I returned home to meet with Charlene, and we went to the school meeting together. We were led to the conference room where Ms. Canon and a gentleman were already waiting. Char and I took seats directly across from this committee of two.
Ms. Canon began, “Thank you both for coming today. Mr. Embers, it is a pleasure to see you again. All the kids miss you at the corner.”
“Thank you, Ms. Canon. It is nice to hear. I miss them, as well.”
Ms. Canon pointed to her colleague. “I would like to introduce you both to Mr. Jordon. He is the district psychologist.” Half standing up, I reached out to shake his hand. It must have caught Mr. Jordon off guard because he fumbled with the file he was holding as he stood to shake hands.
“I appreciate all the pleasantries, but can we get to the point of this meeting?” As I talked, Char put her hand on my thigh under the table and gave it a squeeze. Okay, I’ll play nice, for now. I thought.
Ms. Canon started, “First, Moiraine is a sweet child and a natural-born leader. Well, I don’t have to go into her exploits again. We all know what she did for you, Mrs. Embers.”
“What was that, Ms. Canon?” asked Mr. Jordon as he began flipping through the file. He came to one page, “Oh, yes, I see. Quite remarkable for her age. It’s a credit to her upbringing.” Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Char bow her head a bit. Hey, I helped raise her too. Mr. Jordon looked at the next page in Mo’s file. “Her grades in school are all within the normal range. Her social interactions with her classmates are another matter. Besides her role in last year’s revolt, she has been telling some, shall we say, fanciful stories.”
Charlene asked, “What stories?”
“I was getting to that. The parents of Katherine Coleman object to the stories Moiraine has been telling her. Kathy lost her grandfather recently, and Moiraine has been telling her if she wants, you, Mr. Embers, can help her talk to him.” Char’s grip on my thigh became a vise. “Apparently, your daughter believes you can call up his ghost.” Mr. Jordon gave a quick uncomfortable laugh. “I tried to handle the issue here at school, but your daughter is set in her conviction.”
“Stubborn is the word I would use. If Moiraine believes she is right, she will stick to her guns.” As the word “guns” came out of my mouth, I saw both Mr. Jordon and Ms. Canon become ill at ease. Come on, people, it’s only a word. “I believe I can speak for both my wife and myself. We are proud of her strength. If it will make you feel better and help Kathy Coleman, we will have a talk with Moiraine.” Charlene released her grip on my thigh and gave it a gentle pat.
“Is there anything else we need to cover, Ms. Canon?” Charlene asked. Ms. Canon became most distracted when she read a note for her brought in by the school secretary.
Still reading the note, Ms. Canon, frowned and said to my wife without looking at her, “No, that was all we …” she trailed off as she stood and left the room.
Mr. Jordon tapped the edge of the papers in Moiraine’s file to line them all up. He stood and said, “Thank you for seeing to this matter, and it was a pleasure meeting you both. I just wish it could have been under better circumstances.” He stood and started for the door. I intercepted him before he left and offered my hand. “Oh, yes, a handshake.” He took my hand and shook. Without any further ado, he left.
Turning to Char as we both stood, “That went well. For a minute, I thought there was a real problem.”
“Nathan, there is a problem. We have to tell Moiraine she can’t tell people about your,” Char coughed awkwardly, “Gift or curse. Sometimes I’m not sure which it is.”
It was close to the time Char does her docent thing, so she stayed at school while I returned home alone. The house was quiet, and I began thinking of Lar. Memories started to roll around in my head. He had taught me a great deal about history and fighting. All the minds he jumped into were of ordinary soldiers. He had never jumped into the mind of a general. Odd that. In all the countless incarnations, never a leader. I hated to see him go. For all the foul things I am sure Marlene thinks of me, it hurt me deeply to end Lar. I know it was the right thing to do. Unlike some cruel people who hold onto pets or loved ones in futile efforts to extend their lives, I refuse to be so heartless. When Char was on her deathbed, I know I didn’t say goodbye to her when I first should have, and I feel both a strange guilt and happiness over it.
