Do You Remember The Last Time You Danced?
Written by Shaun Garin
Avatar the Last Airbender is owned by Nickelodeon and not by me. This fiction is no ways canon or a presumption of things to come.
"Now you've done it." I says.
"Everything's under control," says Coyote. "Don't panic."
Where did all that water come from? Shouts that GOD.
"Take it easy," says Coyote. "Sit down. Relax. Watch some television."
But there is water everywhere, says that GOD.
"Hmmmm," says Coyote. "So there is."
"That's true," I says. "And here's how it happened."
- green grass, running water, Thomas King
Time flows like a river, but like any river, there are ebbs and flows along with swirls, whirlpools, algae, lichen and other such things; even fish if you squint enough to see the tiny minnows or large rainbow trout that liked to glide across the beneath surface.
"But what of me?" says Coyote, padding towards I. "What about me?"
"What about you?" I says to Coyote, patting it's yellow head.
"I'm a Coyote," grinned Coyote. "I dance, and I sing."
"Oh no," says I, shaking my head. "You did enough damage the last time you danced and sung."
"That was not my fault," protested Coyote, grinning that dog-like grin.
"I see," said I and I reached into my robes, withdrawing the Lotus Tile. "What say you of a game?"
"Games are fun," grinned Coyote and he padded over. "Maybe we can play three way?"
"Who is with you today?" I says to Coyote.
"I am," says the Thought and it settles down to join us. "Three for the game?"
"Four," inquired the darkness. "Four we play for the game. Yes."
"Indeed," I says and I begin the game.
Coyote is tricky, the board seemingly spinning under his quick movements. Thought is thoughtful, its motions slow yet deliberate. At times I wonder what Thought thinks, but then Thought is one of those things that you wish not to know. Darkness is posturing, demanding and yet he cannot remember where the tile moves at times.
"Click," I says, putting down the next tile. "It is your move."
"I think and I will dance again," said Coyote, doing a silly dance.
"Oh no, remember the last time you danced?" chaste Thought. "Perhaps we all recall that rock that hurled from the sky."
"That was not my fault, that was darkness," challenged Coyote and I aimed a glance towards darkness who chuckled and postured. "You see? Besides, I wasn't responsible for that baby incident."
We played many a game. More came. Emotion, Memory: things of the past and the future. Often Coyote danced and we at times joined him, causing windstorms and rains. It was a merry gathering.
"You play well," said death finally, tapping the board as I laid down the last tile. "It is a pity I had come too late."
"Who ever said I was dead?" says I and death gave me a peculiar glance. Like one suddenly realized his companion was an Emu.
"Then perhaps we will play again," says death and he upturns the table.
Time is fluid, and dreams even more peculiar. I wonder to myself as I pour a bracing tea. I says to myself, there is much to learn, and less time to do it in.