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 our departure this Thursday approaching rapidly, there’s a good many things still needing to be done aboard The Torrent. Along with the comfort level of all her guests, this ship needs to become more solid, as a whole.
I’ve made numerous Avatars of the differing personalities you see, moving about the ship, but no solid re-usable image for the ship, herself. Don’t ask me why I like to refer our ship as a her, but I thought to look it up, out of curiosity. Did you know that there’s an actual reason for calling a ship her? Well, there is…
Referring to ships and cars as “she” or “her” is a centuries-old tradition born from a mix of historical superstition, deep emotional bonds, and linguistic quirks. [1, 2]
The main reasons behind this practice include:
Maternal Protection: Historically, sailors spent months at sea and relied completely on their vessels for survival. Because a ship carried, nurtured, and protected the crew from the harsh elements, it was often viewed as a maternal or goddess figure.
Linguistic Roots: In ancient languages like Latin, objects (including ships) were assigned grammatical genders, and the Latin word for ship (navis) is feminine.
Honoring Loved Ones: Sailors famously named their ships after wives, mothers, or influential women as a mark of respect and to bring good luck on perilous voyages.
Appreciation for Elegance: Just as with ships, early cars were highly prized, expensive possessions. Early enthusiasts and drivers anthropomorphized them, assigning feminine pronouns to reflect beauty, sleek lines, and perceived grace. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9]
Huh, go figure! Well, at least now we know why, right?!
Anyways, back to the work at hand. The Torrent needs to become a solid ship, before we can adventure anywhere, so let’s do this!
First, we need some images to begin the process:
As you can see, creating a visual that is authentic and yet appealing isn’t such an easy task. Just trying to be far away enough to capture all her sails and riggings, is a feat, in and of itself. I spent some time out on the internet, looking through differing styles of ships, masts, and sails. It’s quite extensive, actually.
Here is the image I worked with last year, from OpenArt:
Starting with a simple boat image, I worked with Norbert to enhance the colors, and transition into a more authentic design:
From those images, I finally struck gold, so to speak:
Now this is a good stock image, I think. It’s still rather simple, as those sails, ropes, and riggings need a lot of work, if we’re to seem legit!
How bout these?
All that’s left to do now, is to take the handful of images we’ve gathered, and hand them off to Norbert. Let’s hope the ai can create something beautiful…
I think she is coming along nicely, though we’ve still work to be done on that figurehead… what on earth is that supposed to be, anyway, a fishhook or something?
Overall, I feel rather confident that things will all be ready to go, come Thursday.
For those joining us, don’t forget to bring your Dramamine, if you get seasick. While the seas in this image seem calm, once we leave the safety of shore, all bets are off! It can get pretty choppy out there, and where we sail will be quite stormy, at times.
At least you’ll sleep good, knowing that the ship is sound, and the crew be loyal, to a fault.
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 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.
Keeping the baby in her room that first night wasn’t all that difficult, as the tiny creatures satisfied himself with snuggling into Maiyah’s favorite pillow, and sleeping the night away. Most likely, the little creature hadn’t slept much while hiding in the fish shed. She assumed he’d been there for at least two or three days, before she was able to lure him out from behind the old fish barrel.
Once they’d safely made it to her room, he simply crawled up onto her bed and fell fast asleep. It was a good thing that he was so tired. Maiyah had a days’ worth of choring to catch up on, before anyone were the wiser.
Quickly clearing the dishes from the tables, she set about getting them washed, dried and put away before Ollie made his way down from his room. The orc ran the tavern into the wee hours of the morning, so he rarely woke before the noon hour. This gave her time to catch up on the dishes that waited for her, within the kitchen.
Once the dishes were clean, Maiyah slipped up the tavern’s back stairs to check on the little one. Opening her bedroom door, she was appalled at the scene awaiting her arrival…
The tiny little monster had somehow chewed through one of her bedposts, made a mess of all her clothing, and was happily gnawing on one of her shoes. Apparently, the baby was teething something fierce!
There was nothing she could do about the mess til her shift ended, so Maiyah retrieved the broken wood, but left the baby happily chewing on her favorite boot. Perhaps Ollie would replace her ruined things, once she handed him the baby. One could always hope for the orc to have an understanding nature, though she had her doubts.
That day would not be one to approach the orc, as she’d seen what a mess had befallen the tavern on the previous night. Ollie was forced to break up numerous brawls, and finally had to close the tavern, just to clear out the drunken offenders and mop up all the spilled ale. It had been a costly night for the orc…
Ollie went to bed very angry, if all the mess and broken furnishings weren’t enough evidence.
Maiyah would have to wait at least another day, or two. It usually took the orc time to regain his composure after losing his temper. She would manage the little boot chewer a bit longer, for Ollie’s sake.
