tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41801464547130469742024-03-13T14:34:59.227-07:00Ethereal Worlds BlogR. L. Copple, Writer of Extraordinary Worlds.Rick Copplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01754277543618018137noreply@blogger.comBlogger342125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4180146454713046974.post-75902372336298342622021-01-21T14:42:00.001-08:002021-01-21T14:42:08.367-08:00Moving My Blog<p> Howdy everyone,</p><p>I have an announcement to make! I'm moving my blog!</p><p>Yep, you read that right. Allow me to give a little history here.</p><p>When I first started this blog, i used a Wordpress site that I had set up on my domain, at http://blog.rlcopple.com. But the constant requirements to keep it upgraded, the time it took to deal with that since practically every time it upgraded, I had to replace the theme since it invariable broke the one I had been using--I grew tired of dealing with it so I made the decision to move the whole site to blogger.</p><p>Which did take some doing, but I was able to edit the Wordpress files enough that it would point a person who clicked on an old link somewhere to the same post on blogger, and I successfully imported all my posts, except any comments, to this site you are reading on now.</p><p>So, yep, recent events dealing with "Big Tech" giants and their power have caused me to, in as much as possible, to "deGoggle" myself. Being that this blog site is owned by Google, that means I want to no longer use it if I could figure out a way to do so. I investigated the online Word Press option, Blogger's direct competitor, but it appeared I would have to fork over extra cash of some amount to get the same services I have here for free. So, what to do?</p><p>Then I realized that I could potentially modify my "Simple Website" to work as a blogging platform. So after looking into the coding (boy, it has been a while since I looked at the coding on this php software/application) last night, I figured out how to turn it into a blogging platform. So I spent today working on putting some content on it, basically all the chapters of Ally's Angelic Adventures, onto the blog, and it is now ready for devouring by the public at large!</p><p>I've decided that importing all the blog post from around 2007 or 2008, don't recall exactly what year I started this, would be too big and time consuming of a task, after working with the xml file I downloaded from blogger. So, currently, I'm electing to leave these here as they are, as long as Google keeps this site open, and start with fresh posts on my new blog.</p><p>Now, there is some functionality I will lose out on, at least for a while. First, and this is the biggest one, I don't yet have a means to allow comments to be put on blog posts. And I am reluctant to do so for two reasons.</p><p>One, in all my time of hosting blogs, I've rarely ever had a "real" comment. Mostly it has been a bunch of spam, 99% of the time. I'm not eager to use my time coding and then managing all the spam I'm likely to get as a result of that coding.</p><p>Two, most of the comments I've received on my blog post have come from, yep, you guessed it, Facebook posts! So, why not just post any blogs there and have people respond to them there, since that is what they will likely do anyway. And yes, I'm trying to stay away from FB as much as possible too. I think I've come down on the side of using it to "advertise" blog posts and my Linux videos, but to do most, if not all, my personal stuff on MeWe. Just so you know where to find me.</p><p>Another function that I'm still working on, but plan on "fixing" soon (just depends on how would be the best way to go about it) is categories or "tags" that searches could be done on. Yes, that is one feature I do have is a search function. Sort of basic, but it works.</p><p>Aside from those two things, the only other issue (if I were to use this for other people) is the theme-ing is limited to a CSS file that can mainly change the way things look, to a certain degree, but can't rearrange items etc. since the basic structure is hard-coded in. That would take a good deal more coding work (than it would be worth) to make that happen. It serves my purposes adequately.</p><p>At any rate, this should be--unless something goes horribly wrong on my new site, the last post on this site, but to say it again, all the post that are here, will remain here. Only new post will go up onto my new site. That seemed to be the simplest way to do this. </p><p>What is the new site? It is: <a href="https://blog.rlcopple.com">https://blog.rlcopple.com</a></p><p>Oh, I also don't have a way to "subscribe" to my blog yet. I'll have to work on that. I may make one more post here announcing that function when I have it. Until then, I'll see you at the new blog!</p><p><br /></p>Rick Copplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01754277543618018137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4180146454713046974.post-35267911672325617832021-01-14T21:40:00.000-08:002021-01-14T21:40:36.331-08:00To Be or Not to Be . . . an Angel<p>This is the third installment on this particular story arc, which ended up going to a place I had not planned, but I went with. If you've not done so yet, it would be best to read the previous two stories or you'll feel like you're jumping into the middle of a story . . . because you will be!</p><p><a href="https://rlcopple.blogspot.com/2020/11/an-angelic-poker-party.html" target="_blank">An Angelic Poker Party</a></p><p><a href="https://rlcopple.blogspot.com/2021/01/angels-and-dragons.html" target="_blank">Angles and Dragons</a></p><p>Enjoy!</p><p style="text-align: center;">=====================================================</p><p>Joel’s house appeared before Ally. She ran for the door. The angel couldn’t be far behind. She scampered up to the door, and opened it. There Joel sat at his table, sipping a cup of tea with Kaylee.
</p><p>Ally put her fists on her hips and stared at Joel.
</p><p>Joel winked at her. “You know, just some timey-stuff.”
</p><p>Kaylee rose and asked, “Do you want some tea, Ally?”
</p><p>She nodded, then sat in a chair next to Kaylee as Kaylee poured her a cup of tea.
</p><p>Ally thanked Kaylee for the tea, then said, “I’ll remember that next time, fellow angel.”
</p><p>Kaylee reseated herself. “Joel here has just finished filling me in on what happened, in as much as he knows. What happened at the dragon testing?”
</p><p>Ally’s eyes darted between the two. “Well, here’s the short version. After talking to Doodle for a bit, I went where he showed me to go, which was a lake that the stream emptied into. I sat there waiting for what felt like an eternity, but when it happened, it didn’t seem like any time at all had past.”
</p><p>Kaylee nodded. “I know the feeling very well.”
</p><p>Ally smiled at Kaylee. “Then, the water started bubbling. I sort of expected a dragon to burst out of the water. Instead, the water shot up into a column and atop the column stood a lady all dressed in white, holding aloft a flaming sword. She shined as bright as any sun, so much so I could barely look at her. Then without a word, she threw the sword toward me—it plunged into the ground next to me—and then she disappeared back into the water.”
</p><p>Joel’s and Kaylee’s eyes stared hard at Ally as she spoke. As much as they had both seen in their lifetimes, Ally could tell this was something both of them had never heard before.
</p><p>Ally swallowed another gulp of tea. “After examining the sword stuck in the ground, I figured I was meant to pick it up. So I started to reach for the sword, when a voice rang in my head to stop. It was a dragon, and he said I had a choice. A choice between bonding with him, or picking up the sword and going with you.”
</p><p>Joel huffed. “And you didn’t ask him what picking up the sword would mean?”
</p><p>She shrugged. “I didn’t. Guess I just figured picking up the sword meant picking up the sword. I didn’t have any idea that I would end up with it coming out of Paradise, or that it was anything more than a way for me to make my decision concrete to either bond with a dragon or continue on with you as we have been.”
</p><p>Joel rose and paced the floor. “Boy, oh boy. This could change everything if it means what I think it means.”
</p><p>Both Kaylee and Ally said, “What?”
</p><p>“I’ll need to verify it with the Boss, but I also need to know more. How did you decide?”
</p><p>Ally, unsure what was going on in that crazy mind of his . . . oh wait! She possibly could now. She focused on him, but could hear only Kaylee’s thoughts. “What? You mean we can’t communicate mentally anymore?”
</p><p>Joel shook his head. “No. The only people angles can talk to mentally is the Boss and other humans, ‘dead’ or alive. Anyway, continue, please.”
</p><p>Ally took another sip of tea. It helped her to focus. “So, I was thinking about what the dragon said when I audibly heard a different voice behind me. It was Timothy.”
</p><p>Kaylee held up a finger. “And who is he?”
</p><p>“Oh, he’s the other candidate for Shushuma.”
</p><p>“That’s unusual.” Kaylee scratched her head.
</p><p>“Yes, but God had a reason, as he made sure I would go before he did.”
</p><p>Joel nodded and said with some impatience, “Okay, but how did you decide?”
</p><p>Ally frowned. “I’m getting there if you can have a little patience.” When the angel didn’t say another word, but simply stared at her . . . intensely, she said, “I had earlier sensed some self-doubt and lack of confidence in Timothy at the dinner the night before, and he had worked himself into needing a great power from bonding with a dragon to feel important enough to matter. So I simply related to him what I had just learned from the dragon about my purpose in life, that it isn’t so much what you do that gives you purpose, but who you are and love, to fulfill the greatest commandments in Scripture. That’s our purpose. That’s when I realized that I was already fulfilling my purpose, and that God had put me there at that time to help Timothy get his dragon. Not me. So I knew that my path lay with you.” Ally scrunched her forehead. “Why is that a bad thing? I thought that’s what you wanted? Granted, me having angelic powers changes how we might operate together, but what is so ‘this-could-change-everything’ about anyway?”
</p><p>Joel paced the floor for a while before he said, “Let’s just pray I’m wrong. But I need to check with the Big Boss. Be right back.” Then a light enveloped him, and he disappeared into the light.”
</p><p>Ally sunk her head. “I didn’t think he’d be like this. I thought he’d be happy for me, for us. Maybe he’s jealous of my new powers?”
</p><p>Kaylee started cleaning up the cups from the table. “Normally, I would say you could be right. But for some reason, this has him stumped. Granted, nothing like this has ever happened in the angelic world before, but he fears something significant has changed. Not sure what myself.”
</p><p>Ally stepped toward the couch. “Guess there’s not much to do but wait until he returns and tells us what’s up.” Ally slumped into the couch. She kept thinking about all that had happened, and the sword she now wore on her hip, and what it might all mean.
</p><p>
</p><p># # #
</p><p>
</p><p>Joel paced back and forth across the floor. “You may want to sit down for this.”
</p><p>Kaylee sat at the table, listening in on the discussion.
</p><p>Ally frowned. “I am sitting down.”
</p><p>“Oh. Maybe I had better sit down then.” He plopped onto the couch, close to Ally.
</p><p>Ally examined Joel’s face closely. “So, what’s so bad about me becoming an angel?”
</p><p>“Well, let’s see. How do I begin?”
</p><p>“Uh, at the beginning?” Ally gave Joel a slight smile.
</p><p>Joel cleared his throat. “First off, it isn’t that it necessarily is ‘bad’ as such. More like it was a big, shall we say, shock.” Joel displayed a weak smile.
</p><p>Ally huffed. “Out with it angel. You’ve been beating around the bush long enough.”
</p><p>Joel breathed deep. “Okay. I’ve been trying to decide the best route for this. Maybe coming right out with it is best.” Joel swallowed. “That lady on top of the column of water? She was my wife.”
</p><p>“Your wife!” Ally’s jaw dropped open.
</p><p>“Yep, and that sword she threw at you, that you picked up? That was to bond with me. To become my . . . uh, wife.”
</p><p>Kaylee fell out of her chair, but quickly scrambled back up. “She was your wife? How come I didn’t know this?”
</p><p>Joel shrugged. “Guess it never came up.”
</p><p>Ally shook her head. “I’m your wife?”
</p><p>“Pledged to be.”
</p><p>“But . . . I thought angles couldn’t marry? That there was no marriage in the afterlife.”
</p><p>Joel breathed deep again. “That is true, for humans. For angels, what we call marriage isn’t the same thing as what you would call it. In other words, there isn’t any mating or children, just very good friendships. In all other ways, it is like human marriage.”
</p><p>Ally thought for a few seconds. “So, angels can divorce?”
</p><p>Joel twisted his mouth. “In a manner of speaking. Not like humans do, since we don’t bond so intimately, there is no physical bond to break. More an emotional and spiritual bond. Much like a rider’s bond with his dragon.”
</p><p>“So, is there a ritual that I, or rather, we would need to go through to be ‘angel-married’?”
</p><p>“You can if you want to, but it isn’t required.”
</p><p>“What is required, then?”
</p><p>“That both parties agree.” Joel watched Ally’s reactions. “No, there’s no sticking of my ‘claws’ into your hands like during the dragon ceremony.”
</p><p>“That’s good. Guess I’ve already agreed. Crazy system.”
</p><p>“No, you’ve accepted the pledge to marry me. However, one of the reasons I wanted to know how you decided was to know whether you were ever aware of what picking up the sword meant. I’ve talked it over with the Big Boss, and he agreed. While you are currently pledged to marry me, you can still back out if you wish. The only thing you need to know is that if we don’t bond, that you will lose your angel powers and . . .” Joel cleared his throat. “You’ll no longer come with me to help people, nor will you even remember me or the journeys that we’ve taken together.”
</p><p>“What!” Ally’s jaw dropped again. “Why?”
</p><p>Joel mumbled something.
</p><p>“What did you say?”
</p><p>Joel blurted out, “Because we’ve been acting as if we were married.”
</p><p>“We have?” Ally’s jaw dropped yet again.
</p><p>“You have?” Kaylee blurted out from the kitchen area.
</p><p>“Yes, and I took full responsibility for it. I know you had no idea, Ally. It’s just, one thing led to another. Next thing you know, we were a team.”
</p><p>Ally held her head down, without saying a word. Then, she started with a restrained chuckle, which soon turned into laughing.
</p><p>“What’s so funny about that?” Joel asked.
</p><p>“Because, that’s what human’s say about love, that ‘one thing led to another.’ The thought of an angel like yourself sinning in that way just struck me funny.”
</p><p>“Sinning. Me? I mean, it is possible for an angel to get things wrong on rare occasion, but sin? Never. Now, if we had physically bonded, that could get me tossed out of the ranks of angel and listed among the demons.”
</p><p>“Is it possible for an angel to physically bond? I mean, if one was evil and wanted to?”
</p><p>“Not since the great apostasy happened. The Big Boss changed us so we could no longer bond in that way. That’s why I said it could never happen. The only way an angel could really sin now is to intentionally go to the other side.”
</p><p>Ally let our a sigh of relief. “That’s good.”
</p><p>“Why?” Joel asked. “Am I really that bad looking?”
</p><p>Both Kaylee and Ally laughed at him.
</p><p>“No, you’re not bad looking at all. It’s just if I did decide to bond with you, and it tempted you to really sin, I’d hate to be the cause of your downfall. So I would opt to not bond with you. But, why erase all my memories of our time together and that you exist?”
</p><p>Joel raised an eyebrow while staring at Ally. “You should know the answer to that. Who was the impatient one who drug me away from my poker game?”
</p><p>Ally nodded. “Oh, yeah. I guess the pull to see you and return would be too great otherwise.”
</p><p>Joel pulled Ally into a hug. “I’m sorry I ended up putting you through this. My main mission to you was to help you get your emotional connection under control. Beyond that, I should have left you and never told you who I was.”
</p><p>After a moment, Ally extracted herself from his arms and stood up. “This has been a bit much to take in and process all at once.”
</p><p>“Understandable,” Joel agreed. “Take all the time you want to decide. We are in Paradise, after all.”
</p><p>“Three things, one a question, the other two are statements.”
</p><p>“Go ahead. I can take it, I’m a big angel.”
</p><p>“First, I need to go somewhere that I can be alone for a while, or at least with some people who could help me think this through.”
</p><p>Kaylee entered the living room area. “I can come with you, if you’d think it would help.”
</p><p>Ally smiled. “Sure. The second thing, Joel, is . . .” She waited until she had his full attention. “I forgive you.”
</p><p>A huge smile crept across his face. “Thank you.”
</p><p>“You’re welcome. The one question I have for you is what do you want?”
</p><p>“Why, I don’t know whether anyone has asked me that before. What do I want? But, I didn’t discuss with the Big Boss whether I had an ‘out’ too.”
</p><p>Ally stepped over to Kaylee. “But you didn’t have a say in the arrangement either.”
</p><p>He nodded. “True, but I did treat you as if we were married, justifying it that you didn’t view it that way or know enough that I was viewing it that way, so I convinced myself it was okay. At any rate, it was my fault that you ended up in this situation, so I figured I didn’t have a choice in the matter, I had been acting married to you already. My former wife simply attempted to make it official.”
</p><p>“Well, you have a choice now. If you don’t want to go through with this, then I don’t want to either.”
</p><p>Joel smiled and nodded. “Thank you, Ally. I’ll give this some thought myself while you are gone.”
</p><p>“Good enough.” She and Kaylee disappeared in a flash of light.
</p><p>
</p><p># # #
</p><p>
</p><p>Ally and Kelly sat at a table, at a tavern in Jerole. They had appeared just outside of town, walked into town, and to the tavern. Now they sat at a big round oak table, Kaylee apparently waited for Ally to speak.
</p><p>She grabbed a gulp of ale in a fancy goblet that they had been served. “Crazy, isn’t it.”
</p><p>“Which part?”
</p><p>“Well, I was referring to the whole marrying Joel thing, specifically, but yeah. All of it is crazy. Ever since Joel has come into my life, it has been crazy and surreal.”
</p><p>Kaylee nodded. “Tell me about it.”
</p><p>Ally’s head shot up. “Oh yeah. You had some dealings with him too. Tell me about them if you don’t mind.”
</p><p>“Sure.” Kaylee took a gulp from her goblet. “Joel was our family’s guardian angel, though I didn’t know that part until I arrived in Paradise. The first time I met him was on the sky island. He helped us get down by turning our horses into flying horses. I originally thought he was this ultra-annoying boy full of hormones. What he was attempting to do, I found out after I died, was to help me get over my fear of men, so that I could eventually find a real mate. The only problem was, that it worked so well, that I fell in love with him, but that’s when he began distancing himself from me, because he was an angel and couldn’t marry me in the way he knew I would expect to be married, though I had no clue at the time. All I knew was that he stopped being around me, which ultimately drove me into the arms of another man: Cole Sr. It all turned out good in the end.” Kaylee held up a hand with her thumb and index finger around a quarter-inch apart. “Though I came this close to sinning with Cole. Mentally, I did, so taken with him as I was.”
</p><p>Ally’s eyes widened. “Wow. That’s awesome.”
</p><p>She nodded. “Awesome and crazy all at the same time.”
</p><p>“Yeah, like my current situation.” She thought how to phrase the following, just in case he was listening in. “I’m not sure what to do. It’s just that, I have never thought of Joel in that way.”
</p><p>“But you love him, don’t you? I’ve seen it in him and you both.”
</p><p>“But not in that way.”
</p><p>Kaylee shook her head. “You’re thinking about it as if it was an equivalence to human marriage. Angel’s cannot have passion-like love.”
</p><p>“So what type of love do they have?” Ally listened carefully.
</p><p>“They have the love of friends, the love of selflessness, and the love of familiarity.”
</p><p>“The first two I recognize, but I’ve not heard of the last one.”
</p><p>“Think of a favorite shirt or pet who you love primarily because they are familiar, comfortable, and you’ve had a good experience with them. Over time, they become so much a part of your life that you can’t imagine being away from whatever it is. Though people are more complex than a thing, the love still applies. The more time you spend with someone, the more that type of familiarity-love grows.”
</p><p>Ally nodded. “I see, it makes sense now.”
</p><p>“That’s the way that Joel looks at you. It is the only way he is able to love you as an angel—as a friend, as a companion.”
</p><p>“That’s good, because it is the only way I love him.”
</p><p>Kaylee smiled. “Us humans always think things won’t change. What if some day you do want passion-love from him?”
</p><p>Ally shrugged. “I’ll cross that bridge if and when I come to it.”
</p><p>Kaylee sighed. “But, will you cross the correct bridge? There are wrong bridges you could cross to ‘solve’ that problem.”
</p><p>“True.” Ally focused on nothing for a moment. “Of course, I won’t know what bridges there will be until I get there.” She focused on Kaylee. “And, does the threat of temptation ever justify the deciding against a course of action?”
</p><p>Kaylee shook her head. “No, not by itself.”
</p><p>“So, as I see it, I have two options. Option one is to decline the offer, go back to the way of life I had before I met Joel, I would forget all about him and the adventures we’ve gone on. Which means I wouldn’t be longing for this way of life. I wouldn’t know it even existed.
</p><p>“Sounds about right.”
</p><p>Alley took another gulp. “Option two is to accept his offer, angel-marry him, and we would continue to go on journeys together save that now we would be on equal footing as far as ability goes, save for experience.”
</p><p>“Yep”
</p><p>“There is one more factor to add into this. If I don’t accept his offer, I will live, hopefully, happily ever after since I will be unaware of this life, however, Joel will not. He will live with the knowledge of what could have been all his ‘life,’ however long that is.”
</p><p>“Definitely something to consider. Though I’m sure he would bare it well, knowing it was his own fault.”
</p><p>Ally nodded. “Bare it well? I’m sure I would have him spying on me and observing me from afar for some time.”
</p><p>Kaylee chuckled. “Or, you’ll regularly be supplied with his tea, which you will ‘mysteriously’ find on your windowsill whenever you’re running low.”
</p><p>Ally grinned. “Really? He did that?”
</p><p>Kaylee nodded with a big smile.
</p><p>Ally’s somber down-turned mouth returned. “I guess God has erased all the other possible options as real potentials to choose.” Ally stood, tossed some money that she had appear within her tunic’s pockets onto the table to pay for the drinks. “Okay, I’ve made my decision. Let’s go. We’ve got work to do.”
</p><p>
</p><p># # #
</p><p>
</p><p>Ally stood before Joel, a frown graced her face, along with a hung head. She stared up at Joel. “So, what is your decision before I tell you mine.”
</p><p>He sat on the couch. “I feared this day might come. Ever since you agreed to come with me.” He swallowed. “If you’ll have me, I’d be graced to have you continue to travel by my side as my angel-wife.”
</p><p>Ally allowed her head to sink down. “That’s all well and good, but I’m thinking a few things. One, you took advantage of me when I didn’t know any better.” Joel started to talk but Ally held her hand up. “I did forgive you for that, still, it has to be an indicator of how I could expect our future relationship to go.”
</p><p>Joel nodded unenthusiastically.
</p><p>“Two, you’ve kept information hidden from me, like the fact that you’ve had a wife, why you didn’t want me to go to discover whether I should be a dragon-rider or not, the information of what my consequences would be by going with you, the list could go on and on.”
</p><p>Joel nodded. “Though in my defense, I do have a long history. It would be hard to reveal the last three to four thousand years of my history to you adequately.”
</p><p>“Naturally. But I would expect important things to be related to me, like that you had a wife, and that I was fulfilling her role, unknown to me. I would think those are two key bits of information you would convey up front, don’t you agree?”
</p><p>His head sank. “Yeah. I should have told you about those things.”
</p><p>“And probably some other things that I’m still oblivious to.” Joel raised his hand and started to speak. Ally cut him off. “It’s a little bit late to enter in new evidence of your guilt, don’t you think?”
</p><p>He nodded his head to the side. “Eh? Probably.”
</p><p>“Third and finally,” she paused for effect. She could see that Joel was bracing himself for the coming decision. She glanced at Kaylee, who stood there stoically. “Because of those reasons, and the fact you are a pitiful example of an angel . . . “
</p><p>Ally walked over to the bedroom door and flung it open. “I’ve moved it to help your sorry excuse for being an angel.”
</p><p>Joel fell the floor and banged on it, crying and lamenting. “Woe is me, for I am undone!” Then he stopped, looked up at Ally, who now grinned as big of a grin as she could. “What did you just say?”
</p><p>“I essentially said despite your faults, I do love you, as an angel, and my answer is yes.”
</p><p>Kaylee clapped her hands gleefully. “I do love a happy ending!”
</p><p>Joel rose to his feet, still not fully taking everything in. “You said ‘yes’?”
</p><p>Ally pointed at Joel. “Gotcha!”
</p><p>Joel examined his, that is, now their, bedroom. It was fuller than it had been, with an additional twin bed, dresser with a mirror, and a nightstand. “When did you have time to move all this?”
</p><p>Joel knew the answer as he said it, because he said in unison with Ally, “Timey stuff!”
</p><p>Ally giggled. “Yeah, Kaylee and I did it while we were at the dragon’s testing thing.”
</p><p>“Ah, so that’s why the world was so strange back then. For a while, there were three of you in the world at the same time. One in paradise, one in the Dragon’s Hall, and one at my house.”
</p><p>Kaylee pulled out a cup and a pot of tea. “I suggested, for witnesses sake, that we solidify this agreement with drinking from a common cup of tea.”
</p><p>Joel smiled. “Sounds perfect. The only problem is, we would need more than one witness.”
</p><p>Ally said, “Will around fifty or so do?”
</p><p>A rap on the door sounded through the house. Joel opened the door to find a small crowd outside his front door.
</p><p>Ally greeted them, then said to Joel, “It was hard to hide that I was moving in, so by the time we finished moving in, we had a large crew helping us from Paradise.”
</p><p>Ally and Joel stood by the table as Kaylee poured tea in the cup. Joel took the cup and said, “I promise to do my best to no longer deceive you, but to treat you as the true angel you are. I pledge my life and my undying support and love to you, Ally of Reol.” He took a sip from the cup and passed it onto Ally.
</p><p>Ally, having a hard time keeping from crying, said, “I promise not to pull another deceptive trick on you like I just did—though you deserved it—and I pledge my life for yours, my heart for yours, my so that we may be one soul and one team, even if there are two of us. I love you as the angel I am and you are. I pray that I can be a true help-meet in your journeys to help other people. We’ll do it together, Angle Joel of Paradise.” Ally gladly took a sip of the tea to a crowd clapping and cheering.
</p><p>It was the sweetest and best tasting tea she had ever tasted.
