Meet Minstrel

Let me introduce you to my friend Minstrel.  If you have already read Molly and the Vampire then you have already run into him.

I have written this blog for a friend who sent me a list of questions for him.  She just loves him. He has agreed to answer them but I can’t guarantee that his answers will make any sense.

“Hello Minstrel.”

“Hello lovely one.  You are looking delicious today.  Does this mean that you have decided to run off with me?”

“Okay now you have to stop doing that.  The ground rules for this were no flirting.  You promised.”

“Are you sure about that?  I’m certain you must have misunderstood sweeting.  That doesn’t sound like me at all.  We could go to that island I was telling you about love.  We could spend a few days discussing it.”

“Stop that.  Your here to answer questions, remember?”

“Am I?  Well we had best get on with it then.  It will leave more time for seduction.”

“Ahem.  Her first question is about your immortality.  Nan wants to know if that means you can’t be killed or you have always existed.”

“Oh, she likes the hard ones doesn’t she?  Well, I think I can be killed.”

“Excuse me, you think?”

“Well it hasn’t happened yet has it?  But that could only indicate that it’s very hard to do, or that I’ve been very lucky.  I’m not a god, at least I don’t think I am and they would be the only ones you can’t kill.  I think.”

“You don’t sound sure of anything.”

“Oh well I’m not.  I tend to forget things; or at least I try to.”

“Does that mean that you don’t remember if you have always existed?”

“Right.  I must have been born don’t you think?  I don’t remember my parents, but I should think it likely that I had some and I’m certain they were very nice ones.”

“Next she want’s to know, if you have always been, have you always been the same, the same health, maturity, that sort of thing.  Or did you grow up?”

“Lovely one are you sure you wouldn’t rather talk about something else?  Something like what I could do to your body if you were to give me a chance.”

“Let’s stick to the questions please.”

“Very well.  If I was born, and I think I was, then I would have to have grown up.  You might ask my friends Bran and Crow about my maturity.  They might not think I am.  Better yet, ask Molly.  She’ll tell you the truth, that I’m almost perfect.”

“I’ve heard that before.  Next question, have you ever been bored?”

“Well now you see, that’s one reason I began forgetting things.”

“Then you’re telling me that you purposely forget things, important things like having parents?”

“Well of course.  I’ve been around long enough to understand that boredom can be deadly.  But if you forget the past, you are constantly surprised by life.”

“That answers her next question, can you ever be surprised.”

“But there is more than that.  Ladies are always a wonder and surprise.  No two are alike, but they are all beautiful and a joyful gift.  I love you all.  Now, about that island...”

“No island.  Questions remember.  Next Nan want’s to know, because you can change into different things what is the strangest thing you ever turned into, and was there something so wonderful that you wanted to stay that way forever?”

“Well... let me think.  The oddest thing I remember turning onto was a Blue Whale.  It was very exciting to see the world they live in.  As to the second part of your question, I’m very fond of dragons.  Flying as a dragon is like nothing else.  It is exhilarating.  I also enjoy being a big cat.  Stretched out on a big rock in the sunshine is...beautiful.  But I have never wished to remain in a form other than my own.  How could I seduce you were I a dragon, although I could take you flying?  Would you like to fly to that island we were speaking of sweeting?”

“Nan wants to know about some historical events or people you knew.”

“But you haven’t answered my question about flying to the island.”

“I’m ignoring you.  Answer the question.”

“Your friend is the one who writes about history isn’t she?  That would explain it I suppose, this interest in my history.  I’m afraid I can’t help her much.  As I have explained, history, at least mine is something I endeavor to forget.  I do remember St. George but as far as I could tell, he was no saint.  Then he went and killed that poor dragon then made up stories to justify the deed.  And you should know that most of my time was not spent in the human world.”

“Next question, if you wanted to die could you?”

“But why would I want to?  I think your friend needs a vacation.  She thinks too much about death.  Do you think she would like to go to the island with us?  I could make you both very happy.”

“Are you even listening to me?  I am not, repeat not, going to some island with you.  Now, can you have children?”

“Are you offering luv?”

“I don’t know why I agreed to do this.  Every time you show up you make me crazy.  I have one last question from Nan.  If you just can’t die, then when were you born, how were you born, and what is your earliest memory?”

“Haven’t I answered those?  Very well, as to when, I know that I am something over two millennium old but I don’t know how much.  How is anyone born?  I don’t think I was discovered in a cabbage patch.  And I’m sorry but I have forgotten my earliest memory.  At least I think I have.”

“Have you anything you would like to say to the readers?”

“Why don’t we go to my island and take a few days to discuss that?”

“Go away.”

You can see why I was leery of inviting Minstrel in for questions.  Getting a straight answer out of him can be impossible.