Allegories of the Tarot
Page 15
Rose heard a mumbled response from her grandfather, but she couldn’t understand what he said.
“Yes. We all came, we’re all here.”
Another muffled response from the bed.
“Yes, Rose too,” her mother said. “Would you like to see her?”
Rose’s mom turned and motioned to her daddy. He slid a chair next to the bed, and helped Rose stand in it.
At first, she didn’t recognize the man she saw. This was definitely not her Pee Paw. This man was an old man, with a gaunt, pale face and dark rings under his sunken eyes. Plastic tubes protruded from his arms. His skin looked white as a skeleton. A tiny plastic mask on over his nose and mouth fogged up as he labored to breath.
“There’s my little Rose,” he said. “I’ve been waiting for you, sweetie.”
“Pee Paw?” she said. He looked so sad and thin. His voice crackled and sounded hollow from behind the strange mask. “What happened?”
Her grandfather looked at Rose’s mother. “Why don’t the rest of you give me a few minutes to talk to my granddaughter, ok?”
Slowly, the adults left the room until no one remained but Rose and her grandfather. As the door closed behind them, Rose felt her chest and throat start to constrict as she looked at her grandfather. The reality of what was happening to him finally hit her. In one sudden rush of emotion, tears started to well up in her eyes and drip down her cheeks.
Pee Paw attempted to sit upright. As he did, he grimaced in pain and exhaustion, as if every bit of strength he had left was put into the effort. This was not the man she once saw smack a buck on its butt after sneaking up on it. He was dying, and she only just now realized that it was a matter of when and not "if".
“I love you, Pee Paw,” she sobbed as the lump in her throat began to make it impossible to talk. “I love you so much.”
“I love you to, Rose,” he lifted his bony hand from beneath the covers and wiped the tears off her cheek as his own tears trickled down his.
“Rose…I need you to help me, ok? Will you do something for me?”
She nodded her head wondering what she could possibly do to help this man she loved so much.
“The light is calling to me, Rose. Do you remember? Do you remember the worm? Will you help me get ready?”
“Yes, Pee Paw,” she wept. “Tell me how to help.”
“I need you to make my cocoon for me.”
Rose’s Pee Paw instructed her how to tuck the blankets on the bed tightly around his body. She wrapped his thin feet so they would not poke out. She slid her hands up underneath his frail legs and hips, making sure he was swaddled as tight as could be.
“Hug me one last time before you cocoon my arms, Rose,” he whispered weakly, his breathing erratic and harsh.
She embraced her grandfather, holding him close for a long moment. Carefully she tucked his arms underneath the blankets, pulling them taut over his shoulders and neck so only the tubes poked out from underneath.
“Is it time, Pee Paw?” she asked. “Is it time to grow wings and fly back to the light?”
“I don’t know, Rosie. I hope so. Worms don’t ever know what they’re going to become when they surrender to the light, they just know they’ll become something greater than what they were.”
He paused for a few seconds, and again his eyes trailed off, just as they did the last time they spoke; as if he were no longer explaining, but remembering. When his gaze came back to focus, Rose saw a joy and love she knew she would always remember.
“But know this, Rose. Whatever I become, no matter how amazing my wings might be, or what great visions I see as I fly high into the sky, what I’m about to become will never be as beautiful as you are to me right now.”
And with that, Rose watched her Pee Paw close his eyes as the last few rays of sunlight coming in through the window dropped off his face.
***
Timothy Smith lives in North Carolina where he and his wife split their time between running their restaurant, indulging in creative projects, and spending time with their two dogs. A life- long student of symbolism and creative expression, Timothy has always enjoyed exploring the eclectic myths and archetypal characters of various religions and their respective cultures throughout history. Inspired in his youth by the insights of Jung, Campbell, and other authors who defined the field of comparative mythologies and their impact on culture and the human condition, Timothy has studied and practiced various systems of divination since his childhood. This is Timothy's first contribution to an anthology, but hopefully not his last.
