APPROACH TO WRITING

 Students will develop their writing skills a great deal this year.  We will explore the basic writing techniques and practice language and literary skills.  Assignments will range from descriptive to narrative styles and from expository to persuasive techniques.  A writing assignment, be it in or out of class, will be undertaken at least every 7 to 10 Days.  The goal here is to apply various writing techniques and to foster each student’s own personal and creative approach. 

            Writing assignments will often be performance-based, inspired by an authentic assessment model.  Evaluation of the assignments will typically be from a rubric tool of my design-- one that clarifies my expectations and grading criteria in advance.

    Here are a some samples of the writing pieces composed throughout the year in Mr. Behan's English 7 class.  The first pieces are descriptive passages.  After that, you can treat yourself to a set of original poems.   The last pieces are original myths written as the grand finale of our myth portfolio.

Midas’s Garden, A Description

By David Bower

          The path in the garden was enveloped in glistening gold.  Golden petals and leaves scintillate and sparkle.  In the gentle breeze of the soft northerly wind, the roses didn’t bend, but were stalwart and motionless, glittering in the blazing sun of the afternoon.  I walk further.   The grass, also gives the same hint of gold, each blade a single jewel for his collection. The fragrant smell of roses was conspicuously absent.  Everywhere you turned, there was the blindly resonance of solid gold.  The fountain trickled no longer.  The crystal clear fountain was stopped in its tracks—as if petrified ore.  The fountain’s natural glory was no more.

The golden path was baked by the fiery sun.  It burned my heals as I trudged further.   More roses everywhere, and other plants as well, turned into a glowing heaven.  I muse, “Could this be the glorious heavens where the magnificent gods live?”

Blood, touching the petal of a golden flower, trickled down the smooth skin of my arm.  I was cut by the sharp petal of an otherwise beautiful, harmful, vibrant flower.   Midas’s garden once touched gently by the beauty of the gods themselves had now been robbed of its scents, its radiance, its splendor-- that it had possessed all those years.

A statuette stood about three and a half feet tall, golden and sparkling with the rays of the afternoon sun.  No, it was no golden sculpture.  It was one of the king’s daughters, her beauty entrapped in a golden coating.  She dangled a rose at her side, half changed and half red.  The smell of a rose-- the only rose in the whole garden—was faint.   Midas had made his mistake.   All of the garden once deep green-- and flourishing and vibrant—was caked in gold.  What has become of this extravagant garden?        

Angels

By Andrew Craig

All of the angels gather ‘round,

To hear that special Christmas sound.

Their beautiful glistening wings so long,

You can hear them singing their majestic Christmas song.

Santa Claus rides by on his sleigh,

While all of the angels are out to play.

Clad in pink, gold, and white,

They are oh so beautiful, faces alight.

The Christmas angels then come down to earth,

Spreading love and joy,

Singing their charming Christmas song,

So splendid are they to girl and boy.

The City Lights

By Chris Larrabee

The city lights reflecting on the bay.

Reflecting in a haphazard way.

Reflecting off the fishing boats that lay,

On the water resting from a busy day.

It is the deepest time of night.

Silence only broken by a teal taking flight.

All around me, in my sight,

Is a quietness that will continue ‘till first light.

The lights give off a feel,

Of a place, blissful and surreal.

But if someone in the city saw this they would surly keel,

For all that troubles them is working for their next meal.

 By night the city lays quiet and still.

But in the day with hustle and bustle it fills.

Noise is plentiful, high pitched and shrill,

For in the day, working is the peoples’ will.

By day in the city you can see thinkers thinking.

Many a time you can see ideas sinking.

Or in the mind an extraordinary idea baking.

But most of all the simple days pay making.

For it is hard to in this commotion take stock.

A secret only few ever unlock.

So many work in a frustrated state of shock.

‘Till time reaches five of the clock.

The people of the busy city return home when,

Their work is finished, then,

They go home and sleep to night’s end.

Only to the next day repeat this all over again.

But when night comes, the quietness is there.

For now, no one does the city impair.

This will last until tomorrow,

Until a new day of city sorrow.

But for the night, a vigil I will hold.

Whether it warm or cold.

Every night I will watch ‘till I too old.

Watching those city lights shining so bold.

Those city lights, looking out I see.

Shining out, as if just for me.

If only the city people could be,

Looking at them, filled with glee.

I, even, am amazed.

Looking out, still and dazed.

Looking out at the city, lit like a fire blaze.

Giving the bay a thin shining glaze.

A Winter’s Day in the Village

By Rickie D’Amato

Children laugh and run and play,

Bundling up for a cold winter’s day.

Snowballs hurtle through the air,

As legions of carolers bring warm Christmas cheer.

Church bells ring with a resonant “donggg,”

Proclaiming good news throughout the town,

Wood-gatherers stop to lend an ear,

And think about their loved ones dear.

Snowflakes falling white and round,

Turning white the brownish ground.

Skaters on the frozen rink,

Laugh at a snowman with a smile and a wink.

Now we visit the town square,

Where the Christmas tree rises into the air.

Just a few more ornaments, and then

The ceremony will begin.

Dusk now comes, and after a day of glee,

The children are ready to witness the tree.

Villagers gather around in the snow.

The tree shines glorious for watchers below.

Speechless Villagers look up in awe,

At the beautiful tree, a sight without flaw.

Candles, lights, a star of gold,

Death’s Agony

By Holton Pratt

From the morning daybreak chill,

The town folk there are ghastly still,

For the mourning of those passed on.

Beneath each dying tainted leaf,

Not a sign of grief or pity.

Nor do the children play or act giddy,

Though the sun peeks meekly through the clouds,

Like worn and tattered yellow shrouds.

Still their faces show no vitality

Silently they lay, such is the harsh reality.

For they are of whom we speak,

The forever sleeping--the deceased.

The Bounty Hunter

a myth by Gregory Foster

Rai looked solemnly at the large Aegean Sea. He felt as empty as the crashing waves against the shore.

Rai had no past memories. His parents had left him when he was only a little child. He didn’t know why. He had just sat down among the towering trees and watched like an abandoned pet as his parents drew away in their horse and carriage. Now he couldn’t even remember his parents’ faces. They were just a blur of a memory.

