THE WALK ( any gender , early thirties to late life )
Before you go, my child, just remember: Your task is simple... walk out of the village, walk around the base of Mt. Maygore and walk back to the village. It's really not complicated, everyone makes such a fuss of it.
If you can just remember to enjoy a good walk, if you can just stay confident and carry yourself with courage, then the Dragon of Mt. Maygore will deem you worthy. Then you'll come back to the village, not a boy hence forward, but a MAN.
But no-- lower your chin a LITTLE, my boy. Don't carry yourself TOO confidently. The Dragon hates that. So many boys have left the village strutting, chins up, puffing their chests out like roosters... the Dragon sees right through that. Those boys end up not as roosters but as roast chickens. What a waste.
But don't sink into fear, chin UP, boy, chin UP.
Don't be upset. The Dragon can smell an upset child like we can smell horse dung. If you're upset, the Dragon gets annoyed and starts to toy with you, tearing you apart slowly over several days. The son of Sir Barghast was said to have left the village in tears and when he came back, it was in the form of bloody flesh balls that the Dragon was throwing off the mountain for sport.
Yes, if only those boys remembered that the task is very, very simple: Be worthy-- which you ARE. We ALL are worthy. Just take the walk, don't worry about the Dragon and the Dragon shall deem you worthy!
Trust the Dragon. She will know. Even from high atop her perch she can see it in your eyes. Let ME see your eyes-- well... yes... maybe a bit more confidence but don't GLARE... or the dragon will melt those eyes right out of their-- but, yes: The hour grows late.
Off you go, then.
I beg you, just remember to ENJOY the walk.
Copyright 2016 by Matt Haynes.
If you would like to use this piece, please credit: "Courtesy of Matt Haynes and The Pulp Stage"