While you may be used to my switching things out, now and again, I am about to perform a major alteration in the normal order of things about this site!
Why? What could be the reason for such sudden changes? Take a wild guess…
If you thought the answer was “A BABY”, then you win the prize!
I had a great many delusions of grandeur, in regards to this summer’s line up of stories, jokes, and anecdotes to regale you with… but, that has been thrown out with the bath water, as they say.
This ole mare ain’t what she used to be, at least when it comes to balancing a nearly 25 lb. baby on her hip for hours at a time. It never occurred to me how much energy my grandbaby would be requiring. So, after this last weeks schedule, I realized that things would have to change drastically, at least for the time being. As she grows and becomes more independent, things should normalize. For now though, we’ll be navigating these writing/baby waters more thoughtfully. Work smarter and not harder, as they say.
I realize that I’d previously told Lilly that Monday’s would be her baby question series, but I really need her help with things aboard the ship, as we search for Squagon’s lost squirrel kingdom.
I feel bad, honestly I do, but it made more sense to focus on one or two important tasks, rather than try and hold up the entire schedule of baby care, website activity, and my own personal projects that go on, after the daily posts have been completed.
I know she’s upset at the moment, but I give you my word that she’ll get her chance to write on Mondays, upon our return from this summers travels. Besides, there will be so much activity about the ship, and tasks she’ll be needed for; it’s doubtful that the ant will have a moment to think on it.
The two commitments I’ve chosen to hold myself to, are the Thursday and Friday postings. It shouldn’t be difficult to send you the updates from our journeys aboard The Torrent, as captain’s logs are a requirement while under sail… I think it’s maritime law, or something like that. The Friday posting, while supposed to be written live on that morning, will actually be worked out several days prior, after Maisie flies home to her mamma. Well, she doesn’t actually fly herself home. Brutus takes her back and forth, being that he can fly, and all.
From here on out, we shall be winging it, as they say. I know, I know… I use that sayin a lot. But, it’s not really my fault though. I can’t help it if those sayings keep popping into my head, and I’m certainly not going to take credit for what somebody else thought up!
This was a rather long winded way of saying that I’m busier than I expected to be, and the time spent with my granddaughter is far more precious than any writing I might ever accomplish. The writing will always be there, ready to go, but these fleeting days spent with Maisie are far more important, and they won’t be here for long. Before we know it, she’ll be walking, talking, and growing up. I choose not to miss any of it, not even for a moment!
And, I plan on sharing all those moments with you, my WordPress family. Isn’t that what family is all about?!
After Ollie’s abrupt departure, Maiyah found herself facing quite a different set of challenges than before. While she no longer had the need to hide Brugo, nor was she required to fulfill her normal list of chores, the poor barmaid was saddled with all the work Ollie normally did, which was far more than she’d ever realized.
There were the books to do each day, along with ordering fresh supplies, assigning duties, and paying wages to all those employed at the tavern.
The problem was… Brugo was in constant need of attention, often refusing to let Maiyah out of his sight. It was an unusual change in the little one’s behavior, since Ollie had gone. It was almost as if the baby were searching for him, from the moment she brought him down each morning, til they retired to her room for the evening. It seemed odd that the baby would notice Ollie’s absence, and Maiyah wasn’t entirely sure that it was all just her imagination.
What she did know with certainty, was the increase in Brugo’s crying sessions. He’d barely made a peep when she was hiding him in her bedroom, but now he seemed to cry all the time.
It made no difference whether she fed him, changed him, or even tried to play with him. No longer was it safe to leave the baby by himself, as he began to find mischief wherever he was, at the moment.
Somehow, he learned how to open doors, drawers, and any cupboard that wasn’t padlocked! Maiyah spent all her free time cleaning up his messes, which seemed to be everywhere.
Days turned into weeks, with Maiyah struggling to keep the tavern running, in Ollie’s absence. At times, she would feel so frustrated with her situation that it filled her with anger towards the aggravating Orc. She told herself that it wasn’t her problem, so this was the time to simply walk away. She could be well and clear of the place, before Ollie ever returned, and surely someone else could care for baby Brugo.
