Subject:
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need an illustrator for MOC
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.off-topic.debate
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Date:
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Wed, 5 Nov 2008 10:43:25 GMT
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Viewed:
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9303 times
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About 20 months ago, just as the presidential campaign was beginning, my
husband, an environmental science teacher, conjured up a story ... his first in
decades. It came to him as a way to cast historical events in a new light.
His first strategy to find an illustrator involved attempting to contact a
highly respected cartoonist who has been out of the public eye for ten years.
All his letters were returned unopened. At this point, he would resign creative
control to anyone willing to undertake the project. In the story, which
follows, the numbers denote individual pages to illustrate. One final note -
this may be easier to read in a narrow window.
AMERCIAN GOTHIC
1. Wheastand Farm was the most successful farm in the entire county. Nestled in a fertile valley through which a quiet stream ran, the center of Wheastand Farm could be identified by the arrangement of its white farmhouse, a hen house and a red barn. Beyond the farm fields in all directions was an expansive forest of trees, dotted by other farms.
2. The farm, which had been in the family for many generations, was now run by
Douglas Wheastand, a tall man, with a strong mind, a kind heart and hands that
revealed their many years of hard honest work. The farmer’s constant, careful
attention to working the land had always ensured the farm’s success.
3. The farm had a large variety of animals, herds of sheep, cattle and goats
who grazed in the pasture but returned faithfully to the barn each evening. In
the barnyard were chickens, pigs and occasionally a housecat. (note to
illustrator: a milk truck in the background has the name “United Wheastand”
emblazoned on the side)
4. The barn, which housed hay for the winter months, was also home to the mules
who pulled the plow and the wagon. High in the barn was a barn owl and a few
roosting doves.
5. On every farm in the valley, a dog was entrusted with the safety of the barnyard animals; as with all farms, the dog and the housecat were the only two animals that were allowed into the house. On Wheastand Farm, Rex looked to be every bit the sheepdog that his father had been. Rex’s father had been revered by the farm animals for his wise and impartial leadership and fierce protection. And for this reason, Rex commanded the same amount of respect from all the animals.
6. At this particular time of year, the barn was still full of hay, but the water supply was low because it had been a particularly dry year without much rain to recharge the well. The crops were not as plentiful as they had been in previous years, but there was still more than enough water for all the animals on the farm.
7. One sunny day, farmer Doug had taken Rex into a field and was explaining to him about cisterns and new irrigation equipment that could hold rain water and deliver it efficiently to the crops. But Rex’s attention was not on the man’s words, his eyes were focused well beyond the farmer across the field on something moving. Rex saw a rabbit, quietly nibbling the alfalfa.
8. The sheepdog in him knew he should stay dutifully with his master, but he
wanted to chase the rabbit. He watched the rabbit browsing through the leaves
until he could no longer stand the urge and darted towards the rabbit. The
rabbit, distracted by his meal, did not notice Rex charging toward him until
the dog was only twenty feet away. The frightened rabbit bounded into the
safety of a thicket.
9. Rex surveyed the hills of lush vegetation that were well beyond the edges of
the farm and a thought came to him that had never occurred before. Certainly
there was a plentiful supply of water in the vast forest of trees. Just as this
idea was forming, farmer Doug called Rex back to his side, urging him to forget
the distraction. (note to illustrator: the farmer is installing gutters and
down spouts)
10. Rex dutifully returned, but he did not hear the words of the farmer. Rex
was still turning this new thought over in his mind. He thought about the cool,
clear streams of water that ran through the forests into the valley.
11. As Rex considered the plentiful supply of water that flowed down the wooded
slopes, he remembered that his father had warned him that there were wolves in
the forest and that the wolf leader was very powerful. At that moment, Rex
concluded that the farm depended on water flowing through wolf territory and
this idea gnawed at him.
12. Several years prior to this, the wolves had unexpectedly attacked raccoons who had being foraging in the wolves’ territory. Rex’s own father had been among the animals who had rescued the raccoons, driving the wolf pack away. But as an act of revenge, the wolf leader ordered the destruction of a beaver dam during the retreat. This broken dam released the water in the pond, resulting in a flood that ruined many animal habitats.
13. The wolf leader still had complete control of the forest and he was very mean. The forest animals were cautious under the wolf pack leader, but order, although harsh, was maintained in the forest.
