“She speaks in tongues you know.  I never know what the hell she is really talking about.”

     Annie Cosmic walked over and handed me a double espresso and large coffee and strolled over to the couch.  I followed.

     Annie asks, “Who speaks in tongues Gunnar?  What are you talking about?”

     John laughs, “I don’t, I was thinking about something I read.

     So tell me Annie, what will our adventures be this time.  Will I search for the consciousness of God or will I be run over by a truck full of rednecks and you and I will have to save the world or maybe we’ll go on another killing spree.”

     Annie sighed, “Gunnar my man this time is a whole lot different.  This adventure is to teach you how to continue once the end of the world happens, which is actually coming very quickly, so we have got a lot of lesson-plans we have to get through.”

     John growled, “I don’t know if to believe you or laugh at your cynical humor.”

     Annie giggled, “That’s the point Gunnar.

You do realize don’t you that you have been a prisoner of this safe little apartment for almost four years now, right?  The only time you get out and really live is when I show up or when Albert and his gang do, but well, you are finally figuring out that we all are connected aren’t you?

You let your life catch up with you Gunnar.  You got scared and stupid and you did things that were based completely on fear and they were, well stupid.  I was the one that would take you out of your self-imposed, self-destructive hell and give you a glimpse of what life had to offer, but!  But!  You just kept crawling back into that pit of sorrow and pain.  You were so comfortable there, weren’t you?  It’s the only reason you would stay there, isn’t it?”

John had tears rolling down his cheeks, “Jesus Annie, that was a little harsh, no, no it wasn’t; it was honest, four fucking years.  I keep repeating that over and over in my head, four fucking years.  Jesus H. Jackson Christ what am I going to do Annie.  I feel like death is right behind me laughing its fool head off just waiting for me to do one more stupid thing so that it can finally tear my body to shreds and send me to my own personal retribution.

I read something the other day that hell is really just experiencing firsthand the pain that you brought to others.  I don’t believe you have to go to a place for this to happen.  It happens right here.  We just don’t pay enough attention to realize that is what is going on.  Karma…  Karma will come and teach.

Annie I want to break free of this pain!  I want to be a part of the conscious universe and not just talk about it.  I want to know it, to feel it, to make love to it.  I want to drink it in and feel the essence of life, of the infinite all.”

Annie and John sat on the love seat and silently drank their coffee.

Annie finally spoke, “John, I believe you are ready for what is about to begin.  I love you John.  I don’t know if you have ever been able to understand that but I love you.  I thought you were an absolute asshole in the beginning but I grew to love you.  You are a lot of work John, a lot of work.”

John took Annie’s hand in his, “I love you too Annie.”

Annie sighed, “Ok enough of the fluffy flowery stuff.  We’ve got work to do.  I’m going to go take a shower and you are going to do whatever it is you do in the morning on that damnable computer.  Then we are going to go meet someone that has a gift for you.”

John turned while heading to his desk chair, “A gift?  What kind of gift?”

Annie laughed as she was pulling herself out of her clothes, “You never did like surprises did you John.”

John stood and gazed upon the beauty that was Annie Cosmic.  She was perfect, absolutely perfect with curves and shape that stirred the animal inside of John immediately.

Annie smiled, “Not now John, later.  I’m going to go take a shower.”

John sat down at his trusty computer and watched it go through its morning gyrations as it came to life in front of him.  The first thing that popped up was a picture of his new grandson, Wyeth.  Wyeth was a gift, a true gift of life for everyone he came into contact with.

One thought kept going through John’s head as he read the morning debacle, “End of world, the end of the world” is it the end of the entire world or just mine?”

There was a knock at the door.  John got up and opened it and no one was there.  John looked down and there was a small white card at his feet.  John bent down and picked up the card.  The bullet ripped through the door where John’s head would have been if he wouldn’t have bent over to pick up the little card.

John turned and looked at the hole in the door then looked at the card.  It had one word on it in bright purple lettering.  It read, “DUCK”.

cool peace

hippy mike

love

The Seventh Sun 

Confusion

Adventure

Something more

Awake

Message in a broken bottle

Keeping the faith even when you don't believe

Dreaming of a dark place

Atmospheric dancing  

A distance running