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Oct. 10th, 2010|06:23 pm |
The milzis was trapped under the ground holding the earth up. When the earth got too heavy for his mighty shoulders he grunted and shifted his position, causing an earthquake. Up above the sun rose and fell, giving birth to the life below; which, when it died, added fossil, oil and silt to the weight on the giant’s shoulders. She, the sun, simmered with jealousy during the day and was absent during the night – for all we know resting.
The girl laid pillows and covers over the slumbering man, hiding him from sight. Then, when the boy came in she asked,
“Where’s XXXX?”
To which the answer was “I don’t know” and the boy jumped on top of the heap of blankets and pillows.
“You’ll trap him!” screamed the girl.
“Who?” answered the boy, stretching himself out.
“He won’t be able to move!” said the girl, who was only four.
The woman took a swig of Bauskas and told the girl a story about a giant who lived under the ground, whose job it was to hold the earth up. She told the girl that the earth was warmed by the sun. She said that if the sun didn’t warm the earth there would be no plants, which would mean that although there would be something to live on, there would be nothing to live off. She said that even though the earth was heavy, the giant knew he had a job to do and he didn’t often grumble. As for the earth; well, what would we do without him?
“I’m the earth,” said the boy, spelling it out for the girl.
“Then I’m the sun!” said the girl, catching on.
She ran out, then ran in, clambering on the boy, who was lying on the man, who was tucked up like a character in one of his daughter’s drawings.
“I wonder if this is the real me,” he thought to himself under the cover. Here, where no one can see me. He thought about how he acted in front of other people and in front of himself (if you see what I mean), wondering if the crust of his personality did it all for him, while he was tucked up inside: blind. Maybe it was because he was tired, maybe it was because no one could see him, or maybe it was because he couldn’t move, but all the commotion up above him seemed perfect, like eternal childhood Saturday mornings –his parents in bed forever. Then, because he was really tired, he pictured himself skipping, which told him something profound about himself and his personality, something he couldn’t remember when he was awoken by the girl, who was shouting:
“Milzis, milzis! The earth has gone! You can get up!”
It was true; there was a lighter load.
“Mmhm”
“Milzis! Celies!”
“Mmmm”
“Milzis, I’ll hit you. I’m strong. I’ll hit you with my rays!”
“Nu, labi”
“Celies!!”
The sun cried, alerting the earth who ran back to assume his original position, causing a mighty fracas which was ended only when one of the flimsy bed legs collapsed and the giant, the sun, and the earth all rolled onto the floor by the feet of the woman, who finishing her beer, told them all they should have been more careful.
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