But then, at night, while she sat beside the sleeping babe, Maiyah knew that she could never abandon either the child, or Ollie. The orc was the only family she had now, just him and Brugo…
As time went on, Maiyah began to have troubling thoughts about Ollie’s version of things, as well as, how abruptly his behavior had changed when he read the letter she’d given him. How she now wished that she’d broken her own rules. She should have read the letter first, before giving it to the orc.
Why would Ollie lie about the timing of when he bought her from off that ship, so long ago? There wasn’t any way that the sleeping baby was older than she was, as Brugo couldn’t be more than a year old, possibly two. Maiyah, herself, was nearly grown into a young woman, and she hadn’t been more than seven or eight when she first set eyes on Ollie.
And, why was he so quick to hand her the tavern key? The business of running the place had always been his passion. Something wasn’t right, and Maiyah knew it. But, as to what wasn’t right, the answer was yet to reveal itself.
A great distance from the old shanty town, Ollie found himself journeying along an old familiar trail, heading toward a distant seaport, rather than toward the orc’s clan. He’d already decided that he would not seek them out, as they had turned their backs on him after he abandoned Shelor, and his son. There would be no warm welcome from any of his clan. Some wounds run deep, and stretch beyond one’s lifetime, never to be mended.
Ollie felt a pang of guilt over leaving the way that he did, vowing never to return to that world, after the way things went with Shelor’s clan. The circumstances were partly his fault, but much of the blame truly lay with the leaders of both clans. They had ruined everything for the young couple, and when Ollie left, he felt certain that he would never look back.
It wasn’t Maiyah’s fault that she wasn’t orc, by blood. How could he choose between the human child that he’d raised, and the woman he loved, not to mention his own son!
All that the orc had ever wanted was a family, his own clan. Maiyah was just as much a part of that clan, as his wife and baby. For a time, he had actually believed that it might work out…
He split his time between the tavern, and life within his wife’s clan. But, for as much as he tried, Ollie wasn’t able to convince the clans to allow his human daughter to join them. Even Shelor had accused him of loving Maiyah over herself, and their son. Things quickly fell apart, after that. Both clans threatened to turn him away, unless he abandoned the tavern life, as well as, his human pet, as they called Maiyah.
Now, the orc found himself separated from his clans, his wife and son, and his life upon the wharf. And, to make the orc feel even worse, he bitterly regretted the lies he’d offered Maiyah, shortly before they parted. He was a coward! How could he tell her the reason why things had gone the way they had? She would be devastated at such an awful truth, just as he now felt.
In shame, the orc made his way along the trail until it split, and then carried on down the path that led to the sea, instead of inland, toward his warring clans. There, he boarded the first vessel in need of an extra sailor, and sought to forget all that he was leaving behind…
Deep in the heart of orc territory, amidst a myriad of battle encampments, sat Brugo’s mother, Shelor. All orc were born to be warriors, whether male or female… it was the way of their people. Shelor had seen many battles before, though none since the birth of her son. It now felt different, somehow, though she found it difficult to understand the reason why. She should be proud to fight alongside her clan, and even more proud to die upon the battlefield. That was every orc’s pursuit, especially hers! At least it had been, at one time.
Sitting before the fire, listening to the men as they talked of the upcoming battles, all Shelor could do was think of Brugo. Her heart ached at the thought of never seeing him again, never feeling the touch of his fingers tangled in her hair, nor holding him in her arms. What if she die in battle, without knowing what happened to the child? After the way she had crushed Ollie’s spirit, over the human child he’d raised, Shelor understood why her husband would never come for her, now. The least she could hope for was that he would care for their son, in her absence. Surely, he would do that.
Shelor had watched from a distance, on the day she’d left Brugo behind the fish shed, just outside her husband’s tavern. The young barmaid that found the baby, fit the description Ollie had given of his human daughter, from what Shelor could remember. The girl looked kind, Shelor thought, and had felt sure that the baby would be kept safe. As she sat watching the flames flickering in the darkness, Brugo’s mother pray that she had made the right decision…
Back in the small shanty village, miles away from the orc battlefields, and oceans away from Ollie, Maiyah watched over the baby, as if he were her own. Night after night, she sat by his bedside as he lay sleeping, hoping with all her heart that Ollie would one day return. And, with the babe’s mother by his side!
Maiyah pray that perhaps one day, they could all become a family. The young barmaid hadn’t any memory of a mother, so the idea of a family began to wash over her like a comforting, warm blanket.
