Folktale Week 2021: Sky//Eagle
Day seven of Folktale week is Sky, and a positive note to end on – though full of weirdness. The bird I’ve chosen for today is Eagle. In Welsh folklore, Eagles were said to raise whirlwinds in the sky on Snowdon by flapping their wings. So powerful was this bird that those who within nine generations of people who had eaten it’s flesh, could cure the shingles by spitting on the skin of those affected (not as quick as popping to the pharmacy then?). On a personal level, Eagles soaring high in the skies symbolise my leap into a creative life. On one of my visits to Canada to see Ed, we sat high in the trees and saw an Eagle flying in the distance and Ed said to me, ‘JB, one day you’ll be flying just as high as that Eagle’ (to this day every time I have any sort of creative achievement Ed calls me an Eagle – Ed’s great and we love him). I was still nursing at this time and not investing in my own creative self – strange to look back on. It was a difficult time for me, and this story about flying sums up a lot of my feelings around that time. It is a long one so grab a cuppa/glass of vino. I’ve added a symbolism key underneath the story for more context. And there ends Folktale Week 2021. It’s not been exactly as I’d hoped, and feels more like the beginning of this folklore bird project I have. I will be expanding, editing, and creating more polished work for this project and hope to add many more birds! Thank you so much for following along and your kind words about my writing, JB x
Departure.
You’re in departures. Your bags are packed and under your seat, and you’re using your big one as a foot rest. Shouldn’t this be in the hold-all though? The people at the desk said no it’s okay someone will carry that onto the plane for you, they trust you. You’re hardly a risk, look at you. Is that bad? Should you look more dangerous, more edgy? Doesn’t matter - it’s lovely to be trusted anyway, isn’t it? Everyone here looks pretty safe though and they don’t have big bags. Maybe they had special items like hunting stuff or ladders that had to be stored away from other passengers - annoyingly like being a show off. It would annoy you. But, don’t say it.
BOARDING
This lounge is big but empty, vacuous. Darkened windows so we don’t all swell like tomatoes in this giant conservatory. You can’t see any planes taking off but you can hear them. The loud rumble stirs your belly up, and you feel a bit sick. Maybe it’s that cleaner over there with the floor spinner thing. You pretend it’s that because it eases the nausea. It is that.
BOARDING FLIGHT
People at random are getting up and joining a queue to board. No one’s called them – shall you just join the queue? You get up and a warm hand touches your shoulder and gently guides you back into your chair. There’s something cold and hard in your hand but you don’t look at it yet because this person is quite charming. They say; Stay there ma’am you’re not ready yet. Then straight away you say this; Sure okay. Oh, it’s champagne? Or something fizzy anyway. You do as you’re told and drink up, this is lovely. It’s conceivable that you could get used to this. Do people get used to this?
BOARDING FLIGHT 1305
Your drink has been drunk and the number of people in the lounge has depleted. You’ve been totally unaware. Shit. You feel a bit hazy but you gather your focus and you are heading for that queue. Watch you go! One foot in front of the other but there’s that warm hand again but it’s on your foot this time? What the hell? The first time was nice, this time it’s a little strange. Strange, but comforting still. They say; Your shoelace is undone ma’am, I’ll get that for you. And then it’s your turn and you say; Oh, um, okay thank you. And then; Can I join the queue now? When is it my time? But they say; Not yet. But definitely soon. In the meantime, join me in the first class lounge? You; But I’m wearing trainers, I don’t think I’ll fit in there. Them; Not a problem. As you walk with this person you look down at your feet and your shoes have changed. Are these someone else’s? They don’t feel like your shoes. How didn’t you notice this?
BOARDING FLIGHT 1305 GATE 90
What even is this fizzy stuff anyway? You keep drinking it because it’s an easy choice, and apparently, it’s been served there for years. A favourite, despite the bitter after-taste.
BOARDING FLIGHT 1305 GATE 90 IMMEDIATE
You swear that’s your flight being called and you say; Look, thank you for the champagne and the shoes and letting me in but I really need to fly. They say: I’ll tell you what, there’s a different flight to where you want to go later. I’ll make sure you’re on it, just hold on here the best is yet to come. You: Oh really? Okay well how long do I have to wait? They tell you: Just wait. And you say: Okay.
BOARDING FLIGHT 1305 GATE 90 IMMEDIATE DEPARTURE
It’s dark as hell in this lounge and an old dude is looking at you, you think. Suddenly now he’s slipped away, did he just go under his table? Someone is touching your feet again under the table, but it doesn’t feel warm this time – it’s unsettling. Do they have twisted thumbs? It feels awkward and you don’t like it – you want it to go back to the nice warm feeling. This isn’t reassuring. You can’t see who it is. You whisper; get off me. You’re embarrassed at what’s happening and you don’t want the nice people in the lounge to know. A whisper back from under the table reminds you; Your flight is boarding NOW. You say; Okay okay I’ll get the later one. The whisperer whispers: NOW. Then you say: Listen to me - whoever you are get the hell off my feet, go catch your own flight and leave me alone. Whisperer; Too late for me, NOW. Suddenly the sensation is gone, they’ve gone and you’re confronted with the charming person again and yet another glass of this fizzy stuff. You swear it wasn’t that colour before. No thank you.
BOARDING FLIGHT 1305 GATE 90 IMMEDIATE DEPARTURE GATE
Now you’ve got a headache. You’re not drinking anymore and no one’s talking to you. More shadows enter the lounge and these shadows are lapping up the fizzy stuff. Hey! You guys! Stop! It honestly isn’t that nice! Why are you waiting here?
BOARDING FLIGHT 1305 GATE 90 IMMEDIATE DEPARTURE GATE CLOSING.
You should go! Why don’t you go? You could make a run for it? Where’s the door? Keep an eye on that door. Some other shadow is going to come in – you’ll see the exit then. Shadows will always come here. But your bags? You gave them to the charming person and everything you need is in them. Your hairdryer, your pill, your shoes in case it rains and your shoes in case it hails and your shoes in case it’s muddy.
GATE CLOSING
A shadow enters, and you take your chance. You exit the lounge. The charming person is right behind you and they call, loudly; Excuse me ma’am! Your bags! You can’t leave all this here surely? You’re moving, but not running. It’s as if the floor is that soft sand on the beach that you put your foot into and you’re suddenly up to your ankle. They are screaming at you; Ma’am don’t be silly, you worked so hard to get here! You’re going to miss the best part! It’s the shoes, the shoes are slowing you down! Who in the hell’s shoes are these anyway?
GATE CLOSING
You take off the shoes. You’re running.
This is madness?
You’re running. There’s kids watching you, that’s not okay. You’re a bad example.
You’re running.
GATES CLOSING
You’re running.
Are you bailing? Is this even allowed?
You’re running.
GATES CLOSING
You’re running.
You’re flying.
Key
The Charmer - During this time, though mostly all motivated by love and care, I felt as if everybody was the Charmer and thus persuading me into remaining stationary.
Shoes - Identity and autonomy. Learning to walk in your own shoes, recognising the unease of being moulded into somebody else’s, and ultimately whatever shoes you’re wearing neither defines you or prevents you from flying. Just take them off and run.
The Airport - I’d like to believe my fear of flying is somewhat improving, but airports continue to be unsettling to me. Though the aim of this narrative was not to highlight my fear of flying in any way, it is interesting that I made the subconscious decision to make this the setting. This was pointed out to me by my mum. Over a glass of champagne. In a dark bar.
