Snoddi whistled for his white Arabian steed,
and in two shakes of a lambs-tail,
successfully chased away the black night mare that was chomping at Runni's heels.

Runni leapt into Snoddi's arms and passionately expressed her gratitude, orally without words.
Snoddi graciously accepted her trembling relief, and the steed carried them down the beach, quite aware of what was happening on his back, and content to have it happen there.

The next morning:

The moment the first ray of sunshine illuminated the horse's flowing mane,
He realized that at least two miracles had taken place overnight.

He was pregnant.
Runni and Snoddi had found their surrogate.

The Stallion could hardly wait to break the good news to them.

Amazed not only at the news, but that they could understand the horse's communication, Runni & Snoddi immediately started making plans & searched for a suitable place to raise their kids.

The Stallion's family felt blessed to be part of the miracle;
All his brothers and sisters gathered material to make a beautiful
corallette befit for the twin babes.
Stallion developed odd food cravings very early on.
The whole town joined in to gather the foodstuffs he wanted.

Smoked oysters
pistachio pizza
cream soda
fresh nasturtiums,
and calamata olives.

He was also well supplied with equine pre-natal vitamins for the
21 day gestation period.

All he needed now,was an excellent Lamaze coach.

One week before the great emergence,
anticipating their freedom,
the twins were becoming restless inside their growing pouch.
Runni and Snoddy would massage the Stallion's lower back every evening.

Stallion lay on his side.
Runni and Snoddi rested their heads upon his growing mound,
listening to the twins verbally conversing within the womb.

At high noon on Dec. 29th,
Stallion effortlessly gave birth.

The twin babes emerged at the same time,
holding hands.

Runni and Snoddi gazed at them lovingly,
as they watched their offspring helping each other to stand up,
on their wobbly legs.

"Should we name them?", Runni and Snoddi asked each other simultaneously,

"or will they tell us their names?"

Stallion lifted up his head briefly, and whispered, " I have something important
to tell you."

"Search your genes & your many adventures together & realize they know who they are, as you must. The only unknown remains the path they will take to get where they're going. Our children's names are Rhodes and Desiree. Listen well to what they will tell you."

...the next morning, they stood before the tribe council elders awaiting
they knew not what.

Rhodes stood upright, a head taller than his sister Desiree.

Rhodes buckskin hair covered his entire body; his golden bronze mane,
flowed halfway down his back in gentle wavelets the sun had fun glinting off of.

Desiree was a beautiful bay.
Her dark reddish tresses, the wind was playing with.

Silent , calm and majestic,
they stood together grasping hands.

Soon, the wisest and kindest of the wise, came forth to greet them.

" I am Ourcrazymodern?, and I am pleased, honored and humbled to be in your prescence."

"please, wont you come inside for some refreshments, and a game of Scrabble perhaps?"

Rhodes and Desiree felt at ease immediatley.

"I am kinda hungry", Rhodes whispered to his sis.

"Me too," replied Desiree..."and I hope I draw some good letters for the game,"

she grinned shyly.

As they entered Ourcrazymodern?'s beautiful, glorious, amazing sanctuary,
they were momentarily overcome by its powerful gentle perfection.

The fly on the wall knew he was going to have a heyday.

Mr. Fly rubbed his wings together, for two reasons:
His anticipation was about to be slaked.
The events and conversations of this evening,
were so packed full of entertaining wisdom,
he wanted to share the goings on with his fly buds.

He did not want to be alone.
From all corners, they flew in, greeted each other quickly,
and settled in for a long evening.

OCM? surveyed the files:
"Breakfast, lunch, dinner...
midnight snack."

"Would you kids break bread with me?
Here's some excellent artichoke dip..."

...

Begin with sojourn...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3521/...d37f2f8231.jpg

...end with ai.

OCM? 223
Rhodes 185
Desiree 206

Satiated, the kids hit the road.

Runni & Snoddi waited in the street, stroking their surrogate. Stallion whickered at the offspring's emergence, then complimented them on their other-worldly glow. Both buckskin and bay shone with satisfaction. Words failed all & they engaged in a warm, prolonged group hug.

...meanwhile,
back at the artichoke dip,
the flies were busy taking commands from the Matriarch.

"Hurry up now, hurry hurry hurry",
the Lady Of The Flies screached.

