The Message

She hurried down the street through the neighborhood where she grew up with purpose. It had been awhile and it was further away than she remembered it being. It was his birthday and she couldn’t be late. It was strange, she thought, I’ve got that same old feeling I used to get whenever I was worried about something. Racing heartbeat, sweat dripping down my back. God almighty, I haven’t felt this way for a long time. AND time is closing in and I am not ever late and now…? I can’t be late. I’ve been late before but this is the day I’ve been waiting for and I won’t be late. The heat steamed off of the cement and the street seemed to go on forever. This was the same sidewalk that she and her cousins had walked back and forth to school every morning but the way seemed further now. Her cousin Alyssa was giving a Halloween birthday party for her and Ron’s 5 year old son, Teddy. She couldn’t wait to see his big brown eyes and hair. He had been a baby when last she had seen him. She felt happy all over just thinking about who and what she was about to see. Some of her lifelong friends from school days would be there too. They had always been a team. She could see them waiting for her and she picked up her gait. Hurry hurry.

Crowding her thoughts were all the times she had spent with her cousins and best friends, sisters Alyssa and Molly. Members of their families – grand parents, aunts and uncles and cousins had all lived on the same block – or at least most of them. Alyssa and Ron had actually moved into Grandma’s house after she and grandad had passed and that was where she was heading now. Memories of happy days of her childhood. She could remember Grandma’s big yellow two-story house - It was the biggest house on the block – the yard filled with flowers blooming everywhere on a summer day – every passerby stopped to gaze at them and best of all a giant maple tree out on the side of the big corner lot filled with song birds in the summer and a wide wooden swing dangling from its branches. Grandad, sweet grandad made it for the hoogie boogs – his name for the us grandkids. I could hear the sound of our voices and the creaking of the swing as it swung back and forth under those leafy branches. And what was that song that we always sang – what was it? Oh right, John Jacob Jingle Heimer Smith. His name is my name too. Whenever we go out the people always shout. HEY! John Jacob Jingle Heimer Smith! Tra la la la la la la and then again. The creaking of the swing, the cool breeze blowing my blond hair. Gram coming out the front door with glasses of fresh squeezed lemonaide – a little sour. One of us would run to hold the door and then we kids would all sit there on the porch swing sipping the lemonade out of jelly glasses and swinging with our dirty barefoot feet sticking out in front of us. Aww but now time was flying by, and she knew she still had a ways to go.

Miles away from the woman rushing towards Teddy’s Halloween birthday party, in a ditch beside an old blacktop two-lane highway, a bus is nose down with clouds of heavy black smoke pouring out from under its hood. And right about now the passengers are getting some bad news. “Sorry folks but it don’t look good. We’ll just have to wait and see if somebody goes by that can hep us.” The bus driver closed his eyes and shook his head. “Never agin,” he says to himself under his breath. Just then a belch of smoke and oil explodes spattering oil, grease, and dead bugs all over the windshield. Cries go up as the passengers show their anger and distress.

But one passenger has already figured it out way back when the first belch sounded from under the old bus and it headed for the ditch. He had jumped up from his seat, reached up, grabbed his duffel bag from the overhead, pushed open the side doors of the bus and is already heading down the road. He hears the explosion and knows he should go back and help but he can’t – not today. Oh no, As he turns around towards the oncoming traffic, he throws out his arm, thumbs out and keeps moving backwards. He’s a man with a mission. No matter that he has one bum leg and walks with a crutch. No matter that his bag is heavy. No matter that the heat is unusual for this late in the season. I can and I will, those words repeat in his head with every step. The bus in the ditch grows smaller behind him as cars begin to whiz by without stopping but he keeps going. Nothing’s going to stop him now. A broken down vehicle is no big thing to a private 1st class fresh from Viet Nam after two years of fighting in a jungle, he thinks. And no way am I going to miss surprising Alyssa and Teddy on this day – It’s his 5th birthday!! No Way!

Just then, down the hot and dusty highway, an old truck comes rattling along blowing smoke out of the exhaust. Long ago red paint shows in spots where it hasn’t rusted off and the front bumper seems to be hanging on by some miracle. It rushes by spewing dirt from the blacktop and then it screeches to a stop fish tailing the back end. The soldier on the side of the road turns and with a glimmer of hope starts pushing towards the truck that has started backing towards him. A gravely voice yells out through the open windows, “Hey there soldier! Where ya headin?”

“Evermore Sir!” The hitchhiker hobbles up to the truck and grabs the window to hold himself up.

“Well climb in soldier. I’m heading that way.” With that, the old man cranks open his door and heads around the truck, grabbing the bag from the young man and then with a hard grunt heaves it up into the truck bed. This is followed by a hacking cough that bends him over for a spell. Pulling back up and wiping his mouth with his sleeve, the old man throws out a knarled hand with a big toothless grin. I’m Edgar Wilson – glad to make your acquaintance my man.”

