The Peacock 327

 "And you are going to tell it now", says Aaron.

"Ah Mom", says Carl, "Do I have to?"

"Every last detail, young man."

Sarah says, "I'm not sure if I'm ready for it."

"I will keep it family friendly", says Carl.

Aaron says, "Dan Savage doesn't have a single family friendly bone in his body."

"By the way", says Carl to Aaron", where are you right now?"

He replies, "besides sucking back my third cup of coffee in this roadside diner?" 

"Are you still writing us?"

"Right now, I am seated at my desk in my little subsidized apartment in front of my laptop.  I just finished watching part of a documentary in Spanish about the wildlife of the Peruvian Amazon, and before that I saw on Dailymotion a vintage episode of the Avengers in black and white from 1965."

"I love that show", Carl says.  

"I used to watch it when I was a kid", says Aaron.  "It's a classic."

"What else were you just doing?" says Jesús.

"I was nibbling on a piece of vintage white cheddar from the Isle of Man."

"Sounds really yummy?" says-asks Sarah.  "Where do you buy it?"

"No Frills."

"They actually sell decent cheese?"

"Lately, yes, but Carl was going to tell us all about his...er...meeting with that famous sex columnist from Seattle..."

The Peacock 326

 "What was that word he called us, your uncle, I mean", says Carl.

"Guailo", says Tommy.  "It's a nasty Cantonese slulr for white people. We still use it a lot.  Translates, loosely, as white ghost guy or foreign devil."

"I have heard that word before", says Sarah, "And you know, it is kind of offensive?"

"It's only a word", says Carl.  "And really, when people use it among themselves, it's more for purposes of ingroup identity.  Like the way a lot of rappers use the word Nigger."

Sarah let's out an audible gasp of horror.  "That is really offensive?" she says in her question tone.  "Can't you just say N-word?"

"I just said the N-word", says Carl, laughing."

"Don't listen to him,  he's pissed", says Aaron smiling.

"Right now, maybe", says Carl, "But tomorrow, you are still going to be ugly."

"Sir Winston Churchill," says Aaron.

"You know your history."

"But you know", say I, "He does have a point .  About the N-word being used for ingroup identity.  kind of like how Dan Savage used to start each letter in his column with "Hey Faggot."

"Then he quit doing that after a while", says Aaron.

"How do you guys know about that filthy mouth gay sex columnist?" says Sarah, still indignant.

"The same way that you must know about him, dear, " says Carl.  "By the way, I met him once."

"No kidding"

"In Amsterdam.  He was doing research.  But that's another story..."

The Peacock 325

 Out comes the man who served us yesterday, lean, somewhere in his sixties, with a lazy, rather shuffling, but very graceful shuffling walk, as though he is dancing the cumbia. I know now why he didn't seem Chinese to me.  He may be Chinese, genetically, but this man is Latin American to the core. He is Venezuelan   He is wearing a ballcap and a light red and yellow plaid shirt underneath his stained white apron.  

"Hello.  I am Carlos.", he says smiling broadly. 

We each name ourselves, then Carlos focusses on Jesús.  "Así, tu eres colombiano".  "so, you're Colombian."

"Y tu eres venezolano", dice Jesús, smiling broadly, or "and you are Venezuelan."

"También soy chinito"

"What did he just say?" asks Sarah.

Carlos directs on Sarah his smiling eyes.  "I said I am also  Chinaman."

"You mean to say you are Chinese Venezuelan", she corrects.

"No", says Carlos, giggling impishly, "I am a Chinaman.  I hate political correctness.  You know, you Guailo are so sensitive about everything.  You only have to smile and you guys get offended!"

"Yes", Sarah says, "But to many Asians that is offensive."

"Especially when they´re  Korean or Japanese", says Carlos, laughing out loud.  Then he straightens up, as though standing to attention, the laughter and the smile quickly fading away.  "Very nice to meet you people.  I have to get back to work.  Come again, and maybe we can visit longer."

 

The Peacock 324

 "So, you run this place with your dad?", Sarah asks.

"With my dad and my uncle.

"Your uncle is here too?"

"He served you guys yesterday."

"You were here?" say I.

"I saw you from the kitchen.  I was cooking yesterday.  Today my uncle and I trade places."

"And he's from Venezuela?"

