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(This manuscript considers throughout the story the idea that you are not who you think you are. No one is. Thank God. Enjoy.)
Long ago, perhaps before time....
For a man his size, he imbues with authority every space he
graces. Not much over five feet tall, rather portly and balding, thick, horn
rimmed glasses unable to hide luminous blue eyes that cast an omnipotent glow
onto whomever they focus, Max slowly approaches the group. The makeshift
auditorium is filled with about forty people who rise as he enters, and his
faltering steps cause Jesse to frown with concern and wonder if this is getting
to be too much for the old man. He walks directly to the chair next to hers, and
as she rises to greet him, she is again touched by his enchanting aura that
defies definition. They embrace, kiss and look at each other for several long
moments, then he whispers so only she can hear, "Stop worrying, my legs
just don't keep up as well as they used to." He kisses her forehead, clears
his throat and says more loudly, "All right. So, you ready, Jesse? Everyone
here?"
"Yes, I believe so. A few are at a seminar or on a
mission, but we can memo them."
"Good enough. Let's all take our seats. Okay, now, is
there anyone who has not yet had a chance to review the life situations?"
Max addresses the group making eye contact with each person. Some heads shake, a
few give the thumbs up signal and glance around at one another other until he's
satisfied.
"All right, then, let's get started," he commands,
then inquires, "have the parents been selected?"
"Yes, Max, we're going to do it." Claire indicates
herself and Garrett, sitting next to her.
"You sure?" Max looks over at the pair and then
down at his notes. "Rough beginnings," he adds.
She nods, "Yes, we assessed this and decided we're
ready for the lessons this situation provides, so it's a great
opportunity."
"That, and I get to moan and groan a lot. And
drink." Garrett chimes in causing a ripple of laughter among the group.
"All right. Now, Lily, I understand you're going in as the
great grandmother."
"Yes."
"Pretty lonely." Max states.
"Yes, but I get to learn forgiveness."
"Okay. Oh, Jesse, what year are you going in?" Max
asks.
"Nineteen hundred and sixty," she answers, and he
makes a note.
"Good enough. Let's see, we need one brother and one,
ah, yes, the sister."
"I'm going to work with them on this one, Max."
"Okay, Conrad, you're on. Jesse, have you and Julia had
a chance to get together?" Max's eyes seem to send her a laser beam as he
says this.
"Yeees, sort of. Right, Jules?" Her voice
uncertain, she looks across the group to Julia for confirmation.
"I suppose," Julia answers reluctantly. "It
seems like I'm going to be resisting more than resolving, though, and I'm not
crazy about that."
"Facilitating, Julia. Think of it as facilitating."
Max sooths.
"Yeah, yeah. Easy for you to say." Her reply gets a
couple of raised eyebrows at the temerity of her statement toward the old man.
"Is that right, Julianna?"
"No, no, just prepping, Max." Julia says
apologetically.
"Heh, heh, well, then, you'll do fine. You two need to
spend some time in Contracts after we finish."
"Yes, we have an appointment." Jesse says.
"Good. Okay, moving forward. Now, the hooker!" Max
says with playful gusto and looks around the room. "Ah, there you are,
Chloe, I have you on the volunteer list for this one."
"Yes, sir, I'm ready."
"Chloe, I've known you for twelve thousand years. Don't
you think it's time we dropped the formality?"
"Yes, sir, uh, I mean,
yes, Max. It's just out of respect."
"No, it's from spending so much time in the South."
The room fills with laughter, and he affects his own version of a thick
Mississippi dialect, "You say sir like that 'i' was an 'e'."
"I just love that drawl, sir; it's so sexy."
"Yes, well, to each his own. You sure you're up for
this?"
"Yes, I've had a long rest. Thank you for your concern.
I like that I get to spread the word about angels and forgiveness."
"All right. Let's see now, what's next?" He flips a
few pages from his notes, "Ah, we need a leading man, I see...hmmm, it
appears we need several." There's hushed giggling, and the woman on the
other side of Jesse elbows her.
