New Story, Part the Next…

Sadly there haven’t been many village parties recently. No one in the tree village feels completely happy or festive as they used to. Oh yes, they still go about their daily activities just as before. They still chat on the street corners at the bottom of the tree and in their houses everything seems to be normal. The first thing you will notice is that they don’t laugh quite as often or as loudly as they used to. They don’t visit the neighbors as much as they did before. Even the children seem quieter when they are at play and in school. Everything has changed since the village icon was stolen from them by the Banyogs.

Many seasons ago the Ghazen ventured outside the tree villages for a great festival. Villagers from all the trees in the area came to enjoy the food and music and dancing. It was one of those rare days when everything seemed perfect. Old Grandfather Seamus had reported that the omens were good for leaving the tree villages for the day. He had climbed to the top of the tree in the insect-like way of the Ghazen and studied the heavens. It was a very long climb and took the entire day to reach the highest branches. The trip was worth it. The signs were good! The huge full moon was a beautiful golden and so big it seemed to half fill the sky. He was satisfied that no humans, or Biguns as they called them, would be in the forest that day.

Very quickly, he climbed back down the tree. He was moving so fast the long, sharp nails of his fingers and toes were leaving scratches on the bark of the tree! He was so excited he could barely contain himself!

Old Grandfather Seamus gave his report to the village Elders and it seemed that the news spread throughout the village within minutes! Everyone was excited because it had been three seasons since they had been able to leave the tree village. Runners were sent to all the neighboring trees with the news. Tomorrow will be the Outside Festival!

Ghazen in all the trees slept little that night. Preparations were being made. Food was prepared and what a glorious lot of food it was to be! Tingle leaves stuffed with ants and pollen, ivy soup, Hovea blue salad decorated with creamy Old Man’s Beard flowers. For afters they had huge containers of Peppermint leaf pudding as well as Peppermint cakes decorated with the star-shaped Crowea flowers. All these goodies were to be washed down with mugs of warm Karri tea. Oh yes, it was going to be a great day altogether!

The Elders dressed themselves in their robes of office and with the solemn air that only old men can muster they went in procession to remove the Great Tingle Cup from it’s place of honor deep within the walls of the tree.

The Great Tingle cup is the fruit of the Tingle tree. When the seeds have been released after blooming the fruit hardens to wood. For the Ghazen this relic is the defining symbol of their civilization because it is from the Cup that the beginnings of their life came. In all ceremonies, rituals and gatherings the Great Tingle Cup occupies a place of honor in the center of the activities. At the four corners of the table where the Cup stands are the honor guards. It is their sole responsibility to see that no harm comes to the ancient relic.

About Ol' Big Jim

Jim L. Wright is a storyteller with a lifetime of experiences as colorful as the characters he creates. Born and raised in Piedmont, Alabama, Jim’s connection to the land, history, and people of the region runs deep. His debut novel New Yesterdays is set in his hometown, where he grew up listening to stories of the past—stories that sparked his imagination and curiosity for history. Today, Jim lives in Leeds, Alabama, with his husband Zeek, a tour operator who shares his passion for adventure and discovery. Known affectionately as “Ol’ Big Jim,” he has had a diverse career that includes time as a storekeeper, an embalmer, a hospital orderly, and a medical coder. There are even whispers—unconfirmed, of course—that he once played piano in a house of ill repute. No matter the job, one thing has remained constant: Jim is a teller of tales. His stories—sometimes humorous, sometimes thought-provoking—are often inspired by his unique life experiences. Many of these tales can be found on his popular blog, Ol’ Big Jim, where he continues to share his musings with a loyal readership. Jim’s adventures have taken him far beyond Alabama. For seven years, he lived in Amman, Jordan, the world’s oldest continuously inhabited city. His time there, spent in smoky coffee shops, enjoying a hookah and a cup of tea while scribbling in his ever-present notebook, deeply influenced his worldview and his writing. When Jim isn’t writing, he’s thinking about writing. His stories, whether tall tales from his past or imaginative reimagining is of historical events should read from his past or imaginative reimaginings of historical events, reflect a life lived fully and authentically. With New Yesterdays, Jim brings readers a rich tapestry of history, fantasy, and human connection. Visit his blog at www.olbigjim.com to read more of his stories, or follow him on social media to keep up with his latest musings and projects, one of which is a series that follows Bonita McCauley, an amateur detective who gets into some very sticky situations. His book, New Yesterdays, can be found at Amazon US, Amazon UK, Smashwords, and Barnes and Noble.

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