I hide from the forces
That are tearing me apart.
My soul is fractured
And in many fragments.
My life is in pieces
And can not be put together.
I come across obstacles,
But stumble over them.
How can I go on?
I am so overwhelmed.
Falling, I catch myself.
I open my eyes.
I see the pieces of my life
Scattered like a puzzle.
I realize what I must do.
My life needs a major overhaul.
Adjustments must be made.
I must make a change
Even though it will be difficult.
I take one day at a time;
Things seem bright each day.
I believe in myself
And follow my heart.
Putting the final piece together,
My life is whole.
Never again will I close my eyes
And lose sight of the beauty of
My life and this world.
Monday, April 18, 2011
I Love Her
I love her very much,
But does she love me?
She is so kind to me.
She rubs my whole body,
That sends shivers up my spine.
I love her so much.
I need to tell her
Of my feelings.
Because if I do not,
She will find someone else.
I am afraid to tell her,
But I must be brave.
O Kay here I go,
I will tell her right now.
"MEOW!"
But does she love me?
She is so kind to me.
She rubs my whole body,
That sends shivers up my spine.
I love her so much.
I need to tell her
Of my feelings.
Because if I do not,
She will find someone else.
I am afraid to tell her,
But I must be brave.
O Kay here I go,
I will tell her right now.
"MEOW!"
Love
I love him.
He means so much to me.
When he is not here,
I miss him greatly.
Day and night,
I long for him.
His gentle kisses,
His warm embraces,
His tender kindness,
Everything about him,
I greatly love.
Every waking moment,
And in my dreams,
He is in my thoughts
One day,
I hope and pray,
I will be with him,
Till death do us part.
He means so much to me.
When he is not here,
I miss him greatly.
Day and night,
I long for him.
His gentle kisses,
His warm embraces,
His tender kindness,
Everything about him,
I greatly love.
Every waking moment,
And in my dreams,
He is in my thoughts
One day,
I hope and pray,
I will be with him,
Till death do us part.
If Not for You
My life is a waste,
I thought to myself one night.
No accomplishments to my name,
No lives saved,
No lives impacted,
By my existence.
I wish just once
I could reach out
And just help somebody,
Where they would remember me.
A voice spoke in my head,
"You have affected many.
However, you are unaware
Of what you did.
"Do you remember the girl last month,
Who did not have enough
Money at the store?
It was only change.
But she remembered,
And will grow up to
Be very generous.
"Do you remember the boy
Who fell off his bike last month?
You helped him clean his knee
And put a band aid on.
It was only a scrape.
But he remembered,
And will grow up to
Be a Doctor.
"Do you remember yesterday,
At the library where you helped
A teen find something to read?
It was only a book.
But he remembered,
And will grow up to
Be a famous author.
"You see," said the Lord God.
"Your life is not a waste.
You have touched many people.
They will not be
What they are in the future
If not for you."
I thought to myself one night.
No accomplishments to my name,
No lives saved,
No lives impacted,
By my existence.
I wish just once
I could reach out
And just help somebody,
Where they would remember me.
A voice spoke in my head,
"You have affected many.
However, you are unaware
Of what you did.
"Do you remember the girl last month,
Who did not have enough
Money at the store?
It was only change.
But she remembered,
And will grow up to
Be very generous.
"Do you remember the boy
Who fell off his bike last month?
You helped him clean his knee
And put a band aid on.
It was only a scrape.
But he remembered,
And will grow up to
Be a Doctor.
"Do you remember yesterday,
At the library where you helped
A teen find something to read?
It was only a book.
But he remembered,
And will grow up to
Be a famous author.
"You see," said the Lord God.
"Your life is not a waste.
You have touched many people.
They will not be
What they are in the future
If not for you."
Lord You Are Great
Lord, You are great.
Dress me with Your
Honor and Majesty.
Cover me with your light;
Allow people to see my glow.
Protect me from those
Who will hurt me
And those who will
Make fun of me.
Holy Spirit,
Fill my heart.
Rekindle Your fire in me.
Allow me to know your love,
Allow me to turn towards you.
Show me your Mercy
When I fear you.
Allow me to spread
Your love throughout the world.
Your glory will be forever.
Allow me to sing praises to you
As long as I live.
Dress me with Your
Honor and Majesty.
Cover me with your light;
Allow people to see my glow.
Protect me from those
Who will hurt me
And those who will
Make fun of me.
Holy Spirit,
Fill my heart.
Rekindle Your fire in me.
Allow me to know your love,
Allow me to turn towards you.
Show me your Mercy
When I fear you.
Allow me to spread
Your love throughout the world.
Your glory will be forever.
Allow me to sing praises to you
As long as I live.
Formed from Clay
I was formed
On the Potter's Wheel.
Molding me from clay,
He shaped my very existence.
My life was formed from
His own, tender hands.
I look in the mirror
And see His creation.
What I think are flaws
Are His intentions.
He sees me as a
Perfect object, free from blemish.
Through life, as I become cracked,
He gently fixes the fractures,
Hiding the scars.
To Him I am an object of beauty,
Totally different from His other creations.
On the Potter's Wheel.
Molding me from clay,
He shaped my very existence.
My life was formed from
His own, tender hands.
I look in the mirror
And see His creation.
What I think are flaws
Are His intentions.
He sees me as a
Perfect object, free from blemish.
Through life, as I become cracked,
He gently fixes the fractures,
Hiding the scars.
To Him I am an object of beauty,
Totally different from His other creations.
The Man in My Life
I have a man in my life,
He is perfect in every way.
When I mess up,
He does not put me down.
He loves me unconditionally, though
Sometimes I don't love him back.
He helps me with all my problems.
He is there for me,
Even when I want to be alone.
He always listens to me,
Even when I am complaining.
He sees me as a beautiful woman,
Even though I have many flaws.
The man in my life
Is perfect in every way.
Including the holes in
His hands and feet.
He is perfect in every way.
When I mess up,
He does not put me down.
He loves me unconditionally, though
Sometimes I don't love him back.
He helps me with all my problems.
He is there for me,
Even when I want to be alone.
He always listens to me,
Even when I am complaining.
He sees me as a beautiful woman,
Even though I have many flaws.
The man in my life
Is perfect in every way.
Including the holes in
His hands and feet.
Lord I trust you
Lord, I trust you to guide me,
To deliver me,
To make me righteous.
Deliver me from sin;
Be my strong rock to protect me.
Allow me not to be ashamed of you,
But to be rejoicing of your mercy.
You know my troubles,
My griefs and my sorrows.
Without you, my life is a waste.
I am weak and fearful without you.
I am dead, a broken vessel.
I trust in you Lord.
You are my God.
Deliver me from my enemies.
Allow me to serve you.
You are great.
You are good.
You are blessed.
With marvelous kindness and mercy,
You preserve the faithful,
And reward those greatly,
All that have faith and hope in you.
To deliver me,
To make me righteous.
Deliver me from sin;
Be my strong rock to protect me.
Allow me not to be ashamed of you,
But to be rejoicing of your mercy.
You know my troubles,
My griefs and my sorrows.
Without you, my life is a waste.
I am weak and fearful without you.
I am dead, a broken vessel.
I trust in you Lord.
You are my God.
Deliver me from my enemies.
Allow me to serve you.
You are great.
You are good.
You are blessed.
With marvelous kindness and mercy,
You preserve the faithful,
And reward those greatly,
All that have faith and hope in you.
The Uniform Told the Story
My father never spoke much about the war. He was a Non-commissioned Officer during World War II. All that I can remember was that he had been hit by machine gun fire during a river crossing operation in France. It left a large bump on his arm that kind of resembles the muscles that Popeye has. Whenever a war movie came on the television, he would leave the room-except for John Wayne WWII movies.
Well, one day, I was touring through the attic.
I always found the attic interesting. Even as a young girl, I would search through the mysterious boxes and find interesting treasures-books long forgotten by my family, some toys I used to have as a baby, baseball cards, old furniture and many more things.
Then one day, after being in the military myself for several years, I decided to explore the attic in my parents new house. It was not as interesting as the attic in my childhood years. Mostly there were books and some of my puzzles.
There was a rack of clothes I never really noticed before. A couple of Brook Brothers suits my father wore when he worked in New York City. And there was my mother's moth eaten fur coat-which I think she only wore once.
Then I saw it.
My father's World War II uniform. I looked at it for the longest time. I guess I never really noticed before I joined the ARMY. I looked at each individual medal:
The Bronze Star.
The Distinguished Service Cross.
The Purple Heart.
Even though my father never talked much about the war, the uniform told the story.
Well, one day, I was touring through the attic.
I always found the attic interesting. Even as a young girl, I would search through the mysterious boxes and find interesting treasures-books long forgotten by my family, some toys I used to have as a baby, baseball cards, old furniture and many more things.
Then one day, after being in the military myself for several years, I decided to explore the attic in my parents new house. It was not as interesting as the attic in my childhood years. Mostly there were books and some of my puzzles.
There was a rack of clothes I never really noticed before. A couple of Brook Brothers suits my father wore when he worked in New York City. And there was my mother's moth eaten fur coat-which I think she only wore once.
Then I saw it.
My father's World War II uniform. I looked at it for the longest time. I guess I never really noticed before I joined the ARMY. I looked at each individual medal:
The Bronze Star.
The Distinguished Service Cross.
The Purple Heart.
Even though my father never talked much about the war, the uniform told the story.
Princess of the Dolphins
Thousands of miles from the mainland, people lived (and still live) in the paradise of the group of the beautiful Hawaiian Islands. During the warm days, Hawaiians and Americans both enjoyed passing their time away swimming, fishing, surfing and riding outrigger canoes.
Off the shore of the most eastern and largest island-which shares the same name as the state-a small sail boat sat still in the unusually calm water. From this boat, the two large mountains of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa appeared as a transparent blue in the distance.
Even though there was a slight breeze, the sailboat remained stationary on the water. The reason for this was that the single occupant had lowered the sail.
Camille Beauchamp sat on the deck, soaking up the rays of the sun. She looked up from the book she was reading. She looked around with a sigh. The day after tomorrow, she would be on a plane back to Las Angeles then to New York back to her apartment and job.
Camille had graduated almost two years earlier from college with a Bachelor Degree in English. Her concentration was in creative writing. She had a life-long dream of being the greatest author ever known. However, she had so many ideas to work on that she had trouble deciding on what to write on. Then, when she decided on a topic, she had trouble getting the words down or the story got changed a many number of times.
Frustrated, Camille gave up. She decided that writing was not to be her profession. She looked for employment, and, because of her excellent grades and recommendations, she got an editing job at a publishing company in New York City. Camille liked this job from the start. She decided not to totally end her writing career. She would write on a part-time basis. She would expand on her ideas. However, when she felt frustrated, she would be able to put the papers away. She also would not spend any more sleepless nights.
Camille looked at her watch. Even though it seemed like late afternoon, morning was just departing. She felt that she could float in this peacefulness for an eternity. However, she had reality and her job to get back to-she was surprised when the publishing company rewarded her with this paid vacation.
Camille continued reading her book. Soon she would raise the sail and bring her boat back in. There were other things that she wanted to do for the remainder of this vacation.
