There is a temptation to go, dig a deep hole, lay under autumn skies, and let red and gold cover me before comes the fresh snow. Listen to crowing of crowns and screaming of the foxes. To listen to worms heading to slumber below.
ymmi on spun webs watches.
“What means this to you?” they ask.
I shrug. Surprised, in a way, of ymmi watching. “I am becoming Wode,” I say.
“You’re becoming silly, if you don’t mind us saying,” says ymmi. “You are already elder Wode. Wode as hell, as they said. What you need is Stone.”
“I am becoming Stone, too.” It seemed a fair thing to say. I was not going anywhere.
“No no no,” said ymmi, swaying on the breeze in the deep wood when no fires were want to burn today. “You are becoming leaf. You need to leaf that behind. Stone is all you need.”
“Was that a joke, ymmi?”
They sounded all smiley. “Yes. Was it a very good one?”
“Very good,” I say, keeping to myself that it could use a little work. I did not want to discourage ymmi. ymmi need encouragement. For a spider, anyway. They can be on the shy side. For a spider.
“How do you become Stone, then? If you don’t mind my asking.”
“Not at all. You sit out in the rain. You let moss grow on you. You let birds shit on you.”
“I suppose I should get used to lichen, then,” I said, sitting up, the leaves cascading into my lap.
“If you to lichen, encourage the bluish over the greenish.”
I furrowed my brown. “Is there a difference?”
“No. I just prefer blue.”
“Ahh. I’m not sure about the birds part, though. How do I know I am not statue-ing instead?”
“Easy, just keep your arms to yourself and they will shit all over you instead of your head and arms. No perch points with that position.”
“Was that another joke, ymmi? It sounded like a joke.”
ymmi had their smiling voice going. “Get it? Pinch points, perch points. Funny, right?”
“Hilarious, ymmi.”
“Are you Stoning now?” they asked.
“I must be. I’m sitting up and keeping my arms close to me so I don’t statue. When will the birds arrive.”
“Raven said they would arrive shortly after you sat up and got settled. They’ll be happy I got you to Stone.”
“Did they send you to do that, ymmi?”
“Yes! They even told me a few more jokes I can use with you. Do you want to hear another funny?”
There was the beat of black wings coming in behind me.
“I think I’ll pass. For now.”
ymmi swayed in the wind as dejected as a spider can swing.
“You can tell me more with our next visit,” I said. “But you might want to move away and find some shelter.”
“Oh? Why?”
The wings were getting louder.
“Unless you are working on being Stone, it might be wise, ymmi.”
They sat there, swaying, as the wings grew louder.
“Oh! Right!” they said. “I’m okay being Spider. Stone is for people who are needing to Stone.”
They zipped up their silk, pulling it in behind them.
“May you make a very good Stone,” they said, speeding away. “Good luck.”
“Thank you, ymmi.”
The wings arrived only a few moments later, just as thunder rumbled in the distance. So I did my best Stone.
Leave a comment. Markdown use is permitted.