Snow Pictures

by Kevin Deeny

  After a few minutes, Tim stirred, opened his eyes, and looked down the valley without really seeing. He was reliving the last moments and was still in the twilight of the experience. He eventually focused, looked around and watched a distant hawk gliding in circles before turning to Marcus. “Thank you, Marcus. This sense of peace is profound.” He added, “You have to teach me how to do this!”

  Marcus chuckled, “I just did, Tim. There is no mystery or hocus-pocus. You can do this anytime you choose.”

  “I mean the energy thing too, Marcus.”

  “That usually comes on its own in time as you use the focused intention technique. If you want to speed that up a bit, consider taking a Reiki class, their work with energy seems to be similar to what we just did.”

  “I’m getting hungry, and Rosalind will be expecting us home soon. How about we head down the mountain toward home? We can talk as we go.”

  “Sure Marcus, but I’m kind of reluctant to leave this place,” Tim said with a smile.

  Chapter 27

  Stormy Weather

  The best way out of difficulty is through it. – Will Rogers

  Days were growing shorter. Although fall had arrived according to the calendar, the thermometer told a different story. Dawn came cloudless and mild that Saturday morning. Marcus and Rosalind lingered over breakfast while they enjoyed the breeze that brought the scent of honeysuckles into the house. Marcus had yard work to catch up on, and Rosalind planned to spend a few hours in the clinic before Marcus fired up the grill for an early dinner. An unfamiliar car rolled into their driveway, and a man got out with an envelope in his hand. As he reached the door, Marcus opened it to greet him, and the man asked, “Are you, Marcus Kenrick?”

  “Yes, sir I am,” he replied.

  “This is for you,” he said as he handed him the envelope and added “duly witnessed,” while he gestured to his associate who had stepped out of the car to observe the transaction. “Good day sir.”

  Marcus stepped back into the kitchen and opened the envelope to learn that he was being sued by Lily’s parents along with the State of Pennsylvania, their franchise boat rental operator, the county ambulance service and the hospital. Among many things contained in the suit was a claim that Marcus did not perform CPR correctly and as a result, contributed to Lily’s death. Marcus was astounded; he found it incredulous and handed the papers to Rosalind. She stood reading the suit as her lips pinched together in anger. She looked at Marcus with an angry scowl that changed to one of determination. They had no idea where to begin.

  They fretted about it over the weekend and began to make calls on Monday morning. Through a friend of a friend, they got the name of a lawyer who would provide an initial consultation although he admitted that this was not his area of practice however, he could make a referral. They declined the offer and kept looking. Their search became known to family and friends, and the word got out quickly within the community and beyond, unbeknownst to Rosalind and Marcus.

  Rosalind was mad and that anger translated into worry. She could not grasp how the family could file a lawsuit against someone who tried to save their daughter. Marcus, on the other hand, was subdued. He considered the motivation and concluded that this was a product of their inconsolable grief and guilt that all parents who outlived their child would feel. Marcus thought about his actions that day and was confident that he did what could be done. However, he had no experience with the legal system and did not know what to expect.

  While their search for a lawyer went on, Marcus focused on his work and traveled out to a farm in central Pennsylvania on the following Tuesday to meet with the owner and discuss the process to become certified as an organic producer. His cell phone rang as he was finishing his discussion with the owner and it displayed a number he didn’t recognize. He let it go to voicemail.

  He listened to the message later as he walked to his car. It was from a lawyer who was referred by Carlos who asked him to give Marcus a call to see if he could be of assistance. Marcus pressed re-dial and was connected with Whitman & Franklin LLC according to the silky voice that also asked: “How may I help you?” Marcus requested Jason Pritchard and listened to elevator music as his call was waiting to be picked up. Marcus had few dealings with lawyers, but he recognized the name of the firm as a prominent law firm headquartered in downtown Philadelphia. He knew before the man answered that he couldn’t afford his services.

  Jason Pritchard sounded like a nice guy over the phone. He explained his reason for calling earlier, “Mr. Kenrick, Carlos Rivera suggested I call. I represented a family member of his a few years ago, and he thought I could be of service in the suit you’re facing. I’m not yet aware of any of the details of the suit, only that one had been filed, and you are looking for representation.”

  Marcus interjected, “I am looking for representation, but frankly Carlos didn’t give me a heads up that he referred you to me.”

  There was a slight pause before Jason replied, “I see. If it were acceptable to you, I would suggest that you confer with Mr. Rivera and if you’re interested, we could set up an initial consultation to determine how we could be of service.”

  Marcus thought to himself, “If only it were that easy’. Instead, he replied ‘I’ll thank Carlos, but I doubt that I could afford your services.”

  Jason replied that there was no fee for the initial consultation and no obligation if he wished to pursue another alternative. With nothing to lose and no other option to consider, Marcus agreed to an initial consultation and arranged to come to Philadelphia on Thursday. Jason requested that Marcus scan and email the paperwork before the meeting. As he drove home from the farm, he resolved to track down Carlos in the morning, thank him for the referral and get a briefing on this law firm. He wondered how Carlos heard about this. It seemed that the grapevine was well informed and well connected.