"My mother was still a baby in Hong Kong when my grandparents emigrated to Venezuela.  For reasons she still will not disclose, she stayed in Hong Kong in the care of her grandparents.  For some reason, they would not allow her to go with them.   I think her health was really fragile or something."

So, is your dad here sometimes", Carl asks.

"Nah, he just stays home and rakes in the dough.  We're the exploited labour", Tommy says laughing.

"Do you do anything else, besides work here?" asks Carl

"Yeah.  I'm also a relationship counselor.  Hey, let  me introduce you guys to my uncle.  He turns and calls in the direction of the kitchen  "tío.  He aquí un colombiano y un gringo que habla buen español"

Jesús translates, "Uncle, I have here a Colombian and a Gringo who speaks good Spanish."

The Peacock 323

 "I have an auntie in Venezuela, mom's side of the family, and I lived with her a few years."

"de verdad viviste en Venezuela?" asks Jesús.

"Really did I live in Venezuela", Tommy translates.  "De verdad, mi buen amigo, cinco años y solo hablaba español por todos aquellos años."

Aaron translates, "That's right, my good friend, for five years and I spoke only Spanish during all those years."

"Tu también hablas español"" he says to Aaron, genuinely surprised.

"Hermano, lo hablo muchísimo.  Muchísimo."

Jesús translates "Brother, I speak lots of Spanish."

"Are there many Chinese living in Venezuela?", Sarah asks.  

"Más que podrías contar, querido.

"More than you could count, dear", translates Aaron.

"Chévere, dos hispanohablantes.  Chicos, que tal hablamos más pronto?" says Tommy, grinning enthusiastically.

"Cool" translates Jesús.  "two Spanish speakers.  Guys, how about we talk more soon?"

"I don't see why not", says Aaron.

The Peacock 322

 "This is a nice little diner", Aaron says. "How long have you been here?"

"Sixty years", says Tommy.  "Or say, about three generations.  My grandfather opened this place back in the early sixties.

"Did he come here from Hong Kong?" Sarah asks.

"I am fifth generation Canadian.  How about you guys?"

"I am from Colombia" says Jesús.

"I am from the Netherlands", says Carl.

"I am fourth generation Canadian on my mother's side", says Aaron, "And third generation on my father's side.  German and Scots ancestry."

"My mom was Mexican, she's gone now", say I, "And my dad is fourth generation Canadian, British, mostly English roots."

Sarah says, "My dad was born in Great Britain, Birmingham area, but his parents were refugees from Poland.  He met and married my mom in Winnipeg, who is Metis."

"French and native", says Tommy.

"How about your mom", asks Sarah.

Dad met her in Hong Kong forty years ago, and she came back here with him.  In fact, she is still, to this day, appalled that I don't speak one single word of Cantonese.  

"You speak only English", says Jesús.

"And Spanish..."

The Peacock 321

 "Are you children finished yet" says Sarah, now every bit the prim librarian.

"Wait, I have just one more for us" Aaron says.

"Shoot", says Carl.

"Mommy mommy, what happened to kitty cat?  Shut up and pass the soy sauce."

"That is not at all funny", says Sarah.  "And it is really downright racist."

"I think it's funny."  The voice belongs to Tommy, who is quite visibly Asian, standing over us with a full pot of coffee.  Then, faking a thick Cantonese accent, he says, "Mo' coffee fo' yo?"  And then he bursts into an unabashed giggle.

"You white people are so squeamish when it comes to not wanting to sound offensive", he says, pulling up an empty chair to join us.  "You know something, my wife is white, whiter than the rest of you put together, and boy did I have to teach her to stop dancing on eggshells.  It was my mom who helped break her of it."

"You are married to a white woman?" says Jesús, but I think only to assure himself that he heard correctly.

"I am married to a white woman.  And she is beautiful  And she is a musican  And she is going to be performing here later today, for our coffeehouse night this evening.  You guys coming?"

"We'll talk about it later", says Carl glancing at all of us.

"And by the way.  If you think white people are racist, you should have seen my mom when she first met her future daughter-in-law..."

The Peacock 320

 "Hey Sarah", says Aaron.  "How about some Mommy Mommy jokes.

"Not on my phone" she says primly, taking it off the table.

"We can look them up on mine", says Carl, producing his own smartphone.

"Traitor", says Sarah.

