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| Childhood Games by Rebekah Griffin Greene, ca. 1991 remembering fun times with an elementary school friend "Wait-don't go in there, the Sorceress will see you." "But I'm a rainbow sprite, and they can be invisible." "No, only water nymphs like me can be invisible." "Well then you go in there." "I'm too scared." "Look, someone has to face the Sorceress, then we can eat lunch and play computer." "OK. I'll do it--but only if you come. I'll give you a water net that makes you invisible." "OK, I'm invisible now." "Shh! She'll hear you." "Sorry." "Oh great Sorceress Bothia, we have come to Lleyn to conquer your evil spell. We have brought great weapons to fight you. We have the Fire-flowers of Death, and the Branch of Doom, and the Pinecone of Eternal Good. We command you to come and fight us!" "What did she say?" "She said we cannot conquer her unless we have the Rock of Light." "Laurie, I'm hungry, can we stop, please?" "Wait--she's scared of us--she's running away! OK, now we can eat." "Good! Wait, you have to make me uninvisible first." "Oh yeah." Amid the fairy dust and inevitable rust, the great Chest lies closed, convalescent home for childhood fantasies. I stare at the glitter and magic and wonder if I've ever really closed the Chest. Have I ever stopped longing to be a beautiful nymph, prancing through the dark green forest? Have I ever stopped longing to face a sorceress and save Lleyn from evil? No; that longing has not stopped, but new aches and desires have been added to it. Childhood games can grow into adult obsessions if one is not careful, if one lets the innocence die... Like a small fragile daisy, I will try to keep it alive... Keep the innocence Alive. |