Life and its happenings

                                                                Life and its Happenings

A Series of Connected Short Stories

                                                Lyles story

There were four of us in total. We were on such different paths and walks of life, but for that all-important moment we were used to set a country free. My country! Or should I say God’s country! It was in that conference room, on a misty foggy day that our paths converged into one, following the Lord. Of course, the journey was tumultuous for all of us, but so worth it.  For years I owned a construction business, which I started in my mid twenties. I was now thirty-eight, and very exasperated with life. What could it all mean? Was this it?  Was it just for me to get up every day and hate what I was doing? Sure, I had my fair share of broken relationships. They started off with such a bang of excitement and flair, but as soon as the one-year mark came and went the sexual chemistry died, and we were no longer compatible. Such was one of these days.

                “I’m starting to think you don’t want me.” How right she was. I was bored with her. She was just a pretty face; we didn’t have anything in common. How was I supposed to get out of this one?

 “I’ve decided to relocate.” I sheepishly mentioned.

“To where?” She questioned, sensing the inevitable.

“The road my love. I am closing shop.” Of course, this was all an elaborate ruse to rid me of her company.

“Okay… What about me?” I honesty didn’t care what she did if it didn’t involve me.

“Why don’t you go stay at your mother’s?” Now that really set her off. She exploded!

She raced into the kitchen, found some plates and smashed them on the tiled floor. She started clanking pots and blenders, and any equipment she could find! Finally, she ripped the food out of the fridge and dumped it in a rage all over the ground. She then screeched her final screech, dismantled the door, and hollered “We are through! We are through forever!”

                At that point I didn’t care what I said, so I simply said, “Good riddance psycho!” And that was the end of that. One final shoe was thrown at me, and I was free at last.

                Everything was so grey. Life had lost its color, and I was so alone. I tried to fill the gaping hole in my soul with every kind of wrong medication, but it left me empty- empty and bitter. It was on that day I decided to commit suicide. I planned on going out with a bang! I would jump off the statue of liberty. How fitting that would be. Maybe I’d be free?

                New York City was a stone throw from my jazzy three-bedroom Bungalow. I was an avid collector of musical instruments, and I frequented all the local clubs. I possessed no musical talent, but I enjoyed the night life in local Jazz bars. It was a crockpot of human interaction and a good place for a hookup, for those of us with wandering eyes. This was my final night on earth, so I was going to enjoy every moment of it.

                “Scotch on me!” The tempo of the bar became hysterical. The irritating music and the clashing drums did little to brighten my mood. After all this was the end of the road. How had it come to this? Why was there such dissatisfaction? I wanted to make love for the final time. I kind of wished my tornado fling was with me, at least I’d have some guaranteed action. I was too tired to be on the prowl. This was all just one giant disappointment.

I saw a girl entering through the dingy doorway, she seemed apprehensive. In my stupor I glared at her up and down; what a babe! Stumbling I made my way through the dancing partiers, intoxicated I slurred out my words.

“You must be the prettiest thing I’ve ever saw on this green earth… Are you up for it honey?” She peered at me for a moment, and I saw something in her eyes. Yes, that something was light.

“It’s okay darling… Forgive me for my drunk…” And that is where I blacked out…

                                Tiana’s Story

My alarm went off at 5:32 AM. As I struggled to open my weary eyes, I knew that God was going to use me in this day. I said a quick prayer and dragged myself out of bed. Work was horrendous as it usually was, but I am trying to keep myself from complaining. There are people who have it so much worse. I performed my morning routine of a hot shower, and my beautifying regiment, and I headed out at ten to seven to my dismal mundane job- there I go again, more complaining.

When I arrived things were far from usual. The atmosphere was foreboding, nobody even looked me in the eyes. I wondered what was going on. This was strange even for my fast-food job. I approached the manager hoping to become informed of my situation.

She remained silent. She just glared at me through menacing eyes. I didn’t understand what was going on! I was losing my mental faculties. Finally, someone spoke, “Tiana, don’t you realize it’s been a year since you died?”

“What do you mean?” I pondered.

“As in we buried you. We laid you to rest.”

“I…” I didn’t understand. How could this be?

Freakishly my manager replied: It was that darned herb you ate before you died. Thyme.  

                                                Betta’s Story

I was so in love! Every part of me burned with an internal fire, that literally increased my heartbeat into triads. Around him the pheromones flickered like lights on a hill. I could not contain myself! All I wanted was his undivided attention. The trees around me reminded me of his strong arms. The lichen his soft ginger hair, the moss his caress on my body. Yes, I was opening to him, opening, opening… Until I realized it was just a mirage. I lay there, spent… Yes, spent and so distant. So distant from the fantasy I had allowed to pillage my mind and senses. I gave him everything, and he… Did he return my love?

The slugs slurped across my weather torn tarp. It had rained much in that day. You can call it providence, or God’s favor, but I was going to meet my love. I thought, wasn’t he already with me? Didn’t we just express it? No that was not real… Yet it felt, ooh it felt so, so, filled with desire. It stirred my very passions, but where was he now? I’d find him. I’d find him someway.

                                                                ***

I perceived my Betta. I kissed her tenderly on the lips. It was such a tragedy that I only existed within her mind. I was very much alive, and very much in Love! How did I exist? She made a place for me in her lonely heart, ever since she was a child. And I just, well… Fell in love with her all the while. Some would call it mental illness, others would call it demonic, but the truth was we were one body holding two souls. Sometimes, only sometimes she could see me so clearly, and other times she saw nothing. It was the most painful, agonizing part of my existence! My dear Betta I’ll be here for you despite all!