14. For now, life continued on the farm as usual. The farmer continued his care
of the farm and crops and he worked on various projects. The cows provided
milk, the sheep provided wool and the chickens provided eggs. Rex was learning
his job of guiding and protecting the other animals.
15. Then one night, without warning, a fox crept into the hen house. The fox
knew it was dangerous to venture onto the farm, but he was clever and had
learned how to be successful from earlier attempts.
16. The fox took one of the chickens. In the excitement to get away from the fox, two more chickens were badly hurt. Everyone, including Rex, heard the commotion made by the attack. The fox ran off with one chicken in his mouth. Rex chased the fox across the field, following his scent, but the fox slipped away into one of his many hiding places.
17. For a long time afterward, sadness lingered in the barnyard. Forest creatures that had heard the news expressed their sympathy to the animals of the farm. All attempts to find the fox were unsuccessful. No longer feeling safe, the farm animals wanted something to be done, and they turned to Rex for guidance.
18. Charged with the safety and well-being of the farm animals, Rex knew he must take action. The danger of the forest was more real and immediate to him than ever before, and this intensified his concern about the farm’s water supply. Calmly, Rex explained to the frightened animals that the fox might make more attacks, and he proposed that the wolves might also be planning to attack.
19. Rex had no reason to believe that the wolves would attack, but many
farmyard animals found this easy to believe because to them, the fox and wolves
were the same creatures. Rex brought a groundhog from the forest to report that
he heard some wolves talking about attacking a farm animal. Rex said that the
animals of Wheastand Farm must go into the forest and stop the wolves.
20. The farm animals were united in their desire to declare war on the wolves in the forest. As they were creating a plan, the usually silent barn owl spoke. The wise owl had spent many nights in the forest and he had seen no sign of plotting wolves. The barn owl suggested that without good reason, the animals should not risk their own safety by going into the forest.
21. But in his mind, Rex had a plan to bring domestication to the forest that was run by the wolves. He hoped that this would prevent the farm from running low on water. He did not want to hear anything that would ruin his plan. In front of all the barnyard animals, Rex questioned the loyalty of the owl. Rex suggested that the owl was really a forest creature and that he might be an ally of the wolves. Consequently, the barnyard animals did not trust the owl’s judgment.
22. Then the doves, who were also free to fly through the forest, objected to the plan to attack. Rex challenged the doves, asking them why they did not foresee the attack by the fox, but since they had no answer, the doves’ objections were also ignored by the barnyard animals. To many animals, it appeared that Rex was in charge and that he had a solid plan. (note to illustrator: background shows farmers equipment)
23. During this discussion, the mule team that lived in the barn had been away
from the farm. They sometimes pulled the cart down a dirt road through the
forest. They were not convinced that wolves would attack, but like the other
animals, they were worried about what the wolves might do. They wanted to
remain faithful to Rex and so they remained silent.
24. Rex blamed the wolves, as the forest leaders, for the fox’s actions. Rex’s
reminder of hearing the wolves’ howling at night as the farm animals slept
frightened them even more. The farm animals became very anxious, and their
sense of urgency grew. Rex said that other forest animals, tired of the wolf
leader, would help the farm animals to defeat the wolves.
25. Song birds carried word of Rex’s plan to nearby farms in the valley, but animals on other farms did not want to get involved. Although the animals on the other farms were sorry to hear of the loss of the chickens, very few were interested in a fight with the woodland creatures without better reasons.
26. Finally, a large group of Wheastand farm animals left for the wolves’ den. The forest was unfamiliar land and several animals were hurt along the way, but they finally reached the wolves’ den, only to find that the wolves had gone into hiding. Someone had warned them of Rex’s plan.
27. The animals from the barnyard were uncertain which forest animals might be on their side, thought they all distrusted the wolves’. The forest creatures were now fearful of the barnyard animals. The animals of the forest did not want the barnyard animals to assume authority and impose new rules in the forest. They did not want their homes, where they had lived all their lives, to become part of the farm. Very few forest animals wanted to help and some made it more difficult for the farm animals.
28. Many animals were hurt in the conflict, both from the farm and forest. After struggling for many days, some farm animals found and captured the wolf leader, leaving no one in charge of the forest. Rex thought this would help bring domestication to the forest, but it actually created great problems. The remaining wolves in the forest were now battling with the bears over control of the forest. These problems were not solved, and without a strong leader, the forest fell into terrible disorder. Everyone suffered.