Carl begins:

• Mommy, Mommy! Why are we pushing the car off the cliff?
• Shut up son, you'll wake your father.

• Mommy, Mommy! The milkmans here;
• have you got the money or should I go out and play?

• Mommy, Mommy! Can I get pregnant?
• Of course not dear, you are only seven years old.
• OK boys, same again...

• Mommy, Mommy! Why is Daddy bent over and crying?
• Shut up and eat your hot dog!

• Daddy, Daddy! What is queer?
• Shut up and unhook my bra.

• Mommy, Mommy! Daddy's running down the street!
• Shut up and step on the gas!

• "Come upstairs, son, like a good boy."
• "No, Mommy, you'll only throw me down again."

• Mommy, Mommy! My head hurts!
• Shut up and get away from the dart board!

• Mommy, mommy, can I lick the bowl?
• Shut up and flush.

• Mommy, mommy, I hate you
• Shut up or I'll eat you.

The Peacock 319

 "Okay" says Sarah, no picking on ethnic minorities

"How about a lightbulb joke?" say I

Aaron replies, "How many mice does it take to screw in a lightbulb."

"How many?" says Sarah.

"Just two", he replies, with a wicked grin.

"You're cut off!" Carl says, laughing.

"How much beer did you have, anyway?" say I

"I'm a cheap drunk", says Aaron, smiling.  Then he says, "What´s black and white and red all over?"

"A newspaper?" says Sarah.

"A sunburned zebra", say I.

"A nun falling down a flight of stairs", says Carl

"ew, that's sick" says Sarah.

"You ain't heard nothin' yet, kiddo", says Carl.

Jesús is still smiling.

"a panda with scabies", says Carl

"Gross", says Sarah.

"A race riot", says Aaron.  "Or how about three nuns in a bar fight."

"A chess match with a sore loser", says Sarah.

"A penguin in a blender", says Carl, laughing again.

"

The Peacock 318

 

"Time for some jokes", Carl says.

"Family friendly jokes, please?" implores Sarah.

"Adams Family friendly"

"How about knock knock jokes?"says Aaron

"You start", say I.

"Knock knock"

"Who´s there?"

"Crimea

"Crimea who?"

Aaron sings, "Cry me a river, cry me a river, I've cried a river over you."

"Oh please!"

"Oh  please who?"

"Oh please you!" says Carl laughing.

"Here's another one", Aaron says.  It's the  post thermonuclear war knock knock joke.  "Knock knock".

"Who´s there" says Carl.

There is silence.  Aaron sits stoically, resisting the little grin that is trying to take form on his pursed lips.  Soon we are all laughing.

"Have you heard the Polish knock knock joke?" says Aaron

"No, how does it go", says Sarah.

"You start."

"Okay.  Knock knock."

"Who's there?"

After she clues in that she has been duped, Sarah collapses in a paroxysm of helpless laughter.  "I happen to be half Polish, you asshole", she almost squeals while laughing with her head bowed, shaking all over....

The Peacock 317

 "You mean you are writing about us?" says Carl.  "You mean, that you write down everything that has happened here, after it's happened?"

"No", says Aaron, "I am writing about you while it all happens."

"Huh?" says Carl.

"Right now", says Aaron, "I am really seated in front of my laptop inside my little subsidised apartment in Downtown Vancouver, writing all of what we are doing right ow.  I am your author.  You are all my characters.  You are all my creation."

We are now enfolded all of us in one awkward and very uncomfortable silence.  I think we are all collectively afraid that Aaron just might be telling the truth. That we are but a parallel universe he uas been summoning into existence.

Tommy arrives balancing in his able and nimble hands five plates of pie, four apple, two with ice cream and one lemon meringue.  The lemon meringue is for Aaron.

"Aaron", says Sarah, whose apple pie is adorned with a fat white scoop of  vanilla ice cream  (Tell us this isn't true?  please?"

"I suppose I could lie.  But let me assure all of you, I have not merely invented you.  I have simply called you into existence.  And really, you all have always had existence, and now I just happen to be visiting you in your parallel universe."

"So, tell us something we don't already know", says Carl, scooping both ice cream and pie into his mouth.

Tommy returns with a full pot of coffee in one hand, and a tray balancing five pristinely white coffee mugs in the other...

