The oak stairs creaks as John makes his way down the staircase. Is he being followed, John wonders, turns fast and looks behind him. He catches his breath as he sees no one on the staircase. That's right he thinks as he remembers how the 100 year old boards pop back up in sequence after being stepped on. He refocuses on investigating what made the kitchen door slam.
The Grandfather's clock reminded John of Big Ben he thinks as he crosses the parlor with the oak Victorian table.
He stops to listen. Is anyone moving in the kitchen. The house creaks as the wind off the ocean hits it. Outside the front window, the only thing moving is sand, blowing like a sand storm. Without moving, John leans forward to glance around the corner into the kitchen. The careful movement still betrays where he is as the floor creaks. John takes a hestitant step. This is it. If someone came in an open kitchen door, hel'll see John now. Relief. The kitchen is empty. One more place to check...the pantry. John walks cautiously into the kitchen towards the pantry door. He watches his own hand reach for the pantry door handle. One more step and I'm gonna yank that door open, John thinks. He might be stalking back in the pantry so he can get a running start to jump on me John's mind races. I'll stand to the side as I open it John decides. One, two, three...John thinks, and with his right arm muscles tighted to punch, he yanks open the pantry door. John screams at and punches a mop as it falls towards him. The pantry is full of shadows...but empty. With that, John walks across the empty kitchen to check the door. He turns the door knob and yanks the door open. A blast of cold air comes in as John shuts the door. Great, aunt Margaret leaves the door open, John thinks as he locks it. Should I lock it before I check the house. I could be locking myself in with them. Or have you been scaring yourself. There's stuff to fear out there and then there's fear in here John gesters to his head.
Much calmer, John decides to check the front coat closet near the foyer. Is that a ring on the table John wonders. He walks over and picks up a ruby ring, set in gold with three round bumps on it. There was no ring on that table when I walked by before. Willam Pender is enscribed on the inside. John slips it on his finger.
John never met Uncle Billy. He had served in the Navy. In April 1976, the sun shone on a distant World Trade Center like the pearly gates as Billy and his friends rounded Sandy Hook in a small boat. Since 1828, the Twin Lighthouses have been guiding everyone entering New York Harbor atop the highest point on the East Coast. Once a sailor saw the Twin Lighthouses, he was safe. But not Uncle Billy. He anchored his boat and being young, the gang of 20 somethings began to joke around. Being overweight, Maggie O'Brien made herself into the funny one. No one would was gonna look at her body...but funny...that contest she'd win. Telling her story on the edge of the boat, she kept making more and more exaggerated gestures as the gang roared louder and louder. Her hand flew up wide as she laughed, lost her balance and fell into the 50 degree water. Everyone reach for her as laugher turned to screams: Maggie could swim. She went under, and reed thin, Uncle Billy jumped in. He was an excellent swimmer. The gang screamed as Uncle Billy went under. He came up blue-cold once and went under again to try to find Maggie one more time. He floated up again, dead from the cold water. His 21 year old wife and friends pulled him onto the boat.
A flood of images-almost like scenes from a movie-flashed across John's mind. This Account person lying to get control of an account or more money for it. Someone being fired for being 'dead wood' after working at the agency for 10 years. Account Executives smiling at Bernie as they secretly meet with the other Bernie to pull their accounts. Endless shopping bags from Manhattan designer boutiques-filled with designer clothes made in some third world sweat shop. John twists the ring on his finger. And a man like Uncle Billy dies at 21 trying to save someone. Even after she remarried years later, Uncle Billy's wife brought flowers to his grave for the rest of her life. Wonder if he was her first love? Wonder how his ring got here. Maybe Aunt Margaret left it here. She was going to give it to me John thought. But it wasn't on the table when I first went by, John thought.
John pictures Uncle Billy's soul being lifted up above Sandy Hook Bay, across New York Harbor, past the Statue of Liberty. The sun frames the World Trade Center' twin towers like the golden door Lady Liberty speaks of. A Navy hero is coming home, through the pearly gates and into Heaven. In Heaven, our souls resemble white rod-shaped lights. A soul greets Uncle Billy.
Soul Greeter
'Hey Billy. Welcome to Heaven.'
Billy
'I can't believe I'm here. I was the youngest of five...I swim. I was in the Navy. I came home.'
Soul Greeter
'You are home.'
Billy
'Well, where do I go. Where do I stand?'
Soul Greeter leads Uncle Billy's soul.
'Not way out here. See that bright center.'
Billy
'It feels so happy and good there. That must be God.'
Soul Greeter
'We're headed closer to him. Hey Billy. Did you ever think about being an angel? You could save a lot of people. You're already saving John...the nephew you never met.'
Billy
'He's wearing my ring.'
Soul Greeter
'He's wearing the ring of a moral man. He knows your life story.'
Uncle Billy's Soul
'My big sister Margaret. She always did take care of me.'
Soul Greeter
'And your memory. Your example. She talks to John about you all the time.'
Uncle Billy
'John is wearing my ring.'
