Modern Myth proj. #: P__1000__(2010) (student #: 16609)

Immemor [total words: 870] The Shade, Immemor.

Have you heard of her?

If you have, chances are you have forgotten her tale. She is never spoken of, and rarely thought about. For as soon as thoughts of this elusive spirit meander into your mind, the shade snatches them away. It is this woman who has become the bane of so many people's existence: forgetfulness. How did she come to be this way? Why does she seize one's thoughts? Every god or goddess has a story, what is hers?

For Immemor, her story begins far before any of the great civilizations. Long before the whispers of fated Troy, before the tale of a wolf and two boys, and even before the hero of heroes and his twelve struggles. In this ancient time, the gods were young and the earth newly sown, and during time's youthful years there was a small community that had been formed.

It was a small town, barely worthy of a name, but to those who lived there and farmed the land, it was home. There sheep could graze lazily during the day, feeding on the healthful ground that provided the area with bountiful harvests year after year. It lay near the coast, near enough for the gentle sea breeze to glide off the water and into the hills, bringing cool air even in the summers. Those that lived in this own were content, for their lives were abundant and good.

On the outskirts of the small village lived a family of five, it was the household where Immemor had been born and raised. She was young at the time, just out of girlhood but well on her way to becoming a woman. As a daughter she was dutiful, as a sister she was trustworthy, and as a worker she was meticulous. To an outsider, she was perfect in every way, a woman with no flaws.

But ‘humanum est errare', and human she was. For all her perfection she had a single

Immemor -- P__1000__(2010) page: -- 1 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1000__(2010) (student #: 16609) defect, her arrogance. Her own flawlessness convinced her that nothing she said was untrue, that she was forever correct; that she knew all there was to know of the world and those within it. It was this flaw that became her human downfall.

There was one day that a particular god decided to journey from his home above and witness the mortals as they lived their lives. He was called ‘Hermes' by his worshipers, the god of knowledge, and being still young he wanted to watch and learn about the humans and their lifestyle. Thus he disguised himself as a mortal and walked among them for many months, observing and learning as he went. It was during the last few days of his journey that he came across the small community by the sea.

As he walked through the town, he noticed a small crowd had gathered in the center, surrounding a young woman. She stood proudly before the rest, her chin held to the sky with a knowing smirk across her lips. The god stood in the midst of the crowd, listening to her words and frowning as he heard what she had to say.

She was answering a question, the question of the existence of the gods. As the young deity stood, he listened as her blasphemous mouth slowly convinced her village that the gods did not exist, that all that existed was mortals and mortals alone. There, before the god of knowledge himself, she spoke against his very existence. For hours she went on, ranting, until at last she paused. It was during this pause that Hermes decided to step forth, shedding his mortal skin as he did so, his heavenly shine illuminating his glowering features.

"Woman," he proclaimed. "You here speak against the beings who aid you in harvest, your families, your death. Why is it you announce our existence as false?"

The woman replied to him steadily. "My name is Immemor, and I know all there is to understand of the world and its workings. There are no gods; even you who stand before me can merely be a shade, wanting to spook me and my village."

Immemor -- P__1000__(2010) page: -- 2 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1000__(2010) (student #: 16609)

The youthful Hermes then raised his wand to the air, pointing it towards the woman. "Immemor, your thoughts are unfounded. Here I stand before you as I am, and still you deny my brethren. You are spreading slander against my siblings, and for this you must be punished."

With that Hermes brought his sentence upon Immemor. For all eternity, she shall never have another thought of her own. She will forever be thoughtless, feeding off the words that spin in others' minds, though never her own. And she and her words will be forgotten by all, her own thirst for another's thoughts taking her community's awareness of her away. As a mortal woman she will be forgotten by the world, and as a tortured spirit she can never be known.

This is the legend of Immemor, the woman to be forever anonymous, punished for all eternity into a mindless oblivion.

For, it is when those simple thoughts float between your ears that the Shade snatches them, feeding on your thought, giving her sustenance in the void.

Immemor -- P__1000__(2010) page: -- 3 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1001__(2010) (student #: 17013)

Kimbus Slicus, the Gladiator [total words: 503] There once was a man named Kimbus Slicus. His wife was killed by barbarians. He has two children to care for and no job. He decided to become a gladiator. He was the only freedman in his town to do so. He was larger than all the other gladiators. Standing 6'1" and 275 lbs. The time had come for Kimbus' first fight. It was against Rayus Mercerus. "Quis es, homuncele?" says Kimbus. "I am your worst nightmare," says Mercerus. Kimbus hit Mercerus once and cut him in the torso. One minute and twelve seconds later Mercerus died and Kimbus was victorious. Kimbus hated fighting, but he needed the money. The Emperor loved Kimbus and wanted to see him fight professionally in the gladiator ring. Kimbus had three fights to be in before he could even try to be pro. His next fight would be against Davidus "the Elephantus" Abbotus. Kimbus swung from the left, swung from the right and struck "the Elephantus" in the head with the butt of his sword rendering Abbotus unconscious. The crowd loved Kimbus. Kimbus' next fight was against a man known for his strength, Bous Cantrellus. Kimbus easily won in a few seconds. Every person in all of Rome had heard of "The Great Kimbus Slicus," and wanted to watch him fight. The amphitheater was packed with no open seats when Kimbus was to battle Jamus Thompsonus. Thompsonus was winning until Kimbus cut off his left ear. The bleeding distracted Thompsonus as Kimbus swung wildly to win yet again. Kimbus' next battle was his hardest yet. A man half his size named Sethus Petruzellius. Sethus attacked Kimbus right from the start and for the first time ever, Kimbus lost. "Kimbus' blood came to a boil, With black secretion known as oil." The Emperor gave Kimbus a chance to fight to become pro. Kimbus gladly accepted. He finally let his kids come watch his fight. Kimbus was to fight Maximus Dius in Arabia. Maximus was known as the all-time best gladiator in history. Kimbus still went into this fight with supreme confidence. Kimbus was the underdog in this fight, yet, he still started strong. Flashes of victory

Kimbus Slicus, the Gladiator -- P__1001__(2010) page: -- 1 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1001__(2010) (student #: 17013) shined for Kimbus. Maximus sliced Kimbus' leg open, and to everyone's surprise, no blood. Just black poured out of the open wound. Kimbus looks up with a grin and starts swinging wildly. He slices Maximus' arm. Adrenaline pumping, Maximus punches with the left and stabs with the right. Kimbus drops. The crowd was amazed. As Kimbus lay there with black pouring out, an eruption of black in the air from his dead body. This black would come to be known as oil and be used an enormous amount in our modern culture. Kimbus Slicus would never be forgotten. He brought oil to the world. All are grateful for his contributions. Although Kimbus does not live on Mt. Olympus, he is still held as a deity. Kimbus body turned to this black and would never be seen in human form again.

Kimbus Slicus, the Gladiator -- P__1001__(2010) page: -- 2 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1002__(2010) (student #: 18292)

Salvius, the Senator [total words: 64]

Salvius, the Senator

Hungry for rule, A man so cruel, Destroying everything in his sight, A two-faced guy, Who always did lie, Good by day, bad by night, Killing to erase his tracks, Nervous people watched their backs. Where he struck no one could know. He showed his false dedication, And gained the confidence of a nation. Who would receive his final blow?

Salvius, the Senator -- P__1002__(2010) page: -- 1 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1003__(2010) (student #: 17019)

Waiting [total words: 224]

As I stare out into the distance I think what is to come. I stand feeling the winter snow below me. I ignore the icy pain going though my legs. I think of greater pains to overcome the ones at hand.

I see the morning sun coming over the horizon and am blinded by the light. I try to sort out racing thoughts going though my head. I feel pain yet no sword has pierced my skin. I feel the icy blade in my side yet no enemy near.

These feelings I do not understand but only hope time will answer my questions. As the sun reaches higher I hear the enemy getting closer. I feel each footstep of the mighty Carthaginian army like they are thunder. With every step my heart skips a beat.

I take my own steps to keep my heart in beat. I seem to sweat when everyone else shivers. I worry about everything but myself yet I feel selfish. As time drags by it makes minutes feel like hours and days like years.

I hear the general start to yell and I scramble to position. I stand here shield up and feel lighter yet I have more. I am young yet it feels like I have been here for years. I stand ready, as for my wait is over.

Waiting -- P__1003__(2010) page: -- 1 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1005__(2010) (student #: 15418)

The Death Of Hippolyte [total words: 152] *When I tried to submit this Poetry entry, it would only let me do a Modern Myth.

A belt, a girdle, a gift from the gods, A reward, a weapon, a piece of armor, The belt of Hippolyte, Queen of the Amazons.

Women, strong, warriors, Fighting, living, an army of feminine power, One breasted to throw and defeat the enemy of the Amazons.

The arrogance of man, Invading and stealing, The symbol of strength and victory for the Amazons.

The appearance of a hero, Disguising the face of a thief, Coming to destroy the world of the Amazons.

What was the purpose? Who was the opponent? Did he conquer the enemy? Or did the enemy conquer the Amazons?

The hero of the ancient world, An army of women warriors, Who was in the right?

The Death Of Hippolyte -- P__1005__(2010) page: -- 1 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1005__(2010) (student #: 15418)

Amazons armed to fight, Man comes to steal, Who was the victor? The truth, only legend can tell.

The Death Of Hippolyte -- P__1005__(2010) page: -- 2 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1006__(2010) (student #: 17302)

Dad-ulous and Icarus [total words: 1006] "What's up, dad-ulous?" Icarus drawled, sauntering in from the separated bathroom. Daedalus, making no effort to respond, just sat there. Daedalus hadn't moved from that position much for the past eight days. He was contemplating how to get out of the jail he and his cheeky son inhabited. The man who owned the jail's name was Carl Cottleburn, and he had a hobby of arresting people for the most obscure reasons. This was the case of Daedalus and Icarus. "Dad? Yoo-hoo!" Icarus called annoyingly, waving a hand in front of his father's face. Daedalus snapped back from his memory. "What is it son?" Daedalus responded, masking his annoyance. "When we gettin' outta this rat shack?" Icarus spoke like he had never conversed with normal people. "I don't know, son." Icarus flopped onto the metal slate they were to use as beds. Not exactly a comfortable place to flop. Daedalus' head snapped up at the metallic thud. He reached up to rub his neck, relieving his whiplash. He shakily forced himself up and hobbled to the bed, looking a bit like a newborn giraffe. He touched the metal piping on the bed. His head snapped up again. Rubbing his neck, he rushed for the bathroom. He looked at the metal piping on the toilet, sink and shower, and a mountain of cleaning products. A helium tank sat in the corner, which Icarus, who was working on his chipmunk impressions, had dared not part with. Cottleburn allowed it, frightened of Icarus' idle threat to eat him. Daedalus strode out proudly and proclaimed, "Son. We gettin' outta this rat shack." * * * The following day, Daedalus and Icarus waited for a guard to bring their meal. He unlocked their door and dropped the metal tin and was gone before the two could shut the door on him. "Whatcha got, Dad-ulous?" Icarus asked, rubbing his hands together. "Jetpacks." He answered, already unscrewing bolts from the bed. He had one bed completely taken apart before Icarus asked, "Whatcha mean?" "I mean, we're flying out of here." "I don't get it." Icarus shrugged, leaning against the wall. Daedalus disappeared into the bathroom

Dad-ulous and Icarus -- P__1006__(2010) page: -- 1 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1006__(2010) (student #: 17302) and came back with the hydrogen peroxide, helium, and more pipes. "Icarus, go watch the door." Daedalus ordered, knowing he couldn't help with the construction. "You got it, Dad-ulous." Icarus responded, obeying his father. It was dark outside when Daedalus proudly held up what appeared to be two metal backpacks. While Daedalus worked, he thought once again about his imprisonment. Daedalus was a small-time architect. His latest masterpiece was a 4 million piece three-dimensional puzzle. Everyone who saw the totally convincing infomercial had to get it. (How could the resist? It came with a free Snuggie!) But once they started it, they couldn't leave until it was finished. Cottleburn's only daughter, a dim girl who had trouble finishing a two-piece puzzle, had started it. Both Daedalus and Icarus, feeling sorry for her and the others, were going to divulge the answer to the puzzle. Cottleburn didn't want his beautiful pumpkin peach to leave him and be wooed. So naturally, having the method divulged would have ruined his plan. Daedalus tested the jetpacks. They seemed to work, as they nearly threw Daedalus into the wall in one second. "We leaving? We leaving?" Icarus twittered, bouncing up and down. Daedalus looked down at his exhausted body. "In the morning" he yawned, slumping down a wall and falling asleep. * * * The following morning Daedalus and Icarus woke to a familiar scraping sound. They both jumped up, screaming "THE GUARD!" "Stall him!" Daedalus demanded, unscrewing the barred window as fast as he could. He looked over his shoulder at his son, hoping that at least a little of Daedalus' cunning genes would shine through. The door opened a crack, just wide enough for Icarus' head to peek through. "Oh, sir, you don't want to come in. Whatever was in yesterday's meal did NOT agree with the old man. Ick! Poor thing. Smells terrible. You should drop that food and be on your way." Icarus lied. In a sudden burst of strength, Daedalus loudly forced the bars off. "What was that?" The guard demanded, pushing on the door. "Oh. Musta been Dad-ulous slammin' the bathroom door." Icarus threw an exasperated glance at his father who picked up the jetpacks.

Dad-ulous and Icarus -- P__1006__(2010) page: -- 2 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1006__(2010) (student #: 17302)

Daedalus mouthed to his son, "On three: one, two THREE!" He screamed the final word and tossed Icarus a jetpack. The guard fell on the door, pulling it off its hinges. Daedalus got out the window, watching as the guard grabbed his son's wrist. Icarus somehow managed to get his restrained hand to the red button, sending him and the guard zooming toward the window. Icarus swung the arm that the guard grasped out to the side, crashing the guard into the stone wall. Icarus made it safely out the window. Icarus flipped through the air, laughing at his own genius. He soared high, then dove low, enjoying every second of his airtime. "Icarus! ICARUS!" Daedalus called, trying to calm him. Icarus hovered to his father and complained, "Dude. Totally harshin' my mellow. We should be celebratin'!" "Icarus, this is dangerous. Fly too low and you won't have enough fuel to get back up. But fly too high and the altitude will throw off the configuration and your jet pack will explode." Daedalus warned. "Yeah so?" "You'll die." "Psh. I'm IMMORTAL!" Icarus bellowed, aiming himself upward and shouting "Look, Dad-ulous! I'm SUPERMAN!" "Icarus! No!" Daedalus screamed. He was too late. Icarus became a firework and fell toward the foreboding sea. "So not cooooooooooooooooooooo..." He trailed off, never finishing his final word. Daedalus wept as he continued hovering. Daedalus spotted land when he heard, "Sup, Dad-ulous?" Daedalus spun around, once more giving himself whiplash. He saw a bird twittering right by him. "I'm a partridge now, dad! Athena saved me because of the whole being-smart thing!" Icarus twittered the whole way home

And "Dad-ulous" didn't care one bit.

Dad-ulous and Icarus -- P__1006__(2010) page: -- 3 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1008__(2010) (student #: 16909)

Hercules 13th Labor [total words: 984] Paste or type your entry here. Eurystheus was having some problems with trolls terrorizing the people of Athens. The people of Athens were very afraid of the trolls. They were scared that they would eat them or harm them in some way. The trolls were not very bright creatures with a brain the size of a pea. One day when three trolls came down from the mountains they started to terrorize Eurystheus, who of all people was the most afraid of trolls. He was frightened by their huge body and scary appearance. He decided that this would be the perfect task for Hercules to perform. Hercules had to go and live with them for a year and when this year was up he was to kill them all. So Hercules made his way to the mountains where the trolls lived. It took him five days to get near where they lived. One day when he was walking along a path he came along to one of the trolls names Nikabop who was very kind to Hercules. It turns out that the trolls were a very bight tribe that had lived in the mountains for years. Nikabop was the leader of the trolls. He was very bright and told Hercules many things about their culture. It turns out that the trolls that had been going down to Athens were three brothers, the reject of the troll community and didn't have a place to live. They were the ones who got trolls their bad reputation in the first place. The troll people tried to keep them kept in a prison all the time but once in a while they would get loose and run away. Even before Hercules came to the troll village, Nikabop knew he was coming. He was an old friend of Zeus who had told him about the coming danger. Hercules lived with the trolls for a long time, studying them and watching how they reacted to everyday life. The culture of the trolls was just like humans: they went to school, women ran the household and when they grew up they got married and had a family. One day the three trolls escaped from the troll village and were making their way down to a small village at the bottom of the hill. The people of the village were kind and knew about the trolls. Nikabop asked Hercules to go with him to bring the three brothers back. Once they got there, Nikapob told him that they needed to get the trolls away from the village without harming them. He also told him that their skin was not able to be puncture with something like a sword. So all Hercules had to do was outsmart three dumb trolls.

Hercules 13th Labor -- P__1008__(2010) page: -- 1 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1008__(2010) (student #: 16909)

It turns out that trolls loved grapes - it was there one weakness. The only problem was that they didn't have grapes were they were located. So Hercules told them that he had brought grapes with him but hadn't eaten them yet. He told them if they left the village alone that he might just give them some. So these dumb trolls followed Hercules back to the mountains. When the brothers found out about the trick they tried to kill Hercules. He took a rope and ran it around the brother's feet, tying them all together. He made them fall to the ground and dragged them back to their cave where they were trapped. Although the trolls were in prison was not hard for them to get out. Nikabop knew this so he told Hercules that he had to do something. Hercules explained why he was there in the first place. He told him all about his past labors and what he had to do and why he was sent there today. Hercules explained that he didn't want to go through with the task but he had no choice. Nikabop understood and told Hercules that he would help come up with a plan. Hercules had been living with the people now for a half of a year and he knew that he would soon have to bring three troll bodies to Eurystheus. The troll people because they were like family to him. Hercules was very confused, as often happened. He felt lost and needed help but he was too stubborn to ask . Time was passing very fast now and Hercules knew he would have to act soon. One day when Hercules was cooking dinner for Nikbop and his family. Nikbop talked to Hercules. He told him that he wanted Hercules to kill the three brother trolls and take them to Eurystheus. He explained to Hercules that Eurystheus had only asked for three bodies. These three were causing to much trouble around the area and he and the rest of the town wanted them gone. Hercules said good bye to all the trolls in the village not knowing when he was going to come back and see them. So Hercules did as he was told. He made his way to where the trolls lived and stared to fight them. However when he was trying to stab the trolls he soon remembered that their skin could not be punctured by a knife. He picked up a tree and knocked all three of the trolls unconscious. He tied their hands and feet together. Then he tied them all to each other so they couldn't get up. When they woke up they were very angry, started to escape and so Hercules started to run. He ran so far away he was all the way back to Eurystheus' home. When the trolls got there they were so tried they all three died of a heart attack. However when the trolls fell down from the heart attack they all fell on top

Hercules 13th Labor -- P__1008__(2010) page: -- 2 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1008__(2010) (student #: 16909) of Eurystheus. He screamed and cried and Hercules just walked away laughing because Eurystheus had gotten what he wanted.

Hercules 13th Labor -- P__1008__(2010) page: -- 3 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1009__(2010) (student #: 18271)

A Last Hand-Hold [total words: 854] His fingers coiled in between hers under the tabletop. In response, she caressed his cuticles; nuzzled knuckles. Her spare hand held a cup of chamomile. His, a case customary for karat-lain engagement rings. His palm pressed, pensive and perspiring. There were elephants outside the windows. They chortled like locomotive lunacy. There were crocodiles inside the solarium. They laid like predatory pumice.

"A zoo, huh?" Evelyn teased.

Austin chuckled, nicked by nerves, "Yeah"you like animals."

"I do," Evelyn smiled, "But tea and the Reptile Room?"

"I know how lame it looks," he admitted, anxious, "but"I kind of thought this would make up for it."

The valet casing bloomed in his hidden hand. He plucked the ring from the inlay. Evelyn went shades of crimson, then burgundy, then violet. Then blue. Her face met the linoleum. Pigment in her cheeks molted grey.

Austin rose, then collapsed. The ring rattled between the table legs. He shook her shoulders, held her hand, and screamed for 911. In a mist of tears, Austin caught sight of scales of a serpent slithering off. A woman screamed that glass had been broken across the solarium. He haggled with a medic to let him climb into the ambulance once they got his sweetheart onto a stretcher. The medic refused. No room, no time.

The men rushed Evelyn into the ambulance through an emergency exit off the property. Frenzied and frantic, Austin lunged for the lot where his car had been left. He pealed the downtown streets of gridwork to reach the local hospital.

