Into the Fairylands: Chapter 1

Here is the first instalment.  I might stagier this out more so I have time to get caught up.  I'm planning on getting an actual cover at some point so for now this image was close to what I'm imagining.  Ok.  Enough of me talking.  Enjoy.

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Into The Fairy Lands

By J. R. Bennett

alles, https://pixabay.com/en/landscape-nature-fantasy-horizon-1457457/

I

His Return

~*~

He was dead, that is all everyone knew.   Or thought at least.

            Some people say he died in his sleep, but twenty-something-year-old dying in their sleep?  That’s extremely uncommon.

            Another theory is that he was murdered, but this idea was dismissed long ago, as he has no enemies.  Further evidence was at his funeral, where the guest book was full to the brim with signatures.

            The truth is he went missing.  One day Edward Worley vanished from his home and was never seen again.  Search parties were arranged and nothing was found.  Whatever the theory, only one fact was certain: Ed was gone and that was that.

            It was one year after Ed’s death when a few of his close friends started to receive strange letters.

            I am sorry to say, the dates of these events are and will always remain unknown to me, however I can tell you who received the first letter.  His name was Zach.

            Zach was a lanky fellow with straw-like hair and had been friends with Ed for years.  Their relationship was infamous for their verbally violent arguments over who was more mentally superior.  Ed once called Zach an “incandescent light-bulb,” while Zach used even more less-friendly words.  However hard they fought, they were still friends.

            It was a cold and dim night when the first letter arrived.  Cold drops of rain fell as Zach found the letter in a bundle of bills and advertisements that asked for money.  The envelope was tinted yellow and stamped with a blotch of blue wax.  The letter ran:

Dear Zach,

            I am writing to tell you everything is all right.  Don’t for a minute worry about me; I’m quite well off.  How is everyone? 

            Don’t tell a soul of this letter, I’ll be dealing with it myself.

Warm Regards and other fancy words,

Edward

Zach glanced at these words with a feeling of melancholy.  It can’t be him, Zach thought, Ed’s gone. Gone like the Dodo and was never to come back. It has to be some sick joke.   He then threw the letter in the recycling and went back to whatever it was he was doing before.

            Unnoticed to Zach, peering through his living room window was a small figure.  It was around three-quarters-of-a-foot high, with a head big as a tennis ball.  On its face was a pair of big eyes, a little nose and wide mouth that was usually seen grinning in a mischievous way.  The grin wasn’t in a mischievous way this time; it looked more like concern.  It turned around and jumped off the window ledge, and puttered to its master in the far distance.

The second letter arrived to a boy named Travis.  He and Ed had known each other for years and were practically inseparable in their younger days.  Travis was short and was always dying his hair different colours.  Unlike Zach, Travis was known for getting Ed into trouble.  The two often explored and wandered, finding themselves on more than one occasion being led home in the back of a police car for trespassing or being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

            The note sent to Travis was found in the cushions of his couch.  Very little is known of his response, but it is known that he believed the letter to be true and Travis even tried to write back.

            Now the third letter was given to a girl named Alice.  She was a bit older then Ed and only hung around him for a little while.  Ed was never one to have a girlfriend though he and Alice had been close and she was devastated when she heard about Ed’s disappearance.  This note was found in the mailbox – nearly taken by a sparrow – and it ran:

            Dear Alice,

            I wish to send you warm wishes but warm wishes are of little necessity at this moment.  I have a little request for you.  Enclosed, along with this letter, is a list of persons I would like you to invite to a small party.  Some of these names will be familiar to you.  Please make sure that nobody but these people are around.

            Best wishes;

            Ed

This letter was followed as if it was a final request.  Of the names on the list, only Zach and Travis showed up for the party.  Despite it being a small affair, the group all read The comfortable party guests of what was soon to come foresaw little.

            There came a knock at the door and Alice went up the stairs to answer it.  Upon opening the door, she saw in the cold rain a young man wearing a trench coat, a long colourful scarf, a fedora, and was holding a red, velvet carpetbag.  Upon recognizing the figure, and out of compulsion, Alice kicked the stranger in the shin.

            “That wasn’t very nice,” said the stranger.

            Alice then hugged the man tightly.

            “I can’t breathe,” hissed the man.

            “I don’t care,” Alice replied, “you’re supposed to be dead.”

            “Yeah. I- I can explain.  But first did you follow the letter.”