Time passed quickly as I walked down memory lane. It was soon the time Char and Mo would come home from school. The jingle of keys announced their return. “We’re home,” came from Charlene.
“Daddy, Daddy. Huggies and Kissies.” Moiraine and I exchanged the aforementioned. “Daddy, Mommy said you need to talk to me?”
“Yes, well, we both need to talk to you.” I said, stretching and using a louder voice for the word “Both.” Guiding more to the dining room table, I sat her down. I called Charlene, and she soon joined us at the table. “Do you want to start?” I asked Charlene.
“No, I think you should lead this one.”
“Here goes. Moiraine, you can’t tell your friends I can summon ghosts.”
“Why?”
“Honey, most people don’t believe in ghosts, and it confuses them when you tell them differently.”
“But, Daddy, you can summon a ghost so they can see!”
“Yes, I could, but soon everyone will want me to help them see dead friends and family. I could do it all day long and still not help everybody. Not to mention how tired it makes daddy. From now on, don’t tell anyone I can summon ghosts. Okay?”
“Daddy, can you summon Kathy’s grandpa for her? Please.” Moiraine dragged out “Please” in the way all children will do to compel you.
Looking up at Char for direction, all she gave me was a half-smile and a quizzical look. “No, Honey. I’m sorry. I can’t do that.”
“Please, please, please. Kathy is so sad, and I don’t want her to die.”
Char broke in with, “What do you mean, Moiraine?”
“Well, Kathy says she misses her grandpa so much she wants to lay down next to him in the ground. She means dead, doesn’t she?”
“My God, Nathan. She is so young. We need to get a hold of her parents, so they can get her some help,” Char sounded near panic.
“Char, you call the school. I know it’s late, but with any luck, someone will answer the phone.” Char leaped to the phone and started dialing frantically. She paced back and forth, shaking her head all the while. After a few minutes, Charlene hung up the phone and said, “There was no answer.”
“Don’t you have an emergency number you can call?”
“Only the police,” Charlene said with helplessness in her voice.
“We can have them check-in on the family. Her name alone might not be enough information. Do you know her address?” Char shook her head as she dialed the police. “Moiraine, this is very important. Do you know where Kathy lives?”
“No, Daddy, I don’t.” Moiraine's eyes started to well-up.
“Oh, Honey, don’t worry. We will find a way to help Kathy.” Char had a finger in her ear and the receiver up to the other. She was busy informing the police of the situation, shaking her head the whole time. After a few minutes, she hung the phone up.
“They’ll do their best, but without an address, it will take time to find the family. Nathan, can you do anything?” Char turned her eyes to Mo. “Can you find her your special way?” Charlene said in parent code.
Moiraine perked-up, “Yes, Daddy, find her using your magic.”
“Daddy doesn’t use magic, Honey. I can try to summon Kathy’s grandfather. I’m not sure it will work. I don’t know his name or his appearance, but if he answers my call, he can tell us their address.”
“Nathan, you have to try.” Moiraine agreed with her mother.
I calmed myself. Taking deep breaths, I released all fear and doubt. With a piece of my will, I sent a call to Kathy’s grandfather. Nothing. Again, I sent out the call, but this time with a larger portion of my will. Stil
l nothing. “It’s not working. I have to travel to her astrally.”
“Whatever you have to do, Nathan. I feel so helpless. Is there anything I can do to help?”
“You can help me get ready. Just like if I have a migraine.” We moved to our bedroom. Char closed the blackout drapes as I made myself comfortable on the bed. Next, Charlene retrieved the fan and turned it on. The white noise the blades make helps me to relax. Laying on the bed with my shoes off, I was ready. “One last thing, Char. Could I have a kiss for luck.”
Char said, “I would kiss you on your favorite place if it would help.”
“It couldn’t hurt.”
“Nathan,” Char leaned down and kissed me lightly on the lips. “Good luck.”