The Peacock 316

 Cheetahs are affectionate, versatile, intuitive, observant, and receptive to new ideas (as long as they don’t contradict preconceived notions). This is a sign of deep thinkers with epic problem solving abilities. Both artsy and intellectual, they often feel misunderstood by their peers and society in general. Cheetahs question everything around them rather than simply accepting things as they are. Too often, though, they forget to question or analyze their own behaviors.

Despite a somewhat territorial nature, Cheetahs are sensitive individuals who prefer to avoid conflicts whenever possible. They have many positive traits, but they can also be judgmental, easily distracted, and socially unaware. They don’t have much of a middle-ground, and are often either “on” or “off”, meaning either funny, confident, and clever or depressed, self-victimized, and emotionally unstable

Aaron says, "Maybe the writer of this was recently divorced from a cheetah."

"Wouldn't surprise me", says I.

"She is right on about your being creative and intellectual", says Carl.

Jesús just sits there and smiles.  I can see the peacock feather tattooed on his neck.  Again I want to reach over with my right forefinger and touch it.

"Well" says Aaron, "She is right about the creative part.  You know, right now I'm writing a novel?"

"no, really?" says Sarah.  "What's it about?"

"It's all about you guys."

The Peacock 315

 "Okay", says Aaron.  "Monkey plus fish equals cheetah."

"Here it is", says Sarah:

Creative, intelligent, and curious, those born under the Primal Zodiac sign of the Cheetah are a rare breed who have the capacity for high levels of both artistic and mathematical skill. Thus, they are often interested at an early age in esoteric or unexplained mysteries of the world. Their questioning of everything sparks an early learning curve, and most adults will perceive them as gifted. As kids, they often find themselves preferring the company of adults to other children.

Like their animal namesake, though, those born under the sign of the Cheetah are quick to get going in life, but have a harder time staying ahead in the long run. Like the wild cat they often end up solitary and territorial, working on what interests them and only allowing a few select others into their world. Like all cats, they love luxury and pleasure and have an.  instinctive fight-or-flight reaction to challenges. They often isolate themselves in order to pursue their individual interests, but a lack of socialization can alter their personalities in unexpected ways.

"Yikes", says Aaron. "Is there more?"

"Oh yes! Ready?"

"Okay...i guess." 

The Peacock 314

 All Seagulls really want to do is have a good time, which can make it difficult for them to focus when it comes time to work. More than anything, though, Seagulls are loyal, so they show up and do their duty in return for enough money to provide the basic security that they need to feel stable. Members of this sign like nice things, but don’t need to have them. They prefer love and friendship over money or success, and will only really work if they have to, or if they find a field that they are genuinely interested in.

In most cases, Seagulls will reach a point in their adult lives where they will be challenged to start acting their age. On their own, they would be content being a college student for the rest of their lives, but even they know that their lifestyle is not sustainable. Seagulls find the daily grind of reality depressing, and there are few things more difficult to be around than a Seagull in a bad mood. This is an unfortunate truth that members of this sign will need to come to terms with. They attract people to them with their fun and easy going nature, but when they are down and out, Seagulls notoriously become moody, depressed complainers who can’t seem to find a glass that isn’t half-empty. This is part of the reason that others find members of this sign to be immature.

Seagulls are artistic by nature, and enjoy coming up with unusual solutions to common problems. They are also socially aware and consider themselves “free thinkers” who believe strongly in social justice and equal rights for all people. They don’t like to argue these beliefs with anyone, and others usually learn this quickly after a rare angry outburst or two.

"That is embarrassingly accurate", says Carl.

"Hey Carl", says Aaron", chuckling, "You're young only once, but you can be immature forever."

"Oh, will you stop", Carl says, now laughing openly and genuinely.

"That sounds like Germaine Greer?" says Sarah.

Carl turns on Aaron a wide and wicked grin.  "Your turn, buddy!"

The Peacock 313

 "Your turn", Aaron says, directing on Sarah  mischievous grin. 

"Quetzal?" she says.  "Yes, okay.  "Quetzal.  here it is."

Warm, colorful, and gregarious, those born under the sign of the Quetzal have personalities that are hard to ignore. Interestingly, they are not the loudest or most outspoken members of a given group, yet they are often the most popular. Quetzals seem to have some kind of magical “x-factor” - an indescribable trait about themselves that draws others to them, and draws success to their lives.

