I sat back, leaning against Dommi with half closed eyes as my thoughts spiralled, mostly looking for ways and means and what problems we would have to overcome. Later on, once we were alone I got told off by all my loves for not fully enjoying the moment.
If you wish to read from an earlier book, from Book 01 to Book 10, use this link button to open the LC Book Index:
6871
“Robbie, I have a few suggestions and problems but, for now, I just want to ask, what about the ADFI?”
“What about it?”
“If all knowledge is going to be freely shared, does it mean we wind it up?” He shrugged and my voice tensed. “It is not just the ADFI Robert, it’s what it represents. You said we each had to pay for what we get from other species, are you changing that?”
“Perhaps it is time we re-examine our ideas.”
“Sure, I’ve got no problem with that. What about the other things, such as culture shock? If you are thinking about the Uplift series by Brin, don’t forget he mentioned the damage such a library could cause a number of species. There must be controls and trained people to run the libraries.”
He looked at me with surprise. “You’ve read them?”
“I read one, I liked it so I read the others.”
He sat up straight with a serious look, emoting concern. “I think we have a problem.” Everyone stopped talking, anxious to hear. “Samantha is now reading science fiction stories. I fear you are going to be inundated by new theories about the universe and she’s going to find hundreds of new problems to change our lives with.” Not everyone realised it was humour and he actually worried a few of them. I let him have his fun for the interim.
I don’t know if what I’m about to relate happened because of what Arthur wrote, or if it came about spontaneously. We were sitting at home when Robbie told us he is going for a walk. It was nearly midnight and we’d thought we were going to bed soon, so we settled down to continue our chats and games. He stood looking at us for a moment. Meli looked up at him and for once her eyes showed she was with us, not off in some weird world of hers.
“Would you like me to come with?” He smiled as she asked and offered her his hand. He did not lead her towards the river bank, as he usually does when walking, turning towards a copse that covers this side of a gentle hillside. As they walked up the slope she sensed he was widening his senses to feel the life scurrying around or sleeping. When they reached the top he turned around so that they sat facing the house.
Meli’s voice was soft and sweet like a song. “Ashiir still comes to check on the unborn city. She walks around, taking different routes, but she always stays out of the two avenues filled with our family statues. I guess she feels she is still responsible for it.”
“She doesn’t know how close I came to giving in. When I see her with Ordinx and their son, I feel proud of myself - at least I did the right thing once. For a female Anadir, she takes her commitments seriously.”
“She knows you were pampering the child she was when you made her responsible for the city, but she also sees it as your way of showing her how much you love her.”
He felt her mood deepen so he quietly waited, his arm around her. “What’s wrong love, is it a story?”
6872
“If we are going to live a million years, which are the most important, the first thousand or the last?”
“I’m not certain I understand. I’d say they are all important.” She did not respond so he thought a bit deeper. “The first? Because they influence how the rest of time will be?”
“Let’s take a hypothetical situation. Assume each person needs a million Euros to survive comfortably with his or her family. There is a family, wife, husband and four children. The husband has made his first million, has invested it wisely and is assured of a good life. His children are, from six years old to just newborn. He discovers an opportunity for him to earn another four million over the next ten years. Unfortunately it does mean he will not have any free time to spend with his family, not even weekends. He thinks to himself, if I go for it, I’ll have enough to give each of my children a million, so they’ll be able to live their lives as adults without worries and hard work. When he decides to do the business, he suddenly finds himself imagining his children growing up without him and he won’t be there to share the years of their childhood that he treasures. He doesn’t know what to do and agonises over it. He imagines his children as adults learning that he had the chance to give them a secure future, but he did not - the reason will not seem that important to them, they’ll only blame him for the miserable struggles they have to endure. They’ll say, it’s fine for him, he has his million, what does he care. The other side of the picture is that if they grow up without him, they’ll tell him, we don’t care about the money, what we needed was you to be there for us. How would you advise him?”
Robbie chuckled. “This walk was not a good idea, I should have gone to bed.” He caressed her cheek. “Love, the answer has to depend on the individual, what is right for me might be wrong for him.”
“What is right for you?”
He tried to imagine himself not having the time to be with us and he could not bear the thought. Then the protector side of him (nothing supernatural, just the same protective instincts every man has for his family) kicked in and he could not bear the thought of his children not having a secure future.
