Welcome, World Travelers: “Weird: The Al Yankovic Story” Dares to Be Stupid!
by James Coulter
Originally, I was going to review Disenchanted on Disney Plus; however, since I still have not watched the original Enchantedmovie, I decided to postpone the review of its sequel until next week. Until then, here’s a review of a great movie NOT made by Disney and NOT on Disney Plus.
Do I need to sell Weird Al Yankovic? He’s Weird Al, the most prolific parody songwriter of our time. There’s no one else like him. Go ahead: name a parody songwriter greater than him. You can’t! Because he’s the greatest! From “My Bologna” to “Party in the CIA”, all his songs slap and everyone likes them. In fact, I think it’s impossible to hate him. You may not like his style, but it’s hard to actively dislike him or his work. That’s how great his music is.
So, when I say there’s a parody movie about him streaming free on Roku, do I need to sell it to you? It’s a satirical biopic about one of the greatest satirical songwriters. Of course, it’s going to be comedy gold because everything Weird Al touches turns into pure comedy gold. So, what more can I say other than “go watch it”?
Well, I guess I technically need to write a formal movie review. So, is Weird: The Al Yankovic Story any good, or…ah, that’s a trick question! Of course, it’s good. It’s better than good, and here’s why:
Weird: The Al Yankovic Story tells the story about the life and career of Weird Al Yankovic, from taking accordion lessons as a child to being discovered and promoted by Dr. Demento to his inevitable rise as a Billboard chart-topping musical superstar. Of course, as this movie is a parody—and, really, what better way to tell the story about the world’s greatest parody songwriter than with a parody musical biopic?—there’s far more fiction than truth to the story. While most celebrity biopics are infamous for taking the truth and exaggerating it to fit a narrative more dramatically, this film takes only the tiniest sliver of truth and uses it to veer wildly off the rails into the realm of the absurd.
For example, Weird Al was inspired to become a musician after being sold his first accordion from a traveling salesman; however, his father did not get into a bloody fistfight with that salesman because he disapproved of his son playing “the devil’s squeezebox”, nor did Al ever get busted for playing in polka parties as a teenager. Also, while Madonna did, indeed, approach Weird Al to have him make a parody of one of her songs, that request did not result in a steamy love scene in his mansion or in her becoming a clingy girlfriend.
Like a good parody, this movie follows the conventional storyline of a celebrity musician biopic, with the usual character and story beats followed to a tee, and exaggerates it to the point of absurdity, taking a normal situation and fouling it all up beyond recognition: from his disapproving parents forbidding him from following his dreams and living his true self, to skeptical music agents (one played by Weird Al himself) berating him for being a weirdo with no talent, to him boldly declaring that his life’s dream is literally to take songs other people have written and change the words to them.
Perhaps the most shining example of satire comes from the act where Weird Al decides to stop writing parody songs and write original music. What “original” song does he decide to pen? “Eat It!”, which Al sincerely asserts is “100 percent original.” Later in the film, the joke becomes even more absurd when Al receives a call from his agent informing him that Michael Jackson has released a “new” song, “Beat It!”, which is like Al’s “original” song. This news enrages Al into a steaming fit, as he rants about how other people will now assume he wrote his song as a parody to “Beat It!” despite his song being written first. (The fact that this is not what really happened at all in real life only makes this scene even more knee-clappingly hilarious!)
What makes this movie work is its absolute sincerity. This movie may be a total fabrication of Weird Al’s life and career, but it plays that fabrication 100 percent straight. At no point do the actors turn to wink at the camera. This film is 100 percent serious about its portrayal of events not being 100 percent serious. As Tony Goldmark from the Escape From Vault Disneypodcast mentioned in his review:
“Weird‘s primary joke is that it doesn’t even try to be accurate. It uses what really happened as the loosest of jumping-off points and then careens further and further into Looney Tune Land. It’s like the cinematic equivalent of a late-2000s Colbert Reportsketch, playing itself up as something constantly trying to gaslit you with lies but doing such a patently-ridiculous job at it that we can’t help but laugh at it, which, of course, is the joke.”