            “Yes.”

            “Are all the people there?”

            “Sort of.”

            “Pardon?”

            “Only Zach and Travis came.”

            “Dither.”

            “At least some one showed up.”

            “Good point.  Now can I come in?”

            “No, you can sit out and catch pneumonia.”

            “Oh, you’re too kind,” said Ed sarcastically and made a glare and a grin.

            Ed was let in. Everyone was surprised as the saw their old friend back.  “I thought you were dead” was all they could say.

            “I have a lot to explain,” answered Ed, “to begin a few years ago.  I began to visit a fictitious world.”

            “You were probably dreaming,” put in Zach.

            “I wasn’t,” defended Ed, giving a blunt glare. “Anyways, I began to settle a home for myself. I became associated with a group known as the Order of the Four Keepers.  They have helped me begin a life of my own in their world.”

            “It’s a bit of a stretch to believe,” said Zach.

            “Well there is more.  When I became sick, I found it harder and harder to visit my– we’ll call it my secret garden.  When I was brought to the garden once more, it was to be my last journey from this world.  Once I reached there, I had no more strength to go back… so… I stayed.

            “I didn’t mean to deceive everyone, but when I was told there was no way I was going to recover… it seemed like the only way.”

            At that moment, a head the size of a tennis ball poked out from Ed’s coat pocket.  It moved its head about, looking at everyone with a mischievous grin.

            “Hullo!”  The head cried in a high-pitched voice.

            “I forgot you were in there,” added Ed, he drew out the figure from his pocket.  “Everybody meet Little Dill.”

            Everyone could notice that Little Dill was dressed in a fine suit of purple and a vest of lovely yellow.

            “How cute?”  Alice commented as she tried to reach for him.

            “Don’ts t’ink abou’ it lady!”  The toy shrieked.

            “Little Dill doesn’t really trust strangers.” informed Ed.

            “Dat’s right!”  Little Dill squeaked. “For alls I know you peepers could bees holding us cap’ive.”

            Alice looked hurt at these words.

            “Don’t worry,” continued Ed.  “You’ll have lots of time to get to know him.”

            “What do you mean?”  Travis asked.

            “Oh nothing,” Ed shrugged as he walked to the fireplace and glanced into the grate.  “I only planned to take you all with me when I go back.”

            “What?”  everyone cried.

            “Little Dill!”  Ed ordered, ignoring the response.  “Get me the call bell.”

            The little toy ran to the carpetbag and produced from it a service bell.  Ed took the bell and laid it on the top of the fireplace, and pressed the little button on top.  The chimney pipe rattled and out from the mouth came a man in a flashy velvet suit that looked to belong from hundreds of years ago.  The man looked very ancient with a long and strongly white beard that had a long, wooden pipe protruding from it.

            “‘Bout time,” said the old man with a shudder.  “It’s raining hard enough to start a flood.”

            “Sorry Bug-a-Boo,” Ed replied, “I had to explain a few details.”

            “Excuses more like,” the old man said.  “That’ll be your downfall: your lack of awareness.”

            “Who is this guy?”  quested Travis.

            “Oh! Where are my manners?”  realized Ed.  “Everyone, meet Professor Bug-a-Palooza-Pick-a-low-Boo, or you can just call him Professor Bug-a-Boo.”

            “What a fine to-do,” Bug-a-Boo muttered impatiently as he looked about his surroundings.

            “What’d ye say,” quested Ed.

            “Nothing.  Now, are they coming or not?”  snapped Bug-a-Boo.

            “That’s not up to me,” Ed replied looking toward the others.

            The three made no reply.

            “I haven’t all night,” fumed Bug-a-Boo as he reached into his pocket and produced a silk bag.  He then pulled out a hand full of sand-like powder and threw the contents into the fireplace.  The flames began to glow in multiple colours, emitting a glow much different to that of normal flame.

            “I’ve opened the door.” continued the sage.  “They can make their decision whether to jump in or not.”  With that, Bug-a-Boo disappeared in a puff of blue smoke.

            Ed turned to the others with a kind glint in his eye.  “If you come, you come. If you don’t, you don’t.”  He then made a run for the fireplace and jumped head first into the opening.

            Little Dill looked up at the others.  “Are you comin’?”  he squeaked.

            Everyone gave a look of uncertainty, the kind that suggested, “I really want to go, but will it affect my schedule.”