A Last Hand-Hold -- P__1009__(2010) page: -- 1 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1009__(2010) (student #: 18271)

He spoke to secretaries, reported to receptionists. Austin did all he knew to get in to see her. There were protocols in these situations, the staff said. Paperwork to sign. Time to pass. Austin wrung his hands for some aught hours in the waiting room after filling forms. The hospital was Hell itself. The waiting room was eternal torture. The face of the clock was that of Hades. Father Time was an enemy. A sadist. A satanic sadist out to spite. Austin sat in a haze of hatred"until a thought came to mind.

He knew the floor. He knew the room number. He could croon a cover-up, easy. Austin took the elevator. 4th level down. Room 230. He followed assorted arrows and directions mounted upon plaques. Austin tried walking calmly, but broke into bounds and strides. It was close.

230. Austin turned the heavy handle, pushed the thick door, and saw her strangled in her own sick. A doctor hovered, taking notes on a clipboard while a nurse dabbed Evelyn's mouth with Kleenex. Austin broke. He came forth and stroked her scalp. She was unresponsive, unreal.

"Evelyn"" deep with devastation, "What did they do to you, darling?"

You-can't-be-here-not-without-permission-and-paperwork speeches started. From the doctor, from the nurse. Austin would not listen. He cradled Evelyn's head and said he was staying. The doctor looked to the nurse, who was to take care of such matters, but she sighed with sympathy as Austin wept in worry.

"Sir..?" she stared slow. "She needs to be alone. The medicine"what we have her on"everything. She's weak. You were at the zoo"weren't you? She can't handle the germs""

Austin didn't answer, only listened, looking at Evelyn's IV. The doctor growled that it was unacceptable, that he must leave. Stat. But the nurse vouched for the man in misery, slowly coming forth and taking the crook of his arm. She tugged soft.

A Last Hand-Hold -- P__1009__(2010) page: -- 2 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1009__(2010) (student #: 18271)

"Honey"just a bit longer. She'll be awake. And stable. You just wash up and leave her alone for a while. We'll call you in. Don't even take a second glance; she'll be just fine in a few hours""

Austin nodded in a daze. The tubes and the trickling in and out of his soon-to-be made him squeamish, numb. He toddled behind the nurse as she led him in the door's direction.

"You just go right back to the waiting room. If you leave her to rest, she'll be just fine. I promise""

Austin kept walking. Back to the uniform chairs and abstract paintings. Away from his darling, away from his Evelyn. Out of the Underworld, into fluorescent light.

"It will be fine"" he repeated in his head. And then a second guess, "But what if she's wrong? What if"she's lying""

The doctor's voice came from the room before the door fell shut:

"She may not make it""

Austin's feet stopped falling. The doctor was cheating him out of holding hands one more time, out of being there at all. He turned on his heel and scurried back into the room. He thrust his head to Evelyn's slow-rising chest and sobbed, "Evelyn, angel"I won't let them take you"I won't""

The pressure tore tubes and spilled sedatives onto the sheets. He groped for her wrists to interlock fingers. Tape tore; the IV was plucked out. The heart monitor made malfunctioning sounds. Sounds like the elephants and the shrieking from the woman who found the glass. Like the happy hollers Evelyn nearly had before"

Flatline.

A Last Hand-Hold -- P__1009__(2010) page: -- 3 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1009__(2010) (student #: 18271)

A Last Hand-Hold -- P__1009__(2010) page: -- 4 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1011__(2010) (student #: 17016)

Eros [total words: 144] With power as potent as love and desire He was said to set two hearts on fire. Eros, the Greek god of love Inspired many gods and goddesses above.

Eros fell in love with Psyche at first sight. He insisted on only seeing her at night. As Psyche shined the lamp on his face, Oh, how she was amazed by his beauty and grace!

The lamp began to drip oil. This brought his skin to a boil. Eros had to fly away from Psyche, As she had disobeyed him sadly.

Eros soon recovered from his burns. Then he realized it was Psyche's turn. She fell into eternal sleep, And could no longer with Venus compete.

The god of love came to Psyche's rescue, When he asked for a marriage that was overdue. And during this part of his life He received his beautiful wife.

Eros -- P__1011__(2010) page: -- 1 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1012__(2010) (student #: 15422)

Image of Minerva [total words: 159] "Image of Minerva"

I stand tall and serene In the temple you have built To the goddess whose form I have borrowed I watch over your days I hear your prayers I see your offerings I see your troubles And I see your laughter You proud, strong people of Rome

I have seen peace I have seen war I have seen soldiers Marching through the streets before me Rebellion Uprising Unrest All of these weights and more bear down on my shoulders Yet still I stand tall and serene Like the people of Rome

Those days are in the past But still I remain Watching over the streets I have always known Times have changed

Image of Minerva -- P__1012__(2010) page: -- 1 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1012__(2010) (student #: 15422)

Cars replace horses Pants replace togas Computers replace scrolls And the language sleeps But still I guard my temple With the help of the goddess whose form I have borrowed I stand tall and serene A reminder of the long-lost days of Rome

Image of Minerva -- P__1012__(2010) page: -- 2 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1013__(2010) (student #: 18241)

Vesta [total words: 72] Vesta I sit alone, without a throne of gold or silver, and keep my charge: A living creature of breath, of warmth and of wrath. She sits in his cradle, demurely smoldering; His tongues lick my fingers as I feed her, tend her. It burns, and my fingers are brown, scabbed and blistered. But I am warm. I know I am not alone; For I feed life and all that consumes it.

Vesta -- P__1013__(2010) page: -- 1 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1014__(2010) (student #: 17025)

Hermes The Olympian [total words: 119] Hermes was an Olympain Greek god Wearing winged boots, a cap and a heralds wand as he trod

As swift as a swallow As an infant he stole from Apollo A heard of cows from Apollo's back yard

No cattle could be found Not even a sound Hermes felt ever so clever And knew this was a perfect endeavor

For his Apollo grew mad So he went to Zeus Hermes dad

Hermes being so smart Created a hypnotizing harp So Apollo could hear this whimsical delight And forgot about any cows in sight

Apollo fell right into the trap And he gave Hermes a quick snap Keep the cattle, I'll take the harp For this Hermes felt quite sharp

Hermes The Olympian -- P__1014__(2010) page: -- 1 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1015__(2010) (student #: 15553)

Life of a Soldier [total words: 160] Born into this world One of Rome's true sons Trained from a young age There's no time for fun.

Sword, shield, and helmet Are his only friends Taught to fight and fight ‘Till the very end.

Duels on practice grounds With brothers in arms Preparing to die So far from their farms.

Marching to the field Thoughts put in his mind He's just a machine A clock that Rome winds.

Staring at the stars On what's his last night He thinks of glory, The upcoming fight.

Slashing and hacking There's blood all around

Life of a Soldier -- P__1015__(2010) page: -- 1 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1015__(2010) (student #: 15553)

Looking side to side No help to be found

A pain in his side He puts a hand down It's covered in blood A dark-reddish brown.

He falls to the ground A stab in the back He thinks of his wife And it all goes black.

The day has been won ‘Round the city Rome But for this poor soldier There's no going home.

Life of a Soldier -- P__1015__(2010) page: -- 2 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1017__(2010) (student #: 16220)

Oedipus [total words: 182] There once was a man named Oedipus, When he was a baby his dad was a wus. There was this weird prophecy you see, That the mother would marry her baby.

The dad sent him away with great fright, Had him hung by his ankles high out of sight. The boy grew up with his false father, Then he ran away so he wouldn't be a bother.

The boy went on the road to the great city, He killed a man on the way with no pity. When he got to the city gate he saw the sphinx, With a riddle that wasn't as bad as everyone thinks.

He beat the sphinx's riddle and gained a prize, Which of course was his own mother, a surprise! He went on without much of a thought, Until the great sight-seer showed him what he wrought.

His dear mother-wife hung herself by the neck, And he gouged his own eyes out, what the heck? His child led him out of Thebes into the night, For the poor, poor Oedipus had lost his sight.

Oedipus -- P__1017__(2010) page: -- 1 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1018__(2010) (student #: 16597)

The Notes Still Wander [total words: 148] The muses play Their hopeful song. Terpsichore is singing. The choirs sing along.

The words, they fade As new notes ring. Bringing out the good And bad in all things.

Apollo plays his lyre As Vulcan raises fire. And lightning bolts will crash As Zeus brings down his wrath On the shore.

As rain begins with thunder, The notes still wander.

As Venus lures Men from their minds, Bacchus sits with patience Turning grapes into his wine.

Poseidon glares Across the sea. The waves crash down with anger,

The Notes Still Wander -- P__1018__(2010) page: -- 1 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1018__(2010) (student #: 16597)

But the tides dance joyfully.

The world turns after all, As empires rise and fall. And the gods will strike down Any man who frowns While they cry.

As springtime turns to summer, The notes still wander.

The world goes on this way As the fierce gods play their game.

The Sirens just keep singing; The muses' notes still ringing.

The Notes Still Wander -- P__1018__(2010) page: -- 2 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1019__(2010) (student #: 17989)

The Gods are Dead [total words: 911] The gods are dead. One final great battle rocked Mount Olympus razing it to the ground. A time of weaker, lesser gods was upon us, the men left over from times of antiquity and classicism; we, whose bodies are so much weaker than the men before us; the men who had escaped the turmoil and devastation, the deaths of so many gods. It was the day the world ended. And was begun again. So released from our piety were we that after years of relaxing our shoulders, after learning not to fear the sky above our heads or ground beneath our feet, we were no longer frightened by the thundering heavens or quaking marble. So quickly, after generations had passed, did we forget how the Gods, once so mighty, Zeus with his great size and thunderous roar; Hera, who felt an immortal love for her brother, her husband; Athena, with her powerful mind, and sandaled feet; Venus, filled with only enough to love herself utterly; Had fallen at their deaths. Gone so is the need to burn our women and crops for them. Gone are the shadows eyes all once sported from sleepless nights filled with prayer. No more was it even necessary for this race to die for such a thing as HONOR or GLORY. Life, man found, could be so much sweeter than any trophy or prize in the underworld or beyond. Man, ever fickle, dropped the Gods of Antiquity as they had dropped from the sky that day. The lifetimes of many men passed; their souls like twinkling stars in the sky, pinpricks of illumination coming and going, so that the few numbers of man on the earth, as their flames came together, moved apart, and extinguished tolled somewhere in the billions, the trillions, until Gaia herself couldn't believe the singular mass of their bodies upon hers. Gaia, the only powerful god left in a weak world of demigods and mortals. She is the one to whom the Gods fell on that fateful day eons ago, the day the sky turned black with the blood of the Gods, their Ichor splashing down upon the stunned faces of the mortals whose dim eyes could only see rain, could see nothing of the hauntingly beautiful spectacle.

The Gods are Dead -- P__1019__(2010) page: -- 1 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1019__(2010) (student #: 17989)

On that day, the last of Jupiter's lighting released itself from the binding shackles. Minerva's inquiring owl fled from her for the last time. Aphrodite's golden belt failed her, that symbol of her beauty that had caused the Trojan War (let us not blame the poor offspring of Zeus for such a thing!) and brought about the end for the Gods. Yet, she, too, was only a pawn of unavoidable fate. Did you know, too, that those damned women, those cruel beasts, never human daughters or mothers, only sisters of mankind's spilt blood, Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos were themselves the cause? The destruction of the very fabric of culture, that they humans held sacred, was upon them. To be there at such a time when the rain, the God's blood, came down upon the upturned faces of Creation, minds absorbing the dangerous coagulation (the stuff which feeds all minds in its most pure form; that which has the power to inspire enlightenment). The escaped lightning coruscant, marking jagged beams across the sky. The blood of the gods rained down, unrelentingly from their now-dying immortal flesh, and soon their bodies followed, impaling the earth, our mother Gaia, her body tremulating at each strike. The aptly-name earthquakes shook the men and women, and as the foundations of their houses loosened and sank, the soon-to-be empty-eyed ones, the humans fearing the thick rain and pounding sky, those who had turned their faces from a sight they did not understand and did not want to, died in their homes as they collapsed upon themselves. The bodies of Gods, large as mountains now that they were devoid of all life and the magic that disguised them, rolled through the air, helter-skelter, limbs akimbo and drained, at last, of Ichor, hit the sea, causing giant crashing waves and sinking more quickly than the densest of metals in the purest of water, now lay in wait forever as undead flesh, never decaying, provides insight enough into the exact deaths of the Gods to those who may find them, and answer the greatest, final question in all of Creation at last: What killed the immortal ones? Such darkness there was, only illuminated by the flashes of fiery-air more and more rare. Blasting inferno thunder, too, became more and more dim; to stop all together in the years that followed until the heavens learned how to make their own thunder, and lightning, and storm clouds. The blood of the gods imbued all with magic, and the things once props, once setting, came to discover their own abilities to grow, and sound, and eventually to remove completely the thought that

The Gods are Dead -- P__1019__(2010) page: -- 2 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1019__(2010) (student #: 17989) the, flowers, mountains, streams, oceans, crops, deaths, births, and man himself, were somehow indebted to beings greater than the wondrous life and consciousness now discovered. So it is right that we humans have taken the Gods place as keepers of life and death we are the kings and queens now, the gods and goddesses of this vast land we call our own, with none to challenge OUR power. Of course it is not possible for our destruction to be as the gods of millennia ago! Is it?

The Gods are Dead -- P__1019__(2010) page: -- 3 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1020__(2010) (student #: 15941)

My Sweet [total words: 251] Dominion over the dark realm I had chosen, But my beating heart is far from frozen. From the lone stone throne I cannot go astray Eternally watching whispering souls wander this way. My brothers in the vivid world above All frolic carelessly with love. Mighty Jupiter has too many children to count, Even Apollo has his laurel tree account. How my restrained ardor yearns to be free Sweet sweet Persephone.

On one summer's day, Accumulating emotion I could no longer betray. Trembling hands gripping coarse leather reins, Like rain, heavy hooves pelted the flowering plains. Faster than Mercury My passion snatched something too precious to store in a treasury. Beneath the rising daylight I brought her with me Sweet sweet Persephone.

To be bound forever was my decree Beside the pomegranate tree. Her gazing spheres flickered with anxiety, Foreseeing the disapproval of Olympian society. Only the deteriorating time consumed my mind, Oblivious to icy winds and snowflakes engulfing mankind. By order of Jupiter our last day arrives.

My Sweet -- P__1020__(2010) page: -- 1 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1020__(2010) (student #: 15941)

Somehow the union must survive. A round pomegranate I slide into her hand, Which she opens to convey she understands. Eternal is my love I guarantee Sweet sweet Persephone

In the darkness that splits the honorable from the cursed, I patiently wait for half a year, When the queen will be here. To ease the pain of one so far away, I consume a piece of the red fruit every day. But eating from the pomegranate tree Cannot compare to my sweet sweet Persephone.

My Sweet -- P__1020__(2010) page: -- 2 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1023__(2010) (student #: 15406)

Daphne's Lament [total words: 310] The wretched pride of men has bound my timbered limbs, has slowed my tears to the timid trickle of sap and preserved my outstretched arms, grasping for haven from perpetual pursuit.

For on one fateful day, bursting with bravado Apollo nimbly jabbed haughty boasts Into Eros' soft skin, like a well trained gladiator provoking a lion with polished audacity.

But even the smallest lion has razor-edged teeth, For as Apollo scoffed at such warlike weapons, cupids' fateful arrows quivered in his bow, then silently streamed to their helpless targets.

At that moment I was frolicking through a forest, Laughing at the playful songs of the birds, And joining in the jubilant chorus of the woods That trembled in the roots of the gnarled trees.

When suddenly overcome by hate, A piercing scorn for men consumed me. Like a creeping vine strangling a tree, A tangled prison of suitors smothered me.

I begged my father to release from this hell, And he freed me from the bonds of marriage,

Daphne's Lament -- P__1023__(2010) page: -- 1 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1023__(2010) (student #: 15406)

That torturous institution which binds girlish innocence With the intrinsic defects of that flawed gender.

But my torment would not end with this, For Apollo's voice followed me still Dripping with saccharine sweetness, As if luring an insect to blissful death

His swooning admirations swarmed around me, pestilent flies that I could not swat away. Nor could evade him through flight, My feet grew weary before his lust.

I was a rabbit pursued by a great hunting dog, foaming at the mouth for its beloved prey. As I saw the ravenous teeth of this pursuant fill my vision, Every ounce of life screamed for some last mercy Once again Peneus saved me from that darkest fate And now rough bark denies Delphian desire. From my wooden fortress I silently watch the world shaking with laughter at the prideful follies of men.

Daphne's Lament -- P__1023__(2010) page: -- 2 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1024__(2010) (student #: 15949)

[total words: 6] Paste or type your entry here.

-- P__1024__(2010) page: -- 1 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1025__(2010) (student #: 18311)

The Birth of Fame [total words: 454] Inspire me Melpomene; tell me the tragedy of Fame. In our society the object of fame is so emphasized, but what is her story? Fame, the goddess, was born of the union of Fortuna and Mercury. From an early age Fame excelled at everything she tried; turning every object she touched into coveted and desired ornaments. Where she stepped, gold sprang forth, both mortals and gods alike desired to be near her at all times. Fame's very presence had tantalizing affects; those who saw her were hopelessly drawn into her seductive appearance. Those she cast her golden eyes onto were elevated to celebrity status, rivaling only her own. It's no wonder that Fame caused commotion when she moved to Mt. Olympus. All the gods courted her, desiring to be with her and never live another moment without her. A dinner party could not go by without Fame attending it. If Fame left Mt. Olympus and ventured to Earth, mortals were overcome and inebriated; for no mortal could resist the temptations of Fame's glory. A state of anarchy resulted whenever she was seen. Civil strife was not uncommon among the gods either. It was on one of Zeus's feast days that the powder keg that Fame had become exploded. The evening had begun on the wrong foot altogether. As the gods sat down to celebrate Zeus and enjoy ambrosia, golden apples, and each other, Bacchus had brazenly made an advance on Fame stating, "Fame, come with me and you will never be bored or thirsty." Little did the jolly Bacchus know that members of the dinner table had plans of their own to swoon innocent Fame. Fiery Ares jumped in "Bacchus you fool, the girl is mine!" To top things off Ares had the audacity to throw an apple at Bacchus, which would have had minimal repercussions if the apple had actually hit Bacchus rather than Hestia. Hestia had always been a rather agreeable goddess but today she was particularly distraught, and in a fever pitch caused the hearth to bust into a roar. As a result several deities were singed. The evening ruined, a divine battle started. For seven days and seven nights the gods fought with all the powers of the elements, nearly destroying all of humanity. On the eve of the eighth night Nemesis, conjuring her friends and the Furies, charged for the quiet and weeping Fame, but at that very moment Fame, overcome by emotion, imploded. Fame, in one brilliant and lustrous explosion scattered herself throughout the cosmos. The battle then ended with the sad realization that no mortal or god could ever again possess all the fame or glory in the world. Yet she still runs rampant through

The Birth of Fame -- P__1025__(2010) page: -- 1 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1025__(2010) (student #: 18311) the universe.

The Birth of Fame -- P__1025__(2010) page: -- 2 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1026__(2010) (student #: 16674)

Virtual Love [total words: 555] Obsessed. Pygmalion was obsessed with his online virtual simulation "My Other World." In reality, Pygmalion was far from Mr. Popular. Rather, he was deprived of all social skills and could only pathetically stutter in public. Girls ridiculed pitiful Pygmalion, and in return, he spurned them. Pygmalion resolved to live the solitary life, free from any women.

In addition, Pygmalion excelled in technology and computer-related paraphernalia. To replicate the social life he could not have, Pygmalion designed a computer program, "My Other World," which allowed him to create his own characters and play out life as he wished it to be. For weeks after weeks, Pygmalion constructed the perfect woman. With ivory skin, a petite figure, bright eyes, and cascading flaxen hair, no real maiden could have rivaled this girl fashioned by Pygmalion. The virtual lady could not have possibly been any lovelier, and after staring into her programmed eyes for weeks on end, Pygmalion realized he had fallen in love with his computerized creation. Though realistic, his damsel was not real, and his unrequited love for her tortured him. Pygmalion's simulated self could kiss this angelic woman, but his actual self could not feel any warmth from her lips. Though he could imitate a heartfelt conversation with this artificial girl, the delusion could not replace Pygmalion's need to be loved. Infatuated, he tended this deception daily, fabricating an entire wardrobe and dressing her in bright, trendy outfits. Virtual Pygmalion fed her and lavished her with extravagant gifts such as virtual cars and diamond necklaces. Each night the other Pygmalion tucked her into a simulated queen-sized bed, fluffing the downy pillows around her head and kissing her goodnight. However, this virtual love could not satisfy Pygmalion. He coveted the real sensation, which others labeled "love."

