Autumn's Ravage

by Phil Armstrong

Dan skipped along the sidewalk dragging his large heavy gym bag behind him, he looked like a young spring rabbit tethered to a large, heavy, steel ball. When they arrived at the restaurant’s large picture window, he skipped right past it, realizing that his Mother had come to an abrupt halt; he turned to understand why she was no longer following him. She smiled and playfully pointed at the large glass window. Dan ran back dragging his bag behind him, “Is this the place?”

  “Yup, this is it kiddo. Are you ready for a tour?” There was a small opening at the side of the restaurant’s window that led to an entrance elevated by a dark stone step. The entrance concealed a large burgundy door. At the side of the door was a weathered steel box housing a speaker with two black protruding buttons. The buttons were adorned with white plastic writing, ‘2A’ was written on the top button, ‘2B’ on the bottom button. “This is our button, you simply need to press this when you don't have a key on you. I will hear it ring upstairs, and I can talk to you through this speaker, and I can open the door. Got it?”

  Dan looked at his Mother with the blank expression of disbelief, “I’m fourteen years old Mum, and I watch movies! I think I know how to operate one of these antique things.” Dan was fourteen, but you wouldn’t describe him as a street-smart kid with an old head on his shoulders.

  “So you’ve seen these things before, I get it, but I just wanted to make sure you knew how it worked. Let’s go inside.” Liz inserted the brass key and pushed the heavy door open, it led to a small, square entrance, and a narrow set of wooden stairs with a smooth wooden handrail. Dan bounded up the stairs as if his heavy bag were made from the lightest of cotton wool. He stopped at the top before dropping his bag. ‘2B’ glowed in a brilliant white set against the dark colored paint of the door; Liz used a different key and gently opened the door to their new life. Dan leapt inside rushing forward into the new apartment, and his new home, he dropped the bag inches within the door well and proceeded to explore every room. He didn't remember to ask where he would be sleeping, at the time he didn't care. He would’ve slept on the floor if he had to, as long as they were together.

  Dan couldn’t believe his eyes when he finally made his way around to the second, smaller, bedroom. He stopped suddenly, taking in the scene before him. He felt a presence behind him and turned to see his Mother smiling at him, “You like?” All Dan could do was nod, “You finally have your own room. I know it's not that big but …”

  “It’s perfect,” interrupted Dan.

  “What do you think of the rest of the apartment?”

  “It feels like home,” he said, flopping down on his bed.

  Liz smiled, “Yeah, we’ve finally got a home. The furniture is a bit old, but we’ll make do for now. I’ll have this place looking better in a day or two.”

  “Mum, it’s great, just great,” gushed Dan.

  Using her foot, Liz pushed the discarded gym bag into Dan’s new room and motioned for him to come out. “Join me in the living room,” she patted the couch. Dan sat, sinking into the worn cushions. “We’re renting this place from the people who own the restaurant below, they’re my new employers. We have to treat this place with respect and be careful with it. No leaving taps running or the stove on, you hear me?”

  Dan knew his Mother was serious, for she didn't break eye contact, “I understand Mum.”

  “Good, I’m counting on you.” Two small, dull colored, brass keys held together by a silver ring protruded from her raised hand, “These are yours, please don't lose them.” Dan reached forward and held the keys, “My next shift starts at four and goes through till eleven. What you have to understand, is that I wouldn’t have been able to get you back with me, if I had to leave you at home, alone for hours on end, while I worked. Do you get that?”

  Dan thought hard, “No, not really.”

  Liz breathed deeply, hoping she had enough patience; “I have to work to earn money, it pays for food and rent, so we can live here, but I can’t leave you alone at night; unattended is what they call it. You can’t come with me to the restaurant, so I have no choice. If you want to live here with me, then I don't want any fuss about what I’m going to say. Gyanesh is the nice man who gave me the job downstairs; he runs the restaurant with his wife Bindi. Gyanesh’s Grandfather is called Raj, and he lives next door in apartment ‘2A’. When I’m working the late shift, you’ll need to come home from school, get changed, have your dinner here with me and then go and visit Raj. On weekends, you’ll go to Raj’s place for my evening shift, and wait for me to come and pick you up, when my shift ends.” Liz could see the brewing panic deep within Dan’s eyes, “I’ll only be downstairs, and I’ll come upstairs and check in on you throughout the evening, to make sure that you’re alright. It’s going to be fine, I promise. You can read a book or watch TV or do your homework, you two will be best buddies.”

  Dan didn't like the idea, but he was smart enough to realize that she had no other options, and this was the only way she could get him back. “I’m just glad to be with you,” he said.

  “Don't get too comfy though because next week, you’ll soon start at your new school. I called this morning and they told me that you’ve been accepted and you could start mid-year. They were extra accommodating because of our special circumstances.” Dan pulled a face; “I have a good feeling about this place, everyone’s been so nice.”

