Amira Bryant
English 303
11/12/13
A New Life Begins
A middle-aged woman listening intently to her son says, "Okay, Adam...what are you saying?"
"I’m not sure if this is it for us. Like, I don't know. There is more to this life."
Adam’s mother squints at him as if hoping to discover what is really in his head. She grabs his shoulder and leans in to whisper, "Adam, please. You need to go to the tree and beg for guidance. I’m not sure how to convince you of your amazing, talented imagination." She grabs both of Adams strong shoulders and brings him in for a hug. "Listen, this is our life. We live it gratefully everyday. May God bless his soul and our bloodline, Adam and Eve." Adam shrugs and hugs his mother back. "Now go on."
Adam nods and leaves his residence, a small nest of exotic leaves and trees. He is quite tall after living seventeen years and has developed a muscular system slightly similar to an Adonis. His face has frozen years ago with the permanent features of the once oddly curious, chubby-cheeked boy. Now his round brown eyes seek change and certainty. He proceeds toward the center of the large community that is surrounded by similar jungle homes and residences. In the middle, the grand Tree of Life stands tall with its treetop canopy high in the sky. With the help of other exotic great trees, the canopy houses the community and shields them from the elements above. Its strong natural glow fills the entire area with peace and fireflies. This is their life. Their beautiful home.
The Garden of Eden.
The community is bursting with crowded families and citizens. Some picking fruit from the many rich trees and vines. Some bathing in the freshwater rivers snaking through the land. Children play tag and dance through the legs of adults engaged in conversation. It is an ideal utopia free of worry, clothing, and a tyrant. Old Wise Man is napping in a shaded area cushioned by a great amount of large leaves and vines. Adam heads across the land to wake him. A toddler waddles up to Adam. Adam picks up the young boy. “Hi Jacob. How are you?” Jacob smiles, bearing all teeth and nods his head to communicate. Adam asks, “Have you been working on your stories?”
“Yes.” Jacob giggles.
Adam smiles, “Oh great! I’ll be back tonight again to help you practice, okay?”
“Yes.” Jacob squirms for Adam to let him go. Adam places him down and thinks to himself of how nice their life really is. He truly is blessed.
While thinking of how ridiculous he is probably being, he continues to Old Wise Man and attempts to dodge the children playing, but fails and stumbles over a child, and then trips on a tree stump right into the old mans lap. He screeches and jumps out of his slumber. "Oh goodness. Adam?” He says, “Watch where you’re landing there, boy," he says.
"I’m so sorry. I tripped.” Adam asks. “Why the nap so early?"
"Because I’m old, dear boy." He settles back down into his makeshift chair and closes his eyes. "Nothing much to do when you get like me. You just relax and hope not to get in the way of young men like yourself."
Adams eyes grow large. "Old Wise Man? I had a,” Adam pauses, “A large thought in my sleep about this." The old man opens his eye. "We don’t really...deserve relaxation. We haven’t earned it."
Old Wise Man sits up as quickly as he can. "Adam my dear boy what has gotten into you?"
"Nothing. It is just...some thoughts I had. I was on my way to the Tree of Life for guidance. Mother sent me."
"Adam head to the Tree of Knowledge. I’m sure that’s where your mother meant, not the blessed Tree of Life." He pauses, "Your mother named you after our great Adam...because she sensed great things from you. You are one of a kind Adam--throughout our community and our blood. I believe your greatness is sprouting. Go now boy. And come back immediately to speak to me." Old Wise Man shoos Adam away and clearly won't rest easy until he returns. Adam turns around facing the direction of the deep, rugged area of the Garden of Eden. The location was the home to many animals similar to a forest, outside of the living grounds. Adam knows a trip to the Tree of Knowledge should occur only but a few times in ones life.
Adam marches towards the grassy path to the Tree of Knowledge--through the busy areas and past the man-made plant homes surrounding the city like garden. As he reaches the outskirts, a hand grabs his wrist in an attempt to pull him. He resists and turns to face her.
"Hey Adam...where are you going?" She asks.