Many times, long after the streets lay empty and quiet, and when sleep refused to come, Maiyah walked along the dock, listening to the sound of the waters. Would Ollie ever return? A nagging doubt had begun to grow, as to whether the orc had simply fled, abandoning both her and the baby.
In truth, Ollie didn’t owe Maiyah anything, nor was he obligated to her, in any way. She had been nothing more than a purchase, a worker for his tavern, so perhaps he hadn’t cared for her so much, after all…
Will Ollie return from the sea? Can Maiyah keep the tavern afloat, and still manage to care for Brugo? Will Shelor survive the impending battle?
Books, clothes, games, tools, fishing stuff, diving stuff, and of course, exploration stuff… check, check, and triple check!!!
Oh well, we can always send Brutus to retrieve anything we’ve forgotten, right?!
Now, for everyone coming along on this venture, a tour of the ship, as well as your quarters, is in order. Otherwise, you’ll never find the bathroom, and the babe’s will take all the best bunks.
Come on, let’s get you settled…
First stop is the kitchen. This is one of the best places on the ship, and where we spend a good deal of time together. Mini Wiwohka will be our cook for this voyage, as Miss Tilly has her hands full with babies, and all.
Oh, yeah, I forgot to tell you that Tilly had twins…
While mamma and babies are all doing well, Tilly won’t be able to accompany us this time. She is needed at home, which is totally understandable. With that being said, Mini Wiwohka has gained quite the skill in the kitchen, so we are all in for a real treat!
Moving on, let’s show you where everyone sleeps, as well as, the restrooms.
You’ll find that there’s a ladies room at the bow (that’s the front) of the ship,
And, yes, we do provide unlimited hot water. Why, we have a dragon to heat the hot water tank, of course! There’s water being piped to both bathrooms, the kitchen, and also a washroom for the cook.
Check out the boy’s bathroom at the stern (the back)…
Oh! I’m so sorry, Peanut! We didn’t know you were in here.
How embarrassing!
Anyway, you get the idea about where the bathrooms are, so let’s move on to the bunk area…
It looks as if Nugget has already claimed one of the bunks. You should probably make quick work of finding your bunks, before the rest of the babes get here. They should be arriving any moment.
Speaking of the babes arriving, I must leave you here to settle in, as I must finish my tasks before we depart. As soon as little feet start dropping on the deck, we’ll be shoving off. I want to get started as soon as possible. Hopefully, we’ll be weighing anchor shortly.
If you wish to say your goodbye’s, I suggest you stow your things and make your way above deck. I think I just heard Eustace moving about above our heads, so I better get up there. I made the mistake of telling him it was alright to bring extra things for the baby, if necessary. He’s gone a bit overboard (no pun intended, there)…
Oh, brother!
Well, at least the baby will have more than enough stuff to keep her happy. I can’t fault the camel for that. I know we’ll be thanking him later, and he knows it, too!
Luckily for you, she has her own designated bedroom, so Eustace can shove everything in her closet.
There should be more than enough room for us all, thanks to Creed’s handywork. It’s too bad that he couldn’t come, what with schoolwork, and all. We’ll have to make due without him. No worries, though. If anything needs repairing or replacing, Brutus can fetch him for us.
Ummm, I think that’s everything. If I’ve forgotten something, there will be plenty of time to figure it out, and fill you in. For now, let’s say our goodbye’s, or farewell’s, if that sounds more mysterious…
Awww, look how excited Squagon is to be leaving. It’s no wonder though, as this whole journey is to find those lost to him. And to think that you will be a part of this adventure, as well. I couldn’t be happier to have you all aboard.
With the shocking reveal of baby Brugo, things took a sudden turn in the way Ollie saw Maiyah. The grumpy Orc now found himself at the mercy of his young bar maid, as he had no idea how to care for a baby. He felt awful for the way he’d treated her, always yelling at her, and making her work such long, hard hours in the tavern. He’d never shown her the love she deserved, and yet, Maiyah was as loyal as they came. For days, she’d been secretly caring for his own son, and under his very nose.
As the two stood watching the sleeping baby, Ollie worried that the child would be frightened of him, and wouldn’t recognize his father, as they hadn’t seen one another since the child’s birth. Ollie could see his wife’s features on the baby’s face, even though Brugo’s eyes were closed.