On the feast day of Venus, the goddess of love, Pygmalion decided to join in the celebration and attend a dance. Observing other starry-eyed couples as they slow-danced, Pygmalion grew increasingly despondent. Heading over to the refreshments, he made an offering to Venus and prayed dearly to her that he might find a girl like the one he had created on "My Other World." Though he did not dare to ask specifically for his fanciful maiden, Venus heard his plea and knew he desired for only one virtual girl. As a sign that the goddess had heard his petition, the flames on the romantic candle

Virtual Love -- P__1026__(2010) page: -- 1 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1026__(2010) (student #: 16674) centerpiece danced in the air.

When Pygmalion returned home from the dance, he found a beautiful woman waiting for him. With precisely the same bouncing curls, red lips, and smooth skin as his ideal virtual girl, this woman was the embodiment of Pygmalion's imagination. Staring in awe at this phenomenon, he reached out and touched her soft, warm skin. To prove this was not only an illusion—a side effect of deprived-of-love depression—Pygmalion kissed her. Finally, Pygmalion could sense this woman's tender embrace, an indulgence only Pygmalion's computerized-self had enjoyed for so long. He praised Venus for his gratification, through whom this miracle occurred. Pygmalion named the epitome of perfection Galatea, and he proposed to marry her. Before the wedding blessed by Venus, Pygmalion deleted his "other" world, signifying the beginning of his renewed life in his own world filled with happiness and his very own true love.

Virtual Love -- P__1026__(2010) page: -- 2 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1036__(2010) (student #: 17346)

Founding of Rome [total words: 301] Ares and Silvia had two sons, Roman and Ronald. When Silvia had given birth to Roman and Ronald Ares would not raise them because it was too expensive, and Silvia couldn't because she also could not afford to care for them because her country, Italy, was currently going through a recession. Ares decided to abandon the children on a river in Italy. But Ares still cared enough for the boys to place them in a small boat. One day the boat washed up onto shore and there by some miracle a female wolf came upon the boys. Since the boys didn't smell of human, she took them in as her own cubs. A couple of years of the wolf's caring a farmer happened to come upon the boys and took them in as his children. He took them home to his wife where they both cared for the boys the way a human would. Finally around the time the boys became adults their grandfather's brother had overthrown the current mayor of the city Latina, whom happened to be their grandfather. The boys then killed the brother and made their grandfather mayor once again. The grandfather was kind enough to allow the boys rights to the land in which the she wolf had raised them. At this location there were three hills: McDonalds Hill, Paintball Hill, and Wall-Mart Hill. There is where Roman and Ronald built a city. Ronald went about the building of the entertainment section of this city on Paintball Hill; Roman started building an electric fence on Wall-Mart Hill. Ronald thought that the voltage in the fence wasn't high enough and to prove this he shocked himself on the fence and wasn't hurt. In his fury Roman killed Ronald and finally named the city Rome, after himself.

Founding of Rome -- P__1036__(2010) page: -- 1 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1037__(2010) (student #: 16346)

The Origin of Multicolored Grapes [total words: 853] Once there was a woman named Eitana. She was a devoted follower of Bacchus, exemplary among all other Bacchantes in her service to the god of wine and revelry. She led many of his mysterious rites and celebrations, and was always first to offer the cup to Liber's lips and replenish it with wine when depleted. One night, during the evening festivities, Leachis, a satyr dear to Bacchus, caught his hoof in a hunter's trap while pursuing a nymph into the forest. Wounded, he cried out for aid but was too far detached from the boisterous crowd to be heard. The following morning, Eitana arose from amidst the drunken slumberers to hunt and scavenge for a morning meal for the wine-god. Along her way she found Leachis, weak but attempting to struggle against the hunter, who, having gone to check his trap, discovered a satyr rather than the expected deer. The hunter, after his initial shock, deemed the satyr a more worthy catch, and decided to bring him back to the village for the community's entertainment. Seeing this, Eitana fought the man with the strength Bacchalian women are reputed to exert. It did not take long for him to abandon his prize to save his own flesh. Next, Eitana carefully released Leachim from his bonds and nursed his wound. She brought him back to Bacchus, who was filled with gratitude that she had rescued his dear friend. "Not only have you been my most devoted worshipper, but you have saved my beloved Leachis," the son of Selene replied. "In return, I will grant you one wish of any nature." "Oh master," Eitana replied, "What I most desire is for my firstborn daughter to be consecrated to your service. I wish her to hold the most special place in your favor, as your eternal cupbearer. Thus she will serve you and her name be remembered forever." "I swear upon the river Styx that it shall be done," the twice-born god replied. In due time Eitana found herself with child. She anxiously hoped for a daughter who would be favored by Bacchus. The long awaited day arrived, and her prayers for a daughter were answered. But, lo and behold, she gave birth not to one daughter, but two. She named them Acina and Uva, then brought them before the wine-god to be dedicated. The son of Jupiter was taken aback by this unexpected occurrence. "Which one is the

The Origin of Multicolored Grapes -- P__1037__(2010) page: -- 1 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1037__(2010) (student #: 16346) firstborn?" he asked of Eitana. "I don't know. They are identical and I cannot tell them apart. No one else was witness to the birth," she responded. "Only one can become my cupbearer," the caretaker of the vine replied. "I shall choose the one most worthy upon her coming of age." The twins developed in grace and beauty, but they were set against each other from the beginning, vying for Bacchus's favor. Uva became well known among the Bacchantes for her great passion, which caught Liber's attention. He proclaimed to his followers that he had chosen her, and would hold a ceremony of initiation to introduce and bind her to his mysterious rights and receive his blessings. Acina was consumed with jealousy when she heard this. She could not allow her sister to receive this honor rather than herself. So she schemed a method to steal the sacred honors from her sister. On the evening of the ceremony, Acina stole in upon her sister as she prepared for her initiation, kidnapped and bound her, and hid her deep within the forest. Then, she attended the ceremony in her sister's place, using her likeness to her twin to receive Bacchus's blessings herself. Bacchus, unaware, led Acina through the rites, making her his priestess and cupbearer. After the ceremony was complete, a band of Bacchantes burst forth with Uva in tow. "You have the wrong twin! She is Acina, not Uva!" they cried. "We found Uva tied up in the forest by Acina's doing!" Bacchus was enraged by this deception. He wanted to punish Acina and remove her from her new position and return Uva to her rightful place, but the vows made in the ceremony were irrevocable. There could only be one chief priestess and cupbearer. Instead, Bacchus transformed both into two clusters of grapes, proclaiming, "Now you shall both serve me eternally, each time I bring the wine-filled cylix or the fruit of the vine to my lips. Thus you shall be remembered forever. In this way I may punish you, Acina, for your treachery, and grant you, Uva, with your rightful place, and maintain my oath to your mother, for the grapes will carry your names." Previously, all grapes had been white in color, which made a clear, scintillating wine. But

The Origin of Multicolored Grapes -- P__1037__(2010) page: -- 2 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1037__(2010) (student #: 16346)

Bacchus transformed the twins into fruit of two different colors, so he would no longer be deceived by their identical features. Acina he transformed into green grapes for her envy, and Uva into purple and red clusters for her passionate reputation. This is how it came to be that grapes grow in the colors of green and of purple and red.

The Origin of Multicolored Grapes -- P__1037__(2010) page: -- 3 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1043__(2010) (student #: 16638)

"This Just In: Sources Close to the Family Report Billy Joe Having an Affair with a Fan Man" [total words: 709]

The Urban Kiss is the hottest band of this generation, barely able to keep albums on the shelves and fans at bay. The lead singer, Billy Joe Zoos, is an icon to the lifestyle of rock and roll. He will go down in history as the man with the killer vocals and notorious womanizing. If Billy Joe is the King of Rock than his wife, Cherry Era is the Queen. She has great influence over the music scene but not much sway over her husband. One night when performing in an arena packed with thousands of fans, Billy Joe noticed a beautiful woman in the front row wearing a shirt that said, "Cherry is my Idol" and pulled her on stage. He fell for her radiance and decided he would have her. After the concert, Billy Joe and the sexually irresistible maiden named Camille met in the tour bus to have an affair and decided to see each other indefinitely, without the suspicion of Cherry. So Billy Joe sent his wife on a month long luxury cruise around the world, stopping at every major port along the way. It didn't take Cherry long once on the cruise to realize her husband was up to something and she immediately took a private charter home, the cruise only got so far as the Caribbean. Before Cherry could reach her husband and anything suspicious she knew awaited, Billy Joe utilized his best makeup artist and special effects personnel to transform Camille into a man; unfortunately this required some plastic surgery. He didn't want to turn her away, and this was the best solution to keeping her near. When Cherry saw Camille disguised as a man she knew immediately Billy Joe was having an affair with another woman, she saw right through the disguise. But she decided to play along. Cherry asked if Billy Joe's new found friend could help around the house, it needed some repairs and Billy Joe always says he is too busy. Billy Joe had no choice but to oblige, if he did not Cherry would know something was going on WRONG. Cherry had no time to watch over her husband's adulteress to prove she was guilt. INSTEAD she had hidden 100 cameras placed around the house to watch her at all times. Billy Joe couldn't stand to think about what Cherry was doing to his beloved maiden and sent five of his strongest bodyguards to tamper with the cameras and release Camille from the house. Cherry was incredibly jealous with how infatuated Billy Joe was with this new woman, she felt threatened. So she leaked to the media that the two were having an affair. She knew this would scar her husband's name in the public eye. To do

"This Just In: Sources Close to the Family Report Billy Joe Having an Affair with a Fan Man" -- P__1043__(2010) page: -- 1 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1043__(2010) (student #: 16638) this she turned the pictures from the cameras and parts of the cameras into a beautiful modern art piece and had it installed on Hollywood Boulevard. Because the fans loved Cherry almost as much as they loved Billy Joe they were horrified at the situation. Camille's face was on the cover of every gossip magazine and a positive headline never ensued. The public deteriorated Camille from the inside out. Saying she was a "husband stealer", "arrogant", "overweight like a heifer", and "more fit to be on a "Happy Cows of California" commercial than to be with Billy Joe". Camille did not handle the criticism well JUST LIKE most celebrities in the public eye. She left Billy Joe and Hollywood. She was not cut out for the rock and roll lifestyle and wandered the country trying to escape the paparazzi, regain confidence in herself and the ability to love again. Eventually, Billy Joe did catch up with her and paid for plastic surgery to change her back, so she would no longer look so manly. She never truly loved another like Billy Joe but she did marry the mayor in Egypt, Pennsylvania, a tiny town over 100 miles East of Youngstown. Three months later, she had a son destined for greatness named Epaphus. The shotgun wedding provoked much chatter among those in town as many of them had watched the Hollywood Access special report on a modern art exhibition that focused on a man who looked remarkably similar to Camille.

"This Just In: Sources Close to the Family Report Billy Joe Having an Affair with a Fan Man" -- P__1043__(2010) page: -- 2 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1049__(2010) (student #: 18644)

Of Song and Fame [total words: 1242] Of Song and Fame Billy Abersold, Westlake High School

There once lived a woman of tremendous beauty and voice, her name was Canens. She was the daughter of the Sea-nymph Venilia and the roman god Janus. Canens was a wood nympth. She was able to tame wild beasts, calm roaring rivers, and move stones and trees with her singing. Any man from five miles away could hear her sing and would be immediately seduced by her voice.

One day Canens was in the forest singing into wind hoping she would get an audience with nearby travelers; no-one came to her. Week after week she tried her hardest but still no one to at least admire her voice. So it finally dawned upon her that people are Canes was furious in her revelation of the truth. She had to do something about the problem. Then an idea popped into her head; a competition.

She traveled to Rome and held a singing competition in the great coliseum. Women were pitted against each other front of three celebrity judges. Pan, Medusa, and Hercules. The top twenty women, with the fairest voice, would be sent to a secluded island south of Sicily. Little did the competitors now is that these winners would be imprisoned on the island for life so Canens voice would rule the land. Every year there would be a competition with hundreds of eager competitors.

Venilia heard Canens talking about this competition. Venilia was outraged by this act horrendous act. The only way to defeat Canes is for Venilia to make one. So Venilia traveled to Rome in search of a beautiful new born baby girl to give her wonderful abilities in singing. Venilia thought that a women with a voice that could be so beautiful that the earth itself will tremor and the all the gods will descend from the heavens to notice her voice. When the gods do descend they will notice the atrocities that Canens has committed to the rest of the women.

Of Song and Fame -- P__1049__(2010) page: -- 1 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1049__(2010) (student #: 18644)

She searched for days and finally found a baby of ripe age and beautiful face. She attempted to bless the baby but the parents wouldn't allow her to since she was a Sea-Nymph and that would place bad luck on the child. Venilia was angered but understanding of the parent's choice.

As she was about to leave she heard a baby cry in the ally way. But it wasn't a normal cry, in her ears Venilia could hear a beautiful voice through the harsh screams of the baby. Venilia rushed to the sound and saw a newborn baby girl in a dumpster. The baby's face was not pretty. Its body was very thin and she looked malnourished. Venilia went to pick up the baby and it stopped crying. They looked into each others eyes and both smiled.

Venilia took the baby and gave her to an orphanage.

"Keep her singing and at sixteen let her compete in the challenge." Venilia said to the orphanage caretaker.

"What is her name" said the caretaker.

"Idol" Venilia said.

Sixteen years later;

The streets were bustling with energy as the hunters, fishermen, and merchants sold their goods to young entrepreneurs and there stores. Idol was sixteen and worked as a cleaner in a spice shop. Idol wasn't the prettiest of girls and neither the smartest but one gift made her stand out from the rest; her voice. Not many people heard her sing except for her boss and her "father" who was the caretaker of the orphanage she lived at . But today as any normal day would be the time when destiny takes over her life.

"Attention all women of age 16 or older" a pronounced man in the distance yelled.

Of Song and Fame -- P__1049__(2010) page: -- 2 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1049__(2010) (student #: 18644)

"Today the competition for the famous Canens Challenge will begin" he said. Idol was enticed to sign up but she was afraid that she would be not pretty enough for everyone to see her.

"Come on go sign up!" said Flaccus; her boss. "You are a great singer, just try" he said.

Idol was uneasy as she signed her name but did it anyways. The nest day Idol woke up and walked to the coliseum. She went to the competitor's room to wait. After several hours she was about to sing in front of thousands of people. She stepped into the arena and sang a Ballard of love. Such voice was so beautiful nobody could speak, but it wasn't good enough to get noticed by the gods. Idol was praised by her lovely singing from the judges. She was sent to the higher ranks of competition dominating everyone she faced.

Time after time Idol wowed the judges and even Canens was impressed. Men from fifty miles away flocked to Rome just to hear Idol sing. She became so popular she got instant fame.

Idol finally reached the top twenty. Canens told all the women they were going to a island paradise for the rest of the competition. So as night came Idol went home and packed her bags. On the way home she met a woman she recognized before by the name of Venilia. The old lady told her of what things Canens was doing to the top twenty winners. Venilia told Idol to go to the Coliseum and confront Canens.

So she departed back to the coliseum. When she arrived Canens and the three judges were making preparations to leave.

"Stop this madness!" Idol yelled. " I know what you are going to do to us and you must stop!"

"You incompetent little girl" said Canens, " I should have known you would have interfered with my

Of Song and Fame -- P__1049__(2010) page: -- 3 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1049__(2010) (student #: 18644) plans, now you die!"

Medusa, Hercules, and Pan surrounded her. Medusa's snakes looked hungry, Hercules was ready to slice her up with his sword and shield, and Pan" isn't much of a fighter. As they closed in the only thing Idol could do is sing. She sang the most beautiful tune any man or women has heard. The tune was so perfect the sun rose up with the moon, mountains rose from pure flatlands, the clouds cried, and the dead rose just to hear her sing. The gods took notice of her and walked down the marble stair case to greet this young lady. When Idol stopped she was astonished to see this great white light and these huge white silhouettes inside it.

"What is your name?" the manly silhouette in front asked.

"My name is Idol" she said in a little voice.

"It's a pleasure to meet you" they all said simultaneously. A second later the three judges took off running. The large man in front extended his arm and nabbed Hercules by the ankle and carried him off up the stair way. One of the women took Medusa and took her in the direction of Perseus' home. While Pan" just pranced to a nearby woods. For Canens she was taken by the gods to the underworld were she would live her life in prison like what she did to the others.

For Idol she was celebrated as a hero to all Romans. She took the competition over and allowed a fair contest to all men and women, had three or four judges, and had with no lifetime imprisonments, also she changed the name. This tradition will continue for thousands of years. Even today we still hold the tradition true to its purpose.

Today we know it as American Idol.

Of Song and Fame -- P__1049__(2010) page: -- 4 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1056__(2010) (student #: 16344)

The Undiscovered Writings of Daedalus and Icarus [total words: 636] Dear Diary, Today, my daddy said he was going to make a labyrinth. I didn't know what a labyrinth was. He told me it was like a giant maze. I wonder why he would make that. Icarus Dear Diary, Daddy says that Minos wants him to make this labyrinth because of the scary Minotaur. Daddy says he's making it because he's the greatest, smartest, bestest inventor in the whole world, or at least Greece. I think that's so cool. I like when he invents because then I get to play with his inventions in his workshop, even though he tells me not to. Icarus Dear Diary, I'm really scared. Minos's daughter Pasiphae got taken away by a man named Theseus. Minos is really mad. He blames it on daddy, and now we're locked in a tower. It's really boring in this tower. I can't go out and play in the sun. Daddy just sits in the corner and thinks all day. I hope he's trying to figure out how to escape. Icarus Dear Journal, The monotony of life in this tower is almost too great to bear. Although I may be considered a great inventor by King Minos, I think he may have gotten the best of me this time. I am pushing my brain to its full capacity, and, still, I can think of no way to escape. I just pray to the gods that somehow my precious son will eventually be rid of this imprisonment. Daedalus Dear Diary, I think daddy might be crazy. This morning, when he was sitting and thinking like usual, he screamed and jumped up. He started saying, "He doesn't own the sky," over and over again. I don't know why he would think that anyone owns the sky. Sometimes I think it would be fun to be in the sky and fly like a bird. Birds look like they have so much fun, flying high by the sun.

The Undiscovered Writings of Daedalus and Icarus -- P__1056__(2010) page: -- 1 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1056__(2010) (student #: 16344)

Icarus Dear Diary, Daddy has been finding the strangest things in this tower. He has feathers everywhere. They are fun to play with. He's also been melting a lot of wax, which he told me not to touch because it's hot. When daddy's not looking, I like to play with all the feathers and pretend that I can fly high like the birds. Icarus Dear Diary, Daddy says he's making wings!!! Now, I really can fly like a bird. He says I need to stop playing with the feathers because I keep messing up his work. I can't wait until I get to fly away. Daddy seems really worried, but I don't know why. I don't know why anyone can be worried when we get to fly soon! Icarus Dear Journal, I have neglected my record of daily activities here because I have been so overwhelmed with my need to escape this tower. I have spent countless hours designing a set of wings for my dear son and me to escape this hellish imprisonment. I hope with all my heart that these wings function properly until we arrive at our destination. Daedalus Dear Diary, We get to fly today! Daddy gave me a whole bunch of rules about flying in the middle or something. We're about to fly away! Now I can finally be like those beautiful, free birds that fly past our tower window everyday! Daddy seems really nervous, but that doesn't matter because we're going to be out of here really soon. Icarus Dear Journal, Icarus! Oh Icarus! My dear child! This fault lies squarely on my shoulders. It was my own abhorrent, beastly, revolting invention. Why? Why couldn't I see that he was too young to understand? Why would I try to create wings and defy the laws of nature? Why did he have to die?

The Undiscovered Writings of Daedalus and Icarus -- P__1056__(2010) page: -- 2 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1056__(2010) (student #: 16344)

Why? Daedalus

The Undiscovered Writings of Daedalus and Icarus -- P__1056__(2010) page: -- 3 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1060__(2010) (student #: 17129)

The Devoted [total words: 923] Once upon a time, there lived a man named Deditus. He was an orphan who roamed the streets of Rome, living by begging just enough food to survive. But he grew disheartened with his lifestyle, so he ran away into the woods to die.

He stumbled weakly through a set of bushes, and collapsed, kneeling at an altar of Pluto, praying for Death to take him. Deditus knew the end was near. But just as he was about to close his eyes for the last time, he noticed a figure nestled in the leaves of the nearest tree.

Deditus had seen many women walking through the streets of Rome, but none so beautiful as this one. Wide-eyed with wonder, he watched as she stretched, awakening gracefully with a yawn. She did not notice him gaping as she delicately climbed to the top of the tree, golden hair billowing around her, and stretched out her arms in the night sky.

The woman's fingers began to change from an ivory tone to a rosy pink. The pink then began issuing from her fingertips, flowing out to the dark. Deditus could barely breathe as soft colors flowed from her fingers, banishing the blackness of the night. The whole sky was awash with her tones.

She sprouted wings, shaking them to unfold them from her shoulders. They flapped once, twice, and the woman flew away to spread the dawn further on throughout the world.