  Adults are always nice to begin with, but kids can be cruel right from the start. It’s always hard breaking in to a new school, this would be no different, but he needed to do it. He wouldn’t allow himself to undo all of his Mother’s hard work. For the first time, in a long while, she seemed happy. Her face glowed with optimism and hope, a feeling that had been missing for so long from her life. Dan knew he would have to make this school a success, as he liked the apartment and he didn’t want to move again. “Okay - unpack, and relax for a bit, we have a couple of hours before my shift starts. I’m going to take you over to meet Raj in about ninety minutes, so be ready. I’ll spend a bit of time with you both, but then I’ll need to head down to the restaurant. Dan, listen to me carefully.” Dan snapped his attention back to his Mother, “I know this won’t be easy for you, we’re all having to make adjustments, but I need you to make this work, be nice to the kind old man, you hear me?”

  “Sure.” It seemed to Dan like the pressure was mounting to make a lot of things work. Dan was starting to get a little stressed out, as he nodded reassuringly to his Mother, and sought the refuge of his private room. The bed had an unfamiliar odor; it had the faint smell of a man’s fragrance. Dan kicked his shoes off and dumped the contents of his gym bag into a couple of deep wooden drawers contained within a worn wooden cabinet. He stretched out comfortably upon his bed and dived into the latest book he was reading. Dan loved to escape to other places and other worlds; books afforded him that chance. He lived his life vicariously through the characters depicted in the books he read. The latest book to capture Dan’s imagination was a novel with a lead character called Beth. The novel had detailed life in India, which could be useful information when Dan needed to make small talk with Raj, perhaps this would help him relate. His mind wandered to the old man; would he be senile, coherent, intelligent, wise, or clueless? Would he be able to learn from this man, as a wise sage, or would he grow frustrated at his inability to communicate relevant, and interesting information to a fourteen year old? Lost in the book, Dan glanced at the fiery red numbers displayed on the bedside clock; it was almost time to go. He’d managed to finish the book, and thoroughly enjoyed it. A tap at the door caused his tired eyes to widen, “Come in,” he said.

  Liz pushed the door gently, “You ready kiddo? We have to get going, I need to introduce you to Raj and get ready to start my shift.”

  “I’m ready, just let me grab a sweater.” Dan moved from the bed to retrieve his favorite black woolen sweater from the drawer.

  Liz placed a hand on his small shoulder, “You really OK with this? You know I’m trying hard to make a good life
for us both.”

  Dan smiled sympathetically, he hugged his Mother tightly, “I’m fine, and I know you’re doing what’s best for us both. I’m proud of you Mum and I love you.” It was just what she needed to hear.

  They left their apartment and walked across the hallway, Dan could see the door of apartment ‘2A.’ The door was freshly painted in a rich, deep, wine color. Liz approached and pressed the small white button located at the side of the door. The faint sound of a chime could be heard, signaling their arrival. Dan was nervous; butterflies fluttered within his stomach.

  “Come in, the door’s open,” said a faint voice from within.

  Liz looked at Dan; they exchanged worried glances before she reached for the handle and gently pushed the door. Liz led the way with Dan staying close behind. They stepped into a larger apartment than their own, into a living room decorated in rich, warm earth tones. A large patterned rug, splashed with vibrant reds, browns, and golds, covered the gleaming wood floor. Two large, comfy, reclining chairs, paired with a matching sofa, surrounded the rug. The apartment was dark, yet accented with a few soft light sources, supplied by elaborately sculptured golden table lamps. The walls were decorated with framed photographs from a long time ago, showing moments of contentment and happiness. In one corner of the room was a large, modern television that stood dark and silent. A large wall was covered in wooden shelving, crammed with an assortment of books. They were neatly arranged, indicating some level of organization and order. Facing the door was Raj, seated in one of the large comfy chairs. The door snapped closed behind them, as Dan peered curiously from behind his Mother’s body.

  Raj was a man of small stature, dressed in a beige tunic with dark chocolate colored pants and a shock of ruffled wavy white hair, a grey and white beard, and bushy eyebrows. He had kind, large brown eyes, and weathered skin; he had a few visible moles and some dark skin blemishes that showed his age. He wore large silver rimmed glasses containing thick lenses that were perched low upon his nose. His right hand shook slightly, whilst his left hand grasped an ornate cane. Raj offered a salutation, “Ah visitors, welcome, come in please,” Raj waved a hand, and then struggled to adjust his weight. He tried to stand up from his chair, to formally greet his visitors. He managed to push himself to his feet, using his sturdy cane for support. Raj wobbled initially, but soon steadied himself.

  Liz approached and extended a hand; Raj shook it vigorously. Liz talked quickly, her nerves and uncertainty fueling her speed, “Thank you so much for doing this, I hope it’s not too much of an imposition? I’d like to compensate you in some small way.” Dan peered from behind his Mother’s protective body. He was unsure about this and unsure about the man that stood before him.

  “Dear lady, it is my utmost pleasure,” said Raj shaking and then releasing Liz’s hand, “I would cherish the time spent to get to know this fine gentleman, and at my advanced age, that alone, is adequate compensation.” Raj’s eyes came to rest upon the shy, impish figure, hiding behind his Mother’s frame. Dan felt the old man’s gaze fall upon him, and for the first time, he made direct eye contact with the man, “And you must be Mr. Dan?”

