You Had One Job

I have a love-hate relationship with social media (don't worry this isn't going to be a post all about the evils of Facebook).  But one of the things I love about it is that sometimes people post really funny things.  For example, all of the pictures of mislabeled product at a store or misspelled signs with the caption, "You had one job." You think,  "come on, the arrow is pointing left and you labeled it right...really!!??"

I wonder if that is what Aslan was thinking as he watches Jill and Eustace try to carry out the task he assigned them in C.S. Lewis' The Silver Chair.  At the very beginning of the journey Jill gets direct instructions from Aslan.  She has no idea how rare this is, but she does sense that it is important and she should try her best.

Aslan gives her four signs to use as guides along her quest.  When he finishes telling the signs Jill said, 'Thank you very much. I see."  Aslan is not quite convinced and makes Jill repeat the signs back to him.  "Jill tried, and didn't get them quite right.  So the Lion corrected her, and made her repeat them again and again until she could say them perfectly."

Now it would be quite a short book indeed, and not very interesting, if Jill followed the signs perfectly and completed the task.  So it isn't really a spoiler when I say that there were a few missteps along the way. As a reader, you know how important the signs are and, if you've read the other books, you know how rarely Aslan gives such detailed directions.  You want to yell at Jill and Eustace, "stop!  Don't do that!! Remember the signs."  They had one job...

Following the signs...that's kids stuff.