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- Story Listed as: Fiction For Adults
- Theme: Fairy Tales & Fantasy
- Subject: Fantasy / Dreams / Wishes
- Published: 11/29/2018
The return of the Hearth.
Born 1951, M, from Wilmington NC, United StatesAll it took was one trip to a crowded coffee shop and one dinner at a house that had two parents, a Nanny, and five children over the age of six. That is all it took. Hestia, known for her gentle demeanor, kindness, and hope was stung with the necessity of bringing her back in the Modern Era.
*****
Author’s Note:
A very quick intro to the Goddess Hestia:
Hestia (or Vesta, as the Italian Human who requested her presence kept calling her) was both the oldest and youngest of the Olympian Gods. Having been swallowed first by her Father, Cronus, because she was the eldest, then regurgitated later after all the other children had been regurgitated; making her the youngest daughter. All that drama did not change Hestia at all. She was peaceful, felt safest at home, and loved family- even though she remained a Virgin her whole existence.
Even though she isn’t portrayed as a major God or Goddess in most Ancient works, it remains that she was the only God/Goddess who could be worshipped in any temple - no matter who that temple was dedicated to. She also had a fire burning in a hearth at the center of every city in the Ancient world- and that hearth was never allowed to go out. You can Google a lot more about her if you would like, but you have enough now to grasp that she is the Goddess of the Hearth. Or fireplace for us modern folk: home and hearth were Her Domain.
And so we begin in that crowded coffee shop.
*****
Shielding Giovanni from being seen by the patrons of the coffee shop, Hestia quietly surveyed the people crammed into every nook and corner. Other than to order at that counter, none of those people were speaking to each other. Even the tables with couples sitting at them had little - if any- real conversation going on. Everyone had ear buds in, or their heads buried in a phone or tablet, or were reading texts or tweets.
Giovanni was right. There is no Hearth anymore. At least not public ones.
She turned to Giovanni with the saddest countenance one could ever imagine on the kindest god who ever lived. It was the look a Mother must have when a child’s life leads them to prison and not to a full rich life- one where sadness is the overwhelming emotion. Sadness, and loss- for what could have been, might have been, and maybe even should have been. It was a look filled with loving regret.
“Take me to hearth in a home.”
Giovanni did as he was told. All he had to do was think of a place, the people that lived there, and Hestia did the rest. Using her powers, she would transport them both…unseen, unheard, and unfelt… to that place so they could watch, listen, and learn.
Giovanni thought of the Bronson’s. They were a modern Family. Both Parents had decent jobs. The kids ranged in age from 12 to 20 (five of them, three girls two boys) and everyone of them- including Mom and Dad; had smartphones, tablets, and computers. All had Social Media via twitter, FACEBOOK, and Google accounts. They were, as they say: wired.
It was dinner time. Only the youngest child (Cynthia), Bart (the sixteen year old) and Dad sat at the table. Mom took her food into the home office, she had a report that had to be done by tomorrow. Mary was texting both her boyfriend and her best friend while comparing youtube videos of “talking dogs.” They were having a blast online. Mark, well, he was a gamer. Correct that: GAMER. He only came down to get his supper and heft it back up to his room.
Mark didn’t even consider his siblings as parents as his family. His family was a group of avatars in his game world. He was closer to those five online creations than any member of his family. He could have gone to college, or with his hacking skills, become a programmer of note- instead, he played games well enough to have fans. He did make a bit of money online from gaming against people- and often wished he was from South Korea so he could be a Pro Gamer. It was his dream to face off against one other guy (or girl) while hundreds of thousands of fans watched in real time- online, and 20,000 or so crowded into a basketball arena to see him perform his wizardry live.
Steve, the only athlete in the family, ate as quickly as he could so he could get back out in the driveway to shoot hoops with DeWayne, Charlie and Ninajh. He kept his headset on listening to the latest Hip/Hop beat to both drown out his sisters questions and keep his body warmed up to play some more.
Hestia simply cried.
And that is all it took.
A coffee shop, and one family’s dinner.
Hestia knew:
The hearth was dead.