Camille, however, became absorbed in the novel that she did not want to put it down. She did not notice the dark clouds forming in the east. A low rumble of thunder brought Camille back into reality. A chill wind was blowing and plump raindrops started splashing on the deck.
"This came quickly," Camille said as she hurriedly put on her windbreaker. Then she raised the sail, with the hope that she could race the storm back to the shore.
Instead of its slow progress, the storm released its fury immediately. The clouds opened up and sent water to the earth. Camille tried sailing toward the shore. However, she could no longer see land. The blinding sheet of water prevented her from doing so.
What was unusually calm water earlier, was now a devastating fury of waves. Camille tried to tack the boat towards the presumed direction of land. However, the fury of the wind tossed the small boat around like a toy.
"Oh God! What have I got myself into?" Camille thought, starting to build up panic.
The boat was impossible to handle. It seemed as if the crashing of the waves would break it into splinters. Looking at the probability of this happening, Camille went to get the life jacket; while she was required to wear one, she had taken it off. It was missing. She frantically looked for it, but to no avail. A wave washed over the boat. Camille, knowing she would be knocked into the water, reached out her hand as a last resort. Her fingers felt a rope and she grabbed at it. It was attached to the mast.
"That was a close one," she thought to herself. "If I went overboard, there would have been little chance for me to survive. I am safe as long as I hold on."
As luck may have it, however, Camille had spoken too soon. Just like in a cheap horror movie, when she thought these words, another large wave washed over the boat. Unable to stand such force, it capsized. Though she tried to hang on, Camille felt the rope slipping from her fingers. She was separated from the boat.
Upon hitting the water, Camille went under. She immediately scissor-kicked until she reemerged. She looked around frantically for any signs of the sailboat. However, it was nowhere in sight.
There was nothing left for Camille to do except swim for shore. There was a problem; she did not know in which direction land lay. She chose a direction and set off, stroke by stroke, hoping she was correct.
Camille was a strong swimmer. However, she did not know if she could last long in these conditions. Every few strokes a wave would force her under. With luck, if this storm ended as quickly as it began, her chances of reaching land would be greater.
Camille had a rhythm while swimming. After swimming a hundred strokes, she would tread water for a few minutes. Then she would begin the cycle once again.
After what seemed like hours-in actuality it was only fifteen minutes-Camille was close to giving up. Tears of frustration and panic ran down her cheeks.
"Oh God, please do not let me die like this! I am so scared!"
Fear of drowning disappeared and a new one took its place, when several fins broke the surface of the water. Camille gulped hard and stared to see if she had really seen something. Several more fine appeared for a second, before being covered by waves.
"Sharks!"
The sharks appeared to be short as far as sharks go, about nine feet in length. It had a black back; maybe the darkness from the storm made it appear so. One shark did a weird stunt. It reared up out of the water until it danced upon its tail. The darkness of its back complimented the whiteness of its underside.
Camille stared in terror at this creature, waiting for its killing blow. It opened it mouth, revealing two rows of teeth. It was as if it was smiling at her.
Camille screamed.
Then the creature began to make a sound as if it was laughing. The others around it joined in.
Camille looked more closely at the creature and recognized the bottle-shaped nose.
"Dolphins," Camille thought in relief. Even though she never had contact with them before, she knew that dolphins were friendly. She even heard stories of where dolphins saved people from drowning.
The dolphin fell to its side. Then it swan to Camille.
She hesitantly touched its back. Then she drew her hand quickly away. It was as if the dolphin was talking to her. She put her hand on its back again.
"Do not be afraid," the dolphin said. "You are hearing me speak telepathically. You are a very special person, though you have not realized this before."
"Why am I special?" Even though the storm around her was raging, the sea surrounding the dolphins had become calm.
"You have been chosen by us?"
"What do you mean?"
"I will tell you. My name is Orion. For many years, man has been trying to discover the secrets of the seas. Since the beginning, the dolphins chose a human female. They tell this female many stories. Only one person is chosen. When she departs the mortal world, another is chosen."
"But why was I chosen?"
"Patience, Princess. We know of your expression in words. Is that not true?"
"Yes, but I gave up writing."
"If you chose to be Princess of the Dolphins, we shall tell you the stories of the sea. You can write these stories and share them with the other humans. Choose and the sea will become your friend, not your enemy. No creatures will harm either you and your loved ones. Command us and we obey."
Camille still was not sure whether this was her imagination or not. Still she decided what to do.
"There might be other people caught in this storm. If there are, I want them saved."
Several dolphins swam off.
"It is done," said Orion. "Climb onto my back and hold onto the fin." The dolphin started swimming towards the shore.
Camille noticed many other dolphins following.
"Why are the other dolphins following us?"
"In case I get too tired, they do not want to fail your command. Do not fear. If a human is in need, a few will go for him."
As the dolphins swam on, the storm weakened. The fury of the waves became tamer. A short distance to their right, Camille saw something.
"Orion! To the right! I believe it is a man!"
Orion steered its body towards the direction Camille had indicated. True enough, a human male was struggling to keep his head above water. The smallest dolphin reached him, just ahead of Orion. He nudged the male until he urged him to put his arms around his body.
"Good going, Aristotle," Camille said to the dolphin, very positive that was his name. The male looked at Camille in surprise. "Bring him to shore." The dolphin swam off.
Orion began towards the shore once again. Camille looked for Aristotle, but could not see him.
"Do not fear," Orion said. "The human male will be safe on land."
Soon Orion reached a point of shallow water. "You can wade from here. Remember I will be your friend for life."
Camille was now confident that everything that happened was true.
"I am leaving the day after tomorrow. I do not know when I will be back."
"I know. You will be missed. We will be able to contact you through dreams. So long, Princess."
Orion swam off.
***************
"The ocean which had been an enemy to many, was a friend to one."
Camille finished reading and looked at the other authors and students in the creative writing class.
"Ms. Beauchamp?"
"Yes, Julia?"
Julia was one of many students interested in writing. Several famous authors had been invited to travel to different universities to read from their works and to encourage the students to keep doing what they loved.
"How long have you been writing?"
"I have been writing seriously for a little over a year."
After the incident with the dolphins, Camille returned to New York. She became interested in writing once again. However, she did not experience the problems as before. She was able to write stories about sea life. She created new worlds that people never dreamed of before.
In a few months time, her first novel was published by the company she worked for. Then four more were equally successful.
"You have a real talent, Ms. Beauchamp. "Orion" was a beautiful story. It is amazing how you write these sea stories."
"It is like you have lived in the sea," a man's voice interrupted.
It was Greg Montgomery, a popular science-fiction writer. He was an author Camille had enjoyed for a few years. She had always thought he was a much older person. However, she was surprised when she met him; he was the opposite. He was five years older than Camille, who was twenty-five at the time. The highly tanned body stood to be about six feet. When Camille looked upon his face and dark curly hair, she had a sense that she had met Mr. Montgomery before, though she knew she had not.
His dark eyes probed Camille and his face had the concentration like a diver. Then he grinned widely. "I agree with Ms. Winters. It is a beautiful story. All your books have been so."
"Thank you. I have admired your works too."
Camille sat down and Greg Montgomery began to read a section from his book. She loved the sound of his voice as he read.
*****************
A few hours later Camille was resting in her hotel room. She had the rest of the day to herself. Then the next day, the authors had another reading at the college. She looked over her material and decided to read from a chapter from her newest book.
A knock sounded at the door.
"Just a minute," Camille called getting up from the desk. She opened the door and it was Greg Montgomery.
"Hello, Mr. Montgomery."
"Please call me Greg."
"You can call me Cam."
"Fine with me, Cam. You may be wondering why I am here. I came to talk about one of your books."
"Which one?"
"Orion."
"Please come in, Greg. Do you want some coffee? I just made a pot."
"No thank you." He stared intently at Camille. "It was you. I have never forgotten your face."
"What do you mean?"
"I thought when I read that book that it was a coincidence. Now that I have seen you, I can no longer doubt it. Do you remember the storm in Hawaii? It was last year? You told the dolphins to save my life."
"I thought you looked familiar."
"Cam, I do not know what to do. You are not human."
Camille was shocked. "I can not believe..."
"You were able to talk to that dolphin. I have never seen that before. Only some type of demon can control animals. Maybe even mermaids. I never believed in these creatures before that day. Now I have seen you, you are going to haunt me the rest of my life."
"Greg, do not think I am any more or less human than you are. That dolphin saved my life. He saved yours also. If I was some type of demon, do you think I would have saved your life?"
Greg bowed his head in shame. "Forgive me, I did not know what I was saying." He walked towards the door.
"Greg, wait." He stopped and looked at her. "Do not go. You deserve an explanation."
Greg smiled and said, "Are you still serving coffee?"
For the next hour, Camille told Greg what had happened and what Orion had told her.
When she finished, Greg shook his head. "Forgive me the way I acted earlier. You see, after the encounter, I could never forget you. Your lovely face stayed with me during the days and nights. I fell in love with you and became frustrated because I would never have you."
"It is different now that you know the truth. Do you trust me?"
"Yes. We can become great friends. Where do you live."
"Manhattan."
"That is good. I live on Long Island. We can see each other a lot. Tell me, do you plan to visit Hawaii again?"
"I would love another vacation down there. I miss Orion."
"I have a house down there. After these tours are over, I am going to go there for a vacation for a few weeks. Feel free to come along with me, there will be plenty of room at the house."
Camille thought to herself. "This is a short notice. However, I would like to go to that beautiful paradise again." She looked at Greg. Smiling, she said, "I would love to go."
Off the shore of the most eastern and largest island-which shares the same name as the state-a small sail boat sat still in the unusually calm water. From this boat, the two large mountains of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa appeared as a transparent blue in the distance.
Even though there was a slight breeze, the sailboat remained stationary on the water. The reason for this was that the single occupant had lowered the sail.
Camille Beauchamp sat on the deck, soaking up the rays of the sun. She looked up from the book she was reading. She looked around with a sigh. The day after tomorrow, she would be on a plane back to Las Angeles then to New York back to her apartment and job.
Camille had graduated almost two years earlier from college with a Bachelor Degree in English. Her concentration was in creative writing. She had a life-long dream of being the greatest author ever known. However, she had so many ideas to work on that she had trouble deciding on what to write on. Then, when she decided on a topic, she had trouble getting the words down or the story got changed a many number of times.
Frustrated, Camille gave up. She decided that writing was not to be her profession. She looked for employment, and, because of her excellent grades and recommendations, she got an editing job at a publishing company in New York City. Camille liked this job from the start. She decided not to totally end her writing career. She would write on a part-time basis. She would expand on her ideas. However, when she felt frustrated, she would be able to put the papers away. She also would not spend any more sleepless nights.
Camille looked at her watch. Even though it seemed like late afternoon, morning was just departing. She felt that she could float in this peacefulness for an eternity. However, she had reality and her job to get back to-she was surprised when the publishing company rewarded her with this paid vacation.
Camille continued reading her book. Soon she would raise the sail and bring her boat back in. There were other things that she wanted to do for the remainder of this vacation.