This absolute sincerity, while mostly highlighting the absolute absurdity, also lends itself to providing real pathos for some honestly heartfelt moments. This fact becomes most evident near the end. I will not spoil anything, but let’s just say there’s a reason why his father was so disapproving of Al becoming a musician. There’s also a long-running joke about one of Al’s biggest fans being a South American drug cartel that serves as a pivotal plot point in the movie and results in an ending that is so far from reality it lets you know, without a doubt, the film is a parody.
In short, this movie is great. If I had a nickel for every time I reviewed a non-Disney movie that ended up being one of my absolute favorites of the year, I would have two nickels, which isn’t much but it’s weird it happened twice. (The first time was RRR.) What else can I say but…stop reading this and go watch Weird: The Al Yankovic Story!
Nearly a year ago, Eagle Ridge Mall was a ghost town like most other malls across America. Since then, it has experienced tremendous change and growth with nearly a dozen stores opening and the re-opening of its bowling alley and entertainment center.
Eagle Ridge Mall has experienced the opening of several new stores, including a juice bar, a tattoo salon, an art gallery, an insurance agency, and even Spirt of Halloween. Other new businesses expected to open soon include a comics and collectibles store, a toy store, a new boutique, and the Unicorn Castle.
Charles Caraway has overseen these changes since accepting his position as mall manager in June. Since then, he has heavily promoted the mall on social media, especially their Facebook page, and has leased most of their space through affordable rental fees. Unlike other store properties, store owners can enjoy a low rate without paying for utilities like electric or water, he said.
“I don’t think anyone can open a store in the Lake Wales area for as low as $1,000 a month. That is how I am attracting these people,” he said. “A lot of people walk through and see the empty stores. What I want people to realize is that there are 95 stores available for lease in this mall. We are 56 stores full, so we are over halfway full and it is always growing with one store, on average, per month.”
Their biggest store contract, by far, had been with Spirit of Halloween. Having set up shop from July to November, the store attracted plenty of foot traffic into the mall prior to Halloween, Caraway said. The store made good sales and drew in big crowds, he said.
Another major refurbishment has been its nearly $40,000 investment into its air conditioning system, which has long been defunct and which has been the source of many complaints from mall patrons and store owners, Caraway explained.
“That was the biggest complaint: that it was too hot in the mall,” he said. “We spent thousands of dollars repairing ACs, but we have a long way to go, but we are slowly working on to clean up and bring us back where they used to be.”
Perhaps the biggest upgrade to the mall has been the return of its bowling alley and entertainment center. Previously Kings Burgers and Imperial Lanes, which shut down shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic, the now re-branded Lake Wales Bowl is expected to re-open later this month.
With 14 bowling lanes, 15 arcade games and counting, and the newly-refurbished resturant, Lake Wales Bowl will offer the same great fun under new management. The bowling alley is even expected to become a greater draw than the movie theater right across from them, explained manager Esteban Nina.
“I feel like the bowling alley is there to attract more attention to other clients and other store owners [wh might want to] have a store in the mall,” Estaban said. “Everywhere I go, they say the bowling alley is the draw. There is a cinema, but the biggest draw is the bowling alley.”
With his background in the hospitality industry and his partner’s experience in the resturant industry, Estaban has high hopes to bring the bowling alley back to its former glory. Not only does he want to bring fresh life to the mall, but he also to provide a place for local families to spend quality time.
“We understand that Lake Wales is in need of community area or place for families to meet and hang out,” Estaban said. “Everywhere I go…they say the same thing, we need a place like this for the families of Lake Wales because there is nothing out here but bars…We want to keep the Lake Wales community in mind. We understand the need of Lake Wales…[and] we want to make a family-friendly environment for families. That is our intention.”
While they are not currently equipped to host official bowling leagues, they invite anyone wanting to start an unofficial leauge or club to utilize their facilities. Overall, they want to provide a local venue for residents and families to enjoy quality time.
