Sphinx Into the Woods

When the Sphinx was but a freshly minted immortal, she entered into the woods. Which is a metaphor for approaching the complexities of life, like growing up, down or out. Though I don’t know why going into the woods is so potent. I guess it stems from a time when we were all surrounded by woods. Maybe going for a swim in the social media or navigating a city without Snooglemaps would be more appropriate for the modern age. Do popular metaphors get updated when a more potent one comes along?

Quand meme, the Sphinx was going on the instruction of her mother the Djinn. The Djinn had recently made a batch of smoked tofu, which was a particular favourite of the ancestor (nobody else liked it much) who inhabited a hollow tree in the depths of the woods. The Djinn told the Sphinx that she must be home before the evening bells or darkness of the sky, which ever came first. The Sphinx extrapolated all kinds of dangerous scenarios that might ensue and considered taking the family blunderbuss, but having reflected that she was some seventy-three metres in length and made of stone, she left it in the umbrella rack.

Mother Djinn also said that the Sphinx must not stray from the path. Yet another allusion to experiencing things that might not be appropriate for a young Sphinx of tender years. She had only one thousand summers.

Anyway, the innocent Sphinx went merrily along the path, saying hello to the flowers and trees, the tofu in a plastic lunch box with a picture of a beloved cartoon character emblazoned.

A Bad Influencer, who roamed those woods, pushing people around to its own ends, languishing nearby in the software and eating innocent passersby, saw the passing carefree Sphinx. The Bad Influencer spoke out to her saying something like.

You and me babe, how ‘bout it? Why don’t you come over here where the interesting things are, I can show you a good time, with many shiny baubles and videos of cute furry animals.

The Sphinx said, No thanks, I’m not on Stinkagram, so your algorithms cannot attach. I must go to visit my ancestor who rests in the of wood near a small stone temple of indeterminate age and deliver this delicious tofu offering.

The influencer regaled the Sphinx with tales of material goods and needs that were needless. The Sphinx was captivated and left the path to investigate a rabbit hole of comfy sofas which could never fit.

Meanwhile, the Influencer had dashed off to the tree where Sphinx’s ancestor lived, with the intention of surprising her and then eating her. They arrived at the hollow tree and knocked on the bark.

Hello ancestor, it is I your sweet and innocent Sphinx, come to administer a square portion of smoked tofu of the very very best. Said the Bad Influencer.

Come in dear, said a voice, come in and bow down to your ancestor. The incense sticks are by the entrance.

The Bad Influencer entered. Come into the light my dear, my eyes are grown dim, My you have shrunk, last time I saw you, you were a massive stone edifice in the desert, said ancestor.

The Bad influencer tried to eat the ancestor then without further, but was crushed by the weight of years for which it had no shielding.

Eventual, away in the overgrowth, she Sphinx recalled the advice of her mother the Djinn and returned to the path, having wasted valuable time scrolling meaningless images and short video clips which repeated endlessly, without end or beginning.

She arrived at the hollow tree without fuss and entered in, she lighted some incense which smelt of sweet cinnamon. Hell Ancestor, she called, I bring tofu. Come in my dear, said a voice, I’m in the mausoleum.

Stop it ancestor, said the Sphinx, how is it that you are talking when you had passed one hundred years past and now reside in powdered form. I come bearing an offering and sweet cinnamon incense to make pleasant your residence in that other place.

I have been disturbed by the Bad Influencer, said the ancestral voice, who came here intending to consume everything with its lack of substance. But I have placed a small stone in its mouth so that they may only tell the truth and the endless repeated video clips might melt into something of value like a cast iron cooking pot.

Good work ancestor, I feel that I have learnt a life lesson this day. I owe you one.

De rien, said the ancestor.