Meli waited until she sensed him trapped and without giving him time to find an answer, asked him, “Am I the failure of our family? I’ve spent most of my life creating imaginary worlds and writing them, as if my readers matter more than my family. Robert, I’ve decided I’m stopping. I want to be there to love and be loved as all the other girls are. I’ll do my writing later.”
Robbie was not the only one dismayed. Our Meli no longer our dreamer? Meli with clear eyes that look into our hearts and that is all? She would no longer be the Meli we love. I noticed that Cherine had closed her eyes and was partially blocking herself. I realised she’d sensed there is a deeper reason for their conversation tonight and she was trying to puzzle it out. Meli did not give Robbie time to marshal his arguments, walking off by herself.
After the usual meetings the next morning, Robbie asked me to go with him. We walked to the rocks by the side of the river where I often sit. Instead of taking the lower rock he sat on my rock and pulled me into his arms. “Sam, what do we do about Meli? She’s not willing to listen to any of us.”
I clamped down on my thoughts as I suddenly saw what last night had been all about. “Have you found your answers to her first two questions?”
“You think they explain her decision? I’ve already answered the first one. Is she using that to justify her decision? Sam, the first years are important, but she would be wrong to decide she can suppress her gift and write later on.”
“Dad, I’m not saying you should find answers, though it would help. What I’m asking is that you think about her questions and ignore her decision until you have. Meli is not the problem.”
“Who is. Me?”
6873
I’m trying to understand what is happening to Meli. Not being creative, I can only surmise that I am close to the truth. When there is a creative thought (a), it leads to a logically thought out (b), and then, somewhere along the line, creativity kicks in again, leading to a massive jump and the next thought is thought (t). Thinking of thoughts (a) and (b), then storing them away for the future is of little practical value, for then thought (t) does not come when we bid for it - it has to be a part of the inspiration at the time of thought (a). If we are lucky, (a), (b), leads to (c), (d) and so on, only somewhere jumping across the emptiness like a spark. Meli has tried to make a point, but now she grieves for the thoughts and ideas that are dying stillborn.
Cherine visited me in my mind and asked to visit Hesina. It did not take Hesina long to work out that she is not being visited, that Cherine wants to speak to me privately without anyone knowing we are having a conversation in private.
She threw bread at the ducks in the pond. “Sam, we’ve all tried to work out Meli’s objective, but only you have. Robert won’t and it is not fair to Meli to allow this to continue, you must help him.”
“I’m sorry I can’t, if I do, her sacrifices will have been in vain. Cherine, play a game in your mind and pretend she spoke with you, telling you what she told Robbie. If everyone does, the person she was speaking to just might see what she was trying to teach.”
She thought about it for a while. “If I am not the one she was speaking to, then tell me who it was. Perhaps I can help that person understand.”
I laughed at her obvious cunning. “If I refuse then you will jump to the conclusion that you were the target. I’m not playing that game Cherine, I refuse to tell you because I refuse to tell, that’s all. I’ve given the only hint I’m willing to give right now.”
“I’m going to treat your refusal as a hint that I am the target. If I’m not, I’m going to be very upset with you for wasting time and causing Meli to suffer needlessly.”
“Hesina love, would you like to take over for a while, it might be a good idea I take a rest here for a few days.”
I returned to find everyone sort of in love with Hesina - especially Angelica, Cassie and Jade. The refulgence of her personality had captivated them all, even pappou and others. As for Robbie, he frowned at me for hours! By evening I was starting to worry that nobody would want to hold me that night, so Robbie surprised me when he chose me.
Over breakfast, Meli kissed my cheek with honey-sticky lips. “I think I was being too enigmatic and you’ve only made it more difficult with your hint. You might as well explain it to…them.”
I went to sit in the garden and, having made up my mind, I waited there for them. They filed out with Robbie carrying his coffee and cigarettes. I had moved a chair so that the occupant would be facing me. Cherine sensed me and took that seat.
“Robbie, Meli was not really talking to you. The questions are questions, in various facets of your life, that you’ve had to face repeatedly and you’ve found your own answers - even though they do fluctuate, temporarily swinging in the opposite direction because of your or our needs. She was hoping that by others trying to help you, they’d be struck by a sudden understanding, freeing you of the need to vacillate.”
“Gosh, is she saying something anyone understands?” Jade was playing the fool on purpose as I’d been speaking while deep in thought. I grinned at her.