"we are doomed, my winged ones, for the eight-legged almighty will devour us soon,
but if you hasten, our little magglets might have a chance!"

The youngest of the flies decided to try and hide himself in the fly catcher,
above the bed along with his sister.

" Clarence!, You big dummie!, this is a DREAM catcher!",
his sister Clarice hissed.

(!!!XXX!!!)

Runni had tears in her eyes as she snatched a few more guts from her beloved, but her muse had a hold on her.
"We love you kids," she said, "call us when you can, but we've got to go now."
"I'm compelled to follow,". Snoddi admitted, "You'll understand soon. We're very proud of you."
Rhodes & Desiree watched in confusion as their adults dissipated into the painting, which followed.
Stallion nuzzled the two, and they mounted. "You are the products of their artistry," he told them, "It is time to explore what this world has in store."

Stallion took off at a warp speed gallup,
secure in the knowledge the two beings on his back,
having a healthy horse hide covering of their own,
would experience no chafing,
during the long ride ahead.

With equine elegance, He transported them past their unspent past and delivered them, hale & whole, to a transformed present.
"Look, Desiree! I think we can safely assume our adults had a hand in this," said Rhodes, his eyes on fire as his imagination expanded.
"I believe you're right, my kindred spirit," she agreed, awash in emotion.

"Rhodes?", Desiree asked,
"I had the most vivid dream last night about islands,
I think there were seven of them, it was a strange and glorious place,
I wish I could recall more details."

Rhodes was very quiet for a minute , because he was remembering a very
similar dream.

"Desiree, my dream had seven...hmmm, 'entities', that's the most accurate word I can use.

They were definitely benevolent, and made a form of music I have never heard before.
I do remember clearly seeing a map of where they reside,
let us clear off the table and help me find a large sheet of paper,
I want to draw this map while the memory is still fresh."

Using each other to fill in the blanks, R&D soon had a map that could be googled. A googleplex of results appeared, so they narrowed their search to include references to Runni & Snoddi and soon had their adults' new number.
"Oh dear," they both exclaimed.
"That seems too far away," said Desiree.
"In space and time," agreed Rhodes.
"Have you forgotten about my horse senses?" asked Stallion, with parental patience.

Stallion himself was then overcome by a strong, 'back to the barn' urge.
A flood of over-lapping past lifetime memories, temporarily left him speechless.

"Come, my darlings, we are going to pay homage, to all of our homes."

R&D had never seen Stallion show this much open emotion.
He was grinning broadly, with copious amounts of happy tears streaming down
his regal strong face.

R&D both reached out at the same time,
their fingers now wet with Stallions tears,
it seemed right and fitting to take a taste.

As soon as they did so, they were all transported to H.O.M.E.

"Honor our meager efforts," was Runni's greeting.
"Happily ordered messy entrails," echoed Snoddi, "we could use your help with some fresher insights. In the meantime, we might discuss your unspent youths-how can you expect to flourish without at least a few ignorant mistakes in your pasts?"
"Yes, dears," dared Runni, "just look at us."
Rhodes and Desiree blushed as far as their colorings would allow, and averted their eyes. Stallion gave a knowing snort, and resolved to rectify matters...

Stallion turned towards Snoddi and Runni.
Using tail language this time, he asked them the delicate question.

Runni shook her head silently in agreement.
Snoddi burst forth with, "Yes, and about time I may add!", as he motioned
Rhodes and Desiree to come closer.

Desiree spoke first. "Does this mean what I think it does?"

Reaching for her hand, Rhodes shouted with joy, "Yes it does yes it yes it does!,
.....um doesn't it?" He then quickly looked at Stallion, Snoddi, and Runni
for reassurance.

"Here are your tickets to the seven islands you've been wanting to see.",
Stallion grinningly said. Runni and Snoddi handed them a small package.

"You kids will have a time of it,I'm sure."

"Don't open the package until you two are settled, alright?"

Secure with the blessings of all, and knowing that the universe loved them,
they scampered away towards the islands.

The Buckskin snorted, but the Bay tweaked his mentalty.
"Let's risk it, brother dearest. I think it beats the alternative."