The infant looked just like his mother. Her face was etched upon the orc’s heart! There hadn’t been a day that went by, in which Ollie hadn’t thought of her…
The orc’s heart hurt, when he considered what could possibly possess the child’s mother to abandon her son.
He looked down at the letter in his hands, afraid of what might be written on the paper. The orc knew that the answers he sought would be written there, but he was terrified of what it might reveal…
“You should read her letter, Ollie.” Maiyah encouraged the orc. “At least we might have some answers.”
Ollie wept openly, as he read the words from his wife. Never before had Maiyah seen the orc cry, nor show any emotion, aside from being grumpy all the time, and yelling at everyone. Here he was, looking so hurt and confused.
Suddenly, in the middle of reading the letter, Ollie gave a shocked and startled grunt, causing Maiyah to jump, and disturbing the sleeping baby, momentarily.
“What is it, Ollie? What’s wrong?” Maiyah whispered gently, placing her hand on his arm in concern.
“War,” replied the orc, in a subdued voice.
“A clan war has been declared between our people. My wife, Shelor, has been called to battle with her clan, but my own clan has chosen to stand apart from them, due to my being rejected by her clan.”
“Oh, Maiyah, this is terrible! Their clan hasn’t the number needed for success, which was why we tried to join with them, in the first place. We were trying to help strengthen both our clans, but while the marriage was sound, the joining of clans failed, entirely!”
Ollie looked toward the sleeping baby, then to the letter, and back at the baby.
Then, after several long moments, he turned his attention to Maiyah. Ushering her out of the room quietly, they headed down the stairs to the kitchen.
“I know that I have no right to ask this of you, Maiyah, and it is certainly within your rights to deny me, but… I need your help! I am torn between caring for you and Brugo, and finding my wife. I know what I must do, but I need your help if I’m to do it.”
“What must I do?” Maiyah asked.
“I must return to my clan and convince them to assist Shelor and her people,” Ollie lamented. “Whether or not I am accepted, doesn’t have any bearing on whether we should protect my wife and son.”
“Then you should go to her, Ollie,” Maiyah asserted.
“But to go means that I must leave you, Brugo, and the tavern. It’s all we have for coin, food, and shelter. How can I choose?”
With a resolve born of love and commitment, Maiyah stepped directly before Ollie, placing both her hands on his arm. “There are enough workers for the choring, and the sailors all know of me, so why not let me run the inn, while your gone?”
“You would do this for me?”
Remembering back over the years they’d been together, Maiyah’s eyes misted over with tears, as she replied, “You are the only father I have ever known, and you’ve cared for me all these years. Of course I shall do this for you and Brugo, both. You are my only family.”
“I have treated you terribly, Maiyah,” replied the orc, shamefully. “I should have given you my name long ago, and you don’t deserve to work like a hired worker. If you will do this for me, I give you my word that things will be different from now on.” Reaching out, the orc took the young bar maid in his arms, affectionately. Briefly giving her a fierce hug, the orc quickly gathered the remaining supplies needed, and stuffed them into an already full satchel.
Before leaving, he gathered all the workers together and gave strict instructions to obey Maiyah’s orders around the tavern, as she would be in charge, until his return.
Stepping out the back doorway of the kitchen, Ollie turned and handed Maiyah the keys to the tavern. “Now that you are running things, I don’t want you doing your normal chores,” he stated. “You’ve Brugo to look after, and coinage to be mindful of, instead. Leave the tavern work to the others, and just watch over the work. And, please don’t keep Brugo closed up in your room, any more. It’s not good for either of you.”
“You don’t want to see your son before you leave?” Maiyah questioned the orc.
“He will know me, but not now. First, I wish to bring his mother home, if that makes any sense. I want our first meeting to be a happy one, and without his mother, it just feels wrong.” Somehow, that made sense to Maiyah. She nodded her head in agreement to his explanation. Quickly, she gave Ollie one last hug, and then reluctantly stepped back, and said her farewells.
Watching the orc walk down the dock, and disappearing into the crowd, Maiyah wondered how on earth she was going to do any of the things she just promised Ollie. She’d never run the tavern without Ollie roaming about the building somewhere. Now it was up to her!
