In Search of Simple Things

Gullible thought she had eradicated Stupid from the dictionary

She thought herself so wise she even marked the page from whence it came.

And as she studied Pride, Eccentricity and Evolution, she assumed nobody was looking for it. In its absence, she hung her coat on Hope's door, and as she opened it wider than before, there were people who invited her in, showed her new and beautiful things.

Distraction taught her to look his way. Whilst Hilarity kept her eyes from seeing that obvious was eluding her at every turn. Dazzled by gifts from Sovereignty, she slept peacefully each night, only waking to find Simplicity had left and was replaced by Discontent. It rose and fell each day, niggled and requested that Common Sense left the room and was replaced by Belligerence.

Belligerence saw much value in Gullible. Why, only Stupid can be fooled? I'm far too wise for that. I read I can write, I speak. There is no other knowledge I require, Belligerence stated and Gullible wanted to believe it, so she did.

But then Control knocked on the door; he came because he thought Belligerence’s sense of purpose was not enough. He sought to play with Gullible. Did she really understand the rules of the game?

He would tell her stories about how bad she'd been and then invited Forgiveness to the table so that she could feel Appeasement as it sat by her side.

Soon she saw only Pain and Sorrow and walked with them a while, asking them what had become of Simplicity. She is still here if you know where to look. But she could not hear or see Simplicity's vain attempts to find her.

Distraction was dancing a big dance, trying to sell her trickery and blind her with all the riches that Consumerism offered her.

She lost her voice, could only hear now that she forgot to give love, was drowning in accusation as Belligerence and Control’s motivations tried desperately not to be revealed by Truth or Trust.

They cut her down with unspeakable words, her pen no match for the sword.

Yet somewhere amidst the noise, Gullible remembered that she had existed with Solitude in a place no one ever came. She went back to her pages and poured over them, hoping to find the missing link, the moment she lost precious Knowledge.

The empty page baffled her at first, but as the onslaught of Belligerent’s continual lies came forth, she remembered how many times she had tried to stop the innate nature of Control. That to find Simplicity, you need faith. Something to believe in. All the good in the world cannot change something if it doesn't want to be changed.

Stupid and Simplicity had long shared a page together with Shame. Simplicity had never berated Stupid for falling for the offer of love or a better life, as Shame had often got up and walked all over Gullible’s kind nature.

She went to Belligerence and Control and split the paper in two for each of them. When you both can get along and live with Love and Harmony, come and find me. I will be with Release and Contentment, but I will never forget that Stupid is a rubbish lookout and won't know to tell me of your pending arrival. She is fooled by Lies and Schemes that cover your union and vested interest to bring me down for as long as I choose not to recognise your existence.

She then turned to the dictionary and drew a faint line through them both. Just to remind her that she didn't need them but must never forget they are lurking close by to ascertain ruin and cover Shame at every opportunity. She chose to live with Knowledge and allowed it to remind her that Simplicity lies with Choice. It does not carry Guilt and Blame, just acceptance of what cannot be changed, and she stepped forth with herself as deserving as a gentle woman should do.