In her wake, Deditus whispered amazedly, "Aurora."

The lonely man never forgot that day. He began to follow Aurora, and witnessed the major events of her life, his love for her lengthening his life. He was there the day that she first saw Tithonus. He watched as their love grew, and she petitioned Zeus to let him be with her forever. Deditus observed her joy as Zeus granted her request, and saw her horror as Tithonus grew older and older. Finally, one day, he came upon her sobbing on her knees in the middle of the wood, cradling something in her

The Devoted -- P__1060__(2010) page: -- 1 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1060__(2010) (student #: 17129) lap.

Deditus dared to draw closer, realizing that it could mean death, but having nothing to live for besides her. He finally approached the goddess, and humbly stood until she noticed him. She turned, and he gently asked, "Why are you upset?"

At any other time, Aurora would have reacted with deathly fury. But she was too shattered, and too lonely; she wanted comfort above all else. The goddess looked towards her lap, and Deditus saw the reason for her sadness. She held a tiny, shriveled man in her arms. The man still lived, but he was no bigger than her thumb.

"It is my Tithonus," she said in a voice like a broken harp. "He is too old, too old! But I still love him, and want him to live forever."

"Must he live as a man?" Deditus asked.

She looked at him, wide-eyed, interpreting what he had said. The tiniest smile appeared on her lips as she closed her hands over Tithonus.

Aurora closed her eyes, and her palms glowed for just a moment. When she opened them, a tiny bug sat there. The bug looked up at her, and cheeped. Aurora's smile became a tearful grin. She stared, transfixed, at the bug making cheerful trills.

Deditus sensed it was time to leave her alone. He turned to leave quietly when he heard her call, "Wait!"

She had followed him. "You deserve something in return for the help and comfort you gave me," she said. "What do you want? I will give you anything."

The Devoted -- P__1060__(2010) page: -- 2 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1060__(2010) (student #: 17129)

He gave her a sad smile. "Only you."

"My heart belongs to another. But I can give you a part of me. I can give you my light."

Deditus was confused, but he nodded, wanting anything that the goddess would give him.

She closed her eyes again, and this time when she opened her hands, a glass charm lay there. It glowed with the fresh green light of the dawn, and he felt its warmth as she placed it in his hands.

Deditus was touched to the point of speechlessness. He looked down at the beautiful light, and looked up to thank her, but she was gone. He fought the desire to chase after her, knowing in his heart that he had seen Aurora for the last time.

The next morning, Deditus awoke to the chirping of Tithonus, the cricket. He went to the woods again, knowing now he could meet Death with a smile on his face. He laid down in a meadow, clutching the goddess's gift to his chest, and died.

Deditus' body laid there for a long time. He slowly shriveled up, like Tithonus, but the light never died.

One day, Aurora was walking through the woods, listening to her lover twitter happily. She came upon that very meadow, and saw the body lying in the grass.

Aurora recognized her gift from so many years ago. She felt pity for Deditus, remembering his love, and how he had comforted her in one of the darkest times of her existence.

She placed her hands upon him, and joined his body with her light. When she opened her cupped palms, a tiny black bug flew out and landed on her nose. Suddenly, the body of the bug lit up with a green glow, and Aurora smiled, knowing that Deditus was honored properly.

The Devoted -- P__1060__(2010) page: -- 3 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1060__(2010) (student #: 17129)

Aurora created Deditus, the firefly, to always fly at night and forever be an encouraging light in the darkest of worlds.

The Devoted -- P__1060__(2010) page: -- 4 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1065__(2010) (student #: 15937)

Odie and the Sirens [total words: 679] It was meant to be an easy show. Just play a few songs, wait for the judging, and walk away. The Ithacans, his band, were veterans of "battle of the bands" settings, and were favored in this group of artists. Odysseus – Odie to his friends (and anyone but his crazy parents who had come up with the name) – was, after all, a seasoned musician. He knew to stay focused on gig nights. No flirting, no booze, and no other distractions until the performance was over. Anything shady that happened would compromise the band's chances, and he never let anything come between him and taking another trophy home. Odie was, if nothing else, a stubborn, persevering sort of guy. It took quite a bit of character to head up one of the most popular bands in the nation. "Hey, bud, how many left to go?" he asked his drummer beside him impatiently. They stood off to the side of the club, leaned against the wall. The rest of the band had gone elsewhere, catching drinks and mingling with the crowd. His drummer had remained, disinterested in the party scene. He now looked back at Odie, ignoring the pulsating bodies before him. "I think just one after this," he shouted, barely able to be heard over the thump of the bass. "Newer group, I've never heard them before. They're called The Sirens." He laughed, looking back at the stage where the current group had just finished their set. "Some chick power group. Total pushovers. Shouldn't be a problem." This was the last of their stops before they could finally head home; they'd spent the entire summer surfing the country, and Odie was itching to get back to his girlfriend. It seemed these Sirens were one of the only things left between him and returning home. Pushovers, the drummer had said. Maybe he was right. However, when they finally came out on stage toting their instruments, Odie's jaw dropped. They were angels. The bright lighting accented each one's long blond hair and white outfit. Faux wings were strapped to the backs of their tops, and their songs"He paused to listen as they began. The music floating from the stage was ethereal and enchanted. One of the girls strummed her hand across the body; it purred in her arms. The vocalist called out a greeting to the crowd and Odie couldn't help but reply enthusiastically. Half their set list was done before he knew it. "Odie." He continued staring, completely ignoring the drummer's rough hand on his shoulder.

Odie and the Sirens -- P__1065__(2010) page: -- 1 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1065__(2010) (student #: 15937)

"Hey, Odie! We have to be backstage, our set is next." The Sirens' singer looked him in the eyes; smile lines wrinkled the skin around her eyes, and her voice shot up a trail of notes to settle hauntingly on a high tone. "ODIE." He finally looked up, shocked. The bassist and keyboard player had appeared, frantically making their way through the pulsing crowd toward the stage. The drummer, still shaking Odie's shoulder, yelled over the noise, "If we're late we're disqualified! Get your head outta the clouds, we have to GO!" Odie nodded and moved as quickly as he could through the sea of bodies, ignoring the music as best he could. As they reached the stairs to backstage, he snuck one final glance at the stage. The singer was gripping her microphone furiously, her lips turning white from livid anger as she glared at him. The charm had gone out of her voice, and it was now clear that she'd been trying to deliberately distract Odie from his own performance. He grinned and shot up the stairs. Behind him, he heard the girl's voice crack, and the crowd's cheering quieted. When Odie was given the trophy for the evening, he handed it over to his drummer to the applause of the crowd. They exchanged a smile. Hours later, after they were finished celebrating and the van was packed up, Odie jumped into the driver's seat. "Let's head home, boys," he cried, to shouts of approval from his fellow band mates.

Odie and the Sirens -- P__1065__(2010) page: -- 2 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1067__(2010) (student #: 13824)

Why People Procrastinate [total words: 656] In the days of old, before much of recorded history took place, there lived a race of humans called the Promethians. They lived very normal lives, lives very similar to the lives that we do today. They farmed, built towns, fought wars, and philosophized. However, there was one main difference between the people of then, and the people of now. The people of then never procrastinated. They were never lazy, they never put things off until later, and their children never, ever turned in late homework assignments. Because of their superior work ethic, they built magnificent towns, harvested bumper crops every year, and even built a sphinx with a nose. They won every battle with their rivals, the Epimethans (who were notable for their stupidity, their straw and mud huts, and for their lack of noses on their sphinxes), they discovered new technological advances, and they claimed superiority over the entire known world. In fact, they were so technologically advanced, that even the gods began to take notice. One day, Hera was visiting the Earth disguised as a human. She was admiring the garden of a Promethian woman when she suddenly heard an ear-splitting noise coming from the distance. Abandoning the flowers, she followed the noise until she reached its source. There were a group of Promethian men using a strange metal device to dig a hole into the ground. Intrigued, she walked up to them and asked them, "What is that strange device for?" They answered to her, "It's this new machine that our engineers have come with. It's called a jackhammer! It allows us to dig up the earth nearly ten times faster than by hand!" Hera thought for a moment and then responded, "But it's so loud!" The men laughed. "Well that's the price that we have to pay for success, right?" And then they continued to dig into the ground. Hera was angry, angry that the men were disturbing her lovely afternoon. She went back up onto Mount Olympus and sought out her husband, Zeus. "Zeus! There are mortals on earth that have created this new machine that creates an intolerable amount of noise! Please, shut it down!" Hephaestus was nearby, and, overhearing Hera, he sprung into the conversation, exclaiming, "Are you talking about those insufferable Promethians? They have made a mockery of me and my

Why People Procrastinate -- P__1067__(2010) page: -- 1 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1067__(2010) (student #: 13824) forge with their factories, and electricity! Zeus, I order you to smite them for their insolence!" Aphrodite too leapt into the conversation, "And who do they think they are to try and be more beautiful than I am? With their smarts and chemical know-how, they've created better and better cosmetics for themselves, and now, it's impossible to tell who is actually beautiful, and who is just hiding their hideousness under a boatload of their fancy-schmancy makeup! Father, please destroy their makeup supplies so that the truly pretty people can once again take their rightful place in society!" Zeus stroked his beard and asked, "But why should I do all this? I have no personal reason to put an end to their intelligence and work-ethic." Hera smiled slyly and said to him, "I still haven't forgotten about Leto"" Zeus gulped and said, "I shall take care of this problem at once!" So he looked over the clouds of Mount Olympus and wondered how he could stop the Promethians from being so smart and hard-working" then he had an idea! He whispered his secret instructions to Helios. The next morning, when Helios rode his sun chariot across the sky, he sprinkled a lazy dust over the Promethians. It did the trick, and soon the Promethian people were sleeping in late, using duct tape rather than concrete to fix up buildings, and were too busy watching TV to get their homework done in time. Hera, Hephaestus, and Aphrodite were all very pleased, and Zeus sat back in his throne, smiling. Thus, people became lazy.

Why People Procrastinate -- P__1067__(2010) page: -- 2 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1068__(2010) (student #: 16478)

Adelaide and The Race [total words: 1001] "HEY ADELAIDE!"

Adelaide sighed.

Adelaide Swift was many things. Smart, beautiful, and athletic, she was the

best runner on the Acadia High School track team. However, at that moment

Adelaide was first and foremost very...

"Annoyed. I think that describes me right now," she complained to her friend,

Amanda, as the Boys Varsity Soccer Team came onto the track, where she and her

friend were stretching.

"Just ignore them, you always do, although sometimes I don't entirely

understand why," her friend replied as she craned her neck backward to see who

was currently vying for her friend's attention.

Adelaide and The Race -- P__1068__(2010) page: -- 1 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1068__(2010) (student #: 16478)

"I ignore them because there are more important things than boys, and I don't

need to date just for the sake of dating," Adelaide replied in a manner that

suggested she had explained this many times before to her friend.

"I'm sure one of them might be worth a shot, not all of them seem repugnant."

Privately, Amanda felt that none of them were the least bit repugnant.

"You go talk to them if-"

Adelaide suddenly broke off as a shadow fell over her while she came up from

her toe touch.

"Yes?" she inquired as politely as possible, while the boy's comrades hooted in

the background.

"I was just wondering if you wanted to run with us? Or maybe just with me. We

could run and catch a movie if we leave now," said a boy with self-assured grin.

Adelaide and The Race -- P__1068__(2010) page: -- 2 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1068__(2010) (student #: 16478)

"Sure, that sounds great. I'm free on the 12th of Never, how does that sound?"

she replied sweetly. She was getting tired of being hounded by a pack of males

every day before practice. The time for tact and niceties was past.

Amanda just covered her face in exasperation.

Self-Assured Boy seemed taken aback, this had never happened before. What does

one say to that?

Nothing. One walks away and thinks about where one went wrong.

Just as Adelaide was satisfied she had taken care of that, another boy, whom

Adelaide mentally named "Self-Assured Boy #2" stepped up to take Self-Assured

Boy #1's place.

"I come bearing a proposition from the group," Self-Assured Boy #2 said, with

an exaggerated bow, "Obviously using bad pick-up lines won't work with you, but

Adelaide and The Race -- P__1068__(2010) page: -- 3 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1068__(2010) (student #: 16478)

how about something more your style. How about we race against you? If you win,

we'll leave you alone, if one of us wins, you give that guy a date with you.

How about it?"

"I accept your terms. One lap around the track."

They lined up at the starting lines of the lanes. After Amanda made sure

everything was fair she called out the start of what she knew would be the end

of the crowd of not-so-repulsive-looking boys.

"What a shame," she muttered moodily.

The competitors dashed off at her call. Though the boys had longer legs,

Adelaide was simply faster. Her dark brown hair streamed behind her as she ran

a steady pace, the thump-thump rhythm of her gait and the whooshing of the

breeze filled her ears as she sprinted the lap.

Adelaide and The Race -- P__1068__(2010) page: -- 4 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1068__(2010) (student #: 16478)

It was over in less than two and a half minutes.

Adelaide was already sipping water when the last of the group crossed their

lines. She smiled, thanked them for the competition, and turned back to railing

on the edge of the stadium to stretch her legs.

However, just as she put her forehead to her knee a shadow fell over her.

"Déjà vu," she muttered, and raised her head. Expecting to see a guy from the

soccer team, just as persistent and eager as a Golden Retriever, she was

surprised to see a boy completely unknown to her. Tall and friendly looking,

this particular boy looked genuine, with a wide smile instead of a smirk.

"Is there still time for one more to try their luck?" this new competitor asked

with a smile.

Adelaide was just about to refuse when Amanda suddenly shouted, "YES!"

Adelaide and The Race -- P__1068__(2010) page: -- 5 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1068__(2010) (student #: 16478)

She jumped up from her spot on a bench and threw the core of the Golden

Delicious apple she had been munching on in the direction of the trashcan.

Eating was suddenly much less important.

"I'll judge again. Go on," she urged.

Adelaide made sure her Nikes were tightly laced and glanced quickly at her

opponent. The thought of losing briefly entered her mind.

Perish the thought.

She took off at the signal, wind whipping through her hair again, the steady

rhythm of her stride audible once more. However, she wasn't alone; he was neck

and neck with her.

Adelaide put on a burst of speed and soon he was behind her. She rounded the

first turn, then the next, and the penultimate, but unlike the previous race

Adelaide and The Race -- P__1068__(2010) page: -- 6 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1068__(2010) (student #: 16478)

his stride was able to be heard.

She looked behind her shoulder, so she could see--

Suddenly the world tilted. She was looking at the track.

Adelaide rolled over and looked down at her feet, something had tripped her up"

A core of a Golden Delicious apple was lying there. Apparently in her haste

Amanda missed the trashcan.

The steady pounding of feet stopped, and then came jogging back. Suddenly

mystery boy was there helping her up, and checking her ankle. She then realized

that mystery boy wasn't a mystery: he was the new member of the Acadia Lions

track team her coach had been talking about the other day, Mel Tawny.

"I guess I owe you a date," she said with a laugh as Mel started wrapping up

Adelaide and The Race -- P__1068__(2010) page: -- 7 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1068__(2010) (student #: 16478)

her ankle.

Mel smiled up at her and answered, "Only if you want to, you would have won if

not for that apple."

Adelaide was charmed, she was given a choice? That was different.

She considered it and replied genially, "I want to."

Amanda, walking back to the bench with a pack of ice, smirked to herself as she

heard that.

"Just call me the Goddess of Love," she thought to herself, and took a big bite

out of her Golden Delicious apple.

Adelaide and The Race -- P__1068__(2010) page: -- 8 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1074__(2010) (student #: 15606)

The True Story of the Seven Deadly Sins [total words: 686] Throughout there span of time, stories have been passed down from generation to generation, told and retold, of mortals, cursed for their abhorrent sins. Parents scare their children with the consequences of what happened to King Midas, cursed by greed or Paris and Helen, cursed by lust. However, few know the true story of the seven deadly sins:

A long time ago in the kingdom of Thebes lived eight daughters: Ira, Gula, Pigra, Superbia, Avaritia, Maloventia, Valida, and the youngest Sanctimonia. Before Sanctimonia was born, the seven sisters lived in perfect harmony with their two parents. However, after their father was killed in the army and their mother died of childbirth with Sanctimonia, their entire life changed. Bitter with the intense toil she had caused them, the sisters bonded together, leaving poor Sanctimonia to fend for herself. Every day Iustitius, the guardian deity of Thebes, looked down from his lofty citadel, taking in the injustices done to poor Sanctimonia. He beheld Gula hording the small pittance of food Sanctimonia was able to retrieve from town. He beheld Valida with her thousand suitors, engrossed in her lust, and Maloventia downstairs, wishing she could be as beautiful as Valida. Superbia, in her bedroom, constantly staring at the vain face in the mirror, Pigra, on her chaste, never moving from the sedentary position, Avaritia, forcing Sanctimonia into further work, to increase her own wealth, and Ira, perpetually berating Sanctimonia for another thing she had done that was displeasing to her. Though at first, the woes of Sanctimonia caused little pain in the divine mind of Iustitius. As the months rolled on, he found himself watching her more and more. He began to notice the little things about her: the way the green in her eyes glistened when Ira scolded her or how the second she was left alone her face lit up like a ray of sun. He found himself rushing through the day to day chores that came with guarding Thebes just so that he could watch her. He didn't trust her to be safe without him there to look over her. Finally, on the day he let a whole block of the city burn down because Maloventia had locked Sanctimonia in her room, he realized something: he loved her. Certainly it wasn't abnormal for a god to love a human. Zeus did it all of the time, but this was different. She wasn't just some woman he wanted to sleep with and then move on. Something was different.

The True Story of the Seven Deadly Sins -- P__1074__(2010) page: -- 1 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1074__(2010) (student #: 15606)

Late one night, when the sisters had finally retired to their rooms, Iustitius came to visit Sanctimonia, dreaming on the kitchen floor. Though Jupiter had forbade him from making any physical contact, when he finally came within reach, Iustitius could no longer restrain himself from brushing a soft curl from her cheek. She awoke with gasp, prepared for a beating from one of her sisters. However, she was shocked when instead she was enveloped by the warm arms of a god. "Please," he murmured, "I can no longer bear to see the way this life has treated you. These cruel mortals are not fit to walk with you by their side. Come with me, and you will be forever safe." Tears streaming down her face, she placed her hand in his, and he lifted them both to the heavens. After Sanctimonia had rested her head on the soft clouds of the heaven, Iustitius once more looked down from his cloud and finished what great love had made him begin. "Tainted by love my heart may be, but yet I know my mind sees clearly. What this atrocious earth did to my sweet beloved, it will soon suffer in return. May the cursed earth reap what it has sewn!"

Hence for the rest of time, the mortal race has been cursed with the sins that these sisters first carried. We know them as wrath, gluttony, sloth, pride, greed, envy, and lust, but they are one in the same. For the rest of time, humans will walk the earth, continuing to pay for the offenses those seven sisters departed on another.

The True Story of the Seven Deadly Sins -- P__1074__(2010) page: -- 2 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1076__(2010) (student #: 16534)

The Shepherds Gift [total words: 706] Once, the gods gifted to a humble shepherd a companion. The shepherd, unable to keep flocks together, was vainly chasing them across the plains. Having mercy upon him, Faunus decided to give him an assistant that would make his existence easier. Faunus appeared to the shepherd, who only sought his help in recapturing the flock. But Faunus refused. "I will give you a servant to gather them for you, a companion to be with you, and a watcher for the wolves," he said, gesturing to the shepherd. Confused, the shepherd looked about for an approaching figure. "Not to the horizon," said Faunus, "for I will create a companion for you." The shepherd stood by in awe as the god gathered rocks and ground, assembling them in the general form of a beast. He took a piece of the Shepherd's dark hair and placed it on top of the form. The god took white thorns from the nearby briar and put them where the beast's mouth should be. Then he put a white stripe down the beast's face, to the nose, "for loyalty," he said. Standing back, he ordered the beast to arise, and, shaking off the dust, it did. Towering over the shepherd, it wandered blindly. Seeing this, the gods added four brown river rocks for eyes, and the beast was complete. It stood taller than a man, with a white belly and black fur that covered its back, and its face was grave, with the white stripe that ran down to the nose. It snarled, a huge rumbling sound that shook the shepherd to the core, a primal, predatory explosion of sound. Having the beast here frightened the shepherd, but he feared displeasing the god by not accepting his gift. He sent the beast off to the retrieve the flocks, but the hound, (so it appeared) was unable to order the sheep, which only fled from the creature. The god stood with the shepherd, who only watched numbly as his flocks were scattered farther and farther apart. The hound ran until the sunset, when it came back to the god and the shepherd, who were standing on the hill. The shepherd, despairing, realized he would have nothing to lose, for without his flocks, he was dead anyway. Summoning his courage, he spoke to the god finally, saying, "The hound that you have given me is too fearsome to collect the flocks, for he only frightens the sheep. If you would so alter the beast that he is less so, I would find him of more use." Cringing, he turned to the god, whose mouth was twisted in thought.