            “Can’t you sees that he’s alive?” Little Dill snapped and with that jumped into the flames.

            “I’m going in,” said Travis and made a run for the fireplace.  With a flash of flame, he was gone.

            Soon only Alice and Zach were left.  The flames were still giving off their glow, but the flames themselves were beginning to shrink.

            “Well?” asked Alice, with her head slightly tilted.

            “Well what?” quizzed Zach.

            “Are you going in?”

            To be quite honest Zach was thinking to say “no”, but for some unknown reason that could only be really explained as being in the spirit of the moment, he said “yes.”  Alice, in reaction to this, grabbed Zach by the hand and started pulling him as she ran into the fire.
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Disclaimer: All characters are the creation of Joseph Bennett.

The Sad Story of Henry: Mental Health and "Thomas The Tank Engine"

The Sad Story of Henry: Mental Health and Thomas the Tank Engine

Henry in his old shape in The Three
Railway Engines.

The hit children's program Thomas and Friends has developed a close association with the Autism community in a positive manner.  This has gotten me to wonder about mental health within the over all series.  I'm not saying it was the Rev. W. Awdry's intention or that this is a fact, unlike some people from the Guardian, I'm just proposing that this maybe something to consider when watching some of these episodes. First and foremost, this is a children's show and, unless making it obvious, it doesn't need to be subtle or have some underlining meaning.  After re-watching the stories "Coal" and "Flying Kipper", part of me began to wonder if Henry may be relatable to those dealing with anxiety and depression.  I personally deal with such issues and have found myself relating to the green tender engine.

Blue Henry and Thomas from Tank
Engine Thomas Again.

For those who don't know, since this story arc occurred years ago, Henry appeared more like Gordon for the first few books in the Railway Series – even being painted blue for three books! By the time of the third book in the Railway Series, Tank Engine Thomas Again, Henry’s troubles become apparent and the green (well, blue at this point in the books) engine mentions his situation to Thomas, who passes it off as the former just being lazy (Awdry, Tank Engine Thomas Again, 8).

Still from the tv adaption of "Coal"

   By the time of book six, Henry the Green Engine, Henry’s prolonged condition is described as sometimes having the strength to work but at other times he felt too weak to do so (Awdry, Henry the Green Engine, 4).  It’s clear that the other engines have no patience for Henry’s problem, James even accusing Henry at the beginning of “Coal” of not working hard enough (Awdry, Henry the Green Engine, 4).  At the same time, the Fat Controller, who has done all he can for Henry, is losing patience: “You are too expensive, Henry.  You have had lots of new parts and new paint, but they’ve done you no good.  If we can’t make you better, we must get another engine…” (Awdry, Henry the Green Engine, 4). It is quickly discovered that the reason for Henry’s troubles is the quality of coal being used. Henry’s fireman argues that because he doesn’t have a big firebox like the other engines, Henry isn’t able to function as well using the same coal and suggests Henry be prescribed Welsh Coal as a solution (Awdry, Henry the Green Engine, 8)

Henry Gets his Welsh Coal

Still from the TV adaption of "Flying Kipper"

The success of the Welsh coal makes Henry feel great. He is able to work so well that the Fat Controller gives him the job of pulling The Flying Kipper. Unfortunately, on his first night of pulling the train, Henry collides into another train due to ice and snow jamming the points and signal (Awdry, Henry the Green Engine, 22). Upon arriving to survey the accident, the Fat Controller informs Henry that he will sent to Crewe, “a fine place for sick engines. They’ll give you a new shape and a larger firebox. Then you’ll feel a different engine, and you won’t need special coal any more” (Awdry, Henry the Green Engine, 28). Henry returns from Crewe a new engine with a new shape and went on to have many more escapades such as sneezing at some naughty boys and later moving two failed diesels all on his own.

So you may be asking: “how does the story of a green engine getting a new shape become relatable for someone with mental illness?” Well, people who do deal with anxiety or depression may feel like something is wrong but they aren’t sure what it is. Those around that person may either try to pass it off as nothing like Thomas and James, while those who are trying to help the person, like the Fat Controller, may be frustrated because they’ve done all they can to help but nothing is working. Henry can be seen as someone suffering from mental illness in that same regard. At the same time, the Welsh coal can serve as some sort of anti-depressant that allows him to function properly. Despite being properly medicated, people with mental health problems still struggle and can have points where things go the extreme; Henry’s accident with the Flying Kipper can serve to represent that sort of situation. Finally, going to Crewe is like going to therapy and getting the proper help needed to adjust and be able to cope with the illness in the best way. Henry comes back from Crewe a different engine, feeling much better than before. However, unlike Henry, there are still people who do get help and are medicated but still have to battle with mental illness every day. So please be patient.

