Walking out of This World

Twenty Four

Morning sun light skips across a thin blanket of snow. Little crystal seeds twinkle like miniature lights, echoing the joy that's glowing inside. I have so much good news (It's only the good news I'm ready to talk about.). It's my inner self where understanding dances to the music of deep emotions. Right choices are being made for a change. The tapestry...Well...There's a new John in town. He's carrying some new secrets that are waiting to be opened—yet unannounced. Then, there's big brother. How will I make peace with him?

"There you are, son!" The words gallup ahead of him.

He throws his arms around my shoulders, smothering me with a welcoming bear hug. Just as quickly he steps back leaving his eyes the task of snapping a picture for some brain work.

"Hair's longer...beard's nicely trimmed." The corners of his spreading lips push ruddy cheeks into two bunches, forcing his eyes to squint.

That's when I see a glint of light in his eyes. Never noticed that before.

"Well...Come on...let's get this show on the road." He throws an arm around my shoulders and we walk to the waiting car.

"Don't tell me anything. Let's wait for Mom. Okay?"

"And Jack?" I ask, wondering if I really want to know.

"Same as always. But I must say he's taking a serious interest in running the farm."

"Oh. How's that?"

"I'm stepping back from the outside work to concentrate on the finances and marketing." There's a wash of gray painting Dad's hair. "It's those confounded allergies."

A humming sound announces the garage door opening and a bump signals the closing off of outside light.

Dad swings a door open and a storm of voices stream out of dancing bodies. "Welcome home, John," they yell out in unison.

There's a banner hanging across the window, sporting large rainbow letters.

WELCOME HOME.

Mom jumps away from the group—field hands, wives, neighbors—and throws her arms around my neck, adding a kiss on my cheek for good measure.

The dinning room table is covered with food—steaming roast beef surrounded by dishes of sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, brown gravy, carrots, broccoli and salads at the end, a train of Christmas dishes.

No big brother in sight. I wonder what he's up to?

Chairs have been scattered around the welcoming areas of the house. People are filling their plates, others seated in little groups attending to the normal intersection of eating and chattering.

Dad, Mom and I are standing in the kitchen. "What's new with you, John?" Dad asks. Mom leans ever so slightly forward.

"Well, I've been offered the position of floor manager. It is a paid position...enough money to pay for tuition at the community collage. I'll live at the shelter and work with the floor staff to serve the patrons."

"What happened at State?" Mom asks.

"I'm still a bit nervous about those memories. Like Rick said, this is the evidence that resurrection of a new self is possible with rebirth in the Spirit.

"I got caught up in worshiping weed and it almost destroyed me. I quit going to class regularly and laughed at the homework assignments. The green fog made all of that old world obsolete. I walked out of it and straight into a black hole that threatened to swallow my world and spit me out into one far more dangerous." I explain.

My words stand for a moment between us, gathered together in the still air.

Mom's soft voice breaks the silence."What saved you?" There's a film of water covering her eyes.

"I came to the end of myself, the self that was a pile of ashes. I ended at the shelter after a good beating by an unsuspecting conspirator in the work of redemption."

"Oh!" A muffled gasp escapes Mom's mouth. Her right hand covers her lips.

"You passed your first life test!" Dad places an arm around my shoulder punctuated with a squeeze. "Let's go get social."

We're standing in a huddle with one of the field hands and his wife when the front door suddenly slams shut behind a gust of cold air.

"Well...la tee da...!" The words pop like a line of exploding balloons. "Daddy's little boy!" Big Brother waggles into the dinning room. The far end of the long table stops his motion. His body hangs in suspended animation for a moment, chin pointing down, eyes crawling with red lines. He's wearing arrogance like a new coat.

He plops into a waiting chair and hoists a bottle onto the table, tentatively gripped in his right hand. "Sonny boy, here...goes to the big city...all high and mighty...throws a wad of money away on who knows what." Big Brother's words are slithering out, unrolling strands that meander around silent bodies, standing...staring.

A hush escapes from astonished faces, minds grasping for what's next and how should we respond.

"When have you, dear parents, every thrown such a shindig for Big Brother?" Jack yells. "Oh...maybe...maybe a few candles thrown on a birthday cake."

"We don't allow drinking in this house!" Mom yells. She's trying to bring law and order into what unnerves her. In the presence of her esteemed quests. Awkward situations do not bring out the best in Mom.

"You bet your birds eye soup I've been drinking...Mom!" If Jack's eyes were loaded guns they'd be firing a life's worth of hidden emotion.

Dad quickly moves to Big Brother's side,lifts,turns and heads up the stairs in full retreat.

"You ain't heard the end of this!" Big Brother's words fire from behind his back.