29. After many days of being in the forest, the farm animals grew tired of the
struggle. The water supply was plentiful in the forest but extra food had to be
hauled from the barn, much of which was ruined in the process. Many animals,
from both the forest and the farm, were killed or lost in the conflict. Many
farm animals were not even certain what they were supposed to be doing. They
began to realize that they had rushed into the forest without a clear plan and
the result was chaos. (note to illustrator: part of the barnyard has been
excavated by the farmer’s backhoe and water collection devices are going in)
30. Over many days, the conditions in the forest worsened. The farm animals began to question why they had gone there. Being in the forest was much more dangerous for the farm animals than living on the farm. The forest animals did not want the farm animals there. The farm animals saw themselves as the ones who were causing problems that were in many ways much worse than the fox’s attack and they were not making any real progress on domesticating the forest.
31. Eventually they began to agree with what the barn owl had said; the wolves
had made no preparations for an attack. More farm animals continued to suffer
in the forest and the forest animals were fighting even more fiercely than they
had at the beginning.
32. The animals that had remained in the barnyard saw the food supply dwindling. Rex wanted to send more animals and use more feed from the barn. He wanted his plan to work. But the farm animals finally realized that the wolves had never planned an attack and that the actions of the barnyard animals were causing greater problems and there were still no signs of the fox anywhere.
33. Finally the animals wondered if Rex’s plan really was about the wolves
attacking and about bringing domestication to the forest, but instead about the
water supply. They realized that the fox’s attack had made them worried and
frightened. They concluded that being emotional had allowed many ideas to be
put into their heads. After great suffering was caused for animals of all
types, the farm animals called for an end to the battle with the forest animals.
Everyone returned home, damaged physically or emotionally.
34. The animals wanted to know why Rex had sent them into the forest. Rex said that the attack had been stopped by capturing the wolf leader. But the animals knew that no attack was planned and that the wolves had nothing to do with the fox. Rex told them that the forest animals needed domestication but the farm animals recognized that the forest had survived for quite some time without interference. In fact, the recent invasion had made conditions worse in both the forest and the farm. Rex finally pointed out that the farm depended on the water that came through the forest. Then the farm animals finally understood why Rex had sent them into the forest. Rex had risked their lives on his idea for safeguarding the water supply.
35. Rex, who had been entrusted with the safety and welfare of the barnyard
animals, was replaced by farmer Doug. The animals decided that they needed to
live by new rules, and so they formed a council that spent many days discussing
what had happened in order to better understand its cause, its impact and its
lesson.
36. Animals from every group were asked to be a part of the council. There were
chickens, cows, sheep, a mule, a dove, and even the barn owl. Over many days
they talked, analyzed and debated at great length. They considered the problem
of water on the farm. There was much discussion about how decisions should be
made and how to know when it was necessary to take action. Everyone was allowed
to speak, and everyone’s ideas were valued.
37. Finally the council created a proposal. It seemed that the root of the problem had been a concern for the water supply. So, the council agreed to find ways to use water without wasting it. Understanding this need, the farm animals pledged to work hard toward this goal.
38. The council decided that all animals should be allowed to speak and that differing viewpoints should be carefully considered. The council explained that it was necessary for all voices to have an opportunity to be heard because different viewpoints can provide new information that may be needed to solve a problem. Therefore, everyone’s ideas have value.
39. The council recognized that the farm animals had overreacted to their worries about the fox’s attack and misdirected their attention to the idea that the wolves might attack. They realized that they had been careless in connecting their feelings for different animals merely because of their appearance. The barnyard agreed that no one should ever blame a group of animals for the poor behavior of one. The farm animals also decided to watch for the fox and take steps to keep each other safe.
40. The animals of the council finally concluded that it was difficult to
understand the way of the forest animals. Domestication might never be their
way of life. But the forest animals should be allowed to live in a way that
makes sense for them and that farm animals should not venture into the forest.
41. And finally, they believed that all farm animals should focus on doing
their jobs well and trust farmer Doug to take care of the farm. (note to
illustrator: foreground shows a sign the animals are erecting “In Doug we
Trust” the background shows a combination of fruit trees and alternating rows
of crops on a hillside which suggest the US flag)
thank you,
Anne Schubert
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