Ellen
As a child, one of Ellen’s fondest memories was visiting her grandfather. “Pops” was fun to be with and his home was filled with many interesting trinkets he collected from his world travels.
One of her favorite things was a small hand-carved wooden rabbit. The figure was made from a solid block of walnut. It had ivory eyes and teeth and, compared to a real-life rabbit, was only a little exaggerated. She called the carving Mr. Rabbit which was pretty interesting because a man named “Babbit” gave Pops the rabbit years before.
As Pops grew older, he started to give away many of his things and on a summer visit, he gave Ellen Mr. Rabbit.
After college Ellen got her first job and her first apartment. The first piece of furniture she bought was a thrift store bookshelf. Mr. Rabbit assumed a place of honor at the center of the eye-level shelf.
Ellen was always athletic and ran track and cross country in college. After school she maintained her training and ran a number of 5K and 10K races near her town. In most she placed well in her 30-35 age group and occasionally won a race.
After one race she started chatting with the man who finished immediately behind her. As they talked, they realized that they were neighbors and became friendly. Eventually she and Bob became better than good friends and shared door keys.
Bob
Bob was really surprised when he struck up a conversation with this pretty girl who just finished a 5K race in front of him. Her name was Ellen and she seemed really nice. Turns out they’re neighbors!
Ellen and he each visited each other’s homes. She made him delicious dinners; he ordered her take out. But it was all good.
Eventually they shared house keys in case one was locked out or to bring in mail and packages when the other was away.
Bob had bigger things to concern him. His best friend Marty was not doing well. Marty was his college roommate. He was a terrific athlete and a top-notch runner. Marty always won his age class in 5K and 10K races. And he placed well in half and full marathons. He was a beast!
About 18 months ago, Bob started to notice that Marty’s mood changed. Where he used to be a cheery guy, now Marty was often listless and depressed. Bob suggested he talk with someone, but that only angered Marty. Then, about 6 months ago, Marty stopped running. When they’d go out, Marty seemed unsure of his steps, sort of like he was drunk, except that he wasn’t.
Eventually, Marty saw his doctor and was referred to a neurologist who diagnosed Marty with Huntington’s Disease, an incurable degenerative neurologic disease.
Bob was witnessing Marty’s decent into paralysis and dementia and felt helpless.
Marty
Marty loved sports. In high school he lettered in baseball, basketball, track and cross country. He was on a few of the college teams as well. After graduation he received his CPA certification and joined a big four accounting firm. He enjoyed the work, but the sedentary lifestyle of an accountant meant that he really needed to keep up an exercise regimen. For him, running fit the bill.
He was lucky his office had a shower in the men’s room and Marty would run five or ten miles before work. And he was fast! He almost always won his 30-35 age group in the 5K and 10K races that were routinely held in his community. In fact, he had a wall of trophies and medals.
A couple of years ago, Marty started to feel funny. It was like he had no energy, like those old commercials talking about iron-poor blood. For a while he chalked it up to overwork, bad diet and the like. But after a few months it seemed to get worse. Plus, he was getting irritated with friends over stupid things, like his friend Bob not remembering to get him the venti coffee at Starbucks and getting a grande instead.
Marty saw Dr. Schrager, his family doctor, who seemed concerned and referred him to Dr. Mensak, a neurologist who diagnosed his condition as early-onset Huntington’s Disease. Marty was dismayed to find out that Huntington’s is incurable.
Not one to accept what he’s been told, Marty poured through every medical journal he could find. Unsatisfied, he started reading magazines and encountered several stories about alternative medicine. His search transcended from homeopathic and herbal solutions to spiritual healers and eventually to Voodoo doctors. From what he was able to read, Voodoo rituals might possibly be able to cure his affliction.
In his research he realized he needed to find a Mambo Voodoo doctor. The Mambo is a Voodoo priest or priestess who communicates with spirits with the goal of healing the patient. Marty discovered a renowned Mambo, Marie Laveau, who practiced in the next county over. Ms. Laveau was the great-granddaughter and namesake of the famous Marie Laveau of New Orleans.
