Sunrise
The baby opens his eyes to his first glimpse of the world. He sees the people he would come to know as his parents and he smiles. His parents think he is smiling at them, but the baby is looking beyond. He giggles at the creatures so much smaller than him and his parents think nothing of the baby’s laughter.
Sunset
The baby is outside with his mother. It is late and she is exhausted. As with all new mothers, she hasn’t had a good night’s sleep in what seems like five years. She goes into the house to get the baby’s bottle and the baby smiles again.
The creatures laugh as they dance by the baby. He wonders what these things are doing, but he is too young to understand the danger he is in. The baby gasps when he is taken into the air. The creatures’ dance goes faster and faster and then the baby is gently set down.
The creatures disappear as his mother returns.
Sunrise
The baby is crying again. He doesn’t understand why he is in so much pain. So many people are coming to see him, but everything still hurts. He doesn’t know what to do, and so he cries.
Another person is above the baby and he still cries. He feels something on his head and he immediately drifts to sleep.
Sunset
The creatures are overjoyed that the baby is outside. They prepare their dances and weave their magic as they rush to the baby’s side, but they are hit with disappointment as soon as they arrive.
The baby is wearing a black cap. Their magic is useless.
The creatures hop away, disappointed, but they are not angry.
There are always more babies to play with.
————————–
Written by Karl Gaverza
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Inspired by the Ragit Ragit entry in Myth Museum. Medina. 2015.
Ragit Ragit illustration by Nia Cortezano
Tumblr: http://niakawa.tumblr.com/