"Is that really me?"

"Oh, just listen to little Miss Oh Shucks, here", says Carl, "Sarah, that is you to a T.  Now it's my turn."

"Okay, Party Boy", she says chuckling.  "Here you are.  Seagull."

Funny, loyal, and magnetic, those born under the sign of the Seagull like to keep things light and easy. They are idealists who also want the world to be more idealistic with them. They like discussing their philosophies about life with anyone who shares their opinions, though they are not confrontational enough to want to argue with someone about whose opinion is right or wrong.

Some people consider Seagulls to be immature, which is partially accurate. Seagulls usually grow up with a specific role in their family and never really shed this role as they grow up. They will likely still do what their parents tell them to do, whether they agree with it or not. Seagulls take the attitude of “if it’s not broke, don’t fix it”. If they are comfortably secure in their current lifestyle, it’s going to be difficult to get them to change it.

"That really sounds like you, Carl", she says.  Wait, there's more.  Ready?"

the Peacock 312

 "So, Christopher", says Sarah, "Are you ready for this?  About porcupines?"

"Yep."

Intuitive, creative, and charming, those born under the sign of the Porcupine have a sense of nobility to them that they carry wherever they go. Like their animal namesake, they are home bodies who don’t look for confrontation but are also quick to defend themselves. Likeable, graceful, and lucky, they value comfort to a high degree and will often put it above all else.

Though they are often socially progressive, Porcupines can be very set in their ways. They usually are influenced by their parents and teachers at an early age and may stubbornly stick to ideas and philosophies that no longer serve them. Porcupines do not like change. They do not like to think that their perspective may be flawed and when confronted with the truth this normally strong and confident sign often sticks its head in the sand. Members of this sign justify basing their actions on their emotions because they feel very certain that they are fair people, and therefore their perspective must also be fair.

"Does that sound like you?" Aaron asks.

"In some ways", I reply.  "I hate confrontation, and I will defend myself when I have to.  I think my father really influenced me a lot with his kind of Christian values, and none of that has left me.  And I do tend to make decisions based on my emotions..."

The Peacock 3i1

 "October 3, 1976", say I.

"Let me see", says Sarah, scrolling her phone, "That makes you a Libra Dragon and you are also, a porcupine?"

"That means you have a lot of pricks!" says Carl, laughing boisterously.

"I don't think that's funny?", Sarah says.

"He's still a bit drunk, I'm afraid", say I.

"Only a little bit", says Carl.  "Hey, somebody order some coffee."

"I will ", says Aaron, who signals to the waiter.

"Let's have some pie", says Carl, like a teenager on an outing with his peers.

"Is it any good here?" says Sarah.

"Made from scratch", says Carl.  

"Hey Tommy", he says to the young waiter.  "What's the pie today?"

"Lemon meringue and apple."

"So, Sarah", says Aaron, "Read about the porcupines."

"Yeah", says Carl, "Tell us about your pricks."

Glaring at Carl, Sarah, "That's a little bit...inappropriate?" 

"Are you gonna tell my sister?"

"Yes, I am."

"I'll behave then", he says with a little smile.  He seems to be already beginning to sobre up a bit...

The Peacock 310

 "Does that sound like you, Jesús?" Sarah asks.

"I like food."

"Have you dug up and eaten any nice corpses lately?" asks Carl

"Pardon?"

Aaron translates:  "Recientemente, tú has cavado y comido algunos cadáveres buenos?"

"What!" he exclaims, then starts laughing.

"They also eat cobras and black mambas", I say.

"I guess it would depend on how they are cooked", says Jesús, smiling.

"What is a honeyguide?" says Carl.

"It's a bird in Africa that is said to guide the honey badgers to beehives.  But that appears to have been debunked?", says Sarah, though she appears to be asking.

"There goes the magic", says Carl.

For the first time, someone is playing music in the background here.  Pat Benatar, Love is a battlefield.

"So, are you really a honey badger?" Carl says to Jesús.

"No, I don't think so,  But I like honey."

"Close enough", says Aaron, then looking my way, he says, "Okay Christopher.  Your turn."

The Peacock 309

 "Here it is", says Sarah, "Straight from Sister Wiki."

"Sister Wiki?" says Carl, still slightly inebriated.

"Wikipedia", says Aaron

"And what does she have to say?"

