Finding Sage (Young Adult)

Twenty-two: Gifts

Sage

Tuesday: Finley sent lunch for Gillian and I with a note that says, From one writer to two others. You'll get more done if you're well nourished. Trust me. My dearest, Finley.

Wednesday: Two dozen tulips were on my desk with a note, Thought you might want some sunshine in the office. Don't work too hard. Lovingly, Finley.

Thursday: A delivery guys delivers a little box with a very pretty necklace. It actually made of string, but it has three little gems on it. The note says, Sage, these little stones are Fluorite. They are, also, known as the 'genius stone' because they are said to help you concentrate and make good decisions. I hope they make your work go smoother. Cheers, Finley.

Friday he shows up in the conference room where Gillian and I have been using as a second work station. "Well hello Sage, fine place to see you." He smiles walking in with Angela in tow. "I was wondering if I could take you to lunch."

"Oh, hi Finley. Thank you for all the gifts." I run a finger over the necklace and say, "I really love this necklace."

"It looks even better than I even imagined it could," he says.

Angela looks over the spread of our work and smiles. "Wow, you two have really been busy, I see."

"Yeah, we don't want to leave any loose ends, but I think we've done it. I'll send the latest to your email and you can make any changes and we'll be wrapped by Monday," Gillian says.

"Great! So Sage is free for lunch?" Finley asks.

Angela says, "I don't see why not. Go on Sage, take a little time to enjoy your young life. This will be here when you get back."

What the hell just happened? Did Angela seriously just tell me to go out with Finley?

I glance at Gillian and she shrugs, slightly.

"Okay, sure, why not, but can we make it close to here? I would like to get a few things done before I leave for the day," I say.

"Kismet has a table for me. Its right around the corner," he says, while shifting his weight and helping me pick up my laptop bag.

I lightly pull my laptop bag from his grip and say, "Yes, I know the place. That's sounds great."

On the walk over to Kismet, Finley entertains me with a story about his morning. I've come to the conclusion that Finley's life is far more interesting that anyone else on the planet. When he is finished I have to ask him, "Finley, do all of these things really happen to you, or do you make them up?"

"Well, sometimes they are completely real with no changes, and some of the time they are a combination of two or more experiences, and other times, they are either things I have dreamt, daydreamed about, or completely made up. However, the story I just told you was real. That little boy really wanted to get his dog on the subway and tried hiding him in his shirt. There are some thing even I cannot make up because I simply would never think of them, but it's really a matter of perspective. I've been told I have a different perspective than most; however, if you look hard enough, you can find any situation completely interesting, I think." He stops and picks up a little rock, holds it in his hand and examines it for a moment before putting it in his pocket.

"Like rocks, do you?" I ask.

"Oh no. Well, maybe I do but it's for my mum," he says, as he casually takes hold of my hand but does not break from his stroll.

Just as casually, I remove my hand from his and ask him, "Your mother likes rocks?"

"Well, my mother has an eye disease called Macular Degeneration. She's is an artist, but has lost a good part of her vision due to the disease. She loves for me to tell her stories of mine and Bridget's adventures, but she only likes the real stories, no embellishments or mixing. She asks me to pick up rocks when I come across a story I would like share with her and when I tell her the story she rubs the rock in her fingertips. She keeps all the rocks in a bowl. Now, I am completely serious when I say that she can pick any rock in the bowl and tell me what story goes with it." Finley reaches into his pocket and pulls out the stone.