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A Moral Dilemma

...adapted from the novel 'Mr Pye' by Mervyn Peake Balding and sprightly, he's filled with bold dreams to make us all happy and free. He selects as his target a small Channel Island, a sampling of people just like you and me. All he wants is that folks get along without all their disputes and fights. He tries to bring peace to this sheltered enclave, just by doing good deeds he can sleep nights. He practises witchcraft to bring them together, 'if it works' are his words for the day. A sense of humour is paramount these days to keep those nay-sayers at bay. In the midst of these noble endeavours he feels discomfort that turns out to be wings that are sprouting quite clearly, a cause for concern there's no doubt. It seems that his kindness has made him an angel, the more good deeds, the bigger they grow 'til they're actually poking right out of his shirt, my goodness, they're starting to show! So he counters with bad deeds in hopes that they'll shrink, indiscretions and plain bald-faced lies. Sure enough they diminish, in fact they're all gone, he need not prepare a disguise. But this scheme that he's started gets odder, there's a growth on his temples, two horns; he's been so busy negating the good that he's done he's turned Devil, good heavens! he's torn between Good and Evil, just what should he do? he's conflicted, and lies in disgrace; he sits down to ponder which way he should turn, it's as clear as the nose on his face! On the horns of a moral dilemma, he simply gives in to pure Good; he embraces his folk, he just loves them to death, 'til his wings are full-sprouted he'll take to the air and keep flying as far as infinity goes, so he bids his people a tearful farewell, next stop for our Spirit, who knows?

Copyright © | Year Posted 2016




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Date: 2/20/2016 8:38:00 AM
I recall the man with an angel on one shoulder, promoting good, and the devil on the other, spewing lies and saying little lies do no harm. Then someone asked the man, "Which one of them is winning." And the man replied, "The one I feed." This was an enjoyable read. It let me cuddle with infinity.
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Keith Bickerstaffe
Date: 2/20/2016 9:21:00 AM
Peake is a favorite novelist of mine... he wrote the remarkable 'Gormenghast' trilogy, a marvelous tale of intrigue and deception, well worth reading! Thanks Mark.

Book: Shattered Sighs