|| -------- -- -----  A E R I E   O B L I V I A N A . singular book of text wandertainment by Frank Edward Nora ------------------- ----------- PECULIAR LATHER--CUP 2--"MAP SHIRT GODDESS" <-------  ||  Severe Repair  ||  Peculiar Lather  ||  -------> (Cup SRpl002, Created v2 (6/7/99), Copyright 1999) = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Back at college, as Tanner continued to recall these events, he regarded the memory of what he had looked like back then. Nineteen years old, tall, dark brown hair a mess going everywhere down to his shoulders, a thick untrimmed beard, no mustache. He wore a pair of brown rugged pants, a gray sweater, and a light jacket, black in color, with the words GULLIA FAIR VERODARE on the back in big yellow letters. A younger version of a just-created person. Strange. As far as the current Tanner knew, the Tanner Loblolly persona had been created from scratch by the gods who banished him--and did not exist before a month ago. He continued to recall, wondering if that goddess who stole his Playful Hunt, Eachdield, was behind this false memory game. "Um, uh, excuse me. I'm looking for a girl, a goddess. She has red hair and a shirt with a map on it, but, uh, I can't remember her name." Tanner said, approaching Cudworth. "I regard the red-haired goddesses of days gone by." Cudworth said, waving his arms in dramatic gestures and meandering on the lobby floor. "Their lusty essence does simmer the populace. And I all alone, in fantasy met them, and did things with them. They burned in that time! The town ignited, stoic streets exploding. The redhead goddesses, the most incredible deities of all... those blaring girls..." "Uh, well--do you know the one I'm referring to?" Tanner said, confused. "The redhead goddess of today? What the hell is her name? Is her name on that list you have on the wall?" "Well, young man, there are a few red-haired goddesses here these days." Cudworth said, walking over to his spot and looking at a list of names on his bulletin board. "Heh, I was just quoting from a popular poem before, from several decades ago, you know. I'm prone to quote. But... now I'm not sure which one you're referring to. Also, I'm not sure why you want to know. Hmm?" "Well, it's this way. I met her in a movie theater down that way," Tanner said, pointing toward a hallway, "and she made a date with me to go to this dance thing tonight, and now there's this big banner on the wall outside saying, basically, that she thinks I'm a little twerp and she doesn't know what got into her, and that she's going with someone else. Can you believe that? I wanna take it down. And, and she didn't even sign her name." "Then how do you know she wrote it?." "Well, it had my name on it, and it said to forget about going to the dance tonight. So I'm assuming it's her." "That's a cute little joke. Boy, that Janine is sure a silly little girl, ain't she?" Cudworth said, chortling a little. "Janine! Yeah, that's it. Janine. She's the one." Tanner said, scrunching up his face in thought. "Hmmm. Do you know where she is?" "No, but--" "--wait a second--is that thing real--where if you have a legitimate gripe with a deity, and you call their name, they have to come before you and answer your charge?" Cudworth rolled his eyes and sighed. "I suppose that would work. I'm not sure. Traditions like that aren't really very important around here. Most people probably wouldn't want to summon a god before them, for whatever reason. I mean--why cause yourself trouble?" "Well all I know is I was looking forward to this dance--and she led me on. So I think I ought to call her here right now." "Do as you please, kid. But, uh, if you're gonna summon her, go over to the elevator bay to do it, hey? I don't want a ruckus out here in the lobby if I can help it." "Okay, fine." Tanner said, turning toward the elevators. Cudworth regarded Tanner for a second. "Er, wait a second son--what exactly's going on here? Are you new to Agoopish?" Tanner stopped and turned back. "Yeah, I suppose so. So what?" "Well, before you get Janine's ire up, why don't you tell me what led up to this trouble. I can advise you of the best thing to do. Hmm? What do you say? I always try and be helpful." "Well alright. You see... uh, about three or four hours ago, me and my two friends--I think they're around here somewhere--Minion Van Hall and Martin Fovea--we were..." In his room, Tanner shook himself and thought, "what is this memory?" Minion Van Hall and Martin Forever were members of Melter Pluto (Martin had taken a stage name). Minion was the lead singer, and Martin was the flautist/keyboardist/violinist. The others were Dan St. Bloodbrother on drums, Hazy Nopperty on guitar, and Nim Bunique on bass guitar. He started to remember knowing all of them. -------> ------------------- ----------- -------- -- -----