>>> Item number 14052 from WRITERS LOG9306C --- (98 records) ----- <<< Date: Fri, 18 Jun 1993 17:00:03 JST Reply-To: WRITERS Sender: WRITERS From: Mike Barker Subject: SUB: Crossing the Delaware [FAIR WARNING - this piece refers to homosexual activities, historical figures, and biblical figures in ways which might be considered mildly offensive. Stop reading now if you object to such allusions. and now that I've ensured your attention...] This is a variation on an exercise suggested by Rita Mae Brown in Writing from Scratch (I think). Her's was to write the story of two gay waiters at the Last Supper (please don't get angry or upset, she's just trying to get you to look at things from a different slant - and that's pretty different). Since I happened to remember another famous event, and the picture that has caused a great deal of discussion, I tried this. Hope you enjoy it... If anyone does the Last Supper exercise, I'd be interested in seeing how it works out, too. (There's a point of view shift at the end that I don't like, but I couldn't figure out how to get around it. Anyone want to show me a better way? Not sure if it's really a problem or not, for that matter...) mike Crossing the Delaware (the untold story) Mike Barker 580 Words The oarlocks creaked, the drizzling rain crept cold tentacles through patched clothing, and George stood in the bow of the boat. "Hey, Matthew, why don't the General sit down? He could rest a tad while we row, now couldn't he?" The other rower leaned forward following the oar, turned his head and spat in the river, then grinned towards his friend as they pulled the oars back. The boat lurched forward. "Elmer, nobody told you, did they?" "Told me what?" "The General spent the night with one of his old school friends, up from Virginia." Elmer leaned into the oar, letting the rhythm roll him forward and back, then shook his head. "Matthew, what in tarnation does that have to do with the General standing up like a fool in the front of this boat?" "Oh, Elmer, I declare. Do you remember David and Jonathan in the Bible?" "Of course I do. But.. oh, my goodness. You mean.." Matthew grinned again. "Yes, Elmer. I mean exactly that." Elmer twisted his head and glanced toward the figure in the bow of the boat. Then he leaned into the oar again. The boat rocked a little, the oars swinging forward, slicing into the water, and sliding back. Elmer smiled. "Well, now. That do put a different color on things, don't it? Suppose you and I could stay in camp from now on, instead of going out on those fool patrols you keep dreaming up? Ain't real likely the General is going to object, is it?" Matthew nodded. "That's the way I figure it, too. But you be careful, Elmer. We got to approach this like gentlemen, we do. Wouldn't do to make too much fuss around the General." Elmer leaned forward, then pulled back. "Well, how's about I just let on to the General that I know he'll never be a father, and then wait a spell." Matthew shivered. "No, I don't rightly think that's a good idea. Might be the General don't like people knowing about his private life. He might remember the whole story of David and send us out ahead to get killed just like Uriah." The oars lifted, swung, and pulled. Matthew shook his head. "No, Elmer, I just don't see that this means anything different for you and me. The General, well, he'll go on and fight, and we'll just keep doing patrols together." Elmer frowned. "But.. you suppose I could at least lend the man a little of that liniment that you use? Just so's he could sit down?" Matthew spit into the river again. "Sure. Don't imagine there's any harm in that. Just tell him you noticed he wasn't sitting down, and if by any chance it's on account of some kind of itch or something, why, you've got a poultice that does wonders for that kind of trouble. But, Elmer, wait until we get to the other side, alright? Time enough then for talking." Elmer nodded, and the two friends leaned forward, then pulled back again on the oars. George stood in the bow, raindrops mixing with the tears, the river cold before him, and he wondered whether the fight for freedom would ever succeed. The boat lurched and he swore as he rocked on his feet, ragged clothes pulling at skin tender since last night. He wondered when he could get back to Virginia, where a decent closet waited for him. THE END