“Come back here, child!” he shouted.
“Let her go,” said his wife, putting a placating hand on his arm. “She will return.”
“Does she not realize what an honor it is, to be chosen? And she has thrown it away! The shame! It is greater by far than not being chosen at all!”
The wife took a deep breath. “Where is the honor, if you’re not there to see it?”
“What? You’re taking her side?”
“I’m taking no one’s side, husband. But perhaps you would understand better, if boys could be chosen as well.”
“You speak nonsense, woman!”
“Do I?”
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| Image source: openclipart.org |
She smiled. “You always say the elders are wise. Let them do their work. Or one could throw himself into the volcano. Or perhaps the volcano is sated, and needs no more of our daughters.”
“Bah. One might as well say the volcano erupts when it will, regardless of whether we offer it sacrifice!”
“You are wise, husband.” She gave him her most dazzling smile. “Now let us put this aside, and begin planning our daughter’s wedding.”
I like the idea of losing your virginity in order to head off being offered up as a sacrifice to a volcano!
ReplyDeletemarc nash
Makes me wonder if the whole virgin sacrifice thing started off as a ploy by young men to entice young women into their beds!
ReplyDeleteThe "wise" men always seem to look like chumps after the women have their say, don't they? Excellent story, Larry!
ReplyDeleteI think the daughter is pretty damned wise, too.
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure I'd rather find some dude than be sacrificed...
ReplyDeleteWell-crafted. I enjoyed how you revealed, piece-by-piece, what the argument was really about.
ReplyDeleteWe've come a long way, baby. Smart girl. :)
ReplyDeleteVery wise daughter indeed, hopefully the guy she found is someone she actually likes. Great tale :).
ReplyDeleteThe concept was brilliant and you are truly a beautiful writer. - @QuHarrison
ReplyDeleteMarc, I think that's called logic. LOL
ReplyDeleteMazzz, that could be! Historians ought to look into that.
Eric, it's always good to have the other perspective.
Tony, I thought so too.
Icy, sounds like the better choice!
Thanks, Andy!
Danni, yup, I'd say she was the smart one there.
Craig, I think they'll have a wonderful, volcano-free, marriage!
Thanks, QuHarrison, and welcome to the free-range insane asylum!
I've heard of a shotgun wedding, but never a volcano wedding. :)
ReplyDeleteSacrifice or sex? Gee, tough decision! :D
ReplyDeleteThat the elders choose the virgin and then make the women throw her into the volcano just gives it an extra fillip...
ReplyDeleteLoved the characters here. The wife kind of reminds me of the mum in My Big Fat Greek Wedding: "The man may be the head of the family, but the woman is the neck, and the head looks where the neck turns it!" Or something like that.
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Also, I nominated you for a Liebster award: http://the-eyrea.blogspot.ca/2013/01/liebster-award.html
Seems like a worthwhile use of time! Poor volcano gods, they never get laid.
ReplyDeleteNice characters - like the wife - she's my kinda of woman - such a waste throwing a young girl into a volcano!
ReplyDeleteThat's a good mother for you, putting her daughter first.
ReplyDeleteI can just imagine the thoughts some of these young girls have...
ReplyDelete"Hmmm... Now let me think... Volcano, or sex?
Jeez it's a hard call." :)
We always assume rituals like that are accepted in a society. I love stories of dissent.
ReplyDelete"Or one could throw themselves in the volcano." LOL!! That is what I always think when seeing volcano sacrifice movies.
ReplyDeleteAnd yay for the girls! I would make sure to no longer be virgin too heheheh
His wife is one smart woman. He should listen to her. Love this piece!
ReplyDeleteWonderfully complex set of ideas here in such a short piece. Cleverly done.
ReplyDeleteAdam B @revhappiness
Bending the rules at its finest! Clever girl, clever mother!
ReplyDeleteChuck, it's gonna be a hot time! (couldn't resist)
ReplyDeleteGanymeder, one's a lot more fun than the other…
Katherine, sometimes being the power behind the throne is the way to go…
JohnW, two words: premature eruption. :-P
Helen, one Daddy-o calms down, I think he'll agree.
Hi Gail, welcome to the free-range insane asylum! As I was writing these responses, it occurred to me that one of the stereotypical gender roles are reversed: here, it's the women who are logical and the men emotional.
Steve, it might be more like, "volcano, or have everyone royally peeved at me for a while?"
Marianne, it's a matter of picking your battles. Instead of banging heads with everything, do something that keeps you alive for another battle later on. :-D BTW, your linked hasn't been updated in a while; do you have a #FridayFlash somewhere else this week? Maybe I should check the collector.
Sylvia, it just seems so logical, doesn't it? ;-)
Cherie, I think he'll listen, once he calms down.
Thanks, Adam!
Cindy, I think my first thought along these lines was when watching the movie Dragonslayer. The girl is, telling the boy that she's worried about being selected… "and I'm still a virgin." The boy was more than a little obtuse; he let the opportunity flew right on by. I mean, all he had to say was, "hey, we can do something about that."
I half expected a "It is known" line, such was the tone as I read it! Great stuff, Larry.
ReplyDeleteAt least she avoided the terrible pa-lava of melting to death!(Sorry)
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