MTG Salvation

RORY'S OVERPASS

MR. RORY MUDBOTTOM, friendly, older man. Disheveled and stooped over, wearing a worn suit. Squints a lot.
ALEXANDER FROST, young man with white hair dressed in very elaborate snow-gear and snow goggles. A snowboard is affixed to his back.

Beneath a freeway overpass a very modest living space has been created. A small easy chair, a very messy desk and a bookcase have been arranged comfortably around a fire that burns in an old trashcan. The bare cement wall that serves as the rear of the dwelling is decorated with many degrees and diplomas of various shapes and sizes. A chess board is set up on the desk. The place is kept very dim, with only the glow of the fire for illumination. The sound of cars speeding by and the occasional horn echoes through out. ALEXANDER walks on stage carrying a large cardboard box, looking for something or someone. He sets the box down on the floor when he spots the diplomas and degrees, wandering over to look at them with interest. After a moment, RORY rises slowly from the floor behind the chair, seemingly from nowhere. He creeps over to ALEXANDER. He breathes heavily when he speaks. See.. see anything... interesting? Hmm?

(startled) Uh! Oh! Hello there... yes, actually. I wasn't expecting to see so many degrees on the wall.

(seems slightly surprised, suppresses it) Uhm... yes... I see... And what were you expecting to find? Hmm?

Oh, please forgive my rudeness. I am Alexander. The woman at the shelter said I could find a man here named Rory.

Oh... yes... yes... Rory... Rory... Oh! That's me... I am known as Rory. What can I do for you?

Well, I brought you some things for the winter... the snow is starting to fall. There are some warm clothes and and some food in the box over there.

RORY quickly scurries to inspect the box with furious delight, rummaging through the items hurridly. Oh, yes.... hmm... very nice... yes!

I was surprised to see you had such a nice home set up and that you were so educated... the woman made you out to be a derelict.
Hmm... yes, well... more about that later... onto more pressing issues then? Hmm? You look awfully... what is it... familiar... yes.... you look familiar, Mr. Alexander...

Do I? Now, that is a surprise.

Is it really? Hmmm... Answer me this... do you attend Hoar Mountain College, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 to 11:30? Well... do you?

Yes, actually...not just at that time, but yes.

I knew it... and... how do you react to this!?

RORY produces a pair of very dark glasses from a pocket and puts them on. ALEXANDER grins with sudden realization.

You are in my remedial math class! Whoa! I thought you were blind!

Hrm...well... yes, in that accursed daylight! So bright... so burning... yes... I like it better here in the dark... but no... that wretched teacher does not offer a night session...

It sort of makes sense now... I mean, all those degrees over there were in literature and folklore.

Yes... yes... I have a good head for the old stories... but numbers and equations... yes... they just slip out of my ears when I'm sleeping...

I know, believe me... I hate math, I'd rather be out on the fresh snow, feeling the icy breeze though my hair... but my folks say I have to learn math. I am great at history and literature too, it's that math I have trouble with. Though, I am still a little confused...

Yes... yes? What is it?

Why do you live under a freeway?

(laughs) It seems that math is not your only weak area... hmmm? Lean over... take a good sniff of me...
What?

Come on... yes...

(gingerly leaning over and sniffing) You smell completely of the freshly turned earth... that's weird.
No! No! No it's not... open your eyes bigger! You make me resort to this out of your stupidity! What would you say if I said:

I AM BORN OF DIRT AND ROCK,
BENEATH THE PATHS WHICH MEN WALK.
MY BLOOD FLOWS WITH SOIL AND STONE
MUDBOTTOM IS HOW I AM KNOWN.

ALEXANDER seem a bit shocked.
Well... I don't know... I guess...

Come on! Come on! Yes... out with it! I presented you with the naming rhyme! You must answer with the naming rhyme!

Yes, I know... sorry... I just was taken by surprise is all.

I AM BORN OF ICE AND COLD,
SON OF ALL THE WINTERS OLD!
BY SNOW AND WIND AS COLD AS BONE,
ALEXANDER IS HOW I AM KNOWN!

RORY cowers a bit suddenly in the presence of ALEXANDER.

Oh, now this is funny! A highborn visiting my lowly hovel! Yes... hmm... I hope you do not find it too lowly of a place!

No, no... I'm not like that at all. I like to use my stature to help others... I didn't even know you were a guardian when I came to donate some stuff to you. But, now that I think about it... you knew what I was right away... how?



Oh... yes... that is easy... you could see my home as it really is! Usually normal humans, like that woman from the shelter, just see piles of trash and dirt... that's fine for me... yes... very fine... makes my job easier.

Oh... you know, I didn't even think about that... so what is it that you are guarding?

Oh, yes.. guarding, guarding... in other dimensions this is a very important bridge... yes... very important. No one really bothers it in other realms, but here... here... here there is graffiti and poor city planning... if the bridge gets destroyed in this world... it is gone in all worlds... yes gone.. gone...

Oh, I see... and you are a guardian of the earth... so you protect this stone structure.

Yes... finally catching on I see... and what about you, hmm? Not a lowly elemental spirit like me... no... you are born of the seasons, son of winter was it... yes? Very special breeding, yes... You must protect something very important...

As a matter of fact I do... Hoar Mountain itself and it's perpetually snowy peak. I spend all my free time snowboarding down it, making sure no one is trashing it or cutting down the trees.

A noble purpose to be sure...

Yes, but no better than yours... we are all created to defend our ward best.

Yes... yes... you have a nice tongue for a highborn... your parents would never speak such words... hmm?

Probably not... thay are very conservative... it's why I'm stuck in the awful math class.

Yes, hmm... you and I both!

I don't understand why you are taking it.

Oh... because... because... I am fascinated with this world... humans are so strange. Instead of spending my free time in other worlds, I want to study this place... I know much more than the average human... but, I do not know it in human terms... no... no... I study it so I can express it in ways they would understand...
I see... so, do you really need those things I brought you?

Yes... yes... I may be able to recede into the stone to sleep, but it still gets cold in there... no.. no... I do not have a earthly job yet or rich parents to shelter me... so yes... yes... I need them.

Good, then please keep them. Also, if you need anything else, please let me know in class. I can provide you for with nearly anything.

Ah... thank you... thank you... very good to know... are you leaving now?

Yes, unfortunately... I need to put in some time guarding Hoar Mountain.

Oh... yes... how could I forget... well, be safe and come back to visit.

I will, it was nice meeting you Rory.

Yes... yes... you too, Alexander.

ALEXANDER walks offstage. RORY digs a nice, warm jacket from the box and puts it on before moving back behind the chair and sinking back down into the ground. BLACKOUT

Was this meant to be for the Short Story Contest (monthly, judge oriented) or the Creative Writing Contest (whenever we have enough, public oriented)?

Oh, I think I am going to put it in the public CWC and try for something else in the SSC.

Thanks for double checking.