Rai was now twenty-six years old. He had survived in a temple he had built with his bare hands. It was a small, triangular prism. It almost looked like a wooden tipi. It was in honor of Diana, the Goddess of hunting and bounty. After all, Rai had built himself a place in society as a bounty hunter. And he believed that it was Diana who had helped him in his hunting, and who had helped him stay alive all these years he had been separated from his family.

Rai was known across Greece for his incredible bounty hunting. He had brought down many a man along with his fair share of dragons and other dangerous beasts. Kings and queens from throughout the land had hired him to bring down deathly figures…and he always prevailed.

Queen Sapella was trying to navigate a southwest passage to Africa. It would have to pass through the southern tip of the island of Sicily. She was eating lunch in her banquet hall. Her servant walked in with a stoical look, much like a beefeater. “Your Highness, the ship you sent to clear a path to Africa was apparently almost sunk by the Cyclops Sarce. I’m afraid that Your Highness will have to reconsider your route to Africa,” he explained with the same emotionless face he was wearing before.

“Reconsider my course?” the queen said. “Never in one thousand years. And who are you to be telling me what to do!?”

“Your Highness, I was simply suggesting—“

“I don’t want your suggestion!” the queen yelled in an ear splitting voice. “Now, I need you to do something.”

“Anything, Your Highness.”

“Kill Sarce.”

At midmorning, Rai heard a rap at his door. He quickly got out of bed, clothes already on, with big bags under his eyes due to a lack of sleep.

He opened his door. A thin, tall man stood at his door.

“Have I come to the house of Rai?” he asked.

“Yes, I am he.”

“Good, good. Her Highness, Queen Sapella, has ordered me to kill Sarce, the--”

“I know who he is.”

“Yes, well I was going to ask you if you were up for…the challenge.”

“Of course I am…if you are to supply me with a proper ship and good rations. How much will I be paid?”

“Well, how does… 1,000 droplets sound?”

“My gods! You’ve got yourself a deal.”

It would take Rai many days to sail to Sicily, and he would undergo many hardships including pounding waves, shrieking wind, and hard rain.

              As Rai approached the southern tip of Sicily, he could start to feel the water itself tremble. He heard massive feet hit the ground. They thudded in a rhythm. One… two… one… two… Once Rai had curved right, around the tip of the island, he saw a big, deep cave. Bigger than any he had seen I his life. Before Rai had time to react, a hand shot out of the cave and swept the shores. It came within five inches of his head, almost sweeping him far off into the seas. The hand retreated into the cave and there then came a big, booming voice. “Who dares approach the cave of Sarce the Cyclops, son of Athena!”

              “It is only an unfortunate traveler, swept to your shores on a long journey,” Rai replied.”

              “Mmmm…Traveler… That sounds tasty,” Sarce said as he emerged from his cave and stood at full height.

              He was a monstrous thing. He was almost forty feet tall. He had huge, yellow teeth and shone them in a big, baby-like grin as wide as Rai was tall. You could see the remains of unfortunate travelers that were victims of the beast. He was completely naked, no clothing whatsoever. Quite a primitive Cyclops if not an uncivilized race to begin with. He had black, curly hair, which was spread all over the place. It extended down to his belly, and unfurled was probably taller than he was.

              With another sweep of the hand, he tried to once again catch Rai. But this time Rai was ready. As the Cyclops’s hand passed by, Rai stuck his sword into an open place between to of Sarce’s fingers and climbed atop his hand. He then climbed up to Sarce’s head and drew his sword. Just as he was about to raise it, Sarce took him into his hands and tossed him into the ocean. Luckily, Rai’s ship was only a few feet away from where he landed. If he wasn’t so fortunate, he may have been killed right there.

              Rai knew that he could not take down this monster with a sword and shield, in broad daylight and with Sarce fully conscious. He had to devise a plan.

              Rai spend almost an hour thinking – withdrawn from Sarce a good thirty or so feet – about how he would kill his opponent. He finally came up with a plan. He was to creep into Sarce’s cave at night, and plunge his sword into his Adam’s apple. He had learned from an old wise man that doing so would always paralyze a Cyclops. Rai only prayed that Sarce would not sleep with his face buried in the ground. Other than that, he had simply to wait.

              Dusk came on, and soon with it night. Rai knew that he had to make his move now. Otherwise, the Cyclops might wake up in the middle of the procedure.

              Rai snuck in the cave, tiptoeing softly so as not to be heard. He approached Sarce. He silently thanked the gods for having Sarce sleep face up. After that, he went to work. He had to build a ladder. He assembled it out of the wood in Sarce’s fireplace. Once he was done, he propped it up at a forty-five-degree angle on the northern side of Sarce’s cave. This way he had easy accessibility to the exit, and had a great chance of hitting Sarce where he wanted to.

              All was ready. Rai raised his sword and prayed to the gods. He then jumped down at Sarce and landed on his belly. This made Sarce gasp for air, completely exposing his Adam’s apple. Rai took the chance and swung his sword at it. It popped in a burst of blood. Sarce fell silent. Already, he and Rai were drenched head to foot in blood. Rai cut off his head after that, spilling more blood all over the cave.

              The head weighed a solid three hundred pounds and was a large hassle to roll back to the shoreline. Once in Rai’s boat he set back to his home. As he left the shores of Sicily, he remembered something. Sarce was Athena’s son. Surely Athena would be out to get whoever killed her son. It would be only a matter of time before she finds Sarce’s head, and when she does, she’ll kill wildly, and without restraint or contemplation. If only Rai could get the head to Queen Sapella before Athena found him…

              Rai was filled with terror. He rowed faster and faster. He now took barely any time to sleep at all. He just focused on one thing: getting rid of Sarce’s head.

              Though Rai’s journey to Sicily was a long one, his journey back wasn’t even half as long. Once he got back, he headed to the palace. The expressionless servant he had seen at his door was already outside attending to some other business. Rai walked over and confronted him. “Sir, I have brought the head of Sarce. I have killed him.”

              “Ah, we have awaited your return. Come with me.”

              The servant led him upstairs to the banquet hall where the queen sat half asleep. At first sight of Rai, the queen straightened up and took the head.

              “You have done well,” she said. “But I wanted the whole body.”

              “Your Highness, is this some kind of joke? You have surely gotten me. I was shocked out of my attire.”

              “This is no joke,” she replied in a cold voice.