“In plain English, Meli was talking to all of us, but mainly to Cherine.”
6874
“I knew it! You tried to confuse me deliberately!”
“Since you knew it, then tell me, what answers did you find?”
She scowled. “You tell me.”
“Shall we go back in time? Let’s return to the beginning, the only time you were truly happy. I’m talking of those months you had Robert to yourself, not even having to share with Dommi or Wendy. They did not steal what you yearned for and as a little girl you had the wisdom to see that. Even now you still do, not once have any of us felt you resent us in any way. Yet, it was those months you were happiest, do you know why?”
“For a moment I thought you were suggesting it was because I had him to myself.”
“But that is the truth.”
“Samantha!”
“Dad, you’re not part of this conversation - your wives are holding a meeting, but you do not have a voting right. Cherine, you have not resented sharing him with anyone, so what was it you resented, what changed? Shall I give you a clue? Would Vincent have anything to do with it?”
“Vincent!? You’ve confused me.”
“I was only trying to give you a hint so that you make the breakthrough yourself - it would be far more effective if you did.”
“Vincent? Sam, I rejoiced when he found his healer and the protector.”
“Think Cherine, what were you then, you and your family? Weren’t you all that Robert cared about? Wasn’t life simpler and cosier? I see you still don’t understand so let’s start from the other end. Who and what is Robert now? First of all, he is our Robert and we are nearly all that matters to him. Nearly Cherine, not absolutely as it once was. He is leader of all the Cherinians, he is on a mission to bring back as many species as he can and he wants everyone to be a Cherinian. He has non-Cherinian talents to worry about and lately has even had to handle the future.”
“He did that right from the beginning Sam - when you decided to return to us as a soul.” I smiled at Laura and nodded my agreement. “Can you explain something that puzzles me?”
“Can it wait for later love, I’d rather get this over with before our loves make assumptions from what has been said.” She nodded in agreement. I frowned. “Tell me, what puzzles you?”
“We’ve never met a soul that can travel through time - how did you, as Le’sase and as Samantha?”
“As Samantha is easy, we’re all learning how to and I could have jumped from another reality. As Le’sase, I’m not certain…god! Robbie, you must have helped me! How could you create such a paradox!”
Struck by wonder but also amused, he drawled, “Well, I guess now that you and Laura have pointed it out, I’ll just have to see to it that I do so.”
I shook my head, trying to concentrate. “Cherine, think of Meli’s two questions and it becomes obvious. Robert has had to face those same questions with regard to us. Why has he changed then? Is it not because he is our protector? He has to see to it that we each have our million so that we have a secure future, even if he has to sacrifice what he really wants. He has no choice, but we do.”
“You mean we allow him to do it, but we share, be a part of what he does for us? I thought we were doing that, what more can we do Sam?”
6875
“Remember what Meli said, that the hypothetical father is damned whatever he decides? If he decides, as protector of his family, to make the sacrifice, the children will blame him for not being there for them. How often have we blamed him love? How often do we secretly feel impatient at all he has taken on? We need to accept that he is right, he has to make it safe for us and any children we have in the future. It is not only his duty, we have to expect it of him as a sign of his love for us.
Meli was only partly right, we do need to change and be his partners where we can by maturing a little, but she ignored something else that is just as important. The change must not only come from us, it must come from Robert also. Half his problem comes from his feeling resentment at the cost to our family life and the other half comes from his feeling guilty.” I turned to Robbie. “In the beginning we mostly stayed as children to cater to your needs and it did make us feel stupid on occasion. Now we do it for ourselves also, we like who we are in these childish bodies. You must not confuse the way we look and the feelings of needing to protect us with the fact that we are in all ways your partners.” I grinned at him as wickedly as I could. “You’ve changed all of us into paedophiles. I could not imagine loving my wives sexually the way I do if they were all adults. I also see the sweetness in their childish shapes.”
I did not think I had done a good job for Meli and was still trying to think of ways to explain further when we all sensed her sink into her dreaminess. Robbie kissed my cheek(!) and taking Cherine to him he jumped to a ledge. Before anyone could react I declared I had some studying to catch up with and jumped. Their laughter, love and pillows followed me.
