by Louise Klodt
Each setting was surrounded by a garden. The smell of the flowers reminded me of our South Sea islands. What really grabbed my attention were the ponds and miniature waterfalls, and all the greenery around them. The sound of water was relaxing. I was taking it all in and could have stayed much longer, but Andron seemed to be on a mission and hurried me along.
“I love what your people have done,” I said to Andron. “I think I’ll ask Dad if we can do something like this in our backyard back home. This is better than our fanciest restaurants. It’s like being in a fantasy.” Birds and huge butterflies flitted here and there throughout the gardens. I could have watched them for long time. I hope I have lots of them in heaven.
Next Andron took me over to a cluster of booths where chefs were preparing dinner for the gathering. When they spotted us, they came out and joined us.
“Chef Armanti, this is my friend, Mikey, from Planet Earth,” he said.
“Welcome, Mikey,” said Chef Armanti. We’ve been looking forward to meeting you. Andron’s been sharing with us about your planet. We’re very interested.”
“You must sample some of our specialties,” said another chef. “I believe you call them appetizers.” They all treated me like royalty. I didn’t understand why, but when they offered me food, I didn’t turn them down. My stomach was glad to help out.
“This food is fit for royalty.” I said. And I meant it.
Andron then directed me to other booths set up by artists and craftsmen.
“Some of our people have brought items from their shops,” he said. “I want you to select some mementos of your trip to Kandalaura. They’ll bring back good memories.”
“Andron,” I said, “I couldn’t possibly forget a thing. Kandalaura will always be on my mind. Ahh, even the smell of your chefs’ food is unforgettable. Tell them I said so too.
“I have to agree with that,” said Andron. “Now let’s go choose.”
I followed Andron from one booth to another. Everything I saw caught my eye, but I couldn’t choose. How could I just take things these people had spent so much time on? I didn’t feel I had done anything to earn them, and I had nothing to give in return.
Andron put his arm around my shoulder. “Mikey,” he said, “I know you’re having trouble with the money thing again, but our ways are different here. You’ve got to get over it. Let my people bless you. It gives them pleasure.”
I still couldn’t choose, so Andron had to choose for me. He chose sharp-looking T-shirts for me and my parents, and even for Ben and Mary. For my mom, he chose jewelry fashioned from wood and precious stones. He chose a special carving knife and Kandalaurean wood for my dad. For me he chose a book of paintings featuring the birds, butterflies, and fish of Kandalaura.
I looked at him and was going to say that he had chosen exactly what I would have chosen and then thank him.
“I know,” he said before I could speak. “And you’re welcome.”
“Andron,” I said, “I’d like to write a little thank you note to each artist and designer. I think I saw some stationery in one of the booths.”
“Great idea, Mikey,” he said. “My people will love that, especially since it’ll be written by someone from another planet. It’s like getting an autographed baseball from one of your star athletes,” he said.
We located some note cards, and I began writing.
“I think it’d be a good idea to run these gifts over to the transport,” said Andron.
I was beginning to wonder if my stay was being shortened. Andron seemed to be on a mission to show me everything he could really quickly.
As I was finishing the last note, more people were beginning to gather on the field. The men and boys wore shirts like we might see in Hawaii. The women and girls wore brightly colored skirts with layers of ruffles. One little girl wore a top covered with butterflies. I thought they were real because they flapped their wings.
“That’s my cousin, Juliana,” said Andron. She designed it herself and engineered the butterflies so they would move. She’s only five years old, but we never know what she’s going to come up with next. On your planet you’d probably say she’s a very ingenious little girl. Did I get that right? You have so many sayings on your planet.”
“I’m shocked at her talent.” Something was happening to me inside. I need to work harder to use my God-given talents. I’ve gotten too comfortable. I’m never going to be the same after this visit.
“Don’t be too hard on yourself,” said Andron. “Do the things you have a passion to do, and do them well, but don’t forget to enjoy yourself while you’re doing them. Maybe that’s something you can learn from my little cousin. She’s like a ray of sunshine wherever she goes because she’s so happy doing whatever she does.”
“Wow! You’re really giving me food for thought. I don’t remember thinking about deep stuff like this back home. My brain might be frizzled out by the time I get back.”
Andron laughed and introduced me to some more friends and relatives. He especially wanted me to meet the musicians before they started playing.
He led me to the end of the field where they had built a stage. Musicians were seated to one side of the stage.
“They’ll want you to see our musical instruments.”
“I’d like that. I’m learning to play the trumpet in our band.”
