Some people say, remarked the Sphinx, looking back over her shoulder as she walked, to check that her tail was fashioning the correct swish to maximise its beauty, that memories are to be gathered and held close, stuck into your head to check who you are. But I say, let go, free yourself of the past, move on.
In the Great City of Az, the Sphinx and the Raggedy Man came to the Elders. The Darkest Knight was gone back to manage his Hostel for the Homeless and absorb the sorrows of its transitory inhabitants.
The Elders sat on their chairs. The Eldest Elder said, I think that the Monument should be in the shape of a turnip the size of a building. Why, you may well ask, well, when I was a young and untrustworthy child, my family was poor in extreme. For every and each meal we ate turnips, which is the most important vegetables always is the turnip, that’s why.
I wonder, said the Sphinx, not intending any disrespect, if more universal references for the subject matter of our monument of memories might be more appropriate and effective? Perhaps a group of the things of most import to you all, fashioned in a great tower might suffice? Like a secular God? Can that be a thing?
So, the discussions began, meandering this and that, they seemed to go on for ever, each person sure that her or his choice was the perfect, and fully willing to argue the corner.
These then are just some of the initial suggestions.
A horse, a family of figures, a monumental spoon or spoons, an obelisk, a giant flower, two kinds of, a tree, a tree with leaves, a globe, a figure holding a spoon, a cow, a woman on a seat, a child playing, a shape (to be fashioned by an artist), a turnip, an ice cream cone, etc. A tall thing, very big, that you can see for a long way off. Representing the entire of it with a show of love or reverence maybe? A tortoise, a great saucer of the oceans in which the earth did swim with the heavens supported by pillars of smoke. A blue and white egg with an explosion of energies on top.
Also, the arguments of how to balance a horse upon a spoon and a turnip there on. Which should come above or which below.
In the end it was obvious that they could not decide, so they made a plan that a collection would be made of suggestions and that in one month all these would be voted on by the populace of the city of Az and anyone else who felt involved.
Very fair, said the Sphinx, I suggest that all the participants bring their unwanted memories to the walls of Az and throw them off in a gesture of defiance. I shall collect the broken shards at the base of the walls and ferry them to the clearing.
The Elders of Az made a great clearing in the forest near and not far to suffice the monument and its surrounding, with paths and seats and a ticket booth with leaflets in 6 langues. Also, convenient toilets nearby and also a space for food stalls and a trinkets mart. The hiring of a horse and cart for family trips and wheelbarrows for the less mobile were provided.
Then when all had been collected and collated it came the final resolution and it was decided and confirmed. Day upon day, late evenings, bang bang, the work makers made it high behind a curtain to avoid disappointment. Clattering with tins of paint, stirring great pots of emotion for gluing cement and passing up sacks upon sacks of memory shards as building pieces.
In the end, when it was all finished and polished and painted, all gathered in the clearing and a speech was made which nobody listened too as they were too excited. Then when the trumpeting trumpets had trumpeted, the curtain was dropped in and pulled away quite hard as it kept snagging on sharp bits outstanding, the monument was revealed, and a great roar of approval was heard. Some cried and The Darkest Knight fell in a feint of appreciation. The Raggedy Man, who had to be brought with his feet off the ground in case he disappeared in a straight line, looked over his should and pronounced, Wow!
The Guardians of the Cave 