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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: WALL (02/17/22)
Gretaville

Greta lived in a small cottage on the very edge of Community. Greta loved to refer to her cottage as Gretaville. At first Greta invited friends and family to visit her cozy cottage. Over time though, visitors dwindled until Greta could no longer remember who had last come to sit at her table or drink tea from her dainty fragile china.

Greta was very happy not to share her table, or any other part of her safe and personal space. Some friends had tried to help Greta create her space, but they always wanted to do something differently than Greta thought it should be done. Who but Greta, she often said, knew best how to create Gretaville?

When Greta designed her kitchen Merry thought she should have four chairs at the table. Greta was much happier with one. When Greta arranged her mirror collection in every room Sharon suggested she hang at least a few family pictures. Greta preferred her mirrors. Fairly soon no one made any more suggestions.

One day Greta saw a family walking in the fields near her cottage. They looked a little poor but surprisingly happy. Greta, feeling that her afternoon was quite spoiled, promptly painted cheerful pictures on her windowpanes. One showed Greta in her favorite workout stance, one with her full bank portfolio, one was a picture of her beloved mirror collection, and the last proudly displayed Greta's lovely profile. It was better, she reasoned, to always see things that would give her happiness.

One day Greta was quite shocked to hear the doorbell ring. Her first inclination was to ignore this intrusion into her lovely space, but the ring became very persistent. Greta did not invite the unwanted guest in, nor did she agree to volunteer for the neighborhood events the woman was organizing. One thing Greta had worked hard to acquire was the ability to say no. Everyone knew you could easily lose yourself when you said yes to any demands on your time.

After the intruder left, Greta contemplated the problems related to having a door. People coming to the door could certainly create a guilt-ridden environment. After much thought Greta mounted a gratifying 'No Requests Allowed' sign. She then removed the doorbell and retreated once again to her own comfortable world.

Sometimes fleeting dreams of people disturbed her sleep. People could be so toxic. Greta knew she had to protect herself from this anxiety. Hadn't she worked hard to be sure she walked her own path, following only what was right and best for Greta? Greta would get up and review her wall of affirmations to remind herself that she was secure in her own self-made happiness.

Greta knew what lurked outside her well-kept Gretaville. There were issues and baggage, history and relationships, responsibilities and consequences. There were people who would challenge your thoughts, ideas and decisions. People who would condemn, criticize and even, believe it or not, have expectations! Of course, it was best to keep believing that only Greta knew what was right for Greta. Nothing would make her chose to return to such a difficult world.

But unbeknownst to Greta, choices could be taken away. One quiet, predictable day when she least expected it, a cruel wind of crisis blew in and Greta's world was crushed. The winds of calamity tore at Gretaville. The colorful windowpanes went first, broken by a shocking gust of 'that will never happen to me'. Next the wall of affirmations began to crack and shudder. Mind-numbing pain grabbed at the foundation of Gretaville and nothing could be done. Left with no brick of certainty still standing upon another, all the beauty of her perfect world was gone.

Greta crouched shivering in the ruins of her safe space, shocked at how easily everything was destroyed. Where were her affirmations, sense of self determination and independence? Greta trembled with the fear of facing Community in such a humiliating state. Unprepared to survive in the bright glare of vulnerability she had no idea where to turn. Greta was astounded to realize she was completely unable to help herself!

“Greta, Greta dear, we are here.”

How long since Greta had heard her name in a voice besides her own? Greta did not understand why Merry and Sharon were there reaching through the ruins of Gretaville with gentle hands of compassion. Contrary to all she had believed Greta felt a thrill of joy to find herself surrounded by community.
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This article has been read 141 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Terry R A Eissfeldt 
03/03/22
This would make a wonderful drama piece - with a narrator reading it out and children acting ..... very inspiring.
Congratulations!
Robert Rutaagi 
03/03/22


Fascinating! You, really, deserved this EC. Congratulations!
Loni Bowden-Horn 
03/31/22
Beautifully told story about compassion and restoration of the walls we build around ourselves that we feel can never be broken.

Well deserved EC Award.