              “But Your Highness, I have—”

Cometedius and Asteroidas

a myth by Evan Broomfield

              Once in a time before times there was a god of the sky and the judge of the gods by the name of Cometedius. He had a brother named Asteroidas who was the god of shadows and all that was unseen. He owned an entire world that was the opposite of ours called the shadow world. They were brothers but were so different that they often fought. They usually fought over little things like Cometedius wanting to know something but Asteroidas not telling him. But then one day Asteroidas took it too far.

              Cometedius was always looking for more wisdom. For the more he knew the better a judge among the gods he would be, so he often went to his brother to ask or beg for unknown information. But, Asteroidas had made a vow to Zeus that he would never reveal anything that he knew. Cometedius had a quick temper and often resorted to violence, but Asteroidas would slip away to his own shadow world. Although Asteroidas knew much, he was lonely and had vowed to keep watch over his realm but never had a companion. But Cometedius had a wife, and was the grandfather of Eos, the dawn, Helios, the sun, and Selene, the moon. His wife’s name was Niate. Asteroidas had always loved her but knew he could not have her because she was married to his brother.

              Every morning Niate would walk past a tree that had a large shadow (This was the entrance to Asteroidas’ world) and he would watch her. Every single day he would sit there, watch her pass and every single day he would sink ever lower into madness. Till the one day he grabbed her and took her into the shadow. But, Cometedius, being the god of the sky, had had one of his birds see the fiasco. He was outraged and stormed off to Zeus to demand for his wife back. When he told Zeus, Zeus told him that he could do nothing, for even Zeus did not know how to get to the world of shadow. Cometedius knew there was only one person he could go to, his father, Hades. Hades would not tell him where to go, for it he knew of his son went to the shadow world, he would never come back. He begged and pleaded but it had no effect on Hades. He finally resorted to force; although the gods were immortal they could still feel pain and Cometedius swore Hades would regret not letting him go. So Hades, although reluctant, told his son where he could go to enter the world. But, Asteroidas was the only one who could enter. So, Hades told him a potion that would allow him to pass into the shadow. But first, he would have to acquire the ingredients. And so began Cometedius’ journey to darkness itself.

              Hades had told Cometedius that the ingredients were: Blood from a Gorgon’s head, the heart of a dragon, wool from the Golden Fleece, water from the river Styx, and his own blood. Asteroidas knew that he could ask Athena for some blood from Medusa’s head, but she would not give it up easily. She was sympathetic to his cause, but reluctant to give up some of the Medusa’s blood after long thought and debating she decided it would be best not to unleash Medusa’s blood for it was venomous and dangerous. Cometedius would find Medusa’s sisters and get their blood. He came to the cave they lived in and easily cut off their heads with his sword and was immune to their deadly stare. He had gotten the first ingredient.

              The next ingredient was a bit more difficult to find. Mortal heroes killed most dragons and the only ones left were those guarding treasures. Cometedius searched and searched and even sent out birds to look for a dragon, but to no avail. Till one day while sitting in Olympus brooding over his plight an eagle came to him. It told him the location of a dragon that was near present day Rome. It was one of the fiercest dragons, a creature related to the hydra and the chimera. It had thirteen heads and rather then breathing fire it breathed lightning and its very stare turned anything to ash. It never slept and had a tail that resembled its heads. He came upon the beast and it shot lightning at him. He blocked it with his shield and was electrocuted. He cut off its heads but every time one came off ten came in its place. He threw his sword at the beast’s heart and killed it. The second ingredient had been obtained.

              This was before Aeetes had owned the fleece but same serpent guarded it. Cometedius easily silenced the serpent, but not wanting to kill it he put it to sleep. He grabbed a piece of the fleece and was off. He easily got the water from the river Styx because his father owned it. He now needed only one more ingredient, his blood. But this was impossible because the gods were immortal and had no blood. The only way to get blood was to become mortal. The titan Prometheus knew the key to becoming mortal for a limited time even if one was a god. The person must eat the heart of a dragon, drink the blood of a gorgon, burn a piece of the Golden Fleece, and also drink water from the river Styx! He was bitterly angry but did all he needed to do. He was surrounded in yellow radiance and felt himself weaken. He was mortal. He collected the blood from his body and changed back to himself.

              He went and killed Medusa’s other sister; slew the serpent guarding the fleece (Who had a child), collected the fleece, and got water from the river Styx. He mixed it all in a vial, and drank it.   He went to the shadow under the tree and entered his brother’s realm. He went to his Asteroidas’ palace of darkness and demanded his wife back. Asteroidas took Niate and fled to the light world. Cometedius pursued his brother all the way across the Earth, till at last they both tired. Asteroidas made a proposition that they would both fight and whoever won would have Niate. Cometedius agreed and they would battle in outer space. Cometedius prepared his sword, Punishment, his shield, Justice, and his armor, Defense. They both met near the sun and readied for battle. Asteroidas swung his sword at Cometedius who dodged the blow and returned a slash. Asteroidas quickly darted away and threw his blade at Cometedius, who blocked with his shield. They both stood away from each other and charged at each other with a dash of death. They both struck each other and became unconscious. Asteroidas drifted around space for millions of years till he became a giant rock and separated into many pieces called asteroids. The same happened to Cometedius except he drifted very close to the sun and caught on fire. These pieces came to be known as comets. And Niate, without a husband, wept for so long that she eventually became clouds and when she wept it rained.

Calopsius and the Lord of the Black Tower

a myth by Ricky D'Amato

There was a deep, deep silence, greater than anything mortals had ever known. There was a darkness, darker than the blackest of nights. A strange sleepiness was set over Greece, and even the men who would normally be out partying at this hour had been compelled to sleep.

              Suddenly, the silence was broken by a noise as loud and thunderous as the original silence had been quiet. The sky lit up with flashes of pure white lightning. The mountains were set aflame, and the earth shook with angry wrath. All of Greece seemed about to sink beneath the cold waves. Tornadoes ripped across the land, but there was no rain, for in those days, rain did not yet exist. Strange skeletal figures appeared swimming on the horizon. They came from the black tower of Meteorus, the god of weather. For this great storm was the rebellion of Meteorus against his father Zeus. The skeletons swarmed Mount Olympus in full armor. All the life there once was on Olympus turned to blackened death in their wake. The palace of the gods was struck by a whirlwind and blown away, stone by stone. Thus, the warriors took Olympus. The gods fled to their temples to hide. Zeus alone stayed to defend his home. As the gods abandoned him one by one, he cried in despair and anguish. The skeletons attacked him, laughing in mirth and evil glee . . .

