Society’s New Darling
Kurt Zwolfer
Front page, morning edition: Society’s New Darling Makes his Uptown Debut. Tonight’s distinguished lecturer is the recent discovery of Mme. Rongeur, steamer trunk heiress. Rumor places their first meeting in the governor’s rose garden, she pearled and silk twirled, he in exotic fur coat, mouse tail wriggling rakishly between lips.
The aristocracy seeks entertainment as release from the burdens of rank. The privileged class demands variety to escape the soul crushing conformity of comfort. Last year’s harp playing conjoined twins are replaced by this year’s German mesmerist. General Tom Thumb’s miniature carriage is forsaken in favor of Professor Maximilian’s 8-wheeled velocipede. The gentlemen explorers back from the bush display fossils, reptiles, yet another mummified curiosity dangling elegantly from the salon wall.
Mme. Rongeur suspects this one is not the usual flash in the pan. He will dig in, climb up, fight tenaciously to stay entrenched in society’s elite circles. Madame keeps a guilty and titillating secret; beneath his soft handshake she has felt razor claws.
Tonight is the night, cocktails, a light repast, then a rush to secure a seat in the crowded theater. Loud speculative conversation is reduced to nervous squeaks as the ladies auxiliary spy him approaching the lectern. The muffled thump of glove-clad applause elicits a dramatic pause and toothy grin from the stage. Everyone expects melodious birdsong or sweet poet speak, but when it’s time for action, the guest of honor barks a surprise.
Front page, evening edition: The beast’s words flew cannonball heavy, a violent volley of big wig brain knockers, until there was nothing left but overturned chairs.
Reading recommendation? Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
“If you are stuck at home for the foreseeable future, you might as well invest the time in the first book of this double Booker Prize winning trilogy of diplomacy, double crossing, and leaders behaving badly.”
Kurt Zwolfer is The Cabin’s Executive Director. He has over 15 years of experience creating and administering public education programs including previous work at Idaho State Parks and The Idaho State Historical Museum. Kurt has a BA in Rhetoric with a minor in film studies from the University of Illinois and a MA in Curriculum and Instruction from Boise State University, knows a shocking amount about birds, and probably reads more books than you.