  Dan nodded, unsure of his next move. He wanted to run, but he knew how important this was to his Mother, and their future together. He had to make this work, it wasn't in his nature as he would rather have hid, but he stepped forward from his Mother’s protection emerging into the open, in a show of bravado and courage. He offered his hand boldly, “Hi, I’m Dan.”

  Raj approached, still appearing unsteady upon his feet. He took the boy’s little white hand and wrapped it within his large, leathery skinned hand, covered in veins, wrinkles, and brown blemishes. Raj stooped and gently shook Dan’s hand, “It’s my pleasure to meet you Dan - I’m Raj. I’m looking forward to getting to know you.”

  Dan glanced at his smiling Mother, “Me too,” spilled from his mouth. This seemed to please his worried Mother immensely, as her body visibly relaxed from her tense state, as she smiled at Raj.

  “Well, I think I’ll leave you two men to chat, I have to get downstairs to start my shift, as they’re expecting me. I’ll try to pop up and check in on you during my shift when there’s a slow period, is that alright?”

  Raj responded instinctively, “Sure.”

  Dan tried to reassure her, “You don't have to skip off work Mum, I’m sure it’s going to be alright.”

  “Me too, but I’m the one who worries, and I’m doing it more for my own peace of mind. Maybe I’ll do this for the first night, and then I’ll stop worrying- OK? My shift is over at 11pm, so I’ll come and get him then.” Raj nodded, “He hasn't started his new school yet, right? So he doesn't have any homework tonight.” Liz nodded in agreement.

  Dan started to fidget, he noticed Raj was starting to get unsteady, as he shifted his weight to his other foot clearly needing to sit, “Mum stop worrying and go.”

  “You’re right, I don't want to be late; I’ll pop up on my break, when it gets quiet then.” Liz waved sheepishly and slipped out of the door, standing in the hallway she let out a long, heavy, deep sigh. She didn’t know if this was the right thing to do, she felt racked with guilt, but relieved at how well Dan seemed to be handling it. She scurried down the thin wooden stairs on her way to the restaurant and her new job.

  In the apartment above the restaurant, stood an old man and a young boy, each unsure of the situation they were facing. They stood and awkwardly sized each other up, the silence was broken by Raj, “Can I get you anything to eat or drink young man?”

  “No, I’m good, thanks.”

  “Well then, lets take a seat,” Raj waved his hand at an open chair, as he shuffled back to his comfy familiar chair. He fell into its welcoming cushioned support heavily, as his knees gave way under him, refusing to support his small frame further. “Ahh that's good, I’m not as strong as I used to be Dan, and I can tell you getting old is not much fun, but alas, it comes to us all.”

  Dan nodded in agreement, and settled into a cozy oversized chair. The two stared at each other unsure of where to begin. At a loss for words they felt awkward and disconnected without one common thread of a connection. Dan felt it and tried hard with the only line he could muster, a premeditated one, “So I guess you come from India?”

  Raj looked at the boy and rubbed his chin thoughtfully, “Indeed. I was born in Patna, a long time ago. Patna is located in the north of India, and slightly to the east. My parents moved me to Delhi when I was a young boy, but I returned to Patna, later in life. Now I find myself here, in the United States of America, with what’s left of my family.”

  “You sound like you wished you were back in Patna?”

  “You’re a perceptive young man, what’s your story?”

  “I’m a kid, I don't have much of a story,” Raj smiled, “I follow my Mum around, my Dad took off when I was a baby, and my Mum has lousy taste in men. She tries to protect me, but I get picked on a lot, ‘cos I’m weird.”

  Raj leaned forward intrigued, “Who says your weird?”

  “Everyone. Mainly kids at school. I move around a lot so I don't have any friends, and I don't seem to mix well. I’m kind of shy, well, kind of weird really.” That word hurt him; it seemed to be worse that it fell from his own lips.

  Raj recognized Dan’s downward shameful glance, the dejected look, and the defeatist tone creeping into his voice. Feeling worthless, valueless, isolated, and adrift, was not a strange concept to him lately. When you look different, sound different, and act different, then you are different, in today’s society, ‘different’ can be really hard to take, and in some circumstances, even dangerous. Raj longed desperately for simpler times, and the long hot peaceful days of Patna; he fit in there in every way. Even today, with all of this modern progress, and the rapid changes sweeping across India, he felt he would still fit in more. “Dan, being shy doesn't make you weird, being ‘different’ makes you weird in some people’s eyes, but the best people in the history of the world were differe
nt, and that’s what makes them the best.”

  Dan paused to think about Raj’s insightful words, “I get picked on a lot when they catch me reading; I’m quiet and I don't speak up much.”

  There was a moment of silence before Raj’s thoughtful response, “Me too.”

  Dan raised his eyes and a wide smile broke across his face. Dan moved the focus of his eyes towards the crowded bookshelves, “I can see that, I don't know why but I just love books, they allow me to learn and escape, plus it makes the time fly by.”

  When Dan had entered the apartment, Raj had noticed a small white scar running under his bottom lip; the only blemish on a handsome kids face, “How did you get that scar?” Raj inquired pointing to his chin.

