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From: "Vickie Morgan" <artemis55@hotmail.com>
Subject: (Vickie Morgan) Celestial Musings ( Celeste's Departure Contest)
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 WARNING: This story includes sexually explicit material.

 Please note any unfamiliar spellings and phrases may be due to the
 fact I am English, not American.

 Any and all comments, including constructive criticisms, would be 
 most appreciated. 
 Please send to artemis55@hotmail.com 

 This work is copyrighted by the author.  You may download and keep
 one copy for your personal use as long as my byline and e-mail 
 address and this paragraph remain on the copy.  Any posting or 
 reposting on a website or to a newsgroup requires my permission
 first (but I'll probably say yes). This story should not, under any
 circumstances be used to make a profit by anyone other than the 
 author

=====================================================================

This is my entry to the contest to find an explanation for Celeste's 
departure.

All actions and speech attributed to Celeste are completely fictional.

I would like to apologise in advance to the purists if my lack of a 
classical education is evident.  However, who can know how things may 
have changed since Homer's day.

======================================================================

Celestial Musings

Celeste nervously adjusted her robes and tried not to fidget.  As 
waiting rooms went this was quite a nice one.  There was a nice view 
over Mount Parnassus and the pleasant sound of the fountain Hippocrene 
tinkling in the background.  It was difficult to relax when your whole 
future was about to be decided.  She remembered the last time she had 
been here, several years ago.

She hadn't been alone then.  Three others had qualified to the final 
stages of their application to become Muses. The position was advertised 
regularly but only once had anyone been successful.  The screening 
process was the one of the toughest around, even worse than applying to 
be one of the Furies.  Calliope had lined them up and given a long 
lecture.  She had made it eloquently clear that although they were 
forced by the new policy of open market to abandon their former policy 
of nepotism they were not happy about it and had no intention of making 
it easy for the candidates.  Clio had then taken over and given them a 
brief history of the Muses functions, with emphasis on the importance of 
their role.  The rest of the Muses had stood in the background looking 
stern.  Even Technicolouria, the new Muse of film, had not looked 
welcoming.  Finally they had been given their assignments and the date 
of their final interview.

Celeste's heart had sunk when she examined her assignment.  She had to 
inspire a newsgroup devoted to sex stories to produce something that 
could be classed as 'good literature'.  She was at a loss where to 
start.  She had only a vague idea what a newsgroup was; something to do 
with the new information medium called 'The Internet'.  She had managed 
to follow her directions and had found the group.  Her despair had 
intensified.  The stories were designed to arouse human's sexual 
feelings.  It didn't need to be great literature to do that, just a 
rough description of a fantasy would do.  Why would anyone looking for 
this kind of stimulus care how well it was written or if the grammar was 
correct?  For a moment Celeste had considered giving up, then her 
natural stubbornness had asserted itself.  She had always known it 
wouldn't be easy to become a Muse.  She would just have to do the best 
she could.

Now waiting while they reviewed her assignment she wondered if she had 
done her best.  Was there anything else she could have done?  They 
certainly seemed to be taking a long time discussing her work. She had 
passed the other two applicants on the way up Mount Parnassus and it had 
been obvious from their tear-streaked countenances that they had not 
been successful.  

At last they called her in.  Celeste stood in the centre as they took 
turns firing questions at her.  Why had she chosen to review the stories 
in the way that she had?  Why had she created a persona as a married 
schoolteacher for herself?  Why did she give marks of 10 so freely?  
Celeste answered the bombardment of questions as best she could until 
eventually they stopped.  Calliope walked forward and stood directly in 
front of Celeste.

'Two final questions.  Given that the majority of the newsgroup ignored 
your suggestions and continued to produce poorly written pieces do you 
feel that you made a success of your assignment?'

'My assignment was not to convert the whole group but to inspire one of 
the writers to produce something that could be classed as 'good 
literature',' Celeste began slowly, ' I was amazed at the talent I 
found.  There wasn't just the occasional good story but many.  Some were 
without a doubt worthy of a much larger audience and were better than 
some pieces that are recognised as 'good literature'.  However my main 
aim was not just to create awareness of the need for correct grammar but 
to encourage the readers to provide feedback to the writers.  The thrill 
that a writer gets from knowing that someone had read their words is 
indescribable.  It is possible that someone who has written something 
grammatically incorrect and with a ludicrous plot may with enough 
encouragement keep on writing and could one day produce a classic piece 
of literature.  If nothing else I find it reassuring that in such a 
visual age that so many humans are taking the time and effort to write 
stories.  They all deserve the reward of knowing that someone has read 
their words.'  Celeste stopped speaking, unsure whether she had actually 
answered the question or just got carried away with her thoughts.  
Calliope obviously considered her response answer enough and moved on to 
her final question:

'What would you say is the greatest piece of literature ever?'

Celeste's mind went blank as she desperately tried to think of an 
answer. How was she supposed to know the answer to such a question.  She 
took a deep breath and gave the only answer she could come up with:

'That's a trick question, there is no one greatest piece of literature.  
What one reader loves another can hate and what appeals to someone in 
one mood could bore them when they are feeling differently.  No one can 
answer that question.'  For a moment there was silence and Celeste 
thought it was all over.  Then Calliope's face broke into a smile.