</p>Rick Copplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01754277543618018137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4180146454713046974.post-22059890702629023352021-01-10T15:11:00.004-08:002021-01-14T21:45:24.276-08:00Angels and Dragons<div><div>To not feel as if you're jumping into the middle of the story (this story arc has three parts, of which this one is part two), it would be best if you read the story before this one: <a href="https://rlcopple.blogspot.com/2020/11/an-angelic-poker-party.html" target="_blank">An Angelic Poker Party</a></div><div><br /></div><div>Enjoy!</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">======================================================</div><div><br /></div><div>Ally gazed around, awed by her surroundings. She and Joel walked through an about 50 yard hall, filled with pillars on the left and right. Beyond the pillars were areas where lower ceilings extended, mostly containing tables, which she figured were for big feasts and such. They made their way down the long walkway toward a dais, with seven chairs on it, apparently for a meeting of the council that governed this community. Light shown especially bright, centered on a chair in the middle carved with special designs that Ally had never seen before. She swung her head up—light poured in from outside through holes in the high ceiling. No doubt directed into the hall using polished metal. A wall rose behind the chairs, stopped halfway to the ceiling, before heading into a loft as its floor. Ally saw a couple of dragons sleeping in the loft. She smiled when one of them snored.</div><div><br /></div><div>Joel turned his head toward her. “What’s so funny?”</div><div><br /></div><div>“I had no idea that dragons snored like my grandmother.”</div><div><br /></div><div>Joel chuckled. “Dragons do snore. Usually much louder than people do.”</div><div><br /></div><div>Ally pointed at the woman who had just seated herself in the center chair. “What is her name again?”</div><div><br /></div><div>“Kathryn, but everyone calls her Kelly.”</div><div><br /></div><div>As they drew closer, Kelly’s features came into view. Long, black hair had been tied into a ponytail. Her high cheekbones and narrow but squared jaw gave her the air of a leader. Then Ally saw her piercing, green eyes. They seemed to see right through her.</div><div><br /></div><div>Joel whispered to Ally, “Follow my lead.” He formed a fist with his right hand and put it to his chest, then bowed. “Greetings, President of the Dragon Council. It is good to see you again.”</div><div><br /></div><div>Ally did what Joel did, but didn’t say anything, hoping her actions would be sufficient.</div><div><br /></div><div>Kelly grinned. “It is good to see you again as well, Joel. So reports of a companion in your wanderings are accurate.”</div><div><br /></div><div>Joel swung his left arm toward Ally. “This is Ally, Ally of Reol. She has a request to make of you.” Joel motioned for her to go ahead and speak.”</div><div><br /></div><div>Ally cleared her throat. “I’m interested in finding out whether I should bond with a dragon or not. I want to go through whatever test to discover that.”</div><div><br /></div><div>Kelly nodded. “Let’s talk about this over some coffee and tea.”</div><div><br /></div><div>Joel winked at Ally. See, I told you she was wise.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div># # #</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Once they had received some tea or coffee, depending on the preference of each, Kelly moved from small-talk with Joel to why Ally had come.</div><div><br /></div><div>Kelly took a sip of her coffee. “First, I should tell you that the life of a guardian or rider is a difficult one, full of danger, lots of traveling, working to find and prevent attacks not only upon us, but also our allies. It can also be a great benefit and the rewards are, as one rider of old put it, ‘out of this world.’”</div><div><br /></div><div>Kelly smiled and Ally smiled back. Kelly took another sip of her coffee. “Going through the testing used to be much more secretive than it is today. With Cole and Grinoth’s work in opening up the outside world to our existence here—may God have mercy upon their souls—we normally have people come here to go through Shushuma all the time. As a matter of fact, we have one other candidate ready to go through it as well. </div><div><br /></div><div>Ally asked, “What exactly is Shushuma?”</div><div><br /></div><div>“Oh, that’s a fancy word for the testing one goes through to be bonded with their dragon.”</div><div><br /></div><div>“Got it.” Ally smiled real big. “And I’ve recently talked to Co—“</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Ally, don’t tell her about chatting with Cole. Don’t you dare!</i> Joel glared at her.</div><div><br /></div><div>Ally’s mouth hung open for a second before she continued. “That is, I’ve heard a lot of stories about Cole, being that we were from the same town and all.”</div><div><br /></div><div>“You’ll find some things you’ve been told are accurate, while most are not. Best not to rely upon them.”</div><div><br /></div><div>Ally opened her mouth, but Joel broke in before Ally could defend herself. “Yes, Kelly is right. You really shouldn’t rely upon old wife's tales.” Joel turned to face Kelly. “Now why don’t you tell her more about Shushuma? I’m . . . I mean, we’re busy people.”</div><div><br /></div><div>“Joel, you of all people should know how important this is. It should not be rushed.” Kelly stared Joel.</div><div><br /></div><div>He sighed. “I know, I know. Please, go on.”</div><div><br /></div><div>“Okay.” Kelly glanced at Ally, then to Joel, then she focused on Ally. “Anyway, the testing is more open than it used to be, so now we go straight to wearing the gloves, as that presents the real test anyway. Once you’ve gone through that, you’ll either come back with a dragon or not, as the case may be.”</div><div><br /></div><div>Ally nodded with a curl of her lips. “Cool. When do we start?”</div><div><br /></div><div>Tomorrow morning. Timothy will be going through this with you. Also, it is traditional to have a feast the night before Shushuma. I hope you both can make it.</div><div>Alley grinned. “I would love to attend.” She turned to face Joel. “We can be there. Right?”</div><div><br /></div><div>He smiled. “I love the feasts. Of course we’ll be there.”</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div># # #</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The smell of a multitude of foods filled the air. The tables bulged with meats, various side dishes, and deserts. </div><div><br /></div><div>Ally breathed in deep to take in all the flavors through her nose. “Wow! This is what I call a feast.”</div><div><br /></div><div>Joel, who walked into the Great Hall with her nodded. “The guardians are well known for their feasting, that is true.” He pointed to a couple of empty chairs toward the front of the head table. “I believe that is where we are supposed to sit.” </div><div><br /></div><div>As they approached, Kelly, who sat at the head of the table stood and motioned to the chairs. “Welcome, our treasured guests.”</div><div><br /></div><div>Joel bowed to her, so Ally followed Joel’s lead. <i>She said I was a</i> treasured <i>guest</i>!</div><div><br /></div><div><i>That’s because all who seek a dragon to bond with are extra special breed of human.</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Ally jerked her head toward Joel. “That wasn’t your voice in my head!”</div><div><br /></div><div>Joel nodded toward the loft where several dragons sat, having their own feast. “That was one of them.”</div><div><br /></div><div>“Dragons can mind speak?”</div><div><br /></div><div>“Sure, though they often don’t intrude on other’s thoughts without permission, save for their own bondling. But I imagine they are just as interested in you as you are in them.”</div><div><br /></div><div>Ally stole a look at the loft. She mouth dropped when a rather bulky dragon winked at her. “Joel, is that my dragon?”</div><div><br /></div><div>He laughed. “No telling at this point. That will be decided tomorrow—if you do end up with one.”</div><div><br /></div><div>She frowned at Joel as she seated herself. “You would have to add that thought.”</div><div><br /></div><div>He smiled. “Are you that desperate to get away from me? How quickly you change my dear. One hour you are forcing me away from my vacation to be with you, only to seek to leave me once you’ve got me?”</div><div><br /></div><div>Ally refused to smile back at the angel’s jab. “No, it’s not that. It’s just I need to find out if I’m supposed to be here at all.” </div><div><br /></div><div>“Me too.” </div><div><br /></div><div>Ally swung around to the guy who sat next to her. A black, short-cut haired young man greeted her. A lanky, but otherwise muscular arm reached out to shake her hand. She took his hand and gave him a firm handshake. “I assume you must be Timothy?”</div><div><br /></div><div>“Yes. I am.” He swept the room with his eyes. “This is all so exciting, isn’t it?” His eyes stopped moving when he saw the dragons in the loft.</div><div><br /></div><div>She also gazed at the dragons. “Yes, it is. To think we could be riding one of those fine dragons tomorrow.” The thought was enough to take her heart away to thoughts of flying through the clouds. In her peripheral vision she could see Joel’s frown. He quickly cleared his throat and started chatting with Kelly about something.-</div><div><br /></div><div>Ally wished she could console the angel, but what if she did end up staying here and he was to go his own way? She shoved such thoughts out of her mind. After all, they would know tomorrow the outcome and she would have to deal with it then. Not now. </div><div><br /></div><div>She returned her attention to Timothy. “My name is Ally from Reol. Good to meet you.”</div><div><br /></div><div>His eyes grew wide. “You’re from Reol? That is where Cole is from. Wow! What’s it like living there?”</div><div><br /></div><div>“Well, there is a big forest surrounding it—very pretty in the fall—and during winter—“</div><div><br /></div><div>“No, no. I mean what is it like living there in the shadow of such great men like Sikso and Cole?”</div><div><br /></div><div>She shrugged. “I don’t know. What is it like not living with such a history in your town of . . . ?”</div><div><br /></div><div>“I’m from Dragon’s Inn.”</div><div><br /></div><div>She chuckled. “And your asking me what it is like?”</div><div><br /></div><div>He laughed. “I see what you mean. But all my life I’ve felt the pull to be a dragon rider like Cole. I’ve studied him and tried to emulate his life.”</div><div><br /></div><div>“That’s pretty hard to do, considering the unusual way he started out and the power he had.”</div><div><br /></div><div>.“I know. Tell me about it. I’ve tried to at least find a wizard that I could study under, but all I’ve got for the effort are a few parlor tricks, not real magic.” Then a big smile crept across his face. “But I’m sure to get a dragon and a power with it. Then I’ll be something.”</div><div><br /></div><div>Ally nodded, but she turned on her own power of feeling other people’s emotions. Happiness and joy filled soul from all the people in the building, save one. Timothy. From him she felt a lack of confidence. Strange since he came across as a confident man. But she had realized a long time ago the mask people attempt to put on when in public.</div><div><br /></div><div>Before she could say anything more, Kelly rose and banged an empty cup on the table. She gave an introductory speech to the people seated in the hall. Both her and Timothy stood when requested and someone even sang a song in their honor. Then she ate and chatted some more with Timothy. It was a magical night, especially watching the dragons celebrating in their own unique manner of roaring on occasion and blasting fire into the air. The sight was so powerful that it sent chills up her spine every time they did it.</div><div><br /></div><div>But the evening eventually wound down and Ally retired for the night, dreaming of riding in the clouds with her own dragon.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div># # #</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The next morning, they sat at one of the tables, eating some type of hash browns with vegetables for breakfast. Surprisingly, they tasted pretty good. Better than she expected. She ate the whole plate. Not only because they were delicious, but because she couldn’t wait to put on those gloves.</div><div><br /></div><div>Soon, Kelly showed up with a fairly plain box made of some type of wood, Ally wasn’t sure what kind. Kelly opened the box, pulled out a pair of woven metallic gloves. She held them up and said, “Who’s first?”</div><div><br /></div><div>Timothy’s hand shot up. “I’ll go!”</div><div><br /></div><div>Ally’s heart bubbled with joy for Timothy, knowing how long he’d waited for this day. She prayed he would get a dragon.</div><div><br /></div><div>Kelly pointed to a small wooden bench next to her. “Lay here and put your hands up.”</div><div><br /></div><div>Timothy laid down, quickly but resolutely as if suddenly recognizing the importance of this moment. He stuck his hands into the air. “I’m ready.”</div><div><br /></div><div>Kelly moved the gloves toward his hands, but stopped short of putting them on. She wrinkled her forehead. “Strange, but something isn’t right here.”</div><div><br /></div><div>Timothy’s mouth fell open. “You mean, I don’t even get a chance to find out whether I get a dragon?”</div><div><br /></div><div>Kelly shook her head. “No, you’ll get your chance.” She turned her gaze toward Ally. “It’s just that I’m getting the strong impression that Ally should go first.”</div><div><br /></div><div>Ally shrugged. “I don’t mind if Timothy goes first.”</div><div><br /></div><div>Kelly sighed. “It’s not that I think girls should go first, rather I’m getting a strong impression that the, as Joel would say, Big Boss wants you to go first.” Kelly motioned for Ally to lay on the bench.</div><div><br /></div><div>Ally shifted her view to Joel. He nodded. “I’m getting the same info from upstairs.”</div><div><br /></div><div>Timothy rose, then sat at the table. His mouth wore a frown while his eyes communicated confusion. “I suppose I’ve waited this long, what is another few minutes?”</div><div><br /></div><div>Ally stood while mouthing “Sorry” to Timothy, who cracked a small smile in response. She lay on the bench and put her hands into the air. This was it. Now maybe she would discover her purpose in life. The gloves slipped onto her hands, and the room with Joel, Kelly, and Timothy faded into black.</div><div><br /></div><div>As the world came back into view, she lay in a meadow. She rose and did a 360 to view the area. On the edge of the meadow stood a forest, and a babbling brook ran along the other side, entering the forest at a ninety-degree angle to the line of trees. The surreal glow of the area told her where she now stood: Paradise. “I’ve been here before!” </div><div><br /></div><div>“Yes, you have,” a familiar voice said. She spun around to see Doodle’s distressed face. “And we need to get you back to Kaylee’s house before you know who realizes you’re here. Why did you wander away again? Do you want Joel to no longer be with you?”</div><div><br /></div><div>Ally held out her palms toward Doodle. “No, no, no. You’ve got it all wrong. I did put on the gloves this time.”</div><div><br /></div><div>His mouth formed the shape of an “O.” “So you are here to find a dragon?”</div><div><br /></div><div>Ally smiled and nodded.</div><div><br /></div><div>“Well, what do you know? I didn’t think you would convince Joel to let you go through with it.”</div><div><br /></div><div>Ally shrugged. “He wasn’t too hard to convince. Why do you think that?”</div><div><br /></div><div>“He, ah . . . he, well, he sort of talked about you a lot.”</div><div><br /></div><div>“What do you mean that he ‘talked about me a lot’? What did he say?”</div><div><br /></div><div>Doodle’s face flushed. “I’ve already said too much. But it was all positive. The way he went on about you at the poker game before you whisked him away, I just didn’t think he would be so keen on you getting a dragon, is all.” After a moment of silence, Doodle said, “If you’re here to get a dragon, then follow me to the stream.”</div><div><br /></div><div>Ally went with Doodle while wondering at the words he’d spoken about what Joel had said. <i>So, all the while I fretted over whether the angel had forgotten me or not, he was talking about me! No wonder he acted the way he did when I mentioned coming here.</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Once they reached the brook, Doodle stopped and pointed downstream. “You follow the river to a small lake. Then wait there, and eventually you’ll meet your dragon.”</div><div><br /></div><div>“How long is ‘eventually’?”</div><div><br /></div><div>Doodle shrugged. “How long is eventually in Paradise? Who knows, there’s no time here. Just wait there, someone will be along . . . eventually.”</div><div><br /></div><div>Ally nodded. “See you later.”</div><div><br /></div><div>“I certainly hope so.”</div><div><br /></div><div>She smiled, then turned to head downstream. As she entered the forest, she marveled at how the light didn’t change. In her world, trees offered shade from the sun in a forest. Here, however, everything gave off light—plants, rocks, the ground, all animals, even herself—so that there was no need for a sun. She strolled through tall trees that reminded her of Brownwood trees back home. They towered, she figured, about 75 yards into the air. Finally, she came to a lake. A distant shore in the background indicated, at least to her, that this wasn’t a “small” lake. She sat on a log by the shore and watched the water lap onto the shoreline.</div><div><br /></div><div>Ally waited for eventually to arrive, and it eventually did in the form of bubbling waters. The bubbles grew to a gush of bubbles, then a water column shot into the air. On the top of the column stood a lady dressed in dazzling light. She held aloft a sword, a flaming sword, much like Joel’s. Then she tossed the sword toward Ally. Ally ducked to form a ball. The sword stabbed into the ground beside her.</div><div><br /></div><div>Then the water column started sinking. Ally stood up and said, “Wait, don’t go. Someone has to tell me what this means!” Despite her pleas, the angelic creature sank into the waters until the lake swished with the small waves of water washing over the shoreline. </div><div><br /></div><div>Ally huffed, then stepped around the flaming sword in a circle. After a moment, she decided she was intended to pick up the sword. She reached her hand out grab the hilt.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Wait</i>! Echoed inside her head. <i>You have a choice</i>.</div><div><br /></div><div>She jerked her hand back and scanned the area. A dragon stood before her, about twenty feet high. Fat body, small head, the classical fire-breathing dragon type. He—assuming it was a he—had folded his wings up alongside his body. He was definitely intimidating.</div><div><br /></div><div>“Are you my dragon?” Ally sat back down on the log.</div><div><br /></div><div>The dragon sat on his haunches. “Maybe, maybe not. That depends on what you choose.” He pointed his tale at the sword. “If you pick up the sword, you’ll stay with the angel. If you do not, you’ll stay with me.”</div><div><br /></div><div>Ally stood and started pacing back and forth as she talked. “But I came here so I wouldn’t have to choose. I wanted to know what God wants me to do. I wanted to know my purpose in life.”</div><div><br /></div><div>“Those are two different questions. What God wants you to do has nothing to do with it. It is what God wants you to be, and who you are to affect in your doing that gives one purpose. You could serve God and others equally either way, by staying with Joel or going with me. There is only one catch if you go with me, you will lose your ability to sense what others are feeling.”</div><div><br /></div><div>“Why?”</div><div><br /></div><div>“Because you’ll get a new ability when you join with me.”</div><div><br /></div><div>“Oh? What?”</div><div><br /></div><div>The dragon laughed, sort of. “If I knew that, I would be God.”</div><div><br /></div><div>Ally huffed. “So I’m supposed to make a decision here without all the facts. A decision I had hoped to avoid.”</div><div><br /></div><div>“That is your decision as to what you should do with your life. It is God’s decision as to how you fulfill his plan by what you do.”</div><div><br /></div><div>Ally thought for a second. “But for God to be able to do that, he would have to know what I’m going to choose? Even before I know what I will choose.”</div><div><br /></div><div>“Exactly.”</div><div><br /></div><div><i>A lot of help he is.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>I heard that.</i> The dragon smiled.</div><div><br /></div><div>“So, you are saying that God knows what I am going to choose, and based on what I choose, he predestines me to a certain purpose?”</div><div><br /></div><div>The dragon nodded. “You’ve got it. Though, in reality, we all have the same basic purpose.”</div><div><br /></div><div>Another voice sounded behind Ally. “Hey, what are you doing here? I just left you in the Great Hall.”</div><div><br /></div><div>She turned to spot Timothy standing by the shore. “I don’t know. We can’t be wearing the same pair of gloves at the same time, can we?” She turned back toward the dragon.</div><div><br /></div><div>The dragon roared with laughter. “You of all people, Ally of Reol, should know that time is mutable in Paradise.”</div><div><br /></div><div>She examined the dragon. “I suppose so. It was just so unexpected.” Her eyes grew wide. “I know what I should do!”</div><div><br /></div><div>The dragon smiled as only a dragon can do. “I knew you’d figure it out.”</div><div><br /></div><div>Timothy glanced between them. “What are you two talking about? I don’t even know where here is?”</div><div><br /></div><div>She had been brought here to help Timothy, more than herself. That’s why she had to go first. Ally turned on her emotional connection and focused on Timothy. “You’re not looking at this correctly. It isn’t what great power one has or what great accomplishments you can do that gives one purpose, rather it is following the first and second greatest commandment in Scriptures: to love God and to love each other as yourself. That is what God’s purpose and plan is for each of us. We choose what we will do . . . ” She reached over and grabbed the hilt of the sword and pulled it into the air. “But God works through us and what we do to help us fulfill the greatest commandments.”</div><div><br /></div><div>Timothy stared in awe at Ally as the flaming sword lit up the area even more, if possible, than it already was. “Wow, you’re right!”</div><div><br /></div><div>“And now that Ally has made her choice, you also have a choice, Timothy.” The dragon shot flames into the air with a great roar. “If you choose to bond with me, you will serve in the kitchen and cleanup maintenance for the rest of your days. If you don’t, then you don’t. However, you will become an apprentice to a wizard and become a great wizard much like Josh. But, you will not have a dragon with you. What do you choose?”</div><div><br /></div><div>Timothy’s head bowed as he mumbled, “The kitchen? Cleanup? I could have done that at home.” Then he raised his head. “But then, I would not be bound to a dragon either. And I’ve dreamed about that, have planned for it.” Timothy walked to the shore and stared out across the water for about a minute or two. Then he turned around and walked up to the dragon. “What is your name?”</div><div><br /></div><div>“I thought you’d never ask. But before I tell you, what is your decision?”</div><div><br /></div><div>Timothy smiled. “I choose bonding with you.”</div><div><br /></div><div>The dragon roared. “I’m glad you have chosen me. You will not regret it.”</div><div><br /></div><div>Timothy cocked his head to the side. “Why?”</div><div><br /></div><div>“Because, my name is Grinoth.”</div><div><br /></div><div>Timothy’s eyes grew wide. “Grinoth! Cole’s dragon! But I thought he had gone onto a different world?”</div><div><br /></div><div>“He did.” The dragon smiled. “I am Grinoth, Jr.”</div><div><br /></div><div>Timothy shook his head. “I can’t believe it!” Then Timothy dashed to the dragon and hugged his leg.</div><div><br /></div><div>Grinoth caught Ally’s eye as she stared at them and winked at her. She winked back.</div><div><br /></div><div>All went black, to be followed by a return of the Great Hall, and an astonished angel’s wide eyes staring at her.</div><div><br /></div><div>She rose to a sitting position and took off the gloves, handing them to Kelly. She scanned the area, but saw no dragon. Timothy still sat where he’s sat when she went to Paradise. Apparently for him, what she’d experienced was still in his future. “Joel, why are you staring at me like that?”</div><div><br /></div><div>Joel pointed at her. “You came back with something.”</div><div><br /></div><div>“What?” She stood and a rattling noise came from her left. She glanced around until her eyes saw what made the noise: a sheath with a sword in it. She reached for the hilt.</div><div><br /></div><div>Joel held out a hand. “Don’t remove it. We need to discuss this in private.”</div><div><br /></div><div>“Okay, let’s go now.”</div><div><br /></div><div>Timothy lay down on the bench, the gloves slid on him and he appeared to become unconscious. </div><div><br /></div><div>Joel nodded toward Timothy. “Don’t you want to find out how Timothy fairs?”</div><div><br /></div><div>She stepped toward the door. “I already know how he fairs.” She glanced up at Joel. “Timey-shifting stuff, you know.”</div><div><br /></div><div>Once they were outside, and strolling among the trees Joel said, “Does that sword, perchance, burst into flames when you pull it out?”</div><div><br /></div><div>“Why yes it does. Hey, you want to see?” She reached for the hilt.</div><div><br /></div><div>Joel held up a hand. “No. I know what a flaming sword looks like.” He firmly grabbed Ally by her shoulders and looked deep into her eyes. “Only angels carry flaming swords.”</div><div><br /></div><div>“Are you suggesting that I’m an angel now?”</div><div><br /></div><div>“Either that, or someone in inventory is out of a job today.”</div><div><br /></div><div>“Well, I did have a watery tot throw the sword at me.”</div><div><br /></div><div>Joel cracked a smile.</div><div><br /></div><div>“What? What’s so funny?”</div><div><br /></div><div>“It’s from another world. You wouldn’t understand.” Joel mouth changed from a smile to a more serious demeanor. “You are now, an angel for sure, with angel powers. Though I don’t know if you are human or not still. This is a first, an unprecedented move.”</div><div><br /></div><div>Ally smiled. “So I can go to Paradise whenever I want?”</div><div><br /></div><div>“You could live there.”</div><div><br /></div><div>“And I can go anywhere and anytime like you can?”</div><div><br /></div><div>“I would believe so.”</div><div><br /></div><div>“Race you to your house!” Then Ally disappeared in a flash of light.</div><div><br /></div><div>Joel shook his head as he gazed into the sky. “Are you sure this was a good move? Really?” He, likewise, disappeared in a flash of light.</div></div>Rick Copplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01754277543618018137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4180146454713046974.post-69573050585804641152020-11-26T23:40:00.003-08:002020-11-26T23:40:44.124-08:00An Angelic Poker Party<p>This is part one of a two-part episode story. Thus, the "cliff-hanger" that this story ends on. Enjoy this episode of <i>Ally's Angelic Adventure</i>!</p><p>---------------------------------------------------------------------------------</p><p>Ally discovered that she did indeed need the downtime. She had time to mentally process all that had happened to her, what she had experienced. Yet a week had gone by with no sign of Joel. Had he forgotten about her? Did he find some other girl to run thither and hither with? Maybe he would never take her with him, again and she would live out the rest of her life normally?</p><p>An idea popped into her mind—maybe Joel was waiting on her to call him? She cupped her hands around her mouth and yelled out, “Joel, Joel. Can you hear me? If so, please drop by.” She waited a few minutes for an answer. When none came, she repeated her request, but it achieved the same result. Ally flopped down on her couch. “He’s never coming back.” She let out a big breath of air in resignation to the idea.</p><p>Then yet another idea invaded her mind. She jumped up and ran into her room. She rummaged through her drawers and a couple of chest in which she stored various objects. Then, upon opening up a drawer, she saw what she had searched for—a little bell.</p><p>She held it in her palm and said, “God, please honor this request of mine, that Joel will return when I ring this bell. Amen.” She imagined that God laughed at the request.</p><p>Then she returned to her living room and rang the bell. A blinding flash of light enveloped the room, then died off to reveal Joel, who was positioned as if sitting on a chair. He wore a ridiculous costume: a pin-striped shirt, with a fancy lace-outlined vest, and a hat that only had a brim on the front, but no top. Initially, he stared at at his hands as if they held something, but then his eyes first squinted at his hand, then they opened up, darting around. Finally, when he realized he no longer sat on a chair, his eyes grew wide as he fell to the floor in a crash.</p><p>“Wha . . . what happened?” His head turned until his eyes landed on Ally. “Oh, it’s you.”</p><p>“Good to see you again too.” </p><p>He stood up, brushed himself off, then his clothing changed into his normal white angel “dress” or robe, she wasn’t sure what they called it. “I was playing poker with some angel friends,” he said.</p><p>Ally wrinkled her forehead. “Poker?”</p><p>“Sort of like your game of card shark, only with slightly different rules.”</p><p>“Oh. Interesting.”</p><p>“Now, what’s the deal with interrupting my week’s vacation?”</p><p>“Vacation? You mean to tell me angels get vacation time?”</p><p>“Of course we do.” He cleared his throat. “Though the rules are different. But the better question is how did you pull me here without my consent?”</p><p>Ally held up the bell and gave it a ring.</p><p>The color drained from Joel’s face. “Oh no! Micheal didn’t pay you a visit, did he?”</p><p>Ally chuckled. “No. This is my own bell. I asked God to use it to bring you here, and he did.”</p><p>Joel scowled at Ally. He reached out a hand. “Give me the bell.”</p><p>Ally started to pull it back, but then gave it to him. “Have it if you want. I don’t need a bell to call you here. I can just ask the Big Man to do it for me.”</p><p>Joel threw the bell on the ground. “Fine. Just let me know before you pull me here next time.”</p><p>Ally bent over to retrieve her bell. “I tried to contact you, but it wasn’t working. I thought you had forgotten about me.” Ally froze, then slowly turned toward Joel. “Hold on a minute. Why were you on vacation? I thought I was the one that needed the ‘down time’ as you called it.”</p><p>“I was overdue for one and it seemed like a good time. So, I wasn’t listening for you.”</p><p>Ally stuck out her bottom lip. “Well, I guess that is okay.”</p><p>“Though I am sorry for your trouble in contacting me. So, what do you want?”</p><p>She shrugged. “I’m bored. I’m ready for our next adventure.”</p><p>Joel rubbed his chin for a moment. “Hum. First I would have to say goodbye to my guests.”</p><p>Ally jumped. “Great, then I can go with you!”</p><p>“I don’t know if that is such a good idea. Remember what happened last time you came to my house?”</p><p>“I promise not to wander off this time.”</p><p>Joel looked her up and down. “Well, if you promise not to get into any trouble.” He pointed a finger at Ally. “But don’t get me in trouble with Michael again. Otherwise . . .” Joel gulped. “It really could be the bell for me, again” He shook his head. “How do I allow myself to be talked into these things?”</p><p>They both disappeared in an angelic light-flash.</p><p><br /></p><p># # #</p><p><br /></p><p>They both appeared about the same place that Ally recalled last time. There was the same quaint cottage with a garden next to it growing Joel’s tea, except this time no one was tending it.</p><p>Joel waved her to follow. “Come on inside.”</p><p>Ally did a double-take. “You mean, I get to go inside this time?”</p><p>“Like, yeah! I’m not letting you out of my site this time.”</p><p>She followed the angel down his short walk-way, up his porch, complete with a swing on the right end of it, and through his creaky screen door that reminded her of her grandmother’s house. Once inside, a soft couch and rocking chair set, both needed dusting, and a round dining room table gave a particular ambiance that she had never associated with Joel before. Around the table sat eight people, only one who she recognized, Kaylee.</p><p>One of the men spoke out, “Well there you are, Joel. We wondered where you had disappeared to.”</p><p>Joel held out his arms toward Ally. “Here is the reason for my sudden departure. I’m afraid I must get back to work; vacation is over.”</p><p>“You mean to tell me a little girl commands the great angel Joel around!” Guffaws followed those remarks from another guy.</p><p>“Joel,” Ally said. “Aren’t you going to introduce me?” Then Ally recognized the man who just spoke. “Doodle!”</p><p>He stood and bowed. “Hi, Ally. How are you getting along with your new dragon?”</p><p>She glanced at Joel. “Just fine. He’s a little ornery at times, but for an angel, he’s not too bad.”</p><p>Everyone laughed again. Once Doodle regained his composure, he added, “I don’t know. Joel is a little too scrawny to ride.” Laughter erupted again.</p><p>Ally shot a glance at Joel. His face had turned red, whether from embarrassment or anger she wasn’t sure. Joel scowled at Doodle. “She never got a dragon for your information. As a matter of fact, you almost single-handedly ruined her life trying to play dragon-matchmaker!”</p><p>Everyone’s laughter died off, and their smiles disappeared. Kaylee spoke up, “Now Joel, the guys were simply having a bit of fun.”</p><p>Ally tried to divert the conversation. “Maybe it would be best for the rest of you to introduce yourselves. How about if we start with you, to the right of Doodle there, and go around the table until you come to Kaylee sitting the Doodle’s left?”</p><p>Joel grumbled something under his breath as he sat on the rocking chair.</p><p>The first man arose from his chair and bowed. “My name is Seth.” Ally nodded at each one as they spoke in turn. “Mine is Sisko.” “I’m called Jake, Sisko’s brother.” “Josh.” “I’m Cole.” “And to top it off, I’m Kaylee’s brother, Nathan.”</p><p>Ally stared at them each in turn. “Wow! This is like a list of the biggest names in Camellia’s history!”</p><p>Most of them said together, “Camellia?”</p><p>Seth asked, “Isn’t that a flower?”</p><p>Kaylee pointed out the window. “Of course it is, but it is also what Ally decided to call our world.”</p><p>Sisko nodded. “I like it.”</p><p>Cole lifted his cup of tea, made from the plants growing in Joel’s garden. “I like it too. So much so, that I propose a toast to the name Camellia for our world. It’s about time our world had a name. Let’s make it official!”</p><p>Everyone at the table raised their tea cups and clinked them together. Scattered “Hear, hears” echoed around the table. Ally beamed as they took sips of their tea.</p><p>Ally pointed at a cup. “Don’t suppose I could get a cup of tea?”</p><p>Kaylee hopped to her feet. “Of course. Have a seat.”</p><p>As Kaylee worked to make her a cup of hot tea, Ally decided to ask a question. “I’ve been curious ever since I was here last and was almost joined to a dragon. Should I think about joining with a dragon and what is it like?”</p><p>Sisko shook his head. “I only rode one very briefly. Cole and Doodle here could speak more to that.”</p><p>Cole sat back in his chair. “Well, depends on if you have anything else going on in your life, because being bonded to a dragon is as much like a marriage as anything, as well as a life-long commitment to protect and fight for your dragon.”</p><p>“Until, death do you part.” Doodle smiled.</p><p>“That’s right.” Cole took a sip of his tea. “About the only way to find out whether or not you are a ripe for such a life is to go through the testing phase yourself.”</p><p>Ally thought for a second. “I think I would like to investigate this further.”</p><p>“Now hold on one minute,” Joel spoke up. “I don’t think this is a good idea.”</p><p>Doodle laughed. “Why not, my dear angel? It is the best way to find out whether she’s fit for the task.”</p><p>“Well . . . because, because I don’t like it. We’ve been going around helping people for a time now. We’re a team. And a darn good team if I do say so myself.”</p><p>Ally smiled. “Aw, Joel. I didn’t know you cared that much.”</p><p>“I . . . don’t care ‘that much’. It’s just that, that I need your ability to help me.”</p><p>Ally placed a hand on Joel’s hand. “It will be okay. You know that ultimately it is up to the Big Man anyway, right?”</p><p>“You would have to bring him up.” Joel looked at the table of people. “Isn’t anyone going to support me?”</p><p>Seth cleared his throat. “Joel, you know we are your friends and will gladly support you in any endeavor you choose.”</p><p>Joel smiled. “Thank you, Seth.</p><p>“Hold on, I didn’t finish. In like manner this isn’t about you, it’s about Ally. I can’t speak for the others, but I have a good feeling about her. If she wants to explore this life-purpose, I don’t see any reason to deny her the request.”</p><p>Nods and murmurings of agreement rose from the rest of the table.</p><p>Joel stood up. “Alright already! Kaylee, I assume you can see to the departure of my guest?”</p><p>Kaylee nodded. “Sure.”</p><p>“Okay, Ally, let’s go.” A bright light engulfed her and Joel.</p><p>When they reappeared, she stood in the midst of a large valley surrounded by mountains. Dense but beautiful vegetation surrounded them. Ally did a one-eighty to take in the area. “Where are we?”</p><p>“Where do you think? The Dragons’ Battle Field, naturally. Follow me to the Dragon’s Hall and I’ll introduce you.”</p><p>“Really? You’re taking me to see the dragons?” She clapped her hands together.</p><p>“That’s what you wanted, wasn’t it?”</p><p>“Yes.” She stopped walking. “Joel, how did you manage that back at your house?”</p><p>Joel turned to face her. “Manage what? Coming here? I thought by—“</p><p>“No, not coming here. I want to know how you could be so grumpy while sitting in Paradise?”</p><p>“It wasn’t easy.” Joel’s eyes locked with Ally’s until they both broke up laughing. Joel resumed heading for Dragon’s Hall. “The truth of the matter is that I’ve grown used to having you with me. I wouldn’t like losing you to a dragon’s life. But I couldn’t say that in front of the others.”</p><p>Ally caught up to him to walk beside him. “Why not?”</p><p>“They wouldn’t understand. They would suspect that I was becoming romantically involved with you, something angels are prohibited from doing.”</p><p>“You mean, angels can’t have wives and babies?”</p><p>Joel laughed. “No, we cannot?”</p><p>“But the stories about Kaylee? What about those?”</p><p>“That was different.”</p><p>“In what way?”</p><p>Joel frowned. “I was tasked with helping her through her fear of men, due to issues you wouldn’t understand. Once I fixed that, I began the work of extracting myself from her desires for me.”</p><p>Ally shook her head. “No wonder.”</p><p>“No wonder, what?”</p><p>Ally sighed. “No wonder she had such a hard time trusting a man.”</p><p>Joel huffed. “Like I said, you wouldn’t understand. Now, let’s go get Susuhma over with.”</p><p>“You and your strange words.” Ally followed the angel up the steps leading to a big ledge in front of a set of giant doors embedded into the mountainside.</p>Rick Copplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01754277543618018137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4180146454713046974.post-18944953380677470952020-10-17T13:15:00.001-07:002020-10-17T13:56:32.351-07:00Faith Doubts<p style="height: auto; text-align: left;">It has been a while since I've posted a story here. That's partly because I've ended up distracted from my main writing, fiction, with some non-fiction writing. So I've ended up picking at this story all year. Until, today! Of course, I'll need to go faster if I want to finish the whole series before I leave this world. At any rate, it is done, so here is the short story of the 2020 year! Enjoy.</p><p style="height: auto; text-align: left;">Note: I've changed the name of the main character from Holly to Ally, in honor of my granddaughter, Alexandria Zingg, who also goes by Ally.</p><p style="height: auto; text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="height: auto; text-align: center;">----------------</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">A clear blue sky greeted Ally as the bright-white light of angel-transportation dimmed, moving them to a new place and probably time. <i>I wonder where we are?</i></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">As if he had read her mind—and for all she knew, he did—Joel responded, “This is a place called Earth.”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">“Earth?” She shook her head. “Why would somebody name a world after dirt?”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Joel shrugged. “I suppose for the same reasons one might name it after a flower.” He winked.</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">“Yeah, however, a flower is pretty. But dirt?”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">“It is a very valuable commodity here.” Joel licked his finger and stuck it up in the air. “Appears we are in Kansas, United States of America, um, around the year 2008, give or take a couple of years.”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">She ignored the strange names Joel spouted out as if she should know where Kansas was, and instead scanned the horizon along the flat plain. Wind whipped chest-high grass in the nearby fields back and forth. “Strange. Not sure why God would have sent us here. There is no one for miles it would seem. How are we going to help anyone if there is no one to help?”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Joel smiled. “You never know who might turn up in the weirdest places.”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Ally started to say something, but Joel held up his index finger. He listened with closed eyes for a moment, though Ally couldn’t hear anything.</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Finally, Joel opened his eyes. “I believe at least one reason The Big Man sent us here is there are some very strange things in this world. And one of them will be along soon.”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Ally clapped her hands together. “Really? I’ve always wanted to see a strange thing.”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Joel waved a hand toward her to indicate he wanted her to come. She followed Joel through the tall grass until they arrived at a long, flat, black hard surface stretching into the distance.</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">She shook her head. “What is this? It looks like a road, but none I’ve ever seen.”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">“Indeed. And the things that travel on it are even stranger.” Joel pointed down the road. “And here comes one of them now.”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Ally peered into the distant horizon, and could barely make out the glint