“We truly want to hear from the community and give them what we are asking for,” he said. “We want them to communicate with us via Facebook Messenger and let us know what they want from Lake Wales Bowl. We want to comply the best we can, so I would love to hear from the community some more.”
While most of the mall space is being used for commerce, other space is being used for a greater purpose. Bobby Williams, president/founder of The Freedom Tour, leases the former Sears building to use as a distribution center for his ministry’s food drives and many other charities.
The old store’s facility provides them enough space to contain all their donations, while the loading dock and parking lot provides enough space for them to load and distribute these donations. Williams does not wish to utilize only the Sears building. He sees utilizing other space in the mall to help further the good of his church and its ministry, he said.
Having been at the mall for more than a year, he has seen it undergo massive development and growth. He sees it as a place that everyone is returning to after a long time of low activity and traffic. What was once a ghost town has since experienced a massive boom, and he wants his church to be a part of it, Williams said.
“We have seen a lot of development and growth around…from every aspect of business,” he said. “People thought for the longest time it was dead and there was nobody here, so anytime you bring movement to life and a place that helps create things happening…it keeps people in here and it keeps improving the mall doing what we do.”
With the holidays right around the corner, Caraway hopes to attract even more patrons and store owners to the mall with upcoming events. They even plan on hosting a comic convention in the
near future. He has high expectations moving forward, and considering how expectation have been met thus far, he expects them to remain high.
“I know malls may be a thing of the past in many people’s opinions, but I feel here in Lake Wales, I feel we can bring it back,” he said. “We need people to support it and patronize the people who are here, so that we can get these name brands back.”
Eagle Ridge Mall is located at 414 Eagle Ridge Dr., Lake Wales, FL. For more information, visit their Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100070360814526
Mother Pearl Delivers Tale of Joy and Faith in 8th Stage Play on Nov. 26
by James Coulter
Life is filled with its highs and lows. No matter whether we feel high or low, God is always there with us. That is the uplifting message of an upcoming stage play being hosted by Mother Pearl at the Women’s Club of Lake Wales on Nov. 26. at 7 p.m.
For the past eight years, Mother Pearl has been hosting these stage plays to share uplifting messages about faith, hope, and charity. Her latest play will deal with the struggles mothers go through with their children.
“Her play is about praying mothers,” her son, Eddie Bower, explained. “It is about mothers who are out here facing hard times with their children and keeping God in a mix of the hardship. It is a gospel play, and it is about God being in the midst of everything.”
Eddie Bower himself is also a local entertainer, being a rap artist who has created several albums and even music videos. What he creates by performing his music behind a mic, his mother creates by performing her plays on stage. Their family is a true family of entertainers who loves to both entertain and enlighten their audiences.
“Our family has loved to create entertainment, and I think we always had a thing for stage plays and acting in general,” Eddie said. “My dad, he always knew how to write scripts, he always wrote us the best scripts ever.”
More than simply hosting stage performances for the sake of providing a live audience with a good time, Mother Pearl uses her plays to teach audience goers a little bit about themselves that they either do not know or have known but have since forgotten.
“My mother is God’s soldier, and she is willing to make her art into something that can translate to the next person, like a message from God…this is why she is doing it, to get gods message out there that he is caring for us,” Eddie said. “We don’t host the play just to do it, we do it to bring a positive message to the people who are facing hard times. We are expecting it to be wrapped around the corner. We are expecting people to come out and enjoy it. We expect it to be a sold-out event in the good grace of God.”
Mother Pearl will be hosting her upcoming play on Nov. 26 at 7 p.m. at the Women’s Club of Lake Wales, located at 275 E Park Ave, Lake Wales, FL 33853. Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 at the door. Proceeds will go to the American Cancer Society. For more information, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/404073834717.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 9-1-1 call this morning at approximately 8:11 amto a north Lakeland neighborhood (Plantation Ridge development) about an arsonist who was throwing a “Molotov cocktail”-type incendiary weapon at a residence.