So we headed for the stage. More people had gathered now. There was a lot of chattering and hugging going on. I had no idea what this celebration would be like. But the people were laughing and having a good time already, so I decided it could be a good thing, not something to dread like I do when we have “get togethers” back home.
Andron headed toward the musicians, and I followed. They were warming up.
They sounded pretty excited.
“This is my friend, Mikey, from Planet Earth,” he said. He seemed rather proud of me.
The musicians greeted me warmly, the same way the chefs had done They gathered ‘round us and seemed super interested in anything I said. I didn’t know whether to feel special or like a unique animal in a zoo, but I didn’t take offense. I knew they were genuine.
“I‘d love to hear how these instruments sound if there’s time,” I said. Some of them were completely new to me.
My interest pleased them, so one by one or in small groups they played short little pieces for me. I liked talking to them and learning about their music. Some of them even let me give their instruments a try. We all laughed when I could barely get a squeak out.
I think the stringed instruments were most like the ones we have on earth. Some violins had eight strings and could be played in three part harmony all at the same time. I think the bows were made of horses’ hairs like ours. They looked similar, and I know they have horses on Kandalaura.
Most of their horns were much longer, and some of them could also play three part harmony. The sound was regal, as if they were announcing an important event like the Olympic Games. One instrument looked like our saxophone, but had more twists and keys. I didn’t try to play that one.
The percussion instruments took my breath away. There was a semicircle of huge drums behind the other players. These sounded like Asian drums and our tympani. There were Irish sounding drums too, but I didn’t see any snares. They invited me to play the biggest drum. Wow! What a thrill just to beat on it a few
times!
There were also instruments like our xylophones and marimbas. They were hung vertically and ranged in sound all the way from the marimba to bells and chimes. When they played these with some of the stringed instruments, I thought I was in heaven. Of course, I’ve never been there, but that’s what it seemed like.
I was curious about another instrument that was shaped like a bamboo pole, hollow inside except for seeds. When turned upside down, it sounded like rain falling. It also had another use. When they were pounded on the wooden stage to a certain beat, they sounded like an army battalion marching.
“These musicians are always creating new instruments,” said Andron. “We never know what they might bring to the next celebration.”
I thanked the musicians for sharing and taking time with me. I shook hands with them all. I don’t know if that’s their custom, but they seemed pleased.
“They really make me feel special,” I said to Andron, “even though I’m only eleven. I know I’m just a normal person, but they make me feel like I’m some kind of dignitary or something.”
“They like you,” said Andron. “And you’re from another planet. They’re glad you’re here for our celebration.”
“Speaking of celebration,” I said, “what exactly are we celebrating?”
“Well, we celebrate our Creator, first of all, because He made life on this planet possible. Then we celebrate life in general, family and friends, and just being able to enjoy each other like this. Does that make sense?”
“Sure,” I said. “On our planet, it seems like we do more competing than celebrating.” I had another question too.
“Yes,” said Andron, without waiting for me to state my question. “Though we celebrate our Creator, that’s still different from our worship. You’ll see.” Then he said no more and smiled his smile.
I realized that their celebration and worship were things not to be described with words but experienced. That whole concept of what he was thinking popped into my head the moment he smiled. Am I beginning to read minds in this atmosphere? I wondered.
“Perhaps,” said Andron. “Perhaps.”
This whole mind communication thing seemed really weird. I suppose it could save a lot of time in the long run, but I still liked expressing myself aloud sometimes.
“I’ll never forget the sounds I’ve heard this afternoon,” I told Andron. “I’m looking forward to hearing more tonight.” I wish I could have recorded it, but I had no idea what their celebration would be like. I did know there would be good music and plenty of food. The food alone was enough to spur me on.
Chapter 8
I JOIN IN THE DANCE
ANDRON MOTIONED FOR me to follow him to the center of the field where the Kandalaureans had begun their dancing. We didn’t enter in, and I was glad because I just wanted to watch. Children were dancing right along with their parents. It was all about family and fun. Almost all their dances were done as a group not as individuals or couples.
First they formed two long lines facing each other, sort of like our line dancing at home, but their moves are different. Then they broke into circles facing each other and holding hands. Sometimes they would come together in the center with hands raised and shout a loud shout. Then they would all laugh. I don’t know what they were saying because they only translated when they were speaking to me directly.
Almost all their dancing was done in formations. It reminded me of our marching bands during halftime. If I had been riding in a helicopter over the field, it might have looked like a kaleidoscope with shifting shapes and colors.
At one point the women and girls formed a huge outer circle, and the men and boys formed an inner circle. The ones in the inner circle began squatting and kicking out one leg or the other.