Will Ollie find Shelor and her clan, before it’s too late?
Why are the clans suddenly at war? What happened?
How will Maiyah manage to run the tavern, while caring for baby Brugo?
With the warmer weather comes the freedom to make way the sails, as they say. Whether you desire to come along is entirely your choice, though, you’ll be missing out on some grand adventures if you don’t make it to the dock on time.
Since we’ve only one available day of the week for such tales, I opted to settle our nautical explorations and high seas adventures, on Thursdays, just for the summer months.
Living a homebound lifestyle requires that my brain be actively engaged in some form of challenging pursuit. To be honest, Thursdays were falling a bit flat, in regards to being very interesting, or even challenging, for that matter.
So, what is one to do when the brain calls for stimulation? We mix things up, seek out new paths of adventure, and dip into the the well of creativity. From there, all manner of new and exciting places begin to appear upon the surface of your computer screens.
So join me on Thursdays for some high seas sailing, as we set sail for distant waters. Some waters may be familiar, while other parts will be places you’ve never before imagined.
Our first voyage will be embarking on a search for Squagon’s lost kin. We search for Pinion Valley, which was lost to us some time ago. Our young squirrel prince misses his family desperately, so it’s imperative that we locate them. It’s unclear, as to the valley’s location, as none of the paths that once led to it remain.
As you remember, last year we had some form of strange storm that magically erased all of The Barnyard, Acorn Valley, the magical home of our dragon, Brutus, as well as all the rest of our forest homes. They simply vanished without a trace! Somehow we were able to seek out all of the missing babes, including Squagon, whom we found sitting alone in a tree.
Sadly though, we lost one of the puppies, and all the dreamers vanished, as well.
Since those dark days, we were able to locate Peanut and scoop him up from where my grandson had misplaced the little fellow. We also relocated the small church where young Henry’s family lived, for Miss Tilly.
If you recall, we had been set to search out the two missing squirrel valleys when we were not only caught up in a storm that took us way off course, but then we were set upon by several pirate ships, forcing Brutus to hold them at bay, while we fled into foreign seas. Though we escaped the pirate attack, we became hopelessly lost for a good portion of last fall. It was worth it though, as we discovered Osrig on one of the strange islands we encountered.
Unfortunately, by the time that we found our bearings and made it back to familiar waters, it was already far too late in the year for us to safely sail, out on the rough open waters.
Now that Maisie is settling into our routine around The Barnyard, it’s time to show her the sea that calls to us, and get her used to living aboard a ship. She doesn’t sail with us all the time, but on the days that she visits, Brutus flies back to the Barnyard and gets her for us. Brutus assures me that she loves flying, as the dragon can hear her squeals of delight, and happy baby babble all the way to the ship.
All the babes are safely tucked aboard, settling into their cabins. Creed and Eustace outdid themselves with all the accommodations, upgrades, and expansions aboard The Torrent, so there’s a place for everyone. Osrig still refuses to sleep anywhere other than the foot of my bed with Bailey, which suits me just fine. It can get chilly at night, out on the water, so it helps having furry heaters on the bed, while sleeping.
Everyone else seems to be settling into their rooms, and getting back into the swing of things around the ship. Each crewmate has their own duties, and we only have a week til we set sail.
Your bunks have already been prepared for when you board, so I would suggest you arrive early if you want first pick of which spot you want. They’re all comfortable, don’t get me wrong, but some folks are outside edge sleepers, while others might be middle, or inside edge sleepers. You know what I mean, don’t you?!
I look forward to seeing any and all who choose to join us.
With Monday being as busy as it was, what with baby Maisie here, I wasn’t able to do my normal writing, like I’d planned. Things should be a bit more settled by next week, and then I’ll start my new Exploring Babies series.
For now, Wiwohka said that I could help her with the Tuesday Tinkering segment she normally does. I guess she felt bad for leaving me out, yesterday. I totally understood though, just by watching her carry a huge baby around all day. How can something so little, be so heavy? But that’s for my Monday writings, so no spoilers.
Any how, I know Wiwohka’s been really hard a work, writing the story about the baby orc, and all. I thought I would surprise her with a new character creation for the baby’s mom. I know there isn’t one made, as of yet. But if I don’t make it quick, Wiwohka will make one before I get the chance to do it for her.
