1 December 2024
Welcome to the first advent calendar from the Chaplaincy for 2024, on this the first day of December. This year, behind every window, will be a story called Feathers which I have written for the Calendar. As you may know I have started studying for a Masters in Creative Writing, learning to write fiction. I thought I’d combine the Calendar with re-telling a familiar story in the St Andrews University of the present. Every day you’ll receive the next instalment right up to Christmas Day. Alongside this every day will be an image I captured on a recent trip to Liguria in Italy. You’re welcome to forward the email, and anyone can join the mailing list by letting me know, or the Chaplaincy office on [email protected]. Our social media will feature bi-weekly teasers. You are welcome to reply to any message with comments.
Feathers
Part 1
“Hey Maryam!”
Maryam looked up from her phone. Who was speaking to her? She couldn’t see anyone on the top floor of the library trying to catch her attention; she must have imagined it. Having worked rather hard for an hour, Maryam had earned herself some idle scrolling time. The article she’d just finished reading had been explaining no doubt significant matters regarding the historical roots of ongoing conflict in the Middle East, and, in principle, Maryam found these questions interesting or she might not have chosen International Relations for her University degree. But for the moment she was glad to lay aside consideration of great powers, declarations, mandates and unexpected outcomes of war for the more immediate fare of Instagram.
Headphones clamped over dark hair reaching her shoulder-blades, she was half-listening to today’s messages: the Student President was encouraging Sexual Health Awareness, the Ultimate Frisbee captain was sharing Week 7 training times, a minor celeb was explaining the life-changing nature of his shoes, and a figure was saying again, “Hey Maryam!”
So that was the voice. Who could have posted a video on Insta just for her to see? She looked at the figure – it was nobody she knew, either here or at home. He was wearing a simple white T-shirt and dark jeans, and looked much like the guys here and there on the top floor.
He spoke again, “Hey Maryam. You’ve lucked out. The Lord is with you.”
Guido Reni (1575-1642), Sibilla, Palazzo Tursi, Genoa
Yours,
Donald.
Revd Dr Donald MacEwan
Chaplain