of sunlight from a metal object. Though she couldn’t tell exactly how far away the object was on this flat plain, since she knew she could see a long ways, she could tell the object was moving very fast. A lot faster than someone on horseback could ride. “What is that?”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">“It is known in this world as a vehicle, automobile, car, or truck. But of course such names would be meaningless to you. All you need to know is that it is a machine designed to carry people.”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">“A machine?”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Joel threw his hands up. “If you don’t know what a machine is, how can I describe it? Best you just wait until it comes and you can see for yourself.”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Ally shrugged. The “vehicle,” as Joel called it, grew bigger and closer. As it drew near, a black contraption traveled toward them, with no visible causes for its motion. “So maybe whoever is in there is who we need to help.”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Joel nodded. “Maybe. You never can tell for sure.”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">As the vehicle drew near, Joel stuck out his thumb. That appeared to be an odd gesture on Joel’s part, however, it did end up having the person inside come to a stop. The man inside stuck out his head and asked, “Do you folks need a ride?”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">“Sure do,” Joel responded.</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">“Where you going to?”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Joel put a finger to his head and scratched. “Now that is a good question. I guess until the next town, since we don’t know exactly where we are.”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">“Hum, so you’re lost?”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Joel nodded, then whispered to Ally, “You sense anything bad in this guy?”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">She closed her eyes and then said, “Nothing I can pick up.”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">The man in the truck frowned. “Why are you both dressed strangely? You aren’t prisoners who’ve run away, are ya?”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Joel sighed. “That’s a loaded question. If we were, we wouldn’t agree with you. Since we’re not, we wouldn’t agree with you either. So you’ll get the same answer in either case.”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">The man scratched his beard. “I reckon you’re right. What was I thinking? See ya later.” He waved, pulled back on the road, and left the two of them standing in the dust his truck kicked up.</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">After the dust settled and they both stopped coughing, Joel said, “Well. How rude!”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Ally grinned. “Maybe next time you better let me handle the talking.”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Joel shook his head. “I think the problem was with our clothes. He implied that they look like prison garb.”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Ally frowned. “Prison garb? What’s that?”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Joel stared at Ally for a moment and waved a finger at her. “Probably has something to do with my drab colors and your stripped shirt.” Joel snapped his fingers, and a dress appeared over Ally’s body. “There, that should do the trick.”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">She examined her clothing. A frilly dress hung upon her along with a big hat. “I can’t wear this?”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">“Why not?”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">“It’s, it’s, oh, I don’t know. It’s just not me.”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">“Looks pretty on you, though.”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Ally scowled. “How about something more practical. Hum?”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Joel rolled his eyes. “Oh, okay already.” He snapped his fingers again, and a set of pants and a frilly blouse appeared upon her.</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Ally crossed her arms. “Do you consider this blouse ‘practical?’”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Joel smiled. “But you still look pretty. That’s practical for what we need.”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">She wrinkled her nose. “How is that being practical?”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">“You’ll get more attention that way.”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Ally thought for a second. “I’m almost afraid to ask. Why do I want to get more attention?”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Joel put a hand to his chin. “Well, let’s just say, you’ll be much more attractive to the opposite sex once another one stops.”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Ally rolled her eyes. “Okay, I’ll play your silly game.”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">“Silly game?”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Ally shook her head and shrugged her shoulders.</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Joel listened for a bit more, then sighed. “Guess we had better head the direction of the last vehicle. I don’t hear any more coming currently.” He started walking down the road; Ally followed him.</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">After an hour on the road, a house grew into view. The bright blue paint contrasted with the green, well-manicured lawn surrounding it. The upper windows clued Ally in that it had at least two-stories inside. A possible attic-room could suggest a third story. Outside an L part of the house sat a couple of the strange vehicles that Joel had mentioned, along with some stranger ones sitting here and there, one with giant wheels on the back.</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Ally pointed at the house. “Maybe that’s where we’ll find our person-of-interest.”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Joel spun around. “Did you just say, person-of-interest?”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Ally nodded.</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">“Where did you hear that from?”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">She shrugged. “Don’t know. It just seemed the proper thing to say. Why? What’s the big deal?”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Joel stared into her eyes for a moment. “No big deal, really. Just took me by surprise because that is a phrase they use in this world, not in yours.”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Ally continued walking. “Interesting, indeed.”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Joel stared at her, his eyes focused deeply on her.</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Ally stopped. “What now? Did I do it again?”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">“Sort of. Hard to tell. It wasn’t just what you said, but the way you said it.” Joel continued toward the house. “At any rate, I was thinking the same thing as you. Our ‘person-of-interest’ may be in that house.”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Ally started walking again. “Great! Let’s do this.” <i>Strange, I don’t ever recall saying that before.</i></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><i>That’s because you have never said it before. Something strange is happening to you.</i></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Ally glanced at Joel. “Any idea what is happening?”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">“Not for sure, but it like you are becoming more a part of this world the longer you’re here.”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Ally’s eyes widened. “Maybe due to my emotional connection?”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Joel turned onto the walkway toward the house. “As good of a reason as any other. It did start up shortly after you checked out the driver’s emotional disposition.”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Ally nodded. “Curiouser and curiouser.”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Joel grinned. “You’ve got that right.” His grin disappeared. “One other thing.”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">“Yes?” Ally stopped at the front door.</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Joel knocked on the door. “I can’t do any supernatural things here except to you.”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">“Why?”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">“Because many people here don’t believe.”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">“Believe what?”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">“In God.”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Ally opened her mouth, but before she could ask any further questions, or express her shock at the thought of someone not believing in God, or at least some god, the front door opened.</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">In the doorway stood a woman, medium build, long-blonde hair, about six inches higher than Ally. “Hello? May I help you?”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Joel let out a long breath. “Yes, ma’am. We’ve been walking on this highway for a while, and we wondered if you could spare a couple glasses of water for a couple of thirsty travelers.” <i>Now would be a good time, Ally, to check on </i><i>her</i><i> sincerity.</i></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Ally winked. <i>Right</i>. She turned on her emotional connection, and a flood of <span style="font-family: Crimson Text;">thoughts </span>impacted her so much that <span style="font-family: Crimson Text;">her knees gave way; Joel caught her before she hit the ground</span>. She shook her head to clear the cobwebs to see Joel staring at her, his mouth dropped open.</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Joel asked, “Are you okay?”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">“I . . . I’m not sure.” Ally steadied herself on the door post.</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">The lady who answered the door said, “Oh dear! She could use something more than water. I have some tea that is good for this type of ailment. Come on in!” She helped Ally into the dinning room.</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">“Ma’am, you are a woman after my own heart. I could use some of your tea as well.” Joel bowed as they followed her inside to the kitchen table.</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">“You’ll both get some of my tea. Oh, pardon my manners, my name is Joy. Joy Quickfeet.” Joy busied herself making tea.</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">“Hi Joy. My name is Joel, and this is Ally.”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Ally tried to focus on the conversation, but she still reeled from the emotions she had felt, even though she had turned it off almost immediately. It was emotions she had never felt before. The closest she could come to it was emotions of disbelief.</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Finally, her head cleared after getting some of Joy’s tea down; the brew really did help.</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Joy nodded her head. “You feeling better now? The color has returned to your cheeks.”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">“Yes. Thank you for the tea.” Ally rubbed her head. An sense of urgency overtook her. She knew that she needed to get out of this world sooner rather than later. “May I ask you a question Joy?”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Joy gave Ally a glance before returning to her duties. “Sure. Fire away.”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Ally wondered at Joy’s words, while at the same time it made perfect sense to her, though she knew it shouldn’t. “Thank you. Do you believe in God?”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Joy froze for a moment, then slowly turned toward Ally. “I did once.”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">“But not now?”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Joy focused on her cleaning. “Well, I don’t rightly know, to tell the truth. Part of me longs for the days when I did, but part of me thinks I might be stupid to continue to believe.”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Then Ally said something she never thought she would hear herself say. “I understand. I feel sort of the same way.” Ally dropped her mouth open and turned to see Joel’s reaction.</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">His mouth was also ajar. Joel peered into Ally’s eyes. “What did you just say?”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Ally glanced at Joy, who kept looking at Joel and Ally alternately, before she returned her attention to Joel. “I . . . can’t believe I just said that.”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">“Especially after what we’ve been through together.” Joel sat back in his chair and scratched his head. “It makes no sense?”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Joy said, “Makes no sense? Made perfect sense to me.”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">“Of course it would, ma’am, to you, but . . .”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Joy squinted at Joel. “But what?”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Ally nodded for Joel to go on. He shook his head. She nodded yes. He shook his head no.</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Joy sighed. “If you’re not going to tell me why, the least you can do is explain.”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">For a minute or more, they stared at each other. Finally, Ally broke the silence. “I think we need to go.”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Joy shook her head. “But you haven’t explained yet. Besides, it is still twenty miles to the nearest town. I can’t have you two walking all that way in your condition.”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Joel shrugged. “She’s right.”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Ally sighed, “I don’t mean just go. I mean go, go.”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Joel’e eyes widened. “Oh, you mean, go, go!”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">“Yes!”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">“But we can’t do that until,” Joel glanced at Joy. “The Big Man says we can.”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Joy screamed, “Would one of you say something that makes some sense?”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Ally blurted out, “We’re both from another world.”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Joel frowned at Ally, as if to say, “Don’t you dare reveal who I am.”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Ally knew she’d already said too much. Yet, for some reason it seemed right to her.</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Joy glanced at both of them. “Hum, I wasn’t expecting that answer. How can I know you’re from another world?”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Joel jumped in before Ally could say anything more. “Like any relationship, ma’am, you would have to experience it before you could believe. We’d have to take you there. But we aren’t allowed to do that.”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Joy smirked. “Of course you cann’t.”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">The light of angelic transportation began to envelop them. “Bye. Thanks for the tea,” Ally yelled out before they had totally vanished from Joy’s sight.</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Joy’s eyes grew wide as the light dimmed and they were no longer there. She blinked. She stood up and ran her hands over where they had sat. “Must have been a dream or hallucination.” Yet, she couldn’t deny what she’d just experienced. Gradually, it dawned on her. “They must have been angels. Yep, that’s what they were, alright. Angels.</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Her eyes grew wide again. “And if they were angels, the ‘Big Man’ Joel had mentioned, must be referring to God. That can only mean that God is real. I’ve got to tell somebody.” She grabbed a hat and her purse and headed toward the door.</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Before she reached it, however, she stopped. She remembered the last thing Joel had said to her—like any relationship, she had to experience it first. That had sounded like a cop out, like she knew it would to anyone she told it to. Now, however, it rang with the truth of her own experience.
She knew she would probably sound like a crazy woman, just like Ally and Joel had sounded crazy to her initially. But if her testimony would help even one other person, it was worth it. She exited her house, hopped in her truck, and headed to town.</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"># # #</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">As the light dimmed, Ally could make out the familiar surrounding of her own house. “Is my time up? Am I in trouble from the Big Man for what I said and did?”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Joel closed his eyes, then opened them. “I don’t think that is the issue. You accomplished the purpose you were sent there to do.”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">“But I doubted my faith in God?”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Joel nodded. “You did do that, but I imagine that was more due to your emotional connection with the world you were in than a real belief.”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">“I certainly hope so.”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">“What do you think <span style="font-family: Crimson Text;">about</span> it now?”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">“That as much as we’d been through together, I would be crazy to not believe.”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Joel smiled. “There. You see.”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">“Hope I don’t ever have to go there again.” Ally looked around her house. <i>What time is this?</i></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Joel responded, “This is the time when we left. You might have noticed a dimming light right over there,” Joel pointed toward the front door. “. . . as we came in.”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Ally nodded. She did recall another light in the room. “So why am I back home now?”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">“Hard to say exactly. But if I were to wager a guess, I think you need the time to recuperate after that last episode.” He glanced at his wrist, as if he had a time-piece attached to it. “As a matter of fact, tomorrow is Sunday. I suggest you attend church. I suspect the Big Man has something special for you.”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Ally smiled. “Sounds cool, dude.”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Joel pulled his head back and stared at her.</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">“What?”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">“You did it again. Probably some residual from the last world.”</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">“Really? Again? Still?” <i>Guess I do need the down time.</i></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">“Boy, do you ever.” Joel laughed as he disappeared in a blinding flash of light.</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"></p>Rick Copplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01754277543618018137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4180146454713046974.post-33781014775637432522019-07-29T23:06:00.001-07:002021-01-14T22:06:39.338-08:00HomecomingI'm finally back to this story, or rather series of episodes, now that we have finished moving. (Yay!)<br />
<br />
This is the fourth episode in this book. A bit different change of pace, along with introducing some dragon lore of this world. So enjoy this free story that will eventually be an episode in a new book, title yet to be decided upon.<br />
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As
the white light died off, a familiar site came into view. Holly
blinked a couple of times to focus. “Joel, this is your home
again.”</div>
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<br /></div>
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He
nodded. “I know. I had hoped we’d arrive here. I want to grab
Kaylee and we’ll go somewhere on Camellia for dinner.”</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“You
mean, you eat food, like we do?”</div>
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<br /></div>
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“Not
really. It is more of a social thing. At any rate, we can’t merely
work all the time. You know what they say!”</div>
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Holly
scrunched up her forehead. “No, I don’t know what they say.”</div>
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<br /></div>
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Joel
facepalmed himself. “Of course! That is a saying in an alternate
world. It goes, ‘All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.’”</div>
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She
wrinkled her nose. “But I’m a girl.”</div>
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<br /></div>
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Joel
sighed. “I know that! It’s the underlying point of the saying.
But have it your way. All work and no play makes Jill a very dull
girl. There. Satisfied?” He crossed his arms.</div>
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She
gazed into his eyes for a couple of seconds. “Are all you angels
this touchy?”</div>
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Joel
simply stared at her, as if he was dumbfounded.
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“After
all, I know what you were driving at the first time you said it. I
only questioned some of the wording.” She tried to read him, but
for some reason she couldn’t read an angel’s mood or disposition.
Though it was apparent enough without her ability. He was so
transparent.</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“And
what, pray tell, was the point I was driving at?”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“If
you don’t know, why should I tell you?”</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Humor
me.” He stared at her as she stared back.</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
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She
shrugged her shoulders after a few seconds had passed. “You think
we need a break.”</div>
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<br /></div>
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Joel
threw his hands up. “Well, duh!”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
She
scrunched her nose again. “What does that mean?”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
He
shook his head, muttering something. Then he said, “I’m not going
down that road again. Look, I’m going to get Kaylee. You stay put.
I’ll only be gone for a minute or two, I hope.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
She
nodded.</div>
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<br /></div>
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He
gave her one nod back, and then marched toward his house. He let the
door slam shut behind him.</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Holly
sat on a nearby rock. The feeling of being totally happy while in the
midst of having an argument with an angel was very . . . different.
Sort of like mixing oil and water and having it blend into one
liquid. Just that strange.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“But
it was very good of him to want to help you relax,” a voice behind
her said.</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
She
twirled around. It sounded like a man’s voice, but instead, she saw
nothing. No one. She said, “Who’s there?”
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Just
me.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Who
is me?”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Doodle.”
He became visible.
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Holly
almost lost her balance when she backed up suddenly upon his
appearance. “Who is Doodle?”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“What?
You know who Kaylee is, but not me?”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Holly
shook her head. “No idea.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Well,
as they tell us in orientation, it’s best not to focus on who I am
anyway. That’s not what you need to know. Even though it appears
nearly everyone asks.” He paused as if for no apparent reason. Then
he said, “You really have no clue do you?”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Nope.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Well,
that’s alright. As long as you don’t know who George is as well.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Her
eyes grew wide. “You mean George of Reol?”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
He
stared at the ground and shook his head. “You know George, but have
never heard of me?” He threw his hands into the air. “Incredible.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“I
don’t know anyone named Doodle from Reol.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“What?
You think only people from Reol are important?”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“No.”
She shrugged. “Only that I know the people of Reol. Not too many
outside of that area.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
For
the first time, Doodle smiled. “So it’s pretty much true what
they say about the people of Reol.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“What
do they say?”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Boy,
you’re full of questions. Well, that you are all a secluded bunch,
rarely getting out of town save for traders and certain exceptions,
like Sisko and his relatives, and Josh.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Well,
it is in a forest, and a mountain range cuts it off from the rest of
Camellia.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Now
it was Doodle’s turn to wrinkle his nose. “Camellia? What’s
that. Is that Joel’s garden over there?” He pointed at the tea
leaves.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
She
giggled. “No silly. It is the name of your and my whole world.
Camellia. Got it?”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
He
put fingers to his beard and brushed it with them. “You know, it
would be helpful to have a name, now that we have other worlds to
differentiate it from.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Holly
smiled. “Exactly what I told Joel.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Doodle
started heading back toward the woods. “Follow me if you’d like
to hear more. I’ve got to get back to my house.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
She
started to move her feet, but then hesitated. Joel had told her to
stay put. But then there was more than one way to interpret what he’d
said. Because they were in Paradise, after all. What harm could
happen to her in Paradise? So he couldn’t have meant to stay put,
as in, not going anywhere else. Rather, he had asked her to stay the
hand of anyone who wanted to put something there. That had to be it.
So she nodded and followed.</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
They
talked as they walked. Finally, Doodle asked Holly, “I sense that
you have already been tested.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Tested.
For what?”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“What
you are here for.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Here
for? To my knowledge, we came for Kaylee.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Kaylee?”
He stared hard at Holly. “She wouldn’t qualify.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Qualify?
I think she’d be very interesting to talk with.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Sure,
but there’s much more she would need to do, like fly, to qualify.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Holly
thought for a second. “Qualify? Qualify for what? All we’re going
to do is go out to supper with her.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Doodle
looked up into the sky. “When, O Lord, did you change the way a
person gets a dragon to bond with?”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Doodle’s
use of the word dragon sparked a memory the last time she was here
with Joel. He appeared a little worried about her presence being
here, that it could lead to a bonding to a dragon.
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Holly
let her jaw drop. “You think I’m here to get a dragon?”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Doodle
laughed. “It is either that or you’re dead. Did you die to get
here?”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
She
shook her head.</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Then
you are here to get a dragon. I think if you go to the lake over
there, you’ll find yours.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“But,
I—”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Then
he vanished, leaving Holly in the middle of the forest.
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
She
looked around. “I don’t belong here, I’m only with Joel.” A
fear grew in her, as much as it possibly could in this place, that
she was lost. She couldn’t remember how they got here. She felt
alone, but not alone. As if some unseen force was watching her. She
shrugged and headed the direction that Doodle had pointed.
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Still,
she couldn’t shake the feeling that someone or something was
watching her. She decided to use her emotion ability, and willed it
to turn on. A sense of curiosity came to her. About her!</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
She
spun around. “Okay, whoever is following and watching me, show
yourself!”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
After
a moment, a rather large and tall dragon, sort of fat, appeared
before her. She stepped back a few steps, then tripped over a log on
the ground and fell on her back.</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The
dragon laughed. “Don’t worry. I’m not going to eat you.
Especially here in Paradise.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Holly
just lay on the ground, staring at the beast.
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“And
by the way, I’m not fat. Just bulky is all.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Holly
sat up. “You read my mind?”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Of
course. Dragons are able to do that. We communicate mentally with our
bondlings.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
She
rose to her feet, dusting leaves and dirt from her skirt and blouse.
“Sorry. I just didn’t know what to expect, having never seen a
dragon before.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The
dragon frowned, as much as a dragon was able. “You’ve never seen
a dragon before? That’s not quite right. You should have seen
several at least before putting on the gloves.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Holly
wrinkled her nose. “Gloves? I have no idea what you are talking
about.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The
dragon roared for a moment, causing Holly to hold her ears. Then he,
or she, Holly wasn’t really sure—said, “I’ve checked you
memories, and I see Joel’s been a bit irresponsible where it
concerns you.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“What
do you mean?” Holly asked.</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“He
left you alone in Paradise when you aren’t supposed to be here.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“He
just went into his house to get Kaylee.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Yeah!”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Holly
turned. Joel stood before her. “Joel!”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
He
pointed a finger at her. “Didn’t I tell you to stay put?”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
She
nodded. “The meaning was ambiguous.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Joel
pointed both of his arms toward Holly and talked to the dragon. “See
what I have to deal with?”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Then,
yet another angelic being popped into the conversation. “Joel.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Joel
gulped. “Yes, sir?”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Why
did you bring a living human into Paradise?”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The
dragon sat on his haunches. “This should be good.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Joel
smiled his normal goofy grin. “Well, sir, Michael, sir, it’s like
this.” He stared at the sky a moment before pointing his index
finger on his right hand up. “The big man upstairs—”
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Micheal
smiled. “You mean, God.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Of
course, who else?” When Micheal said nothing further, Joel said, “
He brought me and Holly here together, in order that I might help her
deal with her problem, I felt that God wanted us to form a team.
Well, a team means I need to take her to my house from time to time.
This particular—”
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“That’s
not what I wanted to know,” Michael said.</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Joel
said softly, “Well, maybe you shouldn’t be so . . . “
He glanced at Holly. “So ambiguous. What do you want to know?”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Micheal
murmured under his breath. “I don’t care that you were on a
mission of mercy. That should be a given in our case. What I want to
know, is upon whose authority did you bring a living human to
Paradise. You know the rules. People only come here when they die and
are made righteous by Christ’s blood. That, or they come
temporarily to seek which dragon they are to bond with. Which of
these is she here for?”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Joel
shrugged. “Neither. That’s what I was trying to tell you, sir. I
brought her here so that I could get Kaylee to go for a nice dinner
in Holly’s world.” Joel turned to face Holly. “It was suppose
to be an in and out thing. Instead, it turned into more. A lot more.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Michael
snapped his fingers, and a little bell appeared in them. He rang it.
Joel cringed. Micheal said, “Do I need to remind you of the
consequences of breaking the rules?”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Joel
covered his ears. “Please, Michael. Not that!”
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Michael
snapped and the bell disappeared. “Just a reminder.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Look,
Micheal. I know I’ve bent the rules a little. But we are doing some
good work lately. Check in with the Big Man on that. Don’t you
think you could all make an exception in this case? I mean, she knows
that I am an angel.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Holly
almost giggled when Micheal said, “Well, duh!” She figured it
must be an angel thing.</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“And
she’s been to Paradise. So, she knows all about it. The only living
human to know.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Micheal
sighed. “I’ll bring it up at our next meeting. Until I contact
you to tell you the results, keep her out of Paradise. Okay?”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Joel
smiled. “Okay.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Micheal
and the Dragon vanished, leaving Holly and Joel alone.</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Joel
shook his head and started walking back toward his house.
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Holly
followed. “Did I goof up?”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Sort
of. I mean, I brought you into Paradise under the radar, so to speak.
Now, you’re one big blip on Michael’s radar.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“I’m
sorry. Maybe you could have been clearer why you didn’t want me to
wander off. I had no idea exactly what might happen.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Joel
opened his mouth to say something, but then shook his head. “What’s
done is done. All I can hope is that an exception will be made.
Otherwise, I won’t so easily be able to go home.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Why?”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Joel
turned to face Holly. “Because, I have to keep an eye on you.
You’re a slippery one, you are.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>What
did he mean by that?</i> She disappeared in a blinding flash of light
along with Joel.</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
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<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Holly
sat at a table in an inn’s pub, chowing down on a good meal with
Joel and Kaylee. Though they only picked at their meal. They appeared
more interested in the social aspect. They chatted about several
things, one of which was the bell that Joel feared so much. Though he
had briefly discussed it before, this talk was much more detailed.
Apparently, this wasn’t the first time the angel had “goofed up.”
Many long years ago, he was put into the humble submission to anyone
who possessed the bell. Like a genie, he was bound to grant whoever
rang the bell some wishes. He described how he could be doing
anything, like taking a bath, and suddenly be yanked away to appear
before someone to do their bidding.</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Then,
in a brilliant move, he had arranged for the bell to be hidden, which
gave him a long stretch of free time. That is, until Sisko found it.
However, he ended up freeing the angel from his curse. And a much
more humble angel resulted. At least to hear Joel tell it.</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Holly
swallowed the last of her meal and downed it with some water. “So,
Joel. What is it with wearing gloves? Something the dragon said when
he was trying to figure out why I was there.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Joel
sat back in his chair. “Ah yes. That, my dear Holly, is dragon
lore. Are you aware of Cole, Kaylee’s brother?”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“I
know of him, that he rode a dragon. Never heard how he came to be
bound to one.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Well,”
Joel started, “I won’t go into all the details here, but one of
the steps to be bound to a dragon is to go to Paradise, go through a
test of sorts. The way one goes from here to Paradise, aside from
dying, is to put on those special gloves. Once they pass the test,
their dragon is revealed to them. Then they return to this world and
go through the bonding ceremony.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Holly
giggled.
