On Sun, 10 Oct 2010 15:56:12 +0100, Z NP-f6 <z@ak.com> wrote:
>Dear HMS,
>
>I'm loving it thanks. And congratulations on embedding some deep and
>provocative thoughts in an attractive tale. I'm away now to look at
>the visuals.
>
>Love from Z
You are most welcome. Thank you.
>
>On Fri, 08 Oct 2010 08:48:06 -0600, 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
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