not really sure. I just did."

"If you don't mind me saying, I hear that from you a lot," said the Coach. "You make decisions, without thinking about the reason why you're making those decisions. You don't think things through. I worry about you, Bernie -- that's not good."

"Just going with the flow, Coach. Doing what seems right. Is that so bad?"

"Nah, lot of the time that works out just fine. But there comes a time when you have to decide, this is what I want to do. You figure out what it is you want in life, and you go for it. That part about figuring out what you want -- that's what's missing."

Bernie looked silently at the Coach a moment. He then looked to the side, and laughed. "You know what the issue is? I don't know what I want -- but I sure as heck know what I don't want. That's what motivates me, getting away, staying away, from the things I know I don't want."

Foam Pit Part 3

Bernie looked down at Annie, lying sprawled with a wide grin on top of the grey and yellow blocks of foam. He then dropped Annie's coat, pulled off his own swiftly, and leapt awkwardly into the pit to Annie's laughter. Annie sat up and tossed a torn foam block with large divots at Bernie, who gave a cry of mock indignation, then stood up and tossed several blocks at Annie. Annie squealed and began crawling to the edge of pit, and Bernie leapt to tackle her.

Foam Pit Part 2

Bernie veered off from Annie, and walked over to the foam pit. "Kids jump into this?"

"It's a big hit," Annie said, taking of her coat as she walked over to the pit. She handed her coat to Bernie, said, "Let me show you." A balance beam was in place at one end of the pit, and Annie mounted it swiftly. She smiled down at Bernie, and jumped, twisting in the air so that she landed on her back into the pit. She looked at Bernie throughout her fall.

Bernie looked down at Annie, who was lying with her arms and legs spread wide. "Dive in," she said with a giggle. "Give it a shot."

Saturday morning

The accumulated silt of exhaustion had been washed away by a good night's rest, and she began that Saturday with the wonderful expectation of getting a lot accomplished while still free from the anxiety of being on a schedule. All would get done, in its time.

Friday

His view of the world was all of a Friday evening, tired and feeling his exhaustion was proof that he had earned the right to be free of all obligation and responsibility.

Foam Pit

Annie handed her foil to Bernie, then jumped off the balance beam landing next to him. Bernie handed her coat to her and started walking toward the front door; Annie stopped him and pointed to a side door that was closer to where Bernie had parked his car. As they walked over, Bernie noticed an odd pattern in the floor next to the wall. "Is that -- a hole, filled with -- something yellow?"

"Yeah, it is a hole," Annie said with an excited lift to her voice, "filled with large styrofoam blocks that we picked up from a warehouse across the street. That hole used to be the oil changing pit when this place was a garage -- the workers would get down in the pit and work on cars overhead. When they turned this into a gym, the owner thought about covering it over, but then one day she saw those blocks being thrown out across the street and thought she could use them for some type of landing area to protect gymnasts when they dismount. And then she looked at this pit again, and suddenly, it all came together for her. Little kids love it -- they just jump right in."

The Wall Part 5

Bernie stood with his foil, not moving. A moment passed before LYS motioned him forward, saying "You're supposed to be attacking me."

Bernie walked forward, then lunged with his foil. LYS swiftly parried his attack aside, saying "No! Extend your arm first, then lunge. Do it again!"

Bernie gathered himself, then with a deliberately slow motion to show that he was doing as he was told, extended his foil until his arm was straight. He then lunged, and LYS swiftly parried again. "Better. At least you had right of way that time. Now again, quicker this time."

Bernie extended and lunged in the same motion, and this time when LYS parried he riposted immediately and scored a hit on Bernie. "Not fast enough. Next!"

The Wall Part 4

DJ thrust his arms down forcefully, the swish of his linen proclaiming his frustration, and stormed away. Cassandra approached LYS, humming.

LYS help the palm of his left hand up to Cassandra. "Hold on, little one. There's no talking during a bout."

"It's how I concentrate," said Cassandra.

"No talking," insisted LYS.

"I wasn't talking, I was humming."

