Darkdad's Blog

Once in a city too close to the real world for most people care to be comfortable with, lived a woman. Her name was Esther. She fell in love with a sea going man who was home on a short occasion. Some times he was home but days at a time, all be it, their time together was short lived, but to Esther it was magic. Out of this magic came many children. Junior(named after his mostly absentee predecessor) was the eldest. "The one named for God" was next(he was later known as the silent one). Jewel was next, a mesmerizing young princess. The "beloved" one followed. To be be followed by "Father of many" . Then came "The Judge".<br /><br /><br />

During this time the sea going father spent less and less time with the gifts God had granted them. Feeling his attention drawn elsewhere, Esther called upon her best pets Knowledge and Wisdom to help her in this plight. <br /><br /><br />

Knowledge was an owl; her great wings unfurled and said to Esther "I will tell all and not hold back. You o' star, will know what to do". <br /><br /><br />

Wisdom was a humpbacked camel. though large in size, there would be no missteps by wisdom. Having traveled the world by knowing what to do, who to see, where to rest in the shadows of mankinds' world, when to give timely counsel, many a man's path have been changed by wisdom. Whoever listened and obeyed Wisdom's counsel, was truly blessed. <br /><br /><br />

During their fact finding mission, a young troubled man appeared at the gates of the Castle Esther resided in. "Open the gates woman. For I and only I am the true heir here". Esther stood at the gates with her great gifts at her side. "Speak your mind from beyond my gates. I hold the keys. to this castle, and will open to those I choose".<br /><br /><br />

"I am Junior. Your son is but a poor misfit that has claimed my rights". the troubled man said. "He is beside himself." she thought. "My Junior is the fruit of our love, our devotion to each other." she thought to herself. Peering over the embattlements ,her short lived doubts gave way to pity as she saw a small frail boy in tattered clothes with an arrow through his chest. "How can he stand in such a state?" is her first thought. She ordered her courtiers to bring the wounded one in and see to his wounds. In stunned silence and wonder the children saw this familiar stranger enter the main hall.<br /><br /><br />

The true junior said to Esther "let me cut out his lying tongue from his mouth my mother." "Peace, my son she said". "Have I taught you to be a peaceful man instead of a tongue cutter?" said Esther.<br /><br /><br />

The sea fairing man returned to find the troubled man in the infirmary of the castle. "Yes. He is my son" he told Esther. With out so much as an act of melancoly. With her head swimming, she rushed to leave the balcony. The sea fairing man told her "Remember your place woman. I rule." he said in a tone so alien to her she could barely find her way to the stables. "Ready my entourage." she told her court. on the morrow I will make a pilgrimage to the land of my people. "And what of the young man?" they asked. "I'll meet with him on the morrow before I leave." She said. "Has the physician seen to him?" "I know not my Lady." her court reported. "Take me to them." She said " I'll see to his condition myself." she said. As they neared the room, they heard a scream of terror coming from the room, then a loud crash. They entered the room, the once pristine medical room had become a scene of blood and death. The physicians' body was askew against the far wall. It had been used to open the barred window to the room. She drew near to the one who had seen the miracle of birth many a time in those walls. No calming words of encouragement would proceed from the matrons lips. Only the sickening gurgle of death as she passed from our world to eternity. They heard a thud beyond the window. They got to the window just in time to see the disturbed man limping off into the forbidden woods. "A curse, a curse upon you and all of those who abide there with you; !#$." the troubled man yelled. "Yea, go thou not into the darkest of woods, no hope waits for you there. Let us seek together the counsel of The Creator, and He will put all things right." Esther cried. For a moment, he stopped, looked back, and spoke in a voice most inaudible. "It's too late for me most kind one. Yours is a kindness that shall outlive thee". "Nay, make it not so, for in you lives greatness coming from our God." she pleaded with him. "Come, here there is love in abundance for thee from the Father of Lights.",Esther pleaded. "Your words are a fire in my bosom; yet I will not be turned!" he yelled and the forbidden woods enveloped him. It was then she caught a glimpse of her seafaring mate at full gallop...away, away from the troubled son he had abandoned. Away from the castle. Away from it all. <br /><br /><br />

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Chapter Two<br /><br />

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Wisdom the owl returned with news too hurtful to bear. Hers was not the only place her sea-faring husband called "home". A part of her knew all along. Though not willing to give credence to the thought, all those years living alone without a "mate-at-hand" had made her doubt she thought to herself. Now she bore a burden she always imagined, yet never wanted to accept. "M'lady, one such place is not but a days ride away." her trusted confidant said in a quieted tone. "Take me to them" she said" with her voice almost breaking. "I'll see the nightmare to the end". She thought to her self.<br /><br />

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Numb, and dizzy with the thoughts crowding reason to the point of maddness, she arrived. "The ride was not a days ride." she thought to herself. Her trusted friend Knowledge was never wrong though. It was a days ride, her horse Boricua, a stunning, Chocolate colored beast had only shown this kind if fatigue when ridden such a distance without stopping. To her surprise, being lost in thought, she found herself in Cheltengham, one of the many hamlets near the relm. No danger here, just bewilderment over the past events. Everyone at the castle felt the change in atmosphere at the castle. The lack,the shock, of the events had marked the castle with uncertainty. "How could this have happened? Was I not enough for him?" In all their time together, no harsh words were ever uttered. "Had she displeased him in some way?" No. "What then?" These questions passed unanswered through her mind as Knowledge apparently was reaching the outskirts if Cheltengham when the owl came to rest on a small poorly kept shack. The only thing keeping it from looking like a stable on the castle grounds was a chiminey that had a sliver of smoke coming out of the roof. As she approched she noticed two small children playing inside the poorly constructed fence which encircled the property. The small ones played with goat and took turns riding it around the fence line. They reminded her of her little ones at the castle when she realized they bore a simile to her children. "Come in my little ones. Time to..." her words trailed off as the two women who "loved" the same man met for the fist time.<br />

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To be continued....

Last week, my mother died after a long battle with alzheimers. I was honored to be with her as she passed on into Glory. It was one of the most peaceful deaths I witnessed. She reminded me of a wind up music box, that starts off fast, and, toward the end ,slowly winds down. I can say many things about her, A mighty woman of God who kept her family together , in spite of living in a crime ridden New York City Neighbor hood. An overwhelming force for good in a world of hate. A terrific person. A quiet heroine. An allegory is soon to come.

I decided to let my middle son Luke have an overnight with a friend I hardly know. When I requested to speak to the adult in chaRGE the person who answered sounded as young as my son is (Sixteen). I need Godly wisdom to deal with this situation since my first impulse to to got over there and see what's going on. I have a thirteen year old at home also. Should I show my distrust by going, or pray God's guidance in this situation?