Sarah reads from her phone 

"The honey badger, also known as the ratel, is a mammal widely distributed in Africa, Southwest Asia, and the Indian subcontinent. Because of its wide range and occurrence in a variety of habitats, it is listed as Least Concern.

Despite its name, the honey badger does not closely resemble other badger species; instead, it bears more anatomical similarities to weasels. It is primarily a carnivorous species and has few natural predators because of its thick skin, strength and ferocious defensive abilities."

"So, why is it called a honey badger?," I ask.

"I would imagine they eat...honey?" says, or rather, asks, Sarah...

The Peacock 308

 "Your turn, Jesús", says Carl.

"Fifth November, 1986." Sarah scrolls on her phone.  "Honey Badger", she says.

"What the hell is that?" says Carl, who appears to be already feeling his beer.

"You're cut off", I say, pulling his glass away.

"I'm not finished yet".

Aaron says, "Dude, if you are driving us back from here, then you are finished."  He signals to the waiter, a different man today, younger, maybe the son of the proprietor..  "We've all had enough beer, he says to him, could you take it away please?  His glass too."

Carl tries to grab for his glass .  Sarah intercepts.  

"Hey", he says, "You're worse than my sister."

"You should be so proud", she says smiling demurely.

"Carl", says Aaron, "You are already on your fifth glass, and I think you have already crossed the legally impaired mark.  So, if no one minds, I am going to recommend that we stick around here an extra hour or so for you to sober up."

"What a bunch of spoilsports!"  He is becoming aggressive.

"I could drive", says I.

"You'll do no such thing", Carl says, boisterously,.  "You are a guest."

"And you, Carl", say I, "are already half-pissed.  Aaron is right.  We'll hang out an extra hour, then we should get back all in one piece.  Agreed?"

Sullen, Carl has already descended into a half drunken sulk.

"Agreed?" says Aaron.

"Yeah, your wish is my command."

"So", says Sarah, "What is a honey badger?"

"Ask Uncle Google" says Aaron.

"That I will."

The Peacock 307

 "When were you born, Aaron?" says Sarah

"February 29, 1956."

"Wait a minute.  You're Leap Year?"

"That I am!"

"How old would you be now?" Carl says.

"Last year I turned sixteen."

"You are sixty-five now?" says Jesús.

"Something like that."

"So you're a Pisces" says Sarah.

"Pisces Monkey, to be exact.  Which makes me a Cheetah."

"So", says Carl, "If in my case, bull plus dog equals seagull, then why shouldn't in your case fish plus monkey, equals big fast African cat?"

"This is nuts", Jesús says with a smirk.

"So, what is your birthdate, Jesús?" asks Aaron, grinning.

"Pardon?"

"¿Cuando es tu fecha de nacimiento?"

"Do you also speak Spanish?" says Sarah.

"Aaron speaks excellent Spanish", says Jesús...

The Peacock 306

 Aaron reaches into his brown knapsack and pulls out a sketchbook.  He opens it and shows his most recent drawing, a lifelike colour sketch of the bird Sarah is staring at on her iphone.

"That is beautiful", she says almost in a whisper.  "Did you draw that?"

"I did".

"And that's the same bird.  What do you call it again?"

"Quetzal."

"And that is also my astrology sign.  But how did you know?"

"I didn't know."

"Then this must have been...foreordained?"  Sarah, I am noticing, does have that annoying teenage girl tendency of talking as though she is asking a question.  as though she isn't really sure of what she is saying and wants some kind of affirmation.

"I think it's hilarious", Carl says as he is polishing off his burger.  "First you're a lion, then you're a pig.  And that makes you, a beautiful fancy bird from somewhere in the freakin' jungle!"

"And that beautiful bird represents...me?" Sarah says.  "But, where do they really live?"

"Central America", says Aaron.  "I've seen them in Costa Rica.

"So Carl", says Aaron", when is your birthday?"

"April 23.  Taurus."

"What year?"

"1982."

"Year of the dog.  So, look up Taurus dog, Sarah, if you will."

"You're..a seagull."

"That's me, alright, a fuckin' shithawk," he says laughing as he reaches for his beer..."

The Peacock 305

 "By the way", says Aaron, directing at Carl, then gesturing towards his half-consumed burger, "I thought you guys were vegetarian."