*****
“Thank you, Giovanni. You may go now.”
With a wave of her hand Giovanni slowly faded into a mist like substance, then smoke, then “poof” he was gone. She had sent him back to the little shrine he maintained behind his home. Before he had offered Hestia his best dinner and cake (and Giovanni’s cooking was known throughout the village) he was considered one of the best Chef’s in Italy.
After she met with him, took a tour of just those two places, and sent him back to the Human World; well he would become the greatest Chef in the world. Hestia, like most God’s didn’t give gifts (or curses) in half measures. To Giovanni’s credit, he didn’t take all the credit for his amped up culinary skills. He told everyone:
“The woman who taught me to cook was Divine!”
Most folks took that at face value and Giovanni’s Mother was always quick to say Thank you for all the compliments thrown her way for teaching Giovanni how to cook. She knew the truth, but like her son, she knew the Honor went to Hestia. Hestia noted that and granted two unexpected boons to her:
One, she met her second husband after she had been widowed for five years. She was married to the second marvelous man to marry her for twenty two years. She had been married to her first husband for forty two years. Both were good men, and both were head over heals in love with her.
Two: She was granted three grandchildren. She became “Nani” to them all. Love was granted to them all.
Hestia, did not scrimp on her deserts to humans who understood Hearth and Home.
And then it happened…
*****
The wireless world was supposed to work perfectly. Bluetooth, the Internet, Texting, Tweeting, YouTube, FACEBOOK all of them were supposed to be reliable. For more than a decade and half…they were. Until Hestia decided to restore Hearth and Home.
She started with the Phones. If you put earbuds in, all you heard were loud squeals. Uncomfortable squeals. Squeals that made you long for the softer sound of finger nails shredding a chalk board or an untrained voice louder than a high C but missing it completely off key.
Apple, Samsung, Bose…none of them could figure out what was wrong. No one could (or would) use earbuds, or headsets. People started talking to each other - asking if their headsets worked, or when they stopped working.
Hestia smiled.
People were talking to each other again.
*****
Next to go: Texting of all kinds: tweets, emails, Instagram, Posts to FACEBOOK. If you tried to text even a short message: “BRB” or “WTF” or even send an emoji, well you got gibberish, or a picture of people sitting around talking. If you sent a longer text, say something like: “I heard that new place on Market Street makes a great cup of coffee.” All your phone showed was a message saying:
“We should talk.”
It got to the point that people did just talk, instead of sending a Text, or tweet. Within a week, nobody texted anymore. When they wanted to talk, they asked people to dinner, out for coffee, or if they wanted to go for a walk.
Hestia Smiled.
People were meeting up again.
*****
The last thing Hestia did in her plot to restore the Hearth, was make folks terribly afraid of eating alone. Families found themselves eager to discuss their day at the Supper Table (and Hestia also granted the boon to Humanity of the gift of active listening. People became both better speakers AND better listeners).
Young couples had a latte while holding hands, making lots of eye contact with each other, and chatting. Families would listen with grave concern to their younger children’s retelling of their day. Daughter’s started asking their Mother’s for advice, and Dad’s listened to their teenage sons angst.
Older folks became fonts of experience for younger folks to draw on. Meals on wheels had to close its doors because the Elderly were invited to so many dinners now that many of them had to politely refuse some offers - just so they could rest at home for a night or two.
After six months, Hestia allowed the Phone to work again, but only for voice calls. Surprisingly, most folks didn’t use the phone much…except to see if you were home or available. If you were, you met up at a Cafe, restaurant, or somebodies home or apartment.
Hestia took one more tour of Earth.
People sat around dinner tables laughing. Folks were sitting in front of fireplaces having fierce debates about the existence of God (which always got a chuckle out of Hestia). People revealed stories of themselves while playing cards or board games. Board Games, by the way, regained their privileged position of being the bet way to spend a night with friends or family.
Even chess, yes, chess, caused quiet introspective conversations to develop between the players.
Hestia Smiled.
She had restored the Hearth.
She took a piece of Giovanni’s latest creation- tasted it and handed a slice to her sister and brother.
“Not bad for a Mortal."