              The warriors overwhelmed Zeus’s body, throwing him into a deep, dark sleep. They then brought him to their master, Meteorus, in the black tower on the island of Morosos. To ensure that his father would never wake up, Meteorus sealed him in a temple deep in the Mountains of Morthia, where no immortal can tread. Without their leader, the gods were lost. Only Pallas Athene, wisest of the goddesses, knew that they still had one hope. Too weak to leave her temple, she gave her aunt Hestia her sword and shield and sent her to find the one mortal who was brave enough to risk anything for the gods . . . the one mortal who was Zeus’s last chance to stop Meteorus forever.

              Greece awoke the next morning to find everything in ruin. Mt. Olympus was polluted with Meteorus’s warriors, while Meteorus now ruled as the chief god from the black tower on Morosos. Everything was as dark as an endless night, and a great storm like thousands of storms in one covered the earth.

              This is the situation to which Calopsius, a servant in the house of Peroseus, king of Athens, awoke. Hard wind blew in his ears, startling him so much it nearly knocked him off his bed. He may have broken a bone or two if strong hands had not caught him and quickly put him upright - the hands of Calopsius’s fellow servant Poliphimus.

              “Poliphimus, what’s going on? Why is it storming everywhere?”

              “ No one knows, Poliphimus replied. “King Peroseus, his sons, and the other servants have left to go to the temple of Zeus to pray to the gods that we may be safe. We are to follow them. Come!” With that, the two servants stepped into the chilled air.

              All of Athens seemed to be pouring out of their homes and frantically flocking to the temple. Poliphimus and Calopsius winded through the large crowd until they eventually lost each other. Calopsius continued on his own. He soon realized he had no idea where he was. He desperately called out Poliphimus’s name. He was shoved to the side by accident, and he was grabbed by a hooded figure who led him through the crowd, down an abandoned alley and to the back gate of the temple courtyard. Calopsius was about to praise Poliphimus’s cleverness in finding the temple’s back entrance when he suddenly realized that this person was far too tall and thin to be Poliphimus.

              “Who are you, stranger? Leave me or die!” cried Calopsius, drawing his rusted dagger. As he stood defensively, the stranger pulled back his hood. “He” was a woman, with long, curled, auburn hair. Her body glowed like the sun.

              “Hestia, goddess of the home!” Calopsius whispered in awe (he recognized her immediately from his knowledge of mythology). He dropped his dagger and bowed low. “I apologize, exalted lady,” he said. “It never crossed my mind that a lowly servant such as I would ever cross paths with a goddess.”

              “ Ha! A lowly servant, Calopsius? Oh, you ignorant mortal! If only you had been raised in your rightful home . . .”   Calopsius was incredibly confused, but Hestia waved her hand and said “Never mind. Pallas Athene has sent me to you with a mission. Listen carefully; Greece’s fate rides on your success.” She told him all about the situation with Meteorus and gave him his task: to travel into the mountains of Morthia and awaken Zeus so that Zeus could challenge Meteorus.

              “The Mountains of Morthia!? But even the gods fear that place! How can I, a mortal, succeed on this quest? Call on someone else, my lady. I am doomed to failure!”

              “Calopsius, you are the bravest and greatest mortal of them all, and more than a mortal besides. If you cannot succeed, no one can. Now before you leave, I have a gift for you from Pallas Athene.” And Hestia gave him the sword and shield of Athene herself. The weapons were made of pure gold, and they seemed to chime like bells in Calopsius’s hands.

              “ Now go swiftly, child! The gods are counting on you!” Hestia said   as she began to fade. Calopsius tried to stop her from leaving. He said “Hestia, wait! I do not know where to start! How do I enter the Mountains of Morthia? What if I get lost? What if I . . . ” But Hestia was already gone. Realizing that he would have to complete his quest on his own, Calopsius plunged into the forest that bordered Athens and began his journey toward the Dark Mountains of Morthia.

              As Calopsius disappeared into the foliage, he did not even see the hostile pair of eyes watching him. The eyes belonged to Polomtheus, oldest son of Perotheus, who had followed Calopsius and Hestia. Polomtheus’s heart was filled with hatred. Why should Calopsius, a lowly servant, be called by the gods for this quest when Polomtheus, a prince of Athens, was older and more worthy? Polomtheus turned and ran back to join his brothers and tell them what he had seen. He had no idea that from the black tower of Morosos, a god was watching him with a dark smile.

              For many days, Calopsius traveled through the dark, abandoned forest alone. The forest was cold and wet. Conditions were miserable. Calopsius only had the gift of the light his own body created at night to light his way.   An ordinary mortal would have been killed by the creatures that populated the forest. Calopsius encountered Roarus, the fierce winged beast with the body of a griffin and the head of a lion; the three headed swamp monster with razor sharp teeth known as Scilles; the famed bear - like Monstrarus, whose roar turned mortals to stone. However, Calopsius was no ordinary mortal. He defeated all these beasts. As Roarus dived at him, he raised the shield of Athene. The beast saw its own reflection and got confused, allowing Calopsius to cut off its head. When Scilles tried to drag him into the swamp with its tail, Calopsius (who had dropped his sword as Scilles attacked) successfully pulled his arms free and shot the creature with a bow he had fashioned himself and a golden arrow given to him by Peroseus. As he entered the cave of Monstrarus to hide from the rain and saw the creature coming toward him, he quickly plugged his ears with a piece of his cloak he had torn off so he could not hear its roar. As Monstrarus roared, Calopsius lunged at it and drove the sword of Athene into its throat, killing it instantly.

              Eventually, Calopsius reached the hill of Drumentime at the edge of the forest. The cliff was steep, rugged, and dangerous. Calopsius knew he had to scale this rocky cliff to leave the forest. His flying ability helped, but some ledges were so high that he had to climb to them. One day, as he was climbing, he looked down and saw a boy about his age dressed in Greek armor on the ledge below. The boy was out of breath. He appeared to be fleeing from something. Suddenly, Calopsius saw his attackers; two skeletons bearing serpents (the symbol of Meteorus) on their armor appeared behind the boy. They had the boy cornered against the cliff wall . . .