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Kaylee
said, “What’s so funny?”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Holly
wore a big grin. “A bonding ceremony sounds like a marriage.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Joel
nodded. “It pretty much is like marriage. Different, but bonds the
two together for a lifetime.” Joel smiled. “One big difference is
there is no divorce. Not from a dragon.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Kaylee
and Joel laughed.
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Holly
grinned. “That’s interesting. However, there is one thing I’ve
always wanted to know.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Joel
said, “Shoot.” He swallowed. “Not literally, of course.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Holly
briefly wondered whether an angel could die from a bullet. “Kaylee,
how did you end up being a mother to Cole, when you are his sister?”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
She
pointed a finger at Holly. “Now, that would take at least three
books to tell the whole story.”
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Joel
nodded with his goofy smile, “Yeah. At least three books. Maybe
more.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Kaylee
sat back in her chair. “I’ll try to cut to the core of the story, as unlikely
as some things will sound by doing so.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Holly
spread her arms toward Joel. “You do know who I travel with.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Kaylee
chuckled. “Of course. Well, it started out right after Sisko, our
father died . . .”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>Author’s
Note: Kaylee above is referring to the story told in <a href="https://books2read.com/u/mqZy62" target="_blank">Reality’s
Fire</a>, the third and final book in my Reality Chronicles series.
The first two being <a href="https://books2read.com/u/3krEyg" target="_blank">Reality’s
Dawn</a> and <a href="https://books2read.com/u/bMQ6e8" target="_blank">Reality’s
Ascent</a>. </i>
</div>
<br />Rick Copplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01754277543618018137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4180146454713046974.post-20943032105468396882019-06-25T09:55:00.001-07:002021-01-14T22:07:32.466-08:00It's a Jungle Out There<style type="text/css">
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<br />
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Bob
jumped when the door slammed behind him. “Who’s there?”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
He
turned to see his brother standing in the doorway of his living room.
“Oh. It’s you.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Who
were you expecting? An angel perhaps?” His brother, Jack, laughed
as he sat on the brown couch.
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Bob
returned to washing the dishes. “I thought you would be at work by
now.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“I
would be, if it were not—”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“You
didn’t get fired again, did you?”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“I
wouldn’t call it ‘fired’ exactly.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“What
would you call it, then?”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“More
like, violently thrown out.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Bob
shook his head. “So you were fired.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“That’s
one way to look at it.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Bob
wiped his hands on a towel before turning to face his brother. “So,
what happened this time?”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Jack
smiled. “They wanted me to clean the toilets! Can you imagine that?
I was hired to cook, not clean dirty toilets!” He held up this
hands. “I can’t soil my gifted cooking hands with such dirty
tasks.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Jack,
that’s part of the job. You were suppose to work you way up to
being a cook.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
A
knock sounded from their front door. Bob sighed, then went to open
the door. Before him stood a man with a goofy looking grin on his
face and a younger girl. “I don’t want any. Thanks.” He began
to shut the door.</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The
older man said, “What? You don’t want help with job-placement
assistance?”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Bob
froze. “Did you say, ‘job-placement assistance’?”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Yes,
I most certainly did.” The man held out a hand. “My name’s
Joel, and this here is Holly.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Bob
shook each of their hands and welcomed him in. “If you don’t mind
me saying, strange but cute costumes. Going to a Renaissance festival
after this?”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Joel
laughed. “No, more like we just came from one and forgot to
change.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Holly
started to say something but Joel waved her off. It struck Bob how an
unlikely that a pair like them would be from a job placement agency.
But, whatever. “They sure are working people young these days.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Oh,
she’s just my, ah, daughter is all. Sort of, anyway.” Joel looked
up to the ceiling before facing Bob again. “Well, it’s
complicated.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Bob
nodded. “It will all be good if you can get my brother, Jack, a
job . . . that he will keep!”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Jack
waved at them in as they entered the room. A grin creased his face.
“I don’t suppose you’re gonna place me as a squire or
something?”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Josh
and Holly both smiled. Joel said, “Only if you want to go back to a
time when those jobs were plentiful.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Jack
laughed, but it quickly died off when Joel didn’t join him in his
merriment. “Are you serious?”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Joel
pointed a finger at Jack. “The question isn’t whether I’m
serious or not, but whether you are serious?” Joel turned to Holly.
“Is he serious?”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Jack’s
eyes lit up. “How would she know?”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Holly
gazed into Jack’s eyes. “Yep, he’s serious. Serious about not
doing anything with his life.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Jack
rose from the couch. “Hey, I resent that remark.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Holly
continued to stare into his eyes. “Because it’s true.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Jack
turned to Bob, who had remained silent. “Aren’t you going to
defend me?” He turned back to see Holly still staring at him. He
stuttered a bit, “I . . . you.” He pointed at
Joel while looking at Bob.</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Bob
asked, “Jack, is it true that you have purposefully sabotaged every
job you’ve received?”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“No,
no. Don’t be fooled by these charlatans. Anyone can see they aren’t
from a job placement agency.” Jack faced Joel and Holly. “I bet
they don’t have any credentials either.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Holly
smiled. “You want credentials? Boy, do we have credentials. Show
them, Joel.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Joel
wrinkled his forehead. “Credentials?”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Holly
winked at him. “Yeah, you know,” she waved her arms. “Our
credentials.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Oh,
those credentials. One moment, let me think of something good.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Jack
laughed. “See, I told you they aren’t from an employment agency.
You either have credentials on you to show or you don’t. You don’t
need to think of something.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Joel
snapped his fingers. “I’ve got it!” They all disappeared in a
blinding flash of light.</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
As
Jack’s eyes recovered, a breeze blew against his skin. A jungle
came into view, complete with thick underbrush and tall trees
towering above them. Jack’s mouth hung open as he took in the
scenery. “How did I get here?”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Bob,
also displaying a shocked expression, said, “You guys aren’t from
a job placement agency, are you?”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Joel
grinned. “Let’s just say, not from any agency you are familiar
with.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Jack,
still with his mouth hanging open, stared intently at Joel. “Not
only how did we get here, but where is ‘here’?”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Bob
added, “And I most certainly hope you can get us back to where we
belong.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Joel
held up a hand. “All in good time. Your second question is the
important one, Jack.” Joel spread his arms wide. “We’re in the
jungle!”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Bob
threw up his hands. “Duh! I would have never guessed.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Joel
laughed. “Of course you wouldn’t have. Like, it’s a jungle out
there. Ever heard that phrase?”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Bob
nodded. “So, aside from the word jungle, what are you getting at?”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Jack
put his hands on his hips. “Yeah, what is this about? Out with it
man. I demand to be returned to our house, now!”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Joel
shook his head. “You don’t see the point, do you? Okay, I’ll
spell it out. The reason they call the job world a jungle is because
to survive, you have to struggle each day to work. You have to do
things you don’t like. Like the real jungle, where people spent all
their time hunting for food just to live each day. There was little
time for other activities.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Jack
shrugged. “I fail to see what this has to do with me. I don’t
live in a jungle.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Joel
smiled. “You do now.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“You
can’t be serious.” Jack peered into Joel’s eyes. As far as he
could tell, he appeared serious.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Ben
cleared his throat. “I don’t like this idea. I demand you take us
both back.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Joel
shook his head. “You have prevented Jack here from experiencing the
consequences of his actions. Or inaction as the case may be.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Ben’s
face became red. “Look here. You may think you’re God or
something—”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Joel
laughed. “No, not God, but sent by him to you.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“—but
this isn’t funny. He could die out here. He knows nothing about
survival in the wild.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“And
why is that, Bob?”
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Because . . . because . . .”
Ben hung his head. “Because his parents and I, none of us have
taught him.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Exactly.
Bye, Jack. I’ll come back to check on you soon.” Joel snapped his
fingers and they all left in a flash of light, leaving Jack alone.
For the first time in his life, he feared for his life.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
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----------</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Jack
cringed as the beast was about to strike. This was the end. After the
strange man didn’t return as he had promised, Hunger pains had
driven Jack to search for food. Had this Joel guy forgotten all about
him? So he worked to survive. And much to his surprise, he did
survive.
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
In
the six months he’d been here, though time tended to blur so he
wasn’t exactly sure just how long it had been, he had grown proud
of himself. He had built himself a makeshift house to shelter himself
from the elements and wild animals while he slept. Yes, he had done
quiet well. He would show that Joel guy that he could survive.
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
But
now, that it appeared his doom was sure, that Ben’s prediction
would come true, that he would die here, he closed his eyes and
waited for the beast to strike.</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Jack!
Are you going to stay cringing like that on the floor for long,
because I’d like us to fix something for dinner.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Jack
opened his eyes. He stood in their old apartment! “What happened?
How much did I miss?”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Joel
turned to Holly. “Well, how is he now?”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
She
gazed at Jack, standing as a smile filled his face. “I think he’s
fixed.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Ben
scrunched his face. “Fixed?”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Holly
cleared her throat. “A poor choice of words. I meant he is ready to
work.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Ben
laughed. “How? We just got back ourselves. He couldn’t have
experienced anything much.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Jack
glanced at the clock on the wall. “What day is it?”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Ben
pointed at a calendar. “May 15<sup>th</sup>, 2019. Wednesday.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Jack
shook his head. “But this is the same day and time we originally
left. How can that be? I just experienced months alone in that
jungle!”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“Well,
Holly, looks like our job here is done.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
“I
agree,” she said,</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Joel
snapped his fingers and they both vanished.
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Ben
shook his head to clear out the cobwebs. “Like I was saying, you
were supposed to be working you way up to being a cook.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Jack
dropped his head. “I know. I blew it. I sabotaged that job.”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Ben
said, “You’ve got to be . . . what did you
say?”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Jack
rose from his seat on the couch. “I said, I blew it. But I know a
place where I can apply and they are desperate enough for help that I
can probably get the same deal there. I’ll go apply right now.”
He stepped toward the door and reached his hand out to grab the door
knob. Before he did, he turned to Ben. “By the way, what just
happened? Why do I feel so different now?”</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Ben
shrugged. “I have no earthly or heavenly idea.”
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Jack
thought for a moment. “Oh well, time to go earn a living.” He
stepped out the door and shut it behind him.
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Ben
returned to washing dishes and shook his head. How long would this
last? He had no idea. But he hoped it would be more permanent.</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
And
so it was.</div>
<br />Rick Copplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01754277543618018137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4180146454713046974.post-24034329320071298782019-06-20T15:41:00.002-07:002021-01-14T22:04:18.758-08:00Tea TimeThis is one of my planned new series I'm working on. I'll post the episodes here for everyone's input, both positive and negative.<br />
<br />
This story is linked with the previous story about Joel and Holly. You can keep track of all these stories by <a href="https://rlcopple.blogspot.com/search/label/%23Ally%27sAngelicAdventures" target="_blank">this link</a>, which can also be found at the Series links to the right, listed as "Joel's Journeys." You can read the first story there, "<a href="https://rlcopple.blogspot.com/2018/12/they-walk-among-us.html" target="_blank">They Walk Among Us</a>."<br />
<br />
I'm not sure how long it will take for me to finish this series. But you are welcome to subscribe to follow this blog using <a href="https://rlcopple.blogspot.com/2019/06/tea-time.html/#end">links at the bottom of this post</a> to keep informed when they do appear.<br />
<br />
If this sort of feels like something familiar, that is intentional. It is loosely based upon Dr. Who, with an eccentric angel along with his companion Holly. The first story mentioned above tells how they meet and what Holly is capable of. But, if you're diving into this story without having read the first one, the reason she starts out thinking she was going home was because that was what Joel had led her believe as they disappeared from the place they were at.<br />
<br />
So, without further adieu, I present the second installment in this series, "Tea Time."<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
------------------------------------------</div>
<br />
Holly blinked. “This isn’t my home!”<br />
<br />
“No, it is not.” Joel put his hand out. “It is my home.”<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
Before Holly stood a house glowing with light, and beside it a garden along with a “gardener.” At least, that is what Holly assumed he was, bent over and shuffling among the plants.<br />
<br />
Holly realized her mouth hung open and shut it. “Everything is so bright and beautiful here. The kind of place you’d love to stay and never leave.”<br />
<br />
“It should. It is Paradise, after all.”<br />
<br />
“You can say that again.”<br />
<br />
Joel laughed. “I mean, the real Paradise. You know, the one the thief on the cross went to.”<br />
<br />
Holly’s mouth hung open again, and she made no attempt to shut it. “Seriously. The Paradise?”<br />
<br />
“Yep. Sure enough. Where else did you think angels lived?”<br />
<br />
“Does this mean I’m dead?”<br />
<br />
Joel chuckled. “Not hardly. You’re here because I brought you here, not because you died.”<br />
<br />
Holly scanned the area again. “So, I’ll be able to go back?” Though the thought didn’t sound too appealing.<br />
<br />
“Of course. You don’t belong here. You could only stay if the Big Boss says you could. And He’s not likely to do so until you’ve actually, you know, died.”<br />
<br />
Holly nodded. “What is growing in the garden?”<br />
<br />
Joel eyed Holly with wide eyes. “Tea leaves. What else?”<br />
<br />
Holly gazed at the garden. “Ah, so that’s why your tea tastes so heavenly, because it is grown in Paradise itself.”<br />
<br />
Joel simply smiled big and nodded. “And now, it is time to head out.”<br />
<br />
“What? You’re not going to invite me into your house?” She wanted to hang out here longer. “At least introduce me to your gardener.”<br />
<br />
“Well . . . I suppose we could let you meet the gardener. Can’t stay long, though. Not without you encountering a test and a dragon.” Joel started walking toward the garden.<br />
<br />
Holly followed and shook her head. “Seriously? Dragons? In Paradise?”<br />
<br />
“I suppose you expected only cats and dogs to come here?”<br />
<br />
They stopped at the garden’s edge. Waist-high green and narrow leafy plants covered the area. Little white flowers budded on the stems with a yellow pistil in the center. They all appeared to be healthy and vibrant.<br />
<br />
Joel called out, “Kaylee, we have company.”<br />
<br />
A young girl, with brown shoulder-length hair stood up, dusting her hands on her britches, and turned their way. “Oh, didn’t see you pop in, Joel. As usual.”<br />
<br />
Kaylee looked Holly over. “I don’t suspect she’s staying?”<br />
<br />
Joel averted his eyes. “Not exactly. At least, not yet. This is Holly.”<br />
<br />
Kaylee shook her head. “You know the rules! What if, what if . . .”<br />
<br />
Joel held up his hand. “Yes, I know the rules. I’m bending them in this case. Special case, sort of like you were.”<br />
<br />
Kaylee stared at Joel with narrowed eyes.<br />
<br />
“I know, I know. I’ve already warned her about bonding with a dragon.”<br />
<br />
Holly jumped. “Bond? You didn’t say anything about bonding with a dragon.”<br />
<br />
“I implied it.”<br />
<br />
Kaylee laughed. “He’s sort of that way, Holly. At any rate, welcome.”<br />
<br />
Holly bowed. “It is a great honor to actually meet the renown Kaylee of Reol.”<br />
<br />
Kaylee curtsied as best she could, considering she wasn’t wearing a dress. “Are you from Reol too?”<br />
<br />
She nodded. “Yes, I am.” Holly gazed over the tea plants. “How come these plants are all so healthy?”<br />
<br />
Kaylee threw her arms wide. “Because we’re in Paradise. No bugs that eat them, no weeds to pull up. All I do is plant and harvest them.”<br />
<br />
“Cool.”<br />
<br />
Joel fidgeted. “I think we need to be going, before you-know-who shows up.”<br />
<br />
Kaylee laughed. “Yeah, you don’t want to be chained to a bell again.”<br />
<br />
“Hey, who do you think sent me on this mission. If she’s going to know I’m an angel and all, it is the least I can do to show her where I live.” Joel took Holly’s hand to lead her out. “See you later, Kaylee.”<br />
<br />
“Bye.” Kaylee waved as a bright white light engulfed the pair.<br />
<br />
The light dimmed, and a strange sight appeared. A dense jungle stretched for miles, but they found themselves on the outskirts of a massive walled city. Strange new noises echoed among the trees.<br />
<br />
Holly shook her head. “This definitely isn’t home. Where are we?”<br />
<br />
Joel examined the area with a scrunched up face. “According to what I’m told, we’ve appeared in a parallel world by the city of an ancient race: the Yanomami. In some worlds, they are much less developed, but in this one, they became the dominate tribe of the Brazilian rainforest.”<br />
<br />
Holly stared at Joel. “What? What is a parallel world? What is Brazilian? What is Yanomami?”<br />
<br />
Joel rolled his eyes. “If you must know, the Yanomami are exactly what I said, an ancient race; actually, a tribe of a race. Brazil is a country on the continent of South America. A parallel world is a world like ours in some ways, but unlike ours in other ways due to the different ways it would have developed.”<br />
<br />
“So what is a country, or a continent? “<br />
<br />
Joel huffed. “I forget you don’t have such concepts in your world. Suffice it to say, those are geographical areas, a country usually involves a single government.”<br />
<br />
Holly smiled. “Oh, you mean it is like our city governments.”<br />
<br />
“Only expand that to a size like of the whole area north of the Dessert Sea.”<br />
<br />
“Wow, that big?”<br />
<br />
“Yes, Brazil is even bigger than that.”<br />
<br />
Holly scanned the area again. “So, is there another me in this world?”<br />
<br />
Joel laughed. “Heaven’s no. While there are fixed events in all the worlds, thus the likenesses, the combinations of who marries who and which seed makes it to the egg first is so large as to make that a near impossibility. As a matter of fact, you would have very few, if any, identicals in each world save for at the very beginning.”<br />
<br />
Holly sighed. “That’s good.”<br />
<br />
Joel glanced around. “Indeed, it is. Now, who are we here to help this time?”<br />
<br />
Holly shut her eyes. “I’ll see if my emotions can connect with anyone who might need help.”<br />
<br />
“Good idea.”<br />
<br />
Holly allowed her emotions to open up to those around her. A new “muscle” she’d only found when Joel gave her the ability to shut off the flow. Now the various emotions of those around her sank into her psyche. “There are plenty of sad people around, but too many to narrow it down to who we are here to help.”<br />
<br />
“We’d best meet some people then.” Joel strolled around the wall until they came to the city gate. A wide, paved, rock-road lead to the gate. Plenty of traffic ran along it—trade, travelers, and one person dressed like some type of government official, purely based upon the long row of feathers he wore on his head. Otherwise, the people were dressed as Joel and Holly were, in britches, shirts, blouses, and shoes.<br />
<br />
Holly scratched her head. “Funny, they don’t appear all that ancient.”<br />
<br />
“You should see the ones on Earth, in another parallel world.”<br />
<br />
“Wow, you mean that world has a name?”<br />
<br />
Joel nodded. “Of course. Most worlds do that are fairly developed. Your world is an exception in that regard. For whatever reason, no one has given it a name.”<br />
<br />
Holly thought for a minute, strange that. But it did seem time to give her world a name, now that she’d become aware of others that it needed distinguishing from. “I’ll have to give that some thought.”<br />
<br />
A group of men stood by the gate, pointing at them. “I think we’ve been noticed.” Joel waved at the men and smiled.<br />
<br />
One of the men waved back. He walked toward them. “Huk, spinits doggery pillu pu?”<br />
<br />
Holly glanced at Joel. “I can’t understand him.”<br />
<br />
Joel waved his hand. “I forgot to initiate the translating matrix.” He watched the man. “Would you please repeat that?”<br />
<br />
“Sure.” The man huffed. “Are you two the pair that was coming to rescue our chief?”<br />
<br />
“Rescue? From who?”<br />
<br />
“’What’ is more like it.” The man glanced up in the air. “From a dragon, of course.”<br />
<br />
“A dragon, hum.” Joel tapped his right index finger on his cheek.<br />
<br />
Holly nodded. “Yep, that’s what we’re here to do.”<br />
<br />
Joel swung his head to face Holly. “Are you sure? Dragons in other worlds are not always as nice as the ones in ours.”<br />
<br />
“Why?” Holly gazed at Joel.<br />
<br />
“Why? Because they’ll eat you as soon as shake hands with you.”<br />
<br />
Holly thought for a moment. “Yes, I do feel that is what we are to do here.”<br />
<br />
Joel turned his attention back to the man. “Looks like we’re your rescuers, then.”<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
--o--O--o--<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Holly had only seen a dragon a couple of times before, and those were flying through the air. Now she peered through the leaves at the dragon’s cave, wondering just what type of dragon they would meet.<br />
<br />
She felt the chief’s emotions bubble through her before shutting off the flow of thoughts. “Yep, the chief is still alive. Though surprisingly he doesn’t appear fearful.”<br />
<br />
“Amazingly enough. I wonder then why the dragon has captured him?” Joel tapped his right index finger on his cheek. “I would assume for food, but if he hasn’t eaten him yet, not sure if that’s the reason.”<br />
<br />
Holly stared at Joel. “So, how do we proceed?”<br />
<br />
“Guess the first thing is to talk to the beast. Best way is mentally, of course.”<br />
<br />
What did Holly know of the best ways to talk to a dragon? She jumped when she heard the whole conversation in her head.<br />
<br />
Hey, Mr. Dragon, this is Joel. How are you doing today?<br />
<br />
Howdy, Joel. My name is Shanana. I’m doing fine. Are you here to serve as desert?<br />
<br />
Funny! No, I’m here to find out what you’re going to do with the chief you’ve captured.<br />
<br />
Captured! Joel and Holly heard the dragon laugh. And who is the one I sense with you?<br />
<br />
Joel motioned for Holly to answer. Hi, Shanana, my name is Holly. Why don’t I sense fear from the chief?<br />
<br />
I suppose he’s become used to being around a dragon. But I’m having the chief for dinner.<br />
<br />
Joel said, That’s what we were afraid of.<br />
<br />
Afraid? Of dinner? Don’t you eat?<br />
<br />
Well, I don’t need to myself, but I do at times for enjoyment.<br />
<br />
What an odd man you are. But you two can join us if you wish. Today’s menu is roasted rabbit in mole sauce, along with steamed broccoli and dinner rolls.<br />
<br />
Joel smiled. Oh, you don’t mean you’re having the chief for dinner. Sure, we’ll join you. He motioned for Holly to follow him.<br />
<br />
Holly hesitated. “I sense deception from the dragon.”<br />
<br />
“I know dragons. This world’s dragons appear to be more friendly than most. Come on.”<br />
<br />
She thought for a few seconds, then decided she would be safe with an angel. So why not? May be her only chance to get a close up look at a dragon. She followed Joel into the cave.<br />
<br />
The cave quickly grew dark. Joel lit up the way with light emanating from himself. The interior of the cave shifted from rough rock to a smooth polished surface. The opening grew to a large room in which sat a dragon and the chief at an old, oak table. A fire roared at one end of the room, while meat cooked on a spit over the fire.<br />
<br />
Joel nodded toward the chief. “He certainly appears captured to me.”<br />
<br />
Holly watched as the massive dragon, with wings folded against its body, sparkled as firelight echoed from the dragon’s scales. His front paws weren’t that long, but its hind legs stretched outward as the dragon yawned. A puff of smoke and fire rose from its mouth. The dragon’s teeth appeared razor-sharp. Long canines lined the edges of its mouth. Holly shivered at the sight.<br />
<br />
“Not really captured. More like united. But it is the only way he’ll sit here with me.”<br />
<br />
Joel turned to the chief. “Is this correct, Mr. Chief?”<br />
<br />
“My name is Umma.” He tossed an indignant stare at Joel. “Of course Shanana is correct. You think I would sit here without fear otherwise?”<br />
<br />
“So you are held against your will, then?” Joel asked.<br />
<br />
“No, not in the least. Don’t you know?”<br />
<br />
Holly met Joel’s eyes. She whispered, “I still sense some deception coming from the dragon. All is not as it seems.”<br />
<br />
Joel nodded. He then returned his attention to the dragon and the chief. “Good thing I’ve arrived. Just in the nick of time.”<br />
<br />
“Why?” the dragon asked.<br />
<br />
Joel pulled out a bag. “Because I brought tea.”<br />
<br />
The dragon’s face lit up. “Great, because though I have some, I enjoy exploring new tea flavors.”<br />
<br />
“I think you’ll like this one.” Joel sat at the table with the dragon. Holly reluctantly followed Joel’s lead. Joel pulled out four cups and a pot. He waved his hand over it and a steam rose from the pot. He placed the tea leaves in the pot to steep. A wonderful smell flooded the area.<br />
<br />
The dragon towered over them. Holly cringed at being so close to a dragon. She kept waiting for him to reach his long neck down and snap at her. She didn’t like the way his tongue kept licking its lips. She hoped it was for the tea and not herself.<br />
<br />
Joel turned to the chief. “So, what is it we don’t know?”<br />
<br />
Umma’s eyes grew wide. “Where are you from, man?”<br />
<br />
Joel smiled. “Neither of us are from this world. That’s for sure.”<br />
<br />
The dragon cocked its head. “Really? What world are you from, then?”<br />
<br />
Holly jumped into the conversation. “I”m from Reol.”<br />
<br />
“Reol, huh? Not familiar with it.”<br />
<br />
Joel smiled. “Not likely you would be. Myself, I’m from somewhere totally familiar to you, but I can’t say at the moment.”<br />
<br />
“Oh? Why not.”<br />
<br />
Joel jumped up. “Tea’s done.” He poured some into the cups. The dragon had a bigger cup than the rest. More like a bowl. The dragon and the chief drank, but Joel stopped Holly from taking a sip from her mug.<br />
<br />
After licking it up for a few seconds, the dragon said, “Do you have more of this wonderful tea? I could do with another cup.”<br />
<br />
Joel nodded and he poured more into the dragon’s bowl. “So, what is really going on here?”<br />
<br />
The dragon roared. “What do you mean. I mean, I’m from another planet.” The dragon appeared surprised he had said that.<br />
<br />
“You are? What are you here for?”<br />
<br />
“We’re making plans for guiding this world’s people.” The dragon frowned. “What did you put in this tea anyway?”<br />
<br />
“So where are you from, really?”<br />
<br />
“I’m really an alien from the planet Zyto. I chose to appear as a dragon so I could bond with this chief to take over his body and guide these people in the right way.” The dragon-alien shook its head. “Why did I say that?”<br />
<br />
Joel smiled. “Because, dear Zytoian, I put a spell of sorts over my tea, which made it into a truth serum.” Joel waved his hand in the air. “I knew you wouldn’t tell me willingly. But, I’m confused. Why did you use the Yanomami to gain conquest of this world?”<br />
<br />
The dragon-alien struggled to not say. Then it spewed out the answer. “Darn this tea! Because, my research showed that this tribe was the most powerful in this world.”<br />
<br />
Joel gazed at Holly. “We’ll, what should we do then?”<br />
<br />
“You’re asking me?”<br />
<br />
“I’m not staring at anyone else.”<br />
<br />
Holly thought for a moment. “Shanana, why do you want to conquer this world?”<br />
<br />
The dragon gazed upward at the ceiling as if thinking. “You know, I’m not sure.”<br />
<br />
“Loneliness.”<br />
<br />
Shanana froze. “What?”<br />
<br />
“Loneliness. I sense loneliness from you. Now that you can no longer be deceptive.”<br />
<br />
“But, how can that be? I’ve never minded being alone.”<br />
<br />
Holly closed her eyes and focused before opening them up again. “You’ve kept it hidden, even from yourself. But that is the source of your desire to conquer this world.”<br />
<br />
The dragon stared at her. “How can you know this?”<br />
<br />
She shrugged. “It’s a gift.”<br />
<br />
“So,” Joel said, “what should we do with this dragon?”<br />
<br />
Holly stared at him. “Why should I decide that? You’re in charge, are you not?”<br />
<br />
Joel chuckled. “Since when does my kind make such decisions. It is yours and the Big Boss’s upstairs decision to make. Not mine.”<br />
<br />
Holly pursed her lips. What did the Big Boss, as Joel kept calling him, want her to decide? Then it came to her, as if He had answered. She asked the dragon, “Why did you leave your world?”<br />
<br />
Shanana bowed his head. “I was lost. I took a wrong turn on my way to a particular planet and ended up here instead. I don’t know how to get back.”<br />
<br />
“Then we’ll send you back home.”<br />
<br />
“You can do that?” The dragon expressed hope to Holly.<br />
<br />
Holly shook her head. “Not me.”<br />
<br />
Joel raised his hand. “I can. To be truthful, the Big Boss can. I just . . . you know . . . comply.” He turned to Holly and whispered to her, “Good choice.”<br />
<br />
The dragon smiled. ‘Well, that would be just peachy.”<br />
<br />
Holly giggled at the dragon’s use of “peachy.” Just didn’t sound like something a dragon would say at all.<br />
<br />
Joel stood. “Done.” He waved his hand toward the dragon, and Shanana disappeared into a flash of light.<br />
<br />
Umma stood. “Hey, what about me. Now that he’s gone, my bond with him still remains. I hurt inside.”<br />
<br />
Holly wrinkled her forehead. “Why would a bond do that?”<br />
<br />
Joel nodded and placed his hand on Umma’s chest. “It is a result of being away from a dragon one is bonded to. But also a bond that needs to be removed before the chief can return to himself.”<br />
<br />
“Why?”<br />
<br />
Joel sighed. “To long a story to go into now. Just know that is what happens.” He concentrated on Umma for a while. “There you go. Good as new.”<br />
<br />
The chief shook his head, then let out a big sigh. “That’s better. Thank you for releasing me.” He glanced around. “Where am I?”<br />
<br />