It seemed as though days passed as the two struggled to reach their destination. Rhodes suffered a mild digression into the most effective knot to use, while Desiree felt perfect comfort. Their connectedness was again their salvation, & they approached their divergence, content.

"I'm going to the beaches!" said Desiree.
"I'm headed for the hills. Good luck with your mistakes, my other!". Rhodes nuzzled her & trotted onwards & upwards.

They turned and waved to each other, every hundred yards it seemed.

The final fare thee well, happened when Rhodes blew his sister a kiss, from atop a small
hill.
Rhodes then found himself gratefully busy navigating a rocky descent, strewn with many snags.
Soon, they would be more difficult to see.
Twilight was fast approaching.

He thought to himself, "maybe commuting wasn't such a good idea."

He trotted onwards, imagining circularity.

By nightfall, Desiree's Jacobson's organ caught a whiff of brine and salt-grass.

Within the hour-
She could hear the surf tumbling,
rolling and kissing the pebble brethren.
Smooth ones mostly, and smatterings of not-for-long sharp rocks.

She knew she wouldn't have to wait for long.

Rhodes would be there before dawn.

This Island prefers only the weather to climb upon its hills.

(she read the brochure)

Rhodes sidled up against his sister & whispered, "I had so much fun, but I'm a little worried about my penis...it seems to have a mind of its own now."

" Snoddi told you that wild oats don't produce useful heads of grain, did he not?'',
Desiree chuckled, as she handed Rhodes a granola bar.

(Munch, munch, crunch.)

"Ah, sis, I thought you were created the kinder & gentler sex.
I had it in my mind that you were caring!"

Rhodes took a moment to reflect...

"oh brother!, brother;
perhaps I'm just a tad envious since you've obviously had much more
adventuring than I so far." Desiree hung her head for a bit.

" uh..Rhodes?...can you introduce me to some of your friends?,
I haven't seen hide nor hair of anyone else."

"Their hides were annoying, but their beliefs in their damn selves gave friction, sis. You don't damn me for looking elsewhere, do you? It's the problem I mentioned."

Rhodes glanced down & blushed.

A loud commanding whinny, from atop the hill behind them,
halted their petty wranglings, abruptly.

"who the?", Rhodes muttered, as he turned to look.

Desiree squinted,
and quickly realized the attempt to use her hands as a sun shield,
when the sun was behind them, was futile and illogical.

" Whoa..sis, that is Stallion, I believe."

Stallion heard and pawed the ground,
motioning them to come to him.

The siblings dutifully trotted up the hill.

" I sense your equilibriums are skewed. The sound of your dual discontent,
rang enough discordant bells that could be heard for.....well,
it was not a pleasant thing, let's leave it at that for now."

Brother and sister stood still;
quiet on the outside - both afraid to speak first - but wanting to.

" Relax, you little freaks," Stallion casually commented, as he lit a cigar.

"Rhodes, your Yin needs some attention, I have a plan, if you'll listen."

Before Desiree could even shift her weight to one hip as a body smirk,
Stallion countered,

" And you, Miss Construe, are a coming with us, don't worry,
we are going to have all sorts of glorious painful fun, you'll see.

Pardon me while I take care of an itch, please?"

Stallion then rolled about on the rough salt-grass 'till his back was slaked.

" Okay, let's go kids, march!"

They followed, wondering where, & also why they weren't getting a ride. Over the next hill, it became apparent, as their parent had implied.

At the bottom of the valley:

A pair of brand-swatting-new
fully Meccanized transport modules,
sat gleaming and shape-wavering,
similar to the heat induced hallucination mirages,
that hover above a vast scorching desert.

Rhodes estimated the distance,
turned to his sister and said,

"I'll race ya!"

Desiree immediately replied, " That's only a furlong; you know I'm best at sprints,
you are so on, bro."

Before Stallion could say, " Whoa, slow down there, Pilgrims.",

the siblings had bolted.

Rhodes didn't mind not winning.

"Sis," he said, "my penis is having that problem again, I mean, look at all these people, genuflecting! I think I might sniff around, a bit."

"No good, bro. I've seen their ilk before, & I'm coming with you," said Desiree, seriously wondering about her brother's mental state.

Desiree nibbled on the red rose,
that was hanging from the
brim of her brother's hat,
while she pondered options.