              Quick as lightning, Calopsius leapt down a hundred feet to the ledge where the boy and warriors were. Calopsius landed on the back of the skeleton closest to the boy (fortunately for him), drew the sword of Athene, and cut off the warrior’s head. The headless skeleton blindly stumbled over the edge as its detached head screamed with the voices of a thousand deaths. Calopsius separated himself from the fallen warrior and whirled to face the remaining skeleton. Their swords connected in a brilliant display of sparks. Calopsius might have lost if he had not wielded the sword of a goddess. As it met the warrior’s sword, it began to glow a fiery red. Athene, from her hiding place far away, poured all her remaining magic into the sword. The sword became heavy. Calopsius could still lift it, but its weight shattered the sword of his opponent. The skeleton stumbled backwards. Calopsius swung his sword. He barely missed, but a great, white - hot fire shot out of the sword and reduced the skeleton to ashes in only a matter of seconds.

              The battle was over. Calopsius sheathed his sword and ran over to the boy he had rescued to see if he was okay. As he did so, the boy’s helmet, which had been detached from the boy by a stroke of the skeleton’s sword, fell off the boy’s head. Long, dark hair that had been pulled up came undone and fell down to the “boy’s” waist. Calopsius now saw that he had been fooled again. The boy was a girl - probably the most beautiful one Calopsius had ever seen. She was as slim as a tree branch and well - made, and she had deep blue eyes. Her body gave off an invisible radiance that surrounded her with joy and happiness. Calopsius immediately knew that he was in the presence of a goddess, though he had never heard of one as young as the girl before him.

              “Who are you?” Calopsius said, transfixed by her beauty. The girl laughed and said playfully, “So you really are as brave, skilled, kind, and handsome as they say you are, Calopsius. I had to see for myself. Though getting chased by those skeletons was unexpected . . . ” She bowed and continued. “I am Irisia, daughter of Aphrodite and Ares. Since Meteorus took over Mt. Olympus, I have been hiding with my mother at her temple. She is the one who told me about your quest. When she told me that you had no idea how to get into the Mountains of Morthia, I decided I had to come and help you. I had to sneak out of the temple so my mother would not catch me. I disguised myself as a soldier-in-training to make sure Meteorus could not catch me, but somehow he found out about my trick. He sent those two warriors to capture me so I would not be able to tell you how to learn the way into the Mountains of Morthia. You are supposed to be smart, Calopsius, but everyone who knows you knows you would try to figure out how to get into the Mountains yourself and die trying. Now listen carefully to what I am about to say. When you reach the bottom of this hill, follow the road, and the first time you have the option of straying off the path, do so. You will come to a town called Delphy. Go to the temple of Apollo there; you shall find all the answers you seek.”

              Calopsius thanked Irisia for her help, but Irisia had already formed another idea in her mind. Even as she gave Calopsius his instructions, she had fallen more deeply in love with him with every word that left her mouth. She realized that she no longer cared that Meteorus ruled the world; she only cared about Calopsius coming back with her to her temple. However, she knew that an immortal like her could never be with a mortal like him, so before she left, she offered Calopsius a drink from a sparkling goblet of water. “You must be dying of thirst! You have traveled such a long way!” she said. Calopsius was thirsty, and he had no water in his provisions, so he took a drink. Irisia’s eyes brightened with glee, but before he drank, Calopsius, who sees things as they truly are, saw that the cup contained the water of immortality. Because he needed to remain a mortal to enter the Mountains of Morthia, Calopsius made sure he left a single drop of water in the cup, making his body nearly impossible to destroy but still able to decay and die of old age (though his life would be much longer than an ordinary mortal’s). When Irisia realized his trick, she began to sob. “Why, Calopsius? Do you care nothing for me?”

              “I’m sorry, Irisia.” Calopsius said apologetically. “I must remain a mortal if I am to save Zeus.”

              “Hmph!” Irisia said in a shaking voice, turning her back on Calopsius. “That’s the last time I help you out, worthless mortal!” With those words, she disappeared so quickly Calopsius did not even see her go.

              Despite his sadness, Calopsius followed Irisia’s instructions. He soon came to Delphy, a small and humble city compared to Athens, and found the temple of Apollo. As he went inside, he did not see seven hooded figures - the sons of Peroseus - follow him inside. They had been told by Meteorus that Calopsius would go to Apollo’s temple. They had snuck away from Athens to come here, and they planned to ambush and kill Calopsius for no reason but jealousy.

              As Calopsius approached the statue of Apollo, he felt the temple melt away like an overheated cake, and he found himself in an open field where the sun shone brightly, and where Meteorus’s storm had no effect. Standing with his back to Calopsius was a tall man whom Calopsius recognized as Apollo, god of music, poetry, and the sun.

              “It has been so long since I have looked upon you, my son,” said Apollo as he turned toward Calopsius. “So long since your mortal mother died, and I left you on the ocean’s bank, hoping you would be washed away and I could forget her . . . but now, my mistake has come back to haunt me. Here you are, fifteen years later, all grown up, and I am forced to regret ever having tried to get rid of you. Forgive me, Calopsius. I will do anything to make my mistake up to you.”

              Strangely enough, Calopsius was not surprised to learn that he was the son of Apollo; he had always been different from other mortals. But he was upset when Apollo told him that he had abandoned him as a baby. Calopsius was filled with rage. He would have attacked Apollo and put an end to his quest forever if the god had not said “I know you can never love me as a father after what I have put you through, but please, let me make it up to you. Follow my advice, and you will reach Zeus’s resting place safely. When you reach the temple entrance, the prophet Tierisias will offer you a choice of three paths. One leads to the temple, and the other two lead to death. If you choose wisely, you will then have to face Hukia, the dragon that guards the sleeping Zeus. She devours immortals, but is powerless against mortals. Once you kill her, Zeus will awaken if you shine the light of the sun through all eight windows of the temple - two to the north, two to the south, two to the east, and two to the west - at the same time. Good luck, my son. You are the greatest of all mortals. Follow your instincts; they will show you the way.”

              “Wait! Father!” cried Calopsius as Apollo and the field faded away. His anger had disappeared, and he suddenly wanted to get to know his father better after all these years. Instead, he reappeared back in the temple of Apollo and felt a pain as sharp as a white - hot knife as an arrow guided itself into his back.