No time for a snappy comeback. Closing my eyes, I stilled myself. After a few moments, I floated up from my body. Char had left our bedroom to give the quiet a chance to work. Normally, I would take a moment to wonder at being in this plane of existence, but I have no time. I should have done this from the start. I thought. In my mind, with a perfect picture of Kathy, my memory affords, I willed myself to Kathy Coleman.
After the span of three heartbeats, I was in a child’s room. It was very neat. It wasn’t Charlene neat, but compared to Mo’s room, it’s shipshape and Bristol fashion. Darkness filled the room, but I could see by the eerie light of no shadows which fills this plane. Someone is sitting on the edge of the bed, and someone is asleep. I hoped they’re asleep. Approaching the bed, the man on the edge of the bed stood. “Hello, my name is Nathan Embers.”
“You can see me?” The man asked in a strong and bellowing voice. I nodded. He is a tall fellow. He stands a good couple of inches above me. He did not have the appearance of age as you would think a grandfather should have. He looks to be in his early sixties. This man did not seem fragile at all. Strong and healthy by all accounts. He is dressed in a nice suit and tie. The tie has some bold stripes, and the suit is a deep blue. “Why are you here?” This man asked in a not so friendly way.
“As I said, my name is Nathan Embers. Is she Kathy Coleman?”
“She is. And what concern is she of yours? Wait a minute. I know you. I never forget a face. You were the… crossing guard.” His face softened quite a bit as he recognized me. “Are you dead too?”
“No. Thank God, but obviously, you know you are,” I stated.
This man looked confused. “How can we talk like this?”
“It’s a long story that we don’t have time to go into it. I came here to help Kathy. My daughter is friends with her. My daughter, Moiraine, was afraid your granddaughter was going to hurt herself.” The man turned and sat back down on the bed. He placed a tender hand on Kathy’s forehead. She moved and smiled in her sleep.
“Why would she hurt herself?”
“According to my daughter, Kathy misses you and wants to, as my daughter said, lay down in the ground next to you.”
Kathy’s grandfather started talking with disbelief, “No, no, no. She is just a child. She has her whole life to live yet. Tell me. What can I do?”
“Frankly, I only came here to get her address, so I could send help to her tonight, but with you here, maybe we can nip this in the bud.”
“I don’t understand. How can we help her?”
“Like this. Kathy Coleman, I would like to talk to you. This is Moiraine’s father.” There came a shimmering fuzziness to Kathy, then her astral body stepped up out of bed.”
“Grandpa, is this another dream? I have dreamed about you every night.”
“No, child. This is real.”
“Grandpa, Grandpa, I hoped you would take me with you!”
“No, child. Hush now. I need to talk to you.”
As this man began talking to his granddaughter, I felt like I was intruding on some most private moments. I didn’t want to just leave. It was unknown to me what would happen. Could she get back in her body if I did leave? I put myself in the furthest corner and tried not to eavesdrop. The murmuring I did hear tugged at my heart. This man loved his granddaughter. What man wouldn’t?
The gentleman faced me. “Mr. Embers, thank you for this. We had a good talk. Kathy won’t be trying to lie next to me in the ground.”
“No, I won’t, Mr. Embers. Mo told me you would help me talk to my Grandpa. Thank you. I just missed him so much.”
“I think it is time I put you back in your bed. Please don’t tell anyone about this. Let it be our little secret.”
“I’m not supposed to keep any secrets, Mr. Embers.”
Her grandfather said in a convincing voice, “I think you can keep this one.”
“Are you ready, Kathy?” She nodded. I willed her back into her body to sleep and rest. With any luck, this will only be a pleasant dream she remembers. Smiling as her spirit became one with her body, I turned to Kathy’s granddad. “I never did get your name.”
He stretched out his hand to shake and said, “Kyle Coleman. If there is anything, I can do for you, all you have to do is ask.”
“Well, you’re dead, so there’s not much you can do. Are you planning to stay here with Kathy?”
“I want to, but I also feel I shouldn’t,” Kyle said.
“I’m not going to tell you what to do, but if you hear some singing but not with voices, I would go toward it.”
Kyle cocked his head, and an air of recognition found his face. He turned and walked through a wall and was gone. Home awaits, and I returned to it.