We’ve decided to return home. We miss Michael and we’ve had enough excitement for the time being, we need to settle back into our family life for a while. After that I hope to check on how Sebura and his little girl are doing. We arrived home in November PC34, a good month, for it is filled with birthdays and a few anniversaries. Arthur talked about this being the tenth book. It feels strange that since the first page of this book only seven years have passed on Earth. Even if I were to ignore all else that happened while away from Earth, the changes here are amazing enough to write a book about - and many have done so. I did read one statistic that has astounded many and caused new businesses to mushroom by the hundreds. In the old days, a middle income family would spend between ten to twenty percent of their money on food. It was believed that with everyone having food machines it would now be about two percent. For nearly a year food purchases did drop drastically and over many years it increased to about four percent. Over the last two years it has shot back up to eight percent. There are hundreds of sites on the internet where people list their food machine menu and swop for a period for menus with certain other food items. There are also shops that sell new recipes for entering into food machines. There is also quite a thriving trade in designer coverings for the food machines, some of them works of art or expensively worked with gold, silver, gemstones and so on.
6876
Perikli and Savva are no longer in the police force, but they are now part of the Cherinian security group. They have Cherinians from all over the world reporting to them any signs of abuse against Normals by ‘gifted’ persons and where it is possible the situation is remedied. Perikli has married his two little girls (they are hardly ever over eight years old) and having them to love has softened him more obviously than becoming a Cherinian did. The three of them paid us a visit and about an hour later he sat back with a frown.
“Roberto, if Arthur Campbell is not responsible, trying to mislead us for his own reasons, then there is a trend that worries me. His number of followers have been steadily decreasing. We’ve checked with Michael and they have not joined the Ipohin and we know for certain they are not Cherinians.”
Robbie nodded. “He’s been concentrating on using his powers to grow his wealth, I’m not surprised some of his followers are feeling disillusioned - they had expected some dramatic action from him. I’m not worried on behalf of Campbell about those who’ve withdrawn to act on their own, what we need to find out is how many of them are forming new groups and what their strategies are.”
Perikli was enjoying the sight of his loves sitting among us. “If I were to form such a group I’d make it a rule that all of us must be children at all times. That would give us protection from you and Vincent.”
Robbie grinned. “If you do, let me know - I just might join you.” Perikli chuckled.
It really was not fair of him to ask us, putting us in the position of having to refuse him. I very much doubt that either he or his readers would have agreed to their lives being controlled by someone else, especially for such a trite reason, so he should not have asked. Still, although it angers me, it left me feeling I’d not been nice, so I jumped to visit Samuel and his family. I told him why I’d come.
“You do realise that you answered on behalf of many realities? He might have affected us all. I’m not saying for the better or worse, that depends; after all, you would not have had the Goldi Planet if you had not trusted him that time.” He carefully cleaned his brush of the lacquer and sat back to admire the wooden chest. “Funny how age makes wood grow lovelier, it seems to have a deeper glow, as if its essence has learnt to rejoice at being what it is - a pity it is not the same for people.”
“Not even Cherinians?” I teased.
“Not at this time, maybe in the future. Time just wears down the mind - I was going to say the soul, but that would not be true, it is our hearts that grow smaller from experiences that hurt us. Until we learn to see past that, we won’t be who we really are.”
I changed the subject, since he’d already given me an answer - in his way.
I stayed for a week, mostly spending my time with the family, but also visiting Cherine and her family. From what they told me, it seems they see Michael and his family more often that we do. Apparently all the alternate Teller families do, as he jumps on a regular basis to visit the Ipohin of their realities. I did not discuss the request of Arthur with them as we’ve already answered him and, any way, I was still trying to work my way through Samuel’s philosophical answer.
6877
As soon as I returned home, I found myself with Lynda, Robyn and Em-e, attending a meeting arranged by Aganthi. When we entered the room, the two women were already waiting for us. The one, Katrina, I hardly noticed, for the emoting of the older woman, Nitsa, was strong. Her face looked gentle and caring, but she was trying to control a hidden storm of bitterness that we found unpleasant having to share from her. Not once by word or gesture or look did she allow her bitterness to show or influence her. The meeting came about because Aganthi had sat at a table next to them and the two women were talking loud enough to be heard and there was such a contrast in what she was sensing and what she was hearing that she became curious.
