On 8 Oct 2010 22:46:02 -0500, " +Grant. " <+Grant@grant.grant> wrote:
>In article <7cbua6llc4nne19s0rtbgcn2cogveqj57v@4ax.com>, HMS Victor
>Victorian <victorvictorian@hushunomail.com> wrote:
>
>> Act 4, Scene 2
>>
>> The Pries
>> t
>> Sunday, April 11th, 11:30 am
>>
>> Father Schroeder's office at St. Peter's. Schroeder and the
>> Macmillans are seated in comfortable easy chairs, taking refreshment
>> the priest had prepared for their visit. He'd given Nigel a Coca
>> Cola, which remained untouched, as were the biscuits on his plate. The
>> boy lay sprawled across the office rug, entranced by pictures of Waura
>> Indians of the Xingu in a Royal Geographic he'd discovered on the
>> shelf.
>>
>> "I'd say your desperation was well founded!" Father Schroeder laughed.
>> It was a pleasant but peculiarly high laugh that matched his
>> diminutive stature. "I'm still mystified at how quickly Nigel got out
>> of his clothes, and more so as to how quickly you got him back in
>> them!"
>>
>> The priest laughed again, but let it subside into a moment of
>> discomfort. Neither Roger nor Angela seemed to appreciate the humour
>> of the situation.
>>
>> "Would you care for an aspirin?" he asked Mrs. Macmillan with real
>> concern. "Perhaps a bit of brandy?"
>>
>> "The former, please, Father," Angela replied, "Though I am greatly
>> tempted to take the latter. I've got a beastly headache."
>>
>> The priest drew a small tin of aspirin from the lamp table drawer, and
>> then slid out of his chair to get Mrs. Macmillan some water.
>>
>> "Thank you very much for the beautiful blessing this morning," Roger
>> said, mostly to fill the silence. "It was very considerate and meant a
>>
>> "It was my pleasure," the priest replied, "But from what I see now, I
>> Indianer. Would you like to take that home with you, Nigel?"
>>
>> "Yes, please sir." The boy said.
>>
>> Schroeder stood there for a moment, smiling down at him, then brought
>> his attention back to the parents.
>>
>> "How long has Nigel been interested in Indians of South America?"
>>
>> "Perhaps you know, dear."
>>
>> Angela looked perplexed.
>>
>>
>> "He doesn't bring any books home about Indians, or anything else with
>> a similar theme?" the priest asked, then added, "If you know what I
>> mean."
>>
>> "No. No, I don't believe so."
>>
>> "Very well." Father Schroeder folded his hands in front of him, "If
>> you feel it appropriate and with your permission, I would like to talk
>> to Nigel alone for a few minutes. Stroll around the garden, if you
>> wish. It's very nice at this time of year."
>>
>> "Oh, yes. Certainly." Mr. and Mrs. Macmillan said, obediently
>> standing, and the priest politely escorted them out. It was a few
>> minutes before he came back in, closed and locked the door. He eased
>> back into his leather chair.
>>
>> "Let's talk about things, Nigel," he said. "Would you like to talk?"
>>
>> "Are you going to do an examination?" the boy replied without looking
>> up from the magazine.
>>
>> "What do you mean an 'examination'?"
>>
>> "Oh, like Ian did. My therapist." Nigel answered off-handedly.
>> "Looking for ouches and bumps and swollen parts."
>>
>> The priest chuckled.
>>
>> "Dear Lord, no." He said, and patted the overstuffed arm of his chair.
>> "Come and sit here next to me, Nigel."
>>
>> The boy closed the Royal Geographic, slipped it under his waistcoat so
>> as not to forget it, then got up and unhesitatingly climbed onto the
>> priest's chair. He straddled the chair arm like mounting a horse, the
>> leather making squeaking sounds. The effect was to hike up his short
>> trousers, making his skinny legs appear longer and even whiter.
>>
>> "Are you comfortable?"
>>
>> "Not very, Father Arnold." Nigel said. Lying to a priest was a bad
>> thing. "But it's not a bother."
>>
>> "That's a good fellow," Schroeder patted the boy on a bare knee. "Call
>>
>>
>> "Your mummy and daddy are very concerned for you. They don't
>> understand why you must remove your clothes in public. Can you tell
>> me why?"
>>
>> Nigel began to fiddle with his zip.
>>
>> "I want to be comfortable. I don't feel comfortable when I've got
>> clothes on."
