A while back I took a creative writing class. It was a lot of fun, and I wrote quite a few short pieces for it, so I thought I would share them with you.
This was the first assignment, which was to write a story which follows someone. I chose one of the many actors at our local Renaissance Fair, and the title is his character name. I hope you enjoy it!
Title: Blithe
Date: 10/13/05
Assignment: Follow Someone
His leaves blow about him wildly in the strong autumn breeze. His face, painted with grain designs in brown and greens, shows how he loves his work. Children giggle and point as he passes them. Mothers and father cling tightly to their little ones as they try to follow the man in his strange costume. Brutal teenagers laugh at what they think is his misfortune; to have to be The Treeman must be a fate worse than death. But he always gets the last laugh, jumping out from a well hidden nook amongst the other trees, making the toughest of the boys squeal with fright. He has done this for many years, has mastered the art of being The Treeman. The Faire would not be the same without him.
He slips silently into the little trailer, moving as gracefully as ever. With the utmost care he removed his leaves and branches, his makeup and tattered clothes. He emerges back into the world as just another faire-goer, making his way home after a long day of games and food and shopping. No one notices that with each step his tall frame seems to sway with the breeze. Unconsciously, the children stare at him as their parents drag them off, away from the magic of the faire, to be washed and fed and put to bed. As he makes his way out of the painted wooden gates he is all graceful nods and smooth gestures, waving his farewells to the other members of the staff, silently congratulating them on another well worked faire day. He drives his small car the short distance to his quant home, taking the back roads. He is surrounded by trees, and he is comfortable, after all these years.
He bounds from the car, excited that for once he is Home and not at some dingy hotel in God only knows where. Its dinner time, and he can already smell the sweet sausage as it cooks. Everyone is inside, most likely washing up for their coming meal. Making as little noise as possible, he creeps into the house and sneaks upstairs. He can hear his children splashing each other in the bathroom, but practices great restraint and continues to his own room to ready for the meal. He is not supposed to be home yet, but the Faire will continue short The Treeman tonight. He listens contentedly as his children race down the stairs to their dinner. He slowly sneaks down after them, careful to avoid that third step; it squeaks. Tonight he would sit down to eat, surrounded by his beloved family, as nothing other than himself. Tonight, The Treeman can rest.
Authors Note: Blithe is the name of a mythical forest fairy/spirit from English medieval folklore. He is portrayed as ‘The Treeman, Blithe’ at several Renaissance Faires, namely The Connecticut Renaissance Faire.
2 comments:
I thought his name was Blight, darling. Like diseased...
When I asked him at the faire I remembered him telling me that his name was from old English Folklore, and when I looked up about it, Blithe was what I found. It might have been, but I didn't see folklore about a "Blight". *shrug*
Post a Comment