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Abstract

eeper, who for some reason none of the kids understood, was called Elbow.Elbow was a grown up — what was called in an old Star Trek episode a “Grup,” if you remember the old original Trek series. But he was interesting in that he looked and sounded like a High School senior, though he was in fact older than that. He was also interesting because — rather unfashionably — he wore black horn-rimmed glasses, spent a lot of time talking with younger kids, and was pretty strict about swearing and behaving badly.When Elbow the Keeper thought it was time for any kid to learn about the Rock, he would simply start spending time with them — sitting and talking, playing basketball, throwing a frisbee, things like that. As a result of story-swapping between kids who’d learned about the Rock, the revelation went sort of like this:Elbow would just have a quiet conversation with the chosen kid. Somehow, certain kids never got to have the conversation with Elbow. Kids that were always picking fights, skipping school, getting into trouble with the cops, or getting suspended from school rarely learned about the Rock from Elbow — and nobody who knew would tell anyone else, because that was the Keeper’s task.Elbow would ask things like: how are things going at school? Is your Dad recovered from his broken leg, and back at work? Is your Mom back home with the new baby? Do you know what that word means that you just said? If you don’t know what a word means, don’t use it, okay? Can you keep secrets? Do you know what a symbol is? If you see a cross in red on a white background, what do you think that means? How about

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a crucifix — what does that mean? Do you know what stewardship is? Have you ever heard of something being hidden in plain sight? Do you know what a Hawthorn tree looks like? Are you able and willing to travel far to learn something?And then finally, if he liked the answers: do you want to know about Philip’s Rock? If there were things you didn’t know, he would say to remember the questions and learn; and that one must be prepared to receive a message, and that was his task.Nobody who has been to Philip’s Rock will tell you where it is located, or how to get there, or the type of tree that marked the hidden way; and the marking-tree is gone now anyway — a symptom of development and “progress.” You can’t find the Rock, unless you already know where it is because you’ve been there, or if the Keeper thinks you’re ready to know.Philip’s Rock is marked by deep divots and veins from cannon and rifle fire. Surrounding it, if you look carefully, or use a metal detector, you can find bits of the rounds which struck it and also killed soldiers of the Union and the Confederacy. You can also find projectile points (which some call arrowheads) — a residue of even other strife, with Native Americans.Philip’s Rock was in a spot subject to a long history of warfare. And the grail quest to which Elbow was steward one only understood when one walked around the Rock, looking carefully at all aspects of it.On one side of the huge stone one can find many words and names chiseled into the surface; and also one word, chiseled deep and writ large, that dominates that face. That word is MADNESS.</article></body>

The Secret of Philip’s Rock

Coming of Age in the East End

A brief conversation between two brothers:

Why can’t you tell me? You’re my big brother.

That’s one of the reasons I can’t tell you.

Huh?

One of the jobs of a big brother is to look out for the younger, and make sure some things don’t come at them before they’re ready.

That sounds like something Grandpa might say.

No, it comes from the Keeper.

The Keeper? Who’s that?

Before I tell you, tell me what you heard — you said you heard somebody talking.

I heard a couple guys talking about the Rock — they seemed excited about being able to find it.

That means the Keeper has told them; and it means it was time — they were ready.

So, who’s the Keeper?

Elbow.

Really? How will I know if it’s time for me?

Elbow will find you when he thinks it’s time.

In the East End there had been for at least a generation a holy grail of sorts, known as Philip’s Rock. Only certain people knew what and where the Rock was. Those that knew never told anyone else — the location and purpose of the Rock was protected by the Keeper, who for some reason none of the kids understood, was called Elbow.

Elbow was a grown up — what was called in an old Star Trek episode a “Grup,” if you remember the old original Trek series. But he was interesting in that he looked and sounded like a High School senior, though he was in fact older than that. He was also interesting because — rather unfashionably — he wore black horn-rimmed glasses, spent a lot of time talking with younger kids, and was pretty strict about swearing and behaving badly.

When Elbow the Keeper thought it was time for any kid to learn about the Rock, he would simply start spending time with them — sitting and talking, playing basketball, throwing a frisbee, things like that. As a result of story-swapping between kids who’d learned about the Rock, the revelation went sort of like this:

Elbow would just have a quiet conversation with the chosen kid. Somehow, certain kids never got to have the conversation with Elbow. Kids that were always picking fights, skipping school, getting into trouble with the cops, or getting suspended from school rarely learned about the Rock from Elbow — and nobody who knew would tell anyone else, because that was the Keeper’s task.

Elbow would ask things like: how are things going at school? Is your Dad recovered from his broken leg, and back at work? Is your Mom back home with the new baby? Do you know what that word means that you just said? If you don’t know what a word means, don’t use it, okay? Can you keep secrets? Do you know what a symbol is? If you see a cross in red on a white background, what do you think that means? How about a crucifix — what does that mean? Do you know what stewardship is? Have you ever heard of something being hidden in plain sight? Do you know what a Hawthorn tree looks like? Are you able and willing to travel far to learn something?

And then finally, if he liked the answers: do you want to know about Philip’s Rock? If there were things you didn’t know, he would say to remember the questions and learn; and that one must be prepared to receive a message, and that was his task.

Nobody who has been to Philip’s Rock will tell you where it is located, or how to get there, or the type of tree that marked the hidden way; and the marking-tree is gone now anyway — a symptom of development and “progress.” You can’t find the Rock, unless you already know where it is because you’ve been there, or if the Keeper thinks you’re ready to know.

Philip’s Rock is marked by deep divots and veins from cannon and rifle fire. Surrounding it, if you look carefully, or use a metal detector, you can find bits of the rounds which struck it and also killed soldiers of the Union and the Confederacy. You can also find projectile points (which some call arrowheads) — a residue of even other strife, with Native Americans.

Philip’s Rock was in a spot subject to a long history of warfare. And the grail quest to which Elbow was steward one only understood when one walked around the Rock, looking carefully at all aspects of it.

On one side of the huge stone one can find many words and names chiseled into the surface; and also one word, chiseled deep and writ large, that dominates that face. That word is MADNESS.