by Liam Fialkov
“You know what?” McPherson said. He was disappointed, but still, he appreciated Michael’s honesty, “As you know, I don’t play music, and actually, I understand firearms more than musical instruments. Keep the guitar as a souvenir from me; I’m sure it will be much more useful if you have it than if I keep it and it collects mildew.”
“Thank you very much!” Michael responded. “I’ll take good care of the guitar, and if you ever need it, just call me.”
“Good night,” McPherson said. His sharp senses told him that it might be worthwhile to keep in touch with the honest young man, and that he might use Michael’s help in the future.
Chapter 28
Jonathan
Excel-Part, the manufacturer of car parts where Jonathan worked, fell into hard times and experienced severe financial difficulties. It was a mid-size plant specializing in producing parts for luxury cars. Operating its specialized machinery required skill and experience.
The employees were exposed to threatening rumors of a wave of layoffs, rumors that might have been intentionally spread by management in order to prepare the grounds. The workers were occupied with the issue; many of them expressed their worries of losing their source of livelihood. The possibility of upcoming layoffs was felt in the air and dampened the atmosphere.
Nobody was surprised when all the employees received a personal letter from Richard Tater, the CEO, whom the workers used to call “the Dictator.” In his message, the CEO went over the difficulties standing in the way of the company. He wrote:
“Dear workers of Excel-Part. Over the past few years, we have been dealing with several unforeseen difficulties. It includes tough competition from Far Eastern manufacturers, especially in China, along with changes in currency exchange rate that affect profitability. These hardships and others influence our ability to navigate our company in the complex economy of the twenty-first century. The tough competition has led to three consecutive quarters ending in a monetary loss, and that hasn’t happened in all of Excel-Parts years, ever since it was founded in the last century. I perceive our dedicated staff to be the most valuable asset of the company, which is why it hurts me to inform you that the Excel-Part family will have to let go of some of its dedicated workers.”
The employees read the letter, feeling worried and bitter. Many of them had invested many years in Excel-Part, and they didn’t see that their efforts and loyalties reflected in a fair wage. This was why they perceived the talk about a supposed “Excel-Part family,” as pious nonsense, which was not backed by facts. The hard working employees knew that the senior managers were receiving huge salaries and giving themselves generous bonuses. It was widely known that the top managers drove luxurious company cars and went on all-expenses-paid business conferences in expensive hotels and exotic resorts, along with their spouses or lovers.
Jonathan talked to his wife about the developments in the factory and expressed his concerns of getting laid off. Sarah tried to put his mind at ease, saying she had always had the impression that he was appreciated at his workplace. “And besides,” she said, “they need a computer maintenance person, don’t they?”
But he knew that he wasn’t immune from the layoffs, because he heard the human resources manager explicitly saying that an external company could easily replace some of the service personnel. He also knew that he could be replaced by a younger person who would be willing to work for a lower salary.
He survived the first wave of layoffs, which included mostly unskilled production line workers who had been with the company for a relatively short time. After about a month, when the financial situation didn’t improve, another wave of layoffs started, and this time, Jonathan was among those called to the office of the human resource manager.
“I have always appreciated you for your dedication and loyalty,” the human resources manager told him. She looked like she was in her mid-fifties, had a long, curly, bleached blond hair, sunken eyes, and an overall tough appearance. She had a reputation of being a trickster, who advanced her way over the years due to her ability to manipulate the people around her and pull the right strings in order to achieve key positions. She pushed her way also through demonstrating utter loyalty to the top managers, which was expressed in a willingness to carry out any policy and do her superior’s dirty work. “I always personally liked you,” she added, “but what can we do? These are hard times.”
Jonathan sat in front of her with a frozen facial expression and didn’t respond.
“Of course you’ll receive a generous severance package that contains unemployment benefits, as well as a letter of recommendation. I wish you all the best.”
Jonathan shook her hand and left the office. He walked slowly to collect his personal belongings and then stepped out of the factory’s door for the last time. He was surprised not to find anger or frustration within him, only a faint cloud of worries hovering over the horizon. In the trees of the parking lot, birds were busy with their daily routine, unaware of the struggles of people. He breathed deeply, and felt that a heavy load had been lifted off his chest. He felt free. Now he would have several months in which he would be qualified for unemployment benefits, and after that, he would probably have to return to repairing cars. But for now he was free, liberated, and he would have time to spend at his site in the forest, where he experienced lucid thoughts and felt that the meaning of his life was slowly being revealed to him. That was the place—more than any other place in the world—where he felt whole and connected to something larger than himself, not lost in an alienated world where everyone just took care of themselves. Actually, it might turn out that the layoffs were the first step on the way to a positive and necessary change. He started the car, which responded with a quiet and smooth sound.
When Sarah heard the news, she tried not to show too many emotions. “We’ll manage,” she said. “Luckily, you are covered by health insurance through my workplace.”