              Furiously, an enraged Calopsius spun around and saw the sons of Peroseus lined up in a row blocking the temple’s exit. The four archers - two on each end of the row - were firing arrows at Calopsius relentlessly, while the three in the middle, including Polomtheus, had their swords drawn and were ready to fight. Calopsius was so angry that he forgot that these were the sons of his master. He drew his sword and charged his attackers. Many arrows were shot into him, but the water of immortality protected him from harm. He reached the princes of Athens and swung his sword, easily taking off the heads of the two archers on the left. He then stabbed the archer on the far right and sliced the last remaining archer in two. The princes with swords (except for Polomtheus) attacked Calopsius. Calopsius skillfully took on the two men at once, exchanging blow after blow with both of them. Soon, they both lay dead, and Calopsius advanced on Polomtheus. They fought like animals for several minutes before Polomtheus finally drove his sword into Calopsius’s heart. Calopsius simply laughed and said “The goddess Irisia has saved me with her cup of immortality!” He then slew the shocked Polomtheus, and the last of the sons of Peroseus fell dead to the bloody temple floor. Calopsius was proud of himself, but his smile of triumph turned to a frown of horror as he realized that he had just killed seven men, and these men were the princes of Athens. He could not bear to think of Peroseus’s anger when he learned of the crime; he knew he could never return to Athens. He fled from Delphy in horror of what he had done, and, after endless traveling, came at last to the Mountains of Morthia.

              Calopsius climbed the mountain far into the dark clouds. High above the clouds, he came to a ledge. The ledge had three plain, identical doors carved into the cliff wall. On the ledge, the aged prophet Tierisias sat and gave Calopsius the choice of which door to go through. Calopsius saw the left door as a great winged demon, the door on the right as a wall of flame, and the middle door as a fearsome dragon guarding a door made of gold. Calopsius chose the middle door, and as it locked itself behind him, Hukia, a hulking green dragon, roared and attacked him. Smelling Calopsius’s mortal blood, Hukia shrank back, and Calopsius shot an arrow into the muscle between Hukia’s wings, killing her. He went through the gold door and found himself in a plain, gray room with the eight windows placed exactly as Apollo described. Remembering the god’s advice, Calopsius figured out how to use his power to change the position of the sun to cause the sun to shine so it shone through all eight windows at once. The sleeping Zeus felt the warmth of the sun, and his eyes shot open so he could look upon Calopsius.

              “YES! I feel better than I have in years!” Zeus roared with happiness. “Thank you, son of Apollo. You have awakened me so I can lead the gods in a battle against the army of Meteorus. But I am not the one destined to defeat Meteorus himself. You are.”

              “Me? I cannot face a god!” cried Calopsius in despair.

              “Do not be afraid,” said Zeus. “I knew you were destined to defeat Meteorus as soon as I saw the Pendant of Justice around your neck, for the Fates have told me that no one but the one with the Pendant of Justice can defeat Meteorus. The Pendant is also your means of transportation to Morosos; it was made by Meteorus, but it was stolen from him by Hermes during a visit to Mount Olympus, and Hermes gave it to you when you were a baby. Remember, the gods will be with you in this fight. We shall hold off Meteorus’s warriors while you battle Meteorus. Good luck, Calopsius. We are all counting on you.”

              The temple vanished, and Calopsius found himself at the foot of a black tower that stretched high into the Heavens. A great storm was raging, even greater than the one that covered the world. Far away, on Mount Olympus, he could see the gods and goddesses, led by Zeus, returning to their home to attack Meteorus’s warriors. The shocked skeletons struggled to defend themselves, but they were no match for Zeus’s army. Small lightning bolts, gleaming swords and shields, and blasts of fire covered Olympus. Using all their powers, the Olympians quickly finished off Meteorus’s army.

              Meanwhile, on Morosos, Calopsius turned back to the black tower. “Come out, Meteorus! Your worst nightmare challenges you!”

              “Ha!” came a voice from inside the tower. “A mortal? No mortal can defeat me! I am Meteorus, strongest of the gods! I shall crush you like a bug!” Out of the tower strode the dark, gigantic figure of Meteorus, darker than the darkest storm. The god hurled a tornado at Calopsius (which Calopsius barely dodged) and the battle for earth began.

              The battle lasted for days. Meteorus threw everything he had at Calopsius: tornadoes, wind, lightning, earthquakes, and everything else he had in his arsenal. Calopsius stood firm through it all. With the sword of Athene, Calopsius was able to hurl fire at Meteorus, but the fire had little effect. It seemed that the battle would last forever, with no victor. Once, when the sun barely broke through the storm, Calopsius was able to quickly shine it in Meteorus’s eyes, temporarily blinding him. As Meteorus groaned in pain, Calopsius ran up to him and ran the god through with his sword.

              Meteorus yelped in anger and pain, and when his blood fell on the earth, it became the first rainfall. In retaliation, Meteorus hit Calopsius with a whirlwind, injuring and temporarily incapacitating him.

              “Ha! I have won, foolish mortal!” Meteorus proclaimed to a dazed Calopsius. “Now I shall send you to the Underworld forever, you sniveling earth - born worm!” He struck the ground with a bolt of lighting, opening a gaping hole that led down to a dark prison hidden deep in the Underworld. As Meteorus moved to knock Calopsius into it, Calopsius raised his sword in a last desperate attempt at victory. Lunging at Calopsius, Meteorus accidently ran upon it, and the force of the blow caused him to fall backwards and stumble into the hole he himself had made. Screaming, he cursed Calopsius as he disappeared and the hole sealed up behind him.

              With Meteorus’s rebellion officially crushed, light returned to the world, and the world wide storm stopped. The olympian gods regained control of the earth. The world was back to normal, but a sad end awaited Calopsius. As he saw happiness and peace return, he said “at last, my adventure is over,” and died in peace, with a sobbing Irisia (who still loved him) by his side. The gods destroyed the black tower, and Irisia planted flowers and beautiful plants all over Morosos to mark the place where Calopsius died. However, because he was a hero, Calopsius’s spirit was allowed to return to its body and live on Mount Olympus forever with Irisia. He became the god of heroes.

              Meteorus’s powers were returned to the other Olympian gods and goddesses, and Meteorus was taken from the Underworld and sealed by Zeus in a prison high above earth where he could no longer do any harm. He remains there to this day. Every time he sees another god or goddess create a storm on earth, he becomes upset. The wound inflicted by Calopsius reopens, and it rains on the earth. This is why it rains, and why rain often accompanies other bad weather. So whenever you see a drop of rain fall, remember Meteorus, and be sure to thank him. You never know if he will someday get his powers back and once again try to take over the earth.