Camille, however, became absorbed in the novel that she did not want to put it down. She did not notice the dark clouds forming in the east. A low rumble of thunder brought Camille back into reality. A chill wind was blowing and plump raindrops started splashing on the deck.
"This came quickly," Camille said as she hurriedly put on her windbreaker. Then she raised the sail, with the hope that she could race the storm back to the shore.
Instead of its slow progress, the storm released its fury immediately. The clouds opened up and sent water to the earth. Camille tried sailing toward the shore. However, she could no longer see land. The blinding sheet of water prevented her from doing so.
What was unusually calm water earlier, was now a devastating fury of waves. Camille tried to tack the boat towards the presumed direction of land. However, the fury of the wind tossed the small boat around like a toy.
"Oh God! What have I got myself into?" Camille thought, starting to build up panic.
The boat was impossible to handle. It seemed as if the crashing of the waves would break it into splinters. Looking at the probability of this happening, Camille went to get the life jacket; while she was required to wear one, she had taken it off. It was missing. She frantically looked for it, but to no avail. A wave washed over the boat. Camille, knowing she would be knocked into the water, reached out her hand as a last resort. Her fingers felt a rope and she grabbed at it. It was attached to the mast.
"That was a close one," she thought to herself. "If I went overboard, there would have been little chance for me to survive. I am safe as long as I hold on."
As luck may have it, however, Camille had spoken too soon. Just like in a cheap horror movie, when she thought these words, another large wave washed over the boat. Unable to stand such force, it capsized. Though she tried to hang on, Camille felt the rope slipping from her fingers. She was separated from the boat.
Upon hitting the water, Camille went under. She immediately scissor-kicked until she reemerged. She looked around frantically for any signs of the sailboat. However, it was nowhere in sight.
There was nothing left for Camille to do except swim for shore. There was a problem; she did not know in which direction land lay. She chose a direction and set off, stroke by stroke, hoping she was correct.
Camille was a strong swimmer. However, she did not know if she could last long in these conditions. Every few strokes a wave would force her under. With luck, if this storm ended as quickly as it began, her chances of reaching land would be greater.
Camille had a rhythm while swimming. After swimming a hundred strokes, she would tread water for a few minutes. Then she would begin the cycle once again.
After what seemed like hours-in actuality it was only fifteen minutes-Camille was close to giving up. Tears of frustration and panic ran down her cheeks.
"Oh God, please do not let me die like this! I am so scared!"
Fear of drowning disappeared and a new one took its place, when several fins broke the surface of the water. Camille gulped hard and stared to see if she had really seen something. Several more fine appeared for a second, before being covered by waves.
"Sharks!"
The sharks appeared to be short as far as sharks go, about nine feet in length. It had a black back; maybe the darkness from the storm made it appear so. One shark did a weird stunt. It reared up out of the water until it danced upon its tail. The darkness of its back complimented the whiteness of its underside.
Camille stared in terror at this creature, waiting for its killing blow. It opened it mouth, revealing two rows of teeth. It was as if it was smiling at her.
Camille screamed.
Then the creature began to make a sound as if it was laughing. The others around it joined in.
Camille looked more closely at the creature and recognized the bottle-shaped nose.
"Dolphins," Camille thought in relief. Even though she never had contact with them before, she knew that dolphins were friendly. She even heard stories of where dolphins saved people from drowning.
The dolphin fell to its side. Then it swan to Camille.
She hesitantly touched its back. Then she drew her hand quickly away. It was as if the dolphin was talking to her. She put her hand on its back again.
"Do not be afraid," the dolphin said. "You are hearing me speak telepathically. You are a very special person, though you have not realized this before."
"Why am I special?" Even though the storm around her was raging, the sea surrounding the dolphins had become calm.
"You have been chosen by us?"
"What do you mean?"
"I will tell you. My name is Orion. For many years, man has been trying to discover the secrets of the seas. Since the beginning, the dolphins chose a human female. They tell this female many stories. Only one person is chosen. When she departs the mortal world, another is chosen."
"But why was I chosen?"
"Patience, Princess. We know of your expression in words. Is that not true?"
"Yes, but I gave up writing."
"If you chose to be Princess of the Dolphins, we shall tell you the stories of the sea. You can write these stories and share them with the other humans. Choose and the sea will become your friend, not your enemy. No creatures will harm either you and your loved ones. Command us and we obey."
Camille still was not sure whether this was her imagination or not. Still she decided what to do.
"There might be other people caught in this storm. If there are, I want them saved."
Several dolphins swam off.
"It is done," said Orion. "Climb onto my back and hold onto the fin." The dolphin started swimming towards the shore.
Camille noticed many other dolphins following.
"Why are the other dolphins following us?"
"In case I get too tired, they do not want to fail your command. Do not fear. If a human is in need, a few will go for him."
As the dolphins swam on, the storm weakened. The fury of the waves became tamer. A short distance to their right, Camille saw something.
"Orion! To the right! I believe it is a man!"
Orion steered its body towards the direction Camille had indicated. True enough, a human male was struggling to keep his head above water. The smallest dolphin reached him, just ahead of Orion. He nudged the male until he urged him to put his arms around his body.
"Good going, Aristotle," Camille said to the dolphin, very positive that was his name. The male looked at Camille in surprise. "Bring him to shore." The dolphin swam off.
Orion began towards the shore once again. Camille looked for Aristotle, but could not see him.
"Do not fear," Orion said. "The human male will be safe on land."
Soon Orion reached a point of shallow water. "You can wade from here. Remember I will be your friend for life."
Camille was now confident that everything that happened was true.
"I am leaving the day after tomorrow. I do not know when I will be back."
"I know. You will be missed. We will be able to contact you through dreams. So long, Princess."
Orion swam off.
***************
"The ocean which had been an enemy to many, was a friend to one."
Camille finished reading and looked at the other authors and students in the creative writing class.
"Ms. Beauchamp?"
"Yes, Julia?"
Julia was one of many students interested in writing. Several famous authors had been invited to travel to different universities to read from their works and to encourage the students to keep doing what they loved.
"How long have you been writing?"
"I have been writing seriously for a little over a year."
After the incident with the dolphins, Camille returned to New York. She became interested in writing once again. However, she did not experience the problems as before. She was able to write stories about sea life. She created new worlds that people never dreamed of before.
In a few months time, her first novel was published by the company she worked for. Then four more were equally successful.
"You have a real talent, Ms. Beauchamp. "Orion" was a beautiful story. It is amazing how you write these sea stories."
"It is like you have lived in the sea," a man's voice interrupted.
It was Greg Montgomery, a popular science-fiction writer. He was an author Camille had enjoyed for a few years. She had always thought he was a much older person. However, she was surprised when she met him; he was the opposite. He was five years older than Camille, who was twenty-five at the time. The highly tanned body stood to be about six feet. When Camille looked upon his face and dark curly hair, she had a sense that she had met Mr. Montgomery before, though she knew she had not.
His dark eyes probed Camille and his face had the concentration like a diver. Then he grinned widely. "I agree with Ms. Winters. It is a beautiful story. All your books have been so."
"Thank you. I have admired your works too."
Camille sat down and Greg Montgomery began to read a section from his book. She loved the sound of his voice as he read.
*****************
A few hours later Camille was resting in her hotel room. She had the rest of the day to herself. Then the next day, the authors had another reading at the college. She looked over her material and decided to read from a chapter from her newest book.
A knock sounded at the door.
"Just a minute," Camille called getting up from the desk. She opened the door and it was Greg Montgomery.
"Hello, Mr. Montgomery."
"Please call me Greg."
"You can call me Cam."
"Fine with me, Cam. You may be wondering why I am here. I came to talk about one of your books."
"Which one?"
"Orion."
"Please come in, Greg. Do you want some coffee? I just made a pot."
"No thank you." He stared intently at Camille. "It was you. I have never forgotten your face."
"What do you mean?"
"I thought when I read that book that it was a coincidence. Now that I have seen you, I can no longer doubt it. Do you remember the storm in Hawaii? It was last year? You told the dolphins to save my life."
"I thought you looked familiar."
"Cam, I do not know what to do. You are not human."
Camille was shocked. "I can not believe..."
"You were able to talk to that dolphin. I have never seen that before. Only some type of demon can control animals. Maybe even mermaids. I never believed in these creatures before that day. Now I have seen you, you are going to haunt me the rest of my life."
"Greg, do not think I am any more or less human than you are. That dolphin saved my life. He saved yours also. If I was some type of demon, do you think I would have saved your life?"
Greg bowed his head in shame. "Forgive me, I did not know what I was saying." He walked towards the door.
"Greg, wait." He stopped and looked at her. "Do not go. You deserve an explanation."
Greg smiled and said, "Are you still serving coffee?"
For the next hour, Camille told Greg what had happened and what Orion had told her.
When she finished, Greg shook his head. "Forgive me the way I acted earlier. You see, after the encounter, I could never forget you. Your lovely face stayed with me during the days and nights. I fell in love with you and became frustrated because I would never have you."
"It is different now that you know the truth. Do you trust me?"
"Yes. We can become great friends. Where do you live."
"Manhattan."
"That is good. I live on Long Island. We can see each other a lot. Tell me, do you plan to visit Hawaii again?"
"I would love another vacation down there. I miss Orion."
"I have a house down there. After these tours are over, I am going to go there for a vacation for a few weeks. Feel free to come along with me, there will be plenty of room at the house."
Camille thought to herself. "This is a short notice. However, I would like to go to that beautiful paradise again." She looked at Greg. Smiling, she said, "I would love to go."
The Money Jar
Laura sat at the kitchen table holding her head in her hands as if she was having the biggest headache in the world.
Amanda and Sue, her six and eight year old daughters came in to get some cereal.
"What's wrong, Mommy?" Amanda asked.
"The electric company called. They are going to shut the power off if I don't pay the bill today."
"Can't daddy help?" Sue asked.
"I tried to call Daddy at work. But he is on the road today. I'm not sure if he is going to be home by the time the electric company comes."
"Well, don't we have the money to pay for the electric company?" Sue asked. "I thought you got paid yesterday."
"Yes," Laura said. "But I had to pay the car insurance bill. I was going to pay the electric bill next week. I have enough to pay it today. But I am only going to have enough left over for gas and groceries. I'm sorry but I promise you that we will go to Chuckie Cheese next week."
"But you promised that you would take Amanda and me today!" Sue threw down her bowl on the table.
"Sue! Don't be so selfish!" her younger sister yelled at her.
"What do you want to do, sit in the house with no television or computer or lights? Look at all those videos and games mommy and daddy bought for us. What good will they be when we can't watch them?"
"I'm sorry Mom," Sue said quietly. "I just get frustrated when you and dad get paid and all you do is pay bills."
"I know honey. But on the bright side, some of these bills are going to be paid off within a year. Plus I will be getting a raise in a few months."
"Bills!" Amanda exclaimed. "When I become president of the United States I will make a law where nobody has to pay any bills!"
Sue and Laura laughed at the younger child's campaign speech.
"You have my vote," Laura said.
"Girls, give me a few minutes. I'm going to call the electric company again. Maybe I will get somebody to give me an extension."
The two girls cleaned their dishes. "God, please help my mommy," Amanda prayed quietly.
