The Pearl of Peace

by Timothy Paterson

them. David and Irene waited by the front door, while their parents talked. Before they left, their dad told their mom, “I’m taking the kids out for pizza tonight. Would you like to join us?” Irene was certain that their mom smiled when she said, “That would be nice. I’ll see you there.”

  As they got into their dad’s car, Irene whispered to David, “Pinch me. I must be dreaming.” “If we are dreaming,” said David, “I hope I never wake up.”

  During the ride to their dad’s apartment, their dad asked many questions about their mother. He was interested in every word they said about her.

  Their father was paying more attention to him than he was to the traffic. When the pickup truck in front of them stopped suddenly, their dad did not stop in time and ran into the back of the truck.

  The driver of the truck was a big guy, who looked like he could tear their car in half. As he got out of his truck, Irene could see that he was very angry. He started yelling at their dad.

  Without thinking, Irene got out of the car, touched the man’s arm and said, “It was an accident, Sir. Calm down.” With one touch from Irene’s hand, the man’s attitude instantly changed. “I’m sorry that I yelled,” he said. I have just had a bad week. I should not take it out on you. I don’t see any damage to my truck.” The two men exchanged insurance information and then, they shook hands and the incident was over.

  Once they arrived at the apartment, David and Irene unpacked their stuff and began making plans to get their parents back together. While they were talking, their dad asked them if they would walk to the corner grocery store to pick up a few things for lunch.

  David and Irene went to the store, got the items, and headed to the checkout counter. There were two people in front of them. The first one was an elderly woman with a cart full of groceries, and the second was a man about twenty years old, who only had a few items and seemed to be in a hurry.

  When the woman took out her money to pay for her groceries, she discovered that she was about six dollars short. Irene could see that the other guy was about to lose his temper.

  Irene touched the person on the wrist and asked if he had the time. As the man looked at his watch, and told Irene the time, his anger turned to compassion. He took a ten-dollar bill out of his pocket and handed it to the clerk. “Here”, he said, this should cover the rest of her bill.”

  The woman who was feeling embarrassed, turned around to thank the man. “If you will give me your address, young man, I will send you a check, to repay you.” “That’s not necessary,” he said. I’m sure that you have helped quite a few people in your life.” Then, he added, if you wait a moment, I can help you take your groceries to your car.”

  Irene and David watched as the young man carried the groceries to the woman’s car and put them in her trunk. Moreover, they saw the woman give the man a hug before they both got into their cars and drove off.

  As David and Irene walked to the apartment with the groceries, they began to realize just how powerful the power of the pearl was.

  When they got back to the apartment, they ate lunch and then they all walked to the park with their dad to play soccer. Neither David, nor Irene could remember the last time their dad played ball with them. He was always so busy with work, that he was hardly ever home, and when he was home, he was always doing paperwork. That was the main reason that he and their mother had separated.

  As Irene, David and their dad were getting ready to go back to the apartment, Irene saw two small boys fighting. Irene suspected that they were brothers, because they looked so much alike. When the older boy pushed his younger brother to the ground, Irene went over to help him up. As she grasped the hand of the little boy, she also got a hold of the older boy’s arm. Immediately, the older boy apologized to his younger brother and gave him a big hug.

  The mother of the boys had seen them fighting as well. She was walking towards the older boy with an angry look in her eyes, but before she could say anything, the younger boy grabbed her hand and said, “He said he was sorry, Mom.” Instantly, the mother’s anger disappeared and she said, “I’m glad to see you are both friends again.”

  Irene realized that the positive energy, love, peace or whatever it was could be passed on from one person to another. Once Irene or David touched someone, that person would pass it on to everyone they touched, and so on and so on. For a moment, Irene thought of the possibilities of this positive energy, from the magic pearl. However, once they got back to the apartment, Irene only thought of her parents.

  That evening, their mom was already at the restaurant when David, Irene arrived with their dad. They ordered dinner, and when the waiter brought the pizza, Irene started her plan in motion. “Mom?” she asked, “Wasn’t this the restaurant where you and Dad had your first date?” Her mom laughed and said, “Yes, and it was almost our last date as well.” Then, their mom began to tell them the story of the first date.

  “Your father was so nervous, that he knocked a slice of pizza onto my lap, cheese side down, of course. He kept apologizing for the rest of the evening. The next day, he sent me another apology with some flowers. I think that is when I fell in love with him. I loved him for his sincerity, as well as his beautiful brown eyes.”

  Irene looked over at her father, who was now holding her mother’s hand, and looking deeply into her eyes.

  Neither of her parents said a word, they just kept staring at each other, communicating with their eyes. It seemed that they were falling in love, all over again.

  Irene tapped David on the arm and said, “Let’s go play some video games.” David ignored her and grabbed a slice of pizza. He was starving and pizza was one of his favorite food groups. Irene kicked his leg under the table to get his attention, and gave him a serious look. Then David looked at their parents and realized what was going on.

  It just took him a little while longer to catch on. He was a boy after all, and not as bright when it came to romance.

  After David and Irene played video games for thirty minutes, they returned to the table and saw their parents sitting next to each other. They were holding hands, laughing and kissing. They had fallen back into love again, or had rekindled the romance that was buried deep within their hearts.

  As David and Irene sat down, their mother asked them if they were okay with the idea of their father moving back into the house with them, that night.

  Neither David nor Irene had to think about it at all, they both answered at the same time. “Yes!” Then they hugged both of their parents.

  They packed up the pizza that no one had eaten, and took it home with them. That night, they sat on the couch, watching a movie and eating pizza as a family.

  Later, that night, Irene had a slightly different dream. She was back in the field of meadows, but this time, as she held the magic pearl in her hands, her brother David joined her by the stream. Then, they both heard a voice say, “Do not keep the power of the pearl, to yourselves. Use it to help humankind. Do not be selfish and use it just for your problems. You have the ability to pass the love and peace to people throughout the world.”

  Suddenly, Irene woke up and she felt ashamed. She had the pearl in her possession for over a day, and had helped only a handful of people.

  There was a knock on the door and David walked into her room. “Did you by chance have a strange dream about the pearl?” When they compared dreams, they realized that they had shared the identical dream.

  “This pearl is a great gift and we must find a way to share the love and peace with the rest of the world,” said Irene. The discussed a plan that could ultimately result in world peace.

  The next morning, before leaving for school, David and Irene both held the pearl, to recharge their energy. They started their plan into motion while riding the school bus to the middle school.

  As they walked to the back of the bus, they
high-five’d everybody on the bus, including the bus driver. Once each student received the energy, something inside them told them to pass it on to as many people that they could, including; teachers, students, parents, relatives and friends.

  As each student went to their classrooms, they passed the love and peace on to their fellow students and to their teachers. This continued all day long, so that by the end of the day, David and Irene could see the positive results of their peace crusade. There were no fights among the students. Yes, there were disagreements, but they were settled nonviolently.

  That evening, David, Irene, and their parents, enjoyed one of the best evenings that they ever had. The house was overflowing with love. Their father had moved all of his things back into the house and cancelled the lease on his former apartment. He was now determined more than ever, that his job would never again come between him and his family.

  Later that night, Irene and David again shared the same dream. The voice was pleases with their progress. “You have done well, but you need to reach more people.

  The next morning, David and Irene discussed another strategy. Both David and Irene had the opportunity to connect with many other students that day.

  The county spelling bee for Cook County, Illinois was being held at the middle school, which