Joel smiled. “You’re in an abandoned dragon’s cave just a few miles from your town.”<br />
<br />
The man threw his hands up and examined his palms. “Yes, I remember now. I was going to bond with a dragon, but then instead I was thrown into a dark place.”<br />
<br />
Joel nodded. “That means the dragon you tried to bond with was already bonded to another.”<br />
<br />
“Glad that’s over. I’d best get back to my city. No telling what crazy things the dragon had me put into place over the last few days.” Umma rose, bowed, and departed.<br />
<br />
“Bye,” Holly said as he left the cave.<br />
<br />
“Thanks,” came his reply.<br />
<br />
Holly glanced at Joel. “I suppose now I’ve got to go back home?”<br />
<br />
Joel shrugged. “You don’t sound like you want to.”<br />
<br />
Holly gazed about her. “This isn’t what I expected. I’ve learned a lot. Still a lot of questions, mind you. But I’m not sure I can go back to sitting in my house, strolling through the forest for entertainment.” Her eyes grew big. “What is a tea plant called officially?”<br />
<br />
“You mean, like the Latin name? That would be Camellia. At least that is its genus. Its full name is—”<br />
<br />
“Camellia. I like it. But why is it a genus?”<br />
<br />
Joel shook his head. “Never mind. But why did you want to know?”<br />
<br />
She smiled. “You know, it’s my new name for my world.” She rolled it off her tongue. “Reol in Camellia.”<br />
<br />
Joel laughed at her. “Now there is pretty picture. A city covered in tea plants.”<br />
<br />
“Must be why you return there so often.” She grinned big.<br />
<br />
Joel nodded. “Maybe. Maybe. I like the name too. So Camellia it is!” He said with a flair as they vanished into a bright flash of light.Rick Copplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01754277543618018137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4180146454713046974.post-78420668527346365742019-06-20T14:04:00.000-07:002019-06-20T14:12:52.273-07:00A Change on How to Make an Ebook<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://rlcopple.blogspot.com/search/label/How%20to%20Make%20an%20Ebook" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--aItEEwpwCU/XQvsdMHfqSI/AAAAAAAAD6o/KqhUe_OlcgApGc8IRaExj7ahtK3qqqvRwCEwYBhgL/s1600/HTMAE-cover_200.jpg" style="float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" /></a></div>
I've written several blog posts on <a href="https://rlcopple.blogspot.com/search/label/How%20to%20Make%20an%20Ebook" target="_blank">How to Make an Ebook</a> using free software, as well as an ebook by that name (cover to the right, just in case you can't see it). After my last experience with a different and much easier method, I feel the information in this book is so out of date that I should take it off sale, as there isn't any more reason to have it up. Not with how easy, and for free, you can create an very professional ebook. Complete with drop caps, graphics that will highlight your chapter headings, as well as section differences. And all you have to do is submit a Word file to them.<br />
<br />
What is this method that has caused me to revise my method and take down my book? (Aside from the fact it no longer sells but about a couple copies a year.)<br />
<br />
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It is an ebook and distribution third-party called "<a href="https://draft2digital.com/" target="_blank">Draft2Digital</a>". You can sign up as an author for free, set up your paperwork to receive funds from them (no more going through PayPal as necessitated by Smashwords), and which outlets you want your ebook to go through for sale.<br />
<br />
Now, the Word file you submit to them can be as messy as you want it to be (not that I recommend that, naturally). Of course, they do their best to identify your chapter headings, sometimes they are more successful than others. But if you follow my suggestion to always use a specific heading style (I tend to use Heading 2 for Chapter headings and Heading 3 for sub-titles). Their programming has never failed to find the titles for my chapters and subheadings, no matter what I actually call them, using this method.<br />
<br />
The only other thing they need to see, or allow them to add, is a title page and a copyright page. I used to combine these onto one page, which it sort of accepted, somewhat reluctantly. But, this last book I created, I put the copyright info on one page separate from the Title page. It appeared to be what it was looking for, because even though I used the Heading 1 style for the title of the book on my title page, it stopped showing in the table of contents. I thought, that's cool.<br />
<br />
The rest of the book it didn't matter what format or style you had it in, it would put it in the right format for an ebook. It was easy! Now, I use LibreOffice to write my books in, set up as I've described elsewhere. So when I'm ready to send it to Draft2Digital, All I have to do is to save it in a Word format, like .doc or .docx. Either one appears to work fine. And, that's it!<br />
<br />
But, where is my ebook? That's the great thing. They have a place on your book's page where you can download your ebook file, either epub or mobi. And though they have created an ISBN for that ebook, it isn't listed in the ebook itself. So I was able to submit the mobi file to Amazon with no problems, to create the Kindle version.<br />
<br />
"But Rick, they have an option to publish to Amazon, why wouldn't you use that?" Well, two main reasons. One, due to they do get a piece of the pie that I would get to keep on Amazon. That isn't a big deal breaker for me. However, if you publish through CreateSpace, which has now been merged into Amazon, the paperback book is considered an identical copy of your ebook. So when I tried to publish an ebook to Amazon through Draft2Digital, Amazon rejected it because I had already published the paperback at Amazon. After a couple of tries, I decided I would have to delist it on Amazon through D2D and publish it through the Kindle service on Amazon instead.<br />
<br />
So this last book, I took their mobi file and uploaded that to Kindle, and it accepted it and published it without a hitch. Plus, it had all that cool formatting that I would be hard pressed to do on my own. Likewise, if you want to take advantage of Smashwords' extra sales on their own and related sites, you can easily upload the epub version of the book to their site to distribute there. Just make sure you uncheck all the outlets they have in common with D2D, or you'll have multiple copies on those sites and it could get confusing.<br />
<br />
Consequently, for a while now my ebook on how to make one, was already outdated and was in need of being updated. Now, I don't even see the need for that when all you need to do is how to be consistent in how you indicate chapter headings and such, and send them a Word file. Boom! You have quality formatted epub and mobi files that can be used to upload to Amazon, Smashwords, giveaways, or just for your own purposes. All that for free. They make money when you do, like a lot of these services. Therefore, I no longer feel a need to jump through the various hoops I describe in my ebook on how to make an ebook.<br />
<br />
So, I'm going to delist <i>How to Make an Ebook</i> soon. If you've wanted a copy of it, now's the time to get it. There is still some valuable information in it, some fallback methods. But it is complicated. That's why I have a whole book on the topic. Now that it is so simple, there's not much of a need to continue to sell the book. I'll give it until next Monday before I start delisting it. Thanks for sticking with me through this.Rick Copplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01754277543618018137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4180146454713046974.post-27966972486399874482019-06-20T11:14:00.002-07:002019-06-20T14:14:32.207-07:00New Standalone Book Available!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://books2read.com/u/3GxKBn" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5IzAuWimSFk/XQu9_1dZKqI/AAAAAAAAD6Y/1bQ502tngZYacp8r7xdu1kkTkaWKqXFfACLcBGAs/s1600/R.%2BL.%2BCopple01-300.jpg" /></a></div>
I apologize for not posting this earlier, as this is usually one of the first places I post stuff of this nature.<br />
<br />
<span style="text-indent: 0.25in;">However, I have a new book available! The title, </span><i style="text-indent: 0.25in;">Rebellion</i><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;">. Simple, huh? You can check out and buy the book at your <a href="https://books2read.com/u/3GxKBn" target="_blank">favorite online bookstore</a>. There is also <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1073745090/" target="_blank">a paperback on Amazon</a> if you prefer that format.</span><br />
<span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-indent: 0.25in;">This one I've been working off and on for several years. </span><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;">The first story or Episode in this one is a short story I wrote back in 2009 or so. So officially, it has been in the works for around 10 years. I ended up making a book out of it, because the magazine I submitted it to didn't take it, the main reason? It sounded to them like the beginning of a novel instead of a short story. That got my wheels to thinking and so I wrote more episodes to it. At first, I wrote around five episodes, then it stalled for many reasons. Last year, I picked it back up again and completed it. </span><br />
<span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-indent: 0.25in;">It is the first "adult" novel I've written. Not "adult" as in porn or anything in it that would be inappropriate for younger readers, but it is my first non-Young-Adult novel. Also, it is one of the few books I've written that is not part of a larger series (at least at the time of this writing) in that it is a stand-alone novel. It could eventually turn into a series if I feel a need to return to tell the next story in their struggle, but it is a nice and tidy tie up at the end with no loose ends (at least I believe I've tied up everything). So I wouldn't likely write another novel in this world short of an inspiration or a large demand from several fans. That's not, by the way, an invitation to bombard me with request for a book 2. :) </span><br />
<span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-indent: 0.25in;">Strangely enough I had planned on dividing this story into two different novels, but during writing it, it progressed faster than I originally envisioned, and so you have this one book, novel, a complete story.</span><br />
<span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-indent: 0.25in;">As far as reviews, this book, as the case is for most of my books, but new books start from scratch on reviews. So, last I checked, no reviews on Amazon or other places. However, one of my beta readers, who was an editor of a space opera magazine and an author in her own right, said she really enjoyed the story. So I hope and pray that others will feel the same way. </span><br />
<span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-indent: 0.25in;">At any rate, there's some inside story stuff that you'll only get on this blog about how this story came to be and why I haven't planned any further stories into this world. Yes, I know. When you really like the characters in a story, you want to see more of them and their adventures. Yet, I also have many more stories to tell as well. I'm currently working on at least two more novels, not to mention the occasional short story. I have so many stories to tell, and I have no idea how much longer I'll have to tell them, that I don't want to spend too long on any one story. Because once this disease (Parkinson's) progresses to the point I can no longer write or think enough to write, that will be the end, including any unfinished novels or series.</span><br />
<span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-indent: 0.25in;">I'll leave you all with the blurb for the novel. Thank you for your support!</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<b style="font-family: "Crimson Text"; text-indent: 0.25in;">One
Renegade + One Priest and His Merry Band + One Tyranny</b><br />
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>=
One Space-Opera Adventure</b></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Shashara,
a renegade space trader, ends up in a strange band of rebels led by
an Orthodox Priest. Despite a life of secularism, she joins with the
priest to fight for freedom from the tyrannical government: the
System Confederation. She ends up fighting for more people’s
freedom than she expected. Will she be able to fit in, much less live
up to her hype? Find out in this stand alone novel, packed full of
action, space adventure, and intrigue. Buckle up, and take off with
Shashara and Father Jonah as they attempt to race to save the day.</div>
<br />
<br />
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</style>Rick Copplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01754277543618018137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4180146454713046974.post-63495209669158457172019-05-15T04:57:00.000-07:002019-06-20T14:16:45.948-07:00What You Mean to MeOn this, my 37th marital anniversary, I sat down in the early morning hours to put down upon "paper" this poem to my wife. I think it came out pretty good! Brought a tear to my eyes, but then, I have a vested interest in this matter. <g><br />
<br />
At any rate, here is my poem for my wife on our 37th anniversary.<br />
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As I watch the stars in the sky<br />
Become swallowed up by the dawn,<br />
My mind seeks the love we share,<br />
And all that you mean to me.<br />
<br />
Many years removed from that day<br />
When I watched you walk down the aisle,<br />
We were both so full of expectations;<br />
To experience the future as two-in-one.<br />
<br />
Since the future has become the past,<br />
Though we have future left to burn,<br />
My love for you has always grown<br />
No matter the blessing or the curse.<br />
<br />
I have not been disappointed<br />
When you first said, “I do.”<br />
Nor have I regretted it twenty-nine<br />
Years later—when you said, “I will.”<br />
<br />
Every day has been worth it,<br />
To spend my life with you.<br />
Including this day as a new sun rises<br />
Full of future and expectations anew.<br />
<br />
As we live our lives together,<br />
Until our dying breath says, “I love you,”<br />
I look forward to whatever may come,<br />
So that you will know without a doubt—<br />
<br />
How much you mean to me.<br />
<br />Rick Copplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01754277543618018137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4180146454713046974.post-25077437410143911672018-12-31T11:10:00.000-08:002019-06-20T14:17:33.760-07:00The Wibbly Wobbly, Timey Wimey New Year's Day Thoughts.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6HEQc8JG7ck/XCpnqMaaJFI/AAAAAAAADKc/W7MOD_qVK1IOk3beHflulOJArW1PZpAGQCLcBGAs/s1600/wibblywobblytimeywimeystuff.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6HEQc8JG7ck/XCpnqMaaJFI/AAAAAAAADKc/W7MOD_qVK1IOk3beHflulOJArW1PZpAGQCLcBGAs/s1600/wibblywobblytimeywimeystuff.jpeg" /></a></div>
And no, I'm not talking about the Doctor Who's New Year's Day special. Which to me just seems to avoid dealing with Christmas. At any rate, that's not what this blog post is about. More about the strange time warp I've experienced this past year, wondering how long it will last.<br />
<br />
Yes, my last "productive" year was in 2013, five years ago. And most of that was editing a couple of books and publishing them, that I'd had in the works for some time. I did write some short stories, which can be found in book two of my Ethereal Worlds anthology in 2013, but not much else, that I recall, at least. It was the last year I did NaNo before 2018, but like this past November, I didn't finish then either. The last year I finished NaNo was 2010.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
But, despite all that, 2018 has been a more productive year than any since 2010. That was back when I was writing all the time, up until 4 am, going to a full time job, then coming home and working on writing until early every morning. That all ended in May 11 of 2011. That's when I discovered my wife had been having an affair. That's when my fantasy and sci-fi writing came to a full stop until almost two years later, for varied reasons. But by the time I started to get back into it in 2013 is when my Parkinson's symptoms first appeared and it tended to zap all motivation to write, not to mention the physical difficulties in doing so. That was the main reason for my big break in getting much writing done, if any, for the last five years.<br />
<br />
Until now. 2018 will go down as a much more productive year, primarily because of the Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) surgery I had back in September and October of 2017. It not only has made me physically able to type up a storm again, but also has brought back the motivation to do so. So much so that I've finished two novels during 2018--the final book four of <i>The Virtual Chronicles </i>series and a stand-alone novel I've titled <i>Rebellion</i>--pulled together and did some edits on a couple of non-fiction books I've had in the works--one of them I'd been planning on pulling together since 2003 or 2004--started another couple of novels, as well as writing a few short stories here and there, one of which I'm thinking would make a good first chapter for an episodic style novel. I've published two novels this year, the previous book four of <i>The Virtual Chronicles</i>: <i>Reality Game</i>, and another novel I've been editing for some time now, first written back in 2008: <i>The Magic Within</i>, I recently went full bore on editing that one here in the last days of December. Though it will have a publishing date of Jan 2019, I did all the work publishing it in 2018, obviously.<br />
<br />
So to say I've been productive is a bit of an understatement, at least if your the kind that believes that getting out one novel a year to be productive. I know others who regularly put out three to four books a year will find it productive, but not overly so. Still, for me, it was very productive, thanks to DBS. That's the wibbly wobbly, timey, wimey aspect of this past year, in that I feel sort of like I did back in 2011 right before the affair happened.<br />
<br />
So, what are my plans for 2019? Yep, I'm calling them plans instead of resolutions. That's because they are plans that can change, not outside demands that I must fulfill if I want to be true to my word.<br />
<br />
As far as publishing, I have so many books in the works which could potentially be published this year, I could have as many as four or five books published this year. On the novel front, I have at least two that I'm planning on publishing this year: <i>Rebellion</i> and <i>The Dragon Within</i> (a sequel to <i>The Magic Within</i> I just published). Once those novels have been published, it will put my total novel count at nine novels published (not including my three anthologies)! That's novels, not total books, which at that point would be more like around sixteen books. If I publish three novels this year, the extra would likely be <i>Deep Brain Invasion</i>. All depends on how quickly I can finish writing and editing it as to whether I can get it in before 2019 ends.<br />
<br />
Then the other two books I plan on publishing in 2019 is couple of non-fiction books: <i>Healing Infidelity Through Faith</i>, and <i>Looking into the Orthodox Church</i>. Both of those I wrote, complied earlier writings on corresponding blogs, and am currently in the editing stages. So I expect they will be ready to be published this coming year under different pen names: Rick Copple (my given name, if you can call that a pen name) and Timothy Copple respectively.<br />
<br />
Aside from my publishing plans, I'm planning on finishing writing <i>Deep Brain Invasion</i>, and working on writing and editing book three of <i>The Legend of the Dragons' Dying Field</i> (book two, <i>The Dragon Within</i> is finished writing, save for a tie up chapter or two, and currently being edited), which I've titled <i>The Dragon Without</i>. I have a few chapters on that one, so a long ways to go. If I get writing on that one soon, I could publish it sometime in 2020. Also, my recent Christmas story about Joel, the mysterious Guardian Angel of Reality Chronicles fame, I'm hoping I'll get started writing more episodes of that one, enough stories to make it into a full novel.<br />
<br />
That brings me back to the title of this post, because yes, I do feel Joel is quirky enough to be sort of like the Doctor, at least personality wise (sort of a combination of David Tennet and Matt Smith) with Holly as his "companion." Given the problems with Doctor Who this past season, it may be the only Doctor Who-like stories coming out anytime soon. The main difference is angels don't regenerate. Nor will he have a TARDIS. My big decision is what time period to place these stories in? Mainly in relation to the events that happen in <i>The Reality Chronicles</i> and <i>The Legend of the Dragons' Dying Field</i>. Because Joel's an angel, he could be in any time period. I could place if before any of that happened, or during those stories, or after?<br />
<br />
I would think it couldn't be before, very easily, because for around 100 years before the story in <i>Reality's Dawn</i> took place, he was entrapped by his bell. During might be tricky only because I haven't finished writing the stories in <i>The Legend of the Dragons' Dying Field</i> where Joel occasionally pops in for appearances, without Holly tagging along. No telling at this point whether Joel will play a more major roll in any of those unwritten books, assuming I make it that far. So I'm leaning toward those stories happening at some point after those in TLDDF. How long after that is another question I'll have to answer.<br />
<br />
Those are my thoughts currently on 2018 and the up and coming 2019 as I sit on a snowy, Colorado New Year's Eve day. I pray your new year will be a good one. No telling what all will happen in 2019! Let's go explore it!Rick Copplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01754277543618018137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4180146454713046974.post-49997888703641042202018-12-28T10:56:00.000-08:002019-06-20T14:17:56.888-07:00First Book of New Series is Available<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GLZaZHainBE/XCZvCsWxD0I/AAAAAAAADKE/5GAxJVzkyoALZoTXsLM_YUpRgVajugRpwCLcBGAs/s1600/MW-cover-250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GLZaZHainBE/XCZvCsWxD0I/AAAAAAAADKE/5GAxJVzkyoALZoTXsLM_YUpRgVajugRpwCLcBGAs/s1600/MW-cover-250.jpg" /></a></div>
Start off the new year with a new book, a new series, and a new hero! That's right, on the heels of finishing one series, I'm off to start a new one, that is planned (though that could change at any time) to be a five-book series.<br />
<br />
The series is called <i>The Legend of the Dragons' Dying Field</i>. This first book, as you can see, is named, "The Magic Within."<br />
<br />
This series is set in Sisko's world from <i>The Reality Chronicles</i>, and as the name implies, does indeed involve dragons. From Sisko's world you'll encounter Kaylee, Josh, and Joel. But the main character is Cole, the baby born to a "dead" Gabrielle at the end of "Reality's Fire," which is recapped in the prologue of this book and can be read in the <a href="http://www.rlcopple.com/images/MW_Sample.php" target="_blank">sample</a> provided on my site. Now 18, he is ready to go find his place in this world as he searches for what to do with the magical ability he was born with. What he and George, his unique friend, discover is a new world rich in traditions, where people work to hide the dragons from society at large.<br />
<br />
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The book is currently able to be pre-ordered, available to your ebook on January 1, 2019. So order as soon as you can to get it at the start of the new year. Here is a link <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MNYVB21/" target="_blank">directly to the Amazon page</a>. Thank you for your support. Following is the book's blurb.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
---------</div>
<br />
Reality transforms into myth. Myth becomes legend. For most, dragons and their Dying Field are the stuff of legend. Merely bedtime stories told to children. But how much truth is there in the old legends? What secrets do the Dragons’ Dying Field hold? Cole and his friend George seek to discover the truth, to help George avoid an early death as well as to help Cole avoid his mentor’s death.<br />
<br />
Within Cole resides a deep magic from above. Inherited from his father, it enables him to do magic beyond mere spells by thinking them into being. But what happens when he encounters a race of people who are immune to his magic? Who have a deeper magic?<br />
<br />
Follow Cole’s journey to not only help his friend, George, deal with his “sped-up” life, but also to discover the true magic within, and his own place in <i>The Legend of the Dragons’ Dying Field</i>.<br />
<br />
<br />Rick Copplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01754277543618018137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4180146454713046974.post-11039867778611329082018-12-18T15:09:00.001-08:002021-01-14T21:49:23.319-08:00They Walk Among Us<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bw1V7ssT_uY/XBl3p0BEX1I/AAAAAAAADJA/WJ68vq-UlrE8D_ZoiC0gX4RVyCihdU79gCLcBGAs/s1600/Angel_Christmas_Greetings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="325" data-original-width="256" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bw1V7ssT_uY/XBl3p0BEX1I/AAAAAAAADJA/WJ68vq-UlrE8D_ZoiC0gX4RVyCihdU79gCLcBGAs/s1600/Angel_Christmas_Greetings.jpg" /></a></div>
I started working on this story yesterday when I received news of my brother Rob's impending loss to cancer. He died earlier today. This Christmas Story, which revisits Sikso's world, is in honor of him. May he rest in God's arms and mercy.<br />
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A heaviness settled over Holly’s heart. It was Christmas morning. Why should she feel sadness at such a time? She shuffled her feet through the leaves scattering the forest floor. She took her sword out and hacked at a couple of branches. Even that didn’t seem to help. Gloom hovered around her and she had no idea why.<br />
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<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
It must be the curse of the steam house. Yes, she had been cursed by the place. All of Reol’s children go in at age thirteen. Sisko went in and received a miracle ring. She went in and other’s feelings affected her own. That meant someone close by must feel sad. But why? Christmas was such a happy time.<br />
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Holly huffed. The only way to get rid of this sadness was to find who was sad and make them happy. Interestingly enough, she wasn’t affected by everyone’s feelings. Just certain people. She had no idea how it worked. It just did.<br />
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An old man came toward her, a cowl covering his face. As he passed, he stopped and asked, “Do you make tea?”<br />
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Holly stopped and stared at the man. His eyes appeared to glow from within the cowl. She wondered at the question. “Well, yes. I could make tea.”<br />
<br />
“Do you make great tea?”<br />
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She shrugged. “That depends on what your used to.”<br />
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The “old man” brushed his cowl back to reveal a young man’s face. His blonde, shoulder-length hair swayed with the wind. “Good answer. But it has been a while since I’ve had a cup of great tea. If you could make me some, I would greatly appreciate it.”<br />
<br />
Hospitality demanded she make him some, though she didn’t quite feel like doing it. Then again, maybe it would take her mind off of this sadness she felt. “Sure, follow me.” She turned around to head back to town. “One thing I should tell you, I live alone. If you don’t mind being seen in my house, it’s okay with me.”<br />
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He smiled. “Why should that concern me?”<br />
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Holly smiled back. “Because, you’re a monk or something. In case you didn’t think it would look proper.”<br />
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He held out a hand. “Where’s my manners. I’m Joel.”<br />
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Holly accepted his handshake. “My name is Holly.”<br />
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“Holly, if you don’t mind me asking, why do you live alone?”<br />
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She gazed at his eyes, trying to determine why he asked such a personal question. “Isn’t it obvious? No one will have me.”<br />
<br />
“But why? You’re good looking enough, if you don’t mind me saying. You appear to have a pleasant personality.”<br />
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“You’ve only known me for about, say around five minutes. How do you know what kind of personality I have?”<br />
<br />
He shrugged. “Anyone who can make great tea can’t be all bad.”<br />
<br />
“You’ve yet to taste my tea, sir.”<br />
<br />
“So true. We shall see.”<br />
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They finished the walk to her house in the town of Reol. She made tea as they continued to chat. After a while, she poured him his tea and he sipped it.<br />
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Joel sat the tea down. “Not bad, not bad. Not as good as I’m used to. But then, not much else is. However, I can tell by the taste of it that something is off.”<br />
<br />
Holly nodded. “Now you know I don’t have the greatest of personalities, right?”<br />
<br />
“There is a hint of sadness in this tea.”<br />
<br />
“Sadness?” How could he know? Did the sadness come from him?<br />
<br />
Joel took another sip. “Yes, that’s what I’m tasting. Sadness.”<br />
<br />
“How can you taste that from the tea I’ve made? Is it because you are sad?”<br />
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“Me? Sad?” He laughed as if that were the craziest thing he’d ever heard. “No, I’m here to help you!”<br />
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“Me? Me? You came specifically to help me?”<br />
<br />
He nodded as he took another sip.<br />
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She pointed a finger at him, “If this is some strange way to pick up ladies, I’ll have you know I’m fairly handy with a sword.” She reached for hers, propped up against the table.<br />
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He waived a hand. “That won’t be necessary. I’m not here to pick you up. What would be the point of that?”<br />
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She gritted her teeth. “You don’t have to be insulting.”<br />
<br />
“What? It isn’t that you’re too heavy. Just no point in it. Don’t see what is so insulting about that. Taken in the right way, that should be a compliment.”<br />
<br />
Holly stared at Joel for a moment. Was this guy a bit crazy or just acting the part?<br />
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Joel pointed at her. “If I didn’t know better, and I happen to do know better, I’d think you were a bit schizophrenic.”<br />
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She laughed. “It isn’t that, though it could appear that way.”<br />
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He stroked his chin. “Let me guess. You feel what others feel.”<br />
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Her jaw dropped. “How did you know?”<br />
<br />
“Oh, I have my sources.” He grabbed something out of his bag. “I have the solution to your sadness. It is the right tea leaves. It’s not so much how you make it, but what you put into it.”<br />
<br />
He rose and grabbed the teapot before Holly could say anything. She watched as he filled a pot with water and placed it over the fire in the hearth. As soon as the pot was boiling, he took it off and let it rest a bit before pouring it over the tea leaves. Soon, he was pouring fresh, heavenly smelling tea into her cup.<br />
<br />
Holly took a sip. Then another. Before she realized it, she had drank the whole cup. She’d never done that before. She only sipped tea. “Boy, you are right. This is good.” Then it dawned on her. “That’s funny. I don’t feel so sad anymore. As a matter of fact, I feel happy.”<br />
<br />
Joel smiled knowingly.<br />
<br />
“What did you put in here?”<br />
<br />
“Nothing. Just some tea leaves. The real difference is you.”<br />
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Holly shook her head. “No, I mean, what’s blocking me from feeling the sadness of someone else? I don’t lose those feelings until they are fixed within the person.”<br />
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Joel nodded knowingly.<br />
<br />
“No, I mean, really. People’s emotions that I pick up on don’t pass away that quickly.”<br />
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Joel continued to nod and smile. “You’ll get it eventually.”<br />
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Get what? Oh! “Are you suggesting that I’m the one who was sad? That I was picking up on my own sadness?”<br />
<br />
“Not picking up on it. It is simply that you are sad.”<br />
<br />
“Sad over what?”<br />
<br />
“That you are alone on Christmas? Or will be?”<br />
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The sadness settled in over her again. “Maybe you’re right. I had never thought of it before.”<br />
<br />
“More like you've always pointed to an external reason why you felt sad. But it was really you all along.”<br />
<br />
She poured more tea into her cup and drank again. “So, how do I fix it?”<br />
<br />
“Why, by not being alone. Of course.”<br />
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She thought a moment. “But who wants to spend much time with a moody person like me? I can be happy one moment and angry the next. That’s why I tend to be so alone.”<br />
<br />
“You could come with me.” He smiled. “Not that I’m suggesting to pick you up, but you are welcome to come with me.”<br />
<br />
“That’s a fine offer. But first, where are you going?”<br />
<br />
He shrugged. “Could be most anywhere, or at any time.”<br />
<br />
“Any time? Don’t tell me you’re a time traveler.”<br />
<br />
He held up his nose. “A time traveler? Really?”<br />
<br />
She huffed. “What else do you call it?”<br />
<br />
He sighed. “Well, if you’re going to come with me, I suppose I’ll break our rule and reveal to you who I really am. Only, you cannot speak a single word of this to no one else.” Joel moved closer. “And I mean, absolutely no one else. For me to tell you this means you are going to go. Either that, or I’ll have to erase this time from your mind.”<br />
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She laughed. “As if you could do that!” When he didn’t laugh, she said, “Can you?”<br />
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“I’m an angel.”<br />
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She simply stared at him. “Seriously?”<br />
<br />
“Yep. A real live, from heaven, speaker to the big Boss upstairs, angel.”<br />
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She continued to stare at him. “Prove it?”<br />
<br />
“How?”<br />
<br />
“I know. Aren’t you guys supposed to have flaming swords?”<br />
<br />
“Got one right here.” He stood and pulled a sword out from under his cloak. It burst into flames and his whole countenance grew brilliant. The area lit up like a star coming out of hiding.<br />
