Phaedra

Phaedra's Downfall: An Unfortunate Result of Forbidden Love

            Phaedra's Greek name meant "bright". Ironically, her name did not match the hue of her darkened days. Even though she was secretly in love with her step-son, Hippolytus, she had to carry out her pure, womanly manner each day; for, not one soul was supposed to find out about her sinful feelings. Her forbidden love for him caused her severe frustration. Such frustration is delivered in scene III when Phaedra blames the gods (especially Venus) for her ruined life by stating to her nurse, "The gods have made me mad." The continuous increase in lust she experienced each day was more than she could take, and it eventually drove her to her death.

            Phaedra's feelings were uncontrollable, and as a result, poor Hippolytus was the blame and had to suffer for her death because his father, Theseus, was incredibly angered by his wife's death. Hippolytus never asked for any of the feelings his step-mother had once secretly conjured. He paid a hefty price for something he did not do by his fathers' orders. It just seems that both were at the wrong place at the wrong time during their lives. One can't help but feel sorry for both Phaedra and Hippolytus.

A Change of Heart

I've been craving a greasy, McDonald's double cheeseburger ever since the very first day I started this bloody gluten-free diet three months ago. Have I been successful? I think so. Though the pounds have not melted off like glaciers basking in the Mississippi sunshine, the weight has certainly not revisited my body. I'm losing it slowly, and that's the way I intend it to always be as long as I am to not eat gluten. So did I pass up the opportunity to shove a delectable, greasy double cheeseburger into my mouth? Yes and no. I think perhaps an evil force that dwelled inside some parallel universe told me to buy those two burgers; however, I am glad that it did. You see, I wasn't the only person craving those burgers.

I made the purchase and skipped out the door in a gleeful manner (Okay, I really didn't skip. Instead, I just walked at a fast pace for fear of seeing someone I know catch me ruining my diet after all the weight loss bragging I've been doing). As I was halfway to my moderate car, a black Dodge Neon, I saw the saddest sight; a scruffy, sight-for-sore-eyed man who was aged beyond his years. He could have been a Marine veteran, or someone who has lost his home like many people are experiencing during this difficult time. He may have been someone's father, and at one time, was someone's son. Or perhaps he was an angel who was sent from heaven to test my kindness. Above all, he was a man who was obviously hot in this summertime heat, hungry, homeless, and very alone. Feeling dreadful about seeing this guy, my heart tugged at my conscience and said with a sigh; guess you don't need those burgers after all, Jena McFatty. All saliva activating in my mouth came to an abrupt halt.

I approached the vagrant cautiously while trying to maintain a positive attitude. I didn't want him to feel embarrassed around the people on the street. I simply greeted him and asked if he wanted some lunch. He was taken aback and asked, you don't want it? Of course I didn't. I handed him the paper sac that contained those steamy, hot burgers that would have put at least an extra undesirable inch on both my thighs. He blessed me and I just gave him a nod and walked back to my modest, little car. As I drove away and looked to see what he was doing, he had already had a huge bite of burger in his mouth. Another trash is another man's treasure they say. Yet, that old man appeared to have had gold in his hands.

If I could have done more, I wish I could have. He'll never know what a huge favor he did for me. I don't think I'll be craving a double cheeseburger, or any other kind of burger for that matter, for a very long time. Maybe we'll meet again or maybe not. Regardless, I really hope upon all hope that he soon finds his way, wherever or whenever that may be. If this was a sign from above, then they've done quite well in helping me know the difference between "want" and "need".

A Short Story about Verbal Abuse that Ends Well

Visiting a Familiar Place

            The last ounce of light desperately squeezed its way through the thick trees as she quietly shut her closet doors. Smells of musty, yet fresh fungi adhered to dead logs along the enchanted trail of the forest. Their colorful layers led the girl in a directional path toward Fairy Village. Birds and insects serenaded her along the way with their songs. This young girl's make-believe place soothed her fear of the one person she had known and loved for eight years—her own mother. She treaded cautiously to avoid being discovered.

            When she was inside her little corner of her bedroom, amongst the shoes and wire coat hangers, she never felt discriminated against simply because she existed. She was safe from the storm of her parents as the fairy folk reassured her each time she visited. The small girl often became frightened of the possibility of being pulled out from her world by her hair when she would hear her mother's high heels in the hallway. If she was discovered, the consequences might or might not be severe. She tried to shut out the fact that she bought home a bad test grade from school, and tried her best to mask the fear of being cut down by her mommy's hateful words.

            She closed her eyes once again, and concentrated on the bird song, the deep scent of pine and honey flowers, and the misty glow of the tiny fairies. She was now in her happy place where no monstrosity could conflict humility and shame on her just because she was not as intelligent as her mother wanted her to be. Regardless of the salty tears that made their way to her lips, she could taste the golden cup of sweet nectar that the fairy queen had given her. She took a generous drink as flute music and lively drums drowned out the mad, womanly voice in the room next to her. What are you, stupid?  

            These fragile creatures made an obvious point to let her know that she was welcome in their world. There was no hatred there. They were aware that she was saddened from her travels. When they inquired about her dismay, she refused to give an answer. She did not want to break something so valuable to her. To do so may have destructed the empire she had created in her head. In being silent, she protected her imaginary friends. They appreciated her notion in keeping them safe. To honor her goodness, they placed a wreath of baby's breath on her head. This entitled her to become invisible to the unknown evils of her mother. You just wait until your father gets home! She hoped with all her heart that the magical wreath would have made her vanish from her mother's sight. If only it could have made her mother invisible. But, as it usually happened, the girl was discovered sitting in her carpeted closet. And as it always was, her spirit was broken by the poisonous words of her mother.

            Luckily, she grew up not thinking that everything her mother called her was true. How can you be so dumb? Look at me when I'm talking to you, you idiot! She knew in her heart that those fairies saved her from years of humiliation. But ultimately, she had saved herself by creating a shield to guard her feelings from her mother's scornful tongue. Every now and then when life gets complicated for her, she revisits that place in her mind and she can't help but smile. Fairies indeed... people have a peculiar way of dealing with frustrations don't they?

            Now that she has children of her own, she vows to never call them terrible names. Her children are healthy, hates taking baths, full of laughter, never cleans their rooms, mischievous, loveable, and filled to the brim with careless mistakes. In her opinion, they are all individually perfect. She wouldn't want them any other way.  

            Oh, and they never hide in the closet. They have no reason to.