Then, Now, Me

Prologue

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author"s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events may be inspired by the author"s life experience, but have been altered and exaggerated to an extent that makes the entirety of this story fictional.

PROLOGUE

"Miss Larsson?" a voice calls from the back of the room. "Even though Odysseus isn"t really a hero to us, does the Odyssey still follow the hero"s journey?"

Behind her podium in front of the room, the 21-year-old student teacher flying solo today, smiles. Miss Elizabeth Larsson loves talking about this stuff.

"Yes, Lauren," Miss L. begins. "In Odysseus" time, heroes weren"t necessarily defined the way we define heroes today - although we really need to talk about that too. But anyway, in Ancient Greece, heroes were simply people who displayed character traits that stood out as exceptional, in one way or another." Miss L. directs the class" attention to the slideshow projecting from the overhead onto the whiteboard, "Odysseus was a master at getting himself out of sticky situations. Very intelligent. And his story is definitely an example of the hero"s journey."

Miss Larsson sees a hand tentatively go up, just peeking up behind the head of another student.

"Sean?"

"So," Sean is hesitant, "Star Wars is an example of the hero"s journey, too, right?"

Sensing an undercurrent of giggles about to erupt from her freshmen English class, Miss L. quickly jumps in to save Sean, "Absolutely!" Miss L. effectively diffuses any thoughts of taunting this poor boy and redirects. "So, thinking back to what we"ve talked about, who can summarize the hero"s journey for me?"

A few hands go up. Miss L. is pleased to see a student typically more on the quiet side in class raise her hand. Zoe is a bright girl, but lacking the confidence to take a risk in class by speaking up. Miss Larsson can relate, as she was very similar in school.

"Okay, Miss Zoe," Miss L. says enthusiastically, "take it away!"

"Um, okay," Zoe manages and Miss L. silently cheers her on. "So heroes usually are, like, the underdogs in life and they go through a journey beginning with a call to adventure. The hero is not so much into it, but in some way is convinced to go on this ultimate quest." Zoe is clearly warming up, and Miss L. feels a sense of relief in the girl"s explanation, "Often in fantasy and myth, the task is literal, but there"s always figurative meaning underneath. And I think you mentioned it can even apply to our own lives?" Miss L. nods, and with a smile, urges Zoe to continue. "Yeah, so, we may not be saving the world, or whatever, but each person can go on a kind of personal journey of their own. The quest can get pretty dark, to the point where the hero almost dies in some cases, but there"s a kind of resurrection."

"Right," Miss L. puts in while Zoe pauses, trying to gather her thoughts. "Do you have more to add?"

"No, I was just thinking," Zoe responds, seeming less certain, "It sounds religious."

"In what way?" Miss Larsson is loving Zoe"s train of thought.

"Well, I mean, resurrection is like, Jesus, right?" she says this like she"s ripping off a band-aid. "I don"t know. I was kinda thinking that maybe that"s what these stories are copying, in a way."

Before anyone else can comment - because religious beliefs can be a sticky topic in a public school - Miss L. immediately reacts, "That"s incredibly thoughtful, Zoe. Many people have said the same thing." Miss L. again smiles, enjoying the conversation. "Really, the hero"s journey just outlines a great story. It can be as well-known as the story of Jesus, or something that happened to you just last week. Everyone, at one point or another, goes through a journey of self discovery and the importance of it is really relative to the hero."

The class discussion moves on from the hero"s journey, but the idea that everyone goes on a quest of their own sticks with Miss L.

I wonder what mine will be, she wonders, as she guides the students through the complexities of The Odyssey.