After a few minutes of talking on the phone Laura was able to negotiate with the electric company. She had to pay the bill next week, which she knew she was able to do.
"Girls, change of plans. We're going!"
"Yippee!" both girls jumped up and down.
"Wait Mom!" Amanda shouted. "We have that big bag of tickets we have been saving."
"Yeah!" Sue said. "Maybe we will have enough for the lava lamp."
*************************************** *****************
A couple hours later mother and daughters entered the house.
"A few more trips, Mom, and we will have enough tickets!" Amanda said, storing the bag back in the closet.
"I am going to start saving part of my allowance each week," Sue said.
"That's great, Sue," Laura said.
"Why don't you girls watch a movie while I think about what to make for dinner."
"Oh, Mom!" Amanda said, holding her stomach. "We are stuffed. Why don't you order something to make it easy on you. Just don't order pizza."
"Just make something for Daddy. Popcorn will be great for us. Come on, Amanda! Let's watch a Mary-Kate and Ashley movie."
Amanda stuck her finger in her mouth pretending to gag. But she followed her sister out of the room. "Then we watch my Barney movie!"
"Oh no! Dumb Dumb Barney!"
Laura heated up the coffee and poured herself a cup. Adding her usual cream and sugar she sat down to sort the mail. The usual-junk mail (especially those that promise to make you rich overnight)-and bills (but no disconnect notices this time).
Laura sat at the table sipping her coffee and thinking.
"What happened," she thought to herself. "I used to pay the bills on time and had money left over each week."
She and her husband both had good paying jobs and lately seemed to be living paycheck to paycheck. And they seemed to be sinking further and further into debt.
Filing for bankruptcy was out of the question. Sure it was an easy way out. However, it would hurt her chances down the line if she ever needed to get another new car. A bankruptcy showing up on her credit report would hurt her chance of ever getting a loan.
"God," she prayed silently to herself. "You know our financial situation. I need your help to get us out of debt. I can't do this on my own. I put my trust in you."
Laura suddenly remembered something Sue had said after they had returned from Chuckie Cheese: 'I am going to start saving part of my allowance each week.'
Laura sat and thought some more. Then she had an idea.
Sue grabbed a couple of jars from the sink that she had cleaned for the recycling bins.
"This just might work," Laura thought to herself.
She walked into the living room. Sue was engrossed in the Mary-Kate and Ashley movie.
Amanda was jumping around pretending to be sick.
"Sue and Amanda, can I see you in the kitchen as soon as your movie is over?"
"Sure Mom," Sue said. "It is almost over."
"But Mom," Amanda complained. "I was going to watch Barney next."
This time it was Sue who pretended to be sick. "Mom we have to buy another VCR for the TV upstairs. That way we can watch what we want."
"Well this won't take long, then Amanda you can watch Barney."
Fifteen minutes later both girls were sitting at the kitchen table, looking questionably at the jars on the table and at their mother.
"Girls, remember how worried I was this morning about paying the electric bill this morning?"
"Yeah," Sue said. "We never would have gone to Chuckie Cheese this morning. Thanks for talking to the electric company. I'm sorry we got mad at you."
"I did not get mad," Amanda said. "I got mad at you for getting mad at Mom."
"Oh that's right," Sue said. "But why this big meeting in the kitchen?"
"Well, Sue, it is something you said about saving part of your allowance. You know about a hundred years ago people didn't have credit cards or get bank loans.
"They used jars to keep their money in. They used to save money in a different jar for each thing they needed."
"Like groceries," Sue asked.
"And clothing?" Amanda put it.
"That's right," Laura continued.
"The families back in those days would have a money jar set aside for heating, food, clothing, doctor bills, school supplies and so forth.
"What I want to do is start a money jar system." Laura reached into her pants and pulled out a handful of coins and dropped them into the jar.
"I am starting out by adding these coins. It's a drop in the bucket but if we stick to this it can really add up."
"How many jars do we need, Mom?" Amanda asked.
"Well, that's what we need to figure out. Your Dad and I have bills to pay each month. Your Dad pays the truck payment, buys groceries, and pays the rent. I pay the car payment, car insurance payment and medical bills. We normally pay these bills on time so we probably don't need money jars for these bills."
"We need school supplies and lunch money," Amanda said.
"And school clothes," Sue said.
"But we can bring our own lunch, Amanda said.
Sue thought for a moment, "We have plenty of clothes from last year, so I guess we don't need new clothes, except maybe sneakers. Plus we can always get clothes from church."
"Well." Laura said, "This jar will be the school money jar. That way if you want to buy your lunch some day or want to save up for some new clothes you will have the money.
"I also want to start a money jar each for the cable, electric and phone bills."
"Yeah," Amanda said. "Sue wouldn't want the electric shut off while she is watching Mary-Kate and Ashley."
"Or Dumb Dumb Barney," Sue retorted.
"Girls, we can also set up a money jar so we can save up for another VCR."
"Oh Mom! That is a great idea!" both girls shouted.
"Any other ideas for money jars?"
"Christmas shopping!"
"Birthdays!"
"Oh my I am drawing a blank!"
"There are too many ideas!"
"Well I think we have discussed this enough for today," Laura said. "I will try to put money in the jars each week and see if your daddy will do the same. If you put a little of your allowance in each week and any loose change you find around the house, these money jars will fill up fast."
"Come on Sue, Amanda said running out of the kitchen. "I have some change up in my room! Then we can watch Mary-Kate and Ashley!"
"Hey! That's my line!" Sue said following Amanda out of the kitchen.
Laura,, feeling much better than she had earlier that morning, placed the money jar on the kitchen shelf, feeling hope for the future.
What would you save for in a money jar?
Amanda and Sue, her six and eight year old daughters came in to get some cereal.
"What's wrong, Mommy?" Amanda asked.
"The electric company called. They are going to shut the power off if I don't pay the bill today."
"Can't daddy help?" Sue asked.
"I tried to call Daddy at work. But he is on the road today. I'm not sure if he is going to be home by the time the electric company comes."
"Well, don't we have the money to pay for the electric company?" Sue asked. "I thought you got paid yesterday."
"Yes," Laura said. "But I had to pay the car insurance bill. I was going to pay the electric bill next week. I have enough to pay it today. But I am only going to have enough left over for gas and groceries. I'm sorry but I promise you that we will go to Chuckie Cheese next week."
"But you promised that you would take Amanda and me today!" Sue threw down her bowl on the table.
"Sue! Don't be so selfish!" her younger sister yelled at her.
"What do you want to do, sit in the house with no television or computer or lights? Look at all those videos and games mommy and daddy bought for us. What good will they be when we can't watch them?"
"I'm sorry Mom," Sue said quietly. "I just get frustrated when you and dad get paid and all you do is pay bills."
"I know honey. But on the bright side, some of these bills are going to be paid off within a year. Plus I will be getting a raise in a few months."
"Bills!" Amanda exclaimed. "When I become president of the United States I will make a law where nobody has to pay any bills!"
Sue and Laura laughed at the younger child's campaign speech.
"You have my vote," Laura said.
"Girls, give me a few minutes. I'm going to call the electric company again. Maybe I will get somebody to give me an extension."
The two girls cleaned their dishes. "God, please help my mommy," Amanda prayed quietly.
After a few minutes of talking on the phone Laura was able to negotiate with the electric company. She had to pay the bill next week, which she knew she was able to do.
"Girls, change of plans. We're going!"
"Yippee!" both girls jumped up and down.
"Wait Mom!" Amanda shouted. "We have that big bag of tickets we have been saving."
"Yeah!" Sue said. "Maybe we will have enough for the lava lamp."
*************************************** *****************
A couple hours later mother and daughters entered the house.
"A few more trips, Mom, and we will have enough tickets!" Amanda said, storing the bag back in the closet.
"I am going to start saving part of my allowance each week," Sue said.
"That's great, Sue," Laura said.
"Why don't you girls watch a movie while I think about what to make for dinner."
"Oh, Mom!" Amanda said, holding her stomach. "We are stuffed. Why don't you order something to make it easy on you. Just don't order pizza."
"Just make something for Daddy. Popcorn will be great for us. Come on, Amanda! Let's watch a Mary-Kate and Ashley movie."
Amanda stuck her finger in her mouth pretending to gag. But she followed her sister out of the room. "Then we watch my Barney movie!"
"Oh no! Dumb Dumb Barney!"
Laura heated up the coffee and poured herself a cup. Adding her usual cream and sugar she sat down to sort the mail. The usual-junk mail (especially those that promise to make you rich overnight)-and bills (but no disconnect notices this time).
Laura sat at the table sipping her coffee and thinking.
"What happened," she thought to herself. "I used to pay the bills on time and had money left over each week."
She and her husband both had good paying jobs and lately seemed to be living paycheck to paycheck. And they seemed to be sinking further and further into debt.
Filing for bankruptcy was out of the question. Sure it was an easy way out. However, it would hurt her chances down the line if she ever needed to get another new car. A bankruptcy showing up on her credit report would hurt her chance of ever getting a loan.
"God," she prayed silently to herself. "You know our financial situation. I need your help to get us out of debt. I can't do this on my own. I put my trust in you."
Laura suddenly remembered something Sue had said after they had returned from Chuckie Cheese: 'I am going to start saving part of my allowance each week.'
Laura sat and thought some more. Then she had an idea.
Sue grabbed a couple of jars from the sink that she had cleaned for the recycling bins.
"This just might work," Laura thought to herself.
She walked into the living room. Sue was engrossed in the Mary-Kate and Ashley movie.
Amanda was jumping around pretending to be sick.
"Sue and Amanda, can I see you in the kitchen as soon as your movie is over?"
"Sure Mom," Sue said. "It is almost over."
"But Mom," Amanda complained. "I was going to watch Barney next."
This time it was Sue who pretended to be sick. "Mom we have to buy another VCR for the TV upstairs. That way we can watch what we want."
"Well this won't take long, then Amanda you can watch Barney."
Fifteen minutes later both girls were sitting at the kitchen table, looking questionably at the jars on the table and at their mother.
"Girls, remember how worried I was this morning about paying the electric bill this morning?"
"Yeah," Sue said. "We never would have gone to Chuckie Cheese this morning. Thanks for talking to the electric company. I'm sorry we got mad at you."
"I did not get mad," Amanda said. "I got mad at you for getting mad at Mom."
"Oh that's right," Sue said. "But why this big meeting in the kitchen?"
"Well, Sue, it is something you said about saving part of your allowance. You know about a hundred years ago people didn't have credit cards or get bank loans.
"They used jars to keep their money in. They used to save money in a different jar for each thing they needed."
"Like groceries," Sue asked.
"And clothing?" Amanda put it.
"That's right," Laura continued.
"The families back in those days would have a money jar set aside for heating, food, clothing, doctor bills, school supplies and so forth.
"What I want to do is start a money jar system." Laura reached into her pants and pulled out a handful of coins and dropped them into the jar.
"I am starting out by adding these coins. It's a drop in the bucket but if we stick to this it can really add up."
"How many jars do we need, Mom?" Amanda asked.
"Well, that's what we need to figure out. Your Dad and I have bills to pay each month. Your Dad pays the truck payment, buys groceries, and pays the rent. I pay the car payment, car insurance payment and medical bills. We normally pay these bills on time so we probably don't need money jars for these bills."