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Holly held her hands over her eyes. “Okay, okay. I believe you!”<br />
<br />
He sheathed his sword and the room regained it’s normal lighting. “So are you ready to come with me?”<br />
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Holly though a second. “I’ll need time to get my stuff together. I’ll need clothes and such. Do you have an idea where you are going, though? When will we return? What will be our goal?”<br />
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Joel threw up his hands. “I haven’t the foggiest. It all depends on where I’m needed and what the problem is?”<br />
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She smiled as she rose. “Okay then. Looks like an adventure is in order.”<br />
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Holly dashed to her room and quickly threw together some clothes and other items she figured she would need. What did she feel now? A touch of excitement with a sense of dread. The question was, how much of it was her and how much Joel? Did he dread this? He wouldn’t have asked if he dreaded it. Unless, of course, the “Big Boss” was forcing him to do this. She paused. “Nah. Couldn’t be. It would be natural that I would dread what might happen if I go with some ‘angel’ I’d just met.” She grabbed her bag and slung it over her shoulders. “But exciting too. Who knows what wonders I’ll see with an angel.”<br />
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Then she realized where the dread came from. She entered the room where Joel had grabbed his bag and was waiting. She asked him, “Joel, does this mean I’m dead?”<br />
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Joel shook his head. “My my, no way. You’ll always be alive.”<br />
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“I know we’re made to live eternally, what I mean is whether I’m now going to be dead to this world?”<br />
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“Nope. Not going to happen. At least, not yet.”<br />
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The dread disappeared. Yep, it was her dread. “I’m ready.”<br />
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He reached out his hand. “Hold my hand.”<br />
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She stare at his hand for a second. She knew everything would be different from here on out. No more wondering what she would do, because she didn't know what would happen, but God did. She reached out and grabbed his hand.<br />
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In a flash of bright light, the pair disappeared from the house, leaving nothing stirring but dust.<br />
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--<O>--</div>
<br />
The brightness receded to reveal the outskirts of a city. Holly still felt Joel’s hand in hers. She asked, “Where are we?”<br />
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“Not sure, but the information I have says it is Belenor. Sikso’s old second home.”<br />
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Holly frowned. “I thought you said you had no idea where we were going?”<br />
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Joel turned to her. “I didn’t. God tells me when we arrive at a location.”<br />
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“I didn’t hear anything?”<br />
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He laughed. “Of course not. It is an internal sense that He gives me. A sixth sense, so to speak.”<br />
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“Do all angels have that sense?”<br />
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He paused. “Yes, as well as some humans.”<br />
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A wave of anger overcame Holly. “Why don’t I have that sense then. Am I not good enough!”<br />
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Joel didn’t seem to notice the rise in her voice. “Not at this time, apparently.”<br />
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“You’re all powerful. You give it to me. NOW!”<br />
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Joel’s lips turned downward. “I’m not all powerful, nor can I give it to you, as much as I might desire to.”<br />
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Holly stomped her foot on the ground. “Why not? It is Christmas, after all. I deserve a good gift for once in my life. Not this curse I’ve been . . .” Holly froze and then said, “I’m sorry. I feel anger from someone here. We should go find them and fix it before I say or do something I’ll regret. However, why couldn’t you give it to me.”<br />
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He smiled. “Because, my dear Holly, you have to have faith before you can get that sense.”<br />
<br />
She thought for a moment. “Faith? Faith? What is faith, you, you . . . I’m doing it again. I mean, I know what faith is.”<br />
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“Do you?” Joel’s self-assured smile mocked her.<br />
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“Of course I do! You crazed an—”<br />
<br />
Joel flung a hand toward her and a gag went over her mouth. “I said, you can never speak what I am. Ever.”<br />
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Her red face nodded abruptly.<br />
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Joel waved his hand and the gag disappeared. “Come. Let’s find this angry person before it eats you up.”<br />
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“I can fully agree with that. Damn this curse.”<br />
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“Now, now. Let’s not play God.” Joel began walking quickly toward the town gate.<br />
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“I’d like to see you deal with something like this. Ha!”<br />
<br />
Joel swung around and stared deep into her eyes. “I have dealt with something like this before. For well over 200 years. You don’t know what I’ve been through.”<br />
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Holly grinned with her eyes tight as she continued. “I’m sure that is minimal time for an ang—”<br />
<br />
Joel held his hand into the air.<br />
<br />
"I mean, powerful being as yourself. How long have you been alive?”<br />
<br />
“Not important.”<br />
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“I’ll bet it is. How long? 1000 years? 2000, 3000? Come on, how many?”<br />
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Joel turned around and went into a jog. “We need to find this person. Now!”<br />
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Holly dashed after him. “Ah ha! Running from a young woman’s questions, are you? I’ll not stop until you’ve answered me!”<br />
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--<O>--</div>
<br />
Joel entered the local tavern. He stopped a man heading out. “Hey, do you know anyone who is angry a lot around here?”<br />
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The man let out a belly laugh. “Sir, that would be at least half the town.”<br />
<br />
“On Christmas?”<br />
<br />
“Especially on Christmas. One half is angry about the other half’s happiness.” He stepped out of the tavern.<br />
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Holly’s voice echoed from outside. “Hey, watch where you’re going, buster!”<br />
<br />
Holly entered the tavern. She said, “Can you believe that guy? Ran right into me without so much as an apology.”<br />
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Joel rolled his eyes. “I can see why you live alone, now.”<br />
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“Don’t you roll your eyes at me!”<br />
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“Calm down, will you? Everyone in the tavern can hear you.”<br />
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Holly scanned the room. Almost every eye centered on her. She smiled sheepishly. “Sorry folks. You can resume your meal.” Then she turned back to Joel and said sternly but quietly, “Don’t think for one minute that I’m letting you off the hook.”<br />
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Joel grabbed her by both shoulders. “Focus, Holly. Focus. How in the past have you found the person who has the emotions you’re experiencing?”<br />
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Holly thought for a moment. “I’m not sure, exactly. As a matter of fact, I believe they find me.”<br />
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Joel looked up to the ceiling. “Funny, that’s what Sisko said. As a matter of fact, that’s what I’ve experienced as well.”<br />
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“Well, I don’t find this funny at all!”<br />
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“Nor do I, young lady,” a gruff voice sounded from behind her.<br />
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She spun around to see a big, muscular, lumberjack-type fellow glaring down at her. She said, “What of it, big stuff.”<br />
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“I don’t make a habit of slapping ladies, but in your case, I just might make an exception.”<br />
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“I’d like to see you try!”<br />
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Joel quickly stood in front of Holly. “Ignore her, sir. She’s not herself today.”<br />
<br />
The man looked him over.<br />
<br />
“It is Christmas, after all.” Joel gave him his best smile.<br />
<br />
The man waved his hand at them and went on to order from the bar. “Just keep her quiet.”<br />
<br />
Joel turned back to a gagged Holly. He waved his hand and the gag disappeared. She opened her mouth to speak. Joel put a finger to his lips.<br />
<br />
Holly said quieter, “Will you stop doing that?”<br />
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“As soon as you control yourself.”<br />
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She shook her head. “I can’t seem to control the emotions. They are really strong. Like the person is in this room.”<br />
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Joel turned to look at the lumberjack at the bar. He was arguing with the barkeep over the price of his ale. “Could be him. How do you fix it?”<br />
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“I don’t know how to fix anger. Usually it passes after a time. It is sort of hard to develop any empathy with someone who is angry too.”<br />
<br />
“Why not?”<br />
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Holly’s eyes grew wide. “Did you not see how I and he responded to each other?”<br />
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Joel nodded. “Yes. I’m surprised your still alive before I came along.”<br />
<br />
“It has never been this bad before. Most people are angry for very brief periods of time and over certain petty things. So it usually passes fast. And to be honest, I think this curse has protected me from feeling the worst of it. That is, until today.”<br />
<br />
Joel placed his hands down on the table. “Hear me out before you say anything.” He paused until she nodded. “Okay. First, I wish you’d stop calling what the steam house did a curse.” Holly started to say something; Joel held up a hand to stop her. “I know it has been difficult for you.”<br />
<br />
“You can say that again.” Holly held her hand over her own mouth.<br />
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Joel grinned. “But the steam house only gave you that ability because it saw in you that it would bring about a change for the good. It is like any desire. It pains you until you satisfy it.”<br />
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She wrinkled her forehead. “So you’re saying I need to satisfy it somehow? Like what? I don’t understand.”<br />
<br />
“By helping that guy over there overcome his anger.”<br />
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She sat back in her seat. “That’s an awful tall order you’re asking me to do.”<br />
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Joel grinned. “Faith is always a tall order. But with God’s help, doable.”<br />
<br />
She stared at the man at the bar, grumbling about something new. She pitied the man to have to live with this anger day in and day out. She’d only experienced it for an hour or so, and she felt like a mess. She hated living it. She hated him for giving it to her. For the steam house giving it to her, for Joel bringing her here. She hated, hating.”<br />
<br />
She rose from her seat and walked toward the man. She tentatively tapped him on the shoulders. He swung around and growled, “What do you want!”<br />
<br />
She struggled within herself, but she was determined not to let his anger get the best of her. “I wanted to ask, for, for . . .”<br />
<br />
“Get it out lady or get out of here.”<br />
<br />
She swallowed the words that wanted to come out. “For your forgiveness.”<br />
<br />
He stared blankly at her for a moment. “My forgiveness? I don’t think anyone has ever asked me for that before. Well, except when I was about to beat them to a pulp.”<br />
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Holly’s anger began to melt away; it must be working. “And, I wanted to let you know that I forgive you as well. Do you mind if I pray for you?”<br />
<br />
“Ha, if you think it will do any good, go ahead.”<br />
<br />
She nodded. “Father, forgive us of our anger and heal us of our afflictions that have caused it. Amen.”<br />
<br />
The man had wet eyes. He blinked back his tears. “Thank you. You have no idea what I’ve been through. But thank you for that.” He stood and walked out of the tavern.<br />
<br />
Holly’s own anger had vanished. She stepped back to where Joel sat. She wore a big smile.<br />
<br />
“Looks like you did good.” Joel crossed his arms.<br />
<br />
“What? Are you going to say ‘I told you so?’”<br />
<br />
“Wasn’t planning on it, though I did.” Joel uncrossed his arms and leaned over toward her. “Where did the faith come from? What is the faith in you?”<br />
<br />
Holly ran her fingers through her brown hair. “I’m not sure if I have the terminology right or not, but I believe my faith is trust in God’s ability to use me for His purposes. So I believed, and I went up to the man. The rest happened.”<br />
<br />
Joel nodded. “You’ve about got it. But it came when you started looking at what the steam house gave you as not a curse, but a ministry. You can empathize with others like no one else can. You can heal the inner spirit, not merely the outward body.”<br />
<br />
“You mean, like Sisko did?”<br />
<br />
“Sikso had faith, a great faith. Still, he only scratched the surface of what it meant to heal someone, to really save them. And his faith needed the ring to operate.”<br />
<br />
“Okay, my mind is completely blown. You’re telling me that I can heal like Sisko could, without a ring?”<br />
<br />
“Yes.” He held his right fingers together into a point and said, “It is a gift. A Christmas gift to you. From God. And I have one too.”<br />
<br />
“Really? A gift for me?”<br />
<br />
Joel nodded and touched her head. He mumbled some words, then said, “That’s it. I’ve given you the ability to turn on and off your gift of feeling other’s emotions.”<br />
<br />
“Really?”<br />
<br />
“Yes. Just say, ‘Emotions off,’ and ‘Emotions on,’ to turn them off or on.”<br />
<br />
“Why didn’t you give this to me before? It would have made things so much simpler.”<br />
<br />
“Because until you’d learned what you needed to learn from that ‘curse,’ as you put it, you wouldn’t have had the faith necessary to use it properly.” Joel stood and stepped out of the tavern. “Ready to go home?”<br />
<br />
“Sure, but can I do one thing first?”<br />
<br />
“What?”<br />
<br />
“Can I give you a kiss on the cheek?”<br />
<br />
“I suppose that would be permitted.”<br />
<br />
Holly reached up and gave him a kiss. Then she said, “Thank you, Joel. For the best Christmas ever.”<br />
<br />
“You’re welcome.” Joel smiled.<br />
<br />
Holly jumped up and down. “I’m ready to help the next person God sends me.”<br />
<br />
“Cool.”<br />
<br />
They clasped hands. As they faded into a bright light, Holly said, “I’m still curious. How long have you lived?”<br />
<br />
The light dimmed until nothing but the dirt on the road stirred.<br />
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Rick Copplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01754277543618018137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4180146454713046974.post-64796498043687410842018-12-16T14:48:00.000-08:002019-06-20T14:20:22.461-07:00New Novel Out: Reality Game!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07LDJ725R/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YT8RS1uYebQ/XBbOn-s0PLI/AAAAAAAADI0/zw7XOYbOhjkr7uFrSsXkOQk87lW_4-lUwCLcBGAs/s320/BookdesignBetiBup33_1504.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Yes, after publishing the third book in this series back in 2013 (has it really been that long? I'm afraid so,) I've finally finished the series with book four: <i>Reality Game</i>. For the handful of people who have been waiting all this time to find out what happens to our heroes--Jeremy, Mickey, Bridget, and Natalie--your wait is over!<br />
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This series started with an idea I had back in 2006: what if one could have virtual reality and reality interact? Sort of like Star Trek's holodeck in reverse. So I came up with the planet Zori, where blobs of sentient goo lay around on the planet, were made movable through the virtual technology of an alien race. They could construct virtual bodies and houses and such. Then, another more military race, came to their planet and took over the virtual technology to construct a world taken from Earth's movies and TV shows, then he created a virtual "game" which was to virtually transport players from Earth to Zori to fight his war with another planet's inhabitants.<br />
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<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
At the end of that book, <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005EIQ68I/" target="_blank">Mind Game</a></i>, they obtain superhero masks that allow them to be any number of virtual superheroes, allowing them to help the citizen's of Earth. But then the planet of the more military people who invaded and took over Zori, now attempt to take over Earth using a virtual army. That's the story's premise in the second book, <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007K5LE3K/" target="_blank">Hero Game</a></i>.<br />
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The third and fourth books, <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GRN4TJW/" target="_blank">Virtual Game</a></i> and <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07LDJ725R/" target="_blank">Reality Game</a></i> respectively, constitutes a whole story about the rise of the a para-military organization: Earth Security Enhancement League, to power by commandeering the Virtual Reality machine to initially combat another alien invasion, but later, to take over Earth to establish a one-world government.<br />
<br />
So while you could read this last book and pick up on what has happened before enough to make sense out of what is going on, it will help to read the other three books before this one. At least, I would highly recommend reading Virtual Game as it is part one of the same story that this book is part two, to. LOL.<br />
<br />
You can go to <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07LDJ725R/" target="_blank">Amazon to get this book</a> and also the others as well. Thank you for your support! And I would greatly appreciate as many as can, to read it and put a review on Amazon. As that will affect sales greatly.<br />
<br />
I'm excited to make this final volume available. What else am I working on? About three or four other projects, one a new more adult book called Rebellion that is in the editing stages, which should be out sometime next year if all goes according to plan. I'm in the middle of writing Deep Brian Invasion, my NaNo novel that I obviously didn't finish writing in November. Also I have a couple of other non-fiction projects in the editing stages I'm working toward getting ready. So plenty in the hopper, not to mention all the ideas I have partially worked on over the years with the full intention of getting back to them at some point. Like a whole 5 book fantasy series that I have 2.25 books written up at this point.<br />
<br />
So while I could resurrect this series in the future if I have the desire to, I don't foresee that happening at this point as I figure all that I plan on writing someday will take me beyond the point I'll be able to write. So I'll have plenty of other stories to write into old age. And if I should by chance finish all that I have planned, I'm sure I'll be able to come up with new ones at that point. All that to say that I expect this to be the final novel. I could write some more short stories in this world, perhaps. But full novels? I think this is it.<br />
<br />
So I'll leave you with the blurb for this book that is also on Amazon's page. I'm excited to offer to you, <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07LDJ725R/" target="_blank">Reality Game</a></i>!<br />
<br />
Note; The<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1791773958/" target="_blank"> paperback of the book is now out</a> as well as the ebook I've linked to several times. Just in time for Christmas!<br />
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The final conclusion to the exciting story of two teens who found themselves using virtual reality in reality, and using that virtual reality to defend Earth from aliens, and now, from a force within Earth itself.<br />
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The story picks up shortly after events in the last book, Virtual Game, where our heroes, Jeremy, Mickey, Bridget, and Natalie, are fighting the Earth Security Enhancement League (ESEL), a world-wide military organization put in place to defend the planet from alien invasions. But who will defend the planet from the head of this league: Commander Fisher, who plans to secretly install a one-world government using the virtual machine? Our heroes using their virtual powers, that’s who!<br />
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Though one can read this book and get enough context to enjoy the story, it is best to read the first three books preceding this one: Mind Game, Hero Game, and Virtual Game.<br />
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Get all four and enjoy the Virtual Chronicles story in full, today!<br />
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<br />Rick Copplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01754277543618018137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4180146454713046974.post-57135801396462719422018-11-01T08:11:00.000-07:002018-11-01T08:11:08.995-07:00NaNoWriMo - Day 0.5On this beginning of Nov. 1st, I decided I would give a half-day progress report.<br />
<br />
So, I attended the Denver NaNo kickoff party. I went in hopes of getting to know some people. As it turns out, it wasn't as organized as Austin's kickoff party used to be. I arrived at the designated coffee shop, walked in, looked around to see if anyone was in charge. No one approached me. The first person to actually talk to me was handing out "grab bags". She told me "welcome". Aside from some brief interaction of a practical nature with two other people, that was it as far as "getting to know" anyone. Rather, I noticed I was the only older guy there. Most of the people came into the shop, sat with friends, and talked for two hours until midnight. Aside from a brief announcement by whoever was in charge and the countdown to midnight, I could have been alone at home doing the same thing.<br />
<br />
I'm not knocking the group. I'm sure it tends to be more of a college thing, and so has gravitated to what it currently is. I'm an intruder to that group. I had expectations, I suppose, that it would be like Austin where I knew different folks and all and there were a lot of college age folks, but there were also a lot of older people like me. So, chalk up one to knowing better next time.<br />
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On a positive note, however, I got around 1200 words written in 1.5 hours. Not great, but not bad for a PD patient on DBS. I can type faster but still not quite as fast as I did before PD. At least I can make a good run at getting 50K in a month now. Before it would have been very difficult to pull off.<br />
<br />
So I wrote until around 1:20 am, then packed it up and went home. Today's schedule is to go do a Zumba class, then I'll return home, probably take a nap, then see how much I can get written before the day ends. I'll report tomorrow on how well I did today. Until then, see you later!<br />
<br />Rick Copplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01754277543618018137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4180146454713046974.post-9743291969656128872018-10-25T20:16:00.000-07:002018-10-25T20:19:59.451-07:00It Is Finally NaNo Time Again!After a four year break in any attempts at doing National Novel Writing Month, I'm now taking another stab at it.<br />
<br />
For those who don't know, National Novel Writing Month, otherwise shortened to NaNoWriMo, or its even shorter version, NaNo, is when writers from all over the world get together online to encourage each other to write a novel in a month of at least 50K words.<br />
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"Nay, nay," I can hear someone saying. "You can't write a novel in a month! At least not a publishable novel."<br />
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"Nay, nay," I say, most of my published novels were originally written during NaNo. The only exceptions to that is <i>Reality's Dawn</i>, and two that are recently done but not published yet, <i>Reality Game</i> and <i>Rebellion</i>. And all of those the bulk of them were written in around a month or less. Professional writers write even faster than that.<br />
<br />
What takes me so long is editing!<br />
<br />
Anyway, I'm going to write my third novel this year, come November. Except, this one will be special. It is my Parkinson's novel. I plan upon publishing it, to have most, if not all, of the proceeds go to Parkinson's research. I'll probably donate it to the Michael J. Fox Foundation.<br />
<br />
It is called "Deep Brain Invasion," and obvious spin on Deep Brain Stimulation, otherwise known as DBS. DBS is a procedure I went through last September where two leads are planted into one's brain, where electrical impulses from a battery pack, also implanted, block the erroneous signals from the brain that cause the tremors and problems with other muscle movements. It isn't a cure, but does help people like me live a "normal" life for a while longer. Hopefully, for years. Prior to this, around every four hours I would take a dose of my medication that would result in about an hour of feeling "normal." The other three hours, using my left hand wasn't easy.<br />
<br />
Anyway, due to that, I not only can type more freely, I also have a story for my Parkinson's novel. I came up with the idea shortly after the surgery, and wrote out a short story that will end up being my first chapter. I've written one other chapter. Now I simply need to write another 50k words this coming month to hopefully finish it out.<br />
<br />
So this is special for several reasons. The last time I finished a novel for NaNo was in 2012, <i>Virtual Game</i> which is currently out for sale. That was the 4th year I had ever won NaNo. It was to be my last . . . until now, that is. I fully expect to finish this year, and hopefully for years to come.<br />
<br />
Anyway, I wanted to let my readers know that I'll be posting my progress and other related things, hopefully each day of November. If you want to follow my progress, subscribe. If you don't want to be bombarded with daily or near daily posts of my progress during November, then unsubscribe, at least for November.<br />
<br />
You have been warned!<br />
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But seriously, I hope you'll stick around and cheer me on to the finish line.<br />
<br />Rick Copplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01754277543618018137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4180146454713046974.post-27001302303212982842018-10-19T12:01:00.000-07:002018-10-19T12:02:42.722-07:007 Suggestions to Writing Action ScenesHere in Colorado, I missed a chance to attend the local writer group this past Sunday. Basically, I'm not used to going to anything on Sunday afternoon. So I missed even the reminder I had set to go off to, you know, to remind me of the upcoming event. I regretted missing it, because an author was going to discuss writing action scenes. Since I do write such scenes, I was interested in what he would have to add to my knowledge base.<br />
<br />
So, since I missed that, I thought I would share what I do know about writing action scenes. Then I'll go next month to the next meeting. If I remember, that is. To look at my phone, that is.<br />
<br />
So, what do I know about writing action scenes? I know I don't know it all, but what I do know, I'll share.<br />
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<h3>
Definition of an action scene.</h3>
<br />
First, we need to define exactly what we are talking about when we refer to "action" scenes. We are talking about whenever any action that moves the plot forward needs to take place. It could be running from something or someone, or a fight, or a car chase, or even a board game. Any action which involves increasing tension until it resolves to some degree.<br />
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A lot of authors say they don't like writing action scenes. If so, they are probably doing it wrong, and it comes through in whatever action scenes they do write. What they generally mean is they don't like writing fight scenes. But an action scene is much more than fighting, as I've described above. Most every book will have some action scenes in it, even romance. Thus the need for us to examine how to write them in a manner that not only becomes enjoyable, but realistic.<br />
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Now, here are seven suggestions I have for writing action scenes.<br />
<br />
<h3>
1. Keep in mind the purpose of an action scene</h3>
<br />
Why have an action scene? What do they accomplish? Two words: tension and resolution. That's why so many climaxes use them so often. But the goal, whether one is talking about action scenes in movies or in a book are to create tension about what will happen to the character, to put him or her in jeopardy that you are not sure they will escape. If you are having an action scene purely for its own sake, you're missing the whole point of having one in there. Instead of it being an important plot-moving element, it becomes mere plot decoration. Sort of like having a token action scene because it is expected.<br />
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Basic rule of thumb, if it does nothing for the tension of the story and the character(s), it is best to cut it or just say it happened without describing it.<br />
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<h3>
2. Action scenes have a narrow focus.</h3>
<br />
By that, I mean that when a character goes into a battle or such, he or she focuses on the battle rather than a lot of other stuff going on around them. They won't notice the color of a drapery unless it falls on them or their opponent. So sensory data gets narrowed to whatever is going on in the battle or action. Think of all the adrenaline going through their veins. They will tend to only focus on the task at hand, or if well trained, only relevant data like noticing a fist coming at them from the side.<br />
<br />
So your writing will need to reflect that narrow focus. Don't take time to describe any scenery except for that which directly is relevant to the action, to make sense of it. For instance, you could say something like, "A blue Dodge van careened toward them." But you wouldn't want to say, "We ran past a blue Dodge van as I plunged my fist toward his face."<br />
<br />
To be realistic, you only should notice what your character would in that situation.<br />
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<h3>
3. Action scenes happen fast.</h3>
<br />
This is good news for people who write an action scene: you don't need to spend pages writing out blow by blow accounts of everything. What does this mean for writing them?<br />
<br />
It means action scenes should only be as long as required to describe the action adequately enough that the reader doesn't get lost. Probably one of the harder action scenes I've written was in my book, <i>Mind Game</i>, where I describe a space battle between three ships. It was a challenge to give enough detail that people could follow or get a picture in their minds as to what was happening in this three-dimensional-movement environment, but not so much that I made it appear longer than it would in real life.<br />
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Let's focus on sword fighting, for instance. Most sword fights happen in two or three moves. You rarely see the types of sword fights you see in movies where they battle it out for several minutes. It usually takes 2 to 5 seconds. Therefore, your writing should reflect that. If you have them swinging at each other more than three times, it starts to work its way toward non-realism.<br />
<br />
That also means you'll want to use brief, short, sentences to describe action scenes. Conjunctions are not your friend if they are tying two long and complete sentences together. Break them up. The only thoughts of the character need to be focused on the battle or action at hand. This is not, generally, the time for long monologues or thoughtlogs as the case may be.<br />
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<h3>
4. Focus more on the experience of the pov character than on the action itself.</h3>
<br />
That could be counter to what I just said above, but a balance needs to be maintained. Describe the action as necessary, but what the reader is really interested in is the character's experience. This is where showing can be very handy. Take these two examples:<br />
<br />
Example 1: I hit him in the mouth and he slammed his fist into my gut.<br />
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Example 2: I swung my fist. It rammed into his jaw with a loud crack. My lungs expelled their air as a force slammed into my gut. I collapsed. The steely taste of blood rose into my mouth.<br />
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See how the second example raises the tension more than the first? The first just conveys what is happening. The second conveys what is happening to the character, what he or she is experiencing.<br />
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<h3>
5. Don't have your characters talk a lot in an action scene.</h3>
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What they do say should be short, to the point, and matching the drama of the moment. You might get "Look out!" or "Duck!" What you shouldn't get, unless your writing a literary piece, is long thoughts and discussions that put all the action on pause.<br />
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Just think, if you are in an action scene, like I was one time after my car spun out on the side of the road. The car's wheel stub was on fire, I didn't talk much. I ran as fast as I could to a nearby gas station to tell them to call the fire dept.<br />
