"Wow!" Exclaimed Heinus. "So what are your plans for her?" "Oh quite easy," continued the dark lord triumphantly. "Start real early with some human agents of mine, implants, impostors, hypocrites, friends that are fiends indeed and so on and so forth. And then of course, some deadly traps here and there. Then we can get her to step over that ominous protection of HIS!"
Culled from The MONITORS/2015
So there I stood, waiting for my order. I would have preferred to have been sitting than standing in that queue for sure. Having considered, that by the time my number was called. I may have forgotten it was assigned to me or why I was even there in the first place. Just between you and me, that has happened before. I mean you cannot just bombard me with two and a half thoughts at the same time. It is so much more than I can handle. Stop playing with my fragility folks. Now let’s see. What was I just doing again? Oh yes standing, thanks for the reminder. So I stood, howbeit swaying from one side to the other. I thought I had heard music coming from the large coffee machine at the further side of the counter. Turns out it was an air filter and not a coffee machine and there were definitely no tunes emanating from that dusty box. I know because six other customers confirmed it. The absence of music, not the nature of the large box.
Oh well then, judge me all you want. I know what I was hearing and dancing to. Maybe they lied about hearing it too, simply because they could not dance or sway to the rhythm. Anyway, back to the line and the wait. I was minding my business as always. Well not exactly, if you consider all that transpired in a space of three minutes. But at least I did try, mind my business that is. And that dear reader, must count for something. As I grappled with tending to only the issues that had my name or number on it, I fought the sudden urge to ask the girl at the counter the meaning of the jarring image tattooed at the side of her neck. Or was it the difficult task of not rolling my eyes when the guy with the 62 inches long hair, dragged his mountain bike inside. Yes he did. So much for my stifled chagrin. And then as seconds dragged into minutes. I noticed the flickering light bulb that looked like the next glow from it, might precipitate a nuclear blast. That was not my business. Or was it?
Then I retreated to my self-minding activities, like glancing around at people sitting, eating, talking or doing all three at the same time. Not necessarily in this order of course. I roved, until I locked eyes with a like-minded being. A fellow observer, who like me thought these mortals were strange. He was the cherubic faced tot, with flaming red cheeks and sparsely arranged dentins. All eight of them. Which were flashed gleefully at me. He was half-way across the room. Sitting in his high-priced stroller and looking like his silver spoon just fell to the ground. I smiled back, careful not to let him feel bad for not having a full mouth of teeth like me. He clapped chubby hands in response as I breathed a sigh of relief. Then he started to leap and jerk at his restraining belt, spitting in frustration. He eyed me and mumbled something to himself, which I translated as ‘Come take a ride with me’. I shook my head in declination. I will have to pass today buddy, I signed with two fingers. Some other time, if you would ask nicely without spitting.
Then I waved at him, to diffuse any ego shattering occurrences. He jerked back again. This time harder and lifted his hands heaven ward. As he let out a near blood curdling scream. Was that a cry for help? I immediately hid behind my purse as his mother turned to him instantly. Having been interrupted, from a baby-sitter bashing conversation. All was well and calm in goo goo land and so was my ready order. It was time to return to my business. But one last time, I had to take a peek at my cute little friend. Turns out he never broke his gaze in the first place. There he was still flashing those faithful eight. I winked at him and sent a blessing his way. Oh such sweetness, innocence, openness and purity of motive. The absence of greed, guile or a grievous agenda. But that is not what this blog is about….
Wardrobe #1
Her face was twisted in agony. Though I never knew her face to be any other way but twisted. This seeming agony and pain tore at my empathic heart. Surely I was her only hope, like she had declared. Where else could she turn to, with such a dire need and heavy burden? We were bound by the law and everything else in between. Was that not why fate brought us together? Things were better dealt with on familiar grounds, were they not?
I had promised myself to deal the past a death blow. However awful and deadly it must have been. I would rather have a diamond choker around my neck, that a sickening and evil albatross. Hypothetically speaking, If a mangled car accident left you with your two legs intact. It should be okay to stand and walk, not so?
Sure I would do it, said I to the desperately pleading eyes. We were on the same team after all and it helped to share the burden. This time, all I had to do was drop off the parcel. It was that simple. She could trust no one else with this treasure box, but me. I must tell you. A deep sense of joy and confidence in the appreciation of my dependable nature enfolded me. I felt so glad, that I could be of the utmost help. For a mission with this much importance and urgency.
Maybe now she might love me. Not because I needed a bosom to lie on. Absolutely not! I was grown and I was fine. But a love that would insure, that I would not have to look over my shoulders every now and then. Wondering what other lethal ploy, might be pulled out of ‘the bag of treachery’ against me. Always trying to decipher, what other insidious act was brewing, waiting to be inflicted on me. For peace sake, I would run the errand. I would carry the case, the burden, the responsibility. Heck, I would go the extra mile.
Thank you said she caressing my arm fondly. ‘I knew I could count on you to be there’. Those words buzzed in my ear, with the magnitude and density of a clanging bell. Wow!
She always knew I was trustworthy.
She always knew I was honest.
She always knew I would not turn her away, or say no.
Sure said I, as I unknowingly lifted the entrapment beautifully shrouded in a familiar cry for help. A wrapping that confronted my diligence as it collided with my empathy. While sapping, the very life out of my eagerness to help.
So engrossed was I with pleasing and retaining a reputation of faithfulness. That I never saw the case crack, at its programmed time. Poisonous fumes effortlessly rose up to the call of my clean but uncertain lungs. The basic act of breathing had become a death sentence in itself. Bitter and toxic fumes of hatred and rage, engulfed my weakening body. In my shock and confusion, I not only struggled for even an ounce of fresh air to breath. I also struggled to hold on and protect the very thing/item that was draining my very life and killing my soul. As I crumbled to the ground, I turned back between desperate gasps of air. My teary eyes widened in question and despair.
I turned just in time to see her walking away. Her cloak of familiarity swaying from one side to the other as she went.
Next: Wardrobe #2