CONSTELLATIONS - WEP CHALLENGE BLOGHOP

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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