The Shepherds Gift -- P__1076__(2010) page: -- 1 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1076__(2010) (student #: 16534)

The god turned to the shepherd and nodded in assent. He beckoned the giant hound to him, and with it sitting in front of him, he reached up and with his hands compressed it, so that the dog was of much smaller stature. However, he kept going as the hound passed sheep size, so that it was the size of a small lamb. Horrified, the shepherd only looked on in agony as he again lost all hope. The god also, upon second thought, closed forever the upper pair of eyes from river rocks, leaving two peculiar spots of brown above the eyes in the serious face. Finally, Faunus turned to the shepherd. "Look," he said, pointing to the hound, "I have given you a companion of great courage in a small size. He will have the ferocity and strength of a greater being, but he will not be so monstrous so as to frighten the sheep. He will be loyal and true, following his master forever." The shepherd once again sent out the hound, and very quickly, all the sheep were gathered at the base of the hill. Indeed, the dog was small, but he was quick and efficient, throwing his body at the sheep to move them when they first ignored him. The shepherd could only partially express his gratitude to the god, thanking him for his life and sustenance. Faunus left the shepherd, who prospered with the gift, living for many years upon the plains. This dog has come down through the years to us as the Entlebucher, a fierce and loyal protector and friend.

The Shepherds Gift -- P__1076__(2010) page: -- 2 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1077__(2010) (student #: 17656)

Why Italy is Boot-Shaped [total words: 503] Long long ago, before our grandfather's grandfather's grandfather, the world was much different. Gods and Heroes still walked to earth conquering monster and saving damsels in distress, and Italy was square. That's right, our favorite boot-shaped country was a square peninsula. It had been this way since the beginning of time, and probably would be that way today, had a terrible battle not ensued a little over 2000 years ago. It is common knowledge that the king of the gods is Jupiter, and that he favors the Romans. He is a strong ruler and his magic lightning bolts strike fear into the heads of all those who behold him. There are always the misguided ones who thought they were greater than their ruler, and thus it was with Jupiter. A small group of uppity minor gods had formed for themselves a coalition and had elected Sicilius, a most cunning and crafty god, as their leader. They assembled for themselves a fortress on a large island off the southwestern corner of the square of Italy, and named this island Sicily after their cunning leader. Many weaklings had tried opposing Jupiter before, and he was not worried. He figured they would probably disperse if he sent Mercury, the messenger of the gods, with a threatening letter to the rebellious gods. However, they received the letter, and sent an equally threatening letter back. Still, Jupiter was not worried. He sent a selection of large fanged monsters to terrorize them. Each was sent back headless. Now Jupiter began to worry. He was almost out of tricks, and he did not want to fight these gods, no matter how rebellious and minor they were. Therefore, he devised for himself. He summoned Fauna, the minor goddess of the earth to ask her a bit of a favor. She smiled at Jupiter's keen wit and set off to do his bidding. In Sicily, Sicilius was feeling great. He had defeated each of Jupiter's challenges with ease, and felt that soon he would be made king of the gods. Suddenly he felt a tremor. He spun around wildly to see what it was. He fell to the ground in shock. It was Italy, but not Italy as he knew it. It had been reformed into a large boot, and it was viciously kicking Sicily. Suddenly Sicilius realized this was the end, and that he had not come out on top. Italy kicked Sicily again, and the great fortress began to crack and crumble. One last kick and the deed was done, the rebellious minor gods were buried under the rubble of their own fortress. Peace was restored to the land. When Fauna approached Jupiter about changing Italy back to its original shape, he stroked his

Why Italy is Boot-Shaped -- P__1077__(2010) page: -- 1 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1077__(2010) (student #: 17656) long white beard and told he would keep Italy as a boot, posed to kick Sicily, as a reminder to all those who would try to overthrow him. From that day onward, there were no more attempts by anyone to usurp Jupiter's throne. THE END

Why Italy is Boot-Shaped -- P__1077__(2010) page: -- 2 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1084__(2010) (student #: 17648)

When the Gods Really Start to Mess With Your Head [total words: 987] There were many ways one could describe Kat: plain, quiet, unconcerned about what others thought of her. But out of many other descriptions, never would you find fair, young, beautiful maiden. Kat was not very popular in her village because she kept her hair as short as a man would. This rarely impressed the boys of the village, but this was just fine with Kat, who didn't want to give her heart away quite yet. Unfortunately, a certain god by the name of Zeus had taken an interest in Kat. Zeus made his move on a warm Saturday afternoon, when Kat was alone in the fields, a few miles walk from her house. The first step to snaring a young maiden was to find the right disguise, and Zeus thought he had found the perfect one. The next step was to approach the maiden, and when she got close enough, snatch her away to Olympus. So, as a golden lion, complete with a huge, ragged mane, Zeus stepped out onto the pastures of the farm. The horses surrounding Katarina startled, throwing up their heads and rolling their eyes. Kat turned around to see the lion regally posing, making sure the sun was hitting his pelt just right to dazzle the her. The horses, sensing that this was a god and a predator, quickly turned and bolted in the other direction. Kat, too, was not so fond of lions, she preferred horses, so just as the last mare was running away she grabbed the mare's mane swung up onto the horse's back and fled with them. Zeus's snarled his displeasure and pelted after the galloping horses. Up in Olympus, Poseidon saw his brother preparing to pounce on his beloved creatures, so the god of the seas and horses quickly disguised himself as a stallion and raced to earth. Poseidon met his brother head on, screaming a piercing whinny through the air. Zeus reluctantly backed off, knowing it would be better if he didn't make Poseidon mad by killing his sacred animals, but a fury raged in him from the rejection of Kat. I will make her regret that she ever ran away from a god, Zeus vowed. Soon Zeus had planned out his revenge, something that would let him be near her always, but would punish her cruelly. And so, the next night he attacked. In the morning, Kat woke up feeling very peculiar. When she sat up in bed, she noticed her head felt... heavier. She turned and then saw it, thick, frizzy locks of hair hanging down past her shoulders. Alarmed, she quickly flew out of bed and ran to the mirror. Staring in horror, Kat grasped

When the Gods Really Start to Mess With Your Head -- P__1084__(2010) page: -- 1 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1084__(2010) (student #: 17648) the thick mane of hair that had miraculously sprouted over night. It was as thick as a horse's tail and just as unruly. It fell in frizzy, undefined waves of brown, as puffed-up as a pufferfish. To make things worse, there was about a foot and a half of it. Grabbing her brush, Kat furiously started hacking away at her hair, but with each stroke it got even puffier and puffier. After five minutes of brushing, there was no improvement. So frustrated she wanted to cry, Kat ran outside to the stream behind her house and stuck her head in it. Walking back to her mirror, Kat was pleased to see that her new hair was a lot less puffy and frizzy. Unfortunately, it was still tangled. Sighing, Kat settled for a ponytail, though a very sloppy one since she hadn't had enough hair to make one for a long time. With one last glance in the mirror, Kat headed out to town. By lunchtime, Kat had figured out that water did not control annoying hair. The top of her head felt like a peach who's fuzz had grown about two inches too long. Also, the hair was magical, you couldn't cut it no matter if you snipped away at it with scissors or hacked away at it with an ax. On the bright side, the hair in the ponytail had dried into pretty curls that shined in the sun. Feeling embarrassed at her outrageous hair, Kat slipped back home as soon as she was done with the errands that had called her to town. Sitting back down in front of her mirror, Kat decided that it would be best if she combed out the frizz and let her hair down. The pretty curls weren't puffy anymore, so this way it wouldn't look like she had a lion's mane. Most regrettably, this, like all of the other ideas she'd had, didn't work. As soon was she combed out the curls, they disappeared and became poof. The frizz was also not that easy to tame, after a minute it would just come back. Kat stared furiously at her shapeless, disgustingly puffy and frizzy head. What had she done to deserve this? As soon as she had thought that, Kat knew exactly what she'd done. This was the god who had been the lion's retaliation for her running away. Well, Kat thought reasonably, I suppose wild hair is much better than dealing with gods. This thought made Kat a little happier. Over the years, Kat learned to deal with it. She realized how to keep it smooth and silky, and ways to banish frizz. She learned that if she washed her hair with special soaps it would shine brighter than a star in the sky. If taken care of properly, people would complement her hair, not stare at it in disgust. In the end, Kat loved her hair. Sure, it was a pain in the butt sometimes, but it was worth having to take extra time to have extra special hair. Zeus, satisfied with the fondness he got in the

When the Gods Really Start to Mess With Your Head -- P__1084__(2010) page: -- 2 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1084__(2010) (student #: 17648) end, left Kat's head, but let her keep the thick mane that had once been the king of the gods.

When the Gods Really Start to Mess With Your Head -- P__1084__(2010) page: -- 3 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1088__(2010) (student #: 15560)

Who Knew? [total words: 1002] Little did I know how much my life would change when my family and I moved into that big, white house on Pennsylvania Avenue; besides, being the daughter of a governor was getting old. One of my first fears was not meeting any cute boys; I mean what's a pretty southern girl fresh out of high school supposed to do cooped up all day? Boy, was I in for a surprise! I first saw him across the room at some dinner supporting who-knows-what. He wore a black suit, regular CIA attire, and had these bright eyes that caught my attention. Before I new it he was matching my gaze, so I spun around and looked down at my meal, pretending nothing had happened. But it was too late, and in a few seconds I heard my name over my shoulder. "Is everything all right over here?" he said smiling in a voice that didn't sound all too concerned. "Oh yes, everything's fine"" ""Well then, enjoy your dinner," he said nodding and backing away slowly. "Hey, wait. Aren't you a little young to work for the CIA?" He stopped. "Me? I'm 23. But I am still only an intern." "An intern? I didn't know the CIA had interns." "Well, now you do," he said laughing. "I should get back to work; but before I do, how about I leave you with my number incase anything else comes up." He handed me a piece of paper with a number and the name "Paul" on it, smiled, and walked off. He was cute: brown hair, tall, and those bright blue eyes. In fact, he was so cute I almost had to find something dangerous to do so I could call him that same night. But I resisted; I would see him around again- I was sure of it, but after two weeks I was beginning to grow impatient. So that night I decided to call. "Hello." "Is this Paul?" "Yeah, I was beginning to wonder if you were going to call." "I just wanted to inform you of my plans to steal the Washington Monument. I plan on doing it

Who Knew? -- P__1088__(2010) page: -- 1 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1088__(2010) (student #: 15560) around eight, incase you were thinking of stopping me"" I held my breath. "Will I need backup?" "I think you'll be all right," I half-laughed, hanging up the phone. It had started to rain, and I was glad that he had brought an umbrella. I told him I didn't want to be seen out in public; thankfully, he was off duty. He took me to a small, out-of-the-way restaurant I had never heard of. The food was good, Middle Eastern I think, maybe Mediterranean, and so was our conversation. He asked me all about myself; a real gentleman, and he seemed genuinely interested too. We didn't talk much about him though, which is why I was surprised when he asked me if I wanted to go back to his apartment. It wasn't too late, and nothing bad was going to happen- I mean, his job was to protect me. So, I agreed. We sat on his couch talking, and I was fascinated by what he told me about the CIA. It was getting late, and I knew people were going to get worried fast, so I told him I had to go home. Then I realized that, as a CIA agent, he might be a person who would come looking for me, so I got him to call his higher-ups and tell them I was safe. The more we talked, the more we realized how well we got along, and, even though this was the first time we spent time together, I could have sworn we were in love. Until finally, he asked me, "Can I tell you a secret? Promise not to tell anyone, not even your family. I was taken aback by the sudden seriousness in his voice, but I told him, "Anything you want," and I meant it. "You're probably not going to believe this, but I don't exactly have the interests of the United States as my top priority right now." "Neither do I," I laughed. "So what?" "No, no, you don't understand" It's a little bit more than that" I'm a traitor." "I traitor? Against the United States?" "Yes, but let me explain. When I applied for this job, I had a background check. You see, they almost didn't let me get it, since my family used to live in the Middle East because of my dad's job with a big oil company. My parents stayed there when I went to college in the States, but when I returned to my parents I came back to a compromising situation. Terrorists had kidnapped my family and were waiting at my house with this decision: either I cooperate, or my parents die. I didn't have a choice.

Who Knew? -- P__1088__(2010) page: -- 2 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1088__(2010) (student #: 15560)

They needed a mole in the US Government, so they told me to join the CIA, or have my parents killed. Ever since then I have been relaying information back to the terrorists. The worst part is they told me about a huge attack they are planning in September with hijacked airplanes, and my job is to make sure nobody here gets wind of the plans- since a CIA has a knack for that sort of thing." "Well then I'll tell my father and you don't have to say anything! Your parents will still be safe!" "No! That won't work! If you love me, you won't say a thing," he pleaded, grabbing my wrist. "If that's the case, then I will never love you!" "But I need your love! If you don't love me, then I will make your life miserable! I will tell you what I know from the terrorists, so that you know what dangers lay in store for America, but I will completely and utterly ruin your credibility and reputation so that nobody will believe what you say!" The rest, as they say, is history.

Who Knew? -- P__1088__(2010) page: -- 3 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1091__(2010) (student #: 17991)

Persephone [total words: 316] Stephanie and I were always close. Whenever she would come home from school, I would look up from my garden and smile, and as she set her things in the house she would sit on the porch as I continued tending my plants. We would talk about the day, our achievements, our grievances, nothing was off the table. I this has always been my favorite part of summer. But, then as the school year comes closer, and the leaves fade from green to orange, I know my sweet Persephone will have to fly to her father's house for the school year. He won the custody, due to letting my daughter have a pomegrante margarita for her birthday. The judge ruled in his favor, and now she packs her things to her other life in Las Vegas, where her father owns most of the real estate there. I stand in the doorway as she packs her things, excited to live in luxury yet mournful of leaving her mother alone in a huge house with nothing to do and no one to talk to. She hugs me, saying that once plants are plantable we could both garden. I smile at this prospect, she's too impatient to do that, like her father. I drive her to the airport, tears in my eyes, and I hold her bag as she takes off her shoes. She waves good bye at the other side, she's a pro at leaving me by now. The drive home I cry, the wind circulating around my car blow the leaves onto the sidewalk. But I don't care, my plants are bending down, my trees are leafless, my lawn muddied, my heart tearing. The days get colder and colder, the calls get shorter and shorter. The snow stacks high in the lawn and I feel no need to plow it. It'll melt before my daughter get's back.

Persephone -- P__1091__(2010) page: -- 1 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1094__(2010) (student #: 18566)

The New Guardians [total words: 991] One day, Demeter was dancing in a field with Persephone, happy that her daughter was home once more. She and Persephone danced happily, celebrating their reunion while Demeter's creations, called the Apēs, collected pollen and nectar from nearby flowers. They were strange little beings, with fuzz on their bodies as white as snow, six frail legs and a tiny head. They were small, delicate creatures who could land upon the flowers of the fields without causing any damage to them whatsoever. They flew about Demeter and Persephone, tracing beautiful patterns in the air as they went about their business. Elsewhere, trouble was stirring. Hades was upset due to Persephone's absence, and so he started to argue with Zeus saying that Persephone had left early. Zeus was becoming annoyed by Hades' persistence in the matter and started paying no attention to him. This infuriated Hades even more. He started screaming at Zeus for disrespecting him and for ignoring the mighty god of the Underworld. Then Hades, in such a fury, did the unthinkable. He told Zeus that for the great offense Zeus had committed, the next Zeus-born child to enter the dark depths of the Underworld would not go to the Elysian Fields, or even the Asphodel Meadows, but they would be sent straight to Tartarus for eternal punishment. In hearing this, Zeus became enraged, so much so that all the skies upon the Earth erupted into mighty storms, with howling gales, torrential rains, and crackling, explosive lightning. Zeus's fury was matched only by that of Hades. It was to be a clash of the gods, for at that point there was no turning back. Hades returned to the Underworld and mustered his strength as Zeus returned to Olympus and gathered his strongest bolts of lightning. Dark tremors shook Demeter's field, fissures opening in the ground leading directly to the underworld. Demeter had known something was wrong when the storms had started, but only now as the field was torn apart did she realize what was about to happen. Suddenly, the gales stopped, and the tremors ceased. The world was still, as if holding its breath in anticipation. Surges of dark energy shot out of the fissures, arcing into the sky, aimed for Zeus. Zeus threw down bolts of lightning, and they surged down and exploded on contact with the darkness. The very air cackled with energy released from the clashing of the godly powers. Demeter told Persephone to flee to safety while she stayed and protected her fields. Demeter kept the flowers, the many various plants, and her many beautiful

The New Guardians -- P__1094__(2010) page: -- 1 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1094__(2010) (student #: 18566) grasses alive through the battle, trying to preserve her beloved field. Seeing that the slight clashes of lightning upon darkness were ineffective, Hades amassed a final surge of raw darkness, and launched it at Zeus. Zeus, to counter this, took his most powerful lightning bolts, merged them into one, and flung the merged bolt into the heart of the darkness. What happened next, not even the Three Fates could predict. An apis, terrified by the explosions of energy, started shooting across the field, searching for safety. It ended up directly between the merged bolt and the massive darkness as the two forces collided. This time, there was no explosion. The forces collided upon the small being, encircling it. A sphere of pure energy formed around the apis. Being a godly creation, the apis did not perish. Instead, the powers seemed to be drawn to the small being. The power of lightning and the power of darkness fused with the power of life Demeter had used to make the creature. Being opposites however, the lightning and darkness became separated inside their new container, unable to fully merge. Where the lightning entered, the creature turned yellow, and where the darkness entered it turned black as night. The darkness inside the creature created a disfiguration, causing it to grow an extendable point filled with venom that once injected into a victim unleashed the power of lightning. The very first bee had come into being. Hades and Zeus realized that their fighting had caused something to happen, but they were not sure what. They both rushed to the field quickly, forgetting their quarrel in the mystery of this event. Demeter was the first to discover the new being flying among the other apēs as if it had not been changed at all. Demeter was furious at Hades and Zeus for the mutilation of her beautiful creature. Just then, she devised a plan that would be sufficient vengeance for their crime. Hades and Zeus both arrived on the field within moments of each other, only to find Demeter waiting. True, Demeter was a kind goddess, but if angered her wrath could be terrible, as both gods knew. "I have decided", she stated firmly, "that this new creature, created through your ignorance, shall forever stay upon the Earth. I have blessed it with life and multiplied it. These new ‘bees' will be the keepers of my fields, tending to my lovely plants and flowers as my Apēs once did." Hades and Zeus were relieved, thinking Demeter had forgiven them in finding a use for the new creation, but this relief was soon lost. "These bees will now also guard my fields from fools like you. Any man or god ignorant enough to harm my fields shall feel the wrath of my bees." No sooner had Demeter finished speaking than thousands of the new bees swarmed out of the

The New Guardians -- P__1094__(2010) page: -- 2 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1094__(2010) (student #: 18566) flowers in the field, encircling Hades and Zeus. Demeter grinned wickedly as Hades and Zeus fled back to their chariots, attempting to escape the swarm of bees. "Never again shall either of you harm my fields! If ever you do, my guardians shall follow you for eternity!" The lovely goddess Demeter called the bees back to her field, the gods well frightened. She would enjoy these new creatures. That much she could already foresee.

The New Guardians -- P__1094__(2010) page: -- 3 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1096__(2010) (student #: 15487)

Claudia and Titus [total words: 603] Claudia met Titus for the first time in the Roman Forum. The first second that she saw his smiling face, Claudia knew that this man was the one for her. Their love grew and developed as time went on, and eventually the two lovers became engaged. Titus was one of the most handsome men in all of Rome, and his love for Claudia was envied by Juno. The goddess had wanted the young man as her own, but he snubbed her for his one true love. Juno also wished that someone would love her like Titus loved Claudia, which her husband did not. One night, Claudia and Titus decided to visit the temple of Venus, to pray to the beautiful goddess. Juno, who was jealous that Titus loved Claudia and that she had had the gall to forego praying to her, hatched a most nefarious plan to disrupt the love of the two young people. She wished for Claudia to feel as she did when Jupiter was with other women. As Claudia was making her way towards Titus, so that they could visit the temple, Juno transformed into a most beautiful woman, and approached Titus as he was waiting to meet his love. Claudia could barely distinguish the sight of her one true love kissing another woman through the fog that clouded the warm summer night as she made her way through the dark and foreboding streets toward the temple of Venus. As her gasp of realization rent the air, Titus' eyes rose from the other women, and locked on Claudia's. She stopped abruptly and stared as her heart broke and the tears began to fall from her crystal blue eyes. She began on her way once again, without glancing back at the sight of her heartbreak. Her steps became faster and faster, until Claudia was sprinting towards the temple. Titus, whose heart had fallen into his throat at the sight of his love, glared at the woman who had accosted him, and ran after Claudia until he lost sight of her in the dense fog. Juno, who had transformed herself into the other woman, and had forced herself on the love struck Titus due to raging jealousy, smirked at the back of Titus as he ran after Claudia. With her work done, Juno returned to Mount Olympus to see the fallout of her interference. Claudia eventually made it to Venus' temple. She burst through the doors and ran up to the sacrificial altar, where she fell to the ground weeping. Venus, looking down on the heartbroken girl, and unknowing of Juno's interference, took pity on the young lover, and changed her into the celestial clouds which would rain water down onto the earth to remind everyone of the heartache and sorrow of

Claudia and Titus -- P__1096__(2010) page: -- 1 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1096__(2010) (student #: 15487) the woeful lover. Titus witnessing her transformation as he rushed into the building, and realizing what had happened, gave a pain filled cry as he fell to his knees. His anger at the woman who had ruined their relationship could be seen in his eyes, as he cried over his lost love. Venus, realizing the terrible mistake she had made in transforming the young woman, and seeing the anger and complete anguish of Claudia's lover, decided to bring them together once again, and changed him as well. Titus then became the lightning and thunder that would rumble, crash, and strike the earth, as the water that was Claudia showered down upon the inhabitants of the planet. The two lovers were once again together forever, and on a cloudy day, they could be seen frolicking and lying together in the clouds.

