DENOMINATIONVILLE

   Seth and Maturity made it to the lodging place in plenty of time, had an excellent meal, fine fellowship, and a good night's sleep. Their acquaintances of the afternoon did not show up that night, nor were they around next morning. One can only assume that they spent the night in the woods.

   After traveling most of the morning, Seth and Maturity came upon a strange scene. There in a clearing in the woods was a group of children - or so thought Seth, at first. Each stood in the center of his or her own little plot of ground, each surrounded by a white picket fence. On each plot was written a different name, names that Seth knew from the other side of the chasm.

   "Now, this is a curious sight," he said. "Where are we?"

   "This is Denominationville," Maturity responded briefly. Seth expected him to say more; when he didn't, Seth repeated the name.

   "Denominationville? We'll, it's an odd way to live. They're almost together, and yet they're apart. And they're just children! What is the purpose of this community?"

   "The purpose I think you will find as odd as the community itself. You see, their whole objective is to emphasize the differences between themselves. And they are not children. The way they live has stunted their growth, but most are older than you."

   "Really!" exclaimed Seth, and then: "Do they speak? No one has said a word."

   "They don't talk to one another, but as you're new, I'm sure they'll talk to you."

   Sure enough, as Seth approached them, they all began to speak at once, thrusting out hands to be shaken and each offering him sheets of paper that had some message printed on them. There was no real way to talk to them, because they were all beginning to try to outshout one another. Also, they were shoving at each other across the fences, so Seth thanked each in turn and quickly walked back to Maturity, reading the papers as he came. All the noise and activity ceased as abruptly as it had begun.

   "These are amazing!" Seth exclaimed as he looked from one paper to another. "Each gave me two papers. The first sheet from each is identical, entitled 'We Agree', and listing about twenty-five points. But the writing is very small and hard to read. The second sheets are all labeled 'We Disagree', and most have but one line written in boldface letters almost an inch tall!"

   "Yes, I've seen them all before. By the way, you may not remember it, but you can actually see this place from the other side of the chasm. Do you remember that hill?" Maturity pointed back across the chasm.

   "That's right!" said Seth, "I do remember it. They call it Confusion Hill."

   "And it's a terrible place," said Maturity. "Many people have looked from that hill - that have a free telescope there, focused on this town - and they've become so confused that they have walked back down the hill on the side away from the chasm. That area is one of the deepest, darkest forests on earth. Some people get lost in there, and never find their way out again."

   "That's terrible!" exclaimed Seth. "But what about these fences - they aren't very high. Why can't they be torn down?"

   "I'm sure that's what The King wants, but the people here won't have it."

   "Well..." began Seth, but found he was at a loss for words. "Well, but won't the grass eventually grow up around the fences so that, even though they are there, they won't be visible from Confusion Hill?"

   "Yes, I expect that to happen someday. I also expect some of the fences to fall down, due to lack of attention. But for right now, all the people of Denominationville have banded together - about the only time they ever have gotten together! - and have hired a boy to come in once a week to mow the grass. They've made a pact that as long as there is money to hire him, they'll keep him employed."

   "Well..." Again, Seth found he was at a loss for something to say. "Well, I don't know what to say," he said, finally.

   "May I suggest we continue our journey?" asked Maturity.


***

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