The Things That Will Be

Chapter Twenty Five

James drove to the city and observed it while Meridians by Falling Up played on the radio.

There were so many places that he had forgot about and was reminded of the moments when he saw them. Sometimes he'd see his younger self walk by or appear around the corner.

He saw public school buildings, although they had been remodeled, they still had pieces of the original structure that he'd see through momentary glimpse. It was a nostalgic trip for him to pursue, just seeing these old relics of his life stand in front of him like monoliths.

He turned the music off, turned off his car, got out, locked it up, and started to walk around the city.

He stayed on the sidewalk next to a long line of connected buildings and companies. He observed the modern look to the city. Most of it had started to decay with its original design but some looked new and remodeled.

He was bombarded with memories of walking down this area as a kid. He smiled and silently chuckled to himself because of this.

He then made it to a park where he used to play when he was little. He took a walk through the park and observed the many things there: swings, monkey bars, a climbing tower, a mary-go-round et al. He tried climbing up the climbing tower but then fell to the ground with a thud.

"Fuck." James said as he got up and dusted himself off. "That's what you get when you haven't done that in a while."

He took a seat on one of the benches and continued to look at the scenery that was the park. He reminisced over the "old times" and watched how the scenery now had changed from the scenery back then. He was in absolute awe at it.

While he stared at the park, he didn't notice an older gentleman walk up and sit beside him. He didn't notice it until he heard the man speak to him.

"Nice park, isn't it?" The old man asked. James looked over at him and smiled. He then nodded.

"Yep, it sure is." James said. The old man raised his hand as a means to shake James'.

"The name is Clarence, Clarence....Bogart." Clarence said with his hand close to James'. James shook it and introduced himself.

"James...James Max-" Clarence interrupted.

"Maxwell. James Maxwell. Yes, I know who you are. I've known you since you were very little." Clarence said. James nodded suspiciously.

"Huh, you must be friends with the family." James assumed. Clarence made a so so face and replied.

"Something like that." Clarence said. James nodded and continued staring at the park.

Clarence looked over at James and noticed a look in his eyes. He then cleared his throat and spoke to James with a calm and gentle voice.

"She'll be alright." He said to James. James looked over at Clarence confused.

"Who will?" He asked. Clarence stared at him with a straight and humble face.

"Eileen. She's going to be alright." Clarence said. James felt a strange sense of comfort around Clarence much to his chagrin.

"Oh let me guess, God told you she would? I'm sorry to upset you Mr. Bogart but...I'm not one to believe in all that mumbo jumbo." James said. Clarence sighed and nodded.

"I'm going to have to tell it to you straight, aren't I?" Clarence asked. James shrugged. Clarence looked at him and spoke.

"Coepit." Clarence said. James felt his stomach drop and his senses started to get tense. He turned to look at Clarence in fear and surprise.

"What'd you just say?" James asked. Clarence repeated himself.

"Coepit. It was written on the back of an index card. The last index card you ever received." Clarence said. James' heart was beating rapidly. He was motionless in unraveling fear.

"How do you know about the cards?" James asked in a shaky voice close to tears. Clarence told it to him very simply.

"Because...I was the one who sent them." He said. James was in utter shock. He then backed away from the bench he was sitting in.

"It was you? You sent the cards? Why, after I begged for you to stop?" James asked. His body grew tense.

"I was preparing you for God." Clarence said. "I know you don't want to believe it but God is real. I should know because I'm you guardian angel."

James was speechless and motionless. He was angry, sad, and shocked. But before he could say anything, he heard a car honk as it pulled up. He looked over and saw that it was Michelle.

"Hey, James. I didn't know you were in town." Michelle said happily. "What're you doing in a park all alone?"

"I was just talking to uh...." He had looked back at Clarence only to realize that Clarence was gone and nowhere near him. "...to myself." James said as he then approached Michelle. "How are you doing?"

"I'm doing good. I'm at a hotel. Family owned called The Josephine Hotel. We're packing up actually. We've been away from the job for too long and Steve is starting to get upset. So yeah." Michelle said. "So, you decided to visit Mom."

"Yeah, I have been staying with her for a little bit. Well, actually it's only been a day and a half but yeah. You know, my car is parked over in the city by the old barbershop. Meet me there and we can hang out or whatever." James proposed to Michelle.

"That's sweet and all but I really gotta head back to the hotel and finish packing. It was really nice seeing you though." Michelle said. James nodded.

"Yeah, it was." James said.

"Alright, well you take care." Michelle said and she drove off. James watched her drive off and then decided to walk on back to his car and get back to the house. All he could think about was how amazing of a sister she was. Life, as fucked up as it was, still had its little golden moments.