Claudia and Titus -- P__1096__(2010) page: -- 2 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1101__(2010) (student #: 15998)

A Change in Music History [total words: 631] A long time ago, Apollo, God of music, was sitting on top of Mt. Olympus playing his lyre when suddenly Saxinius, The God of rock, appeared before him. Apollo, who was scared from Saxinius's rude appearance, became very angry. "What are you doing here?" asked Apollo "You have interrupted me while I was playing my lyre!" Saxinius stood there for a moment before answering Apollo. "I'm sorry to bother you, but I am actually here to talk to you about you and your lyre." A confused look came across Apollo's face. So Saxinius continued. "You see, Apollo, you play your lyre so beautifully, but the times are changing and the mortals have lost interest in that type of music. So I have come to you, O' god of music, requesting that you invent a new style of music that all the mortals can enjoy." Apollo sat there and pondered this thought. Finally, after a few minutes he spoke. "Perhaps you are right Saxinius; I have been playing this lyre for thousands of years, I suppose that it is time for a change." So Apollo went to his workshop to see if he could invent a new musical instrument. The first thing he came up with was a big bag that he had attached different sized pipes to. After admiring his work he decided to call his new invention the bagpipes. He was so excited about his new bagpipes that he quickly went to the top of Mount Olympus to try them out. After Apollo was playing his bagpipes for about ten minutes, Saxinius appears once again in front of him, obviously infuriated at Apollo for the sound of the bagpipes. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!?!" asked Saxinius angrily, " I thought you were going to find a new style of music that the mortals would like!" "But I worked so hard on these bagpipes, are you telling me that there is absolutely no one out in the mortal world that likes the sound of it?" Apollo asked. "Well there is a small group of people in Northern Britannia, but other than that there is noone. You need to make something else for the people to listen to." ordered Saxinius. "All right, I'll try." said Apollo as he slowly made his way back to his workshop. Days had past since Apollo had reentered his workshop to think of a cool new instrument to

A Change in Music History -- P__1101__(2010) page: -- 1 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1101__(2010) (student #: 15998) impress all the mortals with and he had still not thought of anything he could invent. Then suddenly he looked at his lyre and he got an amazing idea. "If I can't think of a new instrument to impress the mortals, I'll just improve an old one!" So he went to work. When he was done, he went as fast as he could to the top of Mt. Olympus so he could play his new and improved instrument to all the mortals. Soon after he started playing once again Saxinius appeared to talk to Apollo, but this time he seemed really pleased with what he was hearing. " Great job Apollo," said the very happy Saxinius, "you finally came up with a new style of music that all the mortals love! What is that new instrument that you are playing?" "Oh it's not new!" said Apollo. " it is just my lyre with a long neck and longer strings. I call it The Guitar." "Well, it looks amazing, and the sound it makes is even cooler." said Saxinius, as he was jumping up and down with excitement. "What have you decided to call this type of MUUUUUUUUUSSSSSSSIIIIIIICCCCC!!!!!!!" Saxinius had jumped too far and he had started rolling down the side of Mt. Olympus "Well now that you mention it," Apollo shouted down toward Saxinius with a chuckle "I'll call it Rock N' Roll!"

A Change in Music History -- P__1101__(2010) page: -- 2 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1121__(2010) (student #: 13816)

The Story of the Turtle [total words: 543]

This is the story of a simple animal. It is an animal with a head, four legs, a tail, and a hard, thick shell on its back. No more than a moving rock, some might say, when in fact that is exactly what they are supposed to be. This is the story of the turtle and how it came to be as it is today. This story is actually quite straightforward. The turtle was first sighted in the countryside of Turkey as a water creature swimming around in the lakes and streams. It ate the aquatic plants growing around the lake and kept it clean. At the time, it had a shell on its back, no feet for walking on land, had gills instead of lungs, and had a large nose made for probing around in the bottoms of the ponds. Once the Greeks sailed to Troy, they saw these creatures and thought "What a perfect thing for Greece, these little creatures are. They will help us keep everything spik and span in our water." And so the Greeks took the turtles with them, and they sailed home. But there was a problem, every time the shipped rocked back and forth, the tanks would spill out and the turtles would fall on the decks of the ship. So the turtles adapted, their tails shrunk, their gills changed to lungs, and legs with flat feet for walking on the flat planks of the ship sprouted. The turtles came to Greece and inhabited their ponds, lakes, and streams. The Greeks were happy with their discovery and had clean water to drink when their wine supplies ran out. The turtles spread far and wide all the way from the island of Crete in the south, to the reaches of Mt. Olympus in the north. Next, the turtles arrived in Stymphalos and were met with an unwelcome surprise. Birds from all over had feathers made of brass that kept falling on them from above and crushing their tiny turtle bodies. So the turtles adapted, gaining large thick shells to protect themselves from the feathers that kept falling on them. The turtles were able to march on again with the protection of their new shells on their backs. The turtles visited a city called Lerna where swamps and marshes were abundant. But what the town was really famous for was the monstrous Hydra who lurked in the swamps near the town. The turtles kept getting snatched up and eaten by the nine heads that this monster had and couldn't escape its sight. So the turtles adapted, learning to move slower and how to pull into their shell to

The Story of the Turtle -- P__1121__(2010) page: -- 1 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1121__(2010) (student #: 13816) disguise themselves when the Hydra came near. Finally, the turtles ended their journeys in a place called Elis where a man called Augeas kept his stables. Augeas hadn't cleaned his stables for a while and there were mountain high piles of manure all over the stables. So the turtles adapted, losing their large noses so that they could no longer smell all the manure littering their new home. So the turtles, now without their old noses and gills and with their new feet, lungs, and shells, inhabited all of Greece and the Grecians were very happy with their new turtles.

The Story of the Turtle -- P__1121__(2010) page: -- 2 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1122__(2010) (student #: 16668)

Breaking Free [total words: 991] It was a cold, rainy day. With gray clouds looming above, Delia crouched beneath the refuge of a broad, green leaf. Her thoughts wandered as she contemplated on when her time would come. Just then, a mysterious, beautiful creature appeared, whispering, "Dear child, why the sad face? Mulling over on when your time shall come?" Delia slowly nodded, perplexed. "Do you know our origin? How we have come to be who we are?" Delia slowly shook her head, even more perplexed. Rain continued to pour down like sparkling blue crystals cascading from the sky. It would be some time before the brilliant yellow sphere would appear, so she settled in to hear the mystifying creature's story. "Long ago, in the land of ancient Greece, there lived a beautiful woodland nymph named Papilia..." ------The great Sun god was just beginning to race his gleaming, golden chariot across the sky when Artemis, the goddess of the wilderness, stirred from her slumber. Lovely forest nymphs also awakened from their sleep, soon hastily preparing the moon goddess's morning bath. As the sky was becoming illuminated with gleaming rays of gold, yellow, and orange, the nymphs escorted the deity into the pool. All of Artemis's attendants were beautiful, but the loveliest of them all was Papilia. Her auburn hair flowed against her rose-colored skin whenever she walked; her eyes, a brilliant shade of blue, glinted in the morning light. And how lovely was her voice! A mixture of sweet honeydew and aromatic wine, her singing drew the attention of many. She was the fairest sylvan maiden in the land. As the nymphs began to arrange nectar and ambrosia for the goddess, a sharp cry abruptly pierced the peaceful silence. Thinking nothing of it, Artemis and her companions carried on with morning habits. It was not until the fourth, stabbing groan that Artemis finally had her fill of the atrocious sound. "Enough! Whatever it is, I want it out of my hearing distance. Papilia, go and check whatever is causing this---this---this repulsive racket! Go, now!"

Breaking Free -- P__1122__(2010) page: -- 1 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1122__(2010) (student #: 16668)

"Of course, Artemis," whispered the nymph. Searching high and low, Papilia's gentle, swift feet carried her all through the forest, yet she could not identify the source of the unnerving noise. Suddenly, the agitated nymph came to a clearing; making her way through the shrubbery and bushes, Papilia discovered there, in the middle, a wounded man---a mere mortal, sitting on the ground and leaning on a fallen moss-covered tree trunk. The moaning ceased—for the time being—as Papilia cautiously approached the terrified human. As she knelt down beside the man, Papilia stated, in her melodious voice, "You're hurt." The mortal nodded. His face, though handsomely beautiful, was wary, yet thankful altogether that someone had found him. He was hiking through the woods when a poisonous snake had come across his way, and in defense, had bitten the poor man. As Papilia was gathering herbs, the man could not help but notice her brilliant beauty. The nymph noticed but did not say anything. "May I know the name of my rescuer?" he inquired. The blushing nymph kneeled down beside the man, covering up the wound with healing leaves, and murmured, "Papilia. I am a nymph of the great goddess Artemis. And you are?" "Marcus." The nymph smiled, and the mortal smiled back. And the nymph met his striking brown eyes, and the mortal met her iridescent sapphire eyes. And at once the two fell in love, yet the nymph knew she was committing insubordination... ------The great creature paused. "Oh, do keep on with the story! What disobedience did Papilia cause? Oh, please, do go on!" pleaded Delia. Yellow, golden rays were now peeping through the dreary clouds. The rain continued to drizzle down, however. The mysterious creature gazed off into the distance. She was an old creature, and she had to take a moment to recollect her memory. Finally, Delia quieted down as the narrator continued on... ------"Oh, Papilia! Fair and pretty, though are you, you have disobeyed me! Go, leave and never come back!" cried Artemis, in grief upon hearing that Papilia had broken the goddess's one rule: to always

Breaking Free -- P__1122__(2010) page: -- 2 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1122__(2010) (student #: 16668) remain a virgin. "But oh, Artemis---" Looking away from Papilia, Artemis declared, "Choose now between me---or that mortal." The rosy color left Papilia's dismal face. Loyalty over love? Or love over loyalty? Before the frightened nymph could reply, the deity's voice rumbled throughout the hills and valleys and woods as she exclaimed, "Then it is true! You have broken my one rule, Papilia. Now you shall pay the price for your foolishness!" And with that ultimatum, with her shimmering, lethal bow and arrows at hand, Artemis------"NOOOOO!" wailed Delia. "Papilia, she---she---she didn't die, did she?" The creature unexpectedly laughed a jovial laugh. The creature waited some more for Delia to gather herself. "Are you going to let me finish, dear one?" Delia slowly nodded. The sun was beginning to outshine those dreary clouds now. ------And with that ultimatum, Artemis aimed a shimmering, lethal arrow towards Marcus. But love overcame Papilia, and she lunged forward in front of Marcus, taking the blow. Just before the arrow pierced her heart, however, Zeus, seeing all that was taking place, took pity on the couple. Just before the arrow did its duty, Zeus transformed them into a small, fragile, yet beautiful creature with elegant wings. ------With the story over, Delia turned to squint at the sun, strange and wondrous thoughts going through her mind at the same time. The rain had ceased, and the puffs of grim disappeared. Turning back towards the creature to say thank you, Delia was dismayed to find that the mysterious creature was no where to be seen. Just then, from the corner of her eye, Delia could see the creature flying away, its colorful wings floating freely in the sky. One day...one day I'll be just like her. A beautiful butterfly.

Breaking Free -- P__1122__(2010) page: -- 3 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1123__(2010) (student #: 18316)

King Livius and Poseidon [total words: 1092] "I'm doing it for the power, for the money, for the prestige." The simple response rolled smoothly off the tongue of King Livius. The reply was such one to the question asked by his adviser, and one that has been and will be asked quite frequently to the man in power. King Livius was never one to let others interrupt his selfish plans, especially not this one. The number of lives lost, families destroyed, and hopes shattered would not poke the peaceful-sat king's mind to the slightest degree. This war was fueling his soul, and he did not want some low class adviser to put water on it. "But your majesty, people all over Britannia are dying." "The one Britannian I actually care about is my wife, and she is out in Belgica for the week. Now I suggest you leave me alone before I take that scroll you're holding, and shove it down your throat!" "Y-y-yes sir," stuttered the adviser, and reluctantly stammered out of the icy cold room in dismay and fear. It was somewhat of a stressful day for the king, and his palace was strategically placed to remove such emotions he felt. The waves crashing in gallantly form the ocean sang a song of comfort to the king. His palace was located in Deva, a city on the coast of Britannia. After a segment of harmony elapsing approximately five minutes, he was disturbed by yet another voice. This one, however, was not squeaky and apprehensive like the previous man he spoke to. No, this was a voice with the characteristics of deep and firm. It was the voice of a god, one with the name of Poseidon. The voice was rather frightening when first heard. The source seemed to come from nowhere, until he noticed the ocean had formed a shape of a mouth. Frightened and confused, the king responded, "What do you want from me? This is Poseidon, right?" "This is Poseidon, and my desire is to end yours. People all over Deva are dying due to your greed. I can no longer see this land operate." "So what are you trying to say?" snapped the king, obviously already finding comfort in having an attitude with the god. "I am saying I will destroy it. The conflict has been to long, the brutality has been equivalent to a wild beast, and the morals have been lower than my ocean's deepest pits."

King Livius and Poseidon -- P__1123__(2010) page: -- 1 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1123__(2010) (student #: 18316)

"And how do you plan on doing this," asked the king, half doubtful, half scared out of his disturbed mind. "I will release a storm on Deva. A storm like you can not imagine. Winds at incredibly high speeds, more lightning and rain than you would ever want to see , and enough flooding to turn your palace into a bath tub!" "No, no! You cannot do this! Let me survive! Please, let me survive!" "It seems rather unlikely that I shall allow that. Give me one good reason why I should spare you." "I'll give you whatever you want. Money, I've got plenty of it. Servants, I have a countless amount of them. Land-" "I do not want any of that. I will let you live in turn for five years of service to me." The king considered the grant offered. His mind was looking into the future. "How bad could five years be?" he wondered. Five years of work, and he could build himself up to a powerful ruler again. One extra bonus, he realized, that his wife would dodge the powerful trident Poseidon was to stab Deva with. The deal sounded fairly appealing, but there was one detail that he needed to be clarified. "How will I be spared?" inquired the king. "I shall leave an opening in the middle of the storm. Then I shall send down Pegasus. You will ride on him in the middle of storm. You can see all of Deva be destroyed, and you will be right in the center of the storm, not being affected at all." "Well then it looks like you've got yourself a deal." King Lucretius was surprised with Poseidon's offer. In fact, he felt Poseidon was completing the goals he was perusing. All his enemies would be eliminated, and he could live in peace and harmony with his wife. "Very well then. Come here again in twenty four hours and Pegasus will await you." The hours were eaten slowly by dawning sun and sleep reached the king with unusual difficulty. Despite the elongated wait, a white-winged horse awaited the king in the designated location as Poseidon had promised. The king was taken up into the heavens, awing the beauty of the terrain staring back at him. While looking down, King Lucretius though of all the souls about to be blazed by the furnace of the storm.

King Livius and Poseidon -- P__1123__(2010) page: -- 2 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1123__(2010) (student #: 18316)

Pegasus' journey halted in what seemed to be the middle of the ocean. Then, the king â €“ witnessed a mind boggling experience. The water stirred around him. The winds moving circularly around him increased their speed at an incredible speed. The storm began to swim its way to the coast of Deva. King Livius finally found himself at the beach's sand in Deva. Contrasting greatly form the shore's usual alluring appearance, it was being torn apart mercilessly by the prevailing juggernaut. Buildings were being torn apart. People fled helplessly for cover that was only to be swept up by the broom being pushed through Deva. The king laughed in comfort, as he flew in the eye of the unremitting monster. The storm finally ceased, leaving Deva in shambles. King Livius stepped down from Pegasus and heard a familiar voice. "I have kept my part of the bargain, now you must keep yours." "Well I guess that is so." "So what do you think of the storm I created." "It was an excellent choice of taking out a vast number of people." "Do you feel pity for any of them?" "No, not really. Well actually there was this one lady how sort of resembled my wife, so naturally I felt some sorrow for her." "You should feel a lot of sorrow for her." "Why's that?" "Because that was your wife!" "No, impossible! She was gone for the week in Belgica." "Well, actually, she decided to come back a few days early. I believe she missed you too much. Isn't it unfortunate that her wish didn't come true?" The king was speechless. "Now I believe I have some chores for you. After all, you did promise."

King Livius and Poseidon -- P__1123__(2010) page: -- 3 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1124__(2010) (student #: 16799)

Cathlinia and Apollo [total words: 515] Way back when in the time of the gods, there lived a young, female charioteer by the name of Cathlinia. Nobody knows quite for sure who Cathlinia's mortal mother was, but everybody was quite certain that the father was Jupiter, as it always tended to be in those days. Now, not very many people thought it fair that she be allowed to race chariots, being only half-mortal, but no conclusive tests found that she was on the juice, so they had really no grounds to forbid her from competing. Cathlinia was in fact a very talented charioteer, but she had a bit of a problem with gambling. However good she may have been at racing chariots, she could never get a good roll in knucklebones. She was so in debt to a merchant named Vestuvius that one day she was abducted by his underlings. Cathlinia was told very calmly by Vestuvius to throw her next race or he would have his minions bust her kneecaps in with a fasces. Then they swiftly slipped something in her drink and she was out like a light. Cathlinia woke up two weeks later in her own bed with a wicked headache (what she assumed to be a hangover from the partying she had done after her last victory) and one toe missing. She knew it wasn't a dream that she had had, and wanted a very stiff drink. However, since it was nine in the morning, there was no diluted ethanol to be found, so she went to the temple of Jupiter to pray. Jupiter, being the neglectful father he was sent Apollo to answer her prayers. He came down to the temple and, seeing that she needed a good stiff drink, handed her a flask of what he called Chardanus (from which we derive chardonnay (although chardonnay doesn't have nearly the inebriating effects that Chardanus had (the effects of Chardanus were vaguely reminiscent of being sucked into the vacuum of space while at the same time being sat upon by every member of the 1995 Cleveland Indians))) and Cathlinia was immediately overcome with a massive imbalance of pressures and thoughts of good pitching beating good batting. That may have been why she heard absolutely nothing Apollo had to say about not listening to the mob and staying true to oneself. Probably not Apollo's best idea, giving her that hard drink she was so craving. Long story short, Cathlinia threw the race like the disrespectful child she was, and Apollo was very angry that he hadn't been listened to, and that he was all out of Chardanus now thanks to that ungrateful jerk. Apollo pleaded with Jupiter for literally minutes to let him kill Cathlinia, but since

Cathlinia and Apollo -- P__1124__(2010) page: -- 1 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1124__(2010) (student #: 16799)

Jupiter had a super majority (Ted Kennedy had not yet died) Apollo was forced to withdraw his pleas. However, Apollo did make a measure to get even that his father would never be able to detect: from that moment on every member of the female gender will have a great ineptitude in driving skills, whether in a chariot or otherwise.