***
TEMPERANCE
Reply All
By Anne Chaconas
Date: Friday 13 June, 9:45am
From: Williams, Temperance
To: Arcana Enterprises
Subject: Leaving early today
Please be advised that Mr. Mammon is leaving at noon today to attend a tennis tournament, and will be unavailable until Monday. All urgent matters should be brought to his attention no later than 11am.
Thank you,
Temperance Williams
Executive Assistant to Stan Mammon, VP - Arcana Enterprises
-----
Date: Friday 13 June, 9:47am
From: Kaiser, Victoria
To: Mammon, Stanley
Subject: RE: Leaving early today
Oh, is that what we’re calling it now? A “tennis tournament?”
-----
Date: Friday 13 June, 9:50am
From: Mammon, Stanley
To: Kaiser, Victoria
Subject: RE: Leaving early today
If you want, I can ask Temperance to send out an email clarifying my weekend activities. What would you like me to have her say?
-----
Date: Friday 13 June, 9:51am
From: Kaiser, Victoria
To: Mammon, Stanley
Subject: RE: Leaving early today
Have her say you’ll be riding me roughly in the back of an El Dorado.
-----
Date: Friday 13 June, 9:52am
From: Mammon, Stanley
To: Kaiser, Victoria
Subject: RE: Leaving early today
Ooh. Kinky.
-----
Date: Friday 13 June, 9:53am
From: Forza, Geraldine
To: Williams, Temperance; Arcana Enterprises
Subject: RE: Leaving early today
FYI, Mrs. Kaiser will also be leaving early today, around 1pm. All matters needing her attention should be brought to me no later than noon.
Thanks!
Geri Forza
Executive Assistant to Victoria Kaiser, Marketing Director - Arcana Enterprises
-----
Date: Friday 13 June, 9:55am
From: Williams, Temperance
To: Forza, Geraldine; Justia, Marie
Subject: RE: Leaving early today
Boy, it must be nice to be rich and single, huh? This is fifth time in two weeks that Mammon’s cut out early. Tennis tournament today, wine tasting last week, conference in Vegas two weekends ago. I can’t remember where he went the other two times.
-----
Date: Friday 13 June, 9:56am
From: Forza, Geraldine
To: Williams, Temperance; Justia, Marie
Subject: RE: Leaving early today
The rich and married do it just as often. Vikki’s been leaving early every other day, it seems. I guess it pays to be married to the boss.
-----
Date: Friday 13 June, 9:57am
From: Kaiser, Victoria
To: Mammon, Stanley
Subject: RE: Leaving early today
Not as kinky as we were on Tuesday.
-----
Date: Friday 13 June, 9:58am
From: Mammon, Stanley
To: Kaiser, Victoria
Subject: RE: Leaving early today
My nethers still tingle.
Love you in tha
t skirt today. If it was any tighter, I’d be able to see the outline of your panties.
-----
Date: Friday 13 June, 9:59am
From: Kaiser, Victoria
To: Mammon, Stanley
Subject: RE: Leaving early today
You’re assuming I’m wearing any.
-----
Date: Friday 13 June, 10:01am
From: Justia, Marie
To: Forza, Geraldine; Williams, Temperance
Subject: RE: Leaving early today
Where does she even go? It can’t be work-related; she’s got all her little minions that she sends to conferences. And it can’t be personal; the boss hardly ever takes off early, he works most weekends (I would know, he keeps me here working with him), and you know he’d never let her go anywhere alone. Honestly, I don’t even know why she has a job here. I never see her do a damn thing. It’s completely unfair. What’s she even doing right now, Geri?
-----
Date: Friday 13 June, 10:02am
From: Forza, Geraldine
To: Williams, Temperance; Justia, Marie
Subject: RE: Leaving early today
She’s sitting at her computer, typing something and giggling.
-----
Date: Friday 13 June, 10:02am
From: Williams, Temperance
To: Forza, Geraldine; Justia, Marie
Subject: RE: Leaving early today
Sounds like she’s hard at work.