“Kalimera, my name is Aganthi Teller. May I join you?” Flustered and excited they welcomed her. They felt uncomfortable talking with a child as if she is an adult, even though they knew she was older than they were and knowing they were speaking to one of our family frightened them a little. Aganthi tried to put them at their ease and then she asked them whether they seriously meant what they had said. Whether they had been or not, they now said they were, so Aganthi called for us to join her.
We were introduced, we ordered and then Aganthi explained aloud while also explaining directly to our minds why she’d really interfered. “Kyria Katrina’s son recently married and she is now left with a lot of free time. They were discussing the possibility of them becoming involved in some charity work and when I heard they want to help children, I introduced myself.”
We discussed various possibilities, but we sensed that the one woman was afraid she might be biting off more than she can chew. Em-e came up with an idea. “If we make a piece of beachside property available and get the permits required, would you like to organise a camp for poor children? The ADFI will finance three quarters of the costs. The camp would only be open three months of the year so you’ll have lots of free time to campaign for the funds you’ll be short of. Lynda, Robyn and I will help you whenever we are in Athens.”
As we discussed Em-e’s idea we felt their growing excitement. All us girls were puzzled when we sensed that Nitsa seemed to come alive at the prospect of helping children, but that her bitterness seemed to deepen. She is obviously a lady who controls her mind and thoughts, for no reason leaked out and visibly she only showed her excitement and determination to make the project a success. Although it has turned out that the two woman are close friends, we sensed that Katrina has no clue as to how her friend feels. Perhaps because I feel bitter, it has made me more sensitive of Nitsa.
Early November we celebrated the wedding anniversaries of Candy, Cassie, Irene, Theresa and Rosie. Candy has stopped making herself an adult for these occasions unless we are going to a night club to dance.
The birthdays in November are as follows, with date of birth in PC format and name of mother, where relevant:
11th Jade b: PC5 (parent: Robert)
14th Dommi birthday
14th Cassie b: PC5 (mother: Dommi)
14th Latreia b: PC16 (mother: Agapi)
14th Tserika, Alice, Assimé, Spice. All 6yo @ ‘birth’, in PC25
28th Claudia birthday
We had one official birthday party for all of them on the 15th of November (because it is a Friday night) so that a wider group of friends, governments and some of the non-Cherinian public could join us. We also had parties on the actual dates for the family, close friends and those who happen to be in Freddie. Robbie saw to it that Iziko was with us, even though it meant Candy spent much of her time with him. We did tease Dommi on her birthday, telling her that in a few years she will qualify for a pension. Robbie, being the spoilsport he is, asked Hettie to arrange with all governments that all Cherinians and Ipohin do not qualify for pensions at any age.
When one of us, or more, want to keep a secret, the rest of us are scrupulous about not peeking and avoid ‘hearing’ any stray thoughts. We don’t know if Vincent is capable of doing the same, but we acted as if he could. On the eve of 26th of December we celebrated the wedding anniversaries of Sol, Annavi, Maria, Ashia and Elpida but at midnight we turned it into a party for Vincent, in celebration of his becoming a personality on his own. All us girls made a fuss of him and each of us wanted at least one dance - taxing his endurance. As we returned to our home at dawn to sleep a couple of hours, Dommi asked Vincent to become a baby and she held him to her while we slept (in pyjamas of course ).
6878
The Greek civil servants must have gone all out to surprise us, for we received notification that the camp for poor children has been approved and a licence is being issued - on the birthday of Robbie. Robyn and Lynda called the two women and they agreed to meet in ten days time at the coffee shop.
After the meeting with the two women, we went to Themi and explained what Nitsa is emoting. It did not make sense, how could she feel so bitter without becoming depressed or hard? He suggested we do not interfere and wait to see how she will react to dealing with the children when the camp opens. We did not like the idea of leaving her to suffer for so long, but accepted his advice.
On the day we were supposed to meet, Katrina phoned to say she will be about an hour late. I suggested to the others that they also come at that time and I’ll keep Nitsa company in the meantime. I made myself about twenty five and going to Kifissia I found her waiting for me and I ordered a cappuccino. For once, she was in an outwardly good mood and obviously curious about us.
“I’ve read a couple of books about your family and they describe you as the one who asks questions all the time.”
I smiled. “I would not challenge the description. Don’t you ask yourself questions?”
“What for? I know what matters to me and I’m happy with my life as it is. Questions belong to the young, at my age they can only lead to bitterness or at best, dissatisfaction with the life I have made for myself.”