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You wouldn't expect (though you often get) long discussions between characters. Or friendly banter like Spiderman or Deadpool. Those two are character traits. You don't often see much dialog (there are always exceptions) for instance, in Captain America's fights. There always tends to be pauses in the action to discuss something, but other than for characterization, you don't want most of your characters to say a lot during action scenes. Whatever they do say, should be to move the action forward or to build further tension.<br />
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<h3>
6. Don't attempt to mimic the movies.</h3>
<br />
Movies use a lot of action scenes. Camera work is designed for it. You can see what is happening, and just seeing the main character dangling over that pool of acid is enough to keep you glued to the screen to see whether and how he escapes, or not, as the case my be.<br />
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However, as in point 4 above, just describing what happened from a camera pov is boring in writing. I've had people tell me they tend to skim and/or skip action scenes in most novels. The reason is they don't increase the tension in a novel as they do on the silver screen.<br />
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That's why point 4 is so important to include in any action scene. The tension will come more from what will happen to the character. So whether we are talking being hit or being dealt a bad hand in a poker game, we had better know what it means to the character's pov or you haven't conveyed good tension.<br />
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<h3>
7. Your point of view will be an important factor how and what is described.</h3>
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The above assumes you are writing in first or third limited person. If you are using an omniscient pov, however, your tactics can change. Keeping in mind the building of tension, you will have more freedom to get by with abbreviated action scenes. You can pull back for a broad view of a fight, as J. R. Tolkien does in <i>Lord of the Rings</i>, or you have the freedom to go into a specific head for a more personal view.<br />
<br />
In either case, you do what will build tension most. For instance, I recall the scene in the movie, <i>Lord of the Rings</i>, where you have an extended fight scene with orcs and Legolas at Helms Deep. However, in the book, Tolkien only describes it in a sentence or two, referring to the sun glinting off Legolas' blade as he swung his sword over and over. In that pov, he could get away with that brief description. But to have focused on what happened, blow by blow, as he killed orc after orc, would have been tedious and wouldn't have built the tension as it did in the movie. Some complain that the movie's fight scenes were too long as well.<br />
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In first or limited third person pov, you would have to use a telling transition to skip over all that, something like, "My muscles grew weak as I hacked away at orc after orc. After several minutes of killing, I saw a bright light coming over the hill." But the omniscient pov has the value of being more descriptive in this instance.<br />
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<h3>
Summary</h3>
<br />
So keep tension in your action scenes. They should build tension through them until it resolves, or partially resolves. All the above points focus on that aspect and making them as realistic as possible. If you can accomplish that while breaking any of the above suggestions, more power to you. But keeping the above points in mind will help to keep your action scenes pulling the reader into them, instead of something to skip over.<br />
<br />Rick Copplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01754277543618018137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4180146454713046974.post-39779033585229279162018-10-06T20:15:00.000-07:002019-06-20T15:10:21.750-07:00The Scary Ride<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My Halloween story for 2018. Enjoy!<br />
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“Mom, can I go?” I held out a flier to her. It read, “This Halloween, ride the Spookiest Roller Coaster you’ve ever rode in your LIFE!”<br />
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My mom scanned the flier. “Stephen, is Greg going with you to this?”<br />
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I nodded. “Everyone will go there. I don’t want to be the only one in school who hasn’t gone.”<br />
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She shrugged. “Don’t see any reason why not. But, be back in time to take your younger brother out trick-or-treating. Okay?”<br />
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“Oh, I guess.” Though I’d rather spend the evening with my friends. But I couldn’t tell mom that. I smiled instead. “Thanks, mom.”<br />
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<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
“You’re welcome, son.” She returned to cooking dinner. Was that a hint of a smile I saw on her as she turned away from me?<br />
<br />
I pulled the phone from my pocket as I walked into the living room. I called Greg. When he answered, I said, “Hi Greg. I’m in. Mom gave her okay.”<br />
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“Me too. But only if I was back in time to help with the dishing out the candy.”<br />
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I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, my mom wants me back in time to take my brother out trick-or-treating.”<br />
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“Bummer.”<br />
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“Yeah, but it is what it is” I smiled. “Though, she didn’t say exactly when I had to be back.”<br />
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He laughed. “Be careful. When the clock strikes midnight . . .”<br />
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I chuckled at his attempt at humor. “What? Will I turn into a vampire?”<br />
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“Or worse, a ghost.”<br />
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“See you later, Joker.”<br />
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He continued laughing. “Bye, Casper.”<br />
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The line went dead.<br />
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<br />
# # #<br />
<br />
<br />
The entrance appeared to be a standard “scary” ride entrance. A simple sign that had letters dripping “blood” that said, “Scary Roller Coaster: The Scariest Ride of Your Life!”<br />
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I pointed at the sign. “I’ll be the judge of that.”<br />
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Greg brushed his auburn hair back. “Yeah, these rides rarely live up to their hype.”<br />
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After several minutes, we finally entered the carts. Attendants came along to ensure everyone’s bar was locked in place and seat belts were snapped together.<br />
<br />
Over the loudspeaker, a cackling voice said, “Enjoy your scare!” The ride lurched forward and we entered a dark hole that the rails wound into. In the darkness I heard the clanking of the chains as the carts were pulled toward the top of a drop. The tension grew greater with each second that brought us nearer the drop that we couldn’t see.<br />
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Finally, with a flash of lights, a giant stood on the top of the tracks as we sped past his legs. He reached down, barely missing the last cart as we careened down the first big dip. A dozen or so ghost lit up the dark as they flew just above us. Over the loudspeakers we could hear “Ohooooooooooo” and laughing, mixed in with screams from people in the carts.<br />
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Then the whole place lit up with sparks. Screams came from somewhere deep inside the building. Then everything grew dark. The coaster continued on its journey in silence, but nothing else happened for a few seconds. Then light once again lit up the building and died off quickly. The ghost came back to life, glowing as before. Except, this time, they brushed against me as they flew by. And the feeling was like nothing I’d ever felt before. A deathly coldness numbed my body where they had brushed against me.<br />
<br />
As the roller coaster reached a new peak and started to dive into a new dip, a row of traditional monsters appeared beside us and reached out. Except this time, they were grabbing people. They had problems pulling anyone out belted in as we were. One person in front of me screamed as the monster pulled so hard on him, only to have him slip from his grasp.<br />
<br />
This was either a very convincing acting job, or something had gone terribly wrong. The facial expressions of the monster appeared genuinely disappointed at not pulling the guy out of his seat. One thing was for sure: these were not robotic monsters.<br />
<br />
Then the lights darkened for a few seconds. When it reappeared, a vampire sat in the seat right in front of me. The vampire leaned over and sunk its teeth into the neck of the person sitting next to him. I screamed, by reaction to what I was seeing. Then the vampire turned its head and looked me in the eyes. These were not the eyes of a robot, but of a real person, who now had the blood of his last meal dripping from his teeth.<br />
<br />
His stare sent shivers down my spine. Then the lights went out again. Someone tried to nuzzle in between me and Greg. I couldn’t take it anymore. As the coaster continued rolling through banks and turns, I undid my seat belt and lifted my bar. Centripetal force kept me pinned in.<br />
<br />
The lights came on and Greg no longer sat there. But the vampire did. He started to reach over toward me. About then, the coaster went through a twisting roll. I barely had time to grab the bar before I fell out of my seat. The vampire, however, wasn’t so lucky. He fell downward. As the cart came out of the twist and started going up, I worked my way back into my seat and buckled back in.<br />
<br />
My heart was pumping now. But it raced even faster when I saw a bat flying beside the coaster. As it attempted to move toward the cart, I kept batting it away. Then as if it willed it to happen, the lights fell dark again. I kept swinging my arms wildly in hopes I would keep the vampire away.<br />
<br />
The lights reemerged from the darkness and my heart froze. The coaster careened toward a “track under repair” sign, with the frayed edges of the track hanging over a precipice. I started frantically trying to get my seat belt undone. I pulled on it frantically, but nothing would give. As the end of the track approached, I braced myself. I hoped mom would understand why I missed taking my brother out, assuming I even survived this crazy ride.<br />
<br />
The cart blew through the sign, which busted into fragments. Then the cart sank, but I felt something pull me up and out of the cart. When the lights came back on, I looked up and saw the vampire, holding me with his hands, flying through the air. I was doomed to become a vampire!<br />
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We landed on a platform a little ways off. Then he let go and smiled.<br />
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I said, “Don’t you want to drink my blood?”<br />
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He shook his head. “Nope. I enjoy a good beer now and then, but no blood.”<br />
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I stared at him. My eyes, no doubt, betrayed my confusion.<br />
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“That’s because,” he said, “you’re on ‘You’ve Been Had’!”<br />
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I blinked. “What?”<br />
<br />
A door opened up to the side of the platform and everyone yelled, “Surprise!” Cameras surrounded me.<br />
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Greg approached me and said, “We got you good, eh?”<br />
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“You mean, this was all an elaborate set up?”<br />
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“With the help of some good actors, yes.”<br />
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I breathed in deep. “Everyone on the cart was an actor?”<br />
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Greg laughed, “Several, not everyone.” He pointed at me, “You should have seen your face! We’ve got the whole thing on video.”<br />
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Mom’s face popped up in the crowd. “Which we’ll have fun watching over and over again. Now, Stephen, let’s get on with trick-or-treating.”<br />
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I pointed a finger at Greg. “I’ll get you back for this, if it is the last thing I do.” Because, I thought, the ride almost was the last thing I would ever do.<br />
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“One things for sure,” Greg said. “This was the scariest ride of your life.”<br />
<br />
I breathed a sign of relief. My heart still pumped hard from the experience. “On that, we definitely agree.”Rick Copplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01754277543618018137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4180146454713046974.post-48099693322616334222018-08-09T12:51:00.000-07:002019-06-20T15:11:37.670-07:00Cosmic Cowboy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It is said we all run from something. I was running. Probably for most of my life to tell the truth. On one such occasion, a special man came into my life. I had decided to move to a seaside community of North Carolina, named Cedar Island. That’s when I encountered him. A man known as Cosmic Cowboy. I say a man, only because he was as old as a man. Yet he only appeared to be around eight years old.<br />
<br />
He stood there at the end of my driveway when I pulled up in the moving van, as if he was waiting for me. And for all I knew, perhaps he was, now that I know what I know.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
“Hi, Conan,” he said as he examined me.<br />
<br />
“How did you know my name?”<br />
<br />
He pointed at my head. “Your hat says it.”<br />
<br />
My hat. Of course. I’d forgotten my name was written across it. A gift from my wife one anniversary. “So, what’s your name?”<br />
<br />
“Everyone calls me Cosmic Cowboy.”<br />
<br />
“Everyone? Including your mother?” I wondered at such a strange name, if true.<br />
<br />
“Yep, even my mother. Says so right on my birth certificate.”<br />
<br />
“That’s a strange name to give a kid. Where is your mother?”<br />
<br />
“She’s dead.”<br />
<br />
“Oh. I’m sorry to hear that. What did she die of?” I watched his eyes for signs of sorrow, but didn’t see much.<br />
<br />
“Old age.”<br />
<br />
Old age? “How did that happen? You don’t look to be any older than 8 or 10 at the most. Did she give birth to you in her latter years?”<br />
<br />
The strange boy shook his head. “No, she was quite young when she had me.” Then he stared at me as if that should make perfect sense.<br />
<br />
“What about your Father? Did he die of old age too?” I asked.<br />
<br />
“Nope. He died of hard work.”<br />
<br />
By now, this was starting to sound ridiculous. I scanned the area, looking for someone watching us and laughing.<br />
<br />
I returned my attention back to the boy. “All right, Cosmic. If you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a van to unload. Though your welcome to help, if you’re able.”<br />
<br />
“No problem,” he responded. “I’ve already unloaded it for you.”<br />
<br />
I glanced at the parked van and back to Cosmic. “You did not.”<br />
<br />
He waved a hand toward the truck. “See for yourself.”<br />
<br />
I stepped toward the moving truck and slid open the door. It was empty! My first thought was that he had stolen my stuff, somehow. “What did you do with it?”<br />
<br />
“I put it in the house, naturally.”<br />
<br />
I raced to the house and opened the locked door. There, before my eyes, was all my furniture, as if I’d worked several hours moving everything. This was impossible!<br />
<br />
I turned to see Cosmic walking up the steps toward me. I pointed inside the house. “I, I, I, I don’t understand. How did you . . .”<br />
<br />
He smiled. “I told you, I’m Cosmic Cowboy.”<br />
<br />
As if that explained everything. “But, I never saw you . . . the front door was locked? What you did, assuming you did it, is impossible.”<br />
<br />
His mouth grew taunt. “Nothing is impossible with faith.”<br />
<br />
Here it comes, the catch after his little magic trick.<br />
<br />
Cosmic cocked his head slightly to the left. “Why do you say in your heart that it was a magic trick?”<br />
<br />
I was dumbfounded. Was he a mind reader too? “Well, I’ve seen some magicians do some pretty impossible things before. I’ve even seen one make a whole house disappear. I don’t know how you did it, but it must be a trick like those things. At any rate, I suppose I should thank you and everyone else who might be involved with this trick.”<br />
<br />
“George,” rang a woman’s voice off in the distance.<br />
<br />
Cosmic said, “Gotta go. My mother is calling me.”<br />
<br />
“I thought you didn’t have a mother and that she called you Cosmic Cowboy?”<br />
<br />
“She’s my adopted mother.” Then he ran down the road and out of sight.<br />
<br />
I shook my head. Pretty impressive introduction to this small community. Still, something about Cosmic, or George, caused me to wonder how much of what he did and said was real and how much was all a deception.<br />
<br />
I stepped into my house. I adjusted a thing or two here and there, but overall, everything was placed where I would have put it. If it was a trick, it was a very impressive one. But it had to be a trick of some kind. What he did was impossible.<br />
<br />
So, I traveled in the direction of where he’d run. In this small community, there were not many houses he could have ran to, especially the direction he went. An old two-story house greeted me. I knocked on the door.<br />
<br />
A young lady answered the door. “Hello, sir. Can I help you?”<br />
<br />
“Yes. Is there a child who lives here who goes by the name of Cosmic Cowboy?” I felt silly using that name. I felt sillier when she said:<br />
<br />
“Cosmic Cowboy? Where on earth did you hear such a name?”<br />
<br />
“Eh, from the boy. Is there a little boy about eight or ten who lives here?”<br />
<br />
She glanced at the living room where the television was going, playing some cartoons. “Yes, my son, George.”<br />
<br />
It matched the name she’d called out. I struggled to find the words. “I, eh, I wonder if I could see him? Just to know if it was the same boy?”<br />
<br />
She gazed at me for a moment before turning her head to the living room and calling out, “George! There’s a man who wants to see you at the door. Come here.”<br />
<br />
“I don’t wanta,” came back from the living room.<br />
<br />
“George Kilwasky, you come here now.”<br />
<br />
In a short time, a boy appeared at the door. It wasn’t Cosmic.<br />
<br />
I bowed. “I apologize for the intrusion, ma’am. That isn’t the boy who I’d seen before.”<br />
<br />
She nodded and promptly closed the door. I stepped down the porch, only to be greeted by Cosmic.<br />
<br />
“Hi, Conan.” He sat down in the porch swing.<br />
<br />
“So, do you live here?” I asked.<br />
<br />
“If by live, you mean do I dwell here, the answer is yes.”<br />
<br />
“So George is your brother then? Pardon me, I mean your adopted brother?”<br />
<br />
“In a manner of speaking, you could say that. An alter ego really.”<br />
<br />
I rubbed my head. “So you’re suggesting that George is really you?”<br />
<br />
“No, not suggesting it. Telling you that it was me.”<br />
<br />
“But how? You look nothing like him?”<br />
<br />
“It’s this way, see. My mom doesn’t know anything about my Cosmic Cowboy life. She only knows she adopted me in the 80s. When she named me George. That’s when I named myself Cosmic Cowboy, after a song I heard over a radio at the time. A song by Barry McGuire.”<br />
<br />
“How did it give you these abilities, though?”<br />
<br />
“Oh, I’ve always had these abilities.”<br />
<br />
“What do you mean, always? How old are you really?”<br />
<br />
“You really want to know? If so, take my hand.” He held out his palm, face up.<br />
<br />
Could I trust him? What would happen? I stared into his eyes and gained a confidence I didn’t know I had. I firmly planted my hand in his.<br />
<br />
The world around me started swirling, and I almost pulled my hand back out of his. Yet, I held on and he held onto me. Next thing I knew, we were in space. Was he an alien of some kind? His face took on a flashing bright smile that hurt my eyes.<br />
<br />
“Why did you come to Cedar Island, Conan?” I heard him say in my head.<br />
<br />
He could see through me, I could not lie to him or myself. “I was running away.”<br />
<br />
“Away from what?”<br />
<br />
“My family.”<br />
<br />
“Why, Conan?”<br />
<br />
“I was scared.”<br />
<br />
“Scared of what?”<br />
<br />
“Scared of failure, I suppose.”<br />
<br />
“No, that’s not what you fear.” He gazed upon my face and it no longer hurt to stare into his eyes. “You fear not meeting the expectations being placed upon you.”<br />
<br />
He’d nailed it. I hadn’t even realized it. Yet, he was right. The expectations of my father, my mother, my wife, all because of a newborn baby that had come into my world and scared the hell into me—literally.<br />
<br />
“That’s right, Conan. When you run from that which you fear, you only give it strength. When you face it, it loses its power over you.”<br />
<br />
That’s when I felt how ancient he was. He was like an alien to the human race.<br />
<br />
The world returned with a swirl and he let go of my hand. “You know what you need to do, right?”<br />
<br />
I nodded. “Yes. I need to go back. Face my fears. As overwhelming as they might feel right now.”<br />
<br />
He smiled and nodded. “I believe you’ll discover they aren’t as overwhelming as you might think and you’ve created some of them yourself in behalf of others.”<br />
<br />
I nodded and returned to my “house” to load everything back in the truck. When I opened the door, the house was empty. I raced to the truck and flung the door open. All my stuff was now in the truck. Packed and ready to go. I shook my head. Did he just move everything back, or had the house stocked with my stuff been an illusion?<br />
<br />
I grabbed my phone and looked up the lyrics to “Cosmic Cowboy by Barry McGuire” on the Net. Yep, George was indeed the Cosmic Cowboy. He’d been with my all my life. Time for me to leap. I hopped back in the truck and headed to my true home—my family.Rick Copplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01754277543618018137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4180146454713046974.post-14421874139154973792018-07-29T23:53:00.000-07:002018-07-29T23:53:07.647-07:00A Commentary on CommentariesYep, I found another gem while going through some stuff. This one from September 20, 1979! I would have been 19 years old when I wrote this. That would be shortly during my first semester at college. Based on the markings, it appears it showed up in the school newspaper. Could easily be said to be the first thing I ever officially "published." It's a silly piece, but I think I'll go there anyway.<br />
<br />
---------------<br />
<br />
Ricky Copple<br />
September 20, 1979<br />
A Commentary on Commentaries<br />
<br />
<br />
I consented to create some conclusions and comments about commentaries. Many commentaries can be creative, catchy, or constructive. However, can the "common person" collect the conclusions that could create a concise consensus? Can commentaries continue to claim that creative and constructive criticisms and conclusions are being conducted? In the coming paragraphs, I will concentrate upon these concrete questions.<br />
<br />
First, commentaries can be catchy. Many a creative commentary has been conducted as a catchy collection of ideas. The common commentary can draw your consciousness to keep its contents contained in your cranium. One catchy use has common words or letters through the contents, while in others it can create a commotion in the consciousness. Commentaries can also concentrate the consciousness of contemporaries to a contagious problem which can cause it to be catchy. The creative commentary can be contagiously catchy.<br />
<br />
Commentaries can also be constructive. A concise constructive commentary can construct the credibility of composers, conservatives, candidates, conductors, kids, con artists, and other contemporaries. A colossal credibility can be created by a creative commentator. Other constructive commentaries can collect the conclusions and comments of experts on a contagious problem. A credible commentary can be very constructive in its outcome.<br />
<br />
Lastly, commentaries can be creative. Can you create a commentary? A creative commentary is created by a creative commentator. If you can create a creative commentary, it concludes that commentaries can be creative and that you can be creative. Klutzy commentaries are to be condemned. Only colossal commentaries can be creative. Commentaries can also create more freedom for the creator to create. The common column consist of conclusions of collective data while a commentary can cross the creeks and climb the crevices of the consciousness. Commentaries are considerably creative if colossal.<br />
<br />
Can commentaries be catchy, constructive, and creative? Close, concise criticisms, and comments in one's own consciousness can create the conclusions to these common questions. You can now conceive my conclusions and comments on commentaries. What can you conclude?<br />
<br />Rick Copplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01754277543618018137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4180146454713046974.post-71517202561294130012018-07-28T17:07:00.000-07:002018-07-28T17:13:52.040-07:00It Was the Night Before Christmas and Everyone Was Stirring!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This is a play I wrote a long, long time ago. I'm not sure of the exact date, but I suspect it was around 1990 or 91.<br />
<br />
Yep, in preparing for our move, I've been digging through lots and lots of old papers and such. Every once in a while, I come across little gems like this one. I apparently started several different short stories and such. Most of the not all that great, though a couple of them have good premises. But most remain unfinished. But occasionally I run across something like this one that I did finish and is good!<br />
<br />
Now when I say "good," I don't necessarily mean according to what I can do today. This was long before I started writing professionally. So I'm going to retype this, flaws and all, though I'll correct any typos and grammar errors I find as I go.<br />
<br />
But one thing this confirms for me is that all my life I've been a writer. I know of stuff I wrote as a teen in high school and college. But I didn't realize just how much I'd written in the other times. Most of it I had forgotten about.<br />
<br />
One note on this play. It was originally written to be presented in a church setting. If anyone reads this, and wants to use it for that purpose, be my guest. But it will, as a result, have a more overt gospel presentation in it.<br />
<br />
So with that, I present to you, my Christmas play, "It Was the Night Before Christmas, and Everyone was Stirring!"<br />
<br />
---------------<br />
<br />
Narrator: This is a story about a family on Christmas Eve. A time of joy, relaxation, and fun. Or is it? Let's look in on this family and see.<br />
<br />
Be prepared to sing with us when the hymns numbers are announced. And now, I introduce to you, "It Was the Night Before Christmas, and Everyone Was Stirring!"<br />
<br />
Scene: <i>Opens with Dad sitting in his recliner reading the newspaper. Other living room decor can be used to give the appearance of a living room in a typical house. After a few seconds, two of his children, between the ages of 7 and 10 come running in and stop in front of him.</i><br />
<br />
Son 1: Daddy, could you tell us the Christmas story? Pleasssssse!<br />
<br />
Dad: Well, I'm a little busy right now.<br />
<br />
Son 2: Pleeeeeease, Daddy! We want to hear it!<br />
<br />
Dad: Why don't you ask your mom to read it to you?<br />
<br />
Son 1: She told us to ask you.<br />
<br />
Dad: (<i>with exasperation</i>), Oh, okay. (<i>Yells to his wife</i>), Honey, where is the Christmas Story book?<br />
<br />
Mom: (<i>pokes her head out the kitchen doorway</i>) I lent it to our pastor, I didn't think we would need it. (<i>Ducks back into doorway</i>)<br />
<br />
Dad: Well, maybe I can tell it from memory. (<i>Kids get excited.</i>) Once upon a time, there was a big fat man who lived at the North Pole--<br />
<br />
Son 2: No, no, Daddy. Not the Santa Claus story. The real story, about Jesus.<br />
<br />
Dad: Oh, well, I guess I will need a Bible for that. (<i>Yells to his wife</i>.) Honey, where is the family Bible?<br />
<br />
Mom: (<i>pokes her head out the doorway.</i>) Probably among all of your other books. Now quit bothering me. I'm trying to fix dinner. (<i>Ducks back into the kitchen</i>.)<br />
<br />
Dad: (<i>He walks over behind stage and begins to pull several books out from behind a "wall". Finally he comes to a big Bible</i>.) Ah ha! I found it! (<i>He blows the dust off of it as he walks back to his recliner</i>.) Let's see, (<i>he opens the Bible up</i>) I think the story is in 1 Kings.<br />
<br />
Son 1: No dad, it's in Luke. Chapter 2.<br />
<br />
Dad: (<i>Somewhat sarcastically</i>) I knew that. I wanted to see if you both knew that or not. (<i>Opens the Bible to the table of contents</i>.) Looks like that would be page 1057. Wow, a long book. (<i>He flips some more pages until he reaches the page number</i>.) In those days, Caesar Augustus issued a decree--<br />
<br />
(<i>At this time, their teenage son runs across stage and into the kitchen. Dad gets distracted and stops reading. In a few seconds, the teen runs back across stage, headed to the "front door."</i>)<br />
<br />
Dad: Whoa, son. Where are you going?<br />
<br />
Teen: I'm going to the Church Christmas party. Mom said I could. (<i>He points toward the kitchen</i>.)<br />
<br />
Dad: Well, you haven't asked me.<br />
<br />
Teen: Well, can I?<br />
<br />
Dad: No! Sit down, I'm reading the Christmas story.<br />
<br />
Teen: But I've heard that story a thousand times. And besides, they will probably tell it at the party tonight anyway.<br />
<br />
Dad: It doesn't matter, I only do this once a year, and now is it. Besides, this is a family event; so sit!<br />
<br />
Teen: (<i>dejected and frustrated</i>) Oh, okay. (<i>He walks over to the "front door" and opens it. He yells to his friends in the car</i>.) Sorry, I can't go tonight. Bye. (<i>He waves his hand. Then he comes over and sits with his head in his hands appearing sad.</i>)<br />
<br />
Dad: All right. (<i>Looks back to the Bible and says in a monotone voice</i>) In those days . . .<br />
<br />
(<i>After a few sentences a knock on the door sounds out</i>.)<br />
<br />
Dad: Now who could that be? (<i>He walks over to the door and opens it. Several teens enter the room with their youth pastor</i>.)<br />
<br />
Y.M.: Hi Mr. --<i>use a name of someone from the congregation</i>--, we thought that since --<i>teens name--</i> could not go to the party, we would bring the party to him. (<i>He gives the signal for everyone to begin singing. The congregation joins him at this point singing, "Deck the Halls.")</i><br />
<br />
Dad: (<i>After the song is over, says</i>) You might as well take over. I'm sure not getting anything going.<br />
<br />
(<i>Youth Minister now leads the congregation in singing a couple of Christmas Hymns</i>)<br />
<br />
Church Teen 1: Once upon a time, there was a baby born in a manger in Bethlehem. However, this was no ordinary baby because his father was not Joseph who Mary was betrothed to, but God Himself. This baby was named Jesus and He was the Gift of God to the world. Jesus was born to die upon a cross so that we all might walk in newness of life as He walked. For this reason, we give gifts to one another. Jesus gave us life. What gift shall we give Him?<br />
<br />
Church teen 2: Let's pray. Our loving Father, how wonderful a gift was given to us on that first Christmas morning. You, yourself, healed their sicknesses, loved the unlovable, fed the hungry, taught the wandering sheep, and forgave the repentant sinner. How wonderful a gift was given, our very own souls. Our very own life. Let us therefore rejoice at your birth, and let us give of ourselves to You. For the only gift that we can bring of any value to You is our complete dedication: our lives for Your service. Thank you for this season, this family, and your gift to us, Jesus Christ. Now, let's go and not only give gifts to each other, but you also. In Jesus' name, Amen.<br />
<br />
(<i>The Youth Minster and teens start to shake hands with each other and to leave.</i>)<br />
<br />
Mom: (<i>Pokes her head into the room and says:</i>) Come and Eat! (<i>Then quickly ducks back in</i>.)<br />
<br />
Teen Group in unison: Eat! (<i>Everyone runs into the kitchen with the family until the stage is empty</i>.)<br />
<br />
Mom: (<i>In a couple of seconds stomps out of the kitchen and onto the stage looking angry. Stops center stage and faces audience</i>.) How many times have I told my husband not to invite company over with discussing it with me first! (<i>Begins to walk toward the "front door" On her way off stage, she says:</i>) I'm going out to eat!<br />
<br />
The EndRick Copplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01754277543618018137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4180146454713046974.post-14950993116835507582018-06-15T22:18:00.000-07:002019-06-20T15:12:39.811-07:00Notes of a Time TravelerI've decided to attempt to put out one of these short stories a month again. One, because now that I can type better, I'm able. Two, because I'll need something to read to my writer's club, and three, because it will help to populate new stories for Vol. 3 of my next Ethereal World anthology. So here is my June 2018 offering, a time travel tale that I hope will be a bit different from the others you may have read. Enjoy!<br />
<br />
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<h3>
Day 1: June 14, 2018 - Jerusalem</h3>
<i><br /></i>
<i>Today is the big day. Today I go into my time machine, which I’ve worked on for the last five years in earnest. I’m keeping these notes as to document my experiences.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Dr. Johnson said it could never be done. There were plenty of skeptics to join his camp. Today I prove them all wrong—that we can go back in time!</i><br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
<br />
“Dr. Ransom, are we ready?” John’s booming voice echoed among the sterile halls of the laboratory.<br />
<br />
“Just about,” I said. “Only a couple more tweaks to this machine.”<br />
<br />
He nodded and went back to his final preparations.<br />
<br />
The door creaked open and Dr. Johnson, along with a couple of his students, entered in.<br />
<br />
Dr. Johnson pointed at me. “Today, students, we are here not to witness history in the making, but a fool.”<br />
<br />
I put down my wrench. “Dr. Johnson, why are you here if you don’t believe this can be done?”<br />
<br />
“Two reasons, my dear Ransom. One, to watch you fail. Two, to teach others what not to do when conducting scientific research.”<br />
<br />
“And if I succeed, what then?”<br />
<br />
Dr. Johnson chuckled. “Then they will at least know the dangers of time travel, would they not?”<br />