>>
>> "Were you always that way?"
>>
>> "No, I don't think so."
>>
>> "Well, when did it start?"
>>
>> "I don't remember."
>>
>> "You're mummy says perhaps it was four or six weeks ago," Father Arnie
>> mentioned, scratching an ear. "March? February, perhaps? Awfully
>> cold to be running around undressed, don't you think?"
>>
>> Nigel furrowed his brow and pursed his lips, thinking.
>>
>> "I think it was last summer, when we were on holiday. We went
>>
>> "So your mummy let you go swimming without clothes on." The priest
>> finished for him.
>>
>> "Yes. It was my first time." Nigel nodded his head a bit in
>> embarrassment, "I think I quite liked it."
>>
>> "Well, of course you did!"
>>
>> she made a lot of fun of me and said all kinds of things."
>>
>> grin, "That as a boy I would go swimming without any clothes on at
>> all?"
>>
>> "Really?" Nigel was suddenly impressed, and he looked directly into
>> the priests eyes for the truth. "You DID?"
>>
>> "Ja, ja, wirklich. But you must promise not to tell a single soul."
>> He lightly tapped Nigel's nose with a finger. "My dear chums and I
>> would run off to a little lake near my boyhood home and spend the day
>> there, swimming and lying in the grass, frolicking and having our
>>
>> "Oh, that must have been wonderful fun!" Nigel was entranced by the
>> prospect. "And VERY comfortable."
>>
>> "Yes, it was." Father Arnie smiled, remembering. Then he turned
>> somewhat serious. "But the day always ended, and we got dressed again.
>> We got dressed and returned to our homes and our everyday lives. As
>>
>> The priest sounded more regretful that he had intended.
>>
>> Nigel fell silent, looking at Pooh's hands creeping round on his
>> wrist watch.
>>
>> "We forgot our childhood freedoms, and life went on, as it should."
>> Then Father Arnie posed a question to Nigel. "Do you know why we wear
>> clothes?"
>>
>> "Because we'll catch our death?" Nigel said, "Or get a cat scratch or
>> get it caught in the door?"
>>
>> Father Arnie suppressed a laugh.
>>
>> "Not actually. Do people in your neighborhood wear clothes when it is
>> hot outside?"
>>
>>
>> "So, why don't they take them off?"
>>
>> "Because," the boy dared to guess, "It's nasty?"
>>
>> "No, no." the priest shook his head. "It's not nasty. God made us,
>> just as he made everything. Our Father doesn't make nasty things. His
>> creations are beautiful, as you are beautiful."
>>
>> "Then why?"
>>
>> "Do you remember the story of Adam and Eve, and the Garden of Eden?"
>>
>> "I think so."
>>
>> "Well, you recall that God the Father told Adam that all he saw in the
>> beautiful garden, all the plants and animals and insects and birds
>> and, yes, even Eve, was made for him, for his Father loved him so.
>> Adam and Eve were innocent, just like little children. God the Father
>> wanted to know if Adam would obey him, just as you obey your Daddy. So
>> The Father warned Adam that he shouldn't eat from a particular tree or
>>
>> "The apple tree." Nigel finished.
>>
>> The priest smiled.
>>
>> "Korrekt! It was the tree of knowledge. Still, Eve took a bite of
>> the fruit. It was delicious! When she didn't die, she had Adam take
>> a bite, too. And what do you think happened?"
>>
>> "God threw them out of the garden." Nigel answered.
>>
>> "When Adam and Eve had eaten the fruit, they weren't innocent anymore,
>> like small children. They could know good and evil. All of a sudden,
>> they knew they were naked, and they were ashamed of their bodies, so
>> they put on leaves to cover themselves."
>>
>> "Really?" Nigel asked, looking quite baffled. "So being naked IS
>> nasty, but Adam and Eve just didn't know it because they were like
>> little children, and then they ate the apple and they knew it was
>> nasty?"
>>
>> "More or less, and from that day, people have covered themselves up."
>>
>> "So God doesn't want me to take my clothes off?"
>>
>> Father Arnie hedged the question.
>>
>> "It's seen as immodest and immoral, particularly if boys and girls are
>> together," he explained. "So, do you see why your mummy and daddy were
>> so concerned for you?"
>>
>> "I guess so, Father Arnie." Nigel began fidgeting though his short
>>
>> "What is it, Nigel?"
>>
>> Nigel heaved a long sigh.
