Brotherhood of the Wolf

Chapter 4.2: Folklore

I try not to think about Juliette Kaczmarek.

I try not to think about how her friends called her Jules or that she was from Pittsburgh just a few hours' drive away.

I try not to think about her passion for music, which she was pursuing for the fourth year at Packard or her sorority sisters who've been searching for her since they realized that she hadn't just gone home for the weekend.

But most of all, I try not to think about whether I had anything to do with her disappearance.

I find myself distracted while taking roll, wondering if any of the names I call are for students who may know the missing girl. But as I get deeper into explaining the course content and my expectations for the semester, my focus shifts to one of my favorite subjects.

"Since you've all taken the intro prerequisite for this class, you all know that anthropology is the study of how biology and culture affect the decisions and actions of human society, right?" I ask, looking at a sea of blank faces in the lecture hall. After getting a few nods and a couple of grunts I'm going to assume are affirmative, I continue. "Okay, good. So in this context, what do you think I'm referring to with regards to oral traditions?"

Crickets.

My chest tightens. Non-participation is my worst fear in this situation. Well, a lewd answer might be a bit worse, but it's close.

I get it. No one wants to say the wrong thing. They don't want to be the first or stick out in any way, either. But if I'm going to be the only one speaking for the next sixteen weeks, that'll be disastrous.

"Can anyone give an example of what might be a type of oral tradition?" I prompt, scanning the room for someone who looks like they might have an answer. Most of the kids glance down when I meet their eyes, but eventually I find a girl who doesn't.

"You," I say, pointing to her in the second row since I haven't been able to put the names with the faces. "What do you think?"

"Uhm," she mumbles while biting her lip. "Prayers?"

I suck in a big breath. Hallelujah!

"Yes," I say with a smile as the girl's expression also relaxes. "Prayers that are verbally shared and passed down from one person to another are a big part of oral traditions. What else?"

I look around the room and see a few timid hands raised.

"Go ahead," I say to a young man in the back.

"Songs, maybe?" he says as the others quickly drop their hands.

"Definitely!" I exclaim, hoping that they didn't just run out of steam. "Any more ideas?"

"Poems," someone from the back yells.

"What about stories?" asks another student.

I smile, relieved by their increased enthusiasm. "Stories count, of course. Can we be more specific about what type of stories may be included within oral traditions?"

There's a brief lull as they consider the question and then the rapid-fire answers begin.

"History. . . . Legends. . . . Fairy tales. . . . Superstitions?" Some are more confident than others, but I couldn't be more pleased.

"Yes. Perfect! Those are all great examples and are in fact collectively known as folklore," I say, moving back to the lectern where I scroll to the first slide in my presentation, which happens to show that word. "Hopefully folklore is a term that in the very least my fellow Swifties are familiar with," I joke before realizing that I probably sound like I'm trying too hard. Clearing my throat in embarrassment, I continue.