Thanksgiving Versus Pride

This is an allegory of a boxing match between Thanksgiving and Pride. It is written as if it was reported on a radio station. Blows and punches are given names. I hope it fits the definition of all dialogue.

ANNOUNCER: This is it. The fight of fights of the year. The fight is between heavyweights, Thanksgiving and Pride, who will punch, pound, and pummel each other to see who wins the prize. We talked to Pride in the locker room and here is what he said.

ANNOUNCER: Are you sure you are ready for this fight?

PRIDE: Never been fitter. I’m eager to go. I’ll have it all tied up in the first round. Thanksgiving is a pushover from way back.

ANNOUNCER: You’re looking fervent and self-confident. You’ve gained a little weight though, around the middle.

PRIDE: Are you insulting me? Do you want some of what I’ll give Thanksgiving? The weight is muscle. Pure muscle. I’ll flex my arm for you. See that? Pure muscle. Any extra weight will just bowl Thanksgiving over. He’s a wimp.

ANNOUNCER: What does your sponsor say?

PRIDE: I don’t have a sponsor. I don’t need anyone. I rely on myself.

ANNOUNCER: Do you have a trainer, then?

PRIDE: I don’t need a trainer. I know everything there is to know about boxing. Like I said, I rely on myself.

ANNOUNCER: (Sound of walking) Let’s hear what Thanksgiving has to say. Thanksgiving, you look amazing, remarkable, and noteworthy for being peaceful. You’ve been having trouble getting good fights. I’m not sure how you got this one. What do you say about your little fights with Pride’s cousins Arrogance and Don’t Care?

THANKSGIVING: If you remember, I won those fights easily. Arrogance couldn’t take my humbleness punch and Don’t Care crumbled to my compassionate move.

I’m not worried about this one. God is my sponsor. And Bible is the best trainer in the world. He has trained me specifically for this fight. I’ve been given good instruction, which will make all the difference.

ANNOUNCER: Now it is time for the combat, competition, contest. They are in their corners, bouncing with anticipation, expectation, and eagerness. Pride is in bull-fighting red trunks. Thanksgiving is in serene blue trunks. The crowd is cheering. They seem to be raucous and backing Pride.

Okay folks, they are shaking hands.

     Now they are starting at each other. Looking for weak points.

     Pride is the first to throw an uppercut of complaining, followed by self-centered blow to the side of the head. It landed with full force, giving Thanksgiving a black, blue, and bad eye. I don’t know how Thanksgiving can see, but he just fired off a strong joy straight to Pride’s chest. Pride blocks it with grudges. They step back to reassess their strategies.

           Thanksgiving is showing a good ability to shake off blows, but he will have to keep it up for more rounds. Pride looks conceited. We’ll see if he can keep it up.

           Pride steps forward to throw vanity, vainness, and vainglory at Thanksgiving’s ribs. They must be made of cast iron because he hardly notices. Pride steps forward again to lead with a vulgar jab and another hook to the side of the head. Thanksgiving’s eye is bleeding now.           

           They are circling the ring now. An occasional step forward to check the other’s reaction.

           Thanksgiving moves in with contentment, but Pride just pushes him back.

           There’s the bell that ends the first round. Pride had a good first round, but can he hold on to it? They are in their corners. Thanksgiving’s trainer gives him a raw steak for his eye and wipes away some blood. The trainer is whispering instructions to Thanksgiving, who nods like he understands.

           Pride is just sitting in his corner. No one to help, console, or advise him. Someone is offering him water, but knocks it out of the hand.

           With a clang, the bell rings for the second round.

           Thanksgiving does some fancy footwork with grace and blessing. . . And there he throws a satisfied uppercut to Pride’s chin. Pride steps back to recover.  They are circling the ring, looking for an opening. Pride drives in with his superiority move. Thanksgiving blocks with humility by one hand, and hits hard with humility again with the other hand. Pride was not expecting that. They are trying each other with a jab here and there to find a weak spot. Thanksgiving suddenly rushes forward with a hook of appreciation. Pride staggers back. He throws a straight of smugness, but Thanksgiving leans back and the blow misses him entirely.

           Those humility and appreciation blows have taken a toll on Pride. He is a little wobbly. Here comes the ref to give him a standing eight count. One. Two. Three. Four. Pride shakes it off and nods that he is fine.

           There goes the bell for the end of round two.

           Pride is sitting in the corner, nursing his wounds. He is not looking high and mighty now. He is learning that Thanksgiving is not the wimp, the pushover, the pansy he thought.

           In the other corner, Thanksgiving’s trainer pats him on the back. Now he is mopping the fighter’s forehead with praise. Thanksgiving is given apple juice. He rinses his mouth and spits it out.

           The bell rings for round three, and they are up and at ‘em.

           Thanksgiving blasts a right cross of sharing, but Pride ducks and returns a self-centered cross of his own. The blow lands, but is not with full force. They back off. Thanksgiving is bouncing with happiness the way the fight is going. Pride leads with a hook of ego that lands beside his opponent’s good eye, again without the full power of the punch. Thanksgiving returns gladly with his own hook. Pride shakes his head and tries to hook Thanksgiving again with grudges, but Thanksgiving blocks all the grudges.

           Pride makes an insolent face at Thanksgiving, who ignores it and circles around Pride. He is looking for a weak spot. And there it is: his belly of lies. Thanksgiving thrusts his jab, and straight right into it. There it was again. The humility punch.

That humility blow hurt Pride, but he is recovering and starts some fancy footwork of self-deception. He is going for the move he is known for, the strife and war move. Thanksgiving beats him to the punch with love. It sends Pride reeling! He’s down! The ref is counting to 8! It’s over, folks. It’s over; it’s over! It’s final. The ref has raised the hand of Thanksgiving. These gladiators have fought a good fight. They made it through three rounds, but Thanksgiving is hands-down winner!  

           Just a moment. Thanksgiving is saying something.

THANKSGIVING: I want to thank my trainer, Bible, for preparing me for this fight. Most of all, I want to thank my sponsor, God and want to give him credit for making me the fighter I am today.