The scholar, writer and teacher Joseph Campbell gained international fame by deconstructing the great mythologies of mankind and revealing the simple truths and profound themes behind history's greatest tales and legends. It was Campbell who said, "We must be willing to get rid of the life we've planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us." Check it out.
Sunset is rapidly approaching as the elegantly dressed guests begin arriving at the grand Risconi estate home for the Olive Festival Gala. Greeting the Escalades and limos are six young Hispanic males under the command of Squint, Lena's elderly Mexican ranch foreman, himself looking mighty fine in his tux and perfectly groomed ponytail. Two hours later hundreds of the areas most successful and beautiful are milling about drinking champagne and eating a variety of the olive based canapes. Inside, a quartet plays cool jazz, while out by the pool two Spanish guitars do the entertaining.
From an upstairs window Sarah Kay watches the activity just beyond the area of the pool where a meticulously restored railway caboose sits. It has been converted into a guest house currently being occupied by Chuck Risconi. Chuck stands on the open rear platform drinking scotch and smoking cigars with her father, Jesse.
With considerable self-contempt, Chuck describes how he recently hit bottom while traveling solo aboard a cruise ship to the Greek Isles. He confesses that he was quite publicly and quite accurately accused of being a sexual predator and threatened by a small but passionate mob of protective husbands. Needless to say he was escorted off the ship at the next port. Before he can elaborate on the gritty details, Carla Pinetti and Lilli Bowen approach and request permission to board the caboose. These are the two gals who were their secret high school partiers when Jesse and Chuck were popular upper classmen. Despite the many years that have past and their enchanting ball gowns the guys recognize them immediately and invite them up for a cocktail to celebrate the reunion. From her perch upstairs Sarah Kay watches with a pang of jealously.
Squint, who is monitoring every aspect of the staff's activities both inside and out, suddenly comes into Sarah Kay's gaze. He signals her to come down. Minutes later she joins him in the hot house where he grows bonsai olive trees along with seedlings for the ranch. He describes to her that true life of the ancient tree is hidden, as is the true nature of a human, in the root system that exists underground and out of sight. His example is his own perception that most "whites" are odd. "They are always seeking something. What are they seeking? What do they want? I do not know what they want. I do not understand them. I often think that they are mad." Sarah Kay asks why he thinks that. He replies, "It's said that they think with with their heads." Sarah asks, "What do you think with?" "I think here," he says, indicating his heart.
Long after the party ends and the cleanup crew has gone home, Sarah Kay creeps out to Chuck's caboose living quarters. When she hears a woman's laughter from inside she heads,quite disappointed, back towards the house. That's when she discovers Chuck sitting alone on the diving board smoking a cigar. He calls her over for a bit of a chat. The question at hand may be which reinvented self will dominate this unexpected encounter.
Copyright 2010 G. Leo Maselli
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