THE ALMOND TREE (a 55-word story)


Sleeping Zeus accidentally impregnated Gaia, the earth goddess.

Their offspring, Agdistis, possessed both genders.

The gods castrated Agdistis, creating the goddess Kybele.

Agdistis’ manhood fell to earth, growing into the almond tree.

A nut from its branches dropped onto nymph Nana’s lap.

And she became pregnant.

She bore a son, Attis, who became Kybele’s lover.



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THE LION’S SHARE (a 55-word story)


King Thespius had fifty daughters of marrying age.

And a plan.

He charged Hercules to kill a lion that terrorised the locals.

Every day, Hercules would hunt but find nothing.

And every night, Hercules would console himself by making love to a different daughter.

“How many days have passed?”

“Fifty, your Majesty.”

“Release the lion!”



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Stories Unearth What We Bury

Ancient Coffer of Nuri Bey is a story that rotates around an ancient chest, whose power lies in the mistery of its contents.

Certain stories, and this is one of them, reveal what we conceal from ourselves.

And they do this by reflection.

Some phrases resonate with us louder than others, lending new meaning to the story.

Often the truth they disclose about us is not flattering.

But this makes them all the more valuable.

Ultimately, these stories help us discover who we really are.

If we let them.



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Ancient Coffer of Nuri Bey by Idries Shah

Nuri Bey was a reflective and respected Albanian, who had married a wife much younger than himself. One evening when he had returned home earlier than usual, a faithful servant came to him and said:

"Your wife, our mistress, is acting suspiciously. She is in her apartment with a huge chest, large enough to hold a man, which belonged to your grandmother. It should contain only a few ancient embroideries. I believe that there may now be much more in it. She will not allow me, your oldest retainer, to look inside."

Nuri went to his wife's room, and found her sitting disconsolately beside the massive wooden box. "Will you show me what is in the chest?" he asked.

"Because of the suspicion of a servant, or because you do not trust me?"

"Would it not be easier to just open it, without thinking about the undertones?" asked Nuri.

"I do not think it is possible."

"Is it locked?"

"Yes."

"Where is the key?"

She held it up, "Dismiss the servant and I will give it to you."

The servant was dismissed. The woman handed over the key and herself withdrew, obviously troubled in mind.

Nuri Bey thought for a long time. Then he called four gardeners from his estate. Together they carried the chest by night unopened to a distant part of the grounds and buried it.

The matter was never referred to again.



Source: http://www.spiritual-short-stories.com/spiritual-short-story-278-Ancient+Coffer+of+Nuri+Bey.html#sthash.IO4FVizj.dpuf

THE TEACHER (a 55-word story)


He was a famous archer looking for a teacher.

He spotted an arrow in the exact centre of a target painted on a tree.

And then another.

And another.

And so on.

He met a man.

“Did you do this?”

“Yes.”

“Teach me.”

“It’s easy; I shoot the arrow and paint the target around it.”




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THE GIFT OF THE GODDESS (a 55-word story)


Priestess Cydippe needed to reach Hera’s temple for a service.

Her sons, Biton and Cleopis, pulled Cydippe’s cart because the oxen were missing.

After five miles, they collapsed on the temple steps.

And fell asleep.

Cydippe prayed that Hera bestow upon them the greatest of gifts.

So they died in their sleep.

Worshipped as heroes.



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HELL’S DOVES (a 55-word story)


Gianciotto was always too busy.

Even to marry.

So Gianciotto married Francesca by proxy, his brother, Paolo, taking his place at the wedding.

Soon after, Gianciotto left for battle, and Paolo read together with Francesca.

Reading of Lancelot and Guinevere, their passion exploded.

One day, Gianciotto caught them making love.

And killed them.

Hell’s doves.



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ARE YOU THE FERRYMAN? (a 55-word story)



“Are you the ferryman?”

“Yes, I am.”

“Here are your coins.”

“They’re not enough.”

“Wait! I’ll do anything! I must get across!”

“Alright, but you row.”

“Alright.”

“Stop here. Only one person can get off this boat. And, today, that’s me.” says the ferryman, leaping off the boat.

“What about me?”

“You’re the new ferryman.”



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HOW LONG IS A PIECE OF STRING? (a 55-word story)


"...A piece of string! How long’s a piece of string?”

“Long enough.”

“Are you sure it’s not going to snap?”

“Yes.”

“What if it’s not long enough? What if it snaps?”

“You worry about killing it, and let me worry about getting you out of there.”

“If I don’t make it back…sail without me, Ariadne.”



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BLACK SAILS

When Theseus returned from slaying the Minotaur, he looked like a madman and he stank of manure. His eyes were wide open as if in shock, and he seemed to be mumbling something, more to himself than to anyone in particular.  His pupils darted from side to side, and his face and clothes were all splattered with blood.

Ariadne took his sword away from him and kissed him. She whispered some soothing words into his ear and took him by the hand into the sea. There, she bathed and scrubbed him clean until his gaze became calm and he stopped talking to himself.

On the beach, Theseus put on an elegant robe before climbing aboard his ship. The celebrations began soon afterwards, as the ship set sail for home. And shortly after losing sight of land, he laid his head on a sack of grain. And as the sun poured its last amber light on his face, Theseus fell asleep. His body was bruised and tired, but his mind was restless. And Ariadne saw his mouth twitch often as nightmares flickered beneath his eyelids.

Ariadne cut a piece of string and tied it to Theseus' wrist, being careful not to wake him up. She sliced another length and fastened it around her own wrist. That string brought his body back to her intact. It guided Theseus out of the labyrinth. And now that his mind was lost in a maze, she realised it was going to take all her strength to keep him sane after what he'd been through. But she was strong. Mentally she was stronger than Theseus but she didn't know it. Not yet.

During the night, a freak gust of wind ripped the sails. The Captain decided to hoist the black sails Aegeus had given him. They had to get moving as soon as possible, since, without sails, the ship would be prey to pirates.  Aegeus, Theseus’ father, had instructed the Captain to return bearing black sails only in case the Minotaur had devoured Theseus. This way, Aegeus would have known his son was dead before the ship landed. And he would not have prepared a hero’s welcome but a son’s funeral.

The crew also knew what the black sails meant. And they were superstitious. They begged the Captain not to hoist them. They said it was equivalent to taunting Death. But the Captain became furious and told them that nobody would see the black sails at night, and they’d take them down in the morning, once the ripped sails were repaired. He also told the crew that he was going to sleep and warned them that if anybody woke him up or took down the black sails, he would disembowel them on the spot, and wear their guts for garters. This was no empty threat. And the crew knew it.

The next morning, Theseus and the Captain were still asleep. But Aegeus wasn’t. He hadn’t slept all night and had sat on a stone on a cliff top, looking out at sea for his son’s return. As the sun rose, he spotted Theseus’ ship grow taller on the horizon. And at the sight of the black sails, grief pushed him over the cliff into that sea that would forever take his name – the Aegean.



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STAR-CROSSED BABYLONIANS (a 55-word story)


Their families forbid them to meet.

They fell in love whispering through a hole in a wall.

And planned to meet under a tree to elope.

Pyramus came late, finding Thysbe’s bloodstained scarf.

Believing her dead, he killed himself.

Discovering Pyramus’ corpse, Thysbe took her life.

Their blood turned the Mulberry tree’s berries red.

Forever.




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