 | Room Number: 36 Resident: Ali Lauderdale Certified SS Member Since: Aug 20, 2022 Ali Lauderdale writes fantasy, sci-fi, and horror that has been known to traumatize adult men. Discover more from Ali here: https://www.sanguislibris.net/ |
“The Enlightened Skeleton"
by Ali Lauderdale
by Ali Lauderdale
Once upon a time, there was a skeleton. It could be seen swaying in a particular tree outside a small village. It was not an especially unique skeleton, but it thought it was. The skeleton decided that since it was above all the villagers literally, it was most definitely above everything and everyone in every other way.
He could not remember just how long he had been hanging there, but for an extensive period of time, he thought of himself as the most enlightened being he had knowledge of.
He would watch the villagers on the road below doing their everyday mundane activities, and think to himself, "Look at these poor villagers. They walk in the dust, back and forth, all day, and then they do it again the next day, and again, constantly. If only they would hang themselves as I am hanging. Then they would rise above all that and attain true perfection."
He went on feeling sorry for the villagers until one day, some of the village's older children went to look at the skeleton. He decided he would help the poor things so they would grow to enlightenment early.
"Young men and women!" he called to them, "Your lives are tedious and will only grow worse as you continue aging. I can tell you dislike running the errands the adults assign you. Get some rope and climb into the trees as I am. You will no longer have to slave for the adults. You will feel a lighter sense of being and achieve the greatest of enlightenment."
The young people were in awe. It seemed like an easily attainable goal that would make them invulnerable. So they fetched some rope and all hung themselves from the old unused orchard's trees.
The skeleton waited for them to affirm his belief. The silence confused him until he decided they must be basking in the glory of enlightenment. He was silent also and allowed the children their time.
Several days passed, during which he watched the villagers cry and saw them searching for their sons and daughters. All the while, he thought to himself, "How sad; the villagers do not realize that their children are experiencing total perfection and bliss in the breeze, and they think only of themselves and their grief. If they come close to me, I will impart my knowledge upon them. They shall be free and with their children, and once they are finished with the glorifying feeling, we shall all be enlightened together."
But his plan was not to be. For when the villagers came closer, they saw the skeleton moving of its own volition, and immediately tore it down and beat it into dust.
©2022 Ali Lauderdale, presented by Live Free Live Rich Entertainment
He could not remember just how long he had been hanging there, but for an extensive period of time, he thought of himself as the most enlightened being he had knowledge of.
He would watch the villagers on the road below doing their everyday mundane activities, and think to himself, "Look at these poor villagers. They walk in the dust, back and forth, all day, and then they do it again the next day, and again, constantly. If only they would hang themselves as I am hanging. Then they would rise above all that and attain true perfection."
He went on feeling sorry for the villagers until one day, some of the village's older children went to look at the skeleton. He decided he would help the poor things so they would grow to enlightenment early.
"Young men and women!" he called to them, "Your lives are tedious and will only grow worse as you continue aging. I can tell you dislike running the errands the adults assign you. Get some rope and climb into the trees as I am. You will no longer have to slave for the adults. You will feel a lighter sense of being and achieve the greatest of enlightenment."
The young people were in awe. It seemed like an easily attainable goal that would make them invulnerable. So they fetched some rope and all hung themselves from the old unused orchard's trees.
The skeleton waited for them to affirm his belief. The silence confused him until he decided they must be basking in the glory of enlightenment. He was silent also and allowed the children their time.
Several days passed, during which he watched the villagers cry and saw them searching for their sons and daughters. All the while, he thought to himself, "How sad; the villagers do not realize that their children are experiencing total perfection and bliss in the breeze, and they think only of themselves and their grief. If they come close to me, I will impart my knowledge upon them. They shall be free and with their children, and once they are finished with the glorifying feeling, we shall all be enlightened together."
But his plan was not to be. For when the villagers came closer, they saw the skeleton moving of its own volition, and immediately tore it down and beat it into dust.
©2022 Ali Lauderdale, presented by Live Free Live Rich Entertainment
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