"Hey Neve. I’m just going for a walk." Adam replies. He continues to try and walk but Neve won't let go of his wrist. His heart pounds as he decides to keep her away or let her in on his journey, his feelings whispering to let the girl accompany him, and his commitment to secrecy begging for him to go alone. His heart proposes a compromise. He stares into her large blue eyes and grins. "Okay. I’ll tell you, but you have to promise to keep it to yourself, and you have to come with me."
She smiles, and without a word follows alongside Adam. She turns his wrist loose and takes the lead. She turns and walks backwards in front of him in a curious manner. "I know where you're going. You're going to see the Tree of Knowledge. So let's hear why." She says.
"Well...I have this idea. And I've been having these thoughts. These thoughts are so clear to me that I dream about them." He whispers.
When Neve responds, she nearly yells. "You dream about them? You dream?” She stops walking and brings Adam close to her to whisper. "You know what they say about dreaming Adam...that you desire something." They stand still in silence. "Do we not have everything?" Neve's get closer to him as she waits for a response. The exotic trees rustle around them and the outer animals travel in stealth, careful not to interrupt such an important moment of truth and disclosure.
"Neve…I feel that we can be a different world," Adam pauses, "A more productive world where we’re more complex. There would be more to think about and more at risk. In this world, we earn everything we posses and feel good about it. We would build, we would establish, we would grow. What if there were things like businesses that made things for others to use? What if we could be rich in other ways that make us all powerful and able to make a difference at the snap of a finger?" Adam pauses again with a deep breath, "What if Neve...what if I said I wanted to be with you for other reasons other than..."
"Other than?" she questions.
"Other than just to procreate."
"You want to have a child? With me?"
Adam shakes his head, "No. No, I am not saying that, well, I am...but I do. Neve, I would like to make love to you." Neve and Adam stand in silence again, Adam looking at the ground and Neve with her eyes closed as if to process the surprising information. She steps back to give them some space. Some time goes by. Adam finally looks up. He grabs Neve's wrist to signal to continue ahead. They walk swallowed by the swift sounds of trees, the crunch of the grass beneath their feet and the rumble of animals resting. Just then a slight wind pushes Neve and Adam. They must be near the Tree of Knowledge, he thinks.
Neve stops in her tracks and grabs Adams arm. She brings him close, face to face, watching his fidgeting, anxious eyes. His body is touching hers. Heart to heart. His beats rapidly against her calm and quiet pulse. She whispers, "So you’re saying...what if we could be intimate...without the gift of a child?"
Adams heart races. They remain still. Slowly, Neve pulls Adams head to her lips. She kisses him deeply, and he follows her lead. He holds her body and slips deeper into a trance, growing more and more hungry and passionate. Neve breaks free from the grasp of Adams lips. They breathe heavily and stand some feet apart. They watch each other for their thoughts, body language, and hidden movements. Adam turns and looks toward the path to the Tree of Knowledge. Almost there. He turns to face Neve and she immediately grabs him and drags him away from his goal. They leave the beaten down, grass of the pathway and run deeper into the outskirts. They run further and further from Adams destination; birds fly away, snakes slither from being crushed, and wild cats yawn from being disturbed from their naps. They run and run. Neve slows to a halt at the edge of an enormous, luscious nest housing many exotic tigers, relaxing and grooming their striped coats. Neve slowly faces Adam and walks backwards into the nest seductively.
For as long as he could recall, she always wandered through his dreams. Smiling. Glimmering. Exotic. Naked. Did he dream of her because he desired her? He lusted for her. He began to see her in a different light thanks to those dreams. A light that caressed her smooth, dangerous curves. Highlighted her sharp cheek bones. Dramatically brightened her detailed narrowed brown eyes. She seemed almost deceiving and luring. So mysterious that he was curious. Adam wanted her more and more with every dream. Every day he passed her in the garden, her smile morphed subtly into a sharp grin.
Neve moves with the tigers. Some clear out of her way, some pace with her and sneak a quick taste of her body. She gasps, her gaze never leaves his. Neve tilts her head sideways, Adams mimics her. She dances slowly and Adam follows her movements and makes his way into the nest after her. She stops in the middle of the tiger filled area. Adam gains on her. He can't wait. He lunges towards Neve and they swiftly move to the ground. They kiss, they grope. The tigers howl and roar with excitement. They surround them, and the heat of intimacy surrounds Adam and Neve.
