The Whirlpool

This came to me as a dream 9 November 2014

Long ago and far way, lived a girl named Sarah. She heard what others did not listen for, and saw what others did not look for.

She lived in a small town that produced red dye for the king.

When she came of age, she went to the temple with the other girls for her coming of adulthood ceremony, after which she could get married and join the village in its occupation.

The girls processed through the temple door, and moved west around the reflecting pool to the fire altar at the west of the temple. They were blessed by the high priestess, and reminded of their duties as new adults.

A whirlpool formed at the eastern end of the pool, as it was drained at the end of the ceremony. As the new adult women filed out, Sarah winked at the priestess, and fell over backwards in the pool. Avoiding the whirlpool, she calmly stepped to the small platform in the center of it, and calmly awaited her fate.

The priestess stared at her, but with a slight twinkle in her eye. “Dry off, and come and stand before the judgment seat!’

Sarah entered the judgment room and stood before the priestess, who sat on a high throne.
“Did you fall into the water intentionally?” the priestess asked.
“Yes”
“Were you trying to kill yourself?”
“No, but I did not want to marry one of the village boys, or work as hard as the adults”
“And why not? After all, you are now an adult!”
“I have heard the adults complain endlessly about their lives, and I have seen them die an early death from despair and poverty.”
“Sarah, you have heard what others did not listen for, and saw what others did not look for. Here is my judgment. You will be sent today to the king’s court, to be trained as an artist. Your differences will be of use there.”

She was sent away to the king’s court, where she heard what others did not listen for, and saw what others did not look for. She became the most valued artist in the kingdom