It was inevitable that I come back to a place where there are no words. As I'm escorted into this great hall, I recognize the place I've dreamt about so many times before. I've seen so many faces, so many hands, so many peoples bodies, I don't see the eyes anymore. I don't hear voices. I see and hear and feel the light. The light of my many children, just as I wrote so many years ago. Radiant bodies of light bouncing and chanting my name, I'm both bummed and elated.
I'm walked to the left of the stage, up the stairs. Stepping up to the podium, I speak to the microphone, "Does anyone want a reading?" The place explodes with cheers and laughter. The crowd has become a single breathing seething organism. I'm not afraid, but I should be.
As Master of Ceremonies, Gunter steps up from behind the curtain stage left. Quickly, he is apologizing to me, "Sorry old man, we didn't know what else to do." "Were it still up to you, we would all be reading as good as you do." "Where's the profit in that?"
Gunter is right, but I still feel ripped off. I can't remember if I've ever felt so jerked around. But somehow I know this is going to work. And despite the ugliness of an actual competitive "Psych Out," I have arrived. I have always loved the stage.
Entering from stage left, I am greeted by; Carl, Bettina, Maria, Benjamin, Vera and Terrence. Each barely registers my presence much less anything else as they are seated in chairs that appear almost by them selves. They comfortably seat and slip quietly back into Kriya Yoga breathing. These are my competitors. It's going to be a bumpy night. The silence on the stage, the chaos in the pit. I glare at Gunter once more. I know he can feel my anger, he extends his hand to draw me back to the podium, Saying to the hall, "This is the man with the plan, why don't you tell us Phillip why we are all here tonight."
Stuffing my emotions, I walk back to Gunter's left speaking to the mike. "I'm sorry, I don't think I ever got my invitation." "I guess I'm just another piece of property for whomever paid for the hall." The crowd goes Woo. Gunter places his hand over the mike, reminding me that I was the one that wrote about all this and that this is the final push to get my work accepted by the advanced literary society. "Sorry friends, I'm just feeling a little put out because you right now, know more about why we're here for tonight than I do." Pause for effect, "But if I had to guess,.......," a chorus of soft laughter of recognition, "Thank you, we're here to test out the, INTER SENSORY PERCEPTION BATTERY." "Does everyone have their no. two pencils," I look around feinging bewilderment, "what?" "No one uses pencils anymore, I suppose it's going to be a waste time to ask for a slide rule?" The audience roars out of religious revelry. The mob is ready. I see cameras mounted all around on stage and in the balconies, all focused in on me like the buffet I always knew I would become.
"If I am correct,....," I look over to Gunter with conflicted emotion, furtively he glances at the floor then sheepishly back to me, "The world will be saved with the voice of the child!" The swarm is practically dancing on my fingertips. It seems everyone here tonight has read my books. I'm starting to feel nauseous again. I have to take a deep breathe. "I would like to introduce the wonderful players in our little game." Lights go up on the stage. "To your left we have this gentle giant, Carl Benz, Take a bow Carl ." "Next to him we have the equally tall and brilliant Bettina Van Der Bosch, I wish I had time to tell you more about each one of these wonderful people." "Next is the lovely and very feeling Maria Gaultier," she stands and then sits back down very quickly. "And next we have the very young but talented Dr. Benjamin Lehrer." "I had to visit his examination lab earlier this evening, long story." "And Vera Ming Wong, a total standup scientist of the soul," Vera gives me another dirty look, and then sits back down on her hands as if to say. "And finally we have my dear friend Terrence Tabor who I just learned is a collector of alien artifacts," pause,......, "and now I would like a word from our sponsors." I nod to Gunter to come back to the podium.
Looking to me for approval, I send him a sideways grim, He starts hesitantly. "I owe my dear friend Phillip an apology, it's true." "Mr. Johnson, in fact, wasn't invited, he was abducted, willingly. Phillip was told to come to our fair city to perform another routine extraction of my one time business partner." "Now I'ld like you to put your hands together for C. E. O. of Oraca International, Ms. Gretchen Van Hauer." Come on out Gretch." Resplendent and beaming from stage left, she sends me the warmest and most loving smile of concern and apology. I'm all surprised out. The gang of eight now is complete.
