Then he turned, entered the carriage, and shut the door. He hugged and kissed Priscilla once more as the carriage rambled off down the road to everyone’s cheers.
No More Ink
Coming into his study a few days later, Harold again took the pen case down, opened it, and sat at his desk. Just once more, he thought. Maybe there was a bit more of Al-Hamid’s story that he could experience. He placed a fresh piece of paper before him and put the pen down on the paper. When he picked it up, the pen was a bit cold to the touch. It did not wrap itself about his arm or move on its own along the paper. It just felt like an ordinary pen.
Harold, with a deep sigh, placed the pen back in its case.
“Well, I guess you are done telling me Al-Hamid’s story, so rest my little friend. You have done your job well.”
Harold closed the case, got up from his desk, and placed the case on the shelf with the other pens in his collection. His heart was saddened, but somehow, inside he felt okay about the pen not writing anymore.
Katherine tried the door. It opened with a soft jingle of the bells that hung above it. It creaked when she opened it, seemingly loud because no one was there.
“Hello?” she called out.
She looked around at the jumble of things scattered over tables, shelves, and other flat surfaces about the small, dark-paneled room. Lots of scattered antiques, old hanging lamps, dusty, leather-bound books, colorful cups, saucers, idols, gadgets, all odd in shape and color. Familiar, yet different. Each begging to be picked up, dusted off, examined.
Looking around at the objects, she did not find any pens or anything she was interested in. As she turned to leave, her hand on the doorknob, she heard it. She stopped.
Softly at first. She wasn’t sure she had heard anything. But yes, there it was, the soft shuffle of slippers on a wooden floor.
“Can I help you?” came a deep, soft, elderly voice from behind her.
Startled, she swung about quickly to see a set of deep gray eyes gazing at her above a wide, friendly smile buried in a small gray beard. The eyes were surrounded by an assortment of wrinkles, on a face so old it almost looked mummified. The head was bald except for a Moroccan red fez. The old man’s body was bent with age and covered by a soft blue robe with large sleeves that dangled low about his body. His leggings were covered with an odd-looking cloth that seemed to shimmer in the dim light of the room when he moved.
“Can I help you?” he repeated with the same friendly smile.
“Yes. I need something to write with. Not too expensive. I like the feel of vintage tools, so I thought to obtain a used instrument from past days,” she said hopefully.
“I see,” said the man. “I think I might have something of interest.” His eyes twinkled.
With that, he turned and shuffled slowly over to a ladder that leaned against a wall covered with shelves. He slowly climbed the ladder, one step at a time, pausing between each effort, until he reached a particular shelf farther back in the shadows than the others. He pulled back the long sleeve of his robe and reached into the dark. He muttered a few inaudible words, coughed a little from the dust he stirred up, and pulled his arm back. Clutched in his bony hand was a small, blue, velvet-covered box.
“Ah, yes. Here it is. Just where I had left it…long ago,” he muttered to himself.
He slowly, one step at a time, descended the ladder until he was standing on the shop floor once again. He turned, and with a triumphant smile, slowly shuffled over to the woman holding the small box.
“Here it is. I haven’t seen this one in a long time. But I think now is the time to show it to you.” He put the box under her eyes, opened it, and said, “I believe this is for you….”
What Harold Learned from Al-Hamid Akbar
Here is a summary of what Harold learned from Al-Hamid. I hope you can benefit from these emeralds of wisdom too.
What Do You Want?
“Sometimes in life, you have to take a different path to obtain what you want. Do you know what you want? Have you taken the time to think about how you want your life to be? We all get old, my son, you can count on that. Do you see yourself riding on horseback, fighting other tribes when you are old? Or do you see yourself surrounded by a happy family, living in a good home, surrounded by the pleasantries of life? What sings to your heart?”
Making Win-Win Deals
In every transaction, be sure all involved benefit.
Ensure that each party feels they have achieved what they wanted, and so were not disappointed or cheated by the outcome.
If these steps are not followed, then the Universe will eventually work against you and undermine all you have achieved. This is a law of the Universe that never fails.
Getting What You Want
Draw out a picture of what you want.
At night, just before you go to bed, look at the picture and imagine whatever you’ve drawn.
Then place the drawing on the wall near your pillow and go to sleep.
In the morning, sit up, and first thing, look at this drawing again, and imagine yourself with the item.
After that, start your day and think of it no more, but believe you have already obtained the item.
Repeat this every evening and every morning and see if God blesses you.
Achieving Your Dreams
To achieve your dreams, you have but to believe that your dreams are achievable.
Believe your circumstances will change.
Believe you will have the wealth needed, that you will learn new skills.
Believe that those who oppose you will be cast down.
Believe a way will be shown to you.
You must believe with all your heart and all your might.
Believe you are already achieving the dream, even though it may seem the steps toward it are not yet understood.
See yourself living in the dream when you go to sleep at night, and also see yourself living in the dream when you awake.
Act and feel as if you have already achieved the dream. Do this so your mind knows what to tell you to do to continue your belief that you are living your dream.
Then act on that advice, for it comes from God. God has heard you and is there to help you.
Be sure to express your gratitude for what you have, for the guidance you have received, and for allowing your dreams to come true to God in prayer.
Do these things daily, and by doing so, the barriers preventing you from achieving your dreams will fall, and God will shine a light on your path to achievement.
Remember—the great universe has rules, and one of these is:
Dennis Galloway has lived in many places in the world, both growing up and while in the military. Immersed in a variety of cultures, he had a wide range of experiences that could not be gained from reading books or taking courses. He incorporates many of these experiences in his writing so the characters you meet feel real and it seems like you are really there in the places he writes about.
Dennis grew up with a vivid, active imagination that sometimes got him in trouble for daydreaming while in school, but served him well in developing unique and exciting stories. His imagination also provided him with ideas in the creative areas of video, photography, and product development.
Dennis’ stories, many of which are not yet published, have been incorporated in documentaries, videos, podcast programs, articles, short stories, and novels that cover a wide range of venues from children’s stories to adult fiction.
Explore the World of Dennis Galloway
If you loved The Pen, be sure to check out Dennis Galloway’s other works, both books and films.
Books
The Green King
Ask Questions to Get What You Want
Inspiring Gratitude Journal: Focus on Gratitude and Find Happiness
Gratitude: Da
ily Successes
Documentary
I Want to Be There
Videos
The RV Guy
Dennis Galloway is available for speaking engagements.Please contact him at
[email protected], 702 816 0281
For more information, visit: www.DennisLGalloway.com
The Pen- Sultan's Wisdom Page 17