  Carlos confirmed the referral the next day and had high praise for the firm in defending his brother-in-law in a civil suit related to a farm equipment accident. He apologized for not talking directly with Marcus first; he just wanted to ease his mind and help where he could. Marcus thanked him again and agreed to let him know how things work out.

  Marcus stepped off the train at 8:15 am on Thursday and joined the throngs of people heading to the escalators on their way up to the surface streets. He set out to walk the four blocks to the office building and was surprised at how much had changed since he last walked these Philadelphia streets.

  He arrived a little before his 9:00 am appointment and noticed a Town Car at the curb with its flashers on and the driver leaning on the front fender waiting for his charge. As he entered the lobby, he recognized a familiar face exiting at the far door. Senator Grantham walked to the Town Car, nodded to the driver who held open the car door and settled in the back seat. ‘It must be nice,” Marcus chuckled to himself as he walked to the bank of elevators and ascended to the 20th floor. The receptionist guided him to a small conference room, provided him with a bottle of water, and left him to await the arrival of Jason Pritchard. While he waited, he crossed the room to the windows and took the opportunity to enjoy the view across the city. He could see the winding course of the Schuylkill River as it ran its along its route to join with the Delaware River at the eastern limit of the city. From this height, he could clearly see the grid that the city’s roadways formed which reflected the layout initially established by William Penn in the late 1600’s. He was lost in thought considering all of the generations of people that preceded him here at this place. He wondered how their lives had unfolded.

  Jason entered the room followed by a young woman carrying a load of paperwork. Jason introduced himself and his assistant Cecily Waters and motioned for him to sit. He looked to Marcus to be middle-aged with salt and pepper colored hair and neatly trimmed beard. He was confident and used to being in charge. Marcus judged Cecily to be in her late twenties. She was dressed in
button-down corporate style as was Jason. She, in turn, assessed him as they shook hands and seemed to be comparing him to the description of the man she was given.

  Before Jason could begin, Marcus decided to take the lead on the initial discussion, spoke up, and thanked them for their time. He gave them a brief of the circumstances of Lily’s accident as he remembered them. He described his activities that morning in generalities until the experience with Lily began and recounted all of the detail he could remember until the ambulance left for the hospital.

  “I understand from the suit that it is claimed that I am not shielded by the Good Samaritan Law because I stopped performing CPR prematurely and without that protection, I could be subject to some liability in Lily’s death. Do I have that right?”

  Jason raised his eyebrows in surprise as he glanced at Cecily and then back at Marcus. “It seems that this client has done a little homework,” he thought to himself. “Yes Mr. Kenrick, you are correct,” Jason replied. He continued and pointed at the stack of paperwork in front of Cecily. “There are a few precedents. We may be able to refute the timing or duration in the pause of CPR, and of course, at the outset, we would argue that the Good Samaritan shield does apply regardless of the unfortunate outcome.”

  “I see,” was all Marcus could muster as a response. He looked around the room to take in all of the detail and again appreciated the breathtaking view of the city. He turned back to the table and spread his hands. “Jason, there is a hell of a lot of overhead here. I don’t doubt your expertise, but I don’t think I can afford your services.”

  “Can you afford the alternative?”

  As if on cue, an impeccably dressed older man stepped into the room. Marcus turned to him, rose, extended his hand and said “Charles Franklin. It’s good to meet you, sir.” The elderly gentleman looked at Marcus as he held his hand and nodded as if he too was comparing the man to the description he had been given.

  “Mr. Franklin, I was just telling your associates that I doubt that I could afford your services, sir.” Gesturing around the room he added, “This looks to be more than a little rich for me.”

  “Nonsense Mr. Kenrick; you let us worry about the fees, after all, this occurred on State property, and there were other actors involved from the boat rental company to the hospital that received and treated the patient.” Marcus caught the look that was exchanged between Jason and Cecily as if this was news to them. “You’re in good hands here; Jason is one of our top litigators.” With that, he shook Marcus’ hand again and smiled warmly. He then nodded to his associates and left the room.

  Marcus read the expression on the associates faces as they were trying to sort out what just happened. Marcus reached over, shook their hands and said: “I guess I now have representation.”

  They arranged to meet again early next week to begin the process of preparing their defense. As Marcus left the building, he thought that it was entirely out of character for a lawyer not to lock down how he would be paid. It caused him to wonder who Senator Grantham visited before his arrival and if that had anything to do with this little bit of theatre.

  Chapter 28

  Healing

  Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin. – Mother Teresa

  The case proceeded at a snail’s pace with filings and motions passing back and forth like a legal tennis match. With so many parties involved, each with their own interests, it seemed to take forever to get anything done. Marcus, for the most part, was unconcerned about the outcome, but he could see it affected Rosalind. She was still angry.

