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The First Sestina:
No Rhyme, No Reason

by Oonah V Joslin

Where are you going dressed up like that, Eve?
It’s only a fig leaf.
Well, quite.
Hell in a handcart.
Is that a thing?
Apparently.

So, where are you going?
I’m going on a shopping spree.
A shopping spree? What’s that?
I found a list nailed to that tree, of things I shouldn’t ever do.
Such as?
Eating apples, wearing clothes, having sex and going on a shopping spree.

You’ve been talking to that snake again.
He has some interesting ideas.
About what?
Economics, Politics, War.
War?
Conflict. Fighting with your neighbours over territory, food, stuff like that.

We don’t have any neighbours, Eve. And we’ve plenty to eat.
He says there are other people out there who’d love this garden.
If they knew about it.
Plus I’ve never been on a shopping spree before.
What’s a shop anyhow?
A place where you put things in handcarts and pay for them.

What things?
Dunno. That’s why I’m going. Knowledge is power.
Pay with what?
Apples. Figs. Stuff from here. Sex maybe. Everything has a price.
But they’ll find out about the garden.
You’re so insular, Adam.

How was the spree?
Okay. I’m a bit worn out, to be honest.
You need an early night.
Do you think this fig leaf makes my bum look big?
No, dear. Not at all. Absolutely not.
You’ve been talking to the snake, haven’t you!


Copyright © 2025 by Oonah V Joslin

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