19. Remember To Bring Kingdoms
Written and Illustrated
by Tiffany Osedra Miller
The Night Dream Sisters came to get me later that evening.
“What in the world are you wearing?” they asked me.
Nervous, I said, “I don’t know.” It was a costume I’d spent the entire week picking out.
“You’re not going to get in to the dancehall with that thing on your head. I can tell you that,” Alyssa Diane, the sister with the beak, said. “The ceilings in there are way too low. Plus, you’ll kind of look like an idiot.”
“I’ve got vertigo.” I told them. “This hat keeps my head steady.”
“No man is going to kiss you with that thing on your head,” reasoned Miss Thang, aka Brunhilda Cassandra, hiding behind white greasepaint.
“I just want to dance anyway.” I answered her. “Besides, if a man is so concerned about such trivial matters like what’s going on with my head, then maybe he’s not worth kissing at all.”
“We hadn’t thought of that. Listen what if we attach some palm leaves on top of your headdress to cover it up. That way it’ll be there but none of the cute guys you’ll meet will know.” Alyssa Diane suggested, stroking her beak.
“Palm leaves really aggravate my vertigo.” I responded. “It’s probably an allergy or something. Anyway, can we go? The more I move around the steadier I feel. I hope you both don’t mind me not rowing tonight. With this vertigo, God knows where I’d take the both of you.”
I stepped into the boat and sat down. I could feel The Night Dream Sisters staring at me and talking about me to themselves inside their heads. My vertigo worsened with all the rocking, the rowing and the heat. My thoughts flirted with the Preacher’s sermon last Sunday on Imagining What In The World, The Kingdom Of Heaven Might Be Like. My heart settled on heaven as a place where I’d feel endlessly dazzled but never dizzy – oh and never out of place or lonely.
Warm, filthy water splashed my face and dripped down my shirt to my lap, leaving streaks of mud. The Night Dream Sisters laughed saucily and discussed what they were going to do with all the boys they hoped to meet. They seemed to forget that I was there. When Brunhilda Cassandra stopped rowing for a moment to catch her breath she didn’t even realize that she sat on me. I wondered if she had vertigo, too. Despite my affliction, I offered to help her row her little boat. When she finally noticed she was sitting on my lap, Brunhilda’s white painted face wrinkled with amusement and melancholy. She shook her head, laughed, stood up, and grabbed the other oar from her Sister. Perhaps she’d merely caught the vapors.
Headdress or not, I decided then and there about that kissing thing.
“Say, did you two gals remember to bring kingdoms?” I asked. “I’m feeling pretty hot tonight.”
Written and Illustrated
by Tiffany Osedra Miller
The Night Dream Sisters came to get me later that evening.
“What in the world are you wearing?” they asked me.
Nervous, I said, “I don’t know.” It was a costume I’d spent the entire week picking out.
“You’re not going to get in to the dancehall with that thing on your head. I can tell you that,” Alyssa Diane, the sister with the beak, said. “The ceilings in there are way too low. Plus, you’ll kind of look like an idiot.”
“I’ve got vertigo.” I told them. “This hat keeps my head steady.”
“No man is going to kiss you with that thing on your head,” reasoned Miss Thang, aka Brunhilda Cassandra, hiding behind white greasepaint.
“I just want to dance anyway.” I answered her. “Besides, if a man is so concerned about such trivial matters like what’s going on with my head, then maybe he’s not worth kissing at all.”
“We hadn’t thought of that. Listen what if we attach some palm leaves on top of your headdress to cover it up. That way it’ll be there but none of the cute guys you’ll meet will know.” Alyssa Diane suggested, stroking her beak.
“Palm leaves really aggravate my vertigo.” I responded. “It’s probably an allergy or something. Anyway, can we go? The more I move around the steadier I feel. I hope you both don’t mind me not rowing tonight. With this vertigo, God knows where I’d take the both of you.”
I stepped into the boat and sat down. I could feel The Night Dream Sisters staring at me and talking about me to themselves inside their heads. My vertigo worsened with all the rocking, the rowing and the heat. My thoughts flirted with the Preacher’s sermon last Sunday on Imagining What In The World, The Kingdom Of Heaven Might Be Like. My heart settled on heaven as a place where I’d feel endlessly dazzled but never dizzy – oh and never out of place or lonely.
Warm, filthy water splashed my face and dripped down my shirt to my lap, leaving streaks of mud. The Night Dream Sisters laughed saucily and discussed what they were going to do with all the boys they hoped to meet. They seemed to forget that I was there. When Brunhilda Cassandra stopped rowing for a moment to catch her breath she didn’t even realize that she sat on me. I wondered if she had vertigo, too. Despite my affliction, I offered to help her row her little boat. When she finally noticed she was sitting on my lap, Brunhilda’s white painted face wrinkled with amusement and melancholy. She shook her head, laughed, stood up, and grabbed the other oar from her Sister. Perhaps she’d merely caught the vapors.
Headdress or not, I decided then and there about that kissing thing.
“Say, did you two gals remember to bring kingdoms?” I asked. “I’m feeling pretty hot tonight.”
Goatwaterstrip
written and illustrated by
Tiffany Osedra Miller
Copyright 2012-2013
all rights reserved.
written and illustrated by
Tiffany Osedra Miller
Copyright 2012-2013
all rights reserved.
6/17/13
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