When a deputy arrived (8:12:32) he witnessed the man getting into an older-model Chevrolet pickup truck and fleeing the area. The deputy attempted a traffic stop, but the truck did not stop, and fled south on US 98. Given the arson charges, the deputy attempted a precision immobilization technique (PIT) on the fleeing truck on US 98/Florida Avenuethe attempt did not result in the immobilization of the truck. The truck fled on I-4 west-bound with deputies in pursuit.
In the area of the west bound on-ramp to I-4 from Branch Forbes Road in Hillsborough County, the fleeing truck slowed because of damage sustained by the PIT maneuver, allowing deputies to block and ram the truck ending the pursuit.
30-year-old Luke Neely of Lakeland exited the truck. He was in possession of an “AR-style” rifle. Polk deputies immediately engaged him, firing at Neely, incapacitating him. Deputies then disarmed him, including another firearm he had on his person, and began treating his wounds. He was transported to an area hospital with gunshot wounds. We are told the wounds are non-life threatening.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the deputy involved use of force because the incident occurred in Hillsborough County. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office crime scene unit is assisting with the investigation at the scene. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the arson and fleeing-to-elude incidents occurring in Polk County. Attached is a photograph of roof damage of a residence caused by the Molotov cocktail.
“We are in the early stages of this investigationwe thank the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for independently investigating this use of force and we appreciate the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office assistance with the scene investigation. One of our deputies sustained a wrist injury, but other than that, the only person who was injured is the arsonist who fled from our deputies and threatened them. For this I am very thankful.” –Grady Judd, Sheriff
Neely was arrested by the PCSO in 2016 and charged with disorderly conduct, using a firearm under the influence of alcohol, and resisting arrest. He was Baker Acted by the PCSO in 2020.
From Purple Ants to Talking Pants: 33rd Cracker Storytelling Festival Tells Tall Tales
by James Coulter
Once upon a time in Africa, there were four colonies of ants: red, black, yellow, and purple. Each of them lived in different parts of the jungle. Each of them hated the other ant colonies, and they refused to associate with ants different from there.
Each of the four ant colonies went searching for food. They searched high, and they searched low. They searched far, and they searched near. Their search stopped when they met a beautiful princess cooking a great meal in her iron pot. She happily shared her food with them, but she was saddened to know the ants refused to talk or befriend or even look at an ant different from them.
The next day, the ants returned to the princess cooking another meal. However, she chose to ignore them and pretend they were not there. The ants became hungry and angry. They jumped up and down. They shook fruit from their trees. Soon, they crawledcloser and closer to her. Closer and closer they came until all the different colored ants were mixed. It was then they realized they were better when they were together as one.
Suddenly, a small ember flew from the princess’s fire and set the village aflame. She rushed from the river to fill her pot with water from the river and set out the inferno, but the fire kept burning. The ants rushed to the river to fill their mouths with water and spray it on the raging inferno, but the fire kept burning. Then, the ants ate a giant grape and sprayed the juice on the fire, extinguishing it once and for all.
The ants and the princess celebrated their victory, and from then on, the different ant colonies decided to work together rather than remain divided amongst themselves.
Storyteller Tamara Green told this African folk story to children from different schools during the annual Cracker Storytelling Festival, hosted last Wednesday and Thursday at Homeland Heritage Park in Bartow.
Tamara told her story using different colored ant puppets that she provided to the children in the audience. As she told them her story, she had them sing a song along with her: “Oh, the ants went searching, yeah, yeah, yeah, and they all went searching for food, yes, they all went searching for food.”
Tamara was one of 11 storytellers who participated in the storytelling festival. Many of them shared different stories from different cultures, from American folk stories and European fairy tales to African folk stories.
Robin Shulte, meanwhile, shared a personal story about her son, Jack. As a storyteller, she decided to name him Jack because so many story protagonists are named Jack. He loved magic, he loved stories about magic, and growing up, he loved reading the Harry Potter series.