Henry in his new shape at the end of "The Flying Kipper" from Henry the Green Engine

Sources

 "Awdryana." Awdryana. Accessed June 14, 2016. http://awdryana.tumblr.com/page/3. 

"Coal." Thomas the Tank Engine Wikia. Accessed June 14, 2016. http://ttte.wikia.com/wiki/Coal.

"The Flying Kipper." Thomas the Tank Engine Wikia. Accessed June 14, 2016. http://ttte.wikia.com/wiki/The_Flying_Kipper.

"Henry." Awdry's Railway Series Wiki. Accessed June 12, 2016. http://awdrysrailwayseries.wikia.com/wiki/Henry.

"Henry." The Railway Series Wiki. Accessed June 14, 2016. http://the-railway-series.wikia.com/wiki/Henry.

Awdry, Rev. W. Henry the Green Engine. Leicester: Edmund Ward. 1951.

---. Tank Engine Thomas Again. Leicester: Edmund Ward. 1951.

NewController01. "TRSR2 HENRY THE GREEN ENGINE BOOK 6 PART 1 'Coal'" YouTube. 2009. Accessed June 14, 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMrClf2JKCg. 

Sunday Sweetness: Tsh, tsh, tsh, tsh, ching!

Today, I thought I would talk about my writing.  I do a lot of it when I can and when I'm not getting distracted with other stuff.  It's been something I've done for a long time,  I generally have a lot of projects on the go and have to have a ton of writing books and file on my computer.  I even have a project that I'm working with an Underwood typewriter.

Currently, after four years of writing essays at my alma mater Laurentian University and a year at Sir Sanford Fleming, I have landed work as an intern at a company in my hometown.  There, I'm researching for their resource centre and writing for their blog as well.  For the moment I'm feeling on top.  This job does eat up a bit of my time now so it makes it hard for me to get around to posting in a way that I would like... but what can you do?

Sunday Sweetness: News Edition

Hey Everyone,

Sorry for the radio silence (for the umpteenth time).  The last couple weeks have been a bit hectic with moving back to Barrie and getting work lined up for the summer.  I'm hoping now that everything is set up that I'll have time to get posts going regularly (I think...)

I've been working on a story and am thinking of posing it in serials on here starting in July.  I'm not going to commit to making that a sure thing just in case I get caught up with other stuff but is something I would like to do once I'm finished and have edited the chapters.

I'm also thinking of getting some reviews out on a regular basis, maybe once a month or biweekly.  Again, I'm only thinking about it;  I still have to have time to watch/listen/read what I'm going to talk about.

For the most part I'll try to at least some short pieces so there's at least some new content on here for you.  So, I know this isn't a normal Sunday Edition but I don't think I've been doing this enough for something normal about it.

I hope you all have a great Sunday and rest of the week.

https://pixabay.com/en/browse-page-scroll-to-news-1019916/

https://pixabay.com/en/candy-sweets-tasty-sweet-food-996512/

God's Not Dead 2 (More God-ier but less Dead-ier than the last God's Not Dead)

                The year 2014 saw the success of the Christian movie God’s Not Dead.  This film told the story of a student debating with this philosophy professor about the existence of God.  Now, I’m not going to go on about the movie beyond that since I already did a review about the movie, which can be seen here.  In a movie where Sabrina the Teenage Witch is put on trial with Commissioner Gordon prosecuting and Winston Zeddemore presiding over the court,the question I want to address is does God’s Not Dead 2 continue to reinforce the ignorance and anger of the first one or does it try to learn from the sins of its predecessor?


Warning: Spoilers Ahead

Synopsis

                God’s Not Dead 2 tells the story of Grace Wesley (Melissa Joan Hart), a high school history teacher whose career is on the line and faith put to the test after answering a student’s question during class about Jesus.  With the help of her lawyer (Jesse Metcalfe), Grace must defend her faith from prosecutor Pete Kane (Ray Wise), in a trial that not only will have her career at risk.  Along the way we are reunited with Martin – the Chinese student who converted to Christianity –, Amy – the left-wing blogger who was diagnosed with cancer –, and Reverends Dave and Jude, each finding themselves a part of the trial (Cronk 2016).