“I’m Ron Hadley, Sir. I’m glad to meet you too. And I’m trying to get home in time for my son’s birthday Sir.”

“Just Edgar son. Not sir.” And he wheezed again and mopped his wrinkled brow this time with a dirty handkerchief. “Climb aboard!” After they are all settled in the torn leather seats of the old truck, Edgar grabs the wheel and turning to his passenger says with a wink, “Hang on! This ole truck has seen a million miles and she’ll get you there in plenty of time, I gar on tee ya! Pushing down on the gas with his old brown boot, and giving an order as if to a horse “Let’s hit it Clara!” The truck lurched forward, groaning as if in pain and they were off – truck, driver, and soldier, the last hanging on tight with both fists with a grin on his face down the dusty highway wind blowing dust and heat rising from the blacktop ahead.

While back on that street, the traveler can just now see the big yellow house on the corner with the giant tree showing over its red roof as it comes into sight. Life is going on and the energy can be felt as party guests are arriving. Children and their parents are scattered on the porch, in the and in the grass along the side of the yard as guests go in and out of the house. Voices and laughter and the screen door as it bangs shut, fill the air. Laura feels joy and absolute love bursting within her and as she draws nearer she can see and feel it – just like she remembers it. But the house has changed - its now yellow with green shutters -not white, a brass plate now hangs from a hook with the number 2247 swinging out from a fancy black rod ironed hook and the front door seems larger. And then she sees the potted mother-in-law plant sitting next to the door in the big blue pot as always. Yes, I’m here, she thinks and she is stepping through the door into the cozy living room. Laughter is so bright and loud that it fills the space and stops her for a moment. She feels herself being swept into the celebration. Parents and children are making noise. She can hear their laughter and excitement with an occasional whoop of one of the party goers. Small children everywhere. Time! Hurry! A lur of faces. Am I too late? She sweeps the rooms looking for them in building panic. Where is he? Where’s Teddy? Where’s Alyssa? Moving through the throng of party goers, she suddenly hears it - the musical sound of a familiar laugh. Norman Davies! She sees him, her old friend from high school is here! And there he is in a circle of guests out in the corner of the family room. He looks up straight into her eyes and waves with that great smile and nods his head towards the back door. Following his nod she sees her - Molly – sweet Molly with her red hair floating in the air by the side door. She is glowing in the afternoon sun. The noise and children’s laughter fade into the background. Beckoning to her, Molly turns her head and nods out into the yard towards the tree. Laura can feel time beginning to be picking up speed. It is almost time and she is here but where’s Alyssa? Out in the yard, the party is in full swing. A group of small squealing energetic children are gathered around the old giant maple tree taking turns on the swing. Squeals of laughter spike the air. Molly has moved out and is waiting just on the step by the back door. Autumn leaves shower down in the afternoon sun. “He’s there,” Molly whispers sweeping her arm and pointing at a small boy who is chasing a black and white puppy across the yard through the piles of leaves. Teddy has left the shelter of the big maple and the other children on the swing and is now skipping happily after a puppy in the direction of the far corner of the yard towards the mailbox on the curb. Laura can hear his soft voice carry over the breeze, “Raffy! Raffy come back.”

Suddenly – a loud voice from the doorway, “Where’s Teddy?” And there’s Alyssa shouting to nobody in particular and everybody in general who are out in the yard. Cupping her hand over her eyes she calls again. And then spying him on his way to the curb, she begins calling louder, “Teddy? Teddy, come now. It’s time! Time for cake!” But he doesn’t seem to hear her calling. Laura looks towards the children under the big maple tree, as the stop and looking towards the voice in the breeze, they pause in their play and gather around somebody she knows well. Laura can see Julia, her roommate from State college and Ron’s little sister. She is gathering the children together with her arms spread like wings around them. Soft and musical, her voice carries over the breeze, “Children go now. First one to the cake gets a PRIZE!” With cheery voices, the children start all running for the door with rambunctious delight.

And a block away, the old truck careens off the [ lost passage ] Bridge on the edge of the town of Evermore, rattles down the street and swerves around the corner on two tires onto Henderson street. Inside the truck, Ron who is just finishing giving Edgar the directions to his house, cuts to “Hey old man! What the hell?”

But Edgar is no longer conscious. He has coughed one final cough and has fallen forward cracking his forehead on the steering wheel and in the doing, has pushed down hard on the gas with his boot sending the old truck rocketing down Henderson Street. To his horror, Ron can see his house down the street full of people and there’s Teddy happily skipping towards the mailbox on the curb right in line with this truck that is now heading at top speed right in line with the boy, the mailbox and a puppy. And then a clear commanding voice from inside the truck brings Ron to attention,“Soldier Grab the wheel, turn it hard to the right. NOW! STEP ON IT!” The voice of Sgt.Norman Davies his squad leader – a voice he will never forget is speaking to him now.