Cathlinia and Apollo -- P__1124__(2010) page: -- 2 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1127__(2010) (student #: 16343)

I Was Always a Misfit [total words: 828] I was always a misfit. Everyone else was always better than me, more powerful, more beautiful in some cases. My mother always loved them more than me, always favored them. "Hydra, you should be more like Chimera," she always said. Or, "You should get a job like Cerberus." Why did she always compare me to my siblings that had multiple heads too? I wasn't self conscious like they were. However, she insisted that I had to be like them and go find my place in the world. Can I just point out that the world is a very large place? I searched and searched. Cerberus already had claimed the Underworld. Sphinx had Thebes. Lion found Nemea. Ladon was hired to guard the Apples of the Hesperides. Me? I really didn't like the aspect of eating people. Maybe once or twice, yeah, but more than that gave me a stomach ache. Besides, trying to split just one human between nine heads? That's a little tough. Finally, after about a year I found this lovely little cave in the lake Lerna. I even had a neighbor. He was a crab. I still remember when I moved in. He came out to meet me and even brought me a nice human to snack on. Not a bad guy, right? I went out from time to time to grab a snack from the neighboring village. It was fun from time to time to see the humans scream. They all ran and covered their mouths. I didn't think I smelled so bad. After a while I just stayed in my swamp, too bored with terrorizing those simple beings. After a few months, whispers starting coming in. Lion had been killed. This son of Zeus, this Hercules, had murdered my brother. Lion was always the nicest to me. Whenever Sphinx taunted me with her riddles or Chimera made fun of me, it was Lion who stuck up for me. Nothing could get through his thick skin. How could this one man defeat him? How could Lion be gone? Yes, we had been separated for years, but he still meant a lot to me. Who was this Hercules to kill him? I wanted him to come and try and find me. I told Crab all of this. Crab told me that if Hercules showed up he would fight him with me. I was ready. Each day I woke, waiting for Hercules to show up and fight me. The morning of the fight was like any other morning. Crab and I awoke and met in the middle of the swamp, just like we always did. After checking in with each other, we each went home. It was

I Was Always a Misfit -- P__1127__(2010) page: -- 1 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1127__(2010) (student #: 16343) around noon when I heard something outside my lair. Without warning flaming arrows shot into my den. He had arrived. I ran out, all nine heads roaring, hissing, expecting this puny human to run in fear, just like any other. However, he seemed prepared, having tied a cloth over his mouth and nose. Wrapped around him was Lion's skin. It was in this moment that I realized that I had changed. I was no longer who I used to be. I was ready to kill. Hercules rushed at me, sword held out. I roared and rushed back, all nine heads weaving. Somehow he caught one with his sword and cut it off. The pain was unbearable, but as soon as the head left my body, two more grew in its place, not a painful but an uncomfortable experience. There was no way he could win. Unfazed, he ran at me again. I decided to toy with him. I let him near me, letting him cut at one of my necks again. However, this time when he cut through my neck, a young boy rushed forward and pressed a torch to the stump, sealing it shut. I roared with pain and fury. What had happened? In my moment of distraction, Hercules rushed forward again and cut another head off. The boy ran in with the torch, sealing the wound. Crab was always beside me, trying to fight them off, but they kept fighting them back, Lion's pelt protecting him from Crab's claws. Finally, just one head remained. Just one. My last one. Crab lay still near the edge of the swamp. But little did Hercules know, this was my secret weapon. This head could not be killed. I could not be defeated. I hissed as he cut at my last neck, my head flying through the air. I was still conscious, this last head being immortal. As he approached, a huge stone lifted above his head, I once more noticed Lion's skin hanging off of Hercules's shoulders. Filled with rage, I hissed one last time just as he threw the rock down on top of my last hope. I was doomed to remain there forever, my blood forever seeping into the bog, forever trapped in his arrows, alongside my brother.

I Was Always a Misfit -- P__1127__(2010) page: -- 2 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1132__(2010) (student #: 13829)

The Lightning of Man [total words: 998] Zeus, god of the skies and king of the gods, hurls lightning from on high to destroy those mortals who defy his decrees.  Lightning bolts, forged by mighty Vulcan, are his alone to wield.  This is the story of two men who by trickery and deceit stole lightning and bound it to mortal will. Thomas of House Edison was a sly man, but not very wise.  Nikola of House Tesla was wise, but without deceit.  When sly Thomas was born, he was sent to the lord of the future and the protector of man, Prometheus, to learn to think as a god and work great wonders. Thomas grew to be full of lies and tricks beyond those of men, and Prometheus planted a seed in the young boy's wily mind: to take for men Zeus's mighty weapon. Prometheus knew that in the future they would need it as much as the fire that he once had stolen, and prepared Thomas for the task. But as Thomas's desire for lightning grew, his wisdom did not. He could not think of a way to take the lightning, for its touch roasted all mortals to charred ash.  Nikola was a grandson of Helios, whose wisdom he gained, bearing a mind as intricate as the labyrinth of Daedalus and as fast as Pegasus in flight. He quickly came to know the secrets of the world as he grew, and went in search of a quest to prove himself worthy of his divine blood. When he came to a land of innovation and prosperity, America, he met Thomas, and was drawn in by Thomas's own quest for lightning.  Sly Thomas planned to use Zeus's lust against him, to steal his lightning as the god bedded yet another mortal woman. He searched for a year until he found the most beautiful woman in America and married her. To Nikola fell the task of capturing lightning and holding it still. After twenty, of ponderous planning, of designing, and of measuring, Nikola found a way by using wires of copper wrapped round in a enormous loop. Thus the lightning could keep running and moving, chasing its tail in Nikola's invention. It is called the Coil of Tesla. Â

The Lightning of Man -- P__1132__(2010) page: -- 1 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1132__(2010) (student #: 13829)

 Then, Thomas began boasting of his wife as the most beautiful woman in America, and Zeus came down from Mt. Olympus in a lustful passion for Thomas' fair wife. He hid from Hera as he had when taking Io for his own, wrapping himself in a cloud, with his raiment glittering gold, and lightning at his side.  When he entered the House of Edison, Zeus beguiled her with words lined with gold far more lustrous than Thomas' sly and silvered seductions. Just so, he drew her into his arms, and to Thomas' own bed.  When the cloud descended, Nikola drew forth his coil of wire, and went into the cloud to bind the lightning and whisk it away. He slipped through the mist, boldly striving to see where the lightning was hid.  As Nikola trudged blind through the dense fog, he called his father, Helios the sun, to shine a guiding light. Helios answered, not knowing Nikola's intent, with a bright beam to lead him.  Nikola spied and caught the powerful weapon of Zeus and spun it onto his wire, as the fates spin the thread of mortal lives.  Thence from the cloud he ran, to Thomas' side, outside the fog.  Thomas asked for a piece of the lightning wire, and Nikola, lacking in guile, gave it him, keeping the bulk for himself. Then they fled Zeus' inevitable wrath.  When Zeus noticed that his lightning was gone, he searched everywhere, and then he went to Helios, seer of all, and asked him if he, from his seat in the sky, had seen where his lightning had gone. Then Helios realized what Nikola had done, and grieved at his duty to Zeus, the king of the gods. He revealed his grandson's deed with the heaviest of hearts.  Zeus, in a shimmering rage, crashed down on the earth and appeared before Nikola with a wrath unmatched by mortal men. He demanded of Nikola his lightning, and Nikola, fearing for his life, rendered up to Zeus what was his. Zeus took his lightning from Nikola's coil of wire, and then considered what punishment to visit upon such a robber and thief. He  recalled Apollo's curse on

The Lightning of Man -- P__1132__(2010) page: -- 2 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1132__(2010) (student #: 13829)

Cassandra, and he threw upon Nikola the curse of doubt, causing all of his fellow mortals to disbelieve his wise thoughts and ideas.  Thus Zeus left Nikola, weeping and shaking, yet unknowing of his doom.  Worried for Thomas, he went forth to warn of Zeus's wrath. Upon reaching sly Thomas, he found that he had been duped. At Thomas' own doorstep, he was told, quite coldly, that he was no longer of use.  In horror, Nikola saw sly Thomas' plan, to steal lightning and to make Nikola a shield against the wrath of Zeus. With rage unsurpassed, Nikola fled the house of his coconspirator, and discovered his curse as he roved through the land. He could not make men believe that he was the one who had brought them lightning, and in despair, Nikola returned to his grandfather,  begging his forgiveness and aid to gain revenge on sly Thomas, deceiver of gods and men.  Helios granted Thomas one favor after three days and three nights of pleading. For his grandson's sake he cursed the House of Edison with strife and pain and woe. Thomas' wife fell to a disease, leaving Thomas only his children. These, too, were poisoned, not with disease, but with a passionate hatred for their father.  Sly Thomas was left with naught but hollow glory and fame, and Nikola died, in the world's eyes, a fool.  Let this sad tale be a lesson: never rob gods or clever men, for you will lose your profit to their revenge.

The Lightning of Man -- P__1132__(2010) page: -- 3 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1134__(2010) (student #: 11792)

The Expected One [total words: 1062] There had been word that a young prince from Ithaca was asking around all of Greece about me. I wonder why he would want to see me? Well, I am fairly incredible, but as for this boy I cannot make any sense of it. What was his name again? Telly-Tubby? Telephone? Telemus? Oh, yes! Telemachus! Telemachus was the boy's name! Ah, of course, that would make his search clear. Well I guess he was not looking for me then, a pity, for him that is. He must have been asking about that other Odysseus that seems to become more famous every day with stories of his heroism. Psh, heroism, I am far stronger and more handsome than he! I have seen the drawings people make of him; he is a tiny dwarf of a creature! But I cannot dwell my anger on him for long, as I have a far more important foe to face. Yes, it is he that I have been searching for these last ten years, searching in vain! Because of him I did not go to fight with my fellow Greeks and strive for immortality, because of him I abandoned the war that has made gods of men! All because of that accursed Cyclops, that wretched beast! Perhaps my fury seems unfounded, let me explain. Back in my youth, when I was but a young lad and only seven feet tall, I had but one companion: a small baby ram. Yes, it sounds silly now doesn't it? That I, now so handsome and strong, could only afford a lamb as my friend? But this was no ordinary lamb, for even at his young age he was the greatest among all of his kind! He was the first to awaken, he led all those around him, except for me of course, and it was this quality that made him such a friend to me. The other giant children did not like me for some reason, jealous no doubt. How could they not be, as handsome as I am? But yes I bonded quite well with the ram and we spent many great days together, until that day came. That day I awoke and searched for my friend among the flocks. How great my shock was to see they were all gone! For the sheep I did not care, but my ram! Oh, my friend! I mourned long for his absence but my despair soon turned to rage as I hardened my resolve to catch the thief. Upon asking about what happened I discovered that a Cyclops had come recently, demanding food and drink. Only this Cyclops demanded men for his food and the best wine for his drink, and killed all those who refused him. Killed them in the name of his father, Poseidon! Upon leaving he decided to steal our flock, to add to his own, and it was then that he had snatched up my beloved friend! Inquiring further I found that he boasted his own name as loudly as his fathers:

The Expected One -- P__1134__(2010) page: -- 1 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1134__(2010) (student #: 11792)

Polyphemus! Hearing these words I cried to the heavens "Curse you Polyphemus, son of Poseidon! A horrible death I wish upon you delivered by my own hands. For your greed in seizing all that you see I will take away your lone eye, and to replace it I will give you eternal darkness and slumber!" Ever since that day I have made it my life's quest to hunt the one-eyed fiend. I have honed my skills in battle, gathered the finest armor, and over time have become as powerful as armor-plate. Yes, now I am a fully grown giant, and after sailing throughout these long, long years looking for my target—alas! An island is in sight! I have heard from a prophet that my revenge will come here, that it was on this island that the Cyclops Polyphemus would see darkness! What's this? From the shore I hear shouts and yelling, and what a sight! A Cyclops is hurling boulders at a ship! My heart quickens as the thought of Polyphemus comes to my mind. Could this be him? I hasten my ship, pulling it closer to the shore with each massive stroke, deftly avoiding whatever debris the Cyclops might throw my way, no doubt confusing my own ship for that of the puny humans. I thought I heard my name being called in the distance, but at that time I was around the other end of the island clear of any rocks and out of sight from what might be my potential nemesis. I quickly bound across the island in a few quick leaps, and in no time was upon the creature, on his knees now praying. Most of what he said was mutterings, pathetic dribble from what was obviously a beaten man. But then I caught the words I had been searching for as he cried to his father Poseidon! How many could there be on this island with such lineage? I knew I had the monster at last, and was just about to thrust my spear in his filthy eye, until I had noticed someone had already done the work! His eye was one massive wound, a horrible sight to see! I felt an utter disappointment. Looking at him now, crying on the ground and entirely blind to my presence, he was too pitiful to kill, unworthy of my blade. In that moment out of the kindness of my heart, and hearing the terrors his father would do to the man who had harmed him, I spared his pathetic life. At that point I turned towards the monster's home, hopeful of finding my friend, my dear ram. My heart swelled with memories of his soft coat and his fledgling horns, what a fine beast he must have become by now! I searched for him so long I became frantic, until all at once I saw a magnificent glow, and I knew it was my dear friend. I had found him at last, and he was even greater than I could have imagined, although perhaps not as great as I, but nonetheless, pretty great. I threw my arms around the dear ram and thanked the heavens for delivering him unto me. I made for my ship, and with my

The Expected One -- P__1134__(2010) page: -- 2 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1134__(2010) (student #: 11792) dear ram we sailed back home, back where we belonged.

The Expected One -- P__1134__(2010) page: -- 3 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1135__(2010) (student #: 18569)

Benjamin Franklin the Student of Olympus [total words: 885] Benjamin Franklin was a great man. He was an inventor, founding father, philosopher, character, scholar, and a jack of all trades, a man of infinite talents. However, his family life was not one of the greatest. He set out from his father's house to make his own fortune as a teenager feeling that he should forge his own path in life. As he was traveling from town to town he fascinated himself by flying a kite, with the key to his pack twirling around the line that he had found in an oak tree when he had been a boy. From the first time that he had flown the kite he had loved the feeling of the wind and how he could control the kite and make it soar ever higher into the sky.

One day the sky suddenly turned cloudy and dark and the wind picked up, stirring up such a gale that he was actually being pulled up by his kite. He struggled to keep his footing, but right as he seemed to anchor himself to the ground with a tree root something happened: lightning had struck his kite. Time seemed to slow down, he could see blue tendrils of light snaking their way toward him down the line and right as they were about to reach his skin he closed his eyes expecting imminent death. However, he felt nothing, opening his eyes he saw before him a being he had only read about in classic literature and seen in paintings, Zeus the king of the gods.

With a blank look on his face Zeus touched Ben's head with his hand saying, "My son, go forth and do great things for the country. Heroes in the past have had to fight with the sword and shield, but you shall fight with your word and wit, much like Odysseus from ancient times." As he was finishing his sentence he placed in Ben's hand the key that had been on the kite string but now it was pure gold and the locking mechanism part of it was formed in the shape of a thunderbolt. Before he could respond the image faded into blackness and Ben woke up in the forest that he had been walking through. Not believing what he had just witnessed, he passed the vision off as a dream until he saw that in his hand he held the lightning key.

Whenever Ben needed advice, he went out, strung his key around the kite string and waited for the inevitable lightning to come and shock him. Zeus did not always come to Ben; most of the time it was

Benjamin Franklin the Student of Olympus -- P__1135__(2010) page: -- 1 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1135__(2010) (student #: 18569) his daughter Athena, since Zeus was a very busy God. With Athena Ben practiced debating and bounced ideas off of her when he was in a pickle or did not know how to resolve a problem. Some of the results of these talks with the goddess of wisdom were: the articles in the Declaration of Independence, his famous 13 virtues that he applied to his daily life, and his success as an ambassador for the United States of America overseas in France. In addition to Athena, he would sometimes meet with Apollo to practice his musical endeavors. Why do you think he was such an avid and skilled player of the guitar, glass harmonica, violin, and of course the harp (aka the modern version of the lyre of which Apollo fancied)?

In addition to advice on the more merry aspects of life, Ben was also instructed in the ways of strategy by Ares, the god of war himself. Ares introduced tactics to Franklin through a game that he would understand and was somewhat familiar with, chess. Eventually under Ares' tutelage, he became so good that he was the first chess player known by name throughout all of the American colonies. His mind also soared under the tutelage of Hephaestus. Through his instructions in crafts and the ways of the world, Ben gleaned the knowledge to create the lightning rod, bifocal glasses, and the glass harmonica.

Yet his greatest contribution to society was due to his father the almighty thunder god. Ben was not satisfied knowing that his father controlled lightning; he wanted to understand lightning. He proceeded to conduct experiments in an attempt to understand the mystical source of his father's might, but he did not get very far since Zeus prohibited him from discovering the source of his power. Zeus was terribly afraid that, with Ben's keen intelligence, if he did find a way to control lightning and electricity like his father did then he would pose a threat to his throne. Therefore, Ben proceeded to work in secret attempting to understand "electricity" the basis of lightning. However, the all seeing sun god Apollo found out about Ben's work and warned Zeus. Zeus decided that he must stop his son from experimenting any further. So, Zeus tricked Ben into once again flying his old kite with the gold key, but this time, when the lightning struck, Zeus did not appear but wiped all memory of the Olympians from Ben's mind. Yet his curiosity and beliefs stayed with him".and Ben got the biggest zap of his life. This is the real reason behind the genius of the man, the legend, the hero, Ben.

Benjamin Franklin the Student of Olympus -- P__1135__(2010) page: -- 2 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1135__(2010) (student #: 18569)

Benjamin Franklin the Student of Olympus -- P__1135__(2010) page: -- 3 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1136__(2010) (student #: 16662)

Where Do Missing Possessions Go When "they're" Lost? [total words: 925] All Romans, rich or poor, slave or citizen, man or woman, child or adult, faced a problem that was inescapable, whatever their background was. All of them, at some point in their lives, lost their stilus. Or their tali. Or their Ludus latrunculorum pieces. Even today the same routine occurs, where one searches for these objects in some of the least likely places. First, there is the hunt through the tablinum, the last place one recalled seeing it. Then, one carefully goes through the cubicula, because one's children might have taken it to their bed accidentally. The search continues, as one becomes more and more desperate, until finally one starts scraping the bottom of the garum urns with one's hand to see if it might have fallen into it. Whatever was at the bottom, it was not what one was looking for. So where did these little objects go? Similar to the Trojan War, where the Judgement of Paris led to the annihilation of the great civilization Troy, the interference of the gods with the affairs of the mortals has always led to the greatest of human tragedies, missing stili included. It all started with Pluto's interest in a mortal king. Caius Inventius ruled a vast and intricate kingdom, one whose circuitous streets and architecture rivaled the complexity of Daedalus' labyrinth. He was a well loved king because of his ability to keep track of all the goings on in the city and the world. He could even remember the names of the citizens who lived in his kingdom. His memory of names was not what interested Pluto, however. It was his formidable memory of where objects went that intrigued him. Pluto was tired of the little occurrences in his kingdom, where some hero or king had successfully avoided death. Heroes like Aeneas or Ulysses had entered into his kingdom, found the information they required, and simply left, despite the fact that if someone entered the Underworld, they were meant to stay. The incident involving Sisyphus still made the old god blush with humiliation and embarrassment, though that king was appropriately punished in the end. Pluto felt a need for someone who would ensure the Underworld's image as an inescapable place. Pluto watched as Caius helped neighboring kings find their lost children or stolen riches, and saw that his ability to find lost objects was unparalleled by man or god. So he sent Mercury to fetch the king from his maze-like city, and Pluto addressed Caius, saying, "My kingdom has lost the respect which it once rightfully held. You, though mortal, have seen and found all

Where Do Missing Possessions Go When "they're" Lost? -- P__1136__(2010) page: -- 1 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1136__(2010) (student #: 16662) that has once been lost. I ask you, Caius Inventius, to be my own personal assistant, so that no man may escape my hospitable domain." Caius accepted, honored that he would serve the All-Receiver. Mercury was disgusted that one of his roles would be taken by some mortal king, and he devised a plan to keep Caius from ever taking up his job. Mercury's connection to the Underworld was that of a psychopomp, where souls of the newly departed would be lead by him to Hades. If a mortal was to enter or leave the realm before or after their time, it was his job to ensure their presence. He realized that any sort of attempt at murder or harassment would very quickly be linked to him, so the method of neutralizing Caius required cunning and guile – perfect for the god of tricks. He decided to use the king's gift against him, by creating a made up challenge for him. Before Caius started his role as a transporter of souls, Mercury approached him, stating, "I am most pleased that you have gained my position. However, I am not sure if you are in fact fully up to the task." Caius' pride was hurt, and demanded that he be given an opportunity to prove his skill. "Well, if you think yourself capable, then perhaps you can find an object of mine that has been lost for quite a while." Normally, Caius would have detected Mercury's trickery, but pride in his skill blinded him to it. "What is it that I must find?" he asked, unaware of the trap. "That is the challenge. I do not recall where, or what, only that it is currently in the possession of a man. Fear not, for I do recall that it is a small object, one that most would find difficult to recover. But if you are true to your boasts, then finding it shall be simple." "I guarantee that I shall find it for you. I will not look for anything else until I discover where it is." And to Mercury's delight, Caius Inventius went out into the world to find something which did not exist. Pluto, confused by his absence, left Mercury to act as the guide for souls, while Caius was out taking people's objects. Each time he found something similar to Mercury's description, he would bring it to the messenger god, who would tell him it was not his object. Caius would leave it in the Underworld, so that he would not accidentally come across it again and think it was the object. To this day, Caius Inventius goes into the homes of mortals and takes their stili or tesserae, inadvertently causing what he had previously been known for solving. And so, because of the interference of the god Mercury, all the men of the earth are subject to the tragedy of losing their little belongings.