"Melissa is."

"And you?"

"I'm flexitarian."

"Which makes you a dietary opportunist", says Sarah.

"Well, I usually don't eat meat, only when I come here."

"Does your sister know?" asks Jesús.

"Does my sister care?"

"So this place is your hideout?" says Sarah.

"Refuge would be the word."

"So, Sarah", says Aaron, "While you've got your phone out, do a search for primal astrology."

"Okay, she says.  "Got it."

"Now look for Leo and pig."

"Yep."

"What's it say?"

"Kwetzal."

"Show me", says Aaron.  "It's pronounced Kaytzal.  You don't pronounce the u, so it's Quetzal."

"Oh, what a beautiful bird!"

The Peacock 304

 "So", she says, swiping and texting on her phone.

"A needle pulling thread", quips Carl.

"Carol's line", I say.  "We have to get her on one of these lunches."

"Nope", says Carl, "Can't fit her in the trunk".  And now Jesús is laughing.

"That's mean", Sarah says, without expression.

"Accurate", I would say", says Carl.  .I'm not calling her fat by the way, just..."

"Rubenesque", I mention.

"Looks good on her", Sarah says, her eyes lighting up just  a little bit wickedly.

"I'm sure you would know," says Carl, like the boy always caught with his hand in the cookie jar, and simply relishing getting caught in the act.

"And we are not dignifying that with a reply", Sarah says, now stifling a giggle.  "Okay, here it is", she says, looking still at her phone.  "Tuesday, August 9, 1983 also happens to be...the day of my birth."

"It is also  the date of the nuclear bombing of Nagasaki", says Aaron.

"Oh my god!" says Sarah.  I never knew that!"

"So that makes you"sats Aaron to Sarah", A Leo Pig."

"I beg your pardon?"

"Your Western sign is Leo.  Chinese sign is year of the pig."

"Who knew?" says Carl.

"So, what is that supposed to mean?"says Sarah, still ignoring the food growing cold on her plate.

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 Sarah asks, "So you guys actually went to gay bars?"

"It´s where we were called", says Aaron.

"But how did it all began?" she asks, putting down her half consumed burger in order to give her full attention.

"With a vision in St. James"

"Of all places. Were you kneeling at the high altar"?"

"In the Blessed Sacrament Chapel in the back, following a mass, Tuesday evening, I think.  Early August, 1983."

"What date, specifically."

"It would have been the second week, so the second Tuesday in August."

"Wait a minute", she says, still not touching her food.  She eats almost like an ascetic, a nibble here,  taste there.  Complete opposite to Carol, who is rather like a pig with elegant manners.  "Wait a minute.  The second Tuesday.  She reaches for her phone.  To my surprise, Douglas never seemed to strip them of their phones or laptops, and that could be why he could never completely dominate them.  

I ask, "So Doug never tried to deprive you of your phones."

"Oh, he tried all right.  But he never stood a chance with us, I mean with Maureen and Jenn and me.  He did not know how to relate to women, and for good reason was quite terrified of us.  We alone successfully withstood him to the end.  Which means we never lost our phones.

"How did you manage to keep them charged?"

"Carl and Melissa to the rescue", she says laughing...

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 The food here is great.  These small, often Chinese run diners out in the hinterland are a vanishing species, but they still exist in places, well.kept secrets,  proudly obscured and hidden away, like quietly forgotten heirlooms.  This place hasn't yet discovered, or cared to discover craft beer.  Only what's on tap, today a light brown ale contained in two glass pitchers in the middle of the table.  Sarah and Aaron and I are all enjoying the veggie burger.  Carl and Jesús alone have opted for meat.

"Who would ever have imagined", say I, "That we would be spending a religious retreat stuffing our cake holes with burgers and beer in a small town diner?"

Carl takes a brief pause from shoving fresh cut fries into his mouth in order to reply, "One of our goals here, with Melissa and I, is to take the religion out of Christianity."

"Explain, please?" says Sarah.

"Where did jesus hang out?"

"Everywhere!" says Aaron, laughing.

"And, Aaron", says Carl, "Wouldn't that be a subject you are also rather familiar with?"

"From the Community of the Transfiguration, you mean.  Yes.  We went everywhere."

"You guys spent a lot of time in gay bars and pubs, didn't you?"

"We only went where Jesus led us..."

