Margaret Hevel
Evening Voices at the Pub with Cause, Effect, and Event
A pub, one of the oldest gathering places for serious discussions. Two of the players, Cause and Effect, sit before a peat-moss fire. Silently they drink a hot toddy from earthenware mugs. The door to the pub opens. Event materializes from the dark, rainy night. In a voice laced with cheer, he called out.
“Good tidings to you all.”
“Easy for you to say,” mumbles Effect’s baritone voice.
His voice barely audible, Cause groaned, ”Umm.”
“Oh come now gentlemen, you’re not still bemoaning my triumph during our fortnight conversation?” The poker sizzles in a freshly poured mug. Event graciously received the toddy from one of the villagers. He voiced his pleasure, ”Ah, just what I need on this cold, wet night.”
The question of role importance arises as Cause comments in a monotone voice. “In our earlier talk you neglected to acknowledge my outstanding characteristics as a noun. I’m an author, a producer, a creator, a catalyst—the source or your beginning.”
“True,” replied Event in a strong melodious voice, “But as a noun I’m the way things go, a phenomenon, an adventure. I’m what happens—the world, the life.”
“Just a minute gentlemen,” his voice void of feeling, Effect added,. “I too contribute importance as a noun. I’m a legacy, the impact, the finale, even the last act.”
“Let’s look at the verbs in action,” Cause interjected with a voice that rolled like thunder. “I generate, establish, evoke, provoke, inspire, influence and can even have the last word.”
Effect’s haughty voice followed quickly , “In a verb I prove to be, develop and unfold, eventuate, emerge from and arise to an impressive form.”
Event uncrossed his legs. His right hand tapped upon his lips as he softly yawned. “In conclusion of tonight’s discussion, may I add my perception.” His voice expanded as words clutter together in a significant voice of their own. “As a verb I expand in dimension. I appear, take place and come to pass. I experience. I know, feel, taste and encounter. And now I leave you, dear colleagues, with this question.” Event pauses. His jubilant voice surrounds the two friends with—— “Did I not truly pass through your evening as the even
She has published in magazines such as: The Good Old Days, Bend In The River, Woman’s Day, The Western Horseman and The Smithsonian. Her short stories are featured in books: Horse Tales for the Soul, Dog Tales for the Soul, The Good Old Days and several Chicken Soup for the Soul books. Her non-fiction book, Parenting with Pets, the Magic of Raising Children with Animals, was co-authored with a daughter, an Indie Book finalist in the Parenting/Family category. Her historical fiction, The Ivory Elephant. Based on a true-life story that travels from Wales, England, North Africa and Homer, Alaska.