WEP: CONSTELLATIONS
Here we go…my first entry into the Write,
Edit, Publish (WEP) Challenge Bloghop. I’m
new to this, so please bear (or should that be bare; I never know for sure)
with me.
This is an excerpt from my first full-length
work ‘Far Away Eyes’. A little bit of a different ‘take’ on the topic of
Constellations.
The Seven Sisters
(995 words, full critique acceptable)
. “Alex, tell me about the Sisters. Everyone
refers to them like I know all about this.
Who are they? Are they really
sisters? What do they do? This is such an important part of our history, I
think I should know the whole story, don’t you?”
“Of course, let me start at the beginning. When the children of Daniel and Hydrangea
became numerous enough that they could not all meet in a Family council, it was
decided that there should be a body arranged to listen to complaints and make
decisions regarding matters concerning all.
Daniel, being wise and still very much in love with Hydrangea, knew that
it was her Divine Spirit that had kept him going during all of the trials of
their life. Therefore, he proposed that this Council be made up of their daughters
and granddaughters. He felt, and his
sons agreed, that the Divine Spirit is stronger with women and their compassion
is greater. The women of the Dag and Mah-yim would never sanction war. They would think of the children and family
first. They would be kind and loving in all of their decisions. The first Council of the Seven Sisters, also
known as The Pleiades, was convened.”
“The Pleiades, like the constellation?” I ask.
“Exactly. Do you know the story of the Pleiades?”
“No, not really. Something about Orion chasing them
through the sky eternally”
“That’s some of it. After a chance meeting with the hunter
Orion, the Pleiades, seven beautiful sisters and their mother became the object
of his pursuit. Enamored with the young
women, he pursued them over the face of the Earth. In pity for their plight, Zeus changed them
into a flock of doves which he set in the heavens. Our Pleiades come from the vocation of their
mother, Pleione. She was the protectress of sailing. As it is our calling to protect the seas and
all who venture in or on them, it is appropriate.”
“Are they really sisters?” I ask.
“No. Today, in our society, that would be almost
impossible. It’s rare for our families
to have more than one child.”
“Why?” I ask. This
isn’t the first time Alex has made reference to this and I’m confused.
“There are a lot of theories. No one seems to know for
sure. It is not like the medical
communities of the world are rushing to solve the problems of a society that
they do not know exists.”
“Are we like humans in every way? I mean would a doctor
know the difference? Would he recognize that we are not completely human? I don’t think I’ve ever been to a doctor,” I
ask, flooding him with questions again.
“Nor have I. We do not use the medicines of the
world. You should know that. Your mother
is a healer.”
“Well, yeah, but I’ve only seen her do minor things. What about things that need a hospital? Where
do the babies come from?”
“Oceanna, that pretty much works the same way it does for
humans. I am hoping that one day I will
have to chance to show you,” he says, with a smile.
Now I really am blushing. “That’s not what I meant. I was
asking, ‘aren’t the babies born in hospitals’?
I mean, it’s so dangerous otherwise, so many things could go
wrong.” I know I’m babbling, and I don’t
care, because it’s either babble on, or die of embarrassment.
“I was pretty sure you had the general idea. Do you know you are very cute when you get
embarrassed?”
“That’s a good thing, because I seem to embarrass myself
a lot,” I say.
“Baby, I hope you will be comfortable asking me anything
and everything.”
“No problem. I don’t think I’ll be able to top that
remark about the babies though. I hope
you’re not disappointed,” I say, and I find I can smile about it. “Now go on,
tell me about the Seven Sisters. If they’re not sisters, who are they?”
“They can come from any of the families. They are the most powerful women. I have heard it said Marina LaMer would have
been on the Council for the past ten years, had she not chosen to stand by her
daughter. But, it is because she choose to protect her daughter, that she would
be deemed powerful enough to sit with the Sisters.”
“My Grandmother, Really? Exactly what do you mean when
you call them powerful?” I ask, starting to wonder if there are some super
powers I should know about.
“These women are powerful in their convictions and
resolve. Like you grandmother’s decision
to give up everything in our world to put her child first. This has made her
powerful in her compassion and the love of her child and a willingness to
protect her at all costs. Of course, she could not have done that without the
complete agreement of her husband, so don’t think that Sam is not powerful
also.”
“You know, my brother, Tom goes on a lot about our family being a
Matriarchal Society, one run by women. I don’t feel it’s like that with Mom and
Grandma. Of course, Tom thinks I would
side with them because I’m a woman. I just don’t see them pushing him around.”
“It is not like that with the Dag and Mah-yim. The Sisters don’t push anyone around. They
simply make decisions. They must decide
what would be best for all. Sometimes those decisions are hard. That is what happened to my parents. They got caught in a difficult decision. My grandmother was on the Council at that
time, my mother’s mother.”
‘”You never told me that you had a grandmother living.” I
say, surprised.
“She is not with us.
The decision…my mother’s death… broke her heart.”
“Oh Alex, I’m so sorry,” I say as I rest my hand on his
leg. He reaches over, covers my hand with his, and we ride on in silence.
Please leave me a comment or a full critique if you like. Please, say something.
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