The Faux Pas Press #190: Shake Like a Fat Man Shaking a Vending Machine

 

And the Fool looked upon the creations of his hands. And the Fool saw that all the works of his life were in the shackles of lucid vanity; And he saw how his heart had been betrayed on so many occasions. And worst of all he saw that he was to blame for most of the wreckage caused, most of the trouble in the souls of God's children.

So, the Fool strolled through neon-lit bars in strange towns. He strolled up and down the littered streets of Korean Red Light districts that he had tried for years to forget. He put down drinks priced unreasonably. The charm of snaggle-toothed women led him to betray himself mirroring their charm with the power bestowed upon him by the Council of Mages. He knew before the World began what he was to do, but for days, he had forgotten. For years, he had forgotten. And so he walked and walked and walked. And so he breathed the brightening air of high elevation. (Going higher doesn't necessarily mean that you go higher.) Still troubled, the Fool sat still for moments at a time and slowly learned to do this for days. He pondered, "I must have forgotten something. Surely, surely, there must be a reason for all of it. Surely, there are those who love me and others who I can love. There must be others worth loving. Surely, there must be children crying."

One day, as the Fool sat upon the Mullah's footstool in Zabul Province - he looked out upon the Graveyard of Dreams. He remembered. He could be still. And the voice the Magician echoed through out this hallow and desolate land, and the Fool was emblazoned, quickened by the energy in all things. And so he remembered. "You were born for this purpose!" And so the Earth shook like a fat man shakes a vending machine. "They've been watching you, boy - those who stand and wait. The thousands of unborn, waiting for that one act of bravery, waiting for that one shot in the darkness to bring light to desolate places. And, oh, the stories that you have told yourself. Oh, the ridiculous lies that you have sucked upon. Oh, what you have done to yourself. You've taken and taken. All the dirty nights of posture you given. What of your promises? What of your beloved? Stand, Fool, and take up your satchel, take your Carpenter's Square, and take up your compass."

And so the Fool went about the rest of his days in service to God's children. And spoke daily to those who stand and wait. And the tears baptized the Earth. And the innocent saw goodness. And the wicked saw light. And the children felt hope. And the women felt magik. And for a brief moment, mankind was at one. The troubles of others were no more. And the family was together. And the brothers gave oaths. And everything started again - anew. And every kingdom would see the errors. And patrons of selves became the patrons others. And they would serve. And they would serve - those who stand and wait.  They also serve who only stand and wait.