Let’s see if I can do this. I’ve been watching how it’s done, so I think it might be possible to do, even if I am only a tiny ant. Here we go…
Now, we already have the first image Wiwohka used for last weeks episode, so we’ll start by using her for our template,
There was also one other image that was made, but not utilized yet,
I think her face seems too pinched, or to snooty, if you will. Baby Brugo is adorable, and I can’t imagine his mamma to be so gruff looking, even for an orc.
I used the program feature that allows me to make some images that are either slightly varied, or greatly varied, from the original image. When I tried the slightly varied, I got this,
When I opted for the greatly varied button, I got this one,
I like this second one, much better than the first. She looks softer, and more like what Ollie would be drawn toward. Well, that’s what I want to think, anyway.
So, now comes the hard part. We take the three images, along with a few different poses of each, so that the computer has enough to work with, and we head to the creation board. Wish me luck!
…………………………………… intermission ………………………………………….
Wow! That was much harder than I thought it would be. Wiwohka made it look rather easy to do, but I found it nearly impossible, at first. In the end, I think I did alright. She will either fix it the way she wants it, or simply make one of her own characters, though I hope she’ll be pleasantly surprised, just as I hope you will be…
I like her! She is a warrior, of course, but still a mamma. I know that orc’s are known for their prowess in war, as well as, their fierce angry nature, but she’s still a mother, right?! Mamma’s love their babies, don’t they? I hope Wiwohka will see that in this character, but that’s for her to decide, not me.
Well, I hope I did alright for this mornings tinkering session. Thanks for letting me be a part of it. In the future, however, I think I’ll leave all this technical stuff to the professionals. I’m gonna stick to the writing bits from now on. That’s where this ant excels, don’t you think?
See you next week for my normal Monday Messages… hugs from all of us, here in the barnyard.
Days and nights all blended together for the young barmaid, as she sought to carry on with her regular duties, while simultaneously caring for a baby. It wasn’t that Brugo was any more difficult that most his age, but Maiyah had never been a mother, so it was all quite a new experience.
For the most part, Brugo chose to sleep the day away, while she tended to her duties. When Maiyah returned to her room at the end of her shift, he would wake for his dinner. From that point, the baby orc spent the entire night climbing about the room, sitting upon her chest, and babbling incessantly. She wasn’t sure how long she could continue with the way things were going.
Ollie had begun to notice the look of exhaustion on Maiyah’s face. Going about her chores, she made every effort to avoid the orc, feeling his eyes on her back, as she went. It wouldn’t be long before he would demand to know why she was so tired, lately. In all the time she’d known Ollie, she’d never lied to the orc… not once!
Maiyah was certain that even if she tried to lie, the orc would know, simply by looking into her eyes. Somehow, it seemed that Ollie had always been able to read her thoughts. She learned from early on that it was simply easier to just tell the truth, rather than seeking to hide what would eventually be found out by the nosy orc.
As far as hiding a baby orc in her room, well, she was fairly certain that it wouldn’t be long before the truth would be discovered. She wanted to talk to the orc, but he was always in such a foul mood. He was already being rather unkind toward her, because she was falling behind in her work. That actually made her angry, because if he knew why she was going to all the trouble of hiding things, he would be ashamed of himself.
Finally, after nearly two weeks of hiding, sneaking, and the constant nocturnal activities of Brugo, Maiyah broke under all the pressure, and lack of sleep. It happened just as she was washing the morning dishes, and Ollie stomped into the kitchen and threw a pile of dirty washrags at her back.
“You forgot the wash from behind the bar… again!”
Turning to face the angry orc, Maiyah simply lost her temper, throwing an entire cup of sudsy water in Ollie’s face! The orc was so shocked at her outburst, and the look in her eyes that he took several steps backward.
Pointing an accusatory finger in his direction, Maiyah shouted, “You know, for someone who is supposed to be so smart and observant about everyone around them, you are rather blind to the truth that lay before your very eyes!”
Feeling ashamed of himself, as well as being quite confused by Maiyah’s reaction, the orc tried to apologize. It was too late, however, because all the lack of sleep had claimed what was left of her self-control.