  Dan rubbed it with his finger, as if to remind him of its existence, “I got beat up on my way to school - that’s why my Mum moved us here.”

  Raj nodded, as if to recognize Dan’s pain, “There’s nothing wrong with reading you know, it’s becoming a lost art. I have a lot of time on my hands and that's why I have a lot of books.”

  “Do you think I could borrow one? I’ve just finished the book I was reading.”

  “Sure, go to the shelves and pick one, you’re welcome to borrow anything that I have.”

  Dan approached the wall of books and browsed - he was unsure of his selection. His small fingers caressed the spines of the books, as if trying to absorb their plots. Finally, he selected a book, ‘Jamaica Inn,’ a classic by English writer Daphne du Maurier. He returned to his chair holding the hardback edition, Raj smiled. Dan stared at him and inquired, “Aren’t you going to ask me what I selected?”

  “No. You can tell me, but only if you wish to.” Raj leaned forward placing his hands upon the shaft of his wooden cane. It was a beautiful cane made from dark polished wood, the base of the cane had a shining silver tip, wedged into the brightly colored rug, and barely visible. The cane was smooth and the dark wood glistened. At the top of the cane a ring of butterflies were carved into the wood circling the shaft. Below the handle was a bright silver collar engraved with some long forgotten language. A series of words and symbols wrapped around the collar, they appeared dark against the polished silver. Above the collar was a large silver knob, which looked like a brightly polished silver honeycomb. Inset within each honeycomb was a brilliantly colored crimson red polished jewel.

  “I’ve just finished reading a novel where some of the plot is set in India. It’s set in Kolkata, West Bengal, I believe.”

  They exchanged a mutual smile, “I’ll tell you which book I chose, but only if you promise not to tell me anything about the plot. I hate it when people spoil things without giving the reader a chance to let the story unfold.” Dan let his gaze slip towards the window, he could see the light fading and the autumn leaves racing past carried by the wind; he gripped his selected book harder.

  “I know what you mean,” Raj spoke with an assured confidence of an older gentleman. He had the faintest tinge of an Indian accent, and some of the phrases he would use sounded like they were lifted from a book written in another age. “I can promise you, I wouldn’t spoil your enjoyment,” Raj clasped the cane tightly bringing the palms of his hands together.

  Dan perched upon the edge of his chair and presented the illustrated cover of his selected book for inspection, “It’s Jamaica Inn.” The book was heavier than Dan had expected and slipped from his fingers crashing to the floor landing at Raj’s feet. “So sorry, I’m always too clumsy.”

  As Dan leaned forward to retrieve the wayward book, a small ringing noise caught his attention. He stopped suddenly, frozen in his stooped position, remaining motionless. The ringing noise continued until Dan had quickly located the source. Raj had held his cane pinned between his knees. His hands were resting, palms down upon his thighs, and his eyes were transfixed upon the events unfolding before him. The silver knob that topped the cane had separated, and was floating, spinning wildly, about three inches above the cane - rotating in thin air. The red honeycombs shone like hot coals, sending shards of bright, crimson light, onto the apartment walls, like a 1980’s disco ball. A strange ringing noise accompanied the spinning ball as it levitated well above the cane’s silver collar.

  “How’d you do that?” inquired Dan, still maintaining his awkward pose.

  Raj diverted his eyes from the glowing orb and looked at Dan, “I’m not. You are.”

  Dan sat on his haunches positioned at Raj’s feet watching the spinning orb. The book remained on the floor with the orb grabbing all of his attention, “I’m not doing anything.” The orb suddenly fell silent and its spinning motion started to slow. The glow within the orb started to subside and it gently floated downwards towards its silver base, resting upon the collar of the carved cane. Raj had not moved, with the cane still pressed between his knees. His palms were still resting upon his thighs. When the orb finally came to rest, a strange noise could be heard. It was the type of noise that could be heard when a vacuum-sealed door is closed - a small hissing sound. Raj’s face was in pure shock. “That was cool!” How did you do that?” questioned Dan, sitting on the rug in front of Raj.

  Raj was quiet for a moment, his demeanor had changed, and he looked like his brain was working overtime. He was clearly confused and at a loss for words.

  “Did you know your cane could do that?” quizzed Dan impatiently, “Come on Raj, tell me how you did that, that was so cool!” Dan was excited, but he needed answers, his best guess was a magnetic magic trick, but he couldn't figure out the light source.

  Raj grasped the ball fixed to the top of his cane, with both hands; he realized how close Dan was to him now, sitting right at his feet. “I don't know where to begin, and I don't know if I should explain this to you. The real reason, if I’m being honest, is I don't know if I can trust you with this knowledge.” Raj looked deeply into the large green eyes staring up at him, and he caught the look of disappointment sweep across the young man’s face.

  “Now just a minute, you don’t know if you can trust me? My Mother was forced to leave her fourteen-year-old son with a man she doesn’t know because the children’s aid people said I have to be with an adult until I’m sixteen. I agreed to come here, so she can keep her job and earn a living. This is the only way she can keep us together, so we aren’t separated with me living in a group home. I don't know you at all, and you could be any kind of weirdo, but I have to trust you, I have no choice. So if you want to talk about trust, you should start by asking my Mother and then me.” Dan stared at Raj; he was so close, it was the first time that he’d noticed Raj was missing a tooth in the front of his open mouth. There was a large gap and it was very distracting.