From the yard with the party in full swing, Alyssa’s attention to Teddy chasing the puppy is suddenly switched to the children who had been playing under the tree who are now suddenly racing towards her at the door.

Laura feels the earthly mantle that has protected her in her journey to earth begin to fall away as she leans into Alyssa and speaks in a soft but firm voice, RUN to the MAILBOX ALLYSA! NOW! RUN!”

Alyssa hears the voice followed then by the sound of a backfire coming from down the street. Jerking her head towards the sound she becomes instantly aware of the the tragedy that is just about to happen. The old truck is rocking from side to side at full speed towards the mailbox now and Teddy and the pup!.

The time has come. And then everything happens at once.

Pushing himself over Edgar in the front seat of the truck, Henry grabs the wheel jerking it to the right hard throwing the truck off balance. It jerks to the right and begins to fall over to the left side throwing Ron out the drivers door as it swings open. And just as it seems to teeter before falling, the old truck rights itself and at full speed races down the street angling straight towards the curb, the mailbox, the dog, and Teddy. Ron scraped and bruised jumps up just in time to see his little boy chasing a pup who suddenly stops and as if in slow motion changes direction and ducks behind the mailbox causing Teddy to turn and run after the dog, a split second before the truck jumps the curb hits the mailbox barely missing the child before it races full boar across the yard and crashes with a mighty crack right into the old maple tree. There’s a moment when the giant tree moves slowly before beginning its fall at first as in slow motion and then gathering speed, comes crashing down above Alyssa who is now running under it towards Teddy. In that split second before the tree crashes to the ground, her hands reach out to her little son, swooping him up in her arms before falling face down in the grass inches out of reach of the fallen tree.

That was the moment when time stood still. The air, filled with the sound of the sounds of the universe - strings and the glow of sparkling stars for just that moment in time. From above a man could be seen crawling towards a woman who is cradling a small boy with a little dog next to a broken mailbox; a massive tree with a split trunk vibrating from a fall on the yard sending up energy into the air. The truck high-centered on the trunk of the twisted tree still with its wheels spinning. There is silence. All sound is frozen.

And then the moment passes.

Time starts up again with a blast and noise and screams break the air.

The sound of a mother’s voice“Oh my god, Alyssa sobs as she squeezes Teddy to her breast while both rolled in the leaves.

“Mommy don’t squeeze me so hard,” he wailed.

“Why oh why did you go out in the street? You know better!” Sobs mixed with hysteria.

“The lady told me to.”

“What lady?”

“His tiny voice “Mommy I saw her - a golden lady. She said her name was Molly. She called to us – me and Raffy.”

And there it was.

Voices. There was the voice of a woman sending the children inside to the cake. But was not thought of again.

A man struggled up from the yard. He had been thrown from the truck. He kneeled down and wrapped his arms around them. They were inches away from the massive trunk of the fallen maple.

Some were heard to say that day that they thought they saw a glow like the air was full of stars right before the truck hit the tree. Others said that they heard the sound of music like musical strings buzzing in their ears and then was gone. “Shock can do that to you,” one of the guests was heard to say.

Laura was still above as time was spinning like gold. The group in the yard, the sounds of voices and sirens and dogs barking was sharp at first and then fading. Memories of long ago being pulled out from under a dock when Mollie and she were on a camping trip with their families by a 12 year old Alyssa, whose bright blue eyes staring into hers, her thoughts cascading. She could remember gasping for breath as Molly’s hand slipped from her grasp into the still waters under the dock. They were 10 years old. She could remember family faces coming in and out of her focus and a shrill voice from her Aunt Carol, their mother, “ALYSSA WHERE”S MOLLY?” And Alyssa, sobbing “I can’t find her mom!” Over and over the sounds of sadness. Molly, funny Molly with her red hair and funny laugh had drowned that day. Laura knew that she would have drowned too except for Alyssa who saved her by pulling her out from under that dock. Memories swept by her in a flood. The ticking of time, she could see Norman dancing at the Friday night Hop in the 8th grade with those gangly legs going every which way to the strains of Be Bop a Lula, She’s my baby, snacks on the sideboard provided by their smiling moms and dads. Then time speeds on. Graduation and college. All of us home from college waving goodby to Norman at the station all decked out in his Army uniform, full of anticipation. Big tall Norman left college to fight for his country only to return in a box two years later. He was a hero who saved his squadron out there in the unrelenting torture of the Viet Nam jungle. He was fatally injured that day despite the efforts of his 2nd in command, Corporal Ron Hadley who carried him on his back miles in the killing heat trying to save his life. But to no avail. Time was now spinning faster, faces, weddings, babies, Julie, Ron’s sister, dies from cancer, asking her brother Ron on her death bed to help her husband Jim to raise their two daughters. The two men trying to braid the girls hair for school without Julie and breaking down. Sadness.

