Ode to My Tainted Dreams

Once upon a time, in a faraway neighbourhood, there lived an evil witch. The witch had proclaimed herself the Mistress and Ruler of everything in a 100m (or was it a kilometer) radius of her Castle. Her children having left home and boredom of old age kicking in, she only had for hobby to nose around in her “subjects” family and personal matters, reveling in creating rifts between members of a same family or discord within the whole community. However, the evil hag was not satisfied! There existed a small household in the county that refused to yield to the nosiness of the witch, going about their everyday-life peacefully and quietly.

“How dare these lowly creatures defy my power? That’s unforgivable! They’ll pay for it! I’ll make sure they pay for it!!” the old hag hissed furiously.

So one sunny afternoon, having sent her faithful underlying to spy on the resistant household’s new construction, she opened the door and her graceless Queen of Horror stepped out of her equally horrible castle. Seeing the lady of the household on the balcony, she called out to her,

“My dear lady, the construction you are putting up is illegal! It’s almost touching my precious wall!”

For indeed, the evil witch loved and worshipped the stone wall she had erected to separate her Fief and that of her “subjects”. There was various legends as to why the old hag cherished that petty construction so much. Maybe there were gold bars hidden in the wall? Or money? No one knew, for touching the “Sacred Wall” was sacrilegious! It was also common knowledge that the old witch intended to be buried with the bits and pieces of that wall. Why would she do that? It remained a mystery, of course!

The lady of the household, annoyed at being disturbed by the hated busybody, answered,

“Oh really? And where have you learned that?”

The Monstrosity of a witch was angry at the lack of deference in the Lady’s tone.

“Oh, because I’ve learned every law this country has! So listen to me: either you leave three feet from the wall then build your construction or I’ll call the authorities to make them issue an order to stop that construction!” she proclaimed in a high and mighty tone of voice, satisfied to have showed off what she thought to be a proof of her superiority over the “lowly roaches”.

By this time, the young lord of the household and his father, alerted by the noisy altercation over the balcony [for, alas the monster witch had no notion of etiquette =( ] , entered the scenery.

“What is your problem, Old witch?” the young lord demanded furiously. The household was taken aback! The calm and peace-loving young lord never got angry!

“I’m talking to your Mother, young man, stay out of it!” the eyesore of a witch stated, with an air of superiority of course!

The young lord, not deterred by the tone, continued,

“You just stated you knew all laws right? And would call the authorities, right? Well, go ahead! Or are you all-talks and no actions?”

“You are just a petty ‘Faiseur D’esprit’,” the old hag hissed angrily, using what she thought was an insult the young lord would not understand!

Observing the whole scene, from the start with her mother, the young lady of household barely concealed a laugh.

“ ‘Faiseur D’esprit’ she said? Does that even exist? Poor bastard, she doesn’t even know the meaning of what she just uttered!” the young lady mused.

“You’re talking about laws, right? May I remind you, you built your very precious wall half on what is OUR land?” interjected at last the Lord of the household.

Hearing this, the grotesque witch was taken aback. How could these callous peasants know that? But her pride was not yet altogether deflated!?

“Lady, let’s leave these ‘Faiseurs D’esprit’ out of this discussion,” she addressed the lady, “I’m sure we can have a reasonable conversation, us two!”

For indeed, this witch was a feminist( or was it a scaredy-cat) who dare not talk to males!

By this time, the Lady and her daughter were beside themselves with anger,

“Don’t you dare insult our family,” they exclaimed in unison.

Her pride and confidence at the resistant household’s inferiority battered, the wicked old monster furiously fired a last and stupid “Faiseur D’esprit”, before retreating back in her disgusting den.

The household continued with their construction, knowing that the matter would not end here. For indeed, the old hag would certainly call on the oh-so-mighty authorities and, as insurance, prepare an evil curse for the resisting clan! But the household was prepared to face it all, with weapons that were sure to hit the damn old witch hard and deep!

Afterword: This is not a work of fiction, but an incident that happened to me yesterday! What remains edged in my mind is how stupid and ill-wishing people are. Could we still call those monstrous beings, who are always first to cause misery, human beings? I doubt it! This event just helped to convince me that society is rotten through and through and that leaving at peace in my locality is mere fantasy! On another note, I think I’ll invest in a billboard to be posted on my house! Why, you’ll ask? But of course, to post my household’s everyday life, then the nosy neighbours would hopefully be satisfied!

Sayuka~