  Raj was stunned by the response from this fourteen-year-old boy. Dan’s face had changed from curiosity to defiance. He showed a steely confidence, and maturity far beyond his age, for this kid had been through a lot in his young life; he was a survivor with a fire in his belly and a large heart.

  “You’re right, please accept my apologies, I’ll explain what just happened, but it’ll take some time, and I need to start at the beginning for all this to make sense. I’ll need to tell you a story, but it’s not fiction, it’s not a novel, its real. If you’re patient, and don’t interrupt me, then I’ll be happy to explain everything. Once I tell you, there will be no going back, the secret I’ll share with you will bond us together for life. Are you sure you want me to continue, because this is your only chance of going back?”

  Dan pretended to think about it, knowing his curiosity had been peaked and his intellect would not allow him to leave a sight like that unexplained, “I’m in, as long as that was not just some lousy magic trick.”

  Raj stared at the boy incredulously, “That was not a lame magic trick, and I’m no magician. I’m serious, if we do this, then we’re in this together.”

  Dan hadn’t a clue what he was opting in for, but the serious look upon Raj’s face seemed genuine, “OK, tell me the story. You said it was a long one so I’m
going to get comfy.” Dan grabbed a cushion from the couch and used it as a pillow for his head, as he stretched out on the floor at Raj’s feet. “OK, I’m ready when you are.”

  Raj gripped his cane tightly and took a deep breath, “When I was a little boy growing up in Patna, I enjoyed a simple life, my Grandfather owned a sweet shop, and he made Indian dessert delicacies such as boondi ladoo and kalakand. People would come from miles around to buy his sweet desserts, because they were that good, and he would make them all by hand. The sweets and mini desserts are a family tradition where Indian families would sit and enjoy them after their meals.

  One day my parents had to travel, I can’t remember where they were going or even why they had to go. I was about seven years old, so a little younger than you, and my Grandparents were going to look after me for a few days, until my parents returned. I thought it was wonderful; tell me a kid who wouldn't want to live in a sweet shop for a couple of days.” Dan fluffed his pillow and got settled in. “One day after work, my Grandfather came to see me. It was late, and I was almost asleep. It was winter in India, and the evenings were starting to get cool, as I snuggled up tightly covered with thick heavy blankets upon my bed. I could hear my Grandfather coming; he’d finished work for the day and the store was now closed. I could hear a strange clunking sound coming from the wooden floorboards as he planted the silver tipped end of his cane to support his weight. Standing all day long had weakened his knees, and he needed his cane to assist him with his balance. I remember this as if it was yesterday, but it’s a little over seventy years ago now; am I boring you or do you want me to continue?”

  “Keep going, sounds like we just got started and we’ve seventy years to cover yet.”

  This was a smart kid, too smart for his own good, “OK. So I heard the tap of his cane approaching when he entered into my bedroom. He sat on my bed and looked at me, and smiled. To this day I’m not sure why he came in, but I think it was because of the cold, and my Grandmother had asked him to check in on me, to see if I needed more blankets. That night something happened that neither of us expected, once he sat down on the edge of my bed a brilliant red light filled the room with dancing flashes, that rotated around the walls and the roof. A whirring noise coupled with the crimson lights woke me from my deep slumber. I saw my Grandfather, and I saw this silver ball that was glowing and rotating, as it floated above my bed. I was scared and confused. It wasn’t until later that I came to fully appreciate what had happened that night. You see this cane selected me, as it has just selected you. The cane is attracted to a certain type of person. Most people are the same; they’re dull and bland inside. When someone is ‘different’ they’re often referred to as weird,” Dan flicked his eyes towards Raj, as if the very mention of that word incensed him. “Let’s talk this through, when someone is ‘different’ they emit a different kind of energy, and they make different choices. They may wear different clothes or choose a different hairstyle, they may laugh too loud or act too quiet, perhaps their mind works too quickly, or they see the funny side of everything. When the masses tend to Zig they seem to …”

  “Zag” said Dan, completing the sentence in a knowing way.

  “Precisely. They don't, and never will, fit in, for they never make the popular choice, and they often see things that others can’t see. Many can visualize the future, and in their minds, they live in the future. Simple things can consume and fascinate them, yet other complex things come easy to them. These types of people are extremely bright; they’re articulate, but often choose to spend time alone. My Grandfather called them pratibhasali’s, an Indian word for a rare type of being. Unfortunately today, they’re singled out, called weird and made to feel like freaks, because they don't readily conform. It’s a shame, when you look at most of our brilliant people throughout our history, none of them would be described as conformists. Look at Van Gogh, Mozart, Hemingway, Mandela, Gandhi, Wells, etc. These were all considered wacko’s and freaks, criticized and rejected.” Dan shifted his body to face Raj.

  “Please tell me your going somewhere with this, if this cane is a weirdo meter then I already know I’m a weirdo, people tell me that every single day of my life.” The anger had subsided from Dan’s voice.

