The Gods Among Us

Chapter 2: I Am Jason Blue-eyes

I am Jason Blue

I am Jason Blue Eyes; I began my story to the gathered clan.

The fallow Sun was low in the west, and it reflected a soft amber light on the high clouds. I looked up at the sky to determine if it would rain that night and saw a flock of cranes flying south, an auspicious sign.

I am the son of Julie, I said, and the crowd chanted Julie as one. They do it for good luck.

And here is our story. And so I began the tale that some had heard many times, and most had only heard parts of, and I knew by heart. I tell it as Julie had, and there are words in it that mean nothing to any of us.

I looked around the crowd all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, because I was going to entertain them, and I am good at what I do. The Sun was behind the cliff, which towered above us, and our eyes were relaxed, the sweet scent of oleander and gladiolas filled the air. In the distance, the Ocean rolled the waves onto the shore in her never-ending pursuit of man.

After a long pause, I began my tale.

On July 4th, Julie Reighert saw another UFO. She called the late-night talk show and told the host all about it. This wasn't the first time.

Goooood morning Julie from Texas, (Remember the Alamo, some chanted), you're on the air. What can I do for you tonight?

Hi Jim, this is Julie from Fouke. How are you tonight? I'm a long-time listener and long-time caller.

(The gathered crowd waved in the air and said Hi Jim. It is customary to take an active part in tales by acting out the scenes, saying keywords and moving heads and arms and such – like a Greek chorus- as the story allows. And by taking an active part in the storytelling, we learn to remember it by heart).

Hi Julie, um, I remember you.

The other night Jim, around 4 AM my boyfriend and I were cleaning up after our Saturday git-together with the folks from work? Well, he stayed inside and I was outside pickin' shi... uh, pickin' stuff up, you know all the crap everyone leaves. Why do they do that Jim? People are such pigs. Sorry Jim, I'm kind'a nervous.

That's all right Julie go on, he said.

Anyways, I saw this huge round thing in the sky right above the horizon. (The chorus pointed to the sky with a surprised look on their faces.)

It looked like a donut, or maybe a Frisbee. I ran into the trailer to git my Old Man and when we came out it was gone...

Jim broke in; Could it have been the Moon, Julie?

Nah Jim. I can tell the difference between the moon and this thing. It had to be a UFO, cause it had this kind of light trailing after it. It looked like the Borealis, (Borealis, they all sang), but with trails. It was real colorful there Jim.

Julie, how about another laser light show, Jim said, I remember last time...

Jim, she said, uh no, it aint no light show Jim. This thing stood there for a bit and then took off like a flash.

Wow huh, huh, said a voice in the background.

Julie, is that you?

Oh, that's just Clevis, my Old Man.

(The gathered crowd chanted the name Clevis and looked to my eldest son who sat near me in the front of the gathering, and they smiled because they knew someone named after one of the original Oris. In his lap was his little great grand daughter Cush beaming with pride).

Shut up you dork, can't ya see I'm on the phone?

Jim and the nation had been listening and finally, Jim said, hey there Jules, we're still on the air.