“We borrowed that from your Russians,” said Andron.
“This must have taken hours of practice,” I said.
“No,” said Andron. “It’s all spontaneous.”
“What?” I responded. “How can that be?”
“Someone will step up as a leader for each dance. They all know his thoughts, so they dance in formation. If it’s a dance they’ve done several times, they don’t pay as much attention as when he’s trying something new.
Now they were dancing and singing at the same time. It was like some of our traditional Jewish dances and songs. At times the music seemed like that of the Far East. Not all instruments played each song because different sounds were required for each type of dance. Soon trumpets and guitars were playing Spanish sounding music, and percussionists were joining in with castanets and tambourines.
“Come on,” said Andron. “Let’s join them.”
“You have to be joking,” I said. “Trust me when I say I’m not the world’s best dancer. I’d rather play football.”
“Come on,” said Andron. ”Be a sport. No one sits on the sidelines here.”
“Andron,” I said stubbornly, “I m not even a good dancer on my own planet. I don’t have the slightest idea what to do here. I’ll make a total fool of myself.”
“That would be impossible,” said Andron. “You don’t understand how these people feel about you. Come on.”
Reluctantly I gave in but not happily. He didn’t give me any choice.
“If everyone felt they had to be perfect, it would ruin all the fun,” he said.
So we joined in. I did my best to keep in step. Once I started to get the hang of it, I had to admit that it wasn’t as bad as I thought. It just wouldn’t have been my first choice. Thankfully nobody was watching anybody else perform. They didn’t seem to notice if I got out of step. Or if they did, I guess they didn’t care. This was a celebration not a performance.
Finally it was time for the feast. Now that was something I could really dive into—total participation on my part.
“We’ll collect plates from our table and head for the food booths,” said Andron. That was music to my ears.
“Sounds good to me,” I said. “I’m right behind you.”
The setting his family had designed reminded me of the tropics. It was complete with waterfalls, ponds, fragrant flowers, and huge green plants.
“I could really grow to like this place,” I said.
Chapter 9
SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE A JERK
BEFORE ANYONE PUT food on their plates, one of the village elders began to bless the food in a loud voice:
Father, once again we gather to celebrate You and Your Son, Jesus. We are grateful for the many blessings You have poured out over Kandalaura. We ask You to bless this food, and we invite You to be part of our fellowship. Amen.
And all the people echoed, “Amen.”
No one seemed to be in a hurry. Slowly they meandered over to the food and filled their plates. Some tried samples. I heard oohs and ahs over the food.
There were actually some dishes that were similar to ours, like the beef kabobs and some seafood. That got me to wondering.
I looked at Andron and before I could ask my question, he said, “No, Mikey, we don’t kill our animals for food.”
“But this tastes like meat we have on earth,” I said.
“Though it’s permitted on your planet, we don’t need meat to survive on ours. However, we brought a few pieces back with us from your planet, and our chefs have somehow managed to re
plicate the look and taste of the real thing.”
That was a relief to me. Most of their foods were new to me and some even seemed strange, but they were all seasoned well and tasted delicious. There’s not much that can keep me from eating.
I was in the middle of my munching when I realized that Andron’s entire family was staring at me.
“Andron,” said his father, “how long has it been since you fed this boy?”
“Not that long, sir,” he said.
“On our planet, we all chow down, especially us growing boys,” I said.
They all laughed. They were not used to the way I talk. I was enjoying their company, yet I felt a little foolish and awkward at times. I didn’t like being the center of attention, never have liked it.
“I’m glad to see you’re enjoying yourself,” said Andron’s mom, trying to smooth things over.
I was still a little embarrassed, so I slowed down and changed the subject by complimenting them on their landscaping.
“You guys sure know how to throw a party,” I blurted out.
Again they laughed and smiled, and we all continued eating. By now Nicholas, Andron’s older brother, had joined us.
“We’re glad you’re here, son,” said his father. “It’s great to have the whole family together again. But what happened to your quest for exploration? I thought you were going to keep looking till you discovered other beings in the universe.”
“I was,” said Nicholas. “But after a while, I began to wonder if my goal was futile, so I asked Jesus.”
“Wow!” I said. “I keep forgetting that you guys actually see Him and talk to Him. Did He tell you?”
“Actually, He did,” said Nicholas, “but His answer surprised me.”
“How so?” asked his father.
“Well, He said that at this time, we are the only two planets with spiritual and intellectual beings on them. That made me wonder why He created so many galaxies and planets.”
