Monday, February 14, 2011

Leaving Home

(Magpie 53, "E" is for "Exodus." Writer's Island and Sunday Scribblings)
When your community has broken the sacred laws, who can foretell what fate has in store for it?
“I don’t want to have to tell you again. You’ve got to get your things together now so we can get out of here!”
“This is all so strange...”
“It’s more than strange; it’s dangerous. We’ve only got another half-hour or so before the whole place blows up. Where are the girls?”
“Well, they’re trying to get their things together too. It’s awful that we have to leave; they’ve been doing so well in school and of course they have their friends here. And I've got a week's food in the pantry."
“You just don’t get it! This is a life and death situation! We should have been on the road an hour ago.”
“How did you learn about this – this emergency? Nobody else seems to know about it.”
“I haven’t explained it because it would take too much time, and you probably wouldn’t believe it anyway. But did you see those two strange-looking men around here this morning?”
“They’re from out of town, aren’t they?”
“Yes.” (laughs) “You could certainly say that. From way out of town. They aren’t really men, you see; they’re angels.”
“Angels?!”
“Right. You know what’s been going on in this place, all the drinking and carousing and screwing around and God knows what else. Well, Yahweh sent these angels to see if there are a few righteous folks in our town.”
“Who sent them?”
“Yahweh – you know, God.”
“This is all very weird.”
“The idea was that if there were at least ten righteous men in this place it wouldn’t be destroyed. Well, these two fellows – er, angels – couldn’t find even ten, so the whole area is going to be blown sky high.”
“How will – er, you know, He – do the destruction?”
“Not sure. Something to do with fire and brimstone, I suppose.”
"I've never really understood just what brimstone is, actually."
"Well, let's not wait around to find out."
“Will it be all of Sodom?”
“Not just Sodom; Gomorrah too.”
“Oh, dear. I rather like Gomorrah.”
“Yeah. A real fun town – too much fun, as it turns out.”
“So where are we going?”
“I have been told that we can be safe if we get to Zoar; it’s outside Sodom’s city limits. Ah, here are the girls. Seriously, my dear, we've got to get started.”
“It’ll be sad to leave. In spite of its rather racy reputation, I’ve really enjoyed living here. There’s a hill on the road to Zoar. When we get to the top of that hill, I’m just going to have a good look back at our dear old town!”

46 comments:

Roger Owen Green said...

Lot's wife- what a pill(ar).

Pat - Arkansas said...

That IS a different approach. I like it, a "Lot!"

Jim Swindle said...

Thanks for a creative re-telling of the last day of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Unknown said...

Loved it, loved it. Poor ole Mrs. Lot.
QMM

Pearl said...

:-) Never look back, I always say.

Pearl

hedgewitch said...

I always thought that parable was just a little harsh, like maybe Yahweh had a bit of a personal grudge against the whole region(something that seems to continue to this day)--you'd think wiping out two whole cities would be enough but no, someone has to be turned into a pillar of salt for looking over her shoulder. Touchy. Very touchy.

Everyday Goddess said...

Wow, that's a great story and a great take on the prompt!

Tumblewords: said...

Salty magpie - to be sure.

girl daydreaming said...

loved the re-telling as well. I never thought to ask what 'brimstone' means... such great looking into a story.

Elaine said...

You've added your own seasoning and flavour to Genesis 19. I like how you served it!

Berowne said...

(From Amy Barlow Liberatore):
Your contemporary verse on Sodom and Gomorrah was BRILLIANT! I especially like the final reference to taking one last look back, and your mention of the "most famous story about salt."

Speaking as a pastor's wife, I can tell you, I'm sending your link to several pastoral friends. I know they will love it as much as I did! Sorry I could not leave a comment there, because Blogspot and Wordpress don't seem to mix well. Mystifying. But do know that you made my day - and tomorrow, there will be lots of smiling pastors, perhaps some who will be inspired to better sermons on this scripture. Don't worry, none of them will plagiarize. I promise!

Peace, Amy

Máire T. Robinson said...

Very clever, great dialogue. Really enjoyed the humour in this!

chiccoreal said...

