I’m still plodding along in the Odyssey. I’ll switch pens.
I think I like the goddess Athene (in English class we always said Athena, but it’s spelled Athene here) the best so far. She has these flashy magical sandals that enable her to fly, and she also has a spear, and she can disguise herself as a man or woman. At the end of the first “book” (a book is more like a chapter), she just flies away. Now, wouldn’t you love to do that?
The second book was all about Odysseus’s wife, Penelope, and his son, Telemachus, and all the suitors (the guys after Penelope) hanging around. Some of them talk on and on and on, sort of like Beth Ann.
Anyway, Telemachus decides to go off in search of his father (Odysseus), who everyone thinks is dead (he’s been gone ten or twenty years, I think) and Athene swoops down and disguises herself and gives Telemachus lots of help, telling him what to do and putting the suitors into a deep sleep and finding a ship and crew for him and then even giving him a good wind. Geez. Wouldn’t you like to have your own personal Athene? Someone to solve all your problems?
How can it be July already???
Tell me, O Muse, of something to write. Inspire me.
I’m waiting, O Muse.
I think my Muse is attending some other people at the moment.
So. Today is Sunday and everyone is still moping around about Mr. Furtz. There’s a big wreath hanging on the Furtzes’ door, sort of like a Christmas wreath only not so cheery. It sure looks strange to see it hanging there in the middle of summer. The Furtzes’ curtains were drawn closed the whole day and cars kept going in and out of the driveway.
All day it rained. Dougie said it was God crying about Mr. Furtz, but I told him that if that was true and if God cried every time someone died, it would rain every single day. But it’s a nice thought, about God crying, I mean. I keep thinking about Mr. Furtz lying there in that box and that lid closing on him.
I don’t think my parents are taking their vitamins. It scares me half to death
I read Book Three of the Odyssey today. Snore, snore, snore. Telemachus is still off trying to find out what happened to his father (he thinks he’s dead).
There were a couple of interesting things in this section, though. First, Athene says something about death. When a man’s time comes (to die), she says, no one can help him, not even a god. It made it sound like there’s a set time, all prearranged or something. Spooky. Why was Mr. Furtz’s time so early? The other interesting thing was that Athene changes into an eagle and flies away. Imagine everyone’s surprise. What an exit!
One other thing I like in this book is the way Homer describes the sun coming up. He doesn’t just say, “The sun came up.” He says “rosy-fingered Dawn appeared,” and he also calls Dawn the “child of morning.” It makes you think of this little baby with pink fingers crawling up over the horizon.
I rummaged around in the attic today. Found my father’s ice skates, which must be about three thousand years old, and his high-school yearbook (what a scream) and lots of old pictures. There was one of Dad, Uncle Carl Joe, and Aunt Radene. They all looked so young and happy. In this picture, Aunt Radene is standing to one side of Dad and Uncle Carl Joe, leaning against a tree, and it looks as if she is dreaming about something wonderful, because she has this little smile on her face and she isn’t looking right at the camera. She is wearing a halter top and very short shorts and high heels. Her hair is long and curly. Carl Ray sure did not get his looks from his mother.
When I made up Carl Ray’s stupid bed and cleaned his stupid room today, I left a note that said, “Maid service ends TODAY at 11.00 A.M.” The two weeks are up! Carl Ray has to make his own stupid bed from now on.
Called Beth Ann but she was out with Derek-the-Di-viiiiine.
What a day, eh?
My Muse has utterly abandoned me.
Well, Maggie suckered me into watching Tommy today even though I thought it was her turn. But in a way it was a good thing, because I took Tommy to the pool and guess who showed up—Alex Cheevey!
He actually swam around and stuff. Even though I had to stay with Tommy in the shallow end, Alex came and played with Tommy awhile. Alex was in a pretty good mood. He sat with us during break time and let Tommy jump on his stomach. He also talked a little, although it was tough going at times. For instance, it went something like this:
ME: So are you visiting the Murphys again?
ALEX: (Laughing a little.) Huh. Huh. Yep.
ME: What, don’t they have any kids or anything?
ALEX: Who?
ME: The Murphys.
ALEX: Oh. Nope.
ME: So you got bored and came to the pool?
ALEX: Me? Oh. Yup.
ME: Do you like the Murphys?
ALEX: Me? Oh. Yup.
(A little later.)
ME: Hey, I heard you were at Bill Ferguson’s party last week.
ALEX: Yup.
ME: Do you know him? (Stupid question!)
ALEX: Yup. Lives next door.
ME: How was it?
ALEX: What?
ME: The party!
ALEX: Oh. Okay. I saw your sister there. (That’s a lot of words for Alex.)
ME: Yeah, I know. Was it fun?
ALEX: The party?
ME: Yes, the party.
ALEX: Sort of. Why didn’t you go? (He actually asked a question.)
ME: I wasn’t invited.
ALEX: Oh.
(A little later.)
ME: Our neighbor died.
ALEX: Really?
ME: Yeah.
ALEX: Was he sick?
ME: No, not exactly.
ALEX: Well, how did he die?
ME: Well, I guess he was sick only no one knew it. He went in the hospital for some tests and died of some gigantic heart attack or something.
ALEX: Ugh.
ME: Yeah, I know.
ALEX: He didn’t think he was sick?
ME: No. I don’t think so. At least not until they told him he had to go in for some tests. His time was up. I hate that.
ALEX: Ugh.
ME: Yeah.
ALEX: Yup.
ME: I wonder if he knew he was going to die.
ALEX: Maybe.
ME: Like maybe he had this feeling…
ALEX: Maybe.
ME: You ought to at least have a feeling…
ALEX: Yup.
ME: Wouldn’t you like to have a little advance notice if you were going to kick off?
ALEX: Yup. I would.
ME: Me, too.
And that’s all we talked about because he had to leave, but he said he was coming back again on Thursday probably. I might go swimming on Thursday.