'Well done Celeste and welcome.  You are our newest Muse.  Come in and 
relax while we wait for Apollo to arrive.'  Unable to keep a big smile 
of relief and joy off her face, Celeste followed Calliope inside to 
where some refreshments were laid out.  The Muses all milled around, 
helping themselves to food and saying a word of welcome to Celeste.  
Clio found a moment to pull her to one side.

'Now I have to get a report from you as soon as possible on your 
reactions to today's events.  Be perfectly honest.  I have to make a 
record for history and the more accounts I have from different 
viewpoints the more accurate it will be.'  Clio pulled out a laptop and 
brought up a document.  She saw Celeste's look of surprise and laughed.  
'I know, you were expecting a scroll.  Calliope still messes about with 
quills and parchment but I have to keep up with the times. Now you won't 
forget to make some excuse to the newsgroup to explain your departure, 
will you?'

'My departure?'  Celeste echoed.

'The assignment's finished, I'm afraid you have to say good-bye.  I'll 
leave you to handle it however you feel best.  This is my e-mail 
address, just send me your report when you've written it.'  Clio whirled 
off, leaving Thalia and Erato to take her place.

'You'll get used to Clio,' Thalia said, 'she's always in a hurry.  Now 
you must have a thousand questions.  Is there anything we can help you 
with?'

'Well I'd like to know what happens now?'  Celeste responded.

'To be honest we don't really know.  When Technicolouria joined us she 
served as an apprentice to each of us in turn before being given her own 
speciality.'

'You need to understand how each of our departments work because they 
all overlap to a certain extent,' Erato explained, 'We often help each 
other out, sometimes with varying success.'

'Do you remember when Urania helped Calliope out with an epic?'  Thalia 
giggled,  'The trouble is Urania tends to keep things factual.'

'Do I hear my name being taken in vain?'  Calliope asked, joining the 
group.

'I was just telling Celeste about what happened when Urania gave you a 
hand with 'Moby Dick'.'

'There's nothing wrong with 'Moby Dick',' Calliope said stiffly, 'it's a 
classic tale of obsession, the struggle between light and dark.'

'It's also a good whaling manual.'  Thalia added, laughing at Calliope.

'Well it's not as if all your collaborations have been a success,' 
Calliope fired back,  'What about when Polyhymnia gave you a hand?  She 
took one of your wittiest comedians and turned him into Mr Bean!'

'You had to bring that up, didn't you?'  Thalia asked in disgust,  'You 
never forget anything do you?  Honestly you're worse than Mother.'

'It's not always a disaster though,' Erato interposed, trying to calm 
them down,  'Look at Shakespeare.  I think just about all of us gave 
Calliope a hand with him and look how well that turned out.' 

'True, he is one of our success stories.  Have you seen what 
Technicolouria has done to him though?  I'm going to have words with 
her.'

'You mean 'Shakespeare in Love'?' asked Thalia.  'I gave her a hand with 
that.  I think it's excellent.'

'You would,' Calliope retorted grimly, 'Look at that abomination you 
call the 'Reduced Shakespeare Company'.  It's sacrilege.'

'Yes but it's very funny sacrilege.'  Thalia told her mischievously.

Just as the argument was getting louder Celeste felt a touch on her 
elbow.  She turned to find herself face to face with Apollo.  She had 
heard all the stories about him and even seen him once from a distance 
but nothing had prepared her for how stunningly handsome he actually 
was.  He led her away to a small room so that they could talk privately.  
Celeste was so overwhelmed by him that it was a while before she could 
concentrate on what he was actually saying.  It finally registered that 
he was explaining that she would be apprenticed to each Muse in turn.

'We'll probably start you with Technicolouria.'  Apollo was saying, 'She 
knows what it's like to be the newcomer and she'll help to ease you in 
gently.  As you work in each department we hope you will find an area 
that you would like to have special responsibility for.  You may already 
have some ideas.'

'Well I did have one idea,' Celeste said tentatively.

'Go on,' Apollo replied encouragingly.

'I was wondering about computer technology.  It is such a creative 
medium.  Not just tools like newsgroups and word processors but the 
things they do with Java and Visual Basic.  The games they create that 
are a completely new art form.  The way they can manipulate images to 
create the most amazing pictures.  It does seem to be an area that is 
neglected.'

'Well that seems to me to be a very good idea.  If all goes well you may 
be our new Muse of technology.  Now is there anything I can do to help 
settle in to your new life.  The Muses can be a bit overpowering when 
they get together and start arguing.'

'I didn't mind.  It was almost like ASSD.'

'ASSD?'  Apollo queried.

'It's just a newsgroup.  That was one thing I would like to ask you.  Do 
I really have to leave my newsgroup?  Can't I keep visiting it in my 
spare time?'

'You're going to find that you don't get that much spare time.  I'm 
afraid it would be best if you did leave so that you can concentrate on 
your new projects.  Did you enjoy your assignment there that much?'

'Oh yes.  It was fascinating to read some of the things the humans 
thought up.'

'Really.  What for instance?'  Apollo asked, smiling down at her. 

'Why don't I show you?'  Celeste suggested as she slipped her hand 
inside his robe.  Apollo's smile grew deeper as he removed her robes and 
began an intimate exploration of her body.

'I don't see why not.  It could be a very inspiring experience.'





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