Hero-Glyph-Fixes
Last week I introduced you to the word belay and how a person can serve as an anchor while rock climbing, or being lowered down from rock climbing.
This is important because we don’t create our personal beliefs in a vacuum. We learn from those around us and greater society. And the learning of beliefs doesn’t even have to come from a source that is ‘real’. Fiction (not real) or non-fiction (actually happened) - it doesn’t matter. Storytelling is a highly effective way of imprinting beliefs, which is why telling your story is vital.
I also wanted to give you an example of how to work through the questions I mentioned earlier.
What stories are you listening to?
Who is in charge of those stories?
What do these stories teach you?
How do these stories make you feel?
For a review, these questions are important because they help us sort our beliefs.
You can put together the answers after reading this fiction piece and I’ll answer the questions from the character (and author) viewpoint next week.
For more info on why I do what I do… you can read my post here.
You can also read the full stories of my father daughter archaeologist duo on Wattpad.
This is when daughter of Indiana Jones, Emily Jones is four years old, and before they were making official climbing gear like you saw in the video.
Hero-Glyph-Fixes
Egypt, 1947
(Excerpt from The Seven Swords of Diya)
Inside the ancient tunnel, Indiana Jones coiled four year old Emily’s rope and wrapped it around her, caving to his Littlest Artifact’s request to be an adventurer like her daddy. They were standing at the edge of a deep vertical shaft in the floor, leading deeper into the unexplored ruin. “Adjust that so it’s about where you’d sit on a swing.” Then he made a second coil. “Put that at your waist.”
She obeyed. Indy checked the rope’s tightness and satisfied, he tied a knot on both coils. “Hold on to that knot, no matter what, ok?”
“Ok. But then I can’t brush off the Egyptian writing… hero-glyph-fixes.”
“Hieroglyphics, Em.”
She looked sad for a moment.
Indy tipped her hat up, and held her chin… “You almost got it, hon. It’s a big word. Be proud of yourself for trying. You’ve got plenty of years to get it right.”
He stood looping the rope around his waist and tying the knot, giving plenty of loose coil. “Ok, I’m going to lower you down into the shaft…. just a little. Let me know if you get scared or want me to stop.” Indy paused. “Remember the mountain climbing word?”
“Belay?”
“Right, Em. Remember what they taught you?”
“I stand at the edge and when I’m ready to jump off I say ‘belay’ and you say, ‘belay on’?”
“That’s it,” Indy smiled.
“Belay.”
“Belay on,” Indy finished as Emily dropped into the shaft inch by inch.
“Daddy, more rope… this isn’t exciting enough!”
Indy grinned in paternal adoration. “You should be at the hieroglyphics, Em. What do they say?”
“Dunno. Can’t read. It’s dark.”
Indy almost fell over in laughter at her response. “Em? Ready for me to pull you back up?”
“Kays. Uh… on belay.”
“Belay on,” Indy pulled her out of the shaft. He knelt. “How was that?”
“Woulda been better if there was a snake, or some bats or sumpthin.’” She struggled with the knot. “How do I get this off?”
“Let me.” Indy untied the ropes and coiled them beside his whip. He paused not wanting to stand up as Emily hugged his neck.
“Can we play big rock chase?” She asked.
A grin slowly spread across Indy’s face. “Yes.” He swept her up in a sudden movement, and bolted from the tomb as Emily screamed in laughter.
Like always when I do a piece of fiction - I’m going to break it down through a series of lessons. We’ll do those next week.
Perpetual Disclaimer for this series:
I am not a counselor or a mental health professional. I am going to attempt to avoid things which will cause alarm or harm, but I can't know what will trigger each individual. If you need to speak to a mental health professional please know that there are resources available.
Your stories are amazing!
Chronic Writer
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