Boy Mythology

A Personal Boy Mythology

Once upon a time, in a land not too far away, was a wonderful kingdom filled with many people. The queen of this kingdom was beautiful and kind, and the king was handsome and compassionate. The climate was fair, the land bountiful, and to most eyes this was an idyllic place to live. There was only one dark side to the kingdom, which to some did not even appear so terrible, and this is what came to be known as the Curse.

There was a boy and girl, brother and sister. Close in age, they were inseparable and tightly bonded. The Curse of the kingdom was that when a boy entered manhood, at that precise moment he lost his heart. Not his actual heart, but the ability to feel, to grieve, to give of himself emotionally. The boy and girl had lived a carefree life, but the Curse, which had been around longer than anyone could remember, loomed before them as the boy grew older.

As the time neared when the boy would have to show his manhood, their fear grew more intense. The girl thought, "If only we could put his heart somewhere safe, then perhaps the Curse would miss it somehow." She shared this with her brother, who agreed it was a fine idea, and they set about looking for a place to hide his heart from the Curse.

They searched in caves, hollow trees, animal dens and underwater. They climbed the highest mountains and tried to reach the clouds, but soon it became apparent the Curse would find his heart in all of these places. "I wish you could just hide your heart inside of me," she said sadly, "because the Curse never looks inside of women for what it wants." The brother agreed with her, but try as they might, he could not find a way to place his heart within his sister.

So once again they were afraid there would be no way to stop the Curse from taking his heart. As they grew more desperate, they cried together while huddled around the fire one night. "I will really miss those special times we shared", he said sadly, "when we would cry and laugh and act as one."

"That's it!" she cried. "If we have shared the same feelings and experiences, and the Curse never enters a woman, then there must be a part of you that is feminine!"

Once again he agreed with his sister. "But I don't know where that is," he exclaimed, "it just happens sometimes."

"We must find it," she added, "for I fear it is our only hope."

After that, it seemed as though the brother could never find that part of himself, like looking for it made it harder to find. She would point it out for him when he would stumble upon it, and although he could then recognize it, he could not seem to go there at will.

And one day it came, the situation had presented itself and would require a man to deal with it. It was the boy's calling, his time of manhood, of growth and power, of change and transition, and of the Curse. It loomed near him, waiting for the moment to strike. The boy's sister stood by paralyzed, praying and helpless.

The moment came, the boy stood his ground and faced the challenge bravely. Never flinching, never wavering, he made his inevitable choice and stepped into manhood. Moments later, he stood with his head drooped, solemn. His sister ran to him crying. "That's all right, brother, I know you tried."

"Sister," he said seriously, "come here."

She responded to his direction, quivering in the wake of his new power and the loss of her old ally. "Yes," she responded quietly.

"Look into my eyes and tell me what you see," he commanded.

She stared intently at him, and finally answered, "I see a man."

"What else?" he demanded. "Is there anything else in there?"

Frantically she searched in his eyes, hoping to find that spark within. Eventually though, she conceded, "No, brother, I cannot find anything more."

His head dropped again, he fell to his knees, and they both began to cry. She could feel him desperately searching within himself now, searching for that softness he had known that she had been unable to find. His body slumped further, now having to support himself with his arms. A low sound came from his bowed head. Growing louder and in intensity, it became a howl, a wail of anguish, as he raised his arms toward the sky, pleading. Terrified, the girl spoke in a soft whisper, "I love you very much, brother."

He raised his head, his eyes still closed. Slowly his head began to nod slightly, rhythmically, as if remembering some forgotten drum beat. His eyes opened, a sparkle growing in them each moment. A soft smile appeared across his face, spreading too, with each precious second. He gently touched her face. "And I love you," he said slowly, smiling, "with all of my heart."

August 1993

For more information, contact Bret.

Last Updated Feb. 19, 2012