“I’m too filled with curiosity about life to stop myself. I don’t always ask the right questions but, if I don’t ask, how will I recognise which are the important ones? Without questions I’d have to conform to the expectations of others and I happen to prefer creating my own expectations. Looking back on your life, don’t you feel bitter about anything?”
“We all make mistakes so I assume everybody feels bitter about something - either about a mistake of ours or of someone else. It is not whether we are bitter about the past or not that matters, what is important is that we don’t allow that bitterness to rule our lives. I see so many who allow their bitterness to become a weapon to punish those who are innocent of wrongdoing.” She sighed. “So many women of my age have tongues as sharp as razor blades, as if the world is to blame for their own failures or dreams that did not come true.”
“When they hurt someone close to them, do you think it makes the bitterness bearable?”
“How could it? Avenging yourself on those who have not hurt you only damages you. I prefer to use my mind in more positive ways - just like the camp we are setting up.”
“Do you love children Nitsa?”
I felt the bitterness swell, but she smiled at me. “Would I dare tell a Cherinian I do not?”
I smiled. “You have not had a child?”
“I have no children. Life is like that, it does not give us everything we want. You have a daughter?”
“Gina. With us it is a pain, we all want children but, being Cherinians, we must not have as many as we want.”
“To be able to and not have them, that would be difficult.”
She changed the subject and the others arrived so we discussed the camp project. Afterwards I thought about how she’d deflected my questions and avoided answering me with the full truth. I wondered whether she’d wanted a child and was not capable of bearing one. I cannot use my healer to check without her knowing, it would not be ethical. It is unlikely, as somebody’s healer must have checked her at least once.
6879
The Ipohin council met and adopted resolutions that might be important. Because they do not meet as often as our council does, they have decided to debate resolutions made by our council and if they approve them, they will treat the resolution plus the background that brought about that resolution as having occurred and been decided on by them. The Cherinian council immediately asked that they reciprocate and also advise them of reasons for not accepting any resolutions they pass. The big surprise was when Campbell suggested to the media that both the councils should publish their resolutions for everyone to read. We’ve agreed to do so and a web site has been set up with existing resolutions in thirty two languages.
The Chinese invited us, as a family, to visit them as they have an important announcement to make. We flew there by a commercial airline so that we could officially arrive for their media. The officials who were supposed to stay by us to help secure us whatever we need or answer questions were obviously excited about something. Two days later we gathered in an enormous hall and I quickly pleaded with Robbie to bring Efineh and Irfan when I saw the Dalai Lama was on the podium with the Chinese leaders. Haven and Lynda, who were sitting next to me, gave up their seats and returned to our hotel. Efineh slipped her hand into mine when she realised why we’d brought them.
The previous Dalai Lama had refused our offer to link him as a Cherinian and then refused to allow us to keep him young and healthy, explaining that he has a number of lives to live. I felt my eyes fill with tears when I saw them sign a treaty and wished he was still around to know his dream has come true. Although China remains in control of certain aspects, to all intents and purposes the Tibetans are now a society free to live and practice their beliefs as they wish, with their spiritual leader allowed to live in their country.
We stayed in China for another four days, happy to go to their functions and even appear on a local chat show. During the night after the ceremony, we only returned to our beds just before dawn, but both Robbie and my loves chose me for the tenderest and cuddliest loving - nothing like the victory dance I’d expected it to be. They knew what I really needed, for I’ve been floating on a cloud for the last week.
If Nitsa had been with she would have laughed at me. We were at the Club Cherinián discussing the ‘bubble’ Earth. Somebody stated, as if it were a fact, that their society is static and they are at the end of the road if we do not intervene. I just had to wonder aloud whether it is also true of the Tibetans. That got Efineh going, no doubt mentally cheered on by Irfan, so I used all the arguments I could think of to prove that if they were isolated, in a thousand years hence they will be exactly as they were a thousand years ago. She made the mistake of changing tack and trying to prove that it may be a good thing. That got me going, I was not about to allow her to get away with that kind of thinking, not if she is to represent us in our effort of guiding those like Sebura into becoming Cherinians. When she left with Irfan we could sense she was almost in tears, so I told her I wanted to meet her the next morning and that Irfan should come with her.
I was not hostile, but I did not wear any gloves when I climbed into them. I first demanded to know why Irfan had not spoken the previous evening. Efineh tried to answer for him and I stopped her. I waited for him, so he smiled.