Where Do Missing Possessions Go When "they're" Lost? -- P__1136__(2010) page: -- 2 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1145__(2010) (student #: 15552)

Claustrum Scriptorum [total words: 690] As more and more college professors, and even high school English teachers, pile on paper after paper, students are forced to stay up into the wee hours of the morning agonizing over grammatical constructions and powerful thesis statements. As the time draws closer to midnight and even on into the early morning, students begin to suffer from claustrum sciptorum, the block of writers. Nearly every student in the United States has suffered through this horrendous phenomenon. Typing word after word, paragraph after paragraph, until" BAM! Something suddenly stops the flow of words from person to keyboard, and the paper abruptly and unfortunately comes to a screeching halt. But why? Why does the student buckle under the pressure of the approaching deadline rather than, with the fear of a bad grade looming, valiantly complete the assignment? The answer to this conundrum lies with the Muses. Most of the time, Muses were invoked at the beginning of pieces of epic poetry and classical Greek hymns, as if the Muses were the true authors and the writers were simply working through the help from Muse. Vergil, Homer, and Catullus, all famous and magnificent geniuses of classic literature, invoked the Muse at the beginning of many of their pieces. So what happened? As the years went on, writers became less and less dependent on the Muses and more and more dependent on other sources—either themselves, textbooks, or the internet—for inspiration. Callipe, the Muse of epic poetry, became infuriated as writers like Emily Dickenson, Walt Whitman, and even Dr. Suess wrote their poems without her help. With the emergence of comic strips and comedic novels, Thalia, the Muse of comedy, was enraged as works were produced without her guidance. The Muses were getting fed up. Writers and artists of nearly every kind were producing, and getting financial reward, for literary and artistic works that paid no respect to the Muses. Finally, the Muses couldn't take it anymore. They had had enough of ungrateful artists and writers getting credit for works without any invocation of the Muses, and the nine sisters took their troubles to their leader, Apollo. Apollo, although the god the Muses trusted most, didn't always pay close attention to their problems. As the god of light, sun, truth, prophecy, archery, medicine, and many others, Apollo had other things to be concerned with. He loved the Muses, but couldn't always focus on their arts.

Claustrum Scriptorum -- P__1145__(2010) page: -- 1 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1145__(2010) (student #: 15552)

However, when the Muses confronted him with the mortal artists' ungrateful acts, he was stunned. "Those mortals," he grumbled. "Don't they know that you Muses are truly the authors of their works? Do they really think they could write or perform anything without your help? Well, I'm sure it'd be an extremely rude awakening if suddenly they just couldn't think of anything to write about anymore. If all of a sudden out of nowhere, BAM! No sort of creative genius could flow through their minds. Muses, if the humans aren't asking for your help, don't give it to them. Show them what it would be like without you helping them in their artistic endeavors. Claudete animos humanorum penuria auxilii—block the minds of the humans by a lack of help." The Muses followed the advice of their leader. If the humans weren't going to ask for their help, they weren't going to give it. Oh what delight the Muses saw as writer after writer struggled through novels and plays without their guidance! However, the Muses weren't about to let their arts die out because of the claustrum scriptorum so they would occasionally help humans they particularly favored. These artists included men like Nathanial Hawthorne, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and other authors that have produced renowned work. The Muses, however, do not favor everyone, and hence the claustrum scriporum continues to be an ever present and ever annoying part of nearly everyone's life. Students and writers not blessed with the favor of the Muses still struggle with writing last minute term papers and articles with a fast approaching deadline. So, the next time you're suffering from a writer's block, perhaps think of Calliope, and maybe she can help you out.

Claustrum Scriptorum -- P__1145__(2010) page: -- 2 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1148__(2010) (student #: 15607)

Nemesis [total words: 849] For eons, there has been man and there has been enemy. For Menelaus, it was Paris. For Sisyphus, it was the boulder. For Hercules, it was the Nemean lion, then the Hydra, then the golden Hind, et cetera, et cetera. Sometimes it is another man, sometimes it is an object or a force. It doesn't matter. The human race has needed to fight to defeat something since almost it's beginning, and it always will. Because near the time of man's creation, far beyond where memory stretches, there lived a family of gods who would change everything. Erebus and Nyx, children of Chaos, were each blessed with command upon their creation, and they used that power to the fullest. But eventually, it became time to settle down and pass on the wisdom they had obtained to children of their own. So Erebus and Nyx built a nice cottage in a remote village and set about the business of producing offspring. Their first child, Eros, was everything they could wish for and more. He was beautiful, with rosy cheeks and golden hair. As he grew older, he attained a lean, tall build that invited people in; he was gregarious, entertaining, and sharp; he exuded confidence. He lived the sort of charmed life that draws jealousy like flies to rotting meat. Everything seemed to fall into his lap: wealth, opportunity, friends. And, most astonishingly, he had somehow acquired the ability to attract women regardless of their race, stature, or temperament. He toyed with girl after girl with no repercussions. No one even seemed to care that he was making and breaking hearts right and left, except when they were praising him for it. Their other son, Nemesis, was not quite so lucky. From his mother he had received a dark, misanthropic sort of aura that made him seem isolated. He was often rude or abrupt with people, and although he was very intelligent, to the people of the town he came off as snobbish and unapproachable. So, while his brother sailed through puberty, receiving medal after medal in school for his intellectual and athletic achievements, not to mention the flattery he was continually receiving from his female classmates, Nemesis was stuck, ostracized by his classmates and loved second-best by his parents. And so, one day, he decided not to take it anymore. He was sick of the derisive laughter, sick of the condescending glares, and most of all, sick of his brother. He marched out of his dank, undecorated bedroom and into the family orchard, where Eros was demonstrating his archery skills

Nemesis -- P__1148__(2010) page: -- 1 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1148__(2010) (student #: 15607) for an adoring crowd of young ladies. Nemesis's head began to pound. The orchard began to spin, orbiting around his focal point: Eros. To everyone else present, he seemed to be the very model of a jubilant youth, with rippled muscles and dimples that could charm a hydra into submission. As he drew the bow, piercing apples with his arrow and the hearts of the girls with his smile, Nemesis snapped—beyond anger fired by jealousy, beyond the bitterness of a child, beyond the capacity of mortal emotion. Why could only he see the cold flash in Eros's eyes behind the trustworthy grin? How could no one else notice the cruelty of his brother's every action? And in that moment, he realized that it would not be enough to punch Eros in the face, to humiliate him in front of this crowd. Nothing he could do would appease this intense loathing he harbored for his sibling; he would carry it with him for his entire life. So he ran. Out of the orchard, out of the family's rich estate, and out of the town. He ran up into a cave far enough from the village that he could no longer see anything that could remind him of Eros, his eternal enemy, and far enough above the world to be engulfed in the clouds. But it didn't help. He still felt such abhorrence that he simply couldn't hold it inside him any longer. Finally, he gave up. Sinking to the floor of the cave, Nemesis began to cry. He cried so much that it flowed out of the cave, mixing with the clouds. He cried so much that the clouds burst open, raining Nemesis's grief down for the whole world to feel. And from the moment that the humans below felt his tears, they began to empathize with him. Any envy or tedium that had ever made a flicker in their brain previously now came to the forefront. Things that had scarcely garnered a thought before now became an obsession. And once each person began to think of it, his one hatred, he couldn't stop. From the moment that Nemesis's grief burst over the world, no man ever lived free of his enemy ever again. It's the reason why we're constantly trying to improve ourselves, the reason we fight wars, and the reason that we're always looking for a new challenge. Each person needs an obstacle to overcome, something to hate. In as many words, we all need a nemesis.

Nemesis -- P__1148__(2010) page: -- 2 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1150__(2010) (student #: 17691)

Aniketos and Amyntas [total words: 517] In the tenth year of the war against Troy, the leaders of the Danaans, guided by the wiles of wicked Odysseus, instructed Epeius to build a mountain-like horse as an offering to Pallas and then left the shores of Troy for Tenedos. This final trick was to at last bring the fall of great Pergamum and mighty Priam's city. However, while sailing to Tenedos, the Achaean seer, Calchas, instructed that before the Greeks in that monstrous horse could open Teucer's great gates, two of the Greek men needed to be thrown overboard: one as a sacrifice to Athena to evoke her protection upon the men in the horse and the other as a sacrifice to Poseidon to bring safe passage over water for the Greeks. Upon hearing this, the Danaans fell silent. After years of enduring the Trojan battlements, years of fighting mighty Priam's men, years of sacrificing Greek blood to satisfy the Atrides' bloodlust, the Danaans had finally found the way to open the gates of Dardanus and to end the war. This terrible horse, hostile to Troy and pregnant with arms, would end this awful struggle. But now, Calchas was asking the Danaans to pour out more blood. He asked, without the authority of that wicked Odysseus, that two more men be given. Oh, for some of the Greeks, he asked too much. Two men, Aniketos and Amyntas, inflamed by the seer's words, refused to follow the commands. "Your words mean little to us with the Trojan fall so near, "said Aniketos. "What more will you, o seer, ask of us Danaans, who have given you fair Iphigenia and the bow of Heracles? Will you demand more though we have the fall of Pergamum at our right hands?" shouted Amyntas. "Fools!" Calchas cried. "Teucer's city was built through the divine

Aniketos and Amyntas -- P__1150__(2010) page: -- 1 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1150__(2010) (student #: 17691)

inspiration of the gods themselves. It is a city marked by Poseidon and once guarded by Apollo. Do you place trust in victory when it has not been assured? Do you place trust in lots and gamble away the lives of the Danaans hidden away at Troy? So be it, you two shall be the next gifts given to the gods!" And Calchas, aided by Athena's wisdom and words, drove the other Danaans to attack Aniketos and Amyntas and to throw them headlong from the ship. But as the Danaans continued sailing to Tenedos, Poseidon seized the wounded Aniketos and the bleeding Amyntas with churning waves and dragged them to the shores of Calydna. Once there, the dying men were transformed by virgin goddess, Athena. Their tongues became three-forked. Their wounded chests became monstrous, bloody crests. Their arms and legs were joined with red scales. Their eyes burned with a fiery bloodlust. They challenged even the great horse in size. Then Athena, hearing burning Laocoon's warnings against the Danaans and their gifts, drove Aniketos and Amyntas, having been transformed, back towards the sea where Poseidon's waves carried them, hissing, to the shores of Troy. And as they advanced, Athena twisted their rage against the seer, Calchas, towards poor Laocoon and his doomed sons.

Aniketos and Amyntas -- P__1150__(2010) page: -- 2 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1157__(2010) (student #: 16222)

The Water's Lesson [total words: 792] The Water's Lesson

Lysistrata, the young daughter of a prominent Roman family was walking along, skipping stones into the small, dark colored stream in the woods near her country home. She was specifically avoiding the water's dim edge so as to not get wet. Round stone- one skip, two skips, three skips. New stone- one skip, two skips three skips, when suddenly a small splash rose from the seemingly still surface and splashed Lysistrata's sandals. Angered that something she had tried to avoid had still occurred. She threw a stone; obviously not flat enough skipping, straight into the middle of the stream's surface. Smiling to herself, "there stream, take that for splashing my sandals". Feeling victorious for throwing the stone she continued her stroll along the water's side when the shadowy ripples created by the stone she had thrown began to get bigger rather than dying out and unexpectedly rose so quickly Lysistrata barely had time to flinch as the cold water overcame the banks of the stream and streaked the hem of her tunica. Feeling angrier than before, she decided to retaliate. Picking up a heavy rock the size of her fist she lunged it at the stream like she had earlier- but this time with more force. Seeing the waves created and the small bubbles rise as the surface of the stream rocked she triumphantly scolded, "So you thought you could soak my clothes and I would do nothing to your beautiful surface, I think not". Then suddenly feeling foolish for reprimanding a pool of water she turned to walk away from her shame and back to the house. However, before she could gather herself for the brisk walk back a high frosty wave jumped from the stream and struck Lysistrata in the back. All of her shame dissipated, "I thought I was acting silly yelling at a pool of useless water but now I have learned. I see what you do cowardly water, striking me in the back when I was turned away, you should be ashamed of yourself silly pool". Out of the blue of the streams rocky bottom came a small bundle of lights. Similar to a bundle of candles grouped together they slowly formed into a beautiful yet distraught face. It was neither man nor woman, but strangely striking. The figure was stunning and it's miserable eyes, which looked just like one of the many skipping stone she had tossed from her childhood, were hard to look into. The

The Water's Lesson -- P__1157__(2010) page: -- 1 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1157__(2010) (student #: 16222) face spoke gently and softly, like the sound of a stream brushing over it's rocks lying on the bed of a small forest. "How can you call me cowardly?" It was not bitter or angry, but pleading for an explanation. "I have been here for many more years than your family, and child after child has come to skip my stones into my waters. You, yourself have taken a number of my stone only to hit me with them. Some decide to use me as a bath and take their dirty sandals to wash in my clean waves. I am not unkind, I do not fight man when he comes to my waters, and you should do the same". Lysistrata stared in shock as the water's surface spoke only truth and reason to her. She shivered under the trees dark shade, for as long as she could remember it had been cold near the stream. The water spoke again, "My waters used to be warm and children would come and lay in the grass by my sides, but your family came and planted the trees to block out the sun". Lysistrata did not realize the impact her family had on this land, the streams, and the trees they all felt their presence. "I'm sorry for my family's actions, I will fix this". Lysistrata ran from the stream and left the beautiful figure in the water. She ran into the bare fields were nothing grew and her father took his afternoon walk and explained the actions of that day. She brought her skeptical father back to the water's surface but the figure had vanished. He told her to behave and to stop acting out as she always did. For as long as her father owned the home and woods near it the trees kept out the sun from the streams rough waters. But after Lysistrata's father's death, he left the home to her husband in his will, remembering the summers she loved there. The trees were separated and moved further apart, the stream's waters grew warm as Lysistrata's children swam in them, but they never skipped stones. After the stream and trees were able to grow as they wanted the fields grew wheat and Lysistrata's family grew wealthy.

The Water's Lesson -- P__1157__(2010) page: -- 2 Modern Myth proj. #: P__1164__(2010) (student #: 18567)

(title) [total words: 1397] Hermes struggled against his blankets as Maia attempted to settle him to sleep.

"Mother, I am not ready to sleep. I need to attend to my new cattle." He struggled against a mischievous smile at the memory of how he had traded a lyre to Apollo for the herd of fine cattle and a magic wand. A fine bounty for a three-day old god.

"Hermes, you are too possessive of those cattle. And perhaps a little too pleased at having them, after you stole them from Apollo."

"I gave them back. And then traded for them. It was a fair trade, Apollo wanted that lyre so badly"" The little god-child stifled a chuckle at his own cleverness.

"Hermes." Maia's tone was enough to silence her son. For now. He closed his eyes, and turned over in his basket, tangling the blankets.

Maia sighed. Her son was going to be a challenge, but she loved him dearly. She watched for a while to be sure he was truly asleep, then allowed herself to doze as well.

Yet the moment his mother's eyes were closed, Hermes' were open. He silently slid from his makeshift bed, grabbed his wand, and tiptoed out of the cave.

His fine herd was grazing contentedly, and the young god felt as calm as he ever could. His first two days had been full of adventure, but it was almost noon, and he had done nothing yet.

The frantic bellows of frightened cattle startled the young god, who raced over their backs toward the commotion.

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Wolves.

Wolves were attacking his prized herd! The little god charged the animals, who could only gaze in shock at the infant creature racing toward them on short, pudgy legs.

Hermes chased after the pack, smiting down each in turn. His infantile fury consumed him and he followed the last wolf all the way to its den.

Still angry, Hermes trotted back through the forest, but he had not gone far before he saw a wolf cub sniffing around a clearing. He marched over to the little thing, which backed away with a limp. Hermes raised his wand and struck down...

But the pup leapt away and ran around the god, it's four legs moving perfectly. It bounded around, yapping and rolling on it's back. It gazed up at Hermes with large, innocent brown eyes...

and the little god burst out laughing.

He carried the creature back home, and Maia was not pleased at first with this new arrival. But soon she discovered that it occupied her son, and kept him from mischief.

Hermes named his new companion Canis. The puppy never quite looked the same twice. One day it's ears bent and wouldn't pop back up. One day it got so covered in honey, it's fur turned yellow and Hermes had to cut it short.

But he loved the wolf's odd features, and quirky personality. Hermes taught it tricks and played games with it, but it was not long before he was ready to take his place on Mount Olympus. Of course his mother and pet came with him, but with all his new responsibilities, Hermes had very little time with Canis anymore. He was either carrying messages, or escorting the newly dead to Hades, or teaching politicians how to lie, or boring Argus to death; he always had something to do.

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When Hermes came back to Olympus to rest, Canis would run up, whimpering and scratching at his leg. So Hermes tried asking his best friend Apollo to look after Canis, but Apollo was busy with his own duties. Ares was too busy making wars, Athena was too busy stopping the wars Aries made, Zeus was too busy leading the gods, and Hera was too busy keeping an eye on her husband. Exasperated, Hermes asked Maia what he should do with the pet, and she recommended he find Canis a wife. Hermes loved the idea of having a pack of Canis's pups.

So Hermes set out to find a suitable she-wolf. She had to be clever and friendly. Most of the wolves he found weren't either. Finally, Demeter, who had heard of his quest, brought a young white wolf to Hermes. She was gentle and elegant, with short fur and a slim build.

As he was studying her, Canis crept up on the she-wolf. Finally, Canis pounced, but the dainty female simply stepped aside, leaving Canis to slide unceremoniously into Hermes, who toppled over, spilling a bowl of nectar as he fell.

The female barked and danced around them, and Hermes knew that this was the wolf.

Seasons passed as Demeter carried out her duties and Helios and Seline rolled across the sky. Soon the palace on Mount Olympus was full of clever, mischievous puppies. Hermes adored the little animals and their antics, but the other gods were not as amused. The pups got underfoot, chewed on their sandals, and made unsightly messes all throughout Olympus.

Ares, fed up with the "little mongrels," decided to deal with the problem himself. As soon as the messenger god was gone, he shoved all the puppies into a large sack and carried them down the mountain. He opened the bag outside the nearest mortal town, then marched triumphantly back to Olympus.

When Hermes returned, he was furious to find the puppies missing. He quickly discovered what Aries

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Disguised as mortals, Hermes, Apollo, Artemis, Demeter, and Athena went into the city and gathered up Canis' offspring. Hermes took little notice of the ropes and balls and sticks near the puppies' hideaways.

But when Hermes went back to the village to escort an elderly man to the underworld, he discovered something rather peculiar- the children of the village were all distraught and running up and down the streets calling strange names like Spot and Blaze. Ever curious, Hermes followed the children. He found that they were all searching for "lost dogs." Hermes was horrified to realize that the "dogs" were his puppies!

He was annoyed at the mortals for thinking they could claim his pets, and he was annoyed at Ares for starting this. He stormed about the palace, tripping over several puppies in the process.

Finally, he sat down beside his mother.

"How was your day Hermes?"

"Fine."

Maia lifted her eyebrows, and Hermes dropped her gaze.

"What happened?"

"The mortal children decided that they owned my pups! They only had them for a couple days, but they felt they had the right to take them and play with them!"

"It bothers you to see how much they miss the puppies."

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"It does not," Hermes retorted, realizing how juvenile he sounded to his own ears. He wasn't a child anymore, but he was still very young. Young enough to feel the childish emotions, but old enough to realize that they weren't fitting for an Olympian god.

"The children love the puppies. The pups were well cared for down there. Here they have no one who cares for them the way the children did. They spend the day running amok. You know they can't all stay here. It's become too much, even Canis is exhausted and irritable.

Hermes knew this was true, and he also knew what he had to do. But he did not like it. One by one, he scooped up the puppies, and carried them down to the city streets. Each ran in the direction of one voice, and one child, or even an adult, would scoop it up and carry it home.

Finally, Hermes was left with only the eldest pups, which were fine-boned and fleet-footed. Artemis was overjoyed with the hunting-hounds, as clever Hermes knew she would be.

Soon Canis was growing very old. He died quietly, and his mate shortly after him, and even Ares had to admit that he missed the "flee-bitten mongrel." Apollo and Artemis helped Hermes paint the loyal dogs into the night sky, and the gods smiled at the sight each night.

The puppies grew, and had puppies of their own. Mortals carried them across oceans and faraway lands, and soon the dog was as inseparable from man as an arm or leg.

And so, Hermes unwittingly gave mankind a gift as great as fire: his most loyal friend.

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