Returning to her chores, Maiyah made one last sweep of the kitchen and dining area, before Ollie came down. Assured that nothing was amiss, she headed out behind the tavern to finish the days washing…
With laundry washed, and hung out to dry, Maiyah made her way inside to help serve the lunch crowd that were already filling the tavern’s tables. Once the customers began exiting, she quickly cleared their plates, making sure to stuff any leftover food into her apron. It was less likely that anyone would notice food disappearing, this way. She could simply pick up a few edible bits from off the plates she cleared, here and there. The scraps would have otherwise been thrown out, anyway.
When she returned to her room that afternoon, she cleaned up the mess made by the baby and repaired her half eaten bed post. The baby sat on the floor, happily eating the food she’d managed to pilfer from the dining room. Once full, the baby began to yawn, and then settled down into a pile of clothing in the corner of the room…
Watching the baby drift of to sleep, softly murmuring to himself, Maiyah considered what her options were. Though he was adorable and sweet, she would run herself ragged if she were to try keeping him hidden in her room, much longer. She was only one person, and it wouldn’t do to simply let the baby crawl around her room, unattended, for all the hours of the day, while she was working. She would give it one more day.
One more day came, and then went. Yet another fight broke out that night, just as the night before…
And, again, Ollie had to break up the fight. Once more, the tavern had to be closed, repaired, and mopped up.
And, another day came and went…
Maiyah was beginning to think that there was never going to be a favorable moment to tell Ollie about his son…
It had been a full week of drunken brawls, broken tables, and shattered kegs of valuable ale. To live upon the wharf, one had to be accustomed to violence and chaos, nearly every day. It hadn’t been Maiyah’s choice to work in a tavern, but it had been Ollie’s choice in the owning and running of said establishment. The orc would have to be given the letter soon, along with handing over Brugo, the grumpy orc’s own responsibility.
Knowing it was time to reveal the baby was one thing, but knowing how to do it was another thing, all together. Maiyah couldn’t just slap the letter on the bar and fling the baby at Ollie. If she wanted to do the right thing, and keep her job, diplomacy was definitely in order.
Should she give Ollie the baby first, or the letter?
What’s in the letter, aside from telling Ollie that the baby is his?
According to the note pinned to the hood of the baby’s coat, his name was Brugo. The name didn’t ring any bells for the young barmaid, but the name of his father stole her breath away.
The note claimed that the child belonged to Ollie, the tavern’s owner!
Maiyah was shocked, to say the least, as she’d rarely ever seen the grumpy orc with a lady friend. And, those he spent time with didn’t stay long, what with his terrible temperament.
Niceness can only go so far with a lady, if the rest of your time is spent drinking, and carousing with the rest of the drunken sailors visiting the wharf. The orc lived a very lonely life, though he be surrounded by others. Maiyah thought maybe that was the reason for his being so grumpy all the time.
Looking down at the baby orc, Maiyah faced a huge dilemma. What to do with the baby, and what to do about the letter she now held.
If she were to take the baby straight away to his father, Ollie would surely send him away. He might even become angry enough to put Maiyah out on the street, just for being the one who brought him the baby. She wasn’t only worried about his reaction to the baby, but the note that came pinned to his coat.
Maiyah felt that it was wrong to read someone else’s letter, so once she saw the baby’s name she stopped reading the letter, and placed it in the pocket of her apron.
For the time being, all that Maiyah could think about was how she was going to sneak the baby into her room. Maybe if she waited for the right moment to talk to him, when the orc was in high spirits, she might lessen the shock of revealing the note, and the baby that came with it.
The important question was, how would she be able to keep a baby hidden in a place one was not meant for small ones. The adorable little beast would stand out like a beacon, from the moment she set foot inside the tavern’s doorway.
She knew she could safely navigate getting the baby in, simply by stuffing him in the bottom of a laundry basket, and then covering him with the clothes. That wouldn’t be the issue. What she worried over, was how to keep him hidden and quiet. What was she to do with him while she did her work, within the tavern. Ollie would surely notice her absence, as she never missed a single shift.
Well, she would have to figure things out as she went. Maiyah had never done something so reckless before, but needs must when one encountered something unexpected. Dipping into the kitchen, Maiyah retrieved a laundry basket and returned to the fish barrel, where the baby sat waiting.
He seemed quite happy to climb into the pile of soft clothing. Quickly, she pulled the laundry around and over him, to hide the little beast from spying eyes. No sense in being undone by a nosy tattle tail.
Once she’d safely made it up the back stairway to her room, she deposited the baby onto her bed. He just sat silently watching her, making no move to climb off the bed. Not knowing what else could be done at the moment, she offered the baby a biscuit, propped some blankets about his shoulders, and left him there. If she didn’t get downstairs to begin serving customers soon, Ollie would become suspicious. All she could do was pray that the baby would fall asleep, or something.
How will Maiyah keep the baby hidden, and for how long?
Journey With Me! 