Listen Close to the Keeper of the Tale...

     The snow swirls heavily around you. It is thick and heavy and cold. You have been out in the cold and the wind for far too long already. Suddenly you realize where you are and that a moment's comfort can be gained. Quickly you duck into the doorway and close the door behind you. Loudly you try to stamp the majority of the snow from your footwear rather than track it further into the building. From the inside of the building the snow outside falls in a pretty exuberate way. It's easy to appreciate it now that you are slightly detached from it. There is a faint smell of coffee in the hallway. It is a warm happy smell, particularly welcome considering the cold you feel. You move in the direction of the smell, towards the big open room at the end of the hall.

     Once you reach the room you are unsurprised to see him there, the Keeper of the Tale. He sits on the couch in the corner of the room, sipping on a coffee. This time he sees you approach, no doubt having heard you stomp the snow from your feet. "Hallo," he says with a smile. "A bit horrid out today, isn't it? Would you care for a coffee? It's a bit strong, but it's fresh." You gratefully accept his offer and remove your jacket, dislodging snow from it as you do so. You make yourself comfortable on the couch. "Do you take anything in your coffee? Milk or sugar or something similar?" You request a splash of milk and some sugar. He brings you a small pot of sugar with the coffee mug. "I splashed the milk as requested. I hope it's to your satisfaction." You take a cautious sip. It is quite hot and strong. At least now you know how much sugar to add.

     As you stir your coffee he looks at you hopefully. "Would you care for a story with your coffee?" You can think of no good reason to resist but caution that you do have an appointment you are struggling to reach. Time is currently not short but you must still brave the weather and are unsure how long it will take you to reach your destination. He waves his hand confidently. "I have the very thing; another tale of our friends Douglas and Carmen. Just relax..."


     Douglas sighed loudly. "I weary of life. Tis nothing but a myriad of sad occurrences and is over far too quickly."
  
     Carmen gave his sad features a curious look. While she was well familiar with his ability to change moods on a whim this shift seemed unusual to her. It felt forced, unnatural even. A few moments ago, in the convenience store, he had been downright cheery and she could detect no logical reason for his change. "Nonsense," she replied.

     "What say you?"

     "Nonsense," she repeated.

     "Really? What argument do you have to refute me?"

     "Rainbows."
 
     "Rainbows?"

     "Certainly. Rainbows aren't sad things. Therefore life cannot be solely sad things when rainbows exist."

     "Rainbows mean it's been raining. Rain is sad."

     "Ah, but the rainbow comes out when the rain is over. It's a happy thing. Besides, rain is a happy thing. It feeds the vegetation. It washes away the rubbish in the street. It leaves the land fresh and happy smelling." Douglas continued to sulk. Carmen looked at him with genuine concern. "Are you all right? Is your blood sugar low?"

     A low wicked chuckle erupted from a nearby park bench. There was no mirth in the sound. A bald man in a suit sat there looking thoughtful. "The young man finally sees the truth of this world. There is nothing worth doing, nothing worth attempting. Everything is worthless. Everything is failure. For instance, I have failed to affect you. Why should that be?"

     His wondering hit her like a slap to the face. "What have you done to him?" She could feel a pressure in her brain, an external force working to affect her.

     He stood up and focused on her. "I am the Philosopher. I ponder life. I can find nothing encouraging about it and I seek to share that truth with all."

     Carmen reeled under his assault of negativity. She chewed desperately on her lower lip, trying to focus past the emotion surrounding her. All see needed was a moment to catch her breath, a moment to fight back...

     Suddenly there it was like a beam of sunlight through the clouds. A moment without pain and suffering, a moment where her heart rose with joy. She smiled warmly. Her deep brown eyes opened and she directed her joy at the Philosopher.

     He staggered under the force of her counter attack. Somehow, just as he could broadcast his negative emotions, she could broadcast her positive emotions. He felt the need to strike back, to prove what he felt was true. It was difficult to do so. She looked so happy, so warm, with those gentle eyes and dusky skin and pretty hair...

     He shook it off. Her level of attractiveness meant nothing. He gestured demonstratively. "Life is pain. Pain is truth!"

    Carmen staggered. He was stronger than she anticipated. Perhaps she couldn't defeat him. Perhaps he was right? No, that couldn't be but what could she do?

     Then she remembered and a plan formed in her mind. She opened her bag while she was still coherent, grabbed the item and flung it at him. Instinctively he caught it. "What?!?"

     "You can have it." Carmen smiled warmly at him, well aware that he was distracted and therefore more vulnerable to her emotion. "We can get another. They're great!"

    Hesitantly he unwrapped it and bit deep into the flaky crust. Immediately the tension dropped from his body. He relaxed. He even smiled. "This... this is wonderful!"

     Carmen grinned triumphantly. "Of course its wonderful; it's a Frosttess Fruit Pie."

     He made a yummy noise after taking a second bite. "Apple pie filling! Life is wonderful."

     Douglas shook off the last of the negative influence from which he'd been suffering. "What happened?"

     "Nothing much. I just got to spread some happiness, that's all."

     "Is he eating my fruit pie? Life IS pain."

     "Don't worry, we can get you another." Douglas cheered.

     The Philosopher smiled at them. "I have a whole new outlook on life thanks to you and thanks to Frosttess Fruit Pies!"


     You are very happy about the fact that you've finished your coffee as it is well past time you were going. The Keeper smiles at you. "Of course, there is a moral to this story: Everybody likes pie!" Your head drops and you shake your head in disbelief. That's a moral?

     It's time to go and you get up to put on your jacket. The Keeper looks concerned. "Should there be another moral perhaps, one that I missed?" He starts to ponder this while you make a break for the door. The snow still falls heavily outside but, for some reason, it comes as a relief to be out in the snow as opposed to inside with the Keeper of the Tale.