-----
Date: Friday 13 June, 10:03am
From: Justia, Marie
To: Forza, Geraldine; Williams, Temperance
Subject: RE: Leaving early today
I saw her in Atlantic City when I went last weekend, at the blackjack tables. Losing the Kaiser fortune, no doubt. Can’t imagine she’s particularly good at cards. Don’t you need to be smart to do well at card games? I didn’t say hello to her, OBVIOUSLY. I don’t think she saw me…or she pretended not to recognize me.
-----
Date: Friday 13 June, 10:05am
From: Forza, Geraldine
To: Williams, Temperance; Justia, Marie
Subject: RE: Leaving early today
Wait…last weekend she wasn’t in Atlantic City. She told me she would be at their Hamptons house. Her mother was visiting or something.
-----
Date: Friday 13 June, 10:06am
From: Justia, Marie
To: Williams, Temperance; Forza, Geraldine
Subject: RE: Leaving early today
It was definitely her. I’d recognize that blonde dye job anywhere.
-----
Date: Friday 13 June, 10:07am
From: Williams, Temperance
To: Forza, Geraldine; Justia, Marie
Subject: RE: Leaving early today
Maybe she was originally going to go to the Hamptons and then took a detour. God knows she takes the private jet wherever she wants. TOUGH LIFE SHE LEADS.
-----
Date: Friday 13 June, 10:10am
From: Kaiser, Victoria
To: Mammon, Stanley
Subject: RE: Leaving early today
Rendered you speechless, I see. Is the thought of my naked ass too much for you? It certainly wasn’t too much for you when you had me bent over in the copy room yesterday.
-----
Date: Friday 13 June, 10:12am
From: Mammon, Stanley
To: Kaiser, Victoria
Subject: RE: Leaving early today
Not speechless. Merely temporarily detained. Your husband was just in my office, wanting to go over his presentation notes for that conference he’s attending this weekend.
-----
Date: Friday 13 June, 10:13am
From: Kaiser, Victoria
To: Mammon, Stanley
Subject: RE: Leaving early today
Don’t talk to me about that asshole. I can’t wait for him to leave for the weekend.
What time are you coming over?
-----
Date: Friday 13 June, 10:14am
From: Mammon, Stanley
To: Kaiser, Victoria
Subject: RE: Leaving early today
7pm. Will you be alone by that time?
-----
Date: Friday 13 June, 10:15am
From: Williams, Temperance
To: Forza, Geraldine; Justia, Marie
Subject: RE: Leaving early today
You know who WAS in Atlantic City last weekend? Mammon. I was just looking at my calendar to see where he’d been going off to the past two weeks, and that’s where I have him staying last Saturday and Sunday. The Borgata in Atlantic City.
-----
Date: Friday 13 June, 10:16am
From: Justia, Marie
To: Forza, Geraldine; Williams, Temperance
Subject: RE: Leaving early today
That’s where I saw Vikki. The Borgata. Which is interesting, because I just checked the boss’ calendar, and he wasn’t in Atlantic City last weekend. He was in San Diego, meeting with investors.
-----
Date: Friday 13 June, 10:17am
From: Forza, Geraldine
To: Williams, Temperance; Justia, Marie
Subject: RE: Leaving early today
So he DOES let her go places alone. Or maybe they went to San Diego together and then made a pit stop in Atlantic City on the way back?
-----
Date: Friday 13 June, 10:18am
From: Justia, Marie
To: Forza, Geraldine; Williams, Temperance
Subject: RE: Leaving early today
I saw her on Saturday morning.
-----
Date: Friday 13 June, 10:19am
From: Williams, Temperance
To: Forza, Geraldine; Justia, Marie
Subject: RE: Leaving early today
Maybe they met up with Mammon there.
-----
Date: Friday 13 June, 10:20am
From: Forza, Geraldine
To: Williams, Temperance; Justia, Marie
Subject: RE: Leaving early today
Maybe SHE met up with Mammon there.