"We need school supplies and lunch money," Amanda said.
"And school clothes," Sue said.
"But we can bring our own lunch, Amanda said.
Sue thought for a moment, "We have plenty of clothes from last year, so I guess we don't need new clothes, except maybe sneakers. Plus we can always get clothes from church."
"Well." Laura said, "This jar will be the school money jar. That way if you want to buy your lunch some day or want to save up for some new clothes you will have the money.
"I also want to start a money jar each for the cable, electric and phone bills."
"Yeah," Amanda said. "Sue wouldn't want the electric shut off while she is watching Mary-Kate and Ashley."
"Or Dumb Dumb Barney," Sue retorted.
"Girls, we can also set up a money jar so we can save up for another VCR."
"Oh Mom! That is a great idea!" both girls shouted.
"Any other ideas for money jars?"
"Christmas shopping!"
"Birthdays!"
"Oh my I am drawing a blank!"
"There are too many ideas!"
"Well I think we have discussed this enough for today," Laura said. "I will try to put money in the jars each week and see if your daddy will do the same. If you put a little of your allowance in each week and any loose change you find around the house, these money jars will fill up fast."
"Come on Sue, Amanda said running out of the kitchen. "I have some change up in my room! Then we can watch Mary-Kate and Ashley!"
"Hey! That's my line!" Sue said following Amanda out of the kitchen.
Laura,, feeling much better than she had earlier that morning, placed the money jar on the kitchen shelf, feeling hope for the future.
What would you save for in a money jar?
The Flying Myron
This was based on a writing promps where the character of the opposite sex has super powers. However, he can't be a super hero or a villian.
The Flying Myron
"Myron! You get up here this instant!"
The boy pretended not to hear. He knew what his mother wanted. He was not going to do what she wanted. Even if he was grounded for a year, he did not care.
"Myron, you listen to your mother and answer her when she calls you."
His father's voice came from where his mother's voice came from.
He looked up at his parents. He watched as his parents floated down from the sky, hovering inches over his head.
"There is nothing to be afraid of, son," his father said with reason. "You do not even have to flap your arms."
Myron nervously pushed on his black framed glasses, which seemed to be constantly sliding down his nose. "B.. b.. but I am scared," Myron stuttered. "I am afraid of heights," he said running his fingers through his greasy black hair.
"You will be the shame of us," Myron's mother wailed. "Everyone in the family can fly! Even Nanny, though she is eighty years old, has no problem soaring around. She says flying beats walking any day. Myron! How many times have I told you to use a handkerchief?" she asked in dismay as her son wiped his dribbling nose on the sleeve of his plaid shirt.
"I am sorry Ma." Myron said as he pulled his pants higher.
"Must you always pull your pants up so high? They do not have to be up to your ribs! The other kids your age do not wear clothes like you do."
"I'm sorry ma," Myron said, as he tucked his plaid shirt into his pants.
"Oh! I give up, Myron's mother said and walked away. His father, without saying a word walked away too.
"What am I doing to do with that boy?" Myron's mother asked his father as they walked back to the house. "I know he can fly! He used to when he was a baby. I always had a hard time making his stay in the crib."
"Give his some time," his father said. "Maybe a little camping trip to the mountains will help.
**************************
"There we go," Myron's father said as he pulled the small boat onto the shore of the lake.
"You did good son. We caught enough fish for three days."
"I will start the fire," his mother said. "Myron, why don't you walk around while we cook? Maybe we can explore more later; probably go mountain climbing." Myron shuddered at this. Because of his fear of heights, his parents decided to camp at the base of the mountains.
He decided to walk in the woods for a while. Stopping to rest under a pine tree, Myron looked around. He could no longer see the campsite. He sat down and leaned his back against the tree. Maybe a short nap before he headed back would do him good.
A snort sounded to his left. Myron opened his eyes and looked around. There was another snort, this time to his left. Myron jumped up when he saw two grizzly bears walking stealthily towards him.
"Mom! Pa!" he yelled. "Help me." His parents didn't answer him.
The bears were coming closer. He tries to scramble up the tree. However, the lowest branches were too far above his head. Besides, the bears would follow him up the tree.
"What am I going to do?" Myron whimpered. The bears were almost upon him. He did the only thing that he was reluctant to do. He leapt up into the air and hovered over the bears' heads. He flew higher and watched as the bears slowly disappeared into the trees.
"Are you alright son?" his father appeared next to Myron.
"We heard you yelling," his mother came next. "I was afraid that we were too late! Myron you are flying!"
"I am, aren't I?" Myron asked. "Hey this is neat!"
"Why don't you fly around for a while," his mother suggested, "while we finish cooking the fish? Just be back in an hour."
As they descended to the ground, Myron's mother started to laugh. "Well I don't think Myron will be afraid to fly any longer."
"I agree," his father said.
"That was a good idea to get those bear costumes. He actually thought that we were real bears," she laughed even harder.
"Just make sure that we burn them before Myron returns."
**********************
"This is amazing!" Myron yelled out as he flew higher and higher. His parents were so far below him that they appeared to be as small as ants.
A eagle flew up to Myron, curious about the strange bird the did not flap its wings. Thy flew about chasing each other. Once in a while, he would stop to adjust his glasses or pull his pants up higher.
Soon Myron was above the mountain peaks. He, the one who was afraid of heights, was no longer scared.
Then he grinned a grim of mischief. He remembered the bullies in the schoolyard. The ones who stole his lunch money and the ones who always threw him into the garbage dumpster, he would get revenge. He could fly over their heads and taunt them and even throw garbage on them.
Myron took one more pass over the mountains before returning to the camp.
"Make way for Myron, The Flying Nerd!" he yelled as he flew.
The Flying Myron
"Myron! You get up here this instant!"
The boy pretended not to hear. He knew what his mother wanted. He was not going to do what she wanted. Even if he was grounded for a year, he did not care.
"Myron, you listen to your mother and answer her when she calls you."
His father's voice came from where his mother's voice came from.
He looked up at his parents. He watched as his parents floated down from the sky, hovering inches over his head.
"There is nothing to be afraid of, son," his father said with reason. "You do not even have to flap your arms."
Myron nervously pushed on his black framed glasses, which seemed to be constantly sliding down his nose. "B.. b.. but I am scared," Myron stuttered. "I am afraid of heights," he said running his fingers through his greasy black hair.
"You will be the shame of us," Myron's mother wailed. "Everyone in the family can fly! Even Nanny, though she is eighty years old, has no problem soaring around. She says flying beats walking any day. Myron! How many times have I told you to use a handkerchief?" she asked in dismay as her son wiped his dribbling nose on the sleeve of his plaid shirt.
"I am sorry Ma." Myron said as he pulled his pants higher.
"Must you always pull your pants up so high? They do not have to be up to your ribs! The other kids your age do not wear clothes like you do."
"I'm sorry ma," Myron said, as he tucked his plaid shirt into his pants.
"Oh! I give up, Myron's mother said and walked away. His father, without saying a word walked away too.
"What am I doing to do with that boy?" Myron's mother asked his father as they walked back to the house. "I know he can fly! He used to when he was a baby. I always had a hard time making his stay in the crib."
"Give his some time," his father said. "Maybe a little camping trip to the mountains will help.
**************************
"There we go," Myron's father said as he pulled the small boat onto the shore of the lake.
"You did good son. We caught enough fish for three days."
"I will start the fire," his mother said. "Myron, why don't you walk around while we cook? Maybe we can explore more later; probably go mountain climbing." Myron shuddered at this. Because of his fear of heights, his parents decided to camp at the base of the mountains.
He decided to walk in the woods for a while. Stopping to rest under a pine tree, Myron looked around. He could no longer see the campsite. He sat down and leaned his back against the tree. Maybe a short nap before he headed back would do him good.
A snort sounded to his left. Myron opened his eyes and looked around. There was another snort, this time to his left. Myron jumped up when he saw two grizzly bears walking stealthily towards him.
"Mom! Pa!" he yelled. "Help me." His parents didn't answer him.
The bears were coming closer. He tries to scramble up the tree. However, the lowest branches were too far above his head. Besides, the bears would follow him up the tree.
"What am I going to do?" Myron whimpered. The bears were almost upon him. He did the only thing that he was reluctant to do. He leapt up into the air and hovered over the bears' heads. He flew higher and watched as the bears slowly disappeared into the trees.
"Are you alright son?" his father appeared next to Myron.
"We heard you yelling," his mother came next. "I was afraid that we were too late! Myron you are flying!"
"I am, aren't I?" Myron asked. "Hey this is neat!"
"Why don't you fly around for a while," his mother suggested, "while we finish cooking the fish? Just be back in an hour."
As they descended to the ground, Myron's mother started to laugh. "Well I don't think Myron will be afraid to fly any longer."
"I agree," his father said.
"That was a good idea to get those bear costumes. He actually thought that we were real bears," she laughed even harder.
"Just make sure that we burn them before Myron returns."
**********************
"This is amazing!" Myron yelled out as he flew higher and higher. His parents were so far below him that they appeared to be as small as ants.
A eagle flew up to Myron, curious about the strange bird the did not flap its wings. Thy flew about chasing each other. Once in a while, he would stop to adjust his glasses or pull his pants up higher.
Soon Myron was above the mountain peaks. He, the one who was afraid of heights, was no longer scared.
Then he grinned a grim of mischief. He remembered the bullies in the schoolyard. The ones who stole his lunch money and the ones who always threw him into the garbage dumpster, he would get revenge. He could fly over their heads and taunt them and even throw garbage on them.
Myron took one more pass over the mountains before returning to the camp.
"Make way for Myron, The Flying Nerd!" he yelled as he flew.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
The Horrors of Grocery Shopping
What do you want for dinner?" I always ask my husband.
"I do not care," he always answers.
Oh! I just want to strangle him most times! Here is a guy who is Type Two Diabetic, allergic to sea food and ham and does not like chicken. So I go to the grocery store, hoping that I can find something that both my husband and my two girls like. They too can be picky eaters.
I can not seem to please my oldest daughter at all. Whenever I cook something, she always turns up her nose and grabs a bowl of cereal. At least my younger girl is not as picky as she used to be. The only problem is that she likes meat dishes but not casseroles. Then when I make pastas, she cannot have tomato sauce on it. She is not allergic to it, but insists that it cannot have anything on it, just butter.
So it is a guessing game when I go to the store to get something for dinner. I just am sick and tired of beef and potatoes all the time.
I have decided to try different recipes. I have numerous cook books around the house that are collecting dust. I pick out one that looks good and go on my adventure, taking the book along with me. Looking at the book, I see the recipe calls for mushrooms. I have to omit that since I am the only one in the house who likes those. Oh no! This is a recipe for chicken something or another! I forgot that my husband does not like chicken! Oh well, since he did not tell me what he wanted, we are having chicken tonight. This recipe also calls for a bunch of spices. Our shelves are full of jars. Whatever we do not have at home, I can always substitute.
I browse the magazine racks and pick out a Suduko magazine. Then I go to the baking section. Maybe I will make a cake or brownies tonight. I pay for my items and head home.