So, when the Wizarding World opened in Universal Studios, she decided to take him there to visit. Together, with two other friends, they ate chocolate frogs, they drank butter beer, they went shopping for wands, and they even visited Hogwarts Castle.
On their way out of the park, they stumbled upon a magic showin a back alley. The magician demonstrated a trick using a device called a levitator. He used it to make a magic playing card levitate in his hands and move where he wanted it to move. He sold this device for only $39.99.
Jack, his eyes wide as saucers, and with his pockets stuffed with $40, asked his mom if he could buy it. Reluctantly, not wanting to disappoint him and tell him no, decided to let him buy it. He and his friends were excited and eager to return home to see how it worked. Jack speculated it used magnets, while his friends claimed it was a small leaf blower.
After an hour-long car drive, Jack and his friends opened the package, dumped its contents on the table, and discovered the secret behind the magic trick: a thin black thread, a decoy card, and an instructional DVD. Though initially disappointed, Jack learned how to perform the trick, and so did his mother, who performed the floating card trick in front of an audience of wide-eyed children. She then went on to tell another story about living pants by Dr. Seuss.
This year marked not only the 33rd year of the Storytelling Festival, but also the return of the event after being postponed the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, explained Kara Wiseman, Youth Services Librarian from the Lake Wales Library.
This year drew in more than 600 children on Wednesday and 600 on Thursday from local public schools. Aside from listening to stories, they were able to peruse various crafts vendors and see demonstrations of vintage games and traditions.
The Homeland Heritage Park has served as an appropriate setting for the festival, as the location and its many historic landmarks serve as a great venue for stories to be told of days of yore, Wiseman said.
“We have 11 tellers this year telling many different stories for many different cultures,” she said. “I like the tellers, they have such great personalities, they are wonderful people, they love doing this for the kids. They are animated and having a blast in all these different little venues, they are some of the most amazing people you will meet.”
AdventHealth Offers $1.7 Million for Polk State Nursing
by James Coulter
Zachary Weathers remembers several years ago when his best friend was admitted to the emergency room. She had become violently ill, yet the doctors there dismissed her, assuming she was merely “seeking attention.” The nurses, on the other hand, advocated on her behalf and insisted that she remain at the hospital.
His friend was soon diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder. Had she returned home, as the doctors initially suggested, she would have died. She would not be alive today to be his wife and the mother of his child.
That moment changed his life forever. Remembering the dedication of the nurses who cared for his future wife, Weather was determined to become a nurse himself. His mother-in-law recommended that he enroll in Polk State College, as they had the best nursing program, he said.
Weathers was honored to have received his education and certification from Polk State College. He remains grateful for their commitment to excellence, and he hopes to bring that commitment to his career and his future teammates.
“It is clear that nursing is not for the faint of heart; however, if you are able to make it through to the end, it is easy to say that Polk State has prepared you with a wealth of knowledge and unforgettable experiences unlike any others,” Weathers said. “There is a reason why, when I tell people I am a Polk State Nursing Student, that I am met with impressed looks. This community knows that Polk State produces excellent nurses.”
Weathers was one of several dozen nursing students who attended a special media event on Tuesday to accept a $1.7 million endowment to the Polk State College Nursing program from AdventHealth. This generous donation will provide funding and resources to help invest in the leadership of the nursing program.
Polk State President Angela Garcia Falconetti, in her opening remarks, mentioned how her college’s nursing program more than exceeded the rigorous expectations for statewide certification. On the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN), 2021 PSC graduates boasted a nearly 91 percent exam pass rate “compared to 64% at the state level and 82% nationally,” according to a press release.
“Polk State is grateful to AdventHealth for its commitment to the advancement of quality education and training in health sciences,” Falconetti said. “AdventHealth’s donation will further support our College in recruiting and retaining highly skilled talent and further enhance the Nursing Program for both our students and the community, where our graduates are successfully filling critical workforce needs in healthcare.”