Story

                I have to say, God’s Not Dead 2 is very much an improvement from the first.  The main plot panned out mostly how I expected and the side stories generally worked well with the story.  This can be noticed in the cases of Martin and Amy.  Both plots dealt with the characters trying to understand their faith in some way – Amy questioning it after finding out that her cancer is in remission and Martin trying to understand his faith more.  Unlike in God’s Not Dead, both Amy and Martin serve some form of purpose to the main plot by helping Brooke cope with the situation and eventually come to accept Christ.  It’s through their interaction with one of the main protagonists that Martin and Amy are able to fit into the main plot while having their stories come to a resolution.

                While the main plots and side stories worked together, there were exceptions.  This was in the case of the side story with the pastors and the sudden subpoena for their sermons from the last three months by the government.  It went nowhere for one thing and it felt like it was trying portraying it as the government is out to get Christians.  It is an inaccurate statement and participates in making the movie to be a straw-man story of Christian persecution in modern times.

                At the same time, the movie tries to straw-man the story with making what should be an issue with school policy and the improper dismissal of a teacher into a story where faith is on trial and that Grace’s trial is just the tipping point of some huge conspiracy of religious oppression.  Now I've seen this argument made in Inherit the Wind but being made by science, but this was meant to establish the characters and it was a movie more about egos at war with one another than God vs. Science.  This movie, it takes what should be a movie that could provoke discussion 

Characters and Actors

                Much like the last movie, the characters seem just as flat.  We see the religious victim, the maniacal villain, the determined young lawyer and so on.  I felt like there could have been more done with these characters, which was a shame.

                Also, just like God’s Not Dead, the actors definitely did their best with what they were given.  I have to say my favourites were Melissa Joan Hart and Ray Wise for their roles of Grace Wesley and Pete Kane, respectively.  Hart was able to portray a person who is cemented in their beliefs and was able to show that even the most devout can still feel the pressure of the situation.  Hart’s Grace is someone who believes very much in God and will stand by it, even though everything she has is at stake.

                Just as a side note.  I demand there be a spin off with Reverends Dave and Jude.  Though I didn't laugh out loud to their shenanigans, Dave and Jude are quite likeable and do give an impression of people who care very much for God and those who are in need of help.  They would definitely be characters I would very much love to see in their own movie or show

.

Closing

                At the start of this review, I said that I wanted to determine if God’s Not Dead 2 is as bad or worse than its predecessor is.  I have to say that this movie is an improvement from the first.  The writers seemed to learn to make the side stories more relevant and connected to the overall plot and the editing was much better done.  That said, it continues to try to portray Christians as victims of some conspiracy that is out to get them and make those who are non-believers to be inhuman and cruel beings.  Evangelism can bring out the best in Christianity (love compassion, passion, etc...), but this movie shows the ugly side of it (ignorance, bigotry, etc...).  There is no war on religion, only ignorants kicking up dirt.  For those reasons, I can’t call this a good movie.  Better than the first one, but in need of much improvement.

Sunday Sweetness: Homeward Bound

Counselling

While writing the review for God's Not Dead 2, I'm listening to "Homeward Bound" by Simon and Garfunkel.  It reminds me that I'm going to be returning back to Barrie at the end of my program at Fleming College in Peterborough.  It's hard to believe that it has been a year since I travelled in my Grandma's van to my friend Zach's place to await for the moving day on May 1st.  It has been an exciting adventure with many highs and lows and I will work hard to remember the highs more than the lows.

I hope that in going back to Barrie, I will be able to start afresh and use my connections out there for work.  Though that will be the plan, I will still miss Zach, his girlfriend Mandi, both Bens and Andrew.  Though I haven't really talked about them in these posts (much less posting at all), I will still miss them all the same.  So, if you have someone who means a lot to you, let them know.

News: God's Not Dead 2 Review and the Return of Sunday Sweetness

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 Hey all!

Just wanted to give you a heads up for this coming week.  I hope to have the review for God's Not Dead 2 ready for Monday and will be planning on having a Sunday Sweetness Edition (the first in a while).  Should there be a delay in the Monday review, I'll make sure to mention it in the Sunday Sweetness.

Until then, have a great weekend.