In the evening he talked with Irene on the phone, and as usual, she listened patiently and sympathetically. “With time the layoff might turn out to be a change in the right direction,” Irene expressed her thoughts, “But it may also drag you into significant financial hardship.”
“I’ll have some free time,” Jonathan said. “How would you like me to come and visit you in Minnesota?” He immediately reconsidered his suggestion, worrying such a journey could trigger his anxieties.
Irene was not enthusiastic about the idea. “It would be better if I visited you in California,” she answered; she contemplated for a while and added, “I would like to meet your wife.”
Chapter 29
Irene
Jonathan told his wife about Irene’s upcoming visit. He didn’t try to hide his excitement at the idea that his wife would meet his good friend, who was possibly his big sister.
Sarah was reserved. To herself, the whole story of “the missing sister that her husband had found on the Internet” seemed groundless and delusional, and bordered on the insane. Nevertheless, she was curious to meet the woman who had so charmed her husband.
Sarah believed Jonathan when he promised her that it was not a romantic affair, but still, she couldn’t help feeling threatened. She well understood that all of this strange relationship would not have come about had she been faithful to her husband, which is why she couldn’t blame him. In fact, she even thanked him for finding this spiritual connection and not going in her despicable ways, looking for love and sex with other women.
Irene managed to free three days during the semester break for the visit, a time when her adulterous husband would be in the house and take care of the children.
“But on Thursday you must be back,” her husband emphasized, “because I must fly to an important convention.”
There was a time when she needed to know what those “important conventions” were, but now that she no longer loved and respected the man; she actually felt comfortable with his long absences. She did however demand of him to be present in the kid
’s lives, so they wouldn’t be raised by a single mother like she had been. And for the sake of the children, she continued to maintain the appearance of a married life, despite being fed up with the man and his lies.
She flew from Saint Paul’s airport in Minnesota to San Francisco, where Jonathan waited for her. Then they rode southbound together in Jonathan’s car. After leaving the city, they had to take a winding highway, where cars drove at fast and dangerous speeds.
Jonathan was not bothered by the driving conditions when he expressed his concern. “I hope that your meeting with my wife turns out fine, and that she’ll accept you as a friend and not a rival.”
“From what you’ve told me about her,” Irene responded, “I do not foresee a problem.” She hoped to calm his worries, although she shared similar concerns.
They arrived at the property in the afternoon. Jonathan introduced Irene to the three dogs, who accepted her with excited barks, jumps, and tail wags. She met the cats, the chickens, the noisy ducks, and the hostile geese.
Jonathan took her for a tour of the property, accompanied by the dogs, and showed her his computer room and the cars he restored. They went to see the vegetable garden where Sarah had spent a lot of her time and effort. Irene expressed her appreciation for Jonathan’s wife, who worked hard so they’d have fresh and organic vegetables.
Sarah met Irene when she returned home, and she shook her hand politely. Sarah usually prepared dinner, but on that day they chose to order Chinese food from a restaurant in town.
Irene thought that dinner might be a good time to get acquainted. “Where do you work?” she asked Sarah in a friendly manner.
“I’m a psychologist at a clinic in Watsonville,” Sarah answered shortly. She had a hard time understanding who the strange woman was that her husband insisted on bringing into their life. She, at least, had kept her affairs outside their home.
“I have a good friend who is a psychologist,” said Irene, who wanted to disperse the tension and make it clear that she did not intend to come between the couple.
“I understand you have kids,” Sarah said. She didn’t see what her husband saw in his guest, who was older than him.
“That’s true,” Irene answered pleasantly, “a boy and a girl I love very much.”
Sarah nodded and started to suspect that her husband’s fascination with Irene stemmed from her being a computer expert, a university lecturer with a PhD, while Sarah did not excel in that field.
“Are you on vacation?” Sarah questioned.
“Yes, a middle of semester break,” Irene answered. “My husband is at home with the kids.”
“And he doesn’t object to your trip?” Sarah kept probing.
“He only requested that I get home by Thursday,” Irene responded patiently.
“From what I hear, college teachers get plenty of vacation days during the year,” Sarah muttered discontentedly.
“It’s true,” Irene acknowledged.
“I wish I got so many days off,” Sarah said.
“What do you ladies think about Joan of Arc?” Jonathan interjected with a surprising question.
“Joan of Arc?” The two women looked at him, wondering what he was getting at.
“Yes,” he smiled, “I’ve seen that The Broadcast is going to do a piece about her in an upcoming program.”
The women understood. They saw that he looked for a subject on which they might have a common denominator in order to dissolve the tense situation.
“From what I know,” Irene said, “she was a very brave woman, but also quite strange.”
“Today she would be forcibly confined to a mental institution,” Sarah said.
