THE PENTAMERON; or, THE FIVE DAYS OF FIFTY STORIES, AS TOLD BY A GROUP OF FRIENDS ESCAPING THE COVID PANDEMIC
by Mariah Ashe
THE PENTAMERON; or, THE FIVE DAYS OF FIFTY STORIES, AS TOLD BY A GROUP OF FRIENDS ESCAPING THE COVID PANDEMIC is a reworking of the 15th Century work “Cent Nouvelles Nouvelles.” First translated into English in 1899 by Robert Douglas, this collection is now, for the first time, elevated to the level of Boccaccio’s Decameron and the Heptameron of Marguerite de Navarre with a frame story fitting for it.
Conclusion to the Second Day
With the day’s tenth and final story told, the boat was directed toward the shore. In the air was a persistent wind, and this, coupled with the day’s declining sun, which had never been much more than warm, anyway, decided the friends on heading in without further discussion. On the way, the beer cooler was opened, and it was found that two cans still remained.
“I will take one,” Pierce said.
“I volunteer for the other,” Neil said.
“Now that that is decided,” Daisy said, “let us decide tomorrow’s President.”
“I am ready,” Phil said.
“We have to have our new theme, too,” Chase said.
“May I make a campaign speech?” Pierce asked.
“I do not see why not,” Daisy said.”
“I do not have one,” Neil said.
“Let us hear it, Pierce,” Phil said, “but hurry, since we will be near shore before long.”
“All the words concern,” Pierce said, “is what theme I would decree, were I elected tomorrow’s President of the Storytelling Boat. It seems to me that our two previous themes have been good ones, and thus, my idea for tomorrow, should I be elected, would be to look continue that success by continuing its sense. My theme for tomorrow, therefore, would play off today, and it would be true stories of love that, despite bad middles, came to good endings, or cases of love ending happily after a period of misfortune.”
“You already won my vote,” Daisy said.
“Mine, too, then,” Neil said. “I like the idea of a reversal of today, anyway.”
“Suddenly,” Chase said, “we do not even need to vote.”
“We are going to, anyway,” Phil said. “I vote for Neil, to keep things interesting.”
“Are you voting for yourself, Chase?” Pierce asked.
“I might as well,” Chase said.
“In that case, I will not cast a ballot,” Pierce said.
“All four votes are in,” Daisy said.
“Our final tally, then,” Phil said, “is two votes for Pierce, one for Neil, and one for Chase, with one abstention. Pierce, therefore, shall be our third President of the Storytlling Boat.”
“That is good because we are just about in,” Chase said.
“Order the day’s ending, Phil,” Daisy said.
“Of course,” Phil said. “By order of the President, let today now be concluded, and may our third President have all the same support and well-wishing as I.”
“Well said, Phil,” Neil said.
“Yeah, Phil,” Daisy said. “Good job today.”
“I am ready for everyone’s help now,” Chase said.
With that, the conversation broke up, and every member went about his or her assigned duty to get the Storytelling Boat out of the water, thusly to await tomorrow.
