The Peacock 1992

Curiouser and curiouser"say I. "I assumed we would be staying at least a few days." "Following breakfast tomorrow", says Amaris, "We are to leave, all of us." "I am a bit annoyed", says Francois, " That we can't be magically teleported back to where we were abducted from." And he is visibly indignant right now, as I am also struggling to not feel. "That's the way it alway works", says Kenny. "The way he explained it to me, it is so we can re enter normal life more grounded in concrete reality. That's the way it's always been for me, because, like Amaris here, I also live part time outside of here." "You're still part of the real world?" say I. "Oh yes, but under a different name and identity of course because Kenny is now legally dead. I live three weeks every month in Duncan where I run a flower shop..."

The Peacock 1991

I don't know how this happened, but suddenly Kenny and I are both seated in comfy chairs facing each other in the library.  There are cases of shelved books in row after row after row, with little cubicles and covey holes of comfy chairs and tables.  Much like the Vancouver Public Library downtown, only way more elegant. "Weren't we just having dinner?" say I, and I am a little bit indignant that I left my dinner half eaten. "I am just as surprised as you are, Chris", he says wistfully.  "I have been here twenty-five years and I still haven't got used to this place.  "How about coming back with me?"  Right now Amaris is approaching us with a tray laden with three full plates of food.  She places them on the table next to us, then pulls up an empty chair for herself. "Jesus has given us three permission to leave here tomorrow", she says.  "He has given us five permission to leave tomorrow", announces Carl's voice as he and Francois place themselves in the two other chairs with their plates in their laps...

The Peacock 1890

"Will she be here for the rest of her life?" Francois asks our lord. "Amaris", he says, "How would you like to answer that?" She pauses, while scooping some Greek salad onto her plate, then after putting a kalamata olive into her mouth and spitting the pit onto her plate, says, "What is your will, my lord?" "When you visit your parents, remain there until you get the call to return.  If you have to wait longer than forty days, I will come to visit you there and then we can discuss your future.  Your service is invaluable to me, to us, but you do not have to be here to serve, nor to live in my presence.  I am with you always." "What about us?" says Jennifer.  "Why were we brought here?" "All the others from your household will be joining us here", says Jesus, then adds, turning to Carl, "Including your sister, Melissa, and your mother, Astrid."