"Yes, okay, so intimacy is on my agenda, and what better
way...right?" Jesse feigns defensiveness and everyone laughs.
"I'd say it looks more like the lesson should be
discernment." Charlotte suggests with more than a hint of sarcasm.
"Projection!" Keith declares.
"Come now, people, this is not a recovery group. We'll
all get a chance to coordinate our lessons. This meeting is for Jesse. Looks
like you've got these lined up, Jesse; make sure they all get into
Contracts." He scans the group. "Oh, before I forget, who's on Night
Lights?"
"Over here, Max, it'll be us." Rita raises her hand
and smiles cheerfully.
"Hey! The four musketeers. Lucky you, Jesse."
"Very funny, sir; please tell them to behave this
time." She implores.
"You mean to tell me after all this time you can't
handle a few aging angels? Pony up, girl, between them they're over a million
years old!"
"Well done, Max! Did you calculate that all by
yourself?" William challenges.
Max chuckles, then says, "All right, let's move on. Jesse,
will you get a message over to Transportation that we'll need a cabby?"
"Yes, actually, I already did. I also spoke with Melanie
and some other friends who are ready to incarnate, so that's completed. Also,
I've reviewed the career options, but I need help deciding which is the most
auspicious profession this time. Any suggestions?" Jesse queries the group.
"I'll go over that with you, Jesse; let's talk after the
seminar and schedule some time together."
"Perfect, thanks, Annie." Jesse answers.
"All right, then, what's left? Let's see, Jesse, I don't
see the box about children checked. What have you decided?" Max peers
intently over his glasses at her.
"God, I don't know. Yes, I think, but I'm not sure. I
realize I need to get clear on this issue."
"Yes, Jessica, you do. Try to settle this one soon and
get back to me." Max says. Using her full name always makes her feel
admonished by him.
"I will."
"All right. Can anyone think of anything we've
missed?" Max addresses the group.
"How about a progress report, Max?" Jarrod asks.
Max takes off his glasses and rubs his eyes. "Well, it's
probably better if I don't."
A few gasps are heard across the room and then, "Is it
that bad?" Garrett asks.
"Not really, there just hasn't been that much progress.
Let's see, well, all right. To be forewarned and all that. I'll take a few
questions."
"Is telepathy catching on?" Chloe asks.
"No." Some heads shake.
"How's the level of awake-ness?"
"From when you were there last, Tim? Well, it's up, I
believe, but not by much. Christ, pun intended, they still war." Max
reports. There are gasps of breath and murmurings, a pause and then another
question.
"Do they know who they are?" Annie asks.
"Some do, but not many. Their halos are still hidden.
Oh, they see a light, all right; they just ignore it. The ego still has quite a
stronghold, that's for sure. The good news is many are aware of this, but even
they behave as if they are in mortal combat with it." Max sighed.
Silence from the group.
"How come they don't just surrender?" Lily shrugs
as she asks.
"Lily, if we knew the answer to that we wouldn't still
need bodies, now would we? Look everyone, let's not get morose. There's also a
lot of great exponential energy expanding and souls volunteering for night
lights. This has to mean that the ego's pull is losing power, but it won't give
up without a mighty fight first." He shifts his glance to each person
present as if infusing them with reassurance and encouragement.
"All right, I guess we're finish..." Max is
interrupted by the sound of a door slamming and a man entering the auditorium
who says something undistinguishable.
"Well, well, better late than never." Max chides.
"Sorry I'm late, Max, Jesse, and everyone. I just got
back, but I'm on the list. Good thing I showed up." Levi ambles casually
over to Jesse, leans down to kiss her, then takes Max's outstretched hand in his
huge bear paw-like one, as the two men greet one another warmly.
"Oh, my gosh, you're right! Not to worry, Levi, we would
have figured it out in Contracts." Jesse says confidently.
"Yep. It's a great system, isn't it?" He replies.
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