  Marcus focused on his organic farming consulting work and the volunteer time he spent in the clinic which was the only time he worked with Rosalind in her professional capacity. He got to see her in action, and he was in awe of her knowledge and skill. If anything, her empathy had grown stronger as she matured, especially with children. None of the overwhelmed parents or anxious and withdrawn children escaped her notice or tender care. She had learned well from Dr. Bea, and she was quick to engage the help of social service organizations on behalf of her patients. She had seen first-hand how much physical and mental well-being were related to their social welfare.

  Marcus’ volunteer help at the clinic started casually. He had a decent working knowledge of computers and would drop by to sort out everyday printing and network problems. The critical stuff was left to their IT consultant. He helped with the myriad handy tasks that came up in any organization. He enjoyed it all; none was particularly challenging, and it afforded him the opportunity to ponder while he did them. He was thankful to spend more time with Rosalind in any capacity.

  Occasionally, she would introduce him to a patient, and he would talk to them, often about how to control their anxiety. He would explain the process he used to control his breathing and heart rate as well as to visualize the flow of energy as a golden color. The children got it right away, but the parents were hit or miss. In some cases, Marcus would hold their hands and allow energy to flow through him. Their only sensation was that his hands felt warm. Rosalind always observed and followed a patient’s progress closely.

  Their work in the clinic continued for years, and Marcus noticed that there were subtle differences in the quality of the energy that flowed through him; it varied by person and ailment. Just as the frequency of light varied to produce different colors, hues, and intensity, the energy that flowed through him would similarly vary. He came to realize that these characteristics were as unique as a fingerprint and that as the tuning became more specific, less energy was required. In the case of significant injury or peril, large amounts of energy were needed which was coarser and less refined; essentially a blast of energy for the body to use where it will. As years progressed, Rosalind noticed that many patients would inquire about Marcus’ schedule when they came in for an appointment. Following Josh’s accident and Marcus’ work with Carlos, there was a surge in the number of immigrant farm workers coming to the clinic and inquiring about Marcus.

  Rosalind was fascinated by the results she saw in her patients. She was a kind and competent doctor and a strong advocate for her patients. Rosalind saw first hand the benefits of focused intention that Marcus taught others to do. She was careful in her practice to always follow her clinical training in treating her patients. Her interaction with Marcus was used as an added layer, primary medicine came first. It empowered her patients as they took some measure of control and she had noted the positive effects for years. She was convinced of its usefulness and thought that it was time to do formal research, not only to understand it fundamentally but to see if it could be integrated into practice.

  Marcus had done informal research all of his adult life as a means to satisfy his own curiosity. He and Rosalind discussed the need for something more formal, and Marcus agreed, but he had some particulars in mind. Although they both saw the need, the timing was poor to pursue publicly funded research given the political climate which appeared to be in a state of devolution rather than evolution. They thought that anything out of the mainstream would draw polarizing criticism making it challenging to find the support for research through a public university medical center. Formal research funding was more likely to be successful through private foundations. Rosalind began the process of reaching out to colleagues. Although Marcus understood the importance of the research, on a personal level he was not looking forward to the impact it would have on his life.

  During quiet moments, Marcus took the time to take a step back and look at the path he was on and where, as best he could judge, it would lead. He now felt the pull of this thing that he initially pursued as a curiosity. Marcus was not one who took to prayer often. He preferred to have conversations with God; even as one-sided as they were. Yet there was one prayer that he internalized from the open AA meetings he attended with his father. He thought it was more than ironic that one of the few prayers he internalized as an adult was
one he learned from his alcoholic father. Marcus admired his dad’s fight for sobriety, and the help and support he gave to those similarly afflicted. The prayer for wisdom that became so important for his father, became no less so for Marcus. It came to mind again as he contemplated the changes that would occur in his life;

  Lord, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

  Marcus’s and Rosalind’s discussion to pursue research funding came during the same week that the suit was filed by Lily’s parents. It now seemed to Marcus that these two parts of his life were inextricably linked and he had to remind himself to ‘accept the things he cannot change.’ While he waited for the legal mechanisms of the lawsuit to play out, he focused on his work with an added priority. He thought that it was time to find out if this healing process was transferrable, not limited to the control of breathing and heart rates, but also the aspects of transferring and tuning energy flow. He was convinced that the technique could be taught because he taught it to himself. However, he did not know if he was uniquely predisposed to this process due to some aberration in his DNA or unique condition of his environment. He needed to know if other people could learn to conduct the energy as he could, and he needed to get started right away. He felt the clock ticking.

  He and Rosalind discussed his ability many times; he refused to call it a gift for reasons that Rosalind well knew. As awareness spread to others, it was often suggested that he should devote himself full time to help the highest number of people, but he resisted. Marcus did not want his livelihood dependent upon an expectation of healing. After all, he was still learning himself and didn’t fully understand the nuances. He realized that any healing that occurred came from the subject themselves; he only passed on energy, and they did the rest. He was determined that any help he could offer would be freely given.