“You were only arguing for the pleasure of it, not because you were serious.”
“That is beside the point. Irfan, you are aware that I have placed Efineh under tremendous pressure. I felt more relaxed about it because she now has you by her side. However, I’ve noticed that even back at the centres, you never help her out. My question is, why? As for last night, do you think you could not learn anything by arguing, even if it was not serious on my part as you thought?”
“She has her own path to take Samantha, I do not want her to become a copy of what I think and believe in. We do have our discussions and I have yet to hear her argue something she believes, only what you do. As for my learning from arguing with you, with pleasure I’ll spend all the time you wish doing so, if you are being honest in your arguments and not just playing games as you were last night.”
6880
And I had thought butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth! I pulled Efineh’s face to me and kissed her cheek. “So, he wants a serious argument? Do you think I stand a chance?” She relaxed and taking his hand in hers she gave a negative nod. I grinned at her. “Efineh, I was more upset with you for not arguing effectively. You had in mind what your defence was and that prevented you from being attentive to my arguments. For instance, when I stated that if the Tibetans are isolated they will not grow, you should have attacked me by agreeing, but adding that it is true of any society - even of us Cherinians. Irfan is wrong you know, it is by debating our thoughts just for the fun of it that we learn and grow. If we have a debate while we are feeling too earnest and determined to defend our positions, that is when we do not grow. I think he is confusing me with the monks he’s had discussions with in the past. I am not here to teach him, all I want from a discussion or debate is that I grow. Sometimes, by my growing it helps others grow also. Those are the best ways of having fun as far as I’m concerned. Would you like to have some fun with me now and then?”
It was decided that for the birthdays of Meli and Rania we would have one party in Meli’s world. We had determined, a long time ago, that it is to be called the world of the Gillians but everybody, even Gilli, still call it Meli’s world. The Gillians were excited to hear that there will be thousands of all species coming to the party and Meli told us they are working like crazy preparing foods and drinks for everyone. The aliens who come there do so as Terrans so that they too can eat and drink with us. Afterwards, for dancing and having fun they often do change back to their own body shape. Robbie asked Meli to make certain that the Anadir of her world also come.
Meli blinked in surprise. “I thought you knew, there are none there anymore. They’ve either returned to real bodies on their home planet or are in the void with the other Anadir.”
Robbie stared at her while he sorted out his thoughts. “Then it must have been only a dream.” We were all startled, even Meli. We’d forgotten about his dream of the future. With no Anadir living in her world he had to be right. Cherine shook her head.
“It was not a dream, Robert, I think it was an alternate reality.”
“How? The only alternate Melinas’ there are come from our Melina and none of them have created worlds - that I know of.”
Cherine refused to give in. “Then we’ll meet her in the future. Your dream must have been very far in the future Robert, since her world was not in her mind anymore and our family was gone.”
“Our family or theirs?”
She smiled, relieved and happy. “Theirs.”
Dommi added, “You are both arguing based on logic something that has nothing to do with logic. Cherine, you are wrong, in his dream they said the prime family is gone.” Her comment took me out of my little cocoon of comfort that we’d woven for ourselves. Oh well, at least we had a fantastic party.
When we went to our next meeting with the two ladies, Robbie decided to come with. They became all flustered, even the accountant in whose office we were meeting. We gave them enough time that they felt they’d have something to tell their friends and then we began to concentrate on the paperwork. Robbie left within a few minutes.
As he walked around he looked at the people. As far as he’s concerned they are all potential Cherinians and he wondered once again why it is that people are so blind to their own potential. Since he does not get to walk in shopping areas on his own very often it took a while for him to notice that he had not seen a beggar. He worried about how they are surviving, especially those with children. He called to Savva and they met at a coffee shop. Robbie asked him where the gypsies live. Savva showed him in his mind a picture and Robbie asked why, why live among broken down factories and abandoned warehouses, when there is land with grass and trees where they can camp. Savva explained they need to be close to the metro so that they can travel to the suburbs for earning some cash.
I hope you enjoy reading this story of fantasy, adventure and love - and should some of it be true for our reality, I hope you will love our Cherine.
Αλέξανδρος Ζήνον Ευσταθίου
(Alexander Zenon Eustace)- posted: 16th May, 2020
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