A Hero of Heroes

a myth by Mike Donnelly

          In the year 1,500 BC a great hero was born in Athens, Greece.   He was a prince of Athens, the future king of Athens, and his name was Bobeus.   Before he was born, there was a prophecy made that the next king of Athens would lead the city to greatness.   At the time the prophecy seemed unbelievable because Athens was one of the smaller, weaker cities in Greece.

         When Bobeus was born his parents abandoned him saying, “No king of Athens can have legs as disgusting as these.”   He was left near a creek, where the gods occasionally went to relax.   After a few days of being left alone, Hephaestos, god of craftsmanship, found him crying and hungry.   Hephaestos felt pity for him because he also had a crippled leg.   Hephaestos brought him to Mt. Olympus to care for him.   While he was caring for him the other gods and goddesses also felt pity to him and helped him by giving him gifts of godlike power.   Hestia made him kind and gentle like herself; Demeter made him never be able to go hungry and never be affected by any harmful food; Artemis gave him the ability to shoot a bow and arrow with amazing accuracy and gave him her enchanted bow; Athena noticed he was from her favorite city, Athens, and gave him wisdom and cleverness.   Ares gave him the ability to become a great warrior; Apollo gave him the ability to play all the instruments beautifully; Poseidon made him a great sailor; and Zeus gave him amazing strength.   But, the most generous gift of all was from Hephaestos, which was a wheelchair.

           All of the gods that contributed some sort of power noticed that he had become a near perfect mortal.   They were afraid that if he would ever use his power for evil, he might be able to hurt large numbers of people.   They decided to raise him for a little while and teach him what was wrong and right. Fourteen years had passed at Mt. Olympus and Bobeus grew up to be a courteous young adult.   He knew right from wrong and he was very athletic and witty.   But, there was always something sad in his heart; he could not walk.   One day he wheeled up to Zeus and said, “Great Zeus, will I ever be able to walk?”  

           Zeus felt sympathetic for the boy and made a deal with him, “If you can make yourself a truly righteous hero, your legs will be restored.”

          “How does one become a hero?” asked the curious Bobeus.

           “You must do something for others that risks your life and in doing this you should be able to save a helpless being.” replied Zeus.   After hearing these words Bobeus set off to become the greatest hero that ever lived.  

            Bobeus went off in search of monsters.   He was extremely strong and broad-shouldered, so he used his wits and decided to enter a strength competition to win some money.   He found such a competition near Mycenae.   All of the competitors saw he was in a wheelchair and they mocked him.   He knew he was stronger than they were so he made a wager with them.   “If I win each of you has to pay me ten silver coins and if I lose I’ll pay each of you ten silver coins.”   He had no money, but acted like he was wealthy.   They agreed and later he quickly won.   He received a total 600 silver coins, including the prize money.   He then left the city and the legend of Bobeus began.  He decided to sail the world in search of hideous monsters for him to destroy.   As he was wheeling himself towards Tyrins, a few miles south of Mycenae, to purchase a boat, a band of robbers jumped out from behind the rocks to attack him.   He whipped out his bow and arrows and shot them down in a few seconds.   One was left and saw his four companions die in a matter of seconds, so he held up his arms and pleaded with Bobeus and saying that he was sorry.  

              Bobeus was very kind and allowed the man to go off in peace.   The robber asked, “What is your name?” and he replied, “Bobeus” and the legend of Bobeus grew.    

              Bobeus reached Tyrins and purchased a small boat with oars and a sail.   The man selling the boat asked Bobeus if he needed a crew to sail the boat for him.   Bobeus remembered that Poseidon made him an excellent sailor and replied, “Just take these extra oars out and I’ll be on my way.”   The man did this and Bobeus sailed away faster and more smoothly than a crew of fifty men, so the legend of Bobeus grew.  

              Bobeus had sailed for a day and reached a peculiar land.   He saw joyful people running around, so he decided this was a nice spot to stop and rest.   As soon as he carefully made his way out of the boat (which was very hard because he was in a wheelchair) the people that called themselves lotus-eaters offered him fruit.   He ate the fruit, felt refreshed, and went back on his way.   The lotus-eaters were amazed at his reaction to the fruit and the legend of Bobeus grew.  

              Bobeus reached an island that had lots of huge sheep.   He got out of his boat and noticed a Cyclops sheering some sheep!   Bobeus thought that he could slay the Cyclops and thus he would become a hero.   He got out his bow and arrows and wheeled right up behind the Cyclops to get a shot at his head.   The Cyclops heard his squeaky wheels and turned around and Bobeus smiled back.   The Cyclops was moved by Bobeus’ toothy smile and said, “Hello, I’m Polyphemus.”   Then Bobeus put away his bow and arrows and replied, “Hello, I’m Bobeus.”

              Polyphemus wanted to make conversation and said, “Most mortals try to kill me, but you seem very kind.”  

              “I never would have tried to kill you,” Bobeus chuckled.   “I think I’ll just sail back to Greece, then.”  

              “Take some cheese for the long voyage back,” Polyphemus said.

              So Bobeus loaded up his boat with cheese and sailed off.   As Bobeus was sailing away, Polyphemus thought to himself, “I’ve never met a mortal as nice as he” and the legend of Bobeus grew.

              Bobeus wheeled back to his boat and sailed back towards Greece.   Along the way, he met up with another boat that seemed to have a problem.   He yelled out to them, “What seems to be the problem?”

              They yelled back, “The only way back to Greece is through this cave.   And within it is Scylla and Charybdis.”   So he decided to sail along with them and try to help them.   As the two boats entered the cave, they heard a roar from above them.   Bobeus looked up and saw a serpent with six heads.   It began to eat some of the sailors, and he had an idea.   He threw out six pieces of cheese and told the other boat to sail fast.   As the heads came down to eat the cheese, he shot each of them through the neck to try to kill it.   This didn’t kill the monster, Scylla, but it did allow Bobeus and the other boat to escape.   The other boat suddenly stopped and Bobeus asked the other boat why they had stopped.   They answered him by saying, “Charybdis is just farther down the cave.”  

              Bobeus sailed toward Charybdis and it seemed to be a huge hole in the water encircled with teeth.   Bobeus noticed that the hole opened and closed for fifty seconds out of every minute.   Then he told the other boat that they had ten seconds to row across once it closed.   So once it closed he said, “Now!”   They rowed as fast as they could and they just made it.