“For the last two weeks,” she shouted, “I’ve been working myself sick with my normal duties, while at the same time, caring for a baby orc named Brugo, that is apparently your son!” In frustration and hurt, Maiyah reached into the pocket of her apron and pulled out the letter that had been pinned to the baby’s shirt, when she’d first found him.
The look on Ollie’s face stole what was left of her anger, as Maiyah stood holding the letter between them. Confusion had turned to painful and shocking recognition, for the orc. He knew who Brugo was before she’d ever revealed the letter. Tears began to fill his eyes, as the orc reached out and accepted the note. He already knew who had written the words upon the parchment he now held in his hand.
Maiyah regretted her angry words, and stepped forward to place her hand on Ollie’s arm. The orc suddenly reached out and embraced Maiyah in such an emotional outburst that at first, she was frightened. But then, she realized that the orc was in need of comfort, more than she’d ever seen before that day. For several moments, the orc just held onto her, sobbing uncontrollably.
Trying to pull himself together, Ollie released his hold of Maiyah, and began asking questions about the baby. “Where is he now? Can we go to him? What if he doesn’t recognize me?”
Gently nudging Maiyah toward the stairs leading to their rooms, Ollie accompanied her to where Brugo lay sleeping, gently buried beneath a soft blanket. Standing over the bed where the baby slept, Brugo just stood in silence, tenderly observing his son.
“The last I saw of Brugo, was when he was born.” whispered Ollie. “His mother belonged to another clan. Our union was to bridge the gap between the two warring factions. The marriage had been arranged, and neither she nor I were given a choice in the matter. While I don’t know his of mothers motives, I married for love. She and I had been friends since childhood, only parting when war broke out between our clans.”
“Why did you leave?”
“The pact failed! The warring worsened, and when Brugo was born, I was simply thrown out of the clan, and sent back to my own people.”
Maiyah could see the immense pain that the memories were causing him. “Was that why you took to the sea, for a time?”
“I wanted to leave it all behind me… the memories, the pain of loss, and the realization that I would never again see the woman I loved, nor the son she bore me. I suppose that’s the only reason I took you in, so long ago, Maiyah. I wasn’t able to escape the pain of my past, until you. You softened the edges of my hurt, and filled a place that was so very empty.”
Standing beside Ollie, as they watched the sleeping Brugo, the young barmaid chose to ask no more questions, for the time. She wanted to give the orc some time to adjust to the sudden reappearance of his son, and also read the letter from the baby’s mother.
The letter could wait a bit longer, as the orc would need to put all his focus on the baby that was stirring beneath the blanket before them. Brugo was about to meet his father… once more.
Will the baby be frightened?
Will the letter explain where Brugo’s mother had gone?
Does she still love Ollie? Is that why she sent Brugo to him?
First we’re asked to give up the goods on who we thought were underrated people, and now we must seek out an overrated classic book. What gives? Maybe WordPress has pilfered my idea from Monday Messages. It was my idea first, just so you know.
For the sake of WordPress’s reputation, and to maintain my own literary standings, instead of answering the prompt, I’m going to explain it.
Exactly what do they want to know, here? How many really understand what is considered to be overrated about a piece of literature?
Help us out, Mr. McGoogle, would ya…
Commonly cited “overrated” classic books often feature slow pacing, archaic language, or excessive repetition that frustrates modern readers, according to discussions on Reddit and Goodreads. Top examples include The Catcher in the Rye (whiny protagonist), Moby Dick (too much whaling data), and The Great Gatsby (overhyped narrative). [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Frequently Cited Overrated Classics
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger: Often criticized for having an annoying, whiny, and unrelatable protagonist.
Moby Dick by Herman Melville: Criticized for being a “slog” with too many technical, tedious chapters on whale biology and whaling history.
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald: Frequently deemed overhyped, with readers finding the characters unsympathetic and the story unengaging.
Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë: Described as overly miserable, with a complex, unenjoyable structure.
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne: Often criticized for slow pacing and an agonizingly detailed, boring start.
Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad: Cited for being difficult to follow and harboring dated, problematic themes.
Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes: While acknowledged for its historical influence, many find it repetitive and far too long.
The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway: Criticized for a “boring” plot that feels minimal to some readers. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]
Common Reasons for Overrating
Stylistic Overload: Novels like Ulysses by James Joyce are criticized for “willful obscurity” and being “a dead end in fiction”.
