My extremely odd and curiosity striking essay on throwing a dinner party for four guests--2 from the book I had to read and make a presentation on (The Mists of Avalon) and 2 we discussed in class and had readings on (Antigone and Zeus--although I think that Jesus technically belongs on the list too even though he didn't show up, as the purpose was to show that we knew some things about the guests). What did we serve and why was it appropriate and what did we talk about? I had to elaborate on my fiancé and I's odd relationship for simplicity sake in the paper. We really do act like brother and sister (I mean reeeeeally do) and he has had several dreams where my spirit in a different body has been his sister that he believes are past lives, but are problems with it are a little exaggerated as his past life memories aren't effecting my perspective too much, and though we still act like siblings he isn't as weirded out about it now as he was when he first started recalling past lives. Without further ado or explanation, here it is. Warning, the content is corny ^_~

Oh, and btw, I'm not wiccan, nor do I wholly believe in set deities, but Morgaine was so hopeful at the end of Mists of Avalon, I wanted to let her know that her hopes were not in vain, that there are again those who believe in the goddess as she was. I am an ecclectic spirtualist who is still ecclecting hehe. Enjoy!

Everything was falling apart! First my traditional Greek delicacy flopped irreparably, and then my second dish, a vegetarian ensemble specifically for one guest was knocked into the floor by the cat, what next! I still had the cake, but considering the way my plans were going was there any point in counting on it coming out right? The dinner party was only an hour away and I had nothing to serve save an awful tasting delicacy that had already been tossed, a literally tossed salad dish, and a hopeful, but still-room-to-ruin loaf of banana bread.

How could I even think of serving my only option now to my guests? Who would ever think? There was no hope for it, I would have to swallow my pride and pick up the phone. I called for pizza, and for my guest with the delicate stomach, I called for Chinese, a veggie stir fry dish to be exact. I also decided to order some white rice and an extra veggie stir fry just in case. Who had ever heard of serving Pizza Hut to Jesus?

After all the trouble I went to, my poor gourmet substitution arrived fifteen minutes before the dinner party’s allotted time. Just enough time to set the two pizzas on silver platters and put the other dishes in a couple of nice bowls. I had already had labeled places set up for the guests beforehand. I had also took the liberty of filling their glasses too, water for Jesus (I figured if he actually wanted wine instead he could simply change it), spring water for Morgaine, mead for Arthur (that was hard to get a hold of), and wine for Antigone, I chose a glass of Mountain Dew for myself (how are they supposed to know I cheated in that respect? My glass is dark) and gave Jason, my fiancé a glass of wine as well.

Exactly on time, there was a knock on the door. Feeling embarrassed and excited at the same time I crossed the dining room, went down the hall, and to the door to let Morgaine and Arthur in. I showed them to their places just to the right of my seat, choosing my good, circular wooden table for this occasion for the purpose that no one should sit at a ‘better’ seat than anyone else. Jason was already seated and began to make small talk as I went to answer the door yet again, letting Antigone in, followed by Zeus himself. This surprised me as I had not invited Zeus. I wanted to cry! Pizza and Chinese take out for Zeus?! I showed them to seats as well, Antigone to her appointed spot and Zeus to the empty chair that just happened to be beside her. Was it fate then? All that was needed to begin was Jesus.

As if on cue a bright light descended through the floor from upstairs (and probably from the heavens above my house before that) and a beautiful creature clothed in flowing white robes and having feathery wings appeared before us, just behind Jesus’ seat.

“Fear not! For I bring you good tidings of great joy!” The being of light decried. “The Son of Man sends his regrets but he cannot attend your party this day!”

Morgaine sniggered and the angel gave her a condescending look. “The Son of Man may not yet descend because it is not yet the second coming, he comes only when you least expect it!”

“Why do they always have to proclaim everything?” Zeus muttered.

I ignored him. “How is his absence a tiding of great joy?” I wish I hadn’t asked.

“Because if The Son of Man were to come again now, you would all be doomed. Heed well and change your ways sinners!” Arthur performed the sign of the cross and bowed his head reverently but most of the rest of us rolled our eyes as the angel ascended up through my ceiling, (bumped into a few things upstairs by the sounds of it) and then continued on up to heaven (we assume).

“Well, I guess we won’t see water turned into wine today,” Jason joked as he removed Jesus’ place setting for me and took it into the kitchen.

