I have a question about a Sparrabeth story. Even though I don't completely understand everything about it, I love it. It's called "The Swan and the Owl." Here it is, and it's told from W/E's son's POV:
'Sit down, love, and listen to Uncle Jack.'
Uncle Jack comes to our house a few times a year, mostly unannounced. He was last here for my tenth birthday, but him and Ma had a huge fight and this is the first I've seen him since. Almost a year.
I'm don't quite understand sure exactly how this man is an uncle, being completely unrelated to me in any way whatsoever, but seeing as he makes Ma so happy, who am I to bring it up? I take a seat at out little wooden dining table.
Ma is pouring rum for the both of them and slowly placing our dinner on the table. She says its bad manners to eat before all the attending are seated, but Jack reaches for the salted pork immediately, washing it back with a large sip of drink.
'Ever been to India, lad? No, of course you haven't. If you had, I would have brought you, not that your mum would allow any such thing, and seeing as I don't recall doing any such thing, you haven't been.'
Sometimes it is rather difficult dealing with Uncle Jack, simply because most of the time I have no idea what is coming out of his mouth.
'India is the mother-land of some of the most brilliant tales ever told. I know you like stories so.' I do. 'How's about I tell you me favorite?' That got my attention. It got Ma's too. Her eyes widened just a bit and she placed a new cup of rum in front of Uncle Jack before joining us at the table.
'It's a story of a swan and an owl. Goes a bit like this,' he cleared his throat theatrically. I suppose he thinks it adds to the atmosphere. I don't know why he bothers. Ma and I are already listening beyond distraction. 'There this swan, hanging around minding its own bird-y business when along comes an owl. Great big bloody eyes, this owl has got. You ever seen an owl? Bloody big eyes...'
Ma used to slap him for his language, but I think eventually she realized it was a lost cause.
'Unusual for an owl to be out among the day-birds. But anyways, he made great friends with the swan and showered her with praise. They fancied they loved one another. But the owl is a night bird, see, and it had to return to forests to sleep. 'I must return' says the owl, 'but please come with me.'
Ma is looking at Uncle Jack funny. Like she's woken up from a nightmare. She has those a lot. I try to help, but she sends me away, not wanting to upset me. But, no, not terrified like after a nightmare; like when she's just woken up and she can't figure out if the dream was real or not.
'So the swan, since she loves the owl, follows him to the forest. But he asked that when she found him, to wait until nightfall, when he could come out. She agreed, thinking herself a bit sleepy anyways. She slept through the night. Just before morning, a group of hunters came through and the owl hooted as they passed. The hunters shot at the owl, but he fled to the swan's home to seek protection. She did not wake to the owl's soft cry and so the hunters shot her and killed her.'
Uncle Jack is looking at Ma now like there is some great and terrible secret in his words. I think it is the saddest thing I've ever seen. Sometimes Ma has that look, when we sit on the cliff by our house, looking out at the horizon. The tension between them is starting to overwhelm me.
'That's the saddest story I've ever heard,' I say.
Uncle Jack turns to me like he's forgotten I was here. He may have. He looks at me for some time with eyes that are darkened, but hollow. Then his eyes fill with life and laughter.
'I know, lad. I know. They aren't all like that, though.' He's laughing.
'I don't understand. Why would the swan wait around all night for the owl? Swans don't sleep during the day. It's against their nature, isn't it?'
Ma looks like she might cry. I didn't the story was that sad.
'And the owl. If he loved her why would he ask her to do such a thing?'
The silence is palpable. I can feel a heaviness settle into the air around me. But I don't understand. I open my mouth again to ask Ma what is going on, but she cuts me off. Her eyes are holding Jack's in a gaze that seems unbreakable.
'Will you leave us a minute, Dylan?' Ma asks. I'm surprised.
'Won't be but a minute. Now be a good lad, and do as your mum says.'
I leave them and retire to my bedroom to clean up. I can their hushed but heated voices. When I am done cleaning, I sit on my bed to read. Uncle Jack brought me book from Italy; a story of a man that has journeyed to Hell and back.
Ma says that maybe, one day, she'll let Uncle Jack take me with him on his ship. She says that maybe we will all sail away on a vacation. I hope so. Ma seems so sad, always watching the sea. She's told me a few stories about her life, but nights like tonight make me think that there are many, many more to learn.
It's late when Ma comes into my room and kisses me.
'I'm sorry, sweetie. Jack and I were just talking about your birthday and got carried away.' She says, smiling. Truly smiling.
'What will we do?' I ask, muttering sleepily into my pillow.
It's then I realize that Uncle Jack is with Ma. He has an arm around Ma's waist and leans over me, kissing me on the brow as Ma shuffles the hair out of my eyes.
'How does India sound, love? For starters.' The last thing I see before I fall back asleep is a gleam of gold before Ma puts out the lamp and Uncle Jack leaning into whisper to Ma as they shut the door behind them. I think about how great India will be and whether there are stories happier than the one I heard tonight. I hope so.
1. That's it. I have a question about the metaphors. I believe Jack is the owl and Elizabeth is the swan, and the owl telling the swan to come away with him is Jack telling Elizabeth to come with him, you know all that stuff.
2. Next, there's this part: "But he asked that when she found him, to wait until nightfall, when he could come out. She agreed, thinking herself a bit sleepy anyways."
So she would sleep and stay awake until the NEXT night? Or what? Did the author mean to type "dawn"? But that wouldnt make sense either.
3. Do the hunters represent Will? Like he killed the swan, killed her freedom by having her stay in that little house. Like Will getting to her before Jack did?
4. This is next:
"'I don't understand. Why would the swan wait around all night for the owl? Swans don't sleep during the day. It's against their nature, isn't it?'
Ma looks like she might cry. I didn't the story was that sad.
'And the owl. If he loved her why would he ask her to do such a thing?'"
Does it mean they weren't meant for each other? I have no idea? I'm pretty lost at this part.
An explaination of any section would be appreciated.
I love your stories, they are great.