Adam and Neve return to the mainland of the Garden of Eden the next day. They wear clothing made of leaves and vines to hide what they feel are rightfully one another's. They stand on the outskirts of the garden, and listen to a disturbance in the community. The citizens lightly chatter. A young child yells out Neve's name as she's looking for her. Adam begins to walk forward, but Neve puts her arm out in front of him to stop him. He turns his head to her and she faces him as well. "Old Adam is gone." She nods. He nods back. They interlock hands and walk together into the big fuss. People see them and the chatter grows into exclamations and shock. They continue to walk with a huge crowd following behind. Kids rush to join their adults and their peers.
Old Wise Man screams, "Adam! What are you doing?"
Adam to ignores him and continues to walk. The two approach the Tree of Life. Neve holds her hand up to halt the crowd behind them and they keep walking to get some distance. They separate once they get closer to the tree. Neve rolls a beautiful log to Adam and he stands on it for a greater view of his home and neighbors. He closes his eyes. A rush of nervousness runs through his body. He yells, "My family." Everyone is silent. Adam opens his eyes to see his mother in the middle of the group. She looks concerned and, for the first time, scared. "Thank you for joining me here in front of our blessed Tree of Life. Some time ago I had an idea in mind. An idea that I felt would help us grow to our fullest potential. I was advised to go visit the Tree of Knowledge, but I felt...why? Why suppress such a great start to a new life? Why not share this? Well good people, I would like to propose a new way of living."
Adam describes a life of hard work and organized management. He describes proper systems for real education, currency, business, and the law. He goes into detail about commandments. He describes a family and the vision of gender roles, expectations and patriarchal ownership. Some of the garden citizens squint with confusion and disapproval and some seem open-minded. Gasps are released, small children obnoxiously ask questions, Adams’ mother buries her face in her palms. Someone next to her pulls her into her arms to comfort her. "Industrialization is in our future." Adam nods and looks at Neve, "Who will join my movement?”
Adam opens his arms and waits patiently. The crowd is silent and then roars with discussion amongst themselves. A rare display of anger and serious concern spreads like wildfire. A grin creeps on Neve's face in response. Someone finally emerges from the group, arms in the air. "I will join you dear Adam." He says. Everyone is stunned and silent again. Neve opens her arms to the man and pats him on the back.
"Neve!" Her mother screams. "Please come here."
Neve shakes her head. "I believe in this mother." Neve says, "You should too." Neves mother cries hysterically and falls to the ground. Another man emerges from the crowd, dragging a woman and child with him and joins Neve and the other man at the base of the tree. A few women helplessly reach out to the woman and child. Adam nods slowly and smiles.
"Thank you my neighbors." He says. Two more men approach the growing rebellion, then a man and woman.
A man yells from the crowd, "This is wrong Adam. This is against our beliefs and our God. It's an insult to our bloodline, Adam and Eve and our Tree of Life will surely wither away. You are mad!" Some of the crowd loudly agrees. A woman and four other men break through the angered citizens as additions to the new movement. "Just pathetic." The man says.
"That is fine fellow neighbor. I know what we really need. And you will soon as well." He gives Neve a hand to join him on the log. "You all will eventually refer to me as your rightful ruler. Your true God." The leftover citizens boil with rage.
“No!” they scream.
“You’re insane!” they shout. Adam and Neve step down and he and his followers depart to the other side of the great tree. It is time to begin the arrangements.
Nine months of law is grounded. Weeks of blueprints pass. Days of increased followers slither by. Adam sits in his makeshift throne atop the Tree of Life. The canopies of trees have thinned, and dirt has shown through the dead, once luscious grass. The hot sun has shined through the dying canopy and slightly stained the ivory skin of the citizens. The clear river and stream isn't so clear now that it's rinsed with dirt and rubbish from children and adults. The followers built new homes made of the trees and they were clothed with large plants and the skin of furry animals. A group of men and young boys walk from the outskirts with many leaves and a dead tiger tied on a large branch for food and clothing. This was the rapid evolvement of the Garden of Eden.
