Five stories, written to set the stage for the sixth.

On June 23, 2004, Justin Timberlake disappeared; no signs of foul play, no signs of a struggle, no signs of anything. He simply vanished.

On June 24, 2011, he stumbled out of what seemed like nowhere -- unchanged, unaged, wild around the eyes. But this isn't about that; not yet. This is about what happened when he left.

i. he has left us alone but shafts of light sometimes grace the corners of our rooms
ii. stumble then rise on some awkward morning
iii. broken chords can sing a little
iv. thirteen angels standing guard 'round the foot of your bed
v. born into trouble as the sparks fly upwards

True Thomas lay o'er yon grassy bank
And he beheld a lady gay,
A lady that was both brisk and bold
Come riding o'er the fernie brae.

Her skirt was of the grass-green silk,
Her mantlet of the velvet fine,
At ilka tett of her horses mane
Hung fifty silver bells and nine.

True Thomas he took off his hat,
And bowed him low down to his knee;
'All hail thou mighty Queen of Heaven!
For your peer on earth I ne'er did see!'

'Oh no, oh no, True Thomas' she says,
That name does not belong to me;
I am but the Queen of Fair Elfland,
That has come for to visit thee.'

'But ye maun go wi' me now Thomas,
True Thomas ye maun go wi me,
For ye maun serve me seven years
Thro weel or wae as may change to be.'

She turned about her milk white steed,
And took True Thomas up behind,
And aye whene'er the bridle rang,
The steed flew swifter than the wind.

For forty days and forty nights,
He wade thro red blude to the knee,
And he saw neither sun nor moon,
But heard the roaring of the sea.

O they rade on and further on,
Until they came to a garden tree;
'Light down, light down, ye ladie free,
And I'll pull of that fruit for thee.' 

'O no, O no, True Thomas,' she says
'That fruit maun not be touched by thee,
For all the plagues that are in hell,
Light on the fruit of this countrie.

'But I have a loaf here in my lap,
Likewise a bottle of red wine,
And now ere we go further on,
Well rest awhile, and ye may dine.'

When he had eaten and drunk his fill,
She said 'Lay your head upon my knee,
And ere we climb yon high high hill,
I will show you fairlies three.'

'Ah see ye not that broad broad road
That lies by the lily leven?
O that is the way of wickedness,
Tho some call it the road to Heaven.'

'And see ye not that narrow narrow road,
All beset with thorns and briers?
O that is the way of righteousness,
Tho after it but few enquires.'

'And see ye not that bonny bonny road,
Which winds about the ferny brae?
O that is the road to fair Elfland,
Where you and I this night maun gae.'

'But Thomas you must hold your tongue,
Whatever you may hear or see,
For if one word you should chance to speak,
You will never get back to your ain countrie.'

He has gotten a coat of the green green cloth,
Likewise shoes of the velvet sheen,
And till seven years were past and gone,
True Thomas ne'er on earth was seen. 

-- Traditional Scottish folk ballad

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