  “Patience, I am leading you somewhere with this.” Dan seemed to like the answer and settled back into his pillow. “I’ve never liked the labels that society uses to describe these types of people today. They use mean spirited words like different, special, weird, or freak. These are derogatory words when used in this context, used to label a person because they’re non-conformist, because they make different choices - but if you dig deeper, they’re different in so many ways. They’re wired differently, they see the world differently, and they’re unique. Their bodies vibrate at a different frequency to others, and they exude a different type of energy. I’m probably going on a bit too much, yes?”

  “I’m following along, keep going.”

  ‘Smart kid,’ thought Raj. “You’re far smarter than I was at your age. The cane only reacts in the way that it did when it meets a very specific person. I like to refer to our kind as unique; we’re both very unique. We’re so unique that after my Grandfather passed away I searched for others like myself. I’ve never met anyone uniquely similar in my entire life, until I met you. A few years after the cane selected me, my parents got work assignments in Delhi, and we moved away from Patna. I was forced to put an end to my adventures with my Grandfather; it was very hard for me to move away. I liked growing up in Delhi and settled in quickly, but when I was a teenager we received word of my Grandfather’s failing health. The whole family raced back to Patna, but we were too late. We attended his funeral; my Grandfather was such a unique, honorable man, and we were very close.

  When he passed away he left me this ornate cane in his will. The story goes like this, a Maharaja had commissioned it many years ago, and somehow it found its way to Patna. It was passed down from generation to generation, but no one knows for sure how old it is. Once you own the cane, you have to treat it with respect, for I know what this cane is capable of. It can take a lifetime to find someone worthy of keeping this cane, and that’s why I was so shocked when you activated the cane. When I leave this world, the cane has selected you as it’s next owner.” Dan raised his head and glanced at Raj, “My Grandfather left me this cane for a good reason, he knew that I’d managed to activate it, and the cane had chosen me. You see, the cane picks its new owner, and this choice must be respected, but Dan, let me tell you clearly, this is no ordinary cane. The person who commissioned this cane selected the finest of materials. They sourced the hardest of mahogany wood, the most talented carvers, and the purest of silver and …” He placed a drawn out emphasis on the word, ‘and’. “He used the finest quality of red rubies known to man. The rubies were mined in Mysore, in the south of India, each stone meticulously selected because they would only vibrate at a certain frequency. Everything and everybody vibrates, but when the cane comes near an individual with the same exact vibration as the rubies, then the orb starts to glow, and the cane is activated. It’s extremely rare to get an exact match, and you Dan, are an exact vibrational match. The Maharaja could have chosen any available woman, and he could have had many wives, but he was different, a weirdo for his time. He chose to take one wife, and only one wife. He loved her dearly and she worshipped him till the day he died. One day she miscalculated the steep drop of a stone step, and took a tumble within the palace building. She fell down a steep set of steps that led to an inner courtyard. She broke her leg badly, and they didn't know if she would survive such a horrendous fall. The Maharaja was devastated and immediately called for the finest physician in India to reset her bones, and the finest archaka priest to pray for her recovery. After two days the physician reported the joyous news to the Maharaja that his wife would survive. The only trace left remaining from the accident would be a long unsightly scar upon her leg, and a severe limp that would worsen over time.”

  “Wo
w,” said Dan, rubbing his eyes.

  “The archaka priest had been summoned from as far away as Srinagar, for he was a special priest. The priest consulted with the Maharaja about the construction of a special walking cane, designed to assist his wife. He patiently explained her deteriorating condition; setting the expectation that she would not be able to do many of the things she’d done prior to the accident. The priest wanted to find a way that they could go on exciting adventures together, despite her injuries. The priest devised a plan and explained it in detail to the Maharaja. Under normal circumstances it would have been impossible to construct a walking cane with such quality, but he was a rich and powerful Maharaja. The priest organized the construction of the cane, to be built to exact specifications. The priest hand selected the crimson rubies, and interviewed and selected each craftsman personally; the wood carver, carpenter, and the silver smith. Each part was made separately so the craftsmen never saw the finished cane. They never knew what they were making or the power that the assembled cane would wield. Once the cane was complete the priest assembled the parts and conducted an ancient ritual.”

  Raj stopped his story, triggering Dan’s fullest attention; “You OK?” inquired Dan.

  “No, my throat’s dry; could you do me a favor Dan, and get me a glass of water from the kitchen, then I’ll be able to continue, there’s a plate of sandwiches for you on the table, bring them in also.”

  Dan leapt to his feet and did as he was asked. He sat crossed legged on the floor munching away on the peanut butter and strawberry jam sandwiches, while waiting for Raj to resume. Raj took a long drink from the glass of water, “Where was I?”

  “The priest was about to conduct an ancient ritual,” said Dan, his mouth full of sandwich.

  “Ah right, good.” The kid was paying attention; in fact he was hanging on every word. “So the priest asked for the Maharaja and his wife to sit within a circle of Sage. He entered the circle with the cane in his hand and started to explain to why he’d gone to such lengths.” A small knock at the apartment door distracted their attention, as they both looked towards the opening door.

