Fenix and Jewellyn drew near the tree and they both felt uneasy; something wasn't right here. Fenix looked up at the tree and it reminded him of how powerless he really was. Someday he would have to conquer that inner block and take action.

"Well, well...what do we have here?" Simon sneered as he and the gang appeared from up over the hill behind the tree. He swaggered down to them with the boys' courage being bolstered because of their leader's bravado. It was sheer cowardice really, how strength in numbers, that mob psychology, could overpower one or two easy tempting targets who were afraid and vulnerable. The gang could smell their fear and anxiety.

Fenix and Jewellyn looked at each other, somehow feeling this was going to be it. The showdown. Fenix shifted around, feeling very uncomfortable and was beginning to experience that inner paralisys again which made him unable to do or say anything to his defense. The boys were like a pack of wolves, grinning at them and sizing up their prey.

"Well," Simon said with kind of a mock drama, "are you going to put out today or what, Fenix? We grow weary of your cowardice, don't we boys?" He was punching the palm of his other hand for dramatic effect.

"We sure do, we're getting sick of it!" they said in almost perfect unison. "We know you aren't even going to climb that tree chickeeennnnn!" shouted one of the boys.

Simon walked up to Fenix, almost getting in his face. He thrust his finger at Fenix. "What's the matter, has the master poet and storyteller run out of words here?" Simon looked at Jewellyn and smiled. "You enjoying the show, honey?" Jewellyn turned her head away from him, feeling disgusted. Right now she thought it was a good idea not to be receptive to anyone's feelings; it would be too much for her to handle.

Though they were both feeling stronger emotions of anger, there was no outlet for it. Fenix felt that inner block grow with his feelings. He visualized himself punching Simon right in the face, caving in his snotty nose in the process. Thinking of this though made his anxiety grow, thus feeding that inner block which seemed to prevent him taking any action. "You just leave Jewellyn out of this," he somehow managed to say. Jewellyn mouthed a silent 'no' to Fenix. She felt this would only add fuel to the fire.

"WHAT did you say punk? You are giving me orders!" he exclaimed with that hateful sneer on his face. His eyes were wide with apparent rage. Spittle came out of his mouth as he shouted, some of it landing on Fenix' shirt. Fenix thought desparately of something to do.

"Wait, let me tell you a story!" Fenix shouted.

This statement was so impromptu, so unexpected that it caused a brief period of silence. Then almost everyone burst out laughing, except for Fenix.

"He wants to tell us a story! How sweet and touching!" Simon said with mock gratitude. Much to everyone's surprise he said continuing, "Okay poet boy let's have at it, and it better be a good one, a funny one. And if this is a delay tactic you think is going to help you out, you're wrong. We're still going to annihilate you...and your girlfriend too." As it turned out however, he never got the chance to do that. He glanced again in her direction, this time Jewellyn met his gaze, unflinching. Simon looked back at Fenix now, who did not meet his gaze.

He did start to tell the story though.

"Not too long ago, in this very burg of Beldorn, a mighty celebration was planned. It was the anniversary of the town's founding. A smorgasboard of food was prepared, and the finest mead was brought in. The local bards were in attendance as well, all ready to play their various instruments. There was one event in particular, which I will talk about. It was a beauty contest! Only the participants were men!"

This caused Simon to sneer. He was beginning to look very impatient.

Fenix wasn't sure how he was going to end this even if he got the chance, yet he continued. He was making this up on the fly. He had some slim hope that this might help somehow. Yeah, it will serve only to delay my doom, he thought gloomily.

"And...the judges were women from all walks of life. The men wore skimpy white laced outfits, looking much like the kind that were on display inside at the local women's clothier. Anyway, the contestants were filling up on mead and so were the judges. The men came up on stage and modeled their various outfits, one by one. Finally the last one came up amidst lots of laughter and cheer. He was perhaps the 'heavier set' of the contestants...and the hairiest. Well he did his bit modeling for the crowd. Then he walked to the middle of the stage and took a few bows. To be funny, I suppose this guy turned around with his back to the raucous crowd, and began taking exaggerated bows thus giving the crowd quite a view of his hindquarters! He took one more bow and what skimpy clothing he did have there parted with a loud rip! He didn't realize it at first, but he was mooning the crowd with his bare hairy ass! The laughter reached the height of ribaldry. He took one last look behind himself with his beet red face and his mouth formed an 'O' of surprise. He slowly stepped forward to the back of the stage and fell off...never to be seen again..."

Fenix paused. Almost everyone was laughing a little bit here, except for Simon who perhaps felt slightly upstaged by the telling of the story...

"Ha. Ha. Ha. Very funny Fenix. That was one of the lamest stories I ever heard. I grow impatient. What I want to know now is if you've got the guts to climb yonder tree!"

Fenix became a bit sobered up by this request. It was kind of a funny story though. I'll have to remember that one, maybe spice it up a bit...that is, if I live to tell about it again, he thought morosely. Ah yes that blasted tree! Fenix swallowed, his throat was very dry. "Alright. I will, but Jewellyn has to come with me to the base of the tree, and you have to leave her alone!"

"Tsk, tsk, so demanding are we Fenix. Okay, have it your way...request granted." He waved his arm towards the tree. The look on his face and the way he smiled though made him not trust Simon's word.