I carry the bags of groceries into the house. My husband is playing of the computer. It is so sweet of him to offer to take the bags from my hands. (Not!)
He looks at me and says, "I forgot to tell you that we need more milk."
Oh! How I want to strangle him!
Here is a guy who is Type Two Diabetic, allergic to sea food and ham and does not like chicken. So I go to the grocery store, hoping that I can find something that both my husband and my two girls like. They too can be picky eaters.
I can not seem to please my oldest daughter at all. Whenever I cook something, she always turns up her nose and grabs a bowl of cereal. At least my younger girl is not as picky as she used to be. The only problem is that she likes meat dishes but not casseroles. Then when I make pastas, she cannot have tomato sauce on it. She is not allergic to it, but insists that it cannot have anything on it, just butter.
So it is a guessing game when I go to the store to get something for dinner. I just am sick and tired of beef and potatoes all the time.
I have decided to try different recipes. I have numerous cook books around the house that are collecting dust. I pick out one that looks good and go on my adventure, taking the book along with me. Looking at the book, I see the recipe calls for mushrooms. I have to omit that since I am the only one in the house who likes those. Oh no! This is a recipe for chicken something or another! I forgot that my husband does not like chicken! Oh well, since he did not tell me what he wanted, we are having chicken tonight. This recipe also calls for a bunch of spices. Our shelves are full of jars. Whatever we do not have at home, I can always substitute.
I browse the magazine racks and pick out a Suduko magazine. Then I go to the baking section. Maybe I will make a cake or brownies tonight. I pay for my items and head home.
I carry the bags of groceries into the house. My husband is playing of the computer. It is so sweet of him to offer to take the bags from my hands. (Not!)
He looks at me and says, "I forgot to tell you that we need more milk."
Oh! How I want to strangle him!
"I do not care," he always answers.
Oh! I just want to strangle him most times! Here is a guy who is Type Two Diabetic, allergic to sea food and ham and does not like chicken. So I go to the grocery store, hoping that I can find something that both my husband and my two girls like. They too can be picky eaters.
I can not seem to please my oldest daughter at all. Whenever I cook something, she always turns up her nose and grabs a bowl of cereal. At least my younger girl is not as picky as she used to be. The only problem is that she likes meat dishes but not casseroles. Then when I make pastas, she cannot have tomato sauce on it. She is not allergic to it, but insists that it cannot have anything on it, just butter.
So it is a guessing game when I go to the store to get something for dinner. I just am sick and tired of beef and potatoes all the time.
I have decided to try different recipes. I have numerous cook books around the house that are collecting dust. I pick out one that looks good and go on my adventure, taking the book along with me. Looking at the book, I see the recipe calls for mushrooms. I have to omit that since I am the only one in the house who likes those. Oh no! This is a recipe for chicken something or another! I forgot that my husband does not like chicken! Oh well, since he did not tell me what he wanted, we are having chicken tonight. This recipe also calls for a bunch of spices. Our shelves are full of jars. Whatever we do not have at home, I can always substitute.
I browse the magazine racks and pick out a Suduko magazine. Then I go to the baking section. Maybe I will make a cake or brownies tonight. I pay for my items and head home.
I carry the bags of groceries into the house. My husband is playing of the computer. It is so sweet of him to offer to take the bags from my hands. (Not!)
He looks at me and says, "I forgot to tell you that we need more milk."
Oh! How I want to strangle him!
Here is a guy who is Type Two Diabetic, allergic to sea food and ham and does not like chicken. So I go to the grocery store, hoping that I can find something that both my husband and my two girls like. They too can be picky eaters.
I can not seem to please my oldest daughter at all. Whenever I cook something, she always turns up her nose and grabs a bowl of cereal. At least my younger girl is not as picky as she used to be. The only problem is that she likes meat dishes but not casseroles. Then when I make pastas, she cannot have tomato sauce on it. She is not allergic to it, but insists that it cannot have anything on it, just butter.
So it is a guessing game when I go to the store to get something for dinner. I just am sick and tired of beef and potatoes all the time.
I have decided to try different recipes. I have numerous cook books around the house that are collecting dust. I pick out one that looks good and go on my adventure, taking the book along with me. Looking at the book, I see the recipe calls for mushrooms. I have to omit that since I am the only one in the house who likes those. Oh no! This is a recipe for chicken something or another! I forgot that my husband does not like chicken! Oh well, since he did not tell me what he wanted, we are having chicken tonight. This recipe also calls for a bunch of spices. Our shelves are full of jars. Whatever we do not have at home, I can always substitute.
I browse the magazine racks and pick out a Suduko magazine. Then I go to the baking section. Maybe I will make a cake or brownies tonight. I pay for my items and head home.
I carry the bags of groceries into the house. My husband is playing of the computer. It is so sweet of him to offer to take the bags from my hands. (Not!)
He looks at me and says, "I forgot to tell you that we need more milk."
Oh! How I want to strangle him!
The Amazing Talking Tree
his was based on a prompt where a conversation was between a human and an object. The majority of the story was to be a dialoug between the two.
The boy trudged slowly along the country lane, kicking at the hard ground as he walked. Every time his torn sneakers kicked, a small cloud of dust rose into the air. The only thing he carried was a book with a worn cover.
"Why did my parents have to leave the city? All my friends are there. Nobody else lives near the farm. I have nothing to do and I am lonely."
The field he was passing seemed to go on forever. His father had plowed it last week and it looked like a mess. Just mounds of unsettled dirt; his father hoping to get the corn growing shortly. Nothing, except for a single apple tree at the far end of the field.
The boy had been outside all morning. The red sky in the morning had changed into a brilliant blue, nothing like the sky he was used to in the city. On most days the sky could not be seen, a thick smog made it practically invisible.
Since his parents did not have to worry about strangers abducting their son, they allowed him to wander freely about the farm. At least they granted him this freedom. Yet he wished that he had just one friend.
He looked once again to the apple tree. Maybe he could find some apples. He would sit in the shade of the tree for a while and read his book.
He headed across the field to the tree, trying not to trip over the mounds of dirt.
He stopped in his tracks when he was close to the apple tree. He heard what sounded like a boy crying.
"I must be imaging things," the boy thought, because the crying had stopped. He bent down and picked up an apple. It was ripe, with no worm holes in it. Biting into it, he sat down with his back against the tree's trunk. The crying started again.
The boy jumped up. "Who is crying?" the boy asked. "I can hear you, but I cannot see you."
"I'm crying," a voice answered.
"Where are you?"
"You are sitting right under me, eating my apples."
"Far out! A talking tree! Is this an enchanted mystical farm, or something?"
"All trees talk. It is just some humans cannot hear us."
"Why are you crying?"
"Nobody needs me."
"Look at this apple I am eating. You gave it to me when I am hungry. If it was not for you, I would not be able to eat apple pie; my mom makes the best in the world. Plus, the shade you are providing helps me keep cool. I need you."
"Really? You would like to be my friend?"
"Yes. I need a friend."
"Would you like me to tell you stories? I have so many to share."
"Yes. I can even tell you stories. I can come down every day and read to you."
"I would love that. I want you to be my friend."
"Best friends forever."
The boy trudged slowly along the country lane, kicking at the hard ground as he walked. Every time his torn sneakers kicked, a small cloud of dust rose into the air. The only thing he carried was a book with a worn cover.
"Why did my parents have to leave the city? All my friends are there. Nobody else lives near the farm. I have nothing to do and I am lonely."
The field he was passing seemed to go on forever. His father had plowed it last week and it looked like a mess. Just mounds of unsettled dirt; his father hoping to get the corn growing shortly. Nothing, except for a single apple tree at the far end of the field.
The boy had been outside all morning. The red sky in the morning had changed into a brilliant blue, nothing like the sky he was used to in the city. On most days the sky could not be seen, a thick smog made it practically invisible.
Since his parents did not have to worry about strangers abducting their son, they allowed him to wander freely about the farm. At least they granted him this freedom. Yet he wished that he had just one friend.
He looked once again to the apple tree. Maybe he could find some apples. He would sit in the shade of the tree for a while and read his book.
He headed across the field to the tree, trying not to trip over the mounds of dirt.
He stopped in his tracks when he was close to the apple tree. He heard what sounded like a boy crying.
"I must be imaging things," the boy thought, because the crying had stopped. He bent down and picked up an apple. It was ripe, with no worm holes in it. Biting into it, he sat down with his back against the tree's trunk. The crying started again.
The boy jumped up. "Who is crying?" the boy asked. "I can hear you, but I cannot see you."
"I'm crying," a voice answered.
"Where are you?"
"You are sitting right under me, eating my apples."
"Far out! A talking tree! Is this an enchanted mystical farm, or something?"
"All trees talk. It is just some humans cannot hear us."
"Why are you crying?"
"Nobody needs me."
"Look at this apple I am eating. You gave it to me when I am hungry. If it was not for you, I would not be able to eat apple pie; my mom makes the best in the world. Plus, the shade you are providing helps me keep cool. I need you."
"Really? You would like to be my friend?"
"Yes. I need a friend."
"Would you like me to tell you stories? I have so many to share."
"Yes. I can even tell you stories. I can come down every day and read to you."
"I would love that. I want you to be my friend."
"Best friends forever."
No Hope For Me
Broken promises,
Crushed dreams,
Something is amiss,
No hope for me.
Lack of faith,
Lost of self-esteem,
Lack of self-confidence,
No hope for me.
All is lost,
I can't go on,
I am too weak,
No hope for me.
But wait a minute,
A Bright Light in the darkness
A strong sense of comfort,
There is hope for me.
Crushed dreams,
Something is amiss,
No hope for me.
Lack of faith,
Lost of self-esteem,
Lack of self-confidence,
No hope for me.
All is lost,
I can't go on,
I am too weak,
No hope for me.
But wait a minute,
A Bright Light in the darkness
A strong sense of comfort,
There is hope for me.
Cosmos (Science Fiction)
"This is it! I am here!" Leeanne thought to herself as she stepped out of the teleporter and stared at the massive building in front of her. Cosmos, the largest restaurant in the world, even far exceeded the size of the place people called "The Mall of America" in the year 2000. Floors and floors of different varieties of food; too far to walk from one end to another. Looking upwards to the sky, she could not see the top of the building.
"How am I ever going to find him," Leeanne asked herself. "He did not tell me where to meet him. There is no way I can find him in this crowd. I do not even know what he looks like."
This was a blind date that her co-worker had arranged. From previous dating failures, she decided to meet Jacob at a neutral place. This way, if this was like the last blind date, she would never have to see him again. She had already made the mistake once by letting a date pick her up at her apartment. A total geek, but she went out with him because she did not want to hurt his feelings. Then he kept showing up and calling her, wondering why she never returned his calls. Not again, if this date did not work out, she would just disappear into the crowds. She would not give him her coordinates.
Marianna, her co-worker had kept pestering her to go out on dates more often. While Leeanne preferred to stay home and read books and teleport to different parts of the world, finally gave in. She got tired on the constant reminders of "you are getting older. Nobody will want to date you then. It is not normal for a twenty-one year old to not have a boyfriend. Hell, most women your age are already married. Look at me, I have been married for a year and I have three grown children."