>>
>> neighbour."
>>
>> The priest leaned back, both mystified and intrigued.
>>
>> "What do you mean?"
>>
>> "I picked some flowers from her garden for my mum. I knew it was
>> wrong because Mrs. Whitby told me 'You better stay out of my garden,
>> nasty little boy', but she didn't ever say why I had to stay out or
>> what she'd do if I got in."
>>
>> "I'm not sure I understand your parable," Father Arnie smiled.
>>
>> "My daddy sometimes punishes me when I'm bad and he says if you don't
>> take out the rubbish then you will have to sit in a corner for a time
>> with Pooh. He always says what he's going to do if I'm bad. Mrs.
>> Whitby didn't say she'd take me over to Mum and say terrible things
>> about me in front of her. Isn't that what God did to Adam?"
>>
>>
>> "God made Adam go away from his garden and all his animal playmates
>> and he didn't even tell him that he'd do that." Nigel continued, "And
>> it wasn't even his fault, was it? Eve tricked him, because she wanted
>> to be his only playmate-she didn't like all the animals. I don't
>> think girls like animals very much."
>>
>>
>> "Well, it's not fair. God is supposed to be fair. She did a bad
>> thing, and God made both of them leave forever, and now no one can go
>> in the garden, not even the animals. My Daddy just makes me sit in a
>> corner with Pooh. He doesn't lock me out and say 'Go and don't come
>> back.' Adam's father should have told Eve to go, and then let Adam
>> stay. It was her fault."
>>
>> Nigel looked up from his lap at Father Schroeder. The priest was
>> sitting there, speechless.
>>
>>
>> Somewhat encouraged, Nigel continued.
>>
>> sat for a time that I have to apologise , and then everything is
>> alright and we sit and watch William Tell on the tellie and eat ice
>> cream with butterscotch. God didn't let Adam apologise and say he was
>> sorry. He just made him leave forever and ever."
>>
>> "But, Nigel." Father Arnie whispered, "It is hard to know God's will,
>> but we know God the Father loved his son Adam, and he loves you, too."
>>
>> "Well, I think he's not a nice father at all." Nigel set his jaw and
>> nodded firmly to himself. "I like my daddy much better."
>>
>> "Oh, Nigel," Schroeder murmured sympathetically. "You're still very
>> young, and it is hard to understand these things when you are a
>> child."
>>
>> Nigel gave him startled look.
>>
>> "But didn't Jesus say he wanted everyone, even the grown ups, to be
>> like a kid?"
>>
>> "Yes, certainly true."
>>
>> "I don't think grown ups understand." The boy reasoned, "They're too
>> grown-uppily."
>>
>> "Yes, "the priest confessed, opening the lamp table to fetch out an
>> aspirin. "They can be very grown-uppily, I'm sorry to say."
>>
>> made Adam and Eve and everyone naked, then why did he say it was nasty
>>
>> Nigel stopped and glanced away, wrinkling his nose and trying to get
>> the right idea. Then his eyes lit up.
>>
>> "It's like when I bring Mummy a particularly good colouring picture I
>> drew at school and she always says how pretty it is, even if I was
>> scribbly, and then she puts it up on the refrigerator with cellotape
>> pretty!' and then put it away in the wardrobe?"
>>
>> Nigel giggled. "I think that's silly!"
>>
>>
>> think he can see through everything like walls and doors and
>> bedclothes and underpants and mountains and train cars. I don't think
>> he cares if people wear clothes. I think it's the grownups that care
>> because Jesus said he likes little kids better than them. What do you
>> think, Father Arnie?"
>>
>> "Nigel," Father Arnie admitted, shaking his head, "I suddenly have no
>> idea."
>>
>> HMSVV2010
>
>Right on, Nigel!
>
>Simple logic, and religion and social customs, aren't compatible.
>Coincidence my next Stevie story speculates on the logic of God?
>I could say great minds think alike, but we will have to find one who
>is your equal, first.
>
>I think if you posted them individually, you could generate more
>responses. I know it's hard not to post all you've written at once.
>It's a gigantic temptation for me, which is very hard to resist.
>Anyway you do it, I hope you continue. Well written and fun, with some
>good commentary.
Dear Grant,
Thank you. Such commentary coming from you is indeed a compliment.
Wishing you the very best,
V
God Save the Queen.
God Bless the Prince of Wales.
God Preserve the Windsors.
Rule Britannia!
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