The clear and vibrant sounds of our individual tones began to weave together into a deep and ethereal frequency of sound as myself and each of my teammates start to ascend. And our time is up for now. We are the soulkeepers on the golden thread as the scene below begins to disappear below. The four of us were sent here on a mission. I realize now that time is an eternal loop and our threads will circle around in time in other combinations, other moments. The other three have gone on missions before but this was my first time and I got lost at first in earth, sun, and air. I began to remember what it was like to be human again. Two Earth years have passed since Jeff, my husband and I and our three kids huddled that night in the basement of our home as the storm raged above. The air around us became heavy and filled with a sort of glow. It was as if we were waiting for something terrible to happen. And then the shrieking banshee of the wind exploded our world and we were blown into nothingness. I sailed away gripping my baby Tim’s little hand in the ragged air and then everything became silent. I can remember I was wondering there with Tim and then I heard it - the harmonious sound, a blend of tones from the universe. We were lost somewhere in a white nothing. I held tight to his tiny hand in mine. A soft voice, vaguely familiar, spoke to me in a gentle voice. “Let go Laura. You will see him again a promise. You will always be near him through eternity. Someone you love is waiting on earth for a new baby to arrive. His soul has a life but you must stay behind.” Tim, my baby, held tight to me with his chubby little hand and then I let him go. “Mommy, don’t leave me.” “Good by my darling baby. I love youuuuu.”

A circle of time in the universe. Alyssa saved me that moment under the dock so that I could guide her to save Teddy from the tree. Molly, her sister saved Tim/Teddy from the truck. Norman saved Ron so that he too could save Teddy. Julia, Ron’s little sister saved the children under the tree from the truck that was about to hit them. We are the Soul Keepers and now we are ascending on the golden frequencies – our individual notes blending in harmony. The earth is now a tiny blue marble in space. Those moments when pieces of the universe sparkle the place, time slows down so that our tones can separate and we can be heard. But we will return, in other times, in other places, in other situations with one another and separately.

Back on earth, crowds gather around the big yellow house on the corner as emergency vehicles blink their lights carrying Edgar to the hospital clinging to life. Halloween night descends on the place. Those who were there would recall a sound and then the boom of the tree as it crashed to the ground shaking the windows and knocking over dishes and lamps inside. Those on the outside of the house would remember for a while being stampeded by the children who seemingly all at once forced their way back into the house pushing and shoving towards the cake therefore escaping the truck and the tree. Ron sat and watched with his arms around Alyssa and Timouthy now Teddy with thoughts of that voice of his Sergeant inside that truck that saved Teddy. Alyssa heard that voice and ran almost like a voice from the past that saved her life and Teddys. But she knew why Teddy, heading towards the mailbox on the curb stepped to the right towards the “golden lady who said her name was Molly.”

As the guests began to scatter away from the yellow house and the big maple tree in the yard that was now roped off, the fireman pulled their big trucks back onto the street, the moon rose big and yellow high above, jack o lanterns began to shine up and down the street and goblins and monsters came out to trick or treat, and life and time went onward. Those who had heard the interwoven sound of strings and saw twinkles in the air as the moment arrived would most likely discount it as just a reaction to the shocking event themselves – or a hunch that their mind was giving them a message and maybe never ever think of it again. But those who heard the voices have an idea that death had been calling for them and someone spoke to them and saved a life. They would go about their lives with new purpose now for they all knew that they had been given a rare opportunity and with it came a responsibility to the people of the earth. Some of them would share their experience with others and some would keep it to themselves but all of them carried it with them for the rest of their lives and will always remember the sound of that voice they and they alone heard that day.

Teddy will grow up on that corner with his brothers and sisters and parents with love and care. They will plant a new tree to replace the old maple and fix the swing that their great grandad made. When it is time, he will go off to college and graduate with honors and then again and again many times. A brilliant scientist, he will be smart and creative and innovative and talented and he will be up for the job that he was handed in the life he is living. He had been chosen to find the cure that would save humankind and the planet. But he will be a hard one for the soulkeepers to guide – trying new adventures and escaping many pitfalls. It will take teamwork from his soul keepers to keep him safe. But that’s for another story.

Miracles occur to us or are they miracles or are they part of the grand plan? Hmmmm? But whatever, I say Don’t be afraid of voices in the night. Happy Halloween!