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Emotion 365: The Land Becalmed, the Capitol Compassion

Becalmed stretches along a ridge above the sea. In rosy light, pink blossoms fill its meadows. Denizens walk peacefully from place to place. Bunnies nibble grasses between twitching whiskers. They lift their heads to look at passersby, but do not run. A hedgehog crosses the meadow. A sparrow alights on a cherry tree. A possum walks through clover. Sometimes on a summer evening thunder breaks, lightning flashes, and a storm begins. Everyone stays indoors in their cottages and reads under a warm blanket. The ocean crashes on the rocks below the cliff, but in the land of Becalmed it sounds soft — lush, wush, hush. Faint sea scent mingles with lavender and heather.

“The air is so fresh,” says Miss Emeline Traveler. "But it has soporific qualities."

She brings some famed Becalmed tea back to her spaceship, the S.S. Emeline.

Becalmed exports tea renowned for soothing and soporific qualities.

"Visitors come for a Becalmed vacation, but rarely stay long unless they are already peaceful sorts," says the Guide.

Many little temples along the coast make up the capitol Compassion beside the Becalmed Sea. Monks tend to each tiny place and welcome travelers offering their soothing and soporific teas and beside them sweet cookies and cakes (added once upon a time at a visitor's suggestion).

“Please tell me your story," they say and will listen as long as you like to talk.

Miss Emeline Traveler, Miss Doe Friend, and Amma-Pom wrote their names in Compassion's Guest Book, a stone tablet beside the sea.

"We welcome visitors' suggestions," says a Monk of Compassion. "Any reasonable request is honored. We live one life and ought to make it as delightful as possible."

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