-----
Date: Friday 13 June, 10:21am
From: Williams, Temperance
To: Forza, Geraldine; Justia, Marie
Subject: RE: Leaving early today
No. You think? I mean, they’re friends outside of work. Well, Mammon and Kaiser are. Vikki just does whatever Kaiser does. Or tells her to do.
-----
Date: Friday 13 June, 10:22am
From: Forza, Geraldine
To: Williams, Temperance; Justia, Marie
Subject: RE: Leaving early today
I saw Vikki and Mammon having dinner at Le Bombardier last Wednesday. Sans Kaiser. Didn’t think anything of it at the time, but…
-----
Date: Friday 13 June, 10:23am
From: Williams, Temperance
To: Forza, Geraldine; Justia, Marie
Subject: RE: Leaving early today
That can’t be right. Last Wednesday evening Mammon was at a wine tasting. I remember because he was waiting to hear back about the Vermont deal and he told me where he was going to be in case I needed to get a hold of him.
Marie, where was Kaiser last Wednesday?
-----
Date: Friday 13 June, 10:24am
From: Justia, Marie
To: Forza, Geraldine; Williams, Temperance
Subject: RE: Leaving early today
Kaiser was out of town last Wednesday. Wednesday and Thursday. At merger discussions. In New York.
-----
Date: Friday 13 June, 10:25am
From: Williams, Temperance
To: Forza, Geraldine; Justia, Marie
Subject: RE: Leaving early today
So Kaiser was out of town. Mammon lied about where he was. And Vikki was having dinner at a fancy French restaurant with the guy who lied about where he was while her husband was out of town.
MAMMON AND VIKKI ARE SO DOING IT.
-----
Date: Friday 13 June, 10:26am
From: Forza, Geraldine
To: Williams, Temperance; Justia, Marie
Subject: RE: Leaving early today
OMG.
-----
Date: Friday 13 June, 10:26am
From: Justia, Marie
To: Forza, Geraldine; Williams, Temperance
Subject: RE: Leaving early today
NO.
-----
Date: Friday 13 June, 10:27am
From: Williams, Temperance
To: Forza, Geraldine; Justia, Marie
Subject: RE: Leaving early today
YES.
-----
Date: Friday 13 June, 10:30am
From: Kaiser, Victoria
To: Mammon, Stanley
Subject: RE: Leaving early today
Yes. Alan’s flight leaves at 6pm. I’ll be alone by 7pm. And naked.
-----
Date: Friday 13 June, 10:31am
From: Mammon, Stanley
To: Kaiser, Victoria
Subject: RE: Leaving early today
I can’t wait to make you purr like a kitten again. A NAUGHTY kitten.
-----
Date: Friday 13 June, 10:32am
From: Kaiser, Alan
To: Forza, Geraldine; Williams, Temperance; Arcana Enterprises
Subject: RE: Leaving early today
Be advised, I’ll be leaving at 3pm today. I’ll be reachable via cell phone and email.
Thank you,
Alan Kaiser
CEO – Arcana Enterprises
-----
Date: Friday 13 June, 10:33am
From: Williams, Temperance
To: Kaiser, Alan; Forza, Geraldine; Arcana Enterprises
Subject: RE: Leaving early today
Oooh, look who else is leaving early! Perhaps a little Mammon sandwich on a Kaiser roll is in order? Vikki’s already got hands-on experience, she can show her husband how to tickle the Mammon pickle.
-----
Date: Friday 13 June, 10:35am
From: Forza, Geraldine
To: Williams, Temperance; Justia, Marie
Subject: RE: Leaving early today
TEMPERANCE YOU JUST REPLIED TO THE WHOLE OFFICE
-----
Date: Friday 13 June, 10:35am
From: Williams, Temperance
To: Forza, Geraldine; Justia, Marie
Subject: RE: Leaving early today
OMFG I REPLIED TO THE WRONG EMAIL
-----
Date: Friday 13 June, 10:35am
From: Justia, Marie
To: Forza, Geraldine; Williams, Temperance