Adams mother rises from her near expired nest made of plants and tree stumps. She looks around her. A glimmer of hope shines through her defeated spirit. Though there aren't more rebels than the original citizens, their men have grown stronger. Their women have become dependent and brainwashed. Their children are learning their culture. Their weapons intimidate many. They are separated. Adams mother walks towards the distressed Tree of Life. Its natural glow is fading; it's withering, and cracking. She begins to cover her breasts but reframes from conforming to the growing societal norms. She walks with caution approaching the throne. She looks up at her once loving son with his pregnant wife, Neve. Two guards surround him, and three are at the base of the tree. One proceeds to Adam’s mother. "State your business," he commands.
"She’s fine. Let her speak." Adam says.
"Adam..." His mother strains, "Please look around you and re-consider your life. We all used to be so happy and blessed. Now we’re divided and miserable. You hurt our animals for your own selfish gain and now the animals resent us. You burn our beautiful plants and trees; the soot is making us choke. Splinters stab our feet when they are left over from your housing construction. You..." She pauses and shakes her head. “Where’s my beloved son, who loved us all?"
"Mother, I do love you all. That’s why I'm patiently waiting for you all to see my ways. This is all out of my interest in improving our lives to become better and stronger people. I want us to rule this world."
His mother looks around. Some of the citizens’ attention is focused on the interaction and some creep forward.
"Mother, please cover yourself. At least do that much. I especially love you. You have brought me into this world, you have raised me, and you have loved me. I have tried and offered you a great home to be built to shield you from work and the elements. You’ve turned down my every attempt to make you comfortable and reward you for your prosperous life. I am out of ways to show my gratitude to you."
"No!" Adams mother screams. The citizens rush to her side and gather around her, Adams followers stop their work and run to the guards’ sides. Adam stands up in disbelief and walks to the edge of the tree.
"No?" He says.
"No. I don’t wish to receive any of your blessings. To me they’re not blessings. They’re sin. They’re going to destroy us. You…are going to destroy us.” She begins to shed tears, but her demeanor is fierce. “The great Lord above us already has punished us by your temptation into sin. Look around us. No I will not cover my body. I see and understand no reason to do so. Our blessed Tree of Life is dying Adam. It is dying. Do you not see this? I will continue standing by my people and we will overrule you!" The people cheer her on in hopes to reclaim their garden.
"Overrule me? Your own son, Mother?" He balls up his fists in anger; a tear begins to pearl in his eye. He quickly wipes it away. "I tried to be patient, I can't any longer." He snaps his fingers and in an instant his followers and guards charge to disband the mob. The inexperienced citizens fight back and give it all they have. Adams mother screams. The men are strong; the boys are growing stronger alongside their role models. Chaos erupts and a war begins. Adam is pleased. He begins to smile. His rash measures aren't so rash in his mind and he believes they will pay off and finally help his community grow. The men and women who resist are beaten. Old Wise Man pushes a follower from abusing a helpless woman. He falls to the ground. Other rebels help him out and charge after the old man. He is surprisingly strong fending off the three men. Two grab him and the free one stabs Old Wise Man with a sharpened rock. He falls to the ground limp holding his abdomen. He surrenders with the dark shade of blood pooling next to him.
"Adam!" Neve yells. She collapses to the ground. Adam is startled out of his admiration and runs to Neve, fearful. He holds her. "Help! I think it's coming!" He panics and then takes a deep breath. He lays her down and props up her legs. Tears stream down his eyes as she screams with pain. He can't understand her pain. This has never happened before. She pushes and breathes rapidly. She grabs his hand and squeezes with all her might. She screams through her teeth, "Adam! Please! Oh Dear God!” She cries and sweats. Blood and liquid drains everywhere on the platform. The vision is blurring to Adam, her screams are drowning out the chaos below. Finally, a raw baby is produced from between Neve's thighs. A gray, screaming wrinkle of skin squirms in Adam's arms. He inches over to his weak wife. Neve is clinging on to life. They both catch their breath. He hands her their child, umbilical cord still attached. She breathlessly grips the baby while Adam adjusts her on his lap. It is quiet all around them. The bottom of the tree is silent and feels still. The sun is setting. The air is thick. The Tree of Life is stained with sin. A new life begins.
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