Outdated Content: Books like Huckleberry Finn are sometimes viewed as outdated rather than timeless.
School Curriculum Fatigue: Many readers forced to read classics like Lord of the Flies or Romeo and Juliet in school often view them negatively.
Repetitive Satire:Don Quixote is often considered tedious because the humor is repetitive.
Misleading Marketing:The Da Vinci Code is listed because it was marketed as a high-stakes masterpiece, while many saw it as a sensationalized, inaccurate thriller. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
Note: The perception of a book as “overrated” is subjective and often debated among readers, with many of these titles remaining enduring staples of literature for good reason. [1]
While I can’t say that there are any particular books I’ve found to be overrated, per say, though there were a few I wish I hadn’t read. But it wasn’t for the reason of being overrated. I just didn’t enjoy the content of the story.
Forming an opinion about a books rating isn’t something I really practice. I don’t read reviews of a book before choosing to read it. I simply read the description on the back of the cover to decide whether I want to dive in, or not. I have read books that friends have suggested for one reason, or another. But not to rate the story. There was something in the content that I sought, based on what that friend may have shared about the story.
Being that I’m a writer, perhaps it gives me more grace and understanding for those that came before. I appreciate all the hard work that went into creating and publishing those books. While I may not enjoy certain writing styles, I can’t judge the content of a story based on that. How would I like it if someone judged my writing, purely based on whether they like the way I told the story. If one doesn’t like it, another will. Everyone is different, and so there will always be opinions from one end of a topic, to the other.
Though I couldn’t give an answer to the prompt this morning, I did learn more about what makes a book good or bad, underrated or overrated, and whether or not I want to read a book til the end.
That was a bit of a read, wasn’t it? Now I’m hungry.
Well, I must admit that Eustace has done an outstanding job on the installing of our ship’s new baby cabin.
The only problem is, where to put the baby. Eustace put so many stuffed camels in the room, we’ll be lucky to get her into the crib. The silly camel is so proud of how the room turned out, I don’t have the heart to tell him we need to tone it down on the plushie bonanza!
I want to do things a little differently this morning. I know that we normally pick strange words in the English language, just to learn and understand more about properly reading and writing. But sometimes, life takes us in directions we didn’t see coming. I guess that’s where my mind is, just now.
Don’t get me wrong, I still want to become a famous writer, and all. That’s a dream that will never stop growing, a passion that will never diminish!
What I’m trying to say is that I feel like maybe it would be kind of fun to be a part of something bigger, and much more important.
Wiwohka’s grandbaby will now be with us three days a week, which means that everything is changing around the barnyard. Routines are all going to be different, which won’t allow us to write as much as we normally do. I want to help with the baby, more than I feel like writing, lately. Is that wrong?
I mean, she’s not MY baby, but still. She’s just adorable, and I smile so much when I see her that my cheeks hurt. I’m sure that Wiwohka will need my help, but I don’t really know that much about babies. I was thinking that perhaps I can still practice my reading and writing skills, while still being of use to Wiwohka, and little Maisie.
What if we use Monday Messages to look up different things about babies, and all that goes into caring for them? This will help me learn all about babies, and at the same time, I can practice my spelling and proper word usage. While I doubt this will be anything new for you, it will aid me. What good is an ant that doesn’t know anything, right?!
I do know that babies sleep a lot, eat a lot, and poop a lot. But, aside from that, I’m just certain that there is more to be learned about a baby. So, just to prove this to myself, I shall be embarking on an educational journey through the forests of baby lore. How did they do it way back then? What changes were for the better, and what ones were not so helpful? What things have remained the same, since the beginning?
You see, there are a number of things to study and write about, when it comes to babies. I thought it might be fun to write about Wiwohka’s and Maisie’s journey together, and document all the changes along the way. Plus, if Wiwohka’s daughter reads anything about it, maybe she won’t be so unhappy about going back to work. They visited the other day, and I could tell that she was sad about it. But, our place is just down the road from her work, so she’s not far away. I still feel bad for her, though.
Anyway, I hope you don’t mind me using Monday Messages to learn more about babies. It won’t last forever, as I’ve heard that babies tend to grow very fast. Before you know it, we’ll be back to our regular writings.
Journey With Me! 