STORY STARTER
Submitted by Evelyn Allen Vale
"Two go in, and one comes out" is the start to a dark nursery rhyme that everyone in the town knows.
Write a story which features this rhyme and its tale.
A Song of Flame and Rain
This was the first time it had rained in a hundred years. Even the oldest grandmother didn’t remember the last time it rained in this lonely desert town. Entire families stared open mouthed out of windows that had been dry ever since they could remember. And one boy sat with his abuelita, sing the local lullaby.
“Two go in, one comes out
The river valley dies in drought
Long ago the river flowed
The banks were always overflowed
Two go in, one comes out
Brothers long ago brought this about
One of Fire and Sun
The other Water danced where river runs
Two go in, one comes out
Fire jealous of Water’s sprout
Water brought life
Fire only brought strife
Two go in, one comes out
Brother Fire wished to rout
Calm water from his flowing bed
And filled his brother with dread
Fire raged across the land
And drove out Water with a heavy hand
But Fire went to far
The air was thick with the scent of char
Fire and Water had kept each other in check
And one, alone was met
With only pain and devastation
And on more than one occasion
Child, pride is a Fire
That overwhelms you with desire
To burn and take
Until all that is left is your mistake”
Somewhere throughout the song, the boy was joined by others, one by one. The song wove it’s way down to the old river bed, where two men embraced. One was thick and strong, with hair a red flame. The other was slim and rhythmic in his speech and movements, as he danced with his brother among the rain drops, singing the ancient song.