Tim Clark, President and CEO of the AdventHealth Polk Market, mentioned how the endowment will help recruitment efforts in the healthcare sector, especially during these uncertain times when the COVID-19 crisis has disrupted the market. Currently, there are approximately 300 vacancies annually, as listed on the 2021- 2022 Regional Demand Occupations List for Polk County, according to the press release.
“That is the need in our community,” Clark said. “We know that, with this endowment, this will help build the workforce of tomorrow in nursing…Our dire need for highly-trained nursing professionals and our passion for supporting the educational institutions in our community, I look forward with this endeavor at Polk State College, and I look forward to many of you [nursing students] looking at AdventHealth as an [employment] option.”
Dr. Michael Bleich, Interim Dean at Polk State Nursing, mentioned how the endowment will not only benefit their program but will also benefit the local community, especially organizations like AdventHealth, by connecting their students and professors to them. He pledged that his university’s program will help uplift the community and provide it with high-quality professionals in important decision-making positions.
“I pledge…that we will lead with high standards to build a community that uplifts and inspires faculty, staff, and students regarding others as worthy of respect…to advance the professional and vocational goals with our sphere of influence…to promote intellectual excellence to develop nurses as thinkers and doers when delivering care…to continuously strive for the holistic well-being of self and others…to keep nursing relevant in an environment where high technology, competition for human and material resources, and complex decisions that must be made wisely with a vision toward our actions, both upstream and downstream, and the consequences therein,” he said.
Writers On the Ridge: “The Light Prince: Grail” by J.C. Alexandre
The following is a selection from “The Light Prince: Grail”, the debut fantasy novel by J.C. Alexandre. To read the full story, check out his novel on Amazon in e-book and paperback. Follow the links below for more details.
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Chapter 1: An Elven Rescue
Through the forest of the night silently strode Johanna. Although the slender she-elf was 355 years old, her youthful appearance was similar to a human woman in her early thirties. Her pointed ears held back her hip-length golden hair, which shimmered in the moonlight. She clung to the cloak draped over her head. Around her olive gown flew a Chinese-style dragon, stitched in golden thread, complementing her lithe frame. A silver belt circled her waist. From her left hip hung a katana. Her fur slippers carried her over the ground as silently as a ghost, which she could have been mis-taken for with her milky complexion.
Noticing a cluster of toadstools growing among the roots of a tree, Johanna knelt on the loam, opened her satchel, and began picking. As a healer, she knew that the mushrooms were a vital ingredient for an elixir.
A harsh cry echoed above the forest.
Startled, Johanna dropped a mushroom in her medicine bag and averted her gaze upward. The she-elf threw her cloak over herself and crouched close to the ground. The fabric faded around her, turning her invisible.
Two creatures, a pegasus and a wyvern, flew over the for-est. The girl riding the flying horse fell from her mount and a sword tumbled from her grasp. She fell through the branch-es of the trees and struck her head against a bough before plummeting to the ground.
The girl would have splattered upon the forest floor had Johanna not leaped to catch her limp body with open arms. The child’s sword landed on the ground near the elf’s feet. An arrow protruded from the girl’s back, and from her fresh wound trickled blood, staining her shirt red.
Although Johanna was compelled to save the fallen child, she was amazed by the shape of the girl’s ears. All elves had pointy ears. This girl had round ears. She was no elf.
Johanna lay the child against the tree. As a healer, the she-elf sensed life remaining in the girl, and confirmed it by taking her wrist and feeling a pulse. The child was alive, but just barely.
The elf noticed the sword lying on the ground nearby, the moon reflecting in its blade. She picked up the weapon and examined it. She gasped at its semblance to the mythical sword Grail. Was this that very same sword of legend?
Overhead, another harsh cry echoed. With sword in hand, Johanna threw herself over the girl, concealing them both with her invisibility cloak.
A dark creature swooped through the treetops. The wyvern, ridden by a knight, landed a short distance from the elf’s hiding place. Clad in ebony armor, the knight wielded a sword as tall as himself. The wyvern flapped its dark, leathery wings as it landed, unleashing a gust that nearly blew the cloak off Johanna.