Blinded by his lust,
Rhodes galloped towards his belief ignoring his wants.

Luckily, they meshed...
Beliefs intact, then his sister said:

"You idiot! I can only contain what I know!"

"I know that, sis, but listen."

Rhodes waited,
until he felt certain that Desiree was paying
complete and focused attention.

He cleared his throat,
straightened his posture,
looked up to the heavens,
and then announced:



" I know this real wacko from Wisconsin,
I'd like to introduce to you;
you game?"

"It's not like I can ignore all these weirdoes you've led me amongst, although I admire you fleetness of foot. Yeah, let's get out of here, sis. Wisconsin sounds good."

Wisconsin WAS good! Cheese & onions, and the honest breath of life, betwixt the doldrums.

Rhodes still wasn't satisfied, & his sister was frankly bored. Their surrogate walkid in, quite calmly, to their rescue, again.

Stallion emptied his saddle bags onto the table.

"Kettle chips?", queried Rhodes.

"Yes," said Stallion, "they're delightfully crunchy."

Desiree munched, appreciative, but Rhodes still had a question: "Did you bring any vinegar?"

Desiree snorted:
"Are the flies that bothersome, Rhodes?

Where's your little friend, Flicka?"

"She was met at a crossroads." Rhodes turned his head away. "by the way, sis, you haven't told me anything about your adventures, yet."

"Yeah, well, mine is not to kiss & tell. My tail usage would only piss you off, my womb-mate."

"They all turned tail and fled that fast, eh, sis?",
Rhodes quippped.

Stallion whinnied:

"Whose idea was it to have me pregnant in the first place, dammit!"

Desiree flinched.
Rhodes blanched.

They gave themselves a bit of distance:

"Do you think he's upset?"
"I think he's set to blow."

Their distance inadequate, Stallion knodded knowingly to himself.

Desiree hind kicked the ice-bucket less than obvious,
before she even thought to look for a basin.

Stallion spluttered and stormed over,
yanking the ice from behind her.

He dumped it into the horse trough,
and soaked his aching swollen head for twenty minutes.

The kids waited, concerned & not understanding (youth's wont) until Stallion re-erected & said, "We can go now."

" Let's sing a song!", Desiree squealed.

Rhodes belted out The Sheath Cleaning Song:

"How's it hangin'?
So much cleaner.
Aren't you glad I
washed your wiener?

I'll admit it's
kinda creepy
that I had to stick my arm up in your pee-pee.


It was sticky.
It was gunky.
It felt icky.
It smelled funky.

It was cruddy,
it was crusty--
when you stuck it out, it creaked like it was rusty.


After half an
hour of toilin'
and of squirtin'
baby oil in,
you're as fresh there
as a daisy.

Either this means I love you or else I'm crazy!!!"

"Sis! You've come dangerously close to arousing me." (Rhodes wasn't complaining, but wore a hang-dog expression.)
Stallion flared his nostrils, again: "You've really got to focus on your destinations, or I can't carry you there," he grumped.

(ring is easily influenced by her rowdier friends)

Rhodes & Desiree looked @ each other, somewhat taken aback.

"We know he's right. How did we end up so far left of center?"

Stallion gently grabbed the siblings by their manes,
and sat them down in front of the screen.

"Watch this, please,
while I pop some more corn."

"Alright!" Rhodes grudgingly acknowledged, "We know your head's bigger than ours are, but you're a fucking horse!"

"Where are our prurient parents?" Desiree demanded.

(Stallion enjoys flaring his nostrils.) "I can take you to them, if you want to give them a hug."

Runni and Snoddi slowly awoke from their long stasis slumber,
dimly aware of the deep space snooze alarm,
that had been pulsating its tremeloes for the last four light years.

Snoddi rolled over and just about gagged when he smelt Runni's decade old morning breath.

Runni turned to her Snoddums, and mumbled:

"The kids need us; Stallion would not have woken us, only half-way through our journey,
if it wasn't important."

Stallion apologized to the generatives, but continued: "I don't understand your kids, & I need some help here."

Runni yawned, stretched, and turned over in the sleep chamber to face Snoddi.

"Snoddi darlin', isn't your turn to change the twins diapers?'

Snoddi wore a momentarily puzzled expression.

"Hey Runni, the kids have been out of diapers for quite some time now."

