The Unsolvable Equation

Thirty

Alexia knew that it was a bad idea to watch a sad animal movie on the plane. Titanic, she could handle, war movies didn’t exactly spark the waterworks either, but when an animal’s life was threatened, that was when she felt her insides being stabbed open and her entire existence called into question. So, before the dog in the movie met its tragic end and she turned into the emotional wreck she was on the verge of becoming, Alexia quickly turned the television off. Almier, who, because her luck was finally turning, was sitting next to her, looked up from his copy of Julius Caesar, startled by this sudden flurry of activity.

“I take it the movie didn’t end well,” he said shutting his book.

“I had to escape before I found out how it did end,” Alexia replied, turning to him. “How’s Julius Caesar coming along?”

Almier turned the book over in his hands, as if her were examining it. “It’s a pretty good story, actually,” he frowned. “I’m not looking forward to analyzing it, though.”

“Which part are you at?”

“The part where Caesar dies.”

“Ah, the part with the iconic quote.”

“Caesar is such a prick, though. I’m quite glad he did die,” Almier said.

“See, Shakespeare has successfully played you in that case,” Alexia told him, smirking.

“Yeah, yeah. I know, killing people is wrong but because it’s Caesar, all our morals and shit are called into question,” he conceded, rolling his eyes. “I also feel like he’s playing us a bit like Brutus in this entire book.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, Brutus is all about honour and so his whole killing of Caesar is for the honour of the country so that’s his main goal. The book title is ‘Julius Caesar’, who we all know represents Rome and honour, even though he only appears up till act 3, and so our attention is subconsciously drawn to him. So, like Brutus, we are so fixated on the main attraction that we fail to see the big picture, or notice other factors in the story.”

Alexia thought for a moment, pondering this. “Well, that is one way to look at it,”she mused.

Almier ran a hand through his hair. “Whatever, this book is confusing to read as it is.” He shot death glares at it as if that might make it vapourize and disappear.” He sighed, then glanced up at Alexia with a self-pitying look. “I think my feelings are best expressed in a poem. You’re good with poems, help me Alexia.

Alexia laughed and Almier began to come up with lines on the spot, reading them out in an overly-dramatic voice.

“And ’twas this day I was condemned to read,

A book for which I bear no need,”

He hesitated and frowned, looking at Alexia for help. Fine! I’ll just humour him. “Um, ok, let me see,” she paused, trying to think of a next verse.

“And thus I stare and ponder words

Whose existence, never seen nor heard”

Almier was now grinning at her, and she back at him, looking like a pair of kids who just discovered a new game.

“And oh! A headache it gave me so!

For how to teach it I do not know!”

He nodded at Alexia and laughing, she picked up where he left off.

“But maybe by the stroke of luck,

I’ll find some way to knowledge depart”

“I see this literature game has no rules,

No words in order, no hints, no clues!”

“And rhyming words is such a bore,

Why not end it once and for all!”

“Why not, for broken up words will show

deeper meaning”

“Why, Almier don’t break up the rhythm!

Don’t you know in the system that’s forbidden!”

“Screw that, like Shakespeare, I’ll do whatever I want,

The system? Hah! I conform to no one!”

“Now, come on, don’t start another debate,

I’ve heard enough about society, people and fate”

“Oh, Alexia don’t think that you can escape

Don’t try to run now, you’re already too late!”

“I think we’ve both forgotten what this poem’s about

Was it not about Caesar? I’m filled with doubt!”

“Just like Brutus, we’ve lost track of the focus,

Shit what rhymes with focus? I don’t know let’s see, what the hell is a crocus?”

“Now Almier, You can’t lose focus because as you said,

By the time you turn back, Rome, honour and Caesar’s dead.”