They all laughed. Aphrodite placed another log on the Fireplace. After all, the Hearth isn’t just for humans.
The return of the Hearth.(Kevin Hughes)
All it took was one trip to a crowded coffee shop and one dinner at a house that had two parents, a Nanny, and five children over the age of six. That is all it took. Hestia, known for her gentle demeanor, kindness, and hope was stung with the necessity of bringing her back in the Modern Era.
*****
Author’s Note:
A very quick intro to the Goddess Hestia:
Hestia (or Vesta, as the Italian Human who requested her presence kept calling her) was both the oldest and youngest of the Olympian Gods. Having been swallowed first by her Father, Cronus, because she was the eldest, then regurgitated later after all the other children had been regurgitated; making her the youngest daughter. All that drama did not change Hestia at all. She was peaceful, felt safest at home, and loved family- even though she remained a Virgin her whole existence.
Even though she isn’t portrayed as a major God or Goddess in most Ancient works, it remains that she was the only God/Goddess who could be worshipped in any temple - no matter who that temple was dedicated to. She also had a fire burning in a hearth at the center of every city in the Ancient world- and that hearth was never allowed to go out. You can Google a lot more about her if you would like, but you have enough now to grasp that she is the Goddess of the Hearth. Or fireplace for us modern folk: home and hearth were Her Domain.
And so we begin in that crowded coffee shop.
*****
Shielding Giovanni from being seen by the patrons of the coffee shop, Hestia quietly surveyed the people crammed into every nook and corner. Other than to order at that counter, none of those people were speaking to each other. Even the tables with couples sitting at them had little - if any- real conversation going on. Everyone had ear buds in, or their heads buried in a phone or tablet, or were reading texts or tweets.
Giovanni was right. There is no Hearth anymore. At least not public ones.
She turned to Giovanni with the saddest countenance one could ever imagine on the kindest god who ever lived. It was the look a Mother must have when a child’s life leads them to prison and not to a full rich life- one where sadness is the overwhelming emotion. Sadness, and loss- for what could have been, might have been, and maybe even should have been. It was a look filled with loving regret.
“Take me to hearth in a home.”
Giovanni did as he was told. All he had to do was think of a place, the people that lived there, and Hestia did the rest. Using her powers, she would transport them both…unseen, unheard, and unfelt… to that place so they could watch, listen, and learn.
Giovanni thought of the Bronson’s. They were a modern Family. Both Parents had decent jobs. The kids ranged in age from 12 to 20 (five of them, three girls two boys) and everyone of them- including Mom and Dad; had smartphones, tablets, and computers. All had Social Media via twitter, FACEBOOK, and Google accounts. They were, as they say: wired.
It was dinner time. Only the youngest child (Cynthia), Bart (the sixteen year old) and Dad sat at the table. Mom took her food into the home office, she had a report that had to be done by tomorrow. Mary was texting both her boyfriend and her best friend while comparing youtube videos of “talking dogs.” They were having a blast online. Mark, well, he was a gamer. Correct that: GAMER. He only came down to get his supper and heft it back up to his room.
Mark didn’t even consider his siblings as parents as his family. His family was a group of avatars in his game world. He was closer to those five online creations than any member of his family. He could have gone to college, or with his hacking skills, become a programmer of note- instead, he played games well enough to have fans. He did make a bit of money online from gaming against people- and often wished he was from South Korea so he could be a Pro Gamer. It was his dream to face off against one other guy (or girl) while hundreds of thousands of fans watched in real time- online, and 20,000 or so crowded into a basketball arena to see him perform his wizardry live.
Steve, the only athlete in the family, ate as quickly as he could so he could get back out in the driveway to shoot hoops with DeWayne, Charlie and Ninajh. He kept his headset on listening to the latest Hip/Hop beat to both drown out his sisters questions and keep his body warmed up to play some more.
Hestia simply cried.
And that is all it took.
A coffee shop, and one family’s dinner.
Hestia knew:
The hearth was dead.
*****
“Thank you, Giovanni. You may go now.”
