The Peacock 19i0

"So that really is it", say I musing aloud.  "Jesus said the dimensions would come together, and we would begin to notice immediately the change." And who should this be coming in through the coffee shop door but our own creator and author, sort of.  Aaron.  He doesn't appear to notice or heed our presence as he dumps his shoulder bag on a comfy chair by the window and goes to the counter to make his order.  In silence we watch as he stands aside to await his americo.  We are really all too spellbound to say anything to him, or to one another. As he picks up his cup, ceramic for here, and carries it to his table by the window, Carl calls to him "Aaron!"  He pauses, looks around then through us as though to him we are invisible, then proceeds to his seat. "Do you think he's ignoring us?" say I. He doesn't see us", says Kenny.  "Jesus tried to explain it to me as we were about to leave.  "The merging of the dimensions will mean that from now on because Aaron is writing us, that we are going to exist in his imagination only.  He will no longer be popping in on us, uninvited or otherwise...."

1909

"That is amazing news about Jesús", says Erik. "Miraculous", I concur. "Does he have any plans of returning", says Carl.  "I'm going to miss him." "Send him a text", say I, "Ask him." "I don't have his contact. Could you?" "Jesús", I text.  "That is such amazing news.  God is so good."  But we are going to miss you.  Are you coming back to Canada.."  Send. "You know", says Amaris to Kenny.  "Benjamin Butterfield is already taken.  It's the name of a famous tenor." "Do you think he'll sue?" "No more than John Smith", quips Carl. "Here's A reply from Jesús.  "My mother needs me with her right now.  She has bad arthritis and needs help in the home.  But I will let you know.  I miss all of you.  At least Colombia is safe for me to live now." "Now that our dimensions have come together", muses Amaris. I text, "Jesús, why has Colombia become safe?" "It seems to have always been safe.  At least the evil network seems to have never existed." I text, "Are there still other dangers in Colombia?"" "Nothing else has changed.  But I now am safe...."

The Peacock 1918

"Kenny", say I, "Or, I mean, Benjamin..." "Kenny is still my name and you are all welcome to call me Kenny.  But please, do it discreetly." "What are you going to do now that...now that you're back?" "My partner has just bought me out in the florist shop in Duncan, which means that now I can retire.  I do have my condo in Duncan, but it's all paid for, and I am happy to still live there part time, Christopher, that is to say, if you would be happy to receive me back into your father's house." "It is a bit full right now, but in a couple of days there'll be room.  It all depends on what Jesús does." "From whom I have just received a text", says Carl.  He says, "Hi.  I am in Bogotá, and miraculously recovered.  Right now I am walking and talking and texting and eating normal food.  ¨Praise be to Jesus!" "There is room for sure.  Can you come back with us tonight?" Kenny holds forth his backpack and with a grin and a wink says, "Neither Harriet nor Jesus would let me leave without at least my toothbrush and razor.and deodorant too..."

The Peacock 1907

"There were others here with you", says Amaris, smiling while regarding the orphan beverages. "Lawrence is gone, and the others, Stella, and Caspar are still at the refuge..." "And there they are going to remain. They are both, with Sven, in very good hands". "So, what are you guys going to do now that you're out, I mean", says Carl, and now his phone is ringing..."It's Sarah", he says, turning on speakerphone.  "Hello Sarah, where are you guys?" "Carol and I are both in her townhouse and we are about to have tea.  How are you guys?" "We are in the coffee shop, Waves on Broadway.  It's like we never left." "Is it Monday or Tuesday?" "It's still Monday.  We will find that we are all resuming our normal lives and activities as though nothing happened." "Nothing happened indeed!" she snorts. I call over, "We  should all meet together tomorrow at my house.  We could do it in the morning." "Let me check with Carol, but I can certainly be there" "And...Sarah?" says Carl.  "absolutely no one is to hear about where we just were.  No one.  At least until we've all had a chance to debrief together" "Oh, on my honour", she says.... 

The Peacock 1905

"So now what do we do?"  say I. "I dunno", says Carl, "Go home and cook supper." "We really, really were with Jesus", say I still gobsmacked,  "In that great palatial mansion...on that island." "I am no longer an atheist", says Erik. "That should give you a clue", says Carl. "How did you guys leave?" "We already knew that Tron had taken you out for a walk.  Then Jesus said we were going to catch up with you, so he took us out then whoops, suddenly we were back in here, the minute we stepped out the door." "This is just so crazy.  I'm phoning Francois." "Not at all a bad idea." "Where are you right now?" Francois replies, "Seated on the couch of your father's living room, and every bit as freaked out as you.  Are Carl and Erik with you?" "We're back in, or maybe I should say, we're still in, the cafe." "What about Carl?" "He is here with me and Erik.  Did the others make it back okay?" "George and Jeffrey, and Jason and Lazarus are right here with me, and totally dazed and confused." "You do remember where we were, Francois?" "That is something that I don't think any of us are going to ever forget." And now Kenny is coming in through the door, followed by Amaris, or she might be Amaris..

The Peacock 1904

This water is so cold, so pure, so delicious, unlike any water that has ever crossed my lips, and now, suddenly I am back in the cafe, nowhere near the Refuge, nowhere near Jesus.  Here is Carl, and only Carl in the comfy chair opposite.  And Erik seated on my left. They have been conversing.  No Stella.  No Sven.  No Caspar. "Where are the others", I ask. "We all returned here alone", says Carl. "Just now?" "We were both here five minutes ahead of you", says Erik. "Then it wasn't...? "One of your hallucinations?" says Carl. smiling.  "No.  Unless it was a collective delusion", and now he is snickering. "We were all with Jesus in that big mansion?" "Along with his very aged parents:" "Where are the others?" "Like us.  They are all back from where they were taken." "Except..." "Stella, Sven and Caspar", says Erik. "What time is it?" "Almost four", says Carl. "What day is it?" "Still Monday", says Erik, and now I can see they are both deadpanning as much as I am.  How else are we going to cope right now? "But, we did spend the night, didn't we?  But wait.  Not one single minute has passed since...since we were taken yesterday...but wait it's still today, isn't it.  Where is Lawrence?" "He was just leaving when  Jesus appeared", says Erik.  Now he's gone on with his day..."

The Peacock 1902

It is still dark.  There are no clocks here and I do not know what time it is. I am feeling rested, and here I am waking up in a strange room  And now the flood of memories from yesterday, all the strange bizarre and lurid confessions and revelations and Jesus appearing in his eternally youthful form in the coffee shop only to transport us...here....this place called the Refuge.  A quick shower is all I need and now that I am dried and dressed there is a soft knock on the door. It is Tron. "Perhaps", he says, "We could greet the dawn while walking in the gardens together." I don't see why not, but instead of saying anything, I slip on my shoes and off we go. The dawn bird chorus has already begun, and together we are crossing a huge expansive lawn.  I can only imagine the work involved in maintaining a place of such dimension and beauty.  I can just see the beautifully molded features of Tron's face as we walk silently together, past a bed of irises, much like where Carl and Melissa live, then under a bower of soft purple wisteria in full and glorious bloom.  I am feeling cold and Tron hands me without either of us asking the dark grey pullover sweater he has been carrying under his arm. "Thank you. Tron.  This is a beautiful sweater." "Take it with you." "Thank you  Thank you very much..."