Morning all. I am much less allergy puffy this morning and feeling great. I hope you are the same. In fact I hope allergies aren’t affecting you at all. The sniffles on a hot day just seem wrong. Even though clearly it is perfectly natural. And entirely caused by nature. On an annual basis. Okay it still feels wrong to me. But that is not really relevant. So to get on track, wiggle those fingers, and check the timer, it is another writing prompt. Let’s go.
I have no idea what the event is, but I think this could be something fun to work with in the future. Definitely a keeper for me.
Wednesday, May 26th: Ribbons waved in the breeze.
Ribbons waved in the breeze. It seemed like they were everywhere. The wind blew through them and it was almost as though the wind had become visible, taking the form of the ribbons. They were on people’s clothing, tied so they would sway with every movement. Hats were so festooned I thought that the others must be viewing the world through a fluttery haze.
Some of the buildings had ribbons, others pennants. Either way the wind caught those as well and made it look as though the buildings were reaching out, longing to grasp those who passed by. I found myself shying away, aiming my steps for the middle of the street. Despite their bright colors, the ribbons made the buildings look vaguely carnivorous.
I had not been in town long and while others thought I was from the outer provinces newly come to the city, they didn’t realize how far away I really came from. Thus far I had been quite successful in keeping that fact from them. While my gear for the day was less celebratory than those around me, I too was festooned with ribbons for the day.
I was unsure about wearing them, even though it seemed to be the custom, because I didn’t want to draw attention to myself. Still going without would have marked me as more of an outsider. I let my fingers twist one of the ribbons from my sort cuff around and around s I watched the festivities. Everyone knew what event or celebration this was, but I couldn’t identify it. There were no obvious signs of themes in decoration. All of the decorations were ribbons. There were no recognizable symbols I could pair with a holiday or even a season. There were no saints presented or even war leaders. There was no wishing of a merry or a happy anything. There was just the ribbons. I joined in with the crowd, keeping those who had become my friends since my arrival in sight. It wasn’t easy. The streets were packed and the ribbon decorations obscured familiar features.
Gradually I realized we were all more or less flowing in the same direction; to the east end of town where the amphitheater lay. As I realized it, the crowd swept me around a corner and the amphitheater came into view. It was a giant bowl carved into the earth and lined with arcs of stone benches all facing the central stage. It reminded me of the images I saw in books of ancient Greece and Rome. Recognizing it even slightly made it one of the more familiar aspects of this place.
Now it had been transformed. Enormous posts were erected and giant banners descended from them. They were designed as though they were like the ribbons in town and attached to clothing, but done on such a greater scale that the word banners seemed more appropriate. Each banner was large enough to create several garments and have material left over.
And they were everywhere along the perimeter. To get into the amphitheater you had to push through the small gaps left by the waving banners. It seemed to be some sort of game, to make it through without having the cloth touch you. Our progress slowed as people paused, waited for the wind to create gaps and then raced through to the other side. Once there, they moved to take a seat. I quietly waited my turn.
Ten til Midnight 