The rider dismounted and surveyed the forest. He stepped forward, leaves crunching under his iron boots. Amidst the dead foliage, he picked up a green leaf and examined it. He collected other green leaves littered among the older, crisper ones and then glanced up at the broken branches in the trees above him. He pinpointed the precise location where the girl had fallen, which was presently where he knelt.
As Johanna watched him study his surrounding environs, she shivered under her mantel. The she elf shielded the child. Her heart raced. Her breathing intensified.
The knight stood. He returned to his steed, mounted it, and jerked its reigns. The wyvern roared as it flapped its wings and leapt into the air. It flew over the elf, who clung to her cloak.
Johanna lay on the ground. She waited, listening for silence. Cradling the girl in her arms, she rose on one knee and stood. A rustling sound in the distance startled her, compelling her to crouch and shroud herself once again.
A pegasus, pale as the full moon, trotted through the for-est. A fairy hovered by his side. She glowed with a dim pink aura.
“Amber! Amber!” the fairy cried out. “Where is she? Do you suppose Infidel found her?” She gasped. “Oh, how awful that would be. What would become of Arden? Who else would wield Grail?”
Johanna peeled off her cloak. The pegasus whinnied and reared on its hind legs. The fairy gasped but then breathed a sigh of relief.
“Amber!” she exclaimed. Her face blanched when she saw the wound in the girl’s back blotched red and bleeding.
“She is still alive,” Johanna replied. “If we make haste to my tent, I can tend to her wound.”
The fairy offered a sigh of relief. “You are a healer?”
The elf nodded. “Yes. My name is Johanna.”
“My name is Fiona, and that child is Amber.” She motioned to the pegasus. “Hermes can carry her for you.”
The elf set the girl on the steed before mounting it herself.
“That way,” the elf pointed into the distance.
The pegasus broke into a trot as the fairy flew alongside him.
Johanna raised the sword. “This blade, is this—”
“Yes, it is,” Fiona answered. “And Amber is the Grail-wielder.”
Chapter 2: Upon Awakening
Amber ’s eyes fluttered open. She was lying on her belly, her face buried in a pillow and her body covered by a fur blanket. She tried to move, but her back throbbed with a dull pain. Lifting her head, she saw the tiny figure of Fiona sitting inch-es from her face.
“You’re awake!” the fairy chirped. “Oh, praise be to the Light Prince you are alive. I knew you would make it.”
Amber glanced around the dimly lit yurt.
“Where are we?” She croaked with a dry throat.
“My tent,” answered an unfamiliar voice. “Safe from harm.”
Near Amber’s feet sat Johanna. The elf was grinding herbs into a mortar with a pestle. She sat next to a small pit of embers with a brass teapot set atop it, glowing crimson at the bottom and releasing wisps of steam from its spout.
“I saw you fall through the treetops,” the elf continued. “Thank the Light Prince I was there to catch you before you hit the ground.” She continued grinding herbs until the teapot billowed steam. “I saw that man who was chasing you wander through the woods earlier, but he did not see either of us.” She picked up a wooden cup and poured the freshly muddled herbs into it. “I have not seen sight of him since. He may have given up and figured you dead.” She took the teapot off the embers and poured its boiling contents into the cup. “Fortunately, I ran into your fairy friend here. The pegasus is hitched outside my tent, safe as well.”
The elf finished filling the cup, set the teapot on the ground, and presented the steaming beverage to Amber. The girl raised a skeptical eyebrow.
“Do not worry,” the elf replied. “It is tea mixed with some medicine.”
Amber sat up, only to have a sharp pain rip through her back. She clenched her teeth and gripped her shoulder, feeling the bandages wrapped around it and her upper back. She clung tightly to the blanket once she realized it was the only thing keeping her decent.
