The Peacok 1879

"Amaris". says Jesus, "Would you be so kind as to tell everyone here your story." She is wedged between Francois and Jeffrey, her white robe dress (because I cannot tell if it is a dress made to look like a robe or a robe that resembles a dress, but it is completely elegant on her.  Yet there is something about this young woman that suggests she is not even remotely interested in making any fashion statements. "I would be very honoured, my lord",she says, looking around at all of us seated here with her.  If she was indeed in her twenties when she claims to have come here, then now she might be around fifty.  But just as the parents of Jesus seem incredibly ancient, this Amaris appears to have cornered the fountain of youth.  She puts down the fork with which she was just about to spear a wedge of mango. "As Jesus has just mentioned, my name used to be Letitia Van Smit.  I grew up in Richmond where my parents and grandparents settled when they moved here from Holland in the nineteen fifties.  We had a huge cranberry farm that was in later years turned into a subdivision of townhouses and large homes.  As I mentioned already, I was brought here to this island under rather inauspicious circumstances.  I had been invited to a party for a weekend in Victoria, we went nightclubbing and there I picked up a young man who drove me out to Saanich to a remote and deserted beach.  I was not expecting he would leave me there untouched, but soon after came to see what a complete blessing this was going to be...

The Peacock 1878

Jesus looks at Maureen, then at Jennifer and Sarah tenderly but sternly, "I have appointed an angel, one of my servitors, to stand guard over your house.  You three particularly were wounded when the emissaries of darkness tried to gain a foothold in your home.  It is still not time yet for you to return.  First you will all three be staying, remaining here with me, with us, for your healing."  And then, with a playful grin, he adds, "Provided this is where you all want to be." "Yes", says Maureen joyfully, without hesitation. "Yes", says Jennifer, solemn and reticent. "Yes", says Sarah, as though committing herself to a new marriage. Jesus, still smiling, enfolds both Maureen and Jennifer in his arms, then Sarah gets up and hugs him from behind....

The Peacock 1876

Lawrence has already relaxed and is now leaning and cuddling into Mary as she continues to feed him. He has gone curiously quiet as she feeds him like her own baby. "Shall we continue with introductions?" says Jesus. "I don't believe you know three individuals of a particularly difficult provenance, and here they are now in my care. First, Maureen, Jennifer, and Sarah, may I present to you Isabella, who calls herself Stella, Sven, her twin sibling, and their stepfather, Caspar, who is much much older than he appears. And over here we have Kenny, an old and very dear friend of Christopher's who was raised by me from the dead and has lived here in this house with us for many years now. And there", he is gesturing both to Joseph and Mary, "Are my own parents, Mary, whom you would recognize in a much younger form, all draped in blue, and Joseph, not actually my biological father, but still the most dear and loving and patient and kind stepdad one could ever wish for. Do not be deceived by their aged appearance, they are both eternal and stronger and more robust than any twenty year old. And over here is Amaris, formerly called Letiitia Van Smit, who came here more than twenty years ago, lives here as one of my many faithful ones and has been gifted with eternal youth...

The Peacock 1875

As though thoroughly shamed and humiliated, Lawrence does not reply, but bows his head over his plateful of artisanal potato salad.  The ancient Mother of God at his side, she places on his back a consoling hand.  Then she takes hold of his fork with her free hand and as though Lawrence is her darling little infant, she begins to feed him his potato salad.  He accepts and appears to be even beginning to smile. "Christoper", says Jesus.  "When you return to your life in the world you will find that all your ties with the mental health profession will be completely severed and you will be starting anew in my service.  They have built their work upon lies.  I am the truth, and I alone am the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

The Peacock 1874

"I have carefully and thoroughly read all your charts and records.  It's all there, I'm afraid." I am just preparing to raise my voice in my own defence when Jesus raises me a cautionary hand.  "I Am your defense, Christopher."  Then, addressing Lawrence, he goes on to say, "Christopher is my servant.  Any false charge that is made against him must first be directed to me.  Young, Lawrence", and here I just want to laugh because despite the eternal Godhead of our Lord, he looks maybe half Lawrence's age.  "Your profession of psychiatric medicine, and your own mind  have been so tainted and corrupted by secular atheism that I really don't know where to begin.  It would appear that every single person whom I have gifted with visions and revelations is doomed to fall into and suffer gravely in your hands.  Because none of you believe in me, nor  my Father, or the Holy Spirit, you have utterly destroyed the lives of many of my innocent servants with bogus mental illness diagnoses and you have posoned them with drugs and chemicals that have no place in the human organism and banished them to languish in institutions and psychiatric wards.  Christopher has been rescued from this fate, and for this reason I have summoned you here before me: that you come to a place of humility and repentance and that you abandon this specious and dangerous nonsense that pays your keep and return into a life of my service, love and joy..."

The Peacock 1873

The wine is good.  Excellent.  In fact, it is the best wine I have ever tasted.  This is what the finest Bordeaux must aspire to, but this wine that has suddenly miraculously appeared out of a jug of water, would make even the world's finest vintage of Bordeaux taste like plonk. Lawrence has just lowered his glass and now lets it rest on the table in front of him.  Without asking first, Mary is loading onto his dish a potato and black bean salad that is loaded with cubes of cheddar.  We are certainly not going to go hungry here.  Lawrence, not really noticing what is on his plate, seems to be struggling over what to say.  And I do know what is troubling him.  "Lawrence, it's okay.  I don't mind everyone else here knowing that you are my case manager.  I understand that it is a struggle for you, given professional confidentiality and all, which is why I am going to say it for you." This table is well attended.  No one else seems quite ready to pick up their fork.  "Okay, for those of you that don't know yet, I have a mental heath diagnosis.  Which doesn't mean that I am sick, all it means is I have a diagnosis.  Lawrence works at the mental health team where I am a client.  Lawrence is my case manager." "I would never have guessed, Christopher, that you have a mental illness", says Maureen. "I don't.  I have a mental health diagnosis.. "You're absolutely right, Christopher", ssys Lawrence.  "You have made an awesome recovery", and with that he has just speared  with his fork a chunk of potato that he is now lifting to his mouth. "I beg to differ.  I was never ill to begin with.  I was given a false diagnosis"

The Peacock1869

Jennifer pipes up.  "We happen, all three of us, to already have plenty of responsibilities in Vancouver, where we also happen to live." "Stepson, you are the lord here.  What do you say?" "That no one must ever be, nor feel, held here against their will.  I have already said that if anyone wants to leave, then after dinner, arrangements can be made to get them off this island and return them to their home." "We're on an island?" says Jennifer, trying to contain the rising panic in her voce. "Where are we, and how did we get here?" "Apparently", says Carl, "We are on an uncharted island somewhere between Saltspring and Saturna or Mayne, I think." "But how did we get here", says Maureen, indignation rising in her voice. "And who are you?" "Mother", says Jesus to Mary, "would you be so kind please as to go to the kitchen, fill the cut  crystal jug, and bring it to the table here?" "Right away, my Lord", says Mary, getting up from the table...