The Inanna-verse.

  (Inanna, Ninshubar, and Ereshkigal are seated before a flatscreen watching “A Year without Santa Claus”.   There is a large quantity of red and green iced brownies on a platter perched on a coffee table in front of them). INANNA:   Oh, dear.   I hope that Santa Claus can get on his feet to spread Christmas cheer! ERESHKIGAL:   Nonny, we watch this stupid show year after year and the ending is the same! NINSHUBAR:   And year after year you two get in a fight about it.   Calm down and enjoy the day. INANNA:   Do you think Santa Claus is real? ERESHKIGAL:   Oh, I don’t believe this... INANNA:   I’m serious!   Lots of people don’t believe we’re goddesses, but we are! NINSHUBAR:   Nonny, if you look into your heart as a source of generosity and charity, there lies the spirit that is Santa Claus. (Pause). INANNA:   You don’t believe a word you just said, do you? NINSHUBAR:   Well, I believe in generosity and charity— ERESHKIGAL:   Just not the crap about Santa Claus. INANNA:   Stop, Sis!  

(Inanna and Ninshubar enter a book store named Book Haven.   Ninshubar marvels at the stacks of books around her while Inanna pores over her iPad Pro). NINSHUBAR:   Books, glorious books!   Row upon row!   Column next to column!   A body could LOSE herself in such literary wealth for centuries! INANNA:   Mmm. Nice.   (Ninshubar deftly removes a thick volume from the shelves). NINSHUBAR:   Take for example this volume by Petronius Arbiter!   The restored work of The Satyricon!   This is a treasure.   What a find! INANNA:   Treasure, yeah. NINSHUBAR:   Or this tome by Dante Alighieri, the Divine Comedy!   The poet's ascent from the Inferno to-- are you paying attention, Nonny? INANNA:   Sort of. NINSHUBAR:   Inanna, unglue that nose of yours from that digital doo-dad and look at something tangible.   Trace your fingers along this fine grain paper.   These are the unabridged verses of Hesiod.   A rare find that only-- INANNA:   Got it. NINSHUBAR:   What? INANNA:   Downloaded it just n

(Shara, Inanna's son, is staring up at the evening sky.   The sun has set, its passage marked by the afterglow.   A bright star appears in the sky.   He turns to his mother). SHARA:   Momma, what is that? INANNA:   That, my child, is the evening star! SHARA:   Oh! INANNA:   It is a special kind of star.   It is called a "planet."   A planet wanders along its own path, unlike the fixed stars in the heavens. SHARA:   Amazing! INANNA:   And if you wish on it, your wish will come true! SHARA:   Will it really? INANNA:   It will!   Just repeat after me:   Star light, star bright... SHARA:   Star light, star bright... INANNA:   First star I see tonight... SHARA:   First star I see tonight... INANNA:   I wish I may, I wish I might... SHARA:   I wish I may, I wish I might... INANNA:   Have the wish I wish tonight! SHARA:   Have the wish I wish tonight! INANNA:   What did you wish for? SHARA:   It is a secret! INANNA:   What if you whispered it in Momma's ear? SHARA:   All