True it was not like ancient history. A woman would have to carry around a baby inside her for nine months. She would have no idea if the baby would be a boy or a girl. Then she and her husband would have to take care of the baby for many years while he or she grew up. With today's technology, a husband and wife can decide the sex of the baby, put it in a test tube and within months have an eighteen year old boy or girl. She, herself had been born three years ago.
Yet, before she got settled down with a husband, she wanted to experience life for a while. Plus, while Marianna had proven to be a poor matchmaker so far, Leeanne had her own insecurities about herself. She was not sure if men would accept her for who she was.
While Cosmos was over 500 miles away, it was easy to get to. All she had to do was type the coordinate into her computer, step into her teleporter and she was there a few seconds later. This restaurant, built just a few years before she was born, boasted of food from different cultures of the world, even ones from ancient history. Yet this was the first time she had been here. She never found the sense of eating food when she had pills to provide her the nutrients she needed. She had the typical ones for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Plus she had the one that would help keep her hydrated. She did not see the sense of sitting down for an hour, or more, to eat a meal where taking taking a pill would take just a few seconds.
Well, this is where Jacob wanted to meet her. She might as well try to enjoy a meal at Cosmos. She walked through the massive double doors.
She stopped and looked around in shock. While the building itself was impressive, the inside itself was even more so. The place was crowded with people. Who would believe that this many people would rather eat food than just take a pill? It was as if the entire city was inside. Four people near by were arguing about what to eat.
"I want Chinese," said one.
"I want seafood."
"I want Mexican."
"We can have all three," said the woman. "Just take the pill."
"Pill," Leeanne thought to herself.
She watched as each person in the group ate a pill. Then they each got on a hovercraft.
"Chinese is at coordinates 195241. Let's go there first, Mexican is not far from there." The group of people drove off on the hovercrafts, floating inches from the floor.
"I hope they do not hit anybody with those," Leeanne thought to herself as they drove off.
"Hello," a thin blond woman approached Leeanne. "Welcome to Cosmos. I am Julie 097643. Are you waiting for someone?"
"Yes. A Jacob 137830. However, I do not know where he is."
Julie looked at the computer she was carrying in the palm of her hand. She spoke into it, "Jacob Lewis. Here it is. You must be Leanne 438596." Leeanne nodded her head. "He left a message that he will be here in two hours. So you have time to explore Cosmos by yourself." She handed her a card. "He wants you to use this while you are waiting. It has 20,000 credits on it. Come over here and I will get you set up."
"Get me set up for what?" Leeanne thought to herself as she followed Julie to a group of hovercrafts.
"This one will do," Julie said as she stopped in front of a red hovercraft.
"I have to operate one of those?"
"This must be your first time here. There is nothing to worry about; these are quite safe. This restaurant is too big for you to walk from one end to another. Why it is over 300 square miles, with hundred of floors.
"Put this bracelet on, I have your name typed in. When Jacob arrives he will know you are here and will tell you where to meet him. This hovercraft knows where each area of Cosmos is. For example, if you want to eat pizza either speak 'pizza' or the coordinates into the microphone. The hovercraft will take you there."
"I do not know how to drive these. What if I hit another hovercraft or a person?"
"Nothing to worry about. These have built in sensors. They know what is all around them. Just do not be in surprise if your craft suddenly rises high in the air. All you have to do is hang on to the handlebars and let the hovercraft do the driving. Oh, I almost forgot," Julie said. "Here is your pill."
"What do I need a pill for?"
"It is a Satiation Suppression Pill. You will probably want to try different type of food at Cosmos. This pill lets you eat what you want and you will not get full. You only stop eating when you want to."
Leanne swallowed the pills and suddenly she felt a funny sensation in her stomach. "Hey! I think I am hungry. What should I try first?"
"Mexican," she spoke into the hovercraft's microphone.
The hovercraft rose into the air and took off. Leeanne held tightly to the handlebars as the craft sped at breakneck speeds, everything passing below her in blurs. "I am going to fall off!" she screamed. Then she realized that there was a safety shield that kept her from falling as the hovercraft took sharp turns.
Soon the hovercraft slowed down and came to a stop. She got off and looked around. She was standing on sand. "This is a beach! I have never seen the ocean before!" People were lying around on blankets absorbing the sun. Some were in the ocean swimming and riding surf boards. She walked up to the deck, where people were eating.
"Welcome to Cosmos, Mexican. What would you like to eat?" a dark skinned man, wearing a sombrero, asked.
"I never had Mexican. What do you recommend?"
"Sit down here. I will get you something you will like." He returned a few minutes later with some burritos, nachos and salsa. "Enjoy your meal at Cosmos."
"This is delicious," Leeanne bit into the Taco, relishing the first bite. "Oh boy, this is hot," she said as the tried the salsa. The waiter returned with more water and cornbread.
"I am sorry, I should have warned you about the salsa. Here is you bill. I will charge it to your card. Do not worry about tips. They are included."
Leeanne walked back to the hovercraft. She still had some time to kill before Jacob arrived. She punched in some coordinates into the hovercraft. She was not sure where it would take her; she wanted to be surprised.
Once again the hovercraft was soaring through the air. Soon Leeanne found herself in a cold place. Snow was everywhere and people were running around throwing snowballs at each other. A polar bear approached her and said, "Welcome to Cosmos, North Pole. Would you like a snow cone?"
Leeanne would have loved one, but this part of the restaurant was much too cold and bitter for her. Maybe if she dressed warmer the next time, she would come back. Shivering violently, she walked back to the hovercraft.
"I never noticed this button before," Leeanne said. "I wonder what it does." She pressed the cruise button. Instead of speeding off, the craft rose a few inches off the floor and moved at a slower speed. This way Leeanne was able to see what food Cosmos offered more clearly.
She passed a sign that said Hobos. Men wearing torn and dirty clothing were sitting around garbage cans that were on fire. It looked like they were eating beans out of a can.
Another time she passed a sign that said Cannibals. "I don't even want to eat there," she said with a shudder as she passed.
She spent the next hour cruising Cosmos, sampling foods from different parts of the world, and even from different planets. Overall, Leeanne enjoyed what she had seen of Cosmos. She would come here more often.
The bracelet on her wrist buzzed. "He must be here." A message showed up on the screen: "Meet me at Eden. Jacob."
She spoke into the hovercraft's microphone, "Eden."
The hovercraft sped off once again to the center of cosmos. Then it rose up into the air. Higher and higher the hovercraft went up. Leeanne passed balconies of people eating their meals. Finally after going what seemed like 110 floors, the hovercraft glided to a stop. She got off and looked around. She was in a tropical rain forest.
Yet it was not like the tropical rain forest she had read about. Usually these were cold and wet. There were so many trees that they blocked the sun's ray from reaching the ground.
In this rain forest, while there were trees, there were not too many. She was was able to look around at all the beauty. The sky was the brightest blue Leeanne had ever seen, a beautiful rainbow arched across the entire forest. Looking around, she noticed all the animals. Typical of rain forests, there were lions, tigers, zebras, monkeys and gazelles. However, the predators were not hunting they prey. In fact, they were playing with each other and getting along. She even noticed other animals, that usually belongs in the snowy environment, such as polar bears and penguins being in this garden.
Leeanne jumped as a tiger rubbed against her. He lay down at her feet, purring. Hesitantly, she reached down with her hand and petted his head.
"How do you like Eden?"
Leeanne jumped at the voice behind her.
"Are you Jacob?" she asked, looking at a tall man with curly black hair. "Marianna did a good job this time," she thought to himself. "He is cute."
"Yes I am."
"This place is beautiful!"
"This is the top of the restaurant. I always like coming here because it is so peaceful. Hardly anybody comes to Eden. I am not sure why. Well it can gives us some privacy, where we can get to know each other a little better. Follow me, I have a place for us."
Jacob led Leeanne to an apple tree, where a tablecloth was spread out on the ground. "Our food will come shortly. I always prefer picnics than sitting at a table."
She sat down under the tree and studied Jacob. He appeared to be a quiet person; in a way he looked like he was a little sad. She glanced over to a stream nearby. Mermaids were playing in the water.
In a few minutes, centaurs came carrying baskets of food. As she stared at the creatures that had the upper bodies of men and the lower parts of horses, she thought, "I never knew they existed. I thought they were just from stories made up centuries ago."
One centaur poured glasses of wine and handed them to Leeanne and Jacob, while the others spread out the food on the tablecloth.
"This is delicious!" Leeanne exclaimed biting into a chicken leg. "I never realized that food tastes so good."
"Unfortunately people do not know what they are missing. While taking a few pills a day keeps them from going hungry, they are not enjoying the taste of food. With their busy lifestyles, they think that it is more convenient not to eat food."
"I have to agree. This is the first time I have eaten food. Now that I have, I want to eat more."
While they ate, Jacob and Leeanne talked, telling each other about their jobs. Leeanne decided that she liked Jacob. She would be interested in going out with him again. Yet he seemed guarded about himself. Sometimes when she asked him a personal question, he seemed to change the subject. She had talked freely about a couple of her dates and he did not mention anything about his.
The effect of the Satiation Suppression Pill were starting to wear off and she was starting to become full.
"I had a very good time," Jacob said as they finished eating ice cream cones.
"Me too," Leeanne said. While at the beginning of this date she had decided she would not tell him where she lived, she decided she wanted to go out with him again. Not alone was he handsome, he was mysterious. "Do you want my teleport address?" she asked.
Jacob was silent and slowly shook his head. "I am sorry, but we can not date anymore."
Leeanne was silent for a second, "I understand. It is just that I thought we hit it off."
"We did hit it off. However, it would not be fair to you if we did get married then you watch me as I grow older and age."
"I don't understand," she said.
"I am twenty-one years old," Jacob said. "However, I have been living for twenty-one years. My parents were poor and could not afford to have me born in the hospital like most people are born. They had learned how babies were born in ancient history and decided to have a baby the "natural" way."
"How is it different? We are both twenty-one years old."
"When I was born that way, I did not have the anti-aging gene. I am going to die at a much younger age than you If I am healthy, I can live well into my eighties and possibly a bit longer. See it wouldn't be fair to you. You will not even begin to age when I die."
"Actually, yes I will," Leeanne said. "People born in the tubes can live for a long time, one hundred fifty to two hundred years. In my case no. You see, I was born without the anti-aging gene. This is a very rare condition; the odds of this happening are one in a billion."
"Are you saying that you will grow older as I get older, age as I do?"
"Yes."
Jacob smiled, making him even more handsome.
"I guess this changes things. Leeanne, do you want to go on another date with me."
Leeanne smiled, happy that she met Jacob. "Yes, I want to very much." Jacob embraced her and they began kissing.
"How am I ever going to find him," Leeanne asked herself. "He did not tell me where to meet him. There is no way I can find him in this crowd. I do not even know what he looks like."
This was a blind date that her co-worker had arranged. From previous dating failures, she decided to meet Jacob at a neutral place. This way, if this was like the last blind date, she would never have to see him again. She had already made the mistake once by letting a date pick her up at her apartment. A total geek, but she went out with him because she did not want to hurt his feelings. Then he kept showing up and calling her, wondering why she never returned his calls. Not again, if this date did not work out, she would just disappear into the crowds. She would not give him her coordinates.