The Soul Greeter nods as she and Uncle Billy's Soul walk towards the most evolved souls in Heaven and God.
'John is wearing your ring.'
The Grandfather's clock reminded John of Big Ben he thinks as he crosses the parlor with the oak Victorian table.
He stops to listen. Is anyone moving in the kitchen. The house creaks as the wind off the ocean hits it. Outside the front window, the only thing moving is sand, blowing like a sand storm. Without moving, John leans forward to glance around the corner into the kitchen. The careful movement still betrays where he is as the floor creaks. John takes a hestitant step. This is it. If someone came in an open kitchen door, hel'll see John now. Relief. The kitchen is empty. One more place to check...the pantry. John walks cautiously into the kitchen towards the pantry door. He watches his own hand reach for the pantry door handle. One more step and I'm gonna yank that door open, John thinks. He might be stalking back in the pantry so he can get a running start to jump on me John's mind races. I'll stand to the side as I open it John decides. One, two, three...John thinks, and with his right arm muscles tighted to punch, he yanks open the pantry door. John screams at and punches a mop as it falls towards him. The pantry is full of shadows...but empty. With that, John walks across the empty kitchen to check the door. He turns the door knob and yanks the door open. A blast of cold air comes in as John shuts the door. Great, aunt Margaret leaves the door open, John thinks as he locks it. Should I lock it before I check the house. I could be locking myself in with them. Or have you been scaring yourself. There's stuff to fear out there and then there's fear in here John gesters to his head.
Much calmer, John decides to check the front coat closet near the foyer. Is that a ring on the table John wonders. He walks over and picks up a ruby ring, set in gold with three round bumps on it. There was no ring on that table when I walked by before. Willam Pender is enscribed on the inside. John slips it on his finger.
John never met Uncle Billy. He had served in the Navy. In April 1976, the sun shone on a distant World Trade Center like the pearly gates as Billy and his friends rounded Sandy Hook in a small boat. Since 1828, the Twin Lighthouses have been guiding everyone entering New York Harbor atop the highest point on the East Coast. Once a sailor saw the Twin Lighthouses, he was safe. But not Uncle Billy. He anchored his boat and being young, the gang of 20 somethings began to joke around. Being overweight, Maggie O'Brien made herself into the funny one. No one would was gonna look at her body...but funny...that contest she'd win. Telling her story on the edge of the boat, she kept making more and more exaggerated gestures as the gang roared louder and louder. Her hand flew up wide as she laughed, lost her balance and fell into the 50 degree water. Everyone reach for her as laugher turned to screams: Maggie could swim. She went under, and reed thin, Uncle Billy jumped in. He was an excellent swimmer. The gang screamed as Uncle Billy went under. He came up blue-cold once and went under again to try to find Maggie one more time. He floated up again, dead from the cold water. His 21 year old wife and friends pulled him onto the boat.
A flood of images-almost like scenes from a movie-flashed across John's mind. This Account person lying to get control of an account or more money for it. Someone being fired for being 'dead wood' after working at the agency for 10 years. Account Executives smiling at Bernie as they secretly meet with the other Bernie to pull their accounts. Endless shopping bags from Manhattan designer boutiques-filled with designer clothes made in some third world sweat shop. John twists the ring on his finger. And a man like Uncle Billy dies at 21 trying to save someone. Even after she remarried years later, Uncle Billy's wife brought flowers to his grave for the rest of her life. Wonder if he was her first love? Wonder how his ring got here. Maybe Aunt Margaret left it here. She was going to give it to me John thought. But it wasn't on the table when I first went by, John thought.
John pictures Uncle Billy's soul being lifted up above Sandy Hook Bay, across New York Harbor, past the Statue of Liberty. The sun frames the World Trade Center' twin towers like the golden door Lady Liberty speaks of. A Navy hero is coming home, through the pearly gates and into Heaven. In Heaven, our souls resemble white rod-shaped lights. A soul greets Uncle Billy.
Soul Greeter
'Hey Billy. Welcome to Heaven.'
Billy
'I can't believe I'm here. I was the youngest of five...I swim. I was in the Navy. I came home.'
Soul Greeter
'You are home.'
Billy
'Well, where do I go. Where do I stand?'
Soul Greeter leads Uncle Billy's soul.
'Not way out here. See that bright center.'
Billy
'It feels so happy and good there. That must be God.'
Soul Greeter
'We're headed closer to him. Hey Billy. Did you ever think about being an angel? You could save a lot of people. You're already saving John...the nephew you never met.'
Billy
'He's wearing my ring.'
Soul Greeter
'He's wearing the ring of a moral man. He knows your life story.'
Uncle Billy's Soul
'My big sister Margaret. She always did take care of me.'
Soul Greeter
'And your memory. Your example. She talks to John about you all the time.'
Uncle Billy
'John is wearing my ring.'
The Soul Greeter nods as she and Uncle Billy's Soul walk towards the most evolved souls in Heaven and God.
'John is wearing your ring.'
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