  Liz stepped in hurriedly; she absorbed the scene before her. Raj was still sitting in his chair holding onto his cane; Dan was sat at his feet munching on a plate of sandwiches. A book was lying on the floor between the two of them. “I just got a quick break in traffic, so I thought I’d pop up and see how things were going with you two. I’m sorry if I was disturbing something?”

  Dan jumped in first. “It’s going good Mum, Raj has tons of books, and he’s loaned me a new book to read. He’s been telling me about the old days in India, and his childhood. It’s pretty fascinating stuff, although it makes you appreciate what we have over here, and how lucky we are today.”

  His commentary seemed to hit the mark perfectly; “He’s no bother then?”

  Raj played along, “No bother at all,” he said with a large reassuring smile.

  Liz felt relieved; the scenarios running through her head had evaporated when she saw the two of them together, recounting the old days, and making a book connection. “Right, well I better get going, in case someone notices I’m gone. Be back around 11pm after my shift,” and with that, she was gone, as abruptly as she’d arrived.

  Raj looked at Dan, “The priest was holding the cane and entered a circle of Sage to join the Maharaja and his wife. He was about to explain something.”

  “Yes, thanks.” Raj took another sip of water, it only took a few seconds, but they were excruciatingly long for Dan. Raj resumed, “The priest patiently explained that the cane was built to harness the power of their collective energies, and their love for each other. He’d hand picked the crimson colored rubies that would vibrate at the precise frequency of their resonating bodies. During the day, the Maharaja’s wife would be severely crippled by her unfortunate injury, but during the evening, when they entered their private chambers, they’d be transported together to explore new worlds. They could be happy, vibrant, healthy, and together. The priest completed his blessing ritual by smudging the elaborate cane with a piece of burning sage. The couple was asked to jointly hold the cane. The silver orb became energized, fiery, and glowed violently as it did today. In a palace room with no windows, the orb would shine its crimson light, and together they would both be transported to other worlds. Their earthly bodies would simply fall asleep, as they assumed new identities, living through their new, fit and able, bodies. The priest had warned them that their new bodies within these other worlds were mortal.

  The natural vibrations of their bodies denoted a pure heart, supported by a strong love. It was rare to find a person with this vibrational frequency, when they are found; the cane is attracted to them, selecting them as its new owner. You could say the cane is programmed to find such a person. If you have this specific vibration, then you will activate the crimson rubies and they will start to vibrate and glow, as they have done countless times before.”

  Raj lifted the cane slightly, “It’s called a Dream Cane.” He stopped to stare at Dan; Dan was listening intently. “There’s only one of these in the world and it’s very, very, special, just like you. We have to keep this safe and we have to keep it a secret. Many people, with bad intentions, would kill, lie, steal, and cheat, to study how this thing works. It only works if there are two people - it was engineered that way, and both have to vibrate on the same frequency, the frequency of a pure heart.” Raj pointed to his heart, and then to Dan’s heart, “Yes, we are both weird, special, unique, and pure,” he said, beaming a broad smile. Raj lifted his hand from the cane and gripped it with his legs, “If we both held this cane, then we’d be transported to another world, that's how it works. We can’t choose our adventure, its assigned; the cane makes the choice, it seems to know what we need to learn. Many realms exist outside of this world, realms that we can’t see or touch - but that doesn't mean they don't exist.”

  Dan interrupted, “Like a parallel universe theory.”

  “Yes - something similar to that. Except these worlds are very different, they have their own rules, and when you’re transported into them, you take on new personas, new bodies, and new capabilities. You’re asked to go on an adventure, but sometimes it’s very dangerous, you understand?

  “I get it, so if you get killed on your adventure - you wake up, like its game-over in a video game?”

  “No, not exactly my young friend, there are certain rules. If you get killed on your adventure, you never wake up here at home, never. In these other realms your spirit is mortal, which means that you can die. You can accumulate and retain powers gleaned from your completed adventures - but remember you are mortal.”

  “That’s like picking up powers between levels in a video game, but you don’t die for real in a video game!”

  “Exactly! Except this is real, and I can’t emphasize that enough - you could die! My Grandfather and I went on many missions together, I had to start slow and build up my powers, my experience, and my courage. At first I was too afraid and I didn't want to die. I enjoyed our adventures but eventually my family had to move away. I missed our adventures so much - it broke my heart. I can’t tell you the fun we had, it changed me as a person, and it made me a better man, more fearless and patient. The worlds we saw together were unbelievable. The trick is to find out as quickly as you can, why you have been selected. And what is it you need to do to complete the adventure. Each adventure is unique, as unique as the world you find yourself in. Back here in the real world, here on Earth, if you are awakened from your sleep, whilst on an adventure, then the adventure is over for the night. You can’t do more than one adventure per day, and if you don't finish the mission that you’ve been assigned, then you are returned to exactly the same place, the following day. It’s like pausing an adventure movie and hitting the restart button. I also want to remind you that it’s dangerous to discuss our adventures; no one will understand and they’ll think you’re crazy, weird.” Raj winked at Dan.