I laid back down in my body then woke up. The room was still dark, and the only sound was that of the fan. Leaving the quiet of my bedroom, I walked out to the living room. My stomach growled at me. The slight remnants of the smells of dinner filled the room. Char was covered by her favorite afghan and fast asleep on the recliner. Gently I woke her. “Char, you can sleep in our bed now. I am finished.”
Charlene opened her eyes and smiled up at me, yawned, and stretched. “Did it work? Did you get Kathy’s address?”
“You know, in all the time I was with Kathy, I forgot to ask. That doesn’t matter now. Her grandfather was there.” I began to fill Char in on all the details. When I was done giving her the low-down, I asked, “Did you save me any dinner? I could use some food. I am powerful hungry.”
“I saved you a plate. I’m keeping it warm in the oven. Let me get it for you.” Charlene started to rise and folding her afghan as she did.
“That’s okay. I can fix it myself. Go to bed and get some rest. I’ll be in soon.”
“I’ll hear none of that. A man who facilitates a grandfather saving the life of his grandchild deserves to be served. Go sit at the table. It won’t take long.”
As Char went into the kitchen, “I hear, and I obey.”
Char replied, “That will be the day!”
“Which part, the hear or the obey?”
“Both!” Ah, my wife, she can snark with the best of them.
Charlene sat at the table as I ate my dinner. It was a fine meal. “You know you didn’t have to sit with me. I’m a big boy now. I wear long pants and everything.”
“I love doing for my family, and I love seeing you eat. It gives me a sense of fulfillment.” Char stood as I took my last bite. She grabbed the dishes and put them in the sink so she could wash them tomorrow. It shocked me. She never, well hardly ever, waits to do the dishes. She led the way as she said, “Come on, Husband Mine. It has been a long day we need to go to bed.”
With a slight leer in my voice, “More than sleep?”
“Only sleep.”
“You can’t blame a man for trying.” A slight giggle reached my ears.
Chapter Sixteen
It was morning now, and I woke-up feeling mighty fine. Kathy Coleman had been brought back from the brink of suicide. It was never clear to me if Moiraine understood what Kathy was contemplating. It didn’t matter if Mo comprehended; the fact she told us was what mattered. It made me proud she cared enough for her friend to do something.
In a few days, the grand reopening
of the show was planned. How many grand reopenings can one show have anyways? There were many tasks that need to be completed before then. I also want to deal out some payback to Mr. Shadowman before we reopen. The wounds it inflicted on Lar eventually killed him or would have had I not eased his passing. I have an idea on how to defeat him, but I need to touch base with Lizzy. There is so much I don’t know. In fact, I’m afraid I don’t even know what I don’t know.
When I arrived at the theater to make ready for a photoshoot, there mingling by the backdoor were seven of the cast members. As I walked up, “Hey, everyone. What’s up? Seven of you should be enough to ward-off Senior Psychopath.”
“That’s it, Nathan. As a couple of us waited for more of the cast or crew to arrive, we started talking. We all had terrible nightmares last night.” Everyone began reaffirming the statement.
One of the women who plays a scullery maid explained, “We all had the exact same dream. It scared me to death. The shadow thing was in it.” Again, murmurs of agreement from the crowd.
“Okay, this shit is really beginning to piss me off!” After unlocking the backdoor, I strode in with a chip on my shoulder. Everyone followed me in. I guess I am the de facto leader. I made my way to the center stage. The auditorium was dark and quiet. I empowered my voice with my will. I know it can hear me. It has laughed at me enough when I’ve talked to it.
There in the dark, I called out to it in a low and intense voice. “You, the dark creature that haunts this place. Begone and trouble this company no longer! Though you don’t deserve it, I offer you mercy. Leave now, and I will not seek you out. Linger here and disturb us, and I will hunt you. I will become the one thing which you fear. I will find you. I will bind you. Then, I will end you!” As I figured, its other-worldly laugh filled my mind. I sure hope I can back up my bravado with real action, I thought.
The Calling Page 17
