VOICES

Adapting To The Reality Of Life Outside The Garden

by Vic Jameson

“Adam … ADAM”

The voice was familiar. He knew the voice well. In fact, it was the only voice he really knew if you didn't count the tigers' tantrums, the lions' roars, the hippos' harrumphs, or the gorillas' grunts. He had learned the joys of silence especially when the big guys, gators and giraffes, were in the neighborhood. Giraffes, of course, wouldn't hurt a flea but he was never certain whether the giraffes knew that. She had not learned, so she called to him again.

"Adam....Adam, where are you?"

But no answer.

"WHERE are you?"

"I'm here."

"No, no. I'm here. You are there."

His tone changed from fun in the forest to fearful and frightened and to panic paralysis on the plains.

"I'm not frightened as long as you are here," she said.

"But if I'm here, I can't be there, too," he said, thinking "I wish you'd stay in one place."

"I was in one place, but the place keeps moving," she said.

"I know. We've got to perfect procedures and get away from those cats, or we'll be breakfast."

He began walking in circles.

She said, "You'd better think up a plan here and now."

"We both could climb a tree," he said.

"But cats can climb trees, too" she said.

"We could run away," he said.

"But the animals are faster than we are," she said. "At least one of them would catch us and the lions would make us the last of our line. Or the tigers would notice that we are timid. Or the gators would grab us. Or the giraffes would grind us into goat meat. Or run off with our gizzards."

"Don't say things like that," he said. "There aren't any goats around here."

"What a way for it all to end." She said. "Caught by a cat. All because I got suckered by a serpent. Seized by a snake. Victimized by a viper. Ruined by a rattler.

(She is really in the swing of things now.) And just to think...."

"Cool it," he said. "Maybe if we sing..."

"I've heard you sing," she said. "Just pitch me to the piranhas' pen. Maybe we should pray."

Narrator's postscript: And now you are wondering why God chased them out of the garden?