Desiderate, Desideratum, Desiderata from The Child and The Prophet

Twilight approached; stars appeared in the heaven; The Child awoke.  Looking out into the open view from the cave, she heard voices outside the cave.

"Her desiderata keep her going, but she can be very stubborn," she heard Mr. Raccoon say. Someone laughed as he continued on. "The desideratum to succeed motivates her."

Who's he talking to?

"I roared let go and fall. I don't know whether she did it out of anger or obedience. I suspect both," said Mr. Raccoon to whoever was now laughing uncontrollably.

 Not fair. He's talking about me.

She moved the blanket of leaves Mr. Raccoon had buried her in to stay warm and sneaked to the opening of the cave. The fire burned; Mr. Raccoon sat; The Child shrieked and began to cry.

"Why are you crying, Child?" The Prophet asked, and standing up, he went and picked her up and brought her to the fire.

"Mr. Raccoon is talking bad about me."

"I'm not, Child. I was telling The Prophet how much I admire you."

"Do you, Mr. Raccoon?"

"Yes. Desideratum cordis tui magnificus!"

Cuddled up to The Prophet, The Child looked at Mr. Raccoon.

"What's he saying Prophet, and why didn't you let me know you got here? You left me alone. And what's desideratum cordis tui magnificus?"

"You're never alone. Mr. Raccoon was with you."

"He roared at me."

"I know."

"So, what means desideratum cordis tui magnificus?"

"What do you think, Child?"

"Is it funny?"

"No."

"But you were laughing."

"I was laughing at Mr. Raccoon's discovery that your desiderata keep you going."

"And what is desiderata?"

"Are, Child."

"Why are, Prophet?"

"Plural."

"Then, what are desiderata?"

"Ask, Mr. Raccoon."

"He won't tell me."

"Shall we eat, Child?"


Shalom Aleichem,

Pat Garcia

Cave, Child, Come, Courage from The Child and The Prophet

The terrain, steep, the rock, hard, Mr. Raccoon led the way downward to the cave.  Above him, he could hear The Child complaining. 

“What’s your problem, Child?”

“I know I saw an easier way to get to this cave, but you wouldn’t listen.”

“I did, but your way wouldn’t have got us where we want to be.”

“How do you know that, Mr. Raccoon?  We didn’t even try it.”

“No use wasting time, Child, and that would have been a waste.”

“Oh, sometimes…”

“Sometimes, what Child?”

“I get the feeling I know more about where we’re going than you.”

Mr. Raccoon laughed at The Child’s assumption.

“It’s not funny.”

“Come, Child.  You need your sleep.”

A few minutes later, The Child felt the rope lightened. She looked down.  Mr. Raccoon was falling. He wasn’t on the other end.

“Mr. Raccoon, where are you? Are you hurt? What am I going to do now?”

“I’m down here in the cave, Child. I fell to the floor.”

“I don’t see a floor.”

“You have to fall down. So let go of the rope, start falling and land on the floor.”

“No! I’m scared.”

“Courage, Child. You’ve got guts, so let go of the rope.”

“I don’t have courage. I’m a scary cat.”

Mr. Raccoon laughed. 

“You’re not a scary cat. I’ve heard about your adventures.”

“From whom? You don’t know me.”

“Are you going to let go of the rope?”

“And what if I fail and miss the floor?”

“You won’t.”

“No!”

“1,2,3 let go, Child!” Mr. Raccoon roared.

Out of anger at his command, The Child let go and began falling.

She opened her eyes as her feet touched the ground.

“It’s beautiful.”

Mr. Raccoon smiled.

“Did you fail, Child?”





Shalom Aleichem,

Pat Garcia

Banter, Bend, from The Child and The Prophet

Bantering back and forth with Mr. Raccoon, The Child reached the top of the summit. She looked at Mr. Raccoon, who didn't seem tired at all.

“We’re on the peak, and there's no tree I can rest in.”

“You don't need one. Today, we're going to sleep in the luxury of a cave,” said Mr. Raccoon.

“Where? I don’t see any cave up here.”

"Correct. It's not up here; it's down there."

"Down where, Mr. Raccoon?"

"About halfway down this side of the mountain."

"You got to be joking."

"I never joke," said Mr. Raccoon. "Hazardous to your health. Although I must admit I like, bantering with you.  You lighten my mood and help me to bend."

"Mr. Raccoon, you've lost me. What's the difference?"

"Difference between what, Child?"

"Between bantering and joking. They're the same."

Mr. Raccoon observed The Child; vexation was written on her face.

"Think so?"

"Yes, I think so."

"Guess, why I have a black spot on my face?"

"That's the way you were born," said The Child.

"Nope. Cause my eyes stand out."

"Now you're pulling my wool."

"That's what joking does?"

"What?"

"Pulls your wool."

"Never seen it that way, Mr. Raccoon. So, where's the cave?"

"Look down on the other side."

"Beautiful. Water is down there."

"Yes, indeed. Right around the bend."

"You mean, I'm almost there?"

"We'll arrive before nightfall."

"Then, let's go. I don't need to sleep."

"You need rest, Child. You'll make it on time."

Suddenly The Child heard the old familiar voice of the person she yearned to see in the wind.

"Rest, Child. You need your strength for what lies ahead."

"Did you hear him?"

"Hear who, Child?"

"The Prophet. He's here."

"Child, The Prophet is always here."

Shalom Aleichem,

Pat Garcia

Astute, Astuteness, Ascent, Ascend, Ascension

They had traveled over two mountains, each ascent steeper than the other. The Child looked ahead at the third. In her astuteness, she wondered if the Raccoon knew where he was going and pondered over whether she should continue the journey or strike out on her own.

“I hear you thinking, Child?”

“No, you don’t.”

“Yes, I do.”

“Oh, what if?”

“What if what, Child?”

“You’re lost.”

“So you think I’m lost?”

“Aren’t you?”

Mr. Raccoon stopped, and she almost walked into his backside.

“I’m not lost, Child. I know exactly where I’m going.”

“Then, why aren’t we there, Mr. Raccoon? All we’re doing is climbing a mountain.”

“Pretty astute, Child.”

“Don’t have to be astute to notice we keep climbing the same mountain.”

“What makes you think that, Child?”

“Because it is. We’re lost.”

“Ah so,” chuckled Mr. Raccoon and kept walking.

“Are we going to ascend that same mountain tonight, Mr. Raccoon?”

“It’s not the same, Child. It looks the same, but it’s different.”

“I hope I meet The Prophet on time.”

“You will.”

“Doesn’t look so. I hope The Prophet waits.”

“He won’t have to wait.”

“Do you always travel at night, Mr. Raccoon?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“It’s safer.”

“Why safer?”

“I love the ascension, Child.”

“Is ascension climbing higher, Mr. Raccoon?”

“Your astuteness astounds me, Child.”

“You mean ascending out of darkness into light?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Ascension is much sweeter, Child.”

“That’s nonsense.”

“You’ll see.”

“See what, Mr. Raccoon?”

“That it’s so.”

Tired of the ascent, The Child wanted to rest.  A familiar voice whispered,

“Come, Child, I’m waiting around the bend.”

“I’m coming, Prophet,” The Child mumbled, astonished. “I’m coming.”

“You say something?”

“He’s here, Mr. Raccoon. I heard The Prophet.”

“Of course, he’s here, Child. He’s always here.”

Shalom Aleichem,

Pat Garcia