"Look, if you're not ready to follow the rules, then you obviously don't belong here."

"Hey!" cried the Coach. "I'm in charge here, I say who stays and doesn't."

Cassandra had turned her head to look at the Coach, then turned back to LYS, and looked at him squarely. "Victory is not possible for you," she said.

LYS' eyes got big. The Coach stepped forward and was about to speak, when suddently LYS laughed. "OK then!" said LYS. "Show me what you've got."

Cassandra approach gingerly, and LYS stood motionless, chuckling. Cassandra extended her foil, feet still on the ground, and LYS, rather than parrying, leaned to his left to avoid the touch. Cassandra extended again, and LYS leaned to his right, chuckling more forcefully. Another extension, and LYS ducked down, then extended with his foil for the touch.

Balance

Bernie walked into the high-ceilinged gymnasium, which still had the black smell of motor oil from the building's former tenant. He saw Annie, wearing dance shoes powdered in white chalk, standing high on the balance beam. She was holding her foil, eyes focused on the tip, her knees bent. She lifted the toes of her lead foot, then the heel, moved the foot forward, then quickly raised her back foot and brought it forward. Another advance, two, then a retreat, rear foot lifting and going back followed by a push off her front.

The Libation Bearers

This is the second play in Aeschylus' Orestia trilogy. The focus here is on Electra and Orestes, Agamemnon's children, both of whom seek revenge for their father's murder. Yet while Electra never hesitates in her call for divine vengence against her mother and stepfather, Orestes almost has to be forced into the deed -- his buddy Pylades has to remind him that Apollo has threatened all kinds of ghastly discomfort should he fail. There's some simple but effective dramatic touches as well -- setting the scene in the evening, the nurse Clissa's almost comic monologue on childrearing ("the nurse and the laundrywoman had a combined duty"), and Orestes' display of the sheet that ensnared his father during his murder as he argues the justice of his action to the audience.

The Wall Part 3

Annie stomped her lead foot in anger, giving way in a huff to DJ, who quickly launched himself at LYS. DJ thrust his foil, and LYS parried with a loud clang, staggering a bit from the force of DJ's attack. DJ and LYS then lunged simultaneously, both hitting the other.

"Second intention" DJ said quickly.

"Incorrect!" LYS replied. "Parry riposte. The right of way is mine, as is the touch."

"No! My second intention came before the riposte."

"Enough!" cried the Coach. "Continue the drill -- next fencer!"

The Wall Part 2

The team lined up behind Butch to begin the drill, a series of one-touch duels. Butch lunged clumsily, and LYS parried and riposted (with an audible tut of impatince) to score quickly. Butch moved aside for Annie, who stood calmly and waited for LYS to make the first move. He lunged to her right, and she moved her foil to parry; however, LYS flicked his wrist down and to his right, his foil moving under Annie's parry, and he completed his lunge to score a touch. "That, my dear," he said with panache, "is your basic disengage thrust."

The Wall

"So what now, Coach?" Last Year's Superstar yelled. "Wall drill?"

The Coach cleared his throat. "Yeah. Wall would be good."

"Cool! I'll start." Donning a mask and taking up a foil, LYS walked to the far side of the cafeteria, the wall opposite the large windows. LYS turned his back to one of the tables, rolled up vertically on large wheels covered in dust-covered grime.

"And who do we have first?" he asked, as Butch approached.

"My family calls me Billy," he said in an affected tone of nobility, "but I prefer the name, Butch." He brought the hilt of his foil up to his face, and extended it vertically in salute.

LYS swiped his foil sharply, clanging loudly again Butch's. "This is a drill, you clown," he said. "You don't salute in a drill!"

Remise

DJ lunged again, and attempted the same disengage-thrust technique as before. Bernie recognized the tactic, this time parrying DJ's attack. He lunged into his riposte, but the tip of his blade sailed over DJ's shoulder. Bernie cursed, dropping his shoulders.

"Remise!" the Coach yelled. "If you miss, draw back your elbow quickly, and attack again. Don't give up so easily."