Chapter 6
"If I were a magician, I’d hand out broken compasses. It’s all about misdirection."
― Jarod Kintz
After a few minutes rest, John noticed surprisingly that he wasn’t tired. Outside the window, the cadre of ugly demons remained, voices still singing their jobs song in much lower volume. They continuously shoved each other out of the way to be at the front. John looked questioningly at Peira.
"You’ll get used to them." Peira opened the door and shouted, "Shortage at the ice cream stand! Hurry or lose out!" The demons ran for the ice cream stand down the street. John followed Peira out the door to watch.
Upon arrival, the demons began fighting each other for ice cream. "What’s ice cream?! Give me that! That’s mine! I had it first! I don’t care, it’s mine now!"
"Thanks. I owe you one."
Peira, with a hint of a smile, replied, "You owe me nothing, John. Anything you want me to do, I am very happy to do, as long as it’s good." John beamed at her as the demons fought in the background.
"I suppose they will be busy for a while?" John asked.
Peira nodded yes. "Watch out for old demonic souls in disguise, though. If you have something good here, they will find a way to take it from you."
John looked at her with new appreciation. She wasn’t just a pretty face. "You’ve been here before," John surmised aloud. Peira nodded yes. "Maybe we could have some coffee later and you could give me more advice." Again Peira nodded assent.
"You must go to your office, the Mayor’s Office. There is work for you to do." Peira pointed to a building with a Mayor’s sign on the window." John dutifully headed for the building.
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Peira opened the door to the office and invited John to enter. A man sat in a chair behind the mayor’s desk. He looked glum. Suddenly a whirlwind picked up in the office and Vagabones arrived, this time spinning like a top. "Wooohooooooo!" His spinning slowed and stopped. "I love a clean office – no ash, no coughing!" The man smiled at Vagabones.
Vagabones put his hand on the man's shoulder. "Time for the changing of the guard, Paul. You have performed your work well, shepherding many souls to a better outcome."
Having made his pronouncement, Vagabones disappeared as quickly as before. "But… but…," John stammered, completely taken by surprise and a million questions left unanswered.
Paul look to Peira. "But I haven’t moved on. Only me. What have I done wrong?" Peira gave him a big, genuine, beautiful smile. "God loves you, Paul. Have you forgiven yourself?"
"Yes. Finally. All is corrected," he replied.
Peira put her hand on his shoulder. "Your replacement is here." Paul turned to look at John. "Governor, weren’t you?" Paul asked. John nodded. "I saw you on TV. You will be surprised how little power you have here."
"What are the rules here?" he asked Paul.
"Be kind to each other.
Help each other.
Endure each other.
Love each other."
Peira nodded and then addressed Paul. "The only thing keeping you here is you." Paul smiled and faded away.
"Wait! Wait! I have more questions," John shouted, but Paul was gone. John turned to Peira. "Then this has happened before, this town, this mayor thing, these… everything."
Peira nodded. "You have a big responsibility, John, bigger than you had on Earth. All souls, even demons, any whom you select, can find another chance here. You are psychopomp and mayor."
"Me?! I’m a broken person! I’ve done bad things. I’m a bad example! Even Victor is a better person than I am." Peira smiled another genuine smile. "Take it from me, experience knows compassion very well, and the better path. This is your second chance. Go find your people."
Peira faded. "Wait! Wait! Doesn’t anybody around here even say goodbye, or see you in an hour? Or let’s meet later for coffee?" John shook his head. "What the hell does a psychopomp do?" he yelled after Peira. No reply. He looked at the chair. Should he sit down? Did sitting down in the Mayor’s chair mean de facto acceptance of his new job?
John went to the window and looked out. "Demons! They would be like building a population from a maximum security prison. I think I’ll look elsewhere."
Liars Truth Page 6