With a wave of her hand Giovanni slowly faded into a mist like substance, then smoke, then “poof” he was gone. She had sent him back to the little shrine he maintained behind his home. Before he had offered Hestia his best dinner and cake (and Giovanni’s cooking was known throughout the village) he was considered one of the best Chef’s in Italy.
After she met with him, took a tour of just those two places, and sent him back to the Human World; well he would become the greatest Chef in the world. Hestia, like most God’s didn’t give gifts (or curses) in half measures. To Giovanni’s credit, he didn’t take all the credit for his amped up culinary skills. He told everyone:
“The woman who taught me to cook was Divine!”
Most folks took that at face value and Giovanni’s Mother was always quick to say Thank you for all the compliments thrown her way for teaching Giovanni how to cook. She knew the truth, but like her son, she knew the Honor went to Hestia. Hestia noted that and granted two unexpected boons to her:
One, she met her second husband after she had been widowed for five years. She was married to the second marvelous man to marry her for twenty two years. She had been married to her first husband for forty two years. Both were good men, and both were head over heals in love with her.
Two: She was granted three grandchildren. She became “Nani” to them all. Love was granted to them all.
Hestia, did not scrimp on her deserts to humans who understood Hearth and Home.
And then it happened…
*****
The wireless world was supposed to work perfectly. Bluetooth, the Internet, Texting, Tweeting, YouTube, FACEBOOK all of them were supposed to be reliable. For more than a decade and half…they were. Until Hestia decided to restore Hearth and Home.
She started with the Phones. If you put earbuds in, all you heard were loud squeals. Uncomfortable squeals. Squeals that made you long for the softer sound of finger nails shredding a chalk board or an untrained voice louder than a high C but missing it completely off key.
Apple, Samsung, Bose…none of them could figure out what was wrong. No one could (or would) use earbuds, or headsets. People started talking to each other - asking if their headsets worked, or when they stopped working.
Hestia smiled.
People were talking to each other again.
*****
Next to go: Texting of all kinds: tweets, emails, Instagram, Posts to FACEBOOK. If you tried to text even a short message: “BRB” or “WTF” or even send an emoji, well you got gibberish, or a picture of people sitting around talking. If you sent a longer text, say something like: “I heard that new place on Market Street makes a great cup of coffee.” All your phone showed was a message saying:
“We should talk.”
It got to the point that people did just talk, instead of sending a Text, or tweet. Within a week, nobody texted anymore. When they wanted to talk, they asked people to dinner, out for coffee, or if they wanted to go for a walk.
Hestia Smiled.
People were meeting up again.
*****
The last thing Hestia did in her plot to restore the Hearth, was make folks terribly afraid of eating alone. Families found themselves eager to discuss their day at the Supper Table (and Hestia also granted the boon to Humanity of the gift of active listening. People became both better speakers AND better listeners).
Young couples had a latte while holding hands, making lots of eye contact with each other, and chatting. Families would listen with grave concern to their younger children’s retelling of their day. Daughter’s started asking their Mother’s for advice, and Dad’s listened to their teenage sons angst.
Older folks became fonts of experience for younger folks to draw on. Meals on wheels had to close its doors because the Elderly were invited to so many dinners now that many of them had to politely refuse some offers - just so they could rest at home for a night or two.
After six months, Hestia allowed the Phone to work again, but only for voice calls. Surprisingly, most folks didn’t use the phone much…except to see if you were home or available. If you were, you met up at a Cafe, restaurant, or somebodies home or apartment.
Hestia took one more tour of Earth.
People sat around dinner tables laughing. Folks were sitting in front of fireplaces having fierce debates about the existence of God (which always got a chuckle out of Hestia). People revealed stories of themselves while playing cards or board games. Board Games, by the way, regained their privileged position of being the bet way to spend a night with friends or family.
Even chess, yes, chess, caused quiet introspective conversations to develop between the players.
Hestia Smiled.
She had restored the Hearth.
She took a piece of Giovanni’s latest creation- tasted it and handed a slice to her sister and brother.
“Not bad for a Mortal."
They all laughed. Aphrodite placed another log on the Fireplace. After all, the Hearth isn’t just for humans.
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