The Christmas Tree blushed. It was dressed in lights and decorations, but it felt naked without any tinsel.
The grasshopper-man was no longer a man or even a grasshopper. He still looked like a man, but he was extremely small and had curly hair and pointed ears. And his feet were very hairy. He had a pipe in his hand and tossed it to the ground. He never smoked in his life. He was also wearing very bright colors. That was totally unlike his true nature. He never liked to stand out. He only liked the colors green or brown.
The grasshopper-man was in a deserted place and wondering about his new body and size.
He wondered, why do bad things always happen to me?
And then he noticed them. They were two giant gods.
Phaeton: “It is unfair that my school chums laugh at me. Am I not a god also? Am I not part god? Don’t I require the same respect? I want proof from you … that I am your son.”
Apollo: “I am your Father! And the nymph Clymene is your mother. Isn’t that good enough?”
Phaeton: “No! No one believes me. They think I’m a storyteller and making up stories. I need proof!”
Apollo: “I can bestow upon you a gift that will help to prove that you’re my son. Ask what you will.”
Phaeton: “I would like to drive the chariot of the sun.”
Apollo: “Never! Are you out of your mind? That is the one gift that I cannot give you.”
Phaeton: “And that is the only gift that I want.”
Apollo: “No other god but me, can drive the flaming chariot of fire. I am your Father. Ask anything else of me.”
Phaeton: “There is nothing else that I seek.”
The grasshopper-man was afraid. He could easily be seen by the gods. He saw a huge chariot and climbed aboard. He hid in the back of the chariot and placed a blanket over him. He peeked out from underneath the blanket. He was hoping that the giant gods would go away. He noticed he was shivering but it wasn’t from the cold weather. He was frightened.
He wondered, why do bad things always happen to me?
Apollo: “Are you seeking death and destruction?”
Phaeton: “I am your son! Not only can you drive the chariot of the sun, but I can too. And this will prove to everyone that I am your son.”
Apollo: “This is not a good idea. But I made you a promise and am bound by my honor to keep it. You must be careful. Stay within the five circles. If you veer too far to the left or the right, you will ignite the universe.”
Phaeton: “I will warm the universe and make the weather pleasant … just like you. Have no fear.”
Apollo: “And the horses … allow them to go at their own pace. They will be going fast enough. Remember … stay within the five circles. I still think you should change your mind and listen to me.”
The grasshopper-man thought about getting out of the chariot and running away. But he might be seen by the two giant gods. Despaired, he shook his head. Why did he get into this chariot? Why doesn’t the young man listen to his Father? The grasshopper man cowered underneath the blanket.
He wondered, why do bad things always happen to me?
What happened?
The fiery horses were too powerful. Smoke and fire poured out of their nostrils and mouths. And their eyes looked like molten lava. They looked disdainfully at Phaeton.
Phaeton couldn’t handle them.
Without someone to properly guide them, they didn’t stay within the five circles. And because of that, the chariot of the sun scorched and then inflamed Mars. The planet was burning. The chariot of the sun veered further to the left and destroyed the goddess Venus’ home, which is Venus. The gods Mercury and Saturn, their planets suffered the same fate.
The skies were ablaze with a disorderly inferno that day, the planets aghast in a quiver. All the planets were on fire. The whole universe was on fire.
The grasshopper-man peeked from underneath the blanket. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing. Everything was on fire, except for this one little planet. But the God of that planet would not allow it to be destroyed. An Invincible and Almighty God. The One True God.
The Angel Gabriel descended from Heaven, and took hold of the flaming horses, and threw them and the chariot and Phaeton into an abyss. The whole abyss was ignited and on fire.
“There you shall remain,” said the Mighty Angel. “From generation to generation; from century to century; from eternity to eternity. Your flame shall never be extinguished, and you shall never die. All those that don’t obey the Father shall suffer the same fate.”
The kind Angel plucked the grasshopper-man from the chariot – just before it was thrown into the abyss – and placed him safely back on earth. He then placed a protective invisible dome around the earth, so that in the future, anything entering the earth’s atmosphere would burn up before it harmed God’s people. And it would also stop any debris that came from these burnt up planets. So, the next time you see a meteor shower – fireworks – it is done in remembrance of this joyous occasion.
“How are you, fellow Hobbit? You look like you could use a good pipe of tobacco.”
The grasshopper-man-hobbit smiled.
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Fictional stories by John Saccone 
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