It started out like any other night with the girls. And like any other night with the girls it quickly devolved to silliness and debauchery. Maybe it was the crown or maybe it was the cape or maybe it was the magic wand... No it was mom who transported us into that rare world of magic as she began to read out loud to us.
Jess and Jess and Meg were over. I think it was Canadian thanksgiving 2006. I came home for a surprise visit, it would be the last family holiday in the home where I grew up. My girls of course were there at the drop of a hat, bless their souls. I am so lucky. But I digress.
The story starts with us doing one of our favourite things; smoking cigarettes on the front porch, each wearing a hat (of my choice) from the wide selection in the front hall closet. As I remember, Lil' Jess had the floppy leather Janis Joplin cowboy hat on, Big Jess had the other leather cowboy hat, the homo-erotic one, Meg had the Edith Piaf pill box leopard print faux-fur number and I had my real retro leopard skin trimmed, wide brimmed black beauty on.
It was cold so eventually we came inside and made the descent to the basement. My mom said it would be okay to smoke pot in the crawl space of the basement, just for old time sakes. Even though we were technically 'allowed' this time, it still felt exhilirating. It was when we started smoking that she began to read to us;
The sun was shining on the sea,
Shining with all his might:
He did his very best to make
The billows smooth and bright--
And this was odd, because it was
The middle of the night.
The moon was shining sulkily,
Because she thought the sun
Had got no business to be there
After the day was done--
"It's very rude of him," she said,
"To come and spoil the fun!"
The sea was wet as wet could be,
The sands were dry as dry.
You could not see a cloud, because
No cloud was in the sky:
No birds were flying overhead--
There were no birds to fly.
The Walrus and the Carpenter
Were walking close at hand;
They wept like anything to see
Such quantities of sand:
"If this were only cleared away,"
They said, "it would be grand!"
"If seven maids with seven mops
Swept it for half a year.
Do you suppose," the Walrus said,
"That they could get it clear?"
"I doubt it," said the Carpenter,
And shed a bitter tear.
"O Oysters, come and walk with us!"
The Walrus did beseech.
"A pleasant walk, a pleasant talk,
Along the briny beach:
We cannot do with more than four,
To give a hand to each."
The eldest Oyster looked at him,
But never a word he said:
The eldest Oyster winked his eye,
And shook his heavy head--
Meaning to say he did not choose
To leave the oyster-bed.
But four young Oysters hurried up,
All eager for the treat:
Their coats were brushed, their faces washed,
Their shoes were clean and neat--
And this was odd, because, you know,
They hadn't any feet.
Four other Oysters followed them,
And yet another four;
And thick and fast they came at last,
And more, and more, and more--
All hopping through the frothy waves,
And scrambling to the shore.
The Walrus and the Carpenter
Walked on a mile or so,
And then they rested on a rock
Conveniently low:
And all the little Oysters stood
And waited in a row.
"The time has come," the Walrus said,
"To talk of many things:
Of shoes--and ships--and sealing-wax--
Of cabbages--and kings--
And why the sea is boiling hot--
And whether pigs have wings."
"But wait a bit," the Oysters cried,
"Before we have our chat;
For some of us are out of breath,
And all of us are fat!"
"No hurry!" said the Carpenter.
They thanked him much for that.
"A loaf of bread," the Walrus said,
"Is what we chiefly need:
Pepper and vinegar besides
Are very good indeed--
Now if you're ready, Oysters dear,
We can begin to feed."
"But not on us!" the Oysters cried,
Turning a little blue.
"After such kindness, that would be
A dismal thing to do!"
"The night is fine," the Walrus said.
"Do you admire the view?
"It was so kind of you to come!
And you are very nice!"
The Carpenter said nothing but
"Cut us another slice:
I wish you were not quite so deaf--
I've had to ask you twice!"
"It seems a shame," the Walrus said,
"To play them such a trick,
After we've brought them out so far,
And made them trot so quick!"
The Carpenter said nothing but
"The butter's spread too thick!"
"I weep for you," the Walrus said:
"I deeply sympathize."
With sobs and tears he sorted out
Those of the largest size,
Holding his pocket-handkerchief
Before his streaming eyes.
"You've had a pleasant run!
Shall we be trotting home again?'
But answer came there none--
And this was scarcely odd, because
They'd eaten every one.
---Lewis Carroll----
The air was silly; full of love and knowing. If you don't have friends that you know absolutely everything about and have known for your whole life I think it would be pretty hard to imagine how you feel towards them and at what level you can interact. Although, I know nothing about film it seems to be a common theme among 'chick flicks' but one that always leaves me feeling a little disappointed and yucky. But if I had to describe it, I guess it's like being able to pick your family - or maybe like knowing who you were going to marry your whole life. Anyway one of the unique things about that particular dynamic in a friendship is that there are a lot of ways to communicate with each other. Well this particular night, surrounded by magic and silliness and love and knowing it was improv who chose us to tell a story.
Meg just reminded me, it all started with my Safta's crown and then there I was, sitting on my thone with a rainbow cape and instantly feather pillow moustaches came my way from every direction. There on the table in front of me just waiting for an occasion was a magic golden star wand. Lil' Jess began documenting. She put on the 'newsies' hat and got serious with the camera. Meg ran upstairs and got her three quarter length jacket with the hood. She was the gimp. She wore the hood and the rest of the jacket became her jaunty little cape. Big Jess found a traditional rainbow coloured Mexican shirt, she became my knight in rainbow armour. She wore the role as gracefully as I wore mine regally.
I could tell you more but, I suppose ultimately you had to be there. And even so, my mom was there and I doubt she felt the same way that I did about our happening. We connected. We performed a ritual of friendship; an act that is rare in adults but so powerful that its rarity is a crying shame.
