Dan in the Attic
by Sue O’Connell
- ‘No, no, no’ said Dan, re-arranging the sheet
over his sister’s shoulder.
- ‘Remember where you are……….in
Greece.’
- He swept his arm round in front of him.
- ‘Spread at your feet are fields of flowers. Behind
you is the Parthenon.’
- Nancy tugged at the sheet and fastened the safety pin
again.
- ‘Why can’t Nell be Athene?’
- ‘You are about to meet the greatest philosopher in
the world.’
- Dan straightened his back.
- ‘That’s me……..and he will be
astounded by this vision of beauty which confronts
him…………you and your handmaidens,
standing in the golden sunshine of a summer’s day.
You are going to weave garlands of flowers to give to my
students…….’
- ‘Why can’t Nell be Athene? She’s better at
standing still than me. She practises.’
- Dan ignored the interruption.
- ‘…garlands of flowers to give to my students,
who are waiting in the olive groves.’
- He bent down to straighten some dried grasses which were
leaning weakly in a vase.
- ‘The greatest philosopher in the history of the
world walks through the olive groves. Beyond are the
Isles of…………’
- ‘What will mother say if she finds us up in the
attic again?’
- ‘She won’t mind.’
- ‘Will.’
- ‘Won’t. This is a drama production. I’m
making you into a goddess, so you shouldn’t mind
either. Just listen………..who will inspire
the greatest philosopher in the history of the world, who
has been walking through the olive groves and
then…….’
- Contin………
-
- ‘Listen. You listen to me, for a change. It’s
nearly 6 o’clock and when that clock strikes,
I’m going.’
- ‘……….and Aristotle is amazed at the
grace of the goddess and at her
profile…….’
- ‘Her what?’
- Dan turned towards the skylight and ran his finger from
his forehead to his chin.
- ‘Her profile.’
- Nancy shrugged.
- ‘I always knew my profile was special.’
- ‘Then the greatest philosopher in the entire history
of the world, will think these incredibly great
thoughts…………’
- Dan turned and picked up a fountain pen and a sheet of
newspaper, which he then rolled into a scroll.
- ‘………….will think these
incredibly great thoughts and write his greatest book. He
will read it to his followers, who have been waiting for
him…….in silence …..’
- Dan shot a glance at his sister.
- ‘………in the olive groves and you and
your handmaidens will weave garlands of
flowers……’
- Athene jumped down from the Acropolis.
- ‘I’m not stopping any longer. That box is
broken. It’s dangerous. I am not risking my life for
you and your drama any more, even if I am Athene.
- ‘Get back to the Acropolis. Go on. Go on.’
- Dan tried to bar his sister’s way.
- ‘I’m walking through the olive groves and
….’
- ‘I’ve had enough. Get Nell to be Athene. I want
my dinner. It’s my favourite, bacon and
cabbage.’