“You are a very lucky girl.” The elf offered the cup to Amber, who accepted and drank. The warm liquid was the first thing she had consumed in a long while. “Had that arrow struck your spine, heart, or lung, you would be dead. But it only struck your shoulder and tore through some ligaments and muscle.”
“She’s a healer,” Fiona exclaimed.
Amber did not understand, so the elf demonstrated. She raised her hand, which glowed with a light blue aura.
“I practice white magic, the art of healing.” Her hand ceased its glow. “I was a healer in my old village. I removed the arrow from your back and healed most of the torn tissues. It is only a flesh wound, but a deep one. You will need time to heal. That medicine you are drinking will hasten the healing process.”
Amber consumed half of the tea—weaker than sweet tea, stronger than green tea—by the time the elf finished speaking. The girl took one last sip before bowing her head.
“Thank you,” she replied.
The elf bowed in return. “My name is Johanna. And I know your name is Amber. Your fairy friend has told me many things about you and your journey. But I would like to hear about them from you—if you have the strength.”
Amber thought for a moment, gazing into her tea, then back at Johanna. “All right. What do you want me to tell you?”
“Everything,” Johanna replied.
Amber mulled over her thoughts, wondering where and when to begin. After collecting her thoughts, she began to share her story with Johanna.
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About the Author
Ever since he could pick up a pencil, J.C. Alexandre has been passionate about expressing himself through the written word. He has enjoyed an illustrious decade-long career as an award-winning journalist. He now hopes to jump into the world of fiction with his debut fantasy novel, The Light Prince: Grail, now available on Amazon in e-book and paperback: https://amzn.to/3bFTCfG For more information about him and his work, visit his website at: http://jcalexandre.com/
Haines City approves body-worn cameras for police officers
Haines City – The Haines City Commission approved the purchase of body-worn cameras for members of the Haines City Police Department.
Haines City Police Chief Greg Goreck requested the commission approve the purchase of 70 body-worn cameras, as well as 45 in-car video systems for the Police Department. The department has had eight patrol officers testing the cameras since May of 2022.The city commission approved the request Thursday evening.
The use of body-worn cameras has proliferated in recent years as a way for law enforcement agencies to ensure transparency and accountability when it comes to police interactions with the public.
Similarly, the cameras provide supplemental evidence for prosecution by clearly showing a judge or jury what an officer saw and/or heard during an encounter with an offender.
Body-worn cameras also provide for a faster and unbiased resolution to potential citizen complaints. The ability to review an incident can decrease the amount of time staff spends conducting investigations and potentially avoid unnecessary costs associated with litigation.
While testing the cameras, the Haines City Police Department recognized the numerous advantages of equipping officers with body-worn cameras; and decided to request funding to increase the number of officers who were issued one.
“The ability to capture and document what our officers see and hear on audio and video from the officer’s perspective supports our commitment to instilling the highest level of public confidence in our department,” said Chief Greg Goreck.
“We have been researching body-worn cameras and saw a tremendous value in the technology towards fulfilling our mission. The cameras not only further our professionalism, accountability and transparency with the public, but also protect our officers, organization and the city against unjustified complaints or civil actions.
“These devices will also help shine a light on the good work conducted by our officers every day,” he added.
Chief Goreck expects his officers will be equipped with the cameras no later than January.
The Circle of Friends will be hosting a free community event “FRIENDSGIVING” on Saturday, November 19th from 11AM-4PM all along E Stuart Ave., Lake Wales!
The first 25 attendees will receive a free swag bag. The first 200 people will receive a free Thanksgiving meal box complete with a slice of pie. Teaming up with Removing the Barriers, another local disabilities nonprofit, Circle of Friends is also working with the Care Center, local churches, and vendors to offer music, games, activities, and food.
“We thought this would be a great way to show our gratitude to the entire community alongside our Intellectual and Developmentally Disabled (IDD) families, caretakers, volunteers, supporters, and friends,” said Crystal Brewer-Higbee, President of the Circle of Friends. The Circle of Friends is a disabilities nonprofit. Learn more about them: www.circleoffriendsministry.com