“I want to thank you all for coming to my humble dinner party to share company. It is nice, that Zeus should choose to share the company of mere mortals this day, for whatever his reasons. I planned this dinner to gather you together because I found you all interesting, and suspected some good talk may come of it. Among a few other reasons specifically for Morgaine. I turn to smile at her and point at the spot where the goddess symbol would rest on my forehead if I’d had one, attempting to leave a hint, she raises an eyebrow. We really should eat first, however, I must apologize over the fare. I contrived a gourmet feast for us only to have the fates see fit that we should have to eat modern foods that will hopefully prove to be an interesting experience for you all. The circular food in the middle of the table is a pizza, and the dishes in bowls are foods from China. Well…not from China directly, but they are of Chinese creation. I proceeded to tell each about their hand selected drinks and which foods might be better for them and we ate.

After the food was gone, I discovered the dinner went over better than I thought, the dishes were well received, recipes requested in some cases and business moved on. Jason left and came back in with a bowl of fortune cookies for dessert (I forgot about my banana bread and it ended up burning to a crisp). Morgaine scoffed at the fortunes but other than that we did not spend any more time on the food.

“So why do you grace our party with your presence?” I ask Zeus, my curiosity getting the better of me.

“I sensed the outcome of this discussion, and I was the main influence on Antigone’s resolve against her brother’s treatment. I also thought it might be entertaining to watch you mortals fret over something we Gods have done without shame since the start of the world.”

“What do you mean?” Arthur spoke up. I had introduced them all earlier, giving each a run down of the other’s story, leaving out especially personal matters for them to discuss themselves (such as Morgaine and Arthur’s sexual past together).

“On Mount Olympus, the Gods and Goddesses marry and mate with their siblings without thinking twice about it, but you humans never cease to cause big commotions over it.”

“I’ve heard said m’lord, that the Grecian Gods possess the worst extremes of humanity..” Morgaine let her voice trail off and lifted an eyebrow.

“Pah!” Zeus waved a hand. “Only because humans put so many silly boundaries on their very natures, and then outside forces come in and influence the way other people used to be. There’s nothing wrong with loving anyone, no matter who they are.”

“But when such a thing brings the downfall of a kingdom that kept the land in peace—“

Zeus interrupted Arthur, “Had you and your people not made such a big deal out of it, there wouldn’t have been a downfall.”

“How does it effect you Antigone? Taliesin, my grandfather told me of your story long ago…I never got to know my own child, Arthur and mine, Gwydion.”

“I would that we could live in the land of the Gods and not care. My father’s curse has effected my entire family, even I, with Zeus’ guidance could not escape our ill fortune. Perhaps our chosen subject matter is not what our hostess intended though?” Antigone turned to me, as did everyone in the room.

I shook my head. “I fall victim to it as well, though not in the same way at all.” I glance at Jason before continuing. “As one of the souls existing before this life, my fiancé and I, who also happens to be the father of my child, have discovered that we spend many past lives as siblings and we definitely act like it. It’s something odd for us, especially once Jason started having the past life dreams about it. We are at a stand still, uncertain whether to continue as we have come together in this life, or if we should restructure our relationship to match what we’ve so often been, to make it right.”

“There’s nothing wrong with it.” Zeus insisted.

“Unless it is something you did not want, something that betrayed the kind of love you really did have for each other.” Morgaine looked sorrowfully at Arthur.

“That is our trouble, we are uncertain if we are loving the right way, we are both confused on how we are supposed to feel about each other,” Jason said.

“Do not let it become your curse. That is all. If it is to be, let it be, and do not let it be more, for it will destroy everything as it did to my family,” Antigone looked into my eyes and I saw all the years of pain built up. No, Jason and I will not make an issue of this, it is best Michael, our son, not even hear of it.

“What did you want to tell me Laura?” It felt weird to hear Morgaine, this legendary character call me by name.

I smiled, the trouble in the room gone from my face in the light of being able to reveal such good news to her. I placed one of my hands over hers. “The Goddess lives again Morgaine, not as Mary, mother of Christ, but as she once did. Perhaps not in exactly the same way, but she has been revived. I wanted you to know that your last hope was not in vain, and maybe one day, some of her new followers can hope to retrieve Avalon from the mists.”

Tears touched Morgaine’s face and she began to blur through my own tears until the whole scene washed away like a watercolor painting rushed away in downpour of rain that sounded in my ears. I opened my eyes and was lying in my own bed. I really shouldn’t read late into the night anymore.