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 In the car today we are five.  Sarah has joined us and is seated on the passenger side in the back seat, then Jesús, then I, staring directly at the back of Carl's head.  Aaron, as befits his status as elder, again occupies the front, and he is chatting amiably with Carl.  The conversations have been very mundane, superficial and rather cheerful.  No one seems to want to allude to any of the drama that has already happened today.  Today, it's back to the diner, but this time for burgers and beer.

As we were driving away from the house, Sarah was regaling us with tales  of what would  have been her two years spent travelling in Asia, Australia and New Zealand.  She loves the Japanese and the Vietnamese, but doesn't care much for Australians and even less for the men who live there.  But she still stayed there for more than a year, mostly in Melbourne where she worked in a backpackers hostel.  Still, all the drama today has sapped our collective energy, and really, all we want to do is escape into food. Burgers and beer, what could be more basic, or consoling, and even Aaron who is vegetarian is happy because they serve in that diner an awesome veggie burger, and I happen to know this because that is what I ate there while waiting for my ride from Melissa just three days ago.

Three days.  I can't believe it's been only three days.  How much can happen in less than seventy-two hours, anyway. Right now I am thinking of Kenny.  What would he do if he was alive and here right now.  And yet, he often does feel very alive to me.  I am also starting to wonder if he really did take his life.  I am hoping that tonight, Carl and I will have time to explore a little more of his journal....

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 "How are you now", Carl asks me.

I can feel tears steaming moistly down my face.  "Okay.  Better.  Much better.  Thank you.  Was that an exorcism?"

"Not exactly  But I could see that something had you in its grip. in fact, ten minutes after you were gone I began to worry.  I sensed that something was not right."

"Thank you, Carl  Thank you so much."

"Thank Jesus.  He did it.  We are just his instruments."  He is smiling broadly and warmly.

"Then I thank Jesus in you  Where did you learn to do that?"

"The community in Switzerland.  We are charismatics, and believe and experience the full presence and power of the Holy Spirit in our lives.  But there is a cost.  I mean, why do you think my sister and I are out here taking care of everyone rather than seeking our own lives and careers in Vancouver or in Amsterdam?"

"Divine service?"

"And then some."

He is sitting again in the rocker, swaying gently back and forth.  

"Who do you think has been maintaining that trail?"

"I am almost sure that some of the brothers are behind it.  When we meet this afternoon I will be posing a few questions.  Want to go into town for lunch again?"

299

 "And you weren't even tempted to test the margins a little."

"With something like that", says Carl.  "No."  Then looking at me very intently, he says, "Christopher, there is a lot that you haven't been told yet about this place, and most of it we don't understand either.  But whatever forces, whatever evil magic has been at work here, we dare not slip even one millimetre outside of the spiritual protection that still covers us here.  Tell me something, please."

"Go ahead."

"How did you feel when you were out there?"

"Not good."

"How are you now?"

"Still kind of icky."

"I'm going to pray for you, right now."

Carl stands in front of me, both his hands resting on top of my head, then he prays, almost in a whisper, "You foul, and vile unclean spirit.  I command you to release this man from your grip, to be bound in chains and confined in the deepest pit of hell, in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, the Living Word, the Son of the Father, and the Second Person of the Holy Trinity.  Amen."

And I feel something welling up inside of me, and a strangled cry exhaling through my mouth and my head drops down and I know that I have just been liberated from something very dark and very foul indeed...

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"You've never been there": say I, struggling to contain my surprise.  "What do you mean, you have never been there?" 

"You say it was an open trail."

"Yes."

"Not at all overgrown."

"Nothing."

"You would say that it looks well maintained."

"Yes."

"And the trail doesn't go anywhere else.  It ends at the meadow."

"It appears to anyway..  Carl, tell me something, please."

"Go ahead."

"How could you have lived here all this time, and never known about that trail?"

"Well, first of all, this is a big place.

"But surely, while taking care of the grounds, and maintaining the trails, you would have come across that opening?"

"That was the responsibility of the brothers in the community.  We each took on different responsibilities"

"And no one even told you about it."

"No one told you...anything?  Not even your father?"

"Dad only told us to never go off the property.  That it was very dangerous, nor to go anywhere in that direction.  I'm afraid that Mel and I have been only excruciatingly obedient..."

"