Ceremony

Luke was fourteen. His father had brought him to this forest some time before, before Luke had any hair in his armpits. But now Luke’s father was gone. He had slipped on a rock, fallen head first. When Luke came across the body, he was not able to find his father there.

Since then he had wandered aimlessly, out of their usual tracks. He had attempted to lay traps in different places, he had fished higher up the river. Time was altered, and it was not just the change of season. Luke felt life was formed of swift currents and he longed to float along one of them. How though? Trees and birds appeared inarticulate. Only hunger gave him some sense of purpose. Now he was contemplating moving altogether.

He picked up a couple of tools and resolutely headed north. It was late summer, a sunny day. Specks of light cheerfully called in all directions. The earth under his feet was dry and grass was sparse. Luke walked on and on, unwaveringly.

Suddenly, as he was passing by an old and beautiful birch tree, he heard some rustling noise above his head. He swiftly concealed himself behind a bush and waited to see what it was.

The warm air, the gentle breeze made this an enjoyable and peaceful watch. Finally Luke saw feet appear against the trunk. A pair of handsome boots, made of a supple and strong leather held by adroitly laced strings. Already impressed, Luke then witnessed in awe how a finely built young man climbed down the tree, a leaf in his mouth.

The stranger was richly dressed, in a mixture of bright and stern colours. He was wearing a cape held at the neck by what looked like a diamond. Still hidden, Luke saw the stranger brush his clothes and delicately take the leaf out of his mouth to put it in a little wooden box. Then he slowly moved towards a group of trees Luke could see to his left. The stranger disappeared in the trees and Luke carefully followed. Having arrived at the edge of that cluster of trees, Luke peered cautiously across.

There was a small congregation of people there, at the center of which stood the stranger, an elderly man with a long white beard and a dazzlingly beautiful young girl. Luke at first could not take his eyes off her. Then he noticed that the elderly man was speaking, quite solemnly. He presently addressed the stranger, waving his forefinger at him, as if in warning. When he finally paused, the younger man took his little box from his chest, where it had been hanging, and handed it to the girl. Luke noticed that his beautiful and powerful hands were trembling.

The rosy-cheeked girl gingerly opened the box, took the leaf out, examined it carefully, then passed it on to the elderly man, who did the same before returning it to her with a nod. The girl seemed to shiver, but she smiled a radiant smile and pearls of emotion shone in her eyes as she brought the leaf to her lips and kissed it.

The stranger fell onto his knees and the elderly man placed the girl’s both hands onto his shoulders.

Luke, elated, envious and resentful, guessed they were now married.

Luke was fourteen. His father had brought him to this forest some time before, before Luke had any hair in his armpits. But now Luke’s father was gone. He had slipped on a rock, fallen head first. When Luke came across the body, he was not able to find his father there.

Since then he had wandered aimlessly, out of their usual tracks. He had attempted to lay traps in different places, he had fished higher up the river. Time was altered, and it was not just the change of season. Luke felt life was formed of swift currents and he longed to float along one of them. How though? Trees and birds appeared inarticulate. Only hunger gave him some sense of purpose. Now he was contemplating moving altogether.

He picked up a couple of tools and resolutely headed north. It was late summer, a sunny day. Specks of light cheerfully called in all directions. The earth under his feet was dry and grass was sparse. Luke walked on and on, unwaveringly.

Suddenly, as he was passing by an old and beautiful birch tree, he heard some rustling noise above his head. He swiftly concealed himself behind a bush and waited to see what it was.

The warm air, the gentle breeze made this an enjoyable and peaceful watch. Finally Luke saw feet appear against the trunk. A pair of handsome boots, made of a supple and strong leather held by adroitly laced strings. Already impressed, Luke then witnessed in awe how a finely built young man climbed down the tree, a leaf in his mouth.

The stranger was richly dressed, in a mixture of bright and stern colours. He was wearing a cape held at the neck by what looked like a diamond. Still hidden, Luke saw the stranger brush his clothes and delicately take the leaf out of his mouth to put it in a little wooden box. Then he slowly moved towards a group of trees Luke could see to his left. The stranger disappeared in the trees and Luke carefully followed. Having arrived at the edge of that cluster of trees, Luke peered cautiously across.

There was a small congregation of people there, at the center of which stood the stranger, an elderly man with a long white beard and a dazzlingly beautiful young girl. Luke at first could not take his eyes off her. Then he noticed that the elderly man was speaking, quite solemnly. He presently addressed the stranger, waving his forefinger at him, as if in warning. When he finally paused, the younger man took his little box from his chest, where it had been hanging, and handed it to the girl. Luke noticed that his beautiful and powerful hands were trembling.

The rosy-cheeked girl gingerly opened the box, took the leaf out, examined it carefully, then passed it on to the elderly man, who did the same before returning it to her with a nod. The girl seemed to shiver, but she smiled a radiant smile and pearls of emotion shone in her eyes as she brought the leaf to her lips and kissed it.

The stranger fell onto his knees and the elderly man placed the girl’s both hands onto his shoulders.

Luke, elated, envious and resentful, divined they were now married.