Marianna, her co-worker had kept pestering her to go out on dates more often. While Leeanne preferred to stay home and read books and teleport to different parts of the world, finally gave in. She got tired on the constant reminders of "you are getting older. Nobody will want to date you then. It is not normal for a twenty-one year old to not have a boyfriend. Hell, most women your age are already married. Look at me, I have been married for a year and I have three grown children."
True it was not like ancient history. A woman would have to carry around a baby inside her for nine months. She would have no idea if the baby would be a boy or a girl. Then she and her husband would have to take care of the baby for many years while he or she grew up. With today's technology, a husband and wife can decide the sex of the baby, put it in a test tube and within months have an eighteen year old boy or girl. She, herself had been born three years ago.
Yet, before she got settled down with a husband, she wanted to experience life for a while. Plus, while Marianna had proven to be a poor matchmaker so far, Leeanne had her own insecurities about herself. She was not sure if men would accept her for who she was.
While Cosmos was over 500 miles away, it was easy to get to. All she had to do was type the coordinate into her computer, step into her teleporter and she was there a few seconds later. This restaurant, built just a few years before she was born, boasted of food from different cultures of the world, even ones from ancient history. Yet this was the first time she had been here. She never found the sense of eating food when she had pills to provide her the nutrients she needed. She had the typical ones for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Plus she had the one that would help keep her hydrated. She did not see the sense of sitting down for an hour, or more, to eat a meal where taking taking a pill would take just a few seconds.
Well, this is where Jacob wanted to meet her. She might as well try to enjoy a meal at Cosmos. She walked through the massive double doors.
She stopped and looked around in shock. While the building itself was impressive, the inside itself was even more so. The place was crowded with people. Who would believe that this many people would rather eat food than just take a pill? It was as if the entire city was inside. Four people near by were arguing about what to eat.
"I want Chinese," said one.
"I want seafood."
"I want Mexican."
"We can have all three," said the woman. "Just take the pill."
"Pill," Leeanne thought to herself.
She watched as each person in the group ate a pill. Then they each got on a hovercraft.
"Chinese is at coordinates 195241. Let's go there first, Mexican is not far from there." The group of people drove off on the hovercrafts, floating inches from the floor.
"I hope they do not hit anybody with those," Leeanne thought to herself as they drove off.
"Hello," a thin blond woman approached Leeanne. "Welcome to Cosmos. I am Julie 097643. Are you waiting for someone?"
"Yes. A Jacob 137830. However, I do not know where he is."
Julie looked at the computer she was carrying in the palm of her hand. She spoke into it, "Jacob Lewis. Here it is. You must be Leanne 438596." Leeanne nodded her head. "He left a message that he will be here in two hours. So you have time to explore Cosmos by yourself." She handed her a card. "He wants you to use this while you are waiting. It has 20,000 credits on it. Come over here and I will get you set up."
"Get me set up for what?" Leeanne thought to herself as she followed Julie to a group of hovercrafts.
"This one will do," Julie said as she stopped in front of a red hovercraft.
"I have to operate one of those?"
"This must be your first time here. There is nothing to worry about; these are quite safe. This restaurant is too big for you to walk from one end to another. Why it is over 300 square miles, with hundred of floors.
"Put this bracelet on, I have your name typed in. When Jacob arrives he will know you are here and will tell you where to meet him. This hovercraft knows where each area of Cosmos is. For example, if you want to eat pizza either speak 'pizza' or the coordinates into the microphone. The hovercraft will take you there."
"I do not know how to drive these. What if I hit another hovercraft or a person?"
"Nothing to worry about. These have built in sensors. They know what is all around them. Just do not be in surprise if your craft suddenly rises high in the air. All you have to do is hang on to the handlebars and let the hovercraft do the driving. Oh, I almost forgot," Julie said. "Here is your pill."
"What do I need a pill for?"
"It is a Satiation Suppression Pill. You will probably want to try different type of food at Cosmos. This pill lets you eat what you want and you will not get full. You only stop eating when you want to."
Leanne swallowed the pills and suddenly she felt a funny sensation in her stomach. "Hey! I think I am hungry. What should I try first?"
"Mexican," she spoke into the hovercraft's microphone.
The hovercraft rose into the air and took off. Leeanne held tightly to the handlebars as the craft sped at breakneck speeds, everything passing below her in blurs. "I am going to fall off!" she screamed. Then she realized that there was a safety shield that kept her from falling as the hovercraft took sharp turns.
Soon the hovercraft slowed down and came to a stop. She got off and looked around. She was standing on sand. "This is a beach! I have never seen the ocean before!" People were lying around on blankets absorbing the sun. Some were in the ocean swimming and riding surf boards. She walked up to the deck, where people were eating.
"Welcome to Cosmos, Mexican. What would you like to eat?" a dark skinned man, wearing a sombrero, asked.
"I never had Mexican. What do you recommend?"
"Sit down here. I will get you something you will like." He returned a few minutes later with some burritos, nachos and salsa. "Enjoy your meal at Cosmos."
"This is delicious," Leeanne bit into the Taco, relishing the first bite. "Oh boy, this is hot," she said as the tried the salsa. The waiter returned with more water and cornbread.
"I am sorry, I should have warned you about the salsa. Here is you bill. I will charge it to your card. Do not worry about tips. They are included."
Leeanne walked back to the hovercraft. She still had some time to kill before Jacob arrived. She punched in some coordinates into the hovercraft. She was not sure where it would take her; she wanted to be surprised.
Once again the hovercraft was soaring through the air. Soon Leeanne found herself in a cold place. Snow was everywhere and people were running around throwing snowballs at each other. A polar bear approached her and said, "Welcome to Cosmos, North Pole. Would you like a snow cone?"
Leeanne would have loved one, but this part of the restaurant was much too cold and bitter for her. Maybe if she dressed warmer the next time, she would come back. Shivering violently, she walked back to the hovercraft.
"I never noticed this button before," Leeanne said. "I wonder what it does." She pressed the cruise button. Instead of speeding off, the craft rose a few inches off the floor and moved at a slower speed. This way Leeanne was able to see what food Cosmos offered more clearly.
She passed a sign that said Hobos. Men wearing torn and dirty clothing were sitting around garbage cans that were on fire. It looked like they were eating beans out of a can.
Another time she passed a sign that said Cannibals. "I don't even want to eat there," she said with a shudder as she passed.
She spent the next hour cruising Cosmos, sampling foods from different parts of the world, and even from different planets. Overall, Leeanne enjoyed what she had seen of Cosmos. She would come here more often.
The bracelet on her wrist buzzed. "He must be here." A message showed up on the screen: "Meet me at Eden. Jacob."
She spoke into the hovercraft's microphone, "Eden."
The hovercraft sped off once again to the center of cosmos. Then it rose up into the air. Higher and higher the hovercraft went up. Leeanne passed balconies of people eating their meals. Finally after going what seemed like 110 floors, the hovercraft glided to a stop. She got off and looked around. She was in a tropical rain forest.
Yet it was not like the tropical rain forest she had read about. Usually these were cold and wet. There were so many trees that they blocked the sun's ray from reaching the ground.
In this rain forest, while there were trees, there were not too many. She was was able to look around at all the beauty. The sky was the brightest blue Leeanne had ever seen, a beautiful rainbow arched across the entire forest. Looking around, she noticed all the animals. Typical of rain forests, there were lions, tigers, zebras, monkeys and gazelles. However, the predators were not hunting they prey. In fact, they were playing with each other and getting along. She even noticed other animals, that usually belongs in the snowy environment, such as polar bears and penguins being in this garden.
Leeanne jumped as a tiger rubbed against her. He lay down at her feet, purring. Hesitantly, she reached down with her hand and petted his head.
"How do you like Eden?"
Leeanne jumped at the voice behind her.
"Are you Jacob?" she asked, looking at a tall man with curly black hair. "Marianna did a good job this time," she thought to himself. "He is cute."
"Yes I am."
"This place is beautiful!"
"This is the top of the restaurant. I always like coming here because it is so peaceful. Hardly anybody comes to Eden. I am not sure why. Well it can gives us some privacy, where we can get to know each other a little better. Follow me, I have a place for us."
Jacob led Leeanne to an apple tree, where a tablecloth was spread out on the ground. "Our food will come shortly. I always prefer picnics than sitting at a table."
She sat down under the tree and studied Jacob. He appeared to be a quiet person; in a way he looked like he was a little sad. She glanced over to a stream nearby. Mermaids were playing in the water.
In a few minutes, centaurs came carrying baskets of food. As she stared at the creatures that had the upper bodies of men and the lower parts of horses, she thought, "I never knew they existed. I thought they were just from stories made up centuries ago."
One centaur poured glasses of wine and handed them to Leeanne and Jacob, while the others spread out the food on the tablecloth.
"This is delicious!" Leeanne exclaimed biting into a chicken leg. "I never realized that food tastes so good."
"Unfortunately people do not know what they are missing. While taking a few pills a day keeps them from going hungry, they are not enjoying the taste of food. With their busy lifestyles, they think that it is more convenient not to eat food."
"I have to agree. This is the first time I have eaten food. Now that I have, I want to eat more."
While they ate, Jacob and Leeanne talked, telling each other about their jobs. Leeanne decided that she liked Jacob. She would be interested in going out with him again. Yet he seemed guarded about himself. Sometimes when she asked him a personal question, he seemed to change the subject. She had talked freely about a couple of her dates and he did not mention anything about his.
The effect of the Satiation Suppression Pill were starting to wear off and she was starting to become full.
"I had a very good time," Jacob said as they finished eating ice cream cones.
"Me too," Leeanne said. While at the beginning of this date she had decided she would not tell him where she lived, she decided she wanted to go out with him again. Not alone was he handsome, he was mysterious. "Do you want my teleport address?" she asked.
Jacob was silent and slowly shook his head. "I am sorry, but we can not date anymore."
Leeanne was silent for a second, "I understand. It is just that I thought we hit it off."
"We did hit it off. However, it would not be fair to you if we did get married then you watch me as I grow older and age."
"I don't understand," she said.
"I am twenty-one years old," Jacob said. "However, I have been living for twenty-one years. My parents were poor and could not afford to have me born in the hospital like most people are born. They had learned how babies were born in ancient history and decided to have a baby the "natural" way."
"How is it different? We are both twenty-one years old."
"When I was born that way, I did not have the anti-aging gene. I am going to die at a much younger age than you If I am healthy, I can live well into my eighties and possibly a bit longer. See it wouldn't be fair to you. You will not even begin to age when I die."
"Actually, yes I will," Leeanne said. "People born in the tubes can live for a long time, one hundred fifty to two hundred years. In my case no. You see, I was born without the anti-aging gene. This is a very rare condition; the odds of this happening are one in a billion."
"Are you saying that you will grow older as I get older, age as I do?"
"Yes."
Jacob smiled, making him even more handsome.
"I guess this changes things. Leeanne, do you want to go on another date with me."
Leeanne smiled, happy that she met Jacob. "Yes, I want to very much." Jacob embraced her and they began kissing.
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