Unable to drive any longer, Marty took an Uber to see Ms. Laveau.
Marie Laveau
Marie had been practicing for over 50 years. Most of her patients had been trying to get rid of small problems like constant headaches or backaches. One time she was able to help a gentleman with gallstones.
Marie was a bit shocked when the young man shuffled into her office. He was in his mid-thirties and was, or had been, handsome. Although he had fire in his sky-blue eyes, his body was worn out. He used a cane and took short, halting steps. He was hunched over and listed to the left, as though he was walking through a stiff side wind. His head was tilted down and he looked at her with his eyes looking up, as though he was looking over the top of his glasses. Except that he wasn’t wearing glasses.
During her interview with Marty, she learned that he had a neurological disease that was contorting his body. Voodoo has many powers but this condition would require all her abilities.
Marie explained to Marty that she would use transference to take the powers of an animal or object and sort of inject them into his body via ritual.
She asked Marty to return the next day with an object that resembled speed and agility, like a horse or bird or insect. Marie was very explicit. “Buy the object from a store. Do not borrow an object from someone!”
As he was heading out the door she emphasized “do not borrow the object from someone!”
Marty agreed and Ubered home.
Mr. Rabbit
On the way home, Marty called his best friend Bob and explained what he needed. He told Bob that it was important that he buy the object and asked Bob if he could do it since Marty wasn’t able to do much shopping in his condition. Bob agreed to help his friend.
Bob was involved in a big project at work and didn’t get out of work until late. All the stores and flea market shops he stopped at were closed.
In a panic he raced around town frantic to help his friend.
Then, in a genius moment, he remembered the rabbit that sat on a shelf at Ellen’s apartment. He thought “why spend the money?” and “rabbits are fast, right?” He knew she was away visiting relatives and surely, she wouldn’t mind if he borrowed the rabbit for a day or two? What’s the harm? He let himself into the apartment and found Mr. Rabbit where it’s always been.
Marty was thrilled with the rabbit – he sort of thought he was a rabbit when he ran. His mother always said he was “quick like a bunny.”
Cure
Marty took Uber back to Marie Laveau the next morning. He presented the rabbit to her and took a seat on a hard bench in a very dark room. Marie began her rituals.
The rabbit was placed on a small onyx alter and smoke plumes with an acrid scent emanated from a nearby incense pot. Marie spread chicken feathers on the floor in front of the alter and she began to chant. While she was chanting, she was holding a large stick that resembled a walking stick. The end of this stick was being beat into the floor.
Eh! eh! Bomba, hen! hen! *BANG*
Canga bafio té *BANG*
Canga moune dé lé *BANG*
Canga do ki la *BANG*
Canga li *BANG*
This went on for over an hour. Marty was getting a bit woozy from the smell of the incense. But then his head cleared. As the clock struck noon, he suddenly felt amazing. Marie shouted “get up!” He didn’t understand and she repeated “get up, get up, get up!”
Marty still didn’t understand. Marie took him by the hands and pulled him up. He stood normally! He wasn’t hunched! He took a halting step and then another. He jumped for joy. “I’m normal! I’m cured! Thank you, thank you, thank you!”
He left and dropped by Bob’s office to give him the rabbit to return to the store to get a refund. Bob was incredulous and cried at his friend’s amazing recovery.
Ellen
Bob got to Ellen’s apartment mid-afternoon. Not expecting Ellen to be home, he let himself in. As he closed the door, he heard sobbing from the bedroom. He placed Mr. Rabbit back on the shelf and ran into the bedroom. He found Ellen in a fetal position crying.
“I decided to get home early. Everything was fine until noon. It was so sudden it was like I had a stroke. I can barely walk. I’m all hunched over. I don’t understand!”
In a flash of horror, Bob realized what he’d done.