Dear Berowne: Excellent dialogue, very Thurberesque! I'd think that the "boo" will lead to becoming like "horse glue" or something much worse; A Pillar Of Salt! BTW does anyone know Lot's wife's name? Lost to history so it seems!

Maggie said...

I wish my catechism classes had been this interesting.

Pauline said...

Famous last words! Who knows, the story may have happened just as you said...

Berowne said...

chiccoreal: "BTW does anyone know Lot's wife's name?"
It was Mrs. Lot, I believe. (Sorry.)

Elizabeth said...

A wonderful new take on the story, Berowne. x

Doc FTSE said...

I liked this a lot. (I'll get me coat!)

Kristen Haskell said...

That's fantastic but I want to yell, "No don't look back!"

Helen said...

I was hoping for something like this ~ you didn't disappoint!

Lolamouse said...

This was fantastic! Mrs. Lot truly became a pillar of her community!

The Bug said...

I always thought Lot's wife was a bit of a ditz :)

LeAnn said...

That is wonderful! Very clever!!

spacedlaw said...

She accepted the angel bit rather easily. I wonder if they were a more common occurence back then (oh, look at the cat dragged in again! Get him out, quick! Blooming creature'll leave blood and feathers everywhere!)

Other Mary said...

lol, good one. I'd like to read the same treatment of the Annunciation, 'Honest Mom and Dad, it was an angel!' :o)

Berowne said...

My thanks to blogger friends for some terrific comments:
LeAnn: "That is wonderful!" Lolamouse: "This was fantastic!" Helen: "I was hoping for something like this ~ you didn't disappoint." Doc FTSE: "I liked this a lot." Elizabeth: "A wonderful new take on the story," Maire T R: "Very clever, great dialogue." Everyday G.: "A great take on the prompt!" QMM: "Loved it, loved it." Pat - Arkansas: "I like it, a 'Lot!'"

Linda said...

Oh, I love the twist on this tale. Bears out the old advice "don't look back".

Misfit in Paradise said...

I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Donna - ABC Team

Kay L. Davies said...

Excellent story for the E word, Berowne. My laugh for the day!
-- K

Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel

Halie said...

brilliant post!

nathalie
abc wednesday team

jabblog said...

Excellent! You made me laugh:-)

Linda Bob Grifins Korbetis Hall said...

lovely.
keep up the humor.

Berowne said...

Amy Barlow Liberatore:
"Her name is Lot's wife. Just like my name is The Pastor's Wife, when they cannot remember my name. At least I'm also a salty dame, too (groooooan)... and a pillar of the community!"

Maude Lynn said...

Don't look!

vivinfrance said...

Who'da thought good bloggers would make such a lot of dreadful puns out of such a tragic story? < Viv takes tongue out of cheek.>

Jae Rose said...

Yes, a refreshing new direction this week - although still playing to your strengths of dialogue..a satisfying read..Jae

Josie Two Shoes said...

Excellent, excellent! I love history retold thru the eyes of ones who were there!

Catherine Denton said...

You made it come alive! Wonderful!!

Altonian said...

Abolutely b....y hilarious! A good one Berowne.

Old Egg said...

I believe Lot's wife was named Lottie!

Berowne said...

Old Altonian, Catherine D., JTS, jaerose, vivinfrance, Mama Zen, Jingle, jabblog, Halie, Kay L.D., Misfit in Paradise and Linda -- your enthusiastic comments are great; thanks!

Julie Jordan Scott said...

How intriguing... biblical, poetic prose humor.

Wow.

My Foretell Poem.

Marja said...

This story got me hooked Very well written

Stafford Ray said...

Berownie... did you really write Exodus?
Sequels written by the scribes were not nearly as good as your original! I'd sue.
BTW Mr Lot's wife was Thanxa.

Berowne said...

Stafford Ray: "BTW, Mr Lot's wife was Thanxa."
Now THERE is a clever remark!

Lilibeth said...

A salty tale of cities burned in a flash by the deep Dead Sea...she had to look...that's all it took...for four to shrink to three.

 
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