Runni blushed. "I must have been asleep a lot longer than I thought.
I'll make the coffee."

Thus stimulated, Snoddi encouraged the children:

"You're beautiful, but capable, & you might find this a quandary you must deal with. Our generation has dealt with sins that weren't ours, & we're trying desperately to recover."

Rhodes responded. "Sometime I feel like a fucking centaur!"

Desiree supplied, "My delight in this life you have given us surpasses."

In unison, "We need to know why?"

Runni began, "Well, honeys, we were on a lark that didn't fly..."

"Ah, sweetwings!" Runni sighed, & finally knew of herself as she spoke:

"It's your responsibilty, after all. We didn't give you life as a burden."

Family Vacation Time:

The sorting and subsequent packing and re-packing of their luggage,
was a sight to behold.

The elders knew to pack light.

They watched patiently, as the fledglings decided how much baggage,
they decided to carry.

"These swim fins must come with me." Desiree proclaimed.

She walked proudly out of the domicile, wearing them on her feet,
glaring at Rhodes, daring him to utter anything audible.

"Sis!" he hissed, "we ain't going swimming, again. This time, we will fly."

Desiree said, "Show me our tickets."

Rhodes took a deep breath.
"Stand back a bit, sis, I need a little room."

Desiree's eyes widened with awe and joy,
as her brother's wings began to emerge from his side.

"They'll take some time to dry, this is the first time I've gotten them to work;
no worries, it's all good, but please, take those silly duck flops off."

Desiree composed herself while discarding her flippers.

"I clearly see he's nuts, but he's done something miraculous. What can I think now?" she asked herself.

Desiree has a melodious pleasant voice,
and the moment felt ripe for a song.

She sang her inside truth, with grace, and without affectation.

Rhodes gaped. "Sis, I have wings. I think our parents are all a little freaked out. Do you think we should make like the bluebirds?"

Desiree looked puzzled.

"What does Bluebeard have do with anything?"

"Sis, you're a bay!"

"Bro, I'm going to skin your buck!"

Stallion designated Snoddi, to take over.

"I've had all I can take of these obtuse, idiotic, sophmoric, stubborn mule heads.
I will be at the sanitarium, I deserve a respite."

Runni & Snoddi looked @ each other, aghast.

'WHAT THE FUCK are we going to do now?" With thir tongues again entwined, nobody heard them but themselves, outside their enjoying moaning,.

Stallion was blissfully sunk deep inside his third Manhattan.

"More cherries, please, Garson!"

His provision, with alacrity, came pretty close to alarming the horse. "You've earned your tip," he said.

Runni was still panicking, but Snoddi had gone beyond this before: "The kids are fine, dear. I know what might relax you."

Runni glanced over her shoulder and said:
"They'd best be the Blue-10's, dear."

"FUCK!!! That warn't the drug I was thinking of," Snoddi reconsidered, "but if that's what you want, Runni, I'll put this on hold."

"Oh my beloved Snoddi, I think that would work best if you took your gloves off, first."

"You mean we can ride bareback?" Snoddi reflected, & felt his muscles relax.
"My joints are still working."

...

Rhodes was a little concerned. Desiree hung her head & moaned, "My brother, dearest other, I'm not sure how we'll find our way, while they're so distracted, & our surrogate elsewhere."
"I know, sis, but we've been self-sufficient for most of our lives. We used to beg for outside input, but I believe we've grown beyond them, now."
"Of course, my leftist. It's just that I can't listen to them anymore. I'm a little bit jealous."

Silenus caught a whiff; and decided to climb down the rickety attic stairs.

His knees were stiff from lack of use;
but the aroma of fresh ambrosia was too scintillating to ignore.

Snoddi was the first, to notice his presence.

Snoddi had come. He knew the scent well, & needed to find out more about the new character of the local aroma.

"I don't think I know you, sir. I don't mind the kids' discomfort, fully knowing where they came from, but, since I didn't even know we had an attic, you had best introduce yourself."

Silenus realized his sudden appearance might be a tad off-putting.


http://www.mlahanas.de/Greeks/Mythol...urisBME768.jpg

"Wine is an excellent ice-breaker, you thirsty?"

"A little," Snoddi allowed.

Silenus poured, allowing a little to dribble.