 
“There’s one last thing that I need to tell you. If someone, or something, is about to wake you here on Earth, crimson butterflies will appear within your adventure, it’s a signal to tell you that whatever you’re doing, wherever you are, it’s about the come to an abrupt end. You’ll be returned to Earth and wake from your sleep normally. To the outside person, it looks as if you have just woken from a deep sleep. It always happens at the most inopportune time! Do you understand all of the rules?”

  “Yes, I’ve played video games that are more complicated.” Dan smiled. “I do have a question, what happened to the Maharaja and his wife?”

  “They went on many adventures together and they grew stronger, wiser, and more powerful as leaders. They fought battles together, defeated evil forces, found treasure, and visited many realms. They remained deeply in love until eventually he died from old age. It’s said that she never re-married but she did meet a palace entertainer one day, whom accidentally activated the cane. They remained friends for a few years, until she eventually died from a bad fever. She willed her walking cane to the entertainer, and there’s where the story becomes unclear. I know my Grandfather owned the cane, but I don't know where he got it. He willed it to me, as I will leave it to you.”

  Dan had polished off the sandwiches, “Cool, so when can we go on our first adventure?”

  “Soon, but not tonight. I haven’t gone on a mission since I was a teenager, I’m just as excited as you are, probably more, but trust me; we’ll need more time to do this right, it’s not a video game. Your Mother will return from her shift soon and she would wake us; we won’t have enough time to do our mission justice. When you see me tomorrow we can go on our first mission and visit our first realm. Dan, please remember, if you mention this to anyone, I’ll be forced to credit this to your fanciful imagination. You can’t talk of this to anyone, not even your Mother.”

  “Are you kidding? She won’t let me play certain types of video games, never mind let me go on a real life adventure. I’m not going to mess this chance up; I just want to make sure what you’re saying isn’t some fanciful tale. But I know what I saw, the cane reacted to me, there’s no denying that.”

  The rest of the evening was spent discussing Raj’s previous missions experienced with his Grandfather. The irony was not lost on Raj, an older gentleman and a young male. The cane was repeating its pattern, except this time he was the older gentleman. The stories were captivating for Dan albeit some of the details were dulled by the passage of time. Raj had not been able to freely discuss his adventures with anyone for a very long time. As he talked about his missions, his memories came flooding back, and his excitement grew. The time slipped away and it wasn’t long before they heard a soft knock at he door, “Come in” Raj said, raising the volume of his voice slightly. Liz opened the apartment door and stepped in.

  “Ready to go kiddo? Mum’s dead tired and my feet are killing me.”

  Dan was lying on the rug at Raj’s feet, his head propped with a cushion acting as his pillow. He leapt to his feet and casually tossed the cushion onto the vacant chair. Dan turned to face Raj, “Thanks for the stories Raj. See you tomorrow?”

  “You sure will,” Raj turned his head to face Liz, “He was no problem Liz, and I enjoyed having him around, having some company.”

  Liz stopped Dan at the door, “Haven’t you forgotten something?” She nodded in the direction of the floor.

  Dan followed her eyes, “Oh yes, and thank you.” He scurried to retrieve the book, “Jamaica Inn,” he said, approaching the door for the second time.

  “Come on then. Thanks Raj, see you tomorrow?”

  “I’ll be here Liz.”

  Liz closed the door to apartment ‘2A’ and ushered her son into their apartment across the hall. Once the door was closed, she turned to face her son. “How was it really?”

  Dan wasn’t expecting the question, “It was great Mum, you shouldn’t worry. Raj is a cool guy who loves books and reading. He told me of his life and his time in the old country, India. He’s a really neat guy, I like him, honestly.”

  There was a momentary pause, as Liz tried to judge the sincerity of his words. She quickly realized he was serious, “Good, well get ready for bed then, it’s getting late.” Dan moved slowly towards his room, his head was filled with crimson butterflies, and the details shared with him over the course of the night. He’d made a new and exciting friend. He was brimming with anticipation, trying to imagine the nature of the adventures to come. Liz closed the drapes to their apartment and looked down at the street below. During the night it had rained, and the asphalt shone like a calm lake that mirrored the soft yellow streetlights below. Liz absorbed the quiet serenity generously offered by the late hour. It was dark outside with most of the high street shops closed for the night. A faint rumbling of a heavy garbage truck could be heard in the distance, as the stress of the day seemed to ebb away from her tired body. Her mind wandered. She thought about her shift, the sad couple that seemed to be breaking up, and the older couple still very much in love. She thought about Dan and Raj, with Raj sitting in his comfy chair resigned to spending his remaining days in that dark apartment. She felt immense relief that the two of them had hit it off and was thankful that Bindi and Gyanesh seemed to like her. Could she now finally allow herself to feel pleased? A small smile of satisfaction dared to encroach across her face, and she felt herself exhale slowly, as she watched a solitary pigeon pick at the sidewalk below. Her smile soon subsided as her mind moved to the next week and the introduction of Dan to his new school. ‘I hope he fits in,’ she thought, letting the drape close out the night.

  * * * * *

  Chapter 8: The Dream Cane

  Westtown, Pennsylvania, U.S.A., 2014

  “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”