AZOTUSLAND chapter Forty Six

Renata had asked Rand about the laughing and he said it like a poem.

Joy came inside you like
sweet communion wine.
Like Spirit being spoken
into life.

"What have you been smoking?" she chided.

"Been going to too many Azotus Movie Nights...sheesh."

"I laughed because I felt her being formed at that moment. We are going to have a baby."

"We can't afford that!" she said . "Oh God...great...throwing up...stretch marks...working all fat...I hate being a woman."

"I love that you are a woman."

"Yer wrong!!" Renata yelled after him. "But she was not at all sure of it.

*******

That night, in the Theater, they were showing Babette's Feast, a particular favorite of Jim's so he was leading the discussion afterward.

It was a slow film in many ways and Ted fell asleep, as did Jonathan.

Jim and others did not as the sheer simplicity of the film and it's beautiful and poetic storyline pulled them in.

About halfway through the film Martine brought in a large covered pot and Maugham brought in bowls and they spooned up some rather bad, but healthy fish porridge. "OOla-bred!" Jim said and they all took bites and started laughing. Ted woke up when the bowl was passed to him. He looked at it and then said "what the fuck?" And the room busted up.

Jim had stopped the film at just before the big dinner celebration and started up a conversation as they found ways to dispose of the Azotus-made Ule-bred.

"We live in time and generation that are more and more passive observers," Jim started. "I didn't want to preach, but a lot of what we do here at Azotus is contrary to that as you get more and more involved in each others lives and as you discuss and explore life together, no matter how loosely."

"This community in the film," he continuued, "was very locked in...so much so that it was literally dying out from want of new offspring. Now what do you make of their religion?"

Jeremy spoke first. "It was hard, but also weirdly soft,' he said.

"Yeah...the old preacher man was a hard-ass and severe," said River. "But his daughters were full of love and care."

"And there was a weird disconnect between the preacher and his words," Maugham said. "Kinda like you Jim."

Everyone laughed.

Martine squeezed Maugham's hand and gave him a look like "huh? Youa 'go-er?'"

He smiled but kept his seat. He had seen this before with Jim and he liked what it did to Jim at the end. In fact he loved Jim for it.

They talked on and remarked on how beautiful the older women were in the film and River had a lot to say about modern ideas of beauty for women. In contrast where the two "boyfriends" who had been trapped in some way by ambition or vanity.

Jim prepared to start the end of the film, but stopped and said "The Ule-bred was disgusting (laughter) but meant to introduce involvement. next month I want to try something new and do a Middle Eastern Dinner in the Big Room and I would like you all to come on April 15th."

"The food will be amazing and I will treat you to ...well an Ancient story that will warm your heart and maybe shock you a bit at the same time."

And with that he lowered the lights and we saw the General and his aunt arrive in the carriage and the dinner commence on screen.

True to form after the amazing speech at the end of the film by the general...a remarkable moment of Grace, Jim held it togther. Maugham watched him slying out of his glinted eyes, then nudged Martine when the sisters asked Babette about when she would be leaving back to France and it is clear she is not and why."

Tears streamed down Jim's face and he buckled a bit and Maugham saw him fight within himself because the film was now over and he had to lead the discussion.

When the lights came up Maugham sauntered into the front and took the stool.

Jim looked up as Maugham said "Well, Martine will be down soon with the crepes caviar and champagne," he said grinning. Jim got up and exited as Maugham deftly handled the discussion that went on for a good forty minutes.

Ted piped up toward the end "Why did Jim leave?"

"Hankering for turtle soup I suppose," Maug said off-cuff. "You finish yer Ule-bred Ted?"