<br />
I chuckled. “That’s part of the question we are going to answer. What are the dangers associated with time travel?”<br />
<br />
Dr. Johnson threw up a hand. “Why, everyone worth their salt knows that. There is the causal loop issue, the ‘Grandfather Paradox,’ and the ‘Fermi Paradox.’”<br />
<br />
“Ah, but those are simply theories yet to be proven. Obviously since no one has ever time traveled before.”<br />
<br />
Dr. Johnson pointed at me. “And exactly how do you intend to prove these theories?”<br />
<br />
“Glad you asked.” I had hoped to explain this to someone. Who better than a skeptic? If he was convinced, then others would be too. “My plan is to change something in the past to see whether it changes things here in the future. That will verify or confirm the possibility of the “Grandfather Paradox.”<br />
<br />
Dr. Johnson laughed. “So, you’re going to go back in time to kill your own grandfather to see whether you still exist or not?”<br />
<br />
“No, I’m going to kill yours.”<br />
<br />
Dr. Johnson abruptly stopped laughing. He frowned, but he slowly changed it to a weak smile. “Surely you jest?”<br />
<br />
I refrained from laughing at him. “My dear, Dr. Johnson. If you don’t believe that I can go back in time, why are you so worried?” I had him.<br />
<br />
He mumbled a bit then said, “It’s just the thought of it. That’s all. Go on with your ‘experiment.’”<br />
<br />
“No, nothing so grand as murder. Rather, if I successfully go back in time, I will be wearing the clothing of the time, except for two thing: a cigarette lighter and a digital camera. Somethings no one in 33 AD had would have ever seen. I’ve taken a picture of that section of the history of the lighter in case it changes. Upon my successful return, we’ll know not only that time travel is possible, but also whether changes we make to the past, if possible, affect our future or not. If your history books show that I, Dr. Ransom, invented the lighter, instead of Johann Wolfgang Döbereiner, then we will know it is possible.”<br />
<br />
Dr. Johnson nodded. “Seems a reasonably safe proposition. Only problem, it won’t solve the Grandfather Paradox.”<br />
<br />
“One piece at a time, doctor. If this works, there will be other trips and tests to prove or disprove the theories.” I smiled at him, then returned to my work. He appeared to get the message, as he and his two students took a seat against the wall.<br />
<br />
Shortly, I had made the final adjustment. “I’m ready, John.”<br />
<br />
“Everything is a go on this end.”<br />
<br />
“I’m dressed, and I have my cigarette lighter and my digital camera with me.” I stepped into the cylindrical chamber.<br />
<br />
The whole machine was powered with nuclear fusion, so as to not run out of power anytime soon. The cylinder sat on a square base and had the “engine” sitting behind it. It appeared a simple device on the outside, but inside, it bent time and space to fold in upon itself.<br />
<br />
I set the dials on the inside of the machine to 33 AD. The power meter rose until it crossed a red line, indicating there was enough power to initiate time transference. “Here we go, John!” I pushed the button that started the time folding. Electrical currents circulated around me until I could no longer make out the details of the laboratory. Then, in a blinding flash of light, it happened. Time folded in upon itself. I felt sick to my stomach and threatened to vomit, but refrained from doing so.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Day 2: June 15, 33 AD - Jerusalem</h3>
<br />
<i>I have succeeded! I have traveled back in time. I feel different, though I cannot put my finger on it. Just something feels different. Hard to say. Just different is the only way I can describe it. At any rate, I’m thrilled that I have been successful. My next task is, I think, to leave something here. Oh yes, my lighter.</i><br />
<br />
<br />
The electrical flow lessened, and a much different landscape appeared.<br />
<br />
I exited the cylinder. Before me was a horde of people listening to a man speak, a common occurrence in that day and age. Such was the extent of their entertainment. No one appeared to have noticed me or my time machine appearing. I walked out and stepped into the crowd. Someone gave me some bread and fish to eat. I thanked them.<br />
<br />
Who should I give my cigarette lighter to? As I listened to the man talk, I realized where I’d heard what he was saying. It was the Beatitudes. I couldn’t believe it, I was actually listening to the historical Jesus give one of his most famous speeches. This deserved a picture.<br />
<br />
What exactly was a picture? I wasn’t at all sure. I looked about myself for a strange object, and found one. It was red and an oblong cylinder. It looked familiar. I pushed down on the button. A spark flew out and ignited something which burned a pure flame. It frightened me, so I dropped it. But by the time it hit the ground, the flame had gone out. I picked it up. Why did this look so familiar?<br />
<br />
A man next to me had been watching me. He said, “That man is a witch! He brought fire up from that strange stick!” However, everyone was so hanging on the words of Jesus that no one paid the man any attention. Then it came to me, this was a cigarette lighter. Why and how I’d forgotten that, I couldn’t say.<br />
<br />
I was going to give this to someone, maybe Jesus? Sure, he’d know what to do with it. After Jesus stopped talking, a swarm of people gathered around him, most wanting healing from some disease. Just like the “fairy tales” about him said. Most such healings were nothing more than the Placebo Effect. If they believed their body would be healed, their body would do everything in its power to make it happen. There were no scientific studies showing such “miracles” to be real.<br />
<br />
I gripped the lighter and pushed my way through the crowd. I held the lighter for him to see it, hoping it would attract his attention. It did.<br />
<br />
He spotted it and swung around to face me. “You do not belong here.”<br />
<br />
Did I? I couldn’t remember. “I most certainly do. What’s gotten into you man?”<br />
<br />
He simply stared at me, in kindness, but also pity.<br />
<br />
I noticed the strange object I had in my hand. “Take it, it is for you.”<br />
<br />
He nodded and took it from my hand. He pushed the button and a flame popped up. He watched it before releasing the button and the flame when out. Whispers of “He is the Son of God” ran across the crowd. I wondered why he was called the Son of God when he did it, and why I was called a witch when I brought forth fire? Though in all honesty, it did appear to be magical. Maybe there was something to this Son of God thing after all?<br />
<br />
That’s when I saw the strangest sight. Some odd machine, vaguely familiar, starting to phase in and out. Then all at once I recalled that I came here on such a machine. It appeared firmer to me then, more solid. I needed to get back to it, though I wasn’t sure why.<br />
<br />
<i>As the day wore on, I felt less strange, except for the fire stick and this confusing box of buttons and dials I had hanging around my neck. I even began to question why I was keeping this journal. What purpose did it serve? The first entries sounded foreign to me.</i><br />
<br />
<h3>
Day 3: June 16, 33 AD – Jerusalem</h3>
<br />
<i>I had a moment of clarity for a time shortly after I awoke this morning. I was sleeping on the street along with several others. During this moment of clarity, which I’m going through now, I realized what was happening to me. We had been theorizing that if we changed something in the past, it would change the future. The truth was, the past would change us. We became part of the past. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>That would explain the Fermi Paradox—the idea that if time travel were possible, then we should have countless examples of people from the future showing up at random, but we don’t. Now we know why. Anyone who travels back in time will soon be sucked into that time period.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>I had to get that down before I forgot.</i><br />
<br />
As I awoke, I knew I had to get back to that hill where I had appeared yesterday. This was my only chance. Who knows how long it would be before I was permanently sucked into this history. I had to get back to prove, to prove . . . something. I just knew I needed to get back. Back to that strange machine I saw yesterday.<br />
<br />
I pushed my way through the crowded streets until I came to the hill Jesus had been speaking on yesterday. Solid as ever stood the strange machine, the time machine. I pushed my way up the hill toward it, until I stood before the contraption.<br />
<br />
Why was I up here? The outline of the machine grew faint. I put forth my hand and opened the cylinder-door. There happened to be a nice seat inside, so I sat in it. As I rested, I noticed a dial with numbers and a button. What was this? Oh yeah, a time machine. Those numbers must be years. I think I came from 2000 and something. Then I noticed another button that said, “Return.”<br />
<br />
“Of course, that is to return me to my time. Sort of like a ‘Home’ button.” I pushed it.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Day 4: June 17, 2018 – Jerusalem</h3>
<br />
<i>I barely returned. I wasn’t sure what I’d find. But I discovered the same effect was at work no matter what time period one was in: you get enveloped by that particular history. Well, at least we know one of the dangers of time travel: the potential of forgetting about one’s own time period. This finding should be greeted with enthusiasm!</i><br />
<br />
I opened the door. The laboratory was as I had left it. As I exited the time machine, all shook up, Dr. Johnson greeted me.<br />
<br />
He said, “Congratulations, Dr. Ransom, you’ve proven that time travel is impossible.”<br />
<br />
“What are you talking about, sir? I did travel back in time.”<br />
<br />
“But you didn’t go anywhere.”<br />
<br />
I scanned his eyes. “I most certainly did. I spent a couple of days in 33 AD. Listened to Jesus himself give the Beatitudes.”<br />
<br />
“Did you get any pictures.”<br />
<br />
I sighed. “No, I did not, because of what I’ll call—since I discovered it—the Ransom Effect. That’s the effect where a time traveler starts acclimating to the new time period to the point of forgetting about their original one.”<br />
<br />
Dr. Johnson pointed at me. “What do have to prove that you actually time-traveled?”<br />
<br />
“I have very little, other than this.” I pulled out a picture from my pocket and placed it on the table. “Who invented the cigarette lighter?”<br />
<br />
“Why, everyone knows it was Jesus who showed us the light.”<br />
<br />
I pointed at the picture I had thrown down which clearly showed that Johann Wolfgang Döbereiner was the inventor of said lighter. “There is proof both that I went back in time, and that I’ve subsequently changed history. Though if I’m not mistaken, I’ll gradually get sucked into this reality that Jesus was the inventor. But I gave Jesus that lighter.”<br />
<br />
Dr. Johnson stuttered and stammered. “I, ah, I’m not sure, that is, I don’t think this proves anything. How do we know that this photo isn’t modified?”<br />
<br />
“Because I took it moments before I left. . . . At least I think I did.”<br />
<br />
Dr. Johnson stood straighter. “You see, from my perspective, you went in, sparkly stuff happened, and you came back out.”<br />
<br />
“Well, duh,” I said, “that is why it is called a time machine. I come back at the same time I left.”<br />
<br />
Dr. Johnson headed toward the door. “Another hoax. Come on, students.”<br />
<br />
The students followed him out the door.<br />
<br />
I tossed a rag toward the door. “Stupid people.”<br />
<br />
John handed me today’s paper. “Here.”<br />
<br />
I took it from him . Across the top it said, “New Archaeological Find Verifies the Existence of Extraterrestrial Life.” The accompanying picture showed my digital camera. The article claimed it could have only come from an alien. I quickly padded my chest, it was no longer strapped around my neck. I’d lost it somewhere along the way.<br />
<br />
Then something else caught my eye. An ad, which said, “Jesus said, ‘I am the Way, the Truth, and the Lighter. No man can come to the Father without me.’” Following that was a cigarette ad.<br />
<br />
“John, I thought cigarette ads were banned?”<br />
<br />
He laughed. “Dr. Ransom, we’d have to violate the constitution's first amendment to do that.”<br />
<br />
“Why?”<br />
<br />
“Because it is a sacred rite of the Church to smoke. For the government to ban it would violate the freedom of religion clause.”<br />
<br />
“I don’t even want to ask what the cancer rate is now.” Yes, unintended consequences ripple through time, even over something as seemingly insignificant as a cigarette lighter.<br />
<br />
<i>This is the final entry of this particular journal. I’ve deduced or induced four major points. One, that time travel is possible. Two, that the time period one enters will cause one to forget about where one came from and that they will eventually become part of that time period. Three, that two explains the Fermi Paradox, though we will still need to prove that. Four, that one can change time. Next I’ll check the validity of the Grandfather Paradox, using Dr. Johnson’s grandfather, once I discover a way to offset number two.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>The good news is that I successfully went back in time. The bad news is that no one will believe me.</i><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Rick Copplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01754277543618018137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4180146454713046974.post-79500401009880985052018-05-16T00:28:00.001-07:002019-06-20T15:14:02.455-07:00Convicted in Total Blackout<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<h3>
Starry the Space Hippie Series</h3>
---------------<br />
<br />
Starry Skyward inhaled deeply the aroma. “Ah, what a wonderful smell.”<br />
<br />
Tramal, Starry’s half-alien wife, set a plate down in front of him. “You’re favorite.”<br />
<br />
The people in the mess hall scurried around them. They were here to do a show. At least that is what everyone thought. They were also here on a secret mission, to discover why or who was causing this starship to breakdown, usually at a critical point in a mission. It gave the starship Herman a mission success rate of 0.01. Compared to the fleet-wide rate of 0.8, it was pretty lousy.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
Captain Glover didn’t appear to have a clue, and invited Starry and Tramal over to help him figure out what was happening.<br />
<br />
At the moment, however, the only thing Starry could think of was the plate of grits in front of him. He slurped up a spoon of it. He frowned. “Not as good as my mom’s.”<br />
<br />
Tramal smiled. “Nothing is ever as good as your mom’s.”<br />
<br />
Starry pointed at Tramal. “Of course, you’re right.”<br />
<br />
“Of course.” She ate a spoonful of her own. “Now, do you have a plan as how we can capture this person or persons?”<br />
<br />
“Of course! Don’t I always?”<br />
<br />
“No.”<br />
<br />
Starry smiled. “Well, I probably shouldn’t use absolutes then.”<br />
<br />
“Absolutely not.”<br />
<br />
“I figure we’ll wait for the next incident to happen, then go from there.”<br />
<br />
“Let’s hope it isn’t the final one, then.”<br />
<br />
Starry nodded. “For sure. But until something happens, I don’t know anyway to figure it out.”<br />
<br />
“It shouldn’t be too long then. According to the captain, we’re coming up to another critical mission point.”<br />
<br />
Starry smiled. “Until then, we eat these grits.” He shoveled another spoonful into his mouth.<br />
<br />
# # #<br />
<br />
It was time for Starry to do his comedy routine. He moseyed onto the stage. He wore his blue jeans, and his blue-jean vest, with a collared shirt, unbuttoned almost halfway down his chest. He grabbed the microphone. “Peace man! I’m Starry the Space Hippie. How did that happen? I don’t know, man. I just popped out to hippie parents on a space ship. That’s when I knew I was . . .” Starry slid one foot out as he spread his arms. “Cool, baby!”<br />
<br />
Amidst the spattering of laughter, the ship lurched, almost knocking Starry off his feet. After regaining his balance, Starry attempted to reassure the audience. “So cool, in fact, that little shakes like the one we just received was a common occurrence. Especially on our hippie space ship. We held it together with seaweed and duct tape.”<br />
<br />
Another jolt hit, so strong that it knocked Starry off his feet. Then an announcement rang over the ship intercom: “Stations! Everyone to their stations! This is <i>not</i> a drill!” The audience ran from the room as if draining down a drain, leaving Starry alone.<br />
<br />
Starry hopped off the stage and headed to the door. “I know I wasn’t very funny, but I don’t think I was that bad.” He sought out Tramal—he found her in their room.<br />
<br />
She raced up to him and hugged him. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”<br />
<br />
Starry raised an eyebrow. “Why wouldn’t I be?”<br />
<br />
She stared at him for a moment. “Because the part of the ship where you were close to is gone.”<br />
<br />
“Gone? You mean, like vaporized or something?”<br />
<br />
“Yes, something like that. They’re not sure exactly what happened. They’re investigating it as we speak.”<br />
<br />
Starry thought for a moment. “Sounds like this could be a clue. Do you know what their mission was this time?”<br />
<br />
“Yeah, they were having a diplomatic mission, meeting a sensitive race who is thinking of joining our alliance. According to what I just learned from the captain, a rouge ray shot from weapons control and hit their ship. They naturally responded, but we didn’t have any shields up. So . . .”<br />
<br />
“Then who authorized the weapons to fire should be in their computer data banks.”<br />
<br />
“That’s what they’re trying to determine. However, the captain isn’t hopeful as he says every other instance has been erased beyond recovery. Thus why they wanted us to come.”<br />
<br />
“Let’s go see if we can have a look.”<br />
<br />
Tramal nodded and they left, walked down a series of halls back to the area where Starry had been performing. They encountered a couple of guards around the door.<br />
<br />
One of the guards said, “No one is allowed beyond this door.”<br />
<br />
“But,” Starry said, “the captain is expecting us.”<br />
<br />
He shook his head. “No exceptions. Captain’s orders.”<br />
<br />
“Except for these two, soldier,” a voice said behind them.<br />
<br />
Starry turned to see the captain approaching. “Thank you, sir.”<br />
<br />
The guards opened the doors and waved Starry, Tramal, and the captain on in. The three went to the data control location, where several were busy working on evaluating the data. As the captain approached, he asked, “Any progress?”<br />
<br />
The soldiers stood at attention and saluted him. One of them said, “No luck, sir. Like all the previous times. No record of who authorized the firing of the ray blast. We’re in the process of attempting to retrieve the data, but it doesn’t look good.”<br />
<br />
The captain sighed. “Pretty much as I expected.”<br />
<br />
Starry cleared his throat. “Who would have authority to erase data like that?”<br />
<br />
The soldier faced Starry. “Aren’t you the comedian guy? Why are you here?”<br />
<br />
“Humor me,” Starry said with a slight grin.<br />
<br />
The captain nodded. “Go ahead and tell him, soldier.”<br />
<br />
“Well, the senior staff would all have the authority to modify such information.”<br />
<br />
“So, that narrows it down to . . .” Starry waved his hand in a circular motion.<br />
<br />
“The three lieutenants, the second in command, and--” the soldier glanced at the captain.<br />
<br />
“Me, of course.” The captain finished the soldier’s sentence. He turned to Starry. “I want to get to the bottom of this as soon as possible. We have a critical mission coming up that several transports are depending on us for an escort through some enemy territory.” He lifted a hand toward the missing bulkhead. “As if this wasn’t bad enough.”<br />
<br />
Starry nodded. “I understand, Captain Glover. I’ll see what I can do. You mind if I have a look at the records in question?”<br />
<br />
The captain waved a hand toward the console. “Be my guest.”<br />
<br />
“Tramal, would you like to assist?”<br />
<br />
“Most certainly, dear.” She sat next to Starry at the terminal as the captain left the area. “What exactly are we looking for?”<br />
<br />
“Mostly what was before and after the deleted sections. Any clue will do.”<br />
<br />
She lifted a finger. “Ah, I see. Say no more.” They both busied themselves with examining the records.<br />
<br />
# # #<br />
<br />
Starry groaned and stretched his hands into the air.<br />
<br />
Tramal said, “What’s the matter, dear? Too much data for your poor brain to handle?”<br />
<br />
He laughed. “No, just activating thinking muscles. I think best when I’m stretching.”<br />
<br />
“Hum, did you come up with anything?”<br />
<br />
“Possibly. I’ll need to run a test to verify it.”<br />
<br />
“What kind of test?”<br />
<br />
“A blackout test.”<br />
<br />
Tramal’s skin changed to a pinkish hue. “I’ve never heard of such a test. What is it?”<br />
<br />
You’ll see, right about . . . now!”<br />
<br />
Every light in the whole ship blacked out. Screams could be heard down the hall. Emergency lights kicked in. Faint flickers of light entered the room where they sat. After a few minutes, light levels returned to normal.<br />
<br />
The captain stormed in, obviously not very happy. “What is going on here? The records say the blackout originated from this location.”<br />
<br />
“Very tricky, captain,” Starry said.<br />
<br />
“What are you talking about, man? I’m not here to play games with you. I want you to figure out who is doing this.”<br />
<br />
“And the person who is doing this is you, captain.”<br />
<br />
“That’s absurd.”<br />
<br />
“Not so absurd when you think about it. The records that were erased were very selective, not at all the kind of records a person would delete. That meant the records were being deleted via a virus that was activated whenever a crisis would erupt.”<br />
<br />
“Yeah, so what?”<br />
<br />
“A crisis just erupted with the blackout. I set a recording tracker to save any info generated from it.”<br />
<br />
The captain’s face fell. “Oh.”<br />
<br />
Starry pushed a button on the console. “And that virus has your fingerprints all over it, captain.”<br />
<br />
The words, “Authorized by Captain Glover” flashed on the screen.<br />
<br />
Starry glanced at the soldiers standing around him. “I suggest you take him into custody.”<br />
<br />
The soldiers stood there a moment, then one of them said, “Sir, you are under arrest.”<br />
<br />
The captain bowed his head and held his arms out. They took him away.<br />
<br />
Tramal shook her head. “The only thing I don’t get is what was his motivation?”<br />
<br />
Starry fixed his eyes on his wife. “Why, it’s elementary, my dear Tramal. He was planted by the enemy. Their ultimate goal was to give the transports in the next mission to the enemy.”<br />
<br />
“How did you know he was from the enemy? He seemed so cooperative.”<br />
<br />
“He was cooperative in order to not cast any suspicion toward himself. However, it’s in the logs. Shortly before the deleted records, he’s recorded as saying to the soldier on watch that they should stand down as it concerns reviewing what he had for lunch that day.”<br />
<br />
“Which was?”<br />
<br />
“Grits.”<br />
<br />
Tramal appeared confused. “What’s wrong with that?”<br />
<br />
“It wasn’t so much what was wrong with grits as what went with it. A side of communications from an unknown source. I suspected that was enemy communications and I was right.”<br />
<br />
Tramal smiled. “I guess even a broken clock is right twice a day.”<br />
<br />
Starry held up a finger. “That’s if it is an old analog clock. However, if it is digital, it is either on or off. And this one,” he pointed to himself, “is on!”<br />
<br />
Tramal laughed. “I guess so!”<br />
<br />
Starry smiled. He’d always wanted to disrupt that old saying. He couldn’t have done it better if he’d planned it.<br />
<br />
Starry dusted his hands off. “Case closed!”<br />
<br />
<br />Rick Copplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01754277543618018137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4180146454713046974.post-68251625336951348232018-02-08T16:00:00.000-08:002019-06-20T15:15:14.045-07:00Valentine's Valentine<img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z-dg__jWQ8Q/Wn0dMSPdSyI/AAAAAAAAC88/YW08tgYbsIQdaJdJhbEP0oTmqJru0JHQQCLcBGAs/s1600/Saint-Valentine.jpg" style="display: none;" /><br />
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Note: As far as I can recall, this is my very first Valentine story. I've created several Valentine poems over the past years, but this is the first Valentine Day story I've created. Enjoy!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
-------------------------</div>
<br />
Jana listened eagerly as her father, Asterios, told the stories he’d received from Valentine. He’d related to her father, a judge overseeing Valentine’s house arrest, about a man named Jesus who did all sorts of miracles. The story she liked the most was of the man born blind receiving his sight. She hoped such a miracle could be preformed on her. She’d not seen anything since she was born either.<br />
<br />
“And then,” Asterios said, “Jesus walked right out onto the water to them. When Peter, one of his disciples called out to him, he also walked on the water.” Asterios paused for dramatic effect. “At least for a little while. Then he sank. But then Peter called out to Jesus and Jesus saved him.”<br />
<br />
“Wow!” Jana said. She bounced in her seat. “Tell me the one again about the man born blind who Jesus healed.”<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
“You would want to hear that one. But I just told it to you before this one . . . for the seventh time.”<br />
<br />
Jana slumped in her seat. “Too bad this Jesus isn’t around today.”<br />
<br />
Asterios ran his fingers through his beard. “You know, that just might be a good test.”<br />
<br />
“A test? A test of what?”<br />
<br />
“Well, Valentine said that this Jesus isn’t dead, but alive, and that He resides in each person who has accepted him as their lord. If that’s true, then his disciples should be able to do the same things as Jesus did.” Asterios straightened up and rose from his chair. “Jana, today you are going to jail.”<br />
<br />
Her face fell. “What did I do?”<br />
<br />
“Why, your blind of course. And we’re going to put this Valentine to the test to see whether what he is telling me is true or not.”<br />
<br />
“You mean, you’re going to ask him to heal me?”<br />
<br />
“You bet. Why not? We’ve tried everything else. But don’t get your hope up too high. This is a long shot. All this may be is stories.”<br />
<br />
She laughed. “Don’t worry, father. I’ll be glad to meet this great story-teller if that is all he is.”<br />
<br />
Asterios rubbed the top of her head and hugged her. “And who knows, they could be true stories as well.”<br />
<br />
Later that day, her father led her into the house where Valentine was being kept. The modest house was bare. The furniture consisted of a bed, a table with a couple of chairs, and a dresser for the prisoner to store his extra clothing in. Valentine sat in a chair at the table.<br />
<br />
Valentine’s eyes brightened and he rose when he saw her. “Ah, a special visitor today, I see.” He noticed the way her eyes didn’t move much. “Is she blind?”<br />
<br />
Asterios nodded. “Been so from her birth, just like that guy in the story you told me about.”<br />
<br />
“Poor child.” Valentine cupped her cheeks in his palms. “What is your name?”<br />
<br />
“Jana.” she responded. “Can you really heal me?”<br />
<br />
“Who, me? I’m a nobody. I can’t heal anything.”<br />
<br />
Jana’s expectant smile turned into a frown. “You can’t?”<br />
<br />
Asterios said, “Valentine, I beseech you on behalf of my adopted daughter that you heal her from her blindness. If you are able to do so, I will believe on this Jesus and do whatever you say to me to do. If not, I can no longer listen to your stories, because that is all they are.”<br />
<br />
Valentine grinned. “I said I couldn’t do it. But God can.” He placed a hand on Jana’s head. “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth even as it is in heaven. Give us today a signal of your love for this child of yours. We ask that you heal her eyes of their blindness. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.”<br />
<br />
Both of them watched Jana. For a few brief seconds she said nothing. Then she smiled. “I can see some light, like a lantern in the night, getting brighter and brighter. “ Her smile grew into a big grin. “And now I can see color, father. I can’t even begin to describe them, they are so beautiful!”<br />
<br />
Asterios jumped up and down in joy. He quickly grabbed Jana’s face and put his up close to hers. “Jana, can you see me? Can you?” His grin waited expectantly.<br />
<br />
“Why, yes, father. I can!” They both hugged and jumped at the same time. Then Asterios glanced at Valentine and bowed before him. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”<br />
<br />
“I did nothing but pray. God healed her.”<br />
<br />
“And if you hadn’t prayed, she would not be able to see right now.”<br />
<br />
Valentine held up a finger. “Nor would she if you hadn’t asked. So you have as much to do with this as I do.”<br />
<br />
Jana leaped into Valentine’s arms. He quickly adjusted himself to the surprise.<br />
<br />
“I don’t know who all is responsible. All I know is that I love you for asking,” Jana said.<br />
<br />
Valentine smiled. “Now this is the kind of response I could get used to.” He put Jana back on her feet. “Remember Jana, this shows you God’s love for you. Even more, that He came to us and walked among us, and died for us. Before we deserved it, He died and rose again that we might have newness of life.”<br />
<br />
“Wow! He must really be God.”<br />
<br />
Valentine smiled. “Out of the mouths of babes . . .”<br />
<br />
“So, what must we do?” Asterios asked.<br />
<br />
Valentine faced him. “If you now believe Jesus to be the Son of God as I’ve been telling you . . .”<br />
<br />
“I do, I do, I do!” Asterios said.<br />
<br />
“ . . . then you must be baptized, you and all your household.”<br />
<br />
“Great. When can we schedule a baptism?”<br />
<br />
“Soon, very soon. First we have a little more instruction to go through. But I can baptize you by the end of this week, if I can get to my church.<br />
<br />
Asterios opened the front door of the house and waved a hand out the door. “As far as I’m concerned, you are released from house arrest.”<br />
<br />
“Great! I’ve got some weddings to attend.”<br />
<br />
“Weddings? But I thought the emperor Claudius said no weddings were to be preformed due to the shortage of soldiers for his army.”<br />
<br />
“Nevertheless, I have some weddings to preform. What God has joined, let no man put asunder.”<br />
<br />
“Who said that?”<br />
<br />
Jana jumped in. “Jesus.”<br />
<br />
Valentine pointed at her. “Correct, my child.”<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
>---------<</div>
<br />
Church was over as everyone milled around. Jana had grown tired of the fasting during Lent. She wondered why she needed to do that. Then she’d remember her fasting from sight for so long. Only to be healed by Valentine. She often wondered what had happened to the priest. Even in the short time of around a year, she’d grown used to seeing colors and people. It felt like this was the way it had been all her life. Until today.<br />
<br />
“Are you Jana?” A young man asked.<br />
<br />
“I am.”<br />
<br />
The man stared at her for a moment.<br />
<br />
“Well, did you have something to tell me, or are you going to stare at me all day?”<br />
<br />
The man shook his head as if coming out of a trance. “Ah, neither. But I do have something to give you.” He held out an envelop.<br />
<br />
She took it and opened it. She glanced at the man before she unfolded it. “What’s your name?”<br />
<br />
“John.”<br />
<br />
She stared at him harder. No, not the John. It was such a common name. She returned her focus to the letter. As she read it, her mouth hung open and she said, “Oh no!”<br />
<br />
“What is it?” John asked. But she didn’t respond, she was so engrossed by the letter.<br />
<br />
Gradually, her eyes sparkled and she nodded gently. Upon reading the last line, she smiled. She hugged the letter to her chest. “Thank you, John. I’ll treasure this letter forever.”<br />
<br />
“What did he write to you? Can you share it?”<br />
<br />
She handed it to John. “Yes, there is something in here everyone needs to know.”<br />
<br />
This is what it said:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>February 13, 269<br /><br />My dear, dear, Jana.</i> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>May the peace of Jesus Christ, our loving savior, be with you and your kindly father as well as all your household.</i> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i> You have been a blessing to me during the time of my final trials. The emperor had me arrested for marrying couples against his wishes. Despite that, I thought I’d made some headway with him. He seemed to rather enjoy my company and we’d frequently have long talks. But the moment I started talking to him of my Lord, Jesus Christ, he reacted very negatively. So much so, he had me beaten with clubs and rocks. However, by God’s grace, I’m still alive. However, tomorrow I’m scheduled to have my head cut off. That usually does the trick. </i> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>During my struggles, my memory of you has held me fast in addition to the expected reward I will inherit in the next life: being with my sweet savior, Jesus Christ. I remember how you were blind from birth, just like the man in Jesus’ story. And how through me, He healed you. And I recall your deep gratitude and love toward me due to that. Those remembrances have kept me strong as the blows hit my body today.<br />Remember me and I will remember you. How you ask? Because just like my Savior, I will not die tomorrow. Rather, I will be more alive than I’ve ever been. So hold to the faith, and remember, that God loves you enough to die for you, and I love Him and you enough to die for you both.<br /><br />Your Valentine.</i></blockquote>
<i><br /></i>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>-------------</i></div>
<i><br /></i>
Note: There is actually very little known about St. Valentine’s life. The common story is that he was under house arrest by judge Asterios in Rome. Due to healing his adopted daughter born blind, Asterios believed in Christ and he, his immediate family, and forty-four members of his household were baptized. It was also believed that due to him marrying couples against the Emperor’s wishes, he was arrested. Claudius II enjoyed Valentine’s company until he attempted to convert the emperor to Christianity. This resulted in the emperor demanding that Valentine denounce Christ and bow to his idols upon pain of being beaten and if he survived that, beheaded. Naturally he refused to denounce Christ or worship his idols, so on February 14, 269, he was beheaded.<br />
<br />
The above story is based upon that story, but of course the actual dialog and the wording of the letter, save for the last line, was made up by me. Yes, it has been reported that he actually sent a letter to the daughter of the judge and signed it, “Your Valentine.”Rick Copplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01754277543618018137noreply@blogger.com0