Runni came, running, but didn't complain about her lovers' overflow. She was so happy they had finally met.

Desiree looked at Rhodes: "It's time to hit it, brother."
He knodded, in agreement.

Desiree and Rhodes gathered their belongings,
leaving the rest of the crew to their trysts and turnings.

Silenus decided to break open a bottle of Merlot, next.
It would compliment the already xystings.

Runni unwrapped a fresh round of cheese.

Snoddi went to the cellar to gather an apron full of apples.

He came back with his dangling, since the apron wasn't all that long.

"Now, then, we'll make some sauce, shall we?" he sez.

Silenus addressed Runni:

" You didn't tell Snoddi there's been a Satyr living in your attic, these past five hundred years, did you?
That explains his exaggerated startle-response."

Snoddi held out his cup for a refill.

"Good stuff, Silenus," he said. "With a lot of butter & a little lime juice & coriander, it will make a lovely sauce."
"Oh, Snoddi, you can't help yourself, can you?" said Runni, reaching out to give him a hand with the apples.
"I like the way he thinks," said Silenus.

Silenus felt faint. Placing the back of his hand,
(somewhat affectedly) against his throbbing forehead, eventually gained him the
attention he'd hoped to draw.

"Whatever is the matter with you?" queried Runni.

"I'll find something for you to sit upon." said Snoddi.

After Silenus gratefully sat on the apple barrel that Snoddi had led him towards,
he spoke.

"I feel a prophecy coming on. They remind me of cluster-headaches,
only, ummm ...pleasurable, it's a little hard to explain."

Snoddi said, "No, when it's only a little hard, it's only marginally useful. Let's see what we can do with this..."

Runni reclined, rejoicing their becoming acquainted so properly.

Silenus, relishing the anticipation,
decided to draw it out a bit further.

He announced two requests:

" First, I require a sardine/watercress/peanut butter sandwich,
and then a proper show-tune, to fan my desires."

Snoddi listened to his intuitive viscera speaking, and chose:



As the music began to play, and the sardine oil dripped down his chin:

Silenus smiled, audibly.

"Well, Runni, shall we?" leered Silenus.

Runni rolled to her feet, but Snoddi cleared his throat:

"I think we shall," he said.

"Let's make a sandwich."

Rhodes and Desiree decided to join Stallion at the sanitarium,
just for kicks.

Rhodes nudged his sister. "Pretend you're hearing voices if you have to, Dez,
we need to see Stallion."

"Stop with the 'we' bit bro, I catch your driftage. Do you really think I could
pull it off? "

"Yes, sis, I think you could, but as you well know, we work better together."

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Snoddi rearranged his thinking about the nature of the sandwich: "I think we need some more greens," he said, extricating himself, with regret, as the meat.

Runni sighed, but knew as good & better was on its way.

Little did she know what he'd be coming back with.

"That's not green!" she cried.

"No, it isn't," Snoddi allowed, "but I'm envious, & wondering why you never told me we had an attic."

"Oh, Snoddi! I knew you'd be pleasantly surprised!"

Silenus allowed himself re-erection, thinking, "I like the way he thinks."
Aloud: "May I help you dice that?"

Snoddi motioned for Runni to clear the table, so he could lay down
the 20 lb.Truffle he had found with the help of his best buddy, Labrador.

"Hell, you're almost as good as a pig, Riley! How did I get so lucky?"
Snoddi was beside himself as he assisted Silenus in cutting the thing up.

Left to the elements, fungisometimes go bad. Runni was delighted by what she saw.

She watched as their caps became inkier.

********************************

...back at the sanitarium...
Stallion requested a private room, with a view.

Rhodes & Desiree had discovered themselves, unable to get in.

"What the hell are we gonna do now?" Rhodes whinnied.

"My bro', you can really be unreal when you're not trying." Desiree looked around.

Silenus, Snoddi and Runni, gamboled down to the creek to wash up a bit before dinner.

"The last time I felt so delicious was well into my last life," Silenus said.

"I feel beautiful, too," said Snoddi.

Runni glowed.

Rhodes and Desiree decided to join up with their pen-pals on Saturn for a spell.

Rhodes became quickly disaffected. Desiree reminded him: "Look at the lights & the colors, my brother!"