“Yes, but does that mean that she was really insane?’ Irene asked, and looked at Sarah. “Couldn’t she be a woman of an incredible, supernatural capability?”
“It’s possible I guess, but we’ll never know,” Sarah concluded.
On the following day, Sarah went to her work at the clinic. Jonathan took Irene for a long tour of the woods, and the three dogs joyfully joined in. He chose a path that wasn’t very difficult and tiring, but also not too easy. They took a break by the creek and ate sandwiches. Jonathan debated within himself on whether to take her to his special site. The place that he hadn’t mentioned at all during their long phone conversations, and even Sarah hadn’t visited since he’d started his excavating project. Would he show her the unique spot where he felt most connected to himself and the world around him?
Irene said that she liked the land and she was fond of the relaxing sound of the flowing water. She said that in her state, Minnesota, which is called “Land of Ten Thousand Lakes,” she often took her kids to spend time out in nature whenever the weather allowed. She stood up, stepped toward the creek, and looked at the flowing water below; she saw small fish swimming in their separate world and the sun reflecting off the water. She then turned her head up to the sky and said, “In my opinion, it is not possible that we are the only civilization in the universe; with so many stars and galaxies, it just doesn’t make sense.”
“Do you think that aliens visited our planet and affected our cultures and beliefs?” he asked.
Irene smiled when she answered, “According to Erich von Däniken, they did.”
He then decided to take her to the site. “There’s a place I’d like to show you,” he said somberly, “but I’d like to ask you not to talk to anybody about what you’re going to see.”
She noticed the solemn tone of his voice and understood that he was about to reveal something very meaningful for him.
“Sarah has been there once, but it was a long time ago,” he mentioned.
“I promise,” Irene said. “It will remain between us.”
They crossed the creek, hopping over the rocks that protruded above the water, and continued on a winding trail until they reached the bottom of the hill. When they started to climb up the hill, Jonathan wasn’t surprised when the dogs stopped running and refused to come along. As they proceeded the path became steeper and the trees grew denser, almost blocking their way. “What a strange place,” Irene whispered, and he liked that she expressed herself quietly as if understanding and respecting the space. They removed the last branches out of their way and stepped onto the dome of the hill, which after Jonathan’s massive excavation work looked like an archeological site.
“Wow, Jonathan,” she whispered. “What is this place?”
“This is the site,” he answered.
“What an amazing place,” she marveled. “It’s like your own private Stonehenge.”
“When I’m here,” he said, “my thinking is clear, and I’m feeling connected to the world and not detached from it.”
The earth shook slightly and sounded a deep, scary, and muffled growl. Irene was frightened and looked at Jonathan, who appeared unaffected.
“You can relax,” he said smiling, “That’s how it is in this place. I think it is an energetic center or a gate of some kind. I don’t really know.”
“Jonathan, I’m scared,” Irene said.
“Do you want to go?” he asked.
“In a little while,” she said. “Could I sit down?”
“Please do.”
She sat on the ground near the center of the circle, right next to the square rock in the navel of the site, and tried to calm her body with deep breaths.
Slowly she managed to relax, and then she felt how she was being absorbed by the calmness that prevailed in the place. There was a sharp contrast between the frightening growl that the earth had just sounded and the serenity that succeeded immediately afterward, as if the site had put her through an initiation process.
She gently closed her eyes and then felt like she was on a boat, floating in the ocean. She drifted and contemplated her childhood, when suddenly she vividly saw herself as a little girl with her mother, in a small house, where the paint on the walls was peeling. There were two beds in the room, one large and one small. Toys were scattered all over the pl
ace, especially dolls. She heard the wind wailing outside in a terrifying rustle, and the rain was irately pelting down the windows. She shivered and felt lonely. “Do I have a father?” she asked her mother. Her mother embraced her warmly, “Oh sweetie, everyone has a father; it’s just that yours is already in heaven.”
Irene opened her eyes and looked at Jonathan with tears in her eyes. “Now I understand,” she whispered, “This is indeed a powerful place. I wonder who built it, and what purpose it served.” She looked around, “Do you come here often?”
“I know I have to respect the place,” he answered, “so I try not to come here for mundane reasons.”
The wind whistled gently in the treetops. “Thank you for bringing me here,” she said. “Please let’s go, because right now I can’t absorb any more.”
They walked slowly down the hill, immersed in their thoughts and their memories. When they reached the bottom of the hill, they were joined by the three dogs who waited patiently.
“Are you OK?” Jonathan asked.
“Recovering,” she said. “It was an intense experience.”
That evening, Jonathan suggested going out to a restaurant.
Irene looked at Jonathan and said, “I would prefer that it would be just me and Sarah, I feel that we don’t each other well enough.”
“I agree,” Sarah said. “It will be a girl’s evening.”
Jonathan shrugged. “Have fun,” he said. “I will find something to eat in the kitchen.”
