The Lost Story

by Meg Shaffer

Because that’s how it worked. First you were missing. Then you were lost. Then you were forgotten.

They didn’t have fairy tales in West Virginia. They were lucky to have a Target.

“Oh great. Thought you were some big hero.” “I am, apparently. I’m also an asshole. They’re not mutually exclusive.”

In other words, a hero on a quest for the Holy Grail isn’t looking for the Holy Grail. The hero is trying to find himself, and the only way he can find his true self is by going on a journey, being tried and tested until he knows if he is a hero in name only or a hero in truth. And that’s why the world has Holy Grails—not because the world needs Holy Grails but because the world needs heroes.

“Mom, I’m scared.” “I know, Emmielou. But scared is a feeling, not an excuse.”

There is a third type of mother in fairy tales, neither good and dead nor bad and alive, and though a rare figure, she does have a part to play in some stories, including this one. That would be the fairy godmother, of course. Sometimes she doesn’t even have to do magic to bestow a gift upon a worthy young prince or princess. Sometimes the godmother is just a good mother.

“This entire universe we’re in right now could be tiny, fitting in the palm of some being’s hand so far beyond us, we’re like ants to a giant. And the giant keeps us in jars on her windowsill. We’re a computer simulation. We’re characters in a storybook left on a train by a girl late for dinner. We’re a dream an ancient god is dreaming, and any minute now…he will wake.

You’d think we’d all shout and scream and dance around, but it wasn’t like that. Joy is quieter than people think it is. Especially the joy of getting back something you thought was lost forever.”

“What’s the punishment?” “She let them choose between beheading or being sent to their rooms without dinner.” “Oh,” Emilie said. “Which one did they pick?”

Emilie was more than a little relieved to be out of the spotlight for a day. Although they did ask her to judge the pie-baking contest, which she was happy to do. Very, very happy to do that, thanks for asking and pass the pie.

I wish I could tell the whole story, since it involved a failed seduction by sentient foliage, and at one point Rafe literally had to say, “You’re a lovely tree, but I’m in a relationship.” Alas, we’re running out of time.