The Bald Eagle

The Bald Eagle

Friday, April 22, 2016

Shift, Sing, Slide, Stamp, Square Dance, A Fable out of The Child and The Prophet




















Water Lily





The evening sun hung over the ocean, a water lily was budding on Lily Pad; The Prophet was preparing seaweed and squib, Octavio had brought up from the sea. 


Octavio dived under Lily Pad and stamped right where The Child was standing. The Child shifted, sliding past the water lily giggling merrily.

"Are you dancing, Child?"

The Child







"Yes, Prophet. With Octavio. He's under the water stamping Lily Pad and hitting my feet."

"Oh."



" Want a try it?"

"I'd much rather square dance, Child."

Octavio accelerated his stamping exuberantly, and The Child hopped and slid shifting toward the Prophet enthused.

"Will you show me how to square dance, Prophet?"

"If you want."

"I want."

Octavio







Octavio stopped and came up from under Lily Pad and swam beside them.



"Prophet?"

"Yes, Child?"

"Is Mr. Whale and Mr. Eagle coming back?"

"Why do you ask?"

"I made them mad when you disappeared."

"Oh."

The Child

"So are they coming back?"

"We'll see."

"Prophet?"

"Yes, Child?"

"Instead of saying we'll see, tell me."

The Prophet chuckled.


"Dinner's ready. Fresh dandelion salad and squib, courtesy of Octavio."

"When will you show me how to square dance?"

"Tomorrow, Child. Tonight, I want you to hear your voice."

They ate in silence, observing the ocean.  Afterward, The Child, sitting by the water lily, opened her mouth and sang out from her heart:

Walk down that lonesome road
All by yourself
Don't turn your head
Back over your shoulder
And only stop to rest yourself
When the silver moon
Is shining high above the trees,


The Prophet











And The Prophet listened with tears in his eyes.


Shalom Aleichem,
Pat Garcia





















*Lyrics, That Lonesome Road, James Taylor, from the album, Dad Loves His Work, Label: Columbia/Legacy, 1981.

*Acapella Video Recording courtesy of YouTube: https://youtu.be/LSNW-3GteZw 

28 comments:

  1. You're drawing me int deeper. Lovely story. @sheilamgood at Cow Pasture Chronicles

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much, Sheila.

      Visiting from the A to Z Blog Challenge.

      Shalom,
      Patricia @ EverythingMustChange

      Delete
  2. My daughter told me that she knew "we'll see" really means "no."

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Your daughter is correct. The old African-American people born in the Deep South used to always say, "We'll see," when they wanted to say No to an inquisitive child. They wanted to spur them on to seek the answer for themselves.
      You have a very wise daughter. Not very many people know that.

      Visiting from the A to Z Blog Challenge.

      Shalom,
      Patricia @ EverythingMustChange

      Delete
  3. Oh my! The tears caught me. Then I went to the link and that sealed it. I know the end is coming. Sniff sniff

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are such a dear. Sending you a big hug with lots of love.

      Visiting from the A to Z Blog Challenge.

      Shalom,
      Patricia @ EverythingMustChange

      Delete
  4. Dropping by to say hello! Looking forward to see the complete story! :)

    Anna
    ATSP @ Deeply Shallow
    @natzers

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much.

      Visiting from the A to Z Blog Challenge.

      Shalom,
      Patricia @ EverythingMustChange

      Delete
  5. And where will the Prophet lead her next? Or is his job nearing the end?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That my dear is a very good question. Thanks for coming by.

      Visiting from the A to Z Blog Challenge.

      Shalom,
      Patricia @ EverythingMustChange

      Delete
  6. Oh, I want to see Octavio square dance!!! That would be a sight worth seeing!

    @Kathleen01930
    Meet My Imaginary Friends
    #AtoZchallenge

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think with eight legs he would be a perfect square dancer.

      Visiting from the A to Z Blog Challenge.

      Shalom,
      Patricia @ EverythingMustChange

      Delete
  7. The child sure is learning to become independent. Good for her. Interesting post. Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, she is. She has to learn to be independent.

      Visiting from the A to Z Blog Challenge.

      Shalom,
      Patricia @ EverythingMustChange

      Delete
  8. I think it would be rather hard to square dance on lilly pad. Maybe on whale, if he ever comes back. And brings a few more square dancers. Perhaps Pinocchio and Geppeto.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you. I really love your sense of humor.

      Visiting from the A to Z Blog Challenge.

      Shalom,
      Patricia @ EverythingMustChange

      Delete
  9. Lovely! I have to say, Jeffrey Scott's comment made me giggle.
    Awakening Dreams and Conquering Nightmares with a Pen
    Be well!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. His comment made me burst out in laughter too.

      Visiting from the A to Z Blog Challenge.

      Shalom,
      Patricia @ EverythingMustChange

      Delete
  10. Captivating and absolutely lovely!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Donna. I will be dropping by your blog.

      Visiting from the A to Z Blog Challenge.

      Shalom,
      Patricia @ EverythingMustChange

      Delete
  11. 'We'll see' means no, a sad fact of life that children learn very quickly. Lovely story and yes, as it nears the end, a sense of sorrow.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you. I feel a sense of sorrow also even though I know the complete stories will come out in book form. There are so many stories that have not been written in the Challenges, but they will be in the book.

      Visiting from the A to Z Blog Challenge.

      Shalom,
      Patricia @ EverythingMustChange

      Delete
  12. I too would love to see an octopus square dance! Lovely piece.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't think Octavio would have any problems square dancing with his eight legs.

      Visiting from the A to Z Blog Challenge.

      Shalom,
      Patricia @ EverythingMustChange

      Delete
  13. I love the fact that the Prophet knows how to square dance.

    ~Ninja Minion Patricia Lynne aka Patricia Josephine~
    Story Dam
    Patricia Lynne, Indie Author

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah! The Prophet is knowledgeable in all things.

      Visiting from the A to Z Blog Challenge.

      Shalom,
      Patricia @ EverythingMustChange

      Delete
  14. Impeccably done, Patti. Love the soundtrack. Smiling and tears. But, square dancing, hmm.... To each his own. :-)

    ReplyDelete

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