                                                The Path Converges

I Lyle awoke in a foggy, blurry, large hall. How much had I had to drink? Was this the afterlife? I had never been more anxious. I knew I was in for it. I quickly realized my sins had stacked to heaven. Then I discovered I was not alone. There were three other people in the room, but they were sleeping.

One of them awoke. “Where am I? And who are you?” I meant to ask the same question. “I am Lyle, and the last I remember is blanking out drunk.”

“We must be here in this conference study for a reason. Yes, you see I was buried a year ago, but there is something for me to do. My time has not yet come.”

A third awoke, as Tiana and I examined her.

“I am afraid I have been so rude. What are your names?”

“I am Tiana…” She answered with dignity.

“Where am I? Who am I?”

“Wait a moment and it shall come to you.” I assured her.

“Ah. I am Betta.” She recalled almost immediately.

Then something supernatural happened. A body of light plunged its way out of Betta, and suddenly become flesh. It was the man she had loved all these years!

“You’re real!” She embraced him, stroking his face. He reciprocated.

“I have always been real, and so in love with you.” He responded.

“What is your name?” I asked, a man privy to details.

“Qutan.” Betta jumped into his arms, and he spun her around like a child.

“How I have loved you these many years! Finally, we can express it!”

I Lyle understood that this was my second chance. That God because of His mercy (Jesus) was giving me another opportunity. Not only to me, but also to these three people I had just met. I Lyle knew that we were connected in some way, and that we were about to embark upon experiencing grace in a measure we could have never imagined.

An aged but dignified professor entered the conference hall.

“Good. It appears that you are all present, and you Mr. Lyle Reds I hope your hang over is treating you well? Perhaps next time you’ll learn that excess has its consequences. I caution you to use discretion while in your tent of a body. And Miss Tiana Rose you had so much potential to blossom, but you never had the courage. My darling courage I shall teach you. Betta… Oh Betta. You were so consumed by unguarded passions that you created your own character, your own hallucination to help you contain. I will help you find a real man. Qutan get out of here! You are just a demon trying to subvert Betta’s true destiny! All right! Class in session!”

Qutan quickly vanished into the deep. Betta reached for him. “Child! He is not reality!” Betta began to weep and shout, for she was so broken.

“Let him go Betta!” The professor commanded.

“Why! Why are you taking my only love from me?”

“You’ll soon be comforted. Just trust!” The professor remarked.

“Leave me alone in my grief! For you’ve taken my love from me!”

“You’ll get over it. It was never real.” The professor said barbarically.

“Now class I shall read you the syllabus of this life altering program. Firstly, you have been chosen for this task out of thousands of applicants, so you can know it has nothing to do with your own pride. Secondly you are expected to complete all the course work, and the exam at the end is a practicum. This course is entitled “Restoring Repentance to a dying Religious Renaissance.”

“What?” The three of us chorused in unison.

“To paraphrase: restoring your country to the fear of the Lord.” I Lyle was starting to get excited.

“So what do we do?” I asked rigorously.

“You? You do nothing! That’s the beauty of it all! The Holy Spirit will do His works, no matter the battle going on inside of you! Lyle there is a great war inside of you! You don’t yet feel it, but when you do, look up for your redemption draws near. As for you Betta and Tiana, your mission is the same. Preach the gospel, help the poor, care for the invalid, the widow and the Orphan. Give what you have, and trust in the Lord, for in due time He will lift you up.”

Betta and Tiana could not stop weeping, for Jesus had circumcised their weary hearts. “Go ye!” was the message they received, so “Go ye…” they did!

“What war?” I asked the professor. A tear trickled down his cheek. “The war where Satan sifts you like wheat. That war will commence tonight. Hold on to the truth.”

That evening I Lyle tossed and turned with some of the most graphically disturbing nightmares that I have ever had. Sick voices, disturbing images that sought to haunt and torment my soul. But it didn’t stop there! My mind was being torn asunder, as the demons tweaked it with their perversions; I lost my sanity.

When I awoke in my own bed, I was surprised. Where was the professor? Where was the conference room? Where were the girls? I didn’t need to think long before I started hearing thoughts that were coming out of the abyss.

“Welcome to hell, soon it shall be yours. Where you will rot and die, for all those sins. Oh how you loved those sins. Oh, how they titillated you! Now it is time to pay!”

“Stay away from me!” I demanded.

“We shall always be here. Even when you can’t sense us.”

“Get out!”

“You should kill those who oppose…”

“I will not kill anyone! You’d better get that straight!”

“All men are eventually crushed!”

“Away!” I once again yelled.

Fleeting feelings remained a moment then…

“We have an assignment for you.”

“Go to hell!” I roared.

“We are already there! C’mon it’s your destiny! You have no power over us!” I knew that they were correct. I was sinking into the miry depths… Good-bye soul. Good-bye sunsets and rainbows, and true Love.

 I in that dismal moment remembered being a little child. I remembered asking the Lord Jesus into my heart. I remembered being forgiven! I cried out. “Lord! Lord Jesus help me.” “Do you love me Lyle son of John?” “Oh Lord I have been so evil…” “I took your place Lyle son of John.” “Lord… I’ve sinned against heaven and earth…” “Lyle son of John! I took your place! Do you love me?” It suddenly dawned on me… “Lord, you’ve loved me all of these years! Jesus, I love you! Thank you for taking my place! Oh Lord, make me yours.” “You are mine!” He looked into my eyes, such pure Love I beheld. “Follow me.”