For those of us that are brave or foolish enough to go to the land of Nod with a wet head, we are visited by banshees. Banshees are notorious for loving to play tricks on us humans and anyone asleep with dampened locks is a sitting duck for their trademark trickery. They creep over to our bed and stare at us, silent and vulnerable. Then they very gently take strands of our wet hair and wrap it around their gnarled fingers, twisting it until it becomes a tiny rats nest. They do this to any hair that lies exposed and we sleep through the whole thing. When our hair is tangled to the banshee's liking, they slink away into the darkness, a huge grin on their wicked faces.
Think about that the next time you go to bed with wet hair....
On another topic, many native Floridians are familiar with a treat of nature that is known as a Sun Shower. The sun shines but the rain falls. It's like gold raining upon the streets. Quite beautiful but to many it is seen as a contradiction of nature. To the other southern states above Florida, a Sun Shower is described as something entirely different. Some see it as a freak of nature and upon seeing it are known to quip, "Looks like the Devil's beatin' his wife."
You read that correctly- the Devil is beating his wife.
This seemed so bizarre to me that I had to give it some thought in an attempt to make sense of it. I have drawn up a scenario of what I imagine would happen if this saying were in fact true:
The scene is a warm and cozy kitchen. Wife is at the stove wearing an apron that says "Mrs. Devil". She is stirring something in a dark cauldron. There is green smoke coming from inside the cauldron. Enter the Devil.
Devil: Honey, I'm home.
Wife: Hello, dear. How was your day?
Devil: You know, the usual. Corrupting souls, getting people to succumb to temptation. What's for dinner?
Wife: Wraith Stew.
Devil (looks uncomfortable) : Um, honey.....
Wife: Yes, dear?
Devil: ....it's raining outside....
Wife: That's nice.
Devil: ...and well, the sun is shining....
Wife: Ah. I see. (she puts her spoon down and turns to Devil) What do you want to do about this?
Devil: Well, you know how the saying goes.
Wife: I certainly do. (she walk over to Devil and punches him in the stomach, the Devil doubles over gasping for air)
Devil: What the hell was that?! I'm supposed to hit you!
Wife: I know, dear, maybe next time. (she resumes stirring the stew)
Devil: Well, okay, but if anybody asks, I hit you.
Wife: Whatever you say, dear.
Fin!
This scene was just a little musing of mine. Naturally, if I hear an expression that involves the Devil himself beating his wife, I'm going to have to make fun of it! I'm always on the lookout for legends, folklore and expressions both old and new. Everything has a story in it, you just have to look closely.
Until next time,
~Story Siren
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