The Ghost of Dome Rock Road

Bud Finds a New Path

Bud and the old man walked for hours in the cool early morning darkness. As the light rose above the hills to the east, they stepped down into a deep ravine. Bud helped the old man up a jagged, narrow path, and when they got to the other side, the old man stopped and turned to Bud. "Mr. G, I am happy the Great Creator has put you into my life. A message came to me from the wind some time ago. It told me a young man would seek me out. Now I realize that you have been chosen for a reason. You see, you have a spiritual connection to the young one's father. I am not sure why, but that is why he came to you for help in your dream one night." "Yeah, I did feel like I was invited here," Bud said. "Yes, Mr. G., sometimes the Great Creator unites troubled spirits in the hope they help each other make their way back to the path he has created for them."

"Today. When we confront the evil spirit, focus on the young one's father. Once you see him, motion for him to join you so we can put distance between him and the spirit." The old man pulled a long leather necklace from a pouch and placed it around Bud's neck. Hanging from the necklace were kinds of bears' teeth and arrowheads. In the center was a large silver arrow that pointed to the left. "Do you trust me, Mr. G?" "Implicitly!" Bud responded. "That is good. That is good, Mr. G. This necklace will protect you from the evil spirit." Bud looked down and felt the tip of the silver arrow as the old man continued to speak. "The evil spirit is powerful. He will not want to part with his spirit slave... The young one's father." "I understand Yawaka. I'm ready." "Good. I am glad. I am glad," the old man responded. "I will engage the evil one. When the spirit becomes distracted by my aggression, that is when you will call to the young one's father."

"How do you plan to defeat the ghost?" Bud asked. "With the young dream warrior's help, Mr. G." "How's that?" "The dream warrior has summoned good spirits from the afterlife. They will appear and help us send the ghost back down into the underworld where it belongs," the old man said. "It sounds dangerous, Yawaka. I'm a little scared," Bud said. "That is natural, Mr. G., but worry not. The experience this day will transform your life. From this day forward, you will be on a new path." "Maybe I'll become a great shaman like you!" Bud said. The old man chuckled. "No, Mr. G., that is not your destiny. That path is already reserved for the young dream warrior," the old man said as he pointed to the trailer where Danny and Lizzy were still fast asleep. "But your path shall be an important one, just the same. You are a searcher of truth. That shall be your destiny. Perhaps your path will be aligned with that of the young ones," the old man said, pointing again to the trailer. "Their fight against evil in the world is just beginning."

As they approached the trailer, Bud thought about what the old man had just told me. He felt anxious, but deep down inside, he sensed budding confidence. He knew he would now be headed in the right direction, and he would leave the alcoholic misery of the past ten years in his rearview mirror. He realized now that the alcohol was just a symptom of his problem. Bud Granato was a new man. Reborn, you might say, and it wasn't the old man's doing. No, it came from a spirit deep within him. Something he hadn't felt since he was a young boy. It had been there all along but was silenced by Bud's ego and his monstrous self-centeredness. His new mantra would be to constantly search for how he could help the other fellow. He would leave his journalistic career. He didn't need the money anyway. He was a trust-fund baby, and his dad's money would support him on this new spiritual adventure. He would use his prodigious investigative prowess to find opportunities to be of service for those lost spiritually. That was a thought for another day, though. Right now, he needed to prepare for today's battle.

Jessie was on the front porch waiting for them. "I just brewed some coffee, you guys," Jessie shouted. "I'm starving. What's for breakfast?" Bud asked. "Whatever you cook, old buddy," Jessie responded with a grin. "A good meal we should eat," the old man said. "I make a mean Denver omelet," Bud proclaimed. "I'll cut up some potatoes," Jessie said. "Where are the young ones?" the old man asked. "I think they're still sleeping," Jesse replied. "Wake them," the old man commanded. "We must head up into the mountains soon."