When it was Bobeus’ turn to sail across he sailed faster than the other boat, even though he was just one man.   The other boatmen asked for his name.   He replied, “Bobeus.”   Thus, the legend grew.

              Bobeus sailed toward the rising sun until, after five years of sailing he reached the port of Pylos.   When he reached the port, a man noticed him and recalled the legend of a young man who was in a wheelchair and sailing solo in a boat.   The man walked up to Bobeus and asked him, “Are you the one that everybody within Greece talks about?”

              Bobeus replied, “I might be.   My name is Bobeus.”  

Then the man was overjoyed and said, “There is a horrible monster near Athens.   He is named Democrates and is ransacking the city.   They say that Democrates is half titan and half mortal.   He is said to be nearly thirteen feet tall and over five hundred pounds.   He lives in a cave with his father and eleven half brothers.   He only has a few strands of hair on his head and he is said to be as dumb as a rock even though it is reported that the finest philosophers taught him.   He is also said to be very spoiled, and that may be why he ransacks cities since he seems to do that for sport.”

Bobeus was happy that he now had a monster to slay so that he could become a hero and legs would no longer be crippled.   He then sold the cheese for money and set off towards Athens, not knowing that this was his first home.   He sailed onward to Athens, through ferocious storms and driving rain.   But, being a great sailor and with Poseidon watching over him he came to no harm.   Other boats saw him and the legend continued.  After a few months more of sailing, he reached Athens.   He saw the beautiful Parthenon gleaming from the Acropolis.   He thought of Athena and the goddess knew that he was approaching and smiled upon him.   He sailed into the port of Athens and everyone ran towards him screaming to him to leave or else he would surely be injured.

              He said, “I am here to rid you of Democrates.   Please allow me to pass.”   They noticed that he was the man from the legends and allowed him to pass.   He wheeled through the crowd and the crowd murmured with astonishment that Bobeus was in a wheelchair and had done all the extraordinary things that were reported in the legends.

He asked one of the men where he could find Democrates.   The man replied fearfully that Democrates was in the agora at the center of the city.   Bobeus followed the noise of destruction and chaos that grew louder and louder as he got closer to the agora.   Bobeus spied Democrates down the street and hid behind a pillar to try and get a good shot with his bow and arrows.   Bobeus was amazed at the immense size and stench of Democrates.   Democrates was as tall as the highest olive tree.   He had an immense head with only a few strands of brown greasy hair.   He looked like a big rumbly, tumbly sack of fat and muscle.   Although he had generally a human form and human skin, he resembled a dirty mountain since he never bathed.  

           Democrates was ransacking the agora.   He clenched a frightened shopkeeper within each of his massive hands.   Bobeus quickly aimed for Democrates’ head and fired, not knowing that Democrates was almost immortal.   He could not be harmed on any part of his body with the exception of his left ear lobe.  

            Democrates felt a prick on the back of his head and turned around.   He saw a young man in a wheelchair with a bow and arrow.   He dropped the shopkeepers and lumbered towards Bobeus.   The earth shook with each step.   The gods and goddesses were all watching from Mt. Olympus, but they could not help Bobeus because he had to meet this challenge by himself. Democrates picked Bobeus up from his wheelchair and threw him against the side of a building.   Bobeus groaned with each ache in his back.   It did not seem like he could move at all.   He reached for another arrow and aimed for Democrates’ heart and quickly fired.   But, the arrow just glanced off him.

           Democrates was amused by the futile attempts.   He laughed in a demented way and sarcastically said, “Ouch.”   Democrates again picked up Bobeus and threw him against another wall.   This time, Artemis’ enchanted bow broke in half.   Bobeus was dismayed but knew that he had to continue.   He had no choice, it was either fulfill the quest or perish.   And, the stench in his nostrils was overpowering.   He did not want to die in such conditions. Meanwhile, up at Mt. Olympus, the gods and goddesses were following the battle intensely.   Each was shouting encouragement to Bobeus, but it could not be heard since the challenge was his alone and they could not even help in this way.   Bobeus was truly alone.

Bobeus saw a sword neat the arms vendor’s booth.   He remembered that Ares had blessed him with the ability to be a great swordsman.   He crawled to the booth and picked up the sword.   He clenched it with both hands and, as Democrates rumbled towards him, Bobeus raised the sword and thrust it into every kill zone on the massive body.   Nothing worked.   The blows just glanced off the mountainous body.

           Bobeus thought that maybe the beastly half-titan would be calmed by music.   The sword was near a lyre, and Bobeus was able to pull it toward him.   He strummed it and a melodious sound issued forth.   However, Democrates was tone deaf and could not appreciate the exquisite music.  Bobeus became angry because nothing was working.   He remembered how the gods used to punish him the few times he misbehaved.   The gods would grab his ear and tell him to apologize.   He obeyed them because it would always hurt and he was embarrassed.  Remembering this, he reached up for Democrates’ nearest earlobe, which happened to be his left.   Bobeus did not know that this was the only vulnerable spot on Democrates’ body.   As Bobeus grabbed Democrates’ left earlobe, Democrates roared with pain.   Bobeus was shocked at the amount of pain that Democrates must have felt.   He had not thought such a little pinch could inflict such agony.   But, he went on with his plan.

          Bobeus said sternly, in a parent-like voice, “Are you going to behave now?”   Democrates whined back to Bobeus and implored him to release his earlobe.   Bobeus declined and repeated his question.   “Are you going to behave now?”

         Democrates was in shock.   Not only had he never felt pain before, he also had never been punished for behaving badly.   That is why he ransacked cities for fun.   Democrates agreed to behave and calm down.   He ceased ransacking cities and actually tried to repair everything he had broken. Bobeus had single-handedly stopped Democrates’ rampage and saved Athens.   Plus, he did so without bloodshed.   This made Bobeus a hero throughout all of Greece.   Zeus’ promise to Bobeus was fulfilled. Bobeus’ legs were no longer crippled and he could walk.   Since the former king of Athens died during Democrates’ rampage, Bobeus became king because he was the rightful heir to the throne.   He married and had a son, Aegeus.   Aegeus became the father of Theseus, the greatest ruler of Athens.   The gods and goddesses all were pleased and Democrates was made advisor to Bobeus.   And Democrates finally took a bath and did not stink any longer.