Chapter Nineteen
Thousands of daisies, morning glories and other wildflowers filled the
tree-covered, spiritually created mountains with contrasting yellows, greens,
blues, and oranges so vivid - if the most scenic view along the Blue Ridge
Parkway could have seen it; it would have blushed with envy. And directly below
this scene were two brown and white quarter horses playfully cantering through
a two-hundred+ acre grass-filled valley. Its end was located near the spot
where Paul and his father were talking.
“Dad,” Paul began, staring at the stallion whose forehead contained a diamond-shaped spot almost identical to the one his horse, Half Pint, had. “Why do the two horses heading toward us seem familiar?”
Turning his head, John gazed at the approaching stallion and mare, and a smile formed across his lips. “Oh. Those two,” he said with a slight chuckle. “If I told you, you wouldn’t believe me.”
“I wouldn’t?” Paul raised an eyebrow.
“No.” Reaching downward and picking up a dandelion, John blew its hundreds of seeds into the warm summer-like breeze surrounding them.
Paul watched as each feather-like paratrooper floated away, then began to tap his foot. “Why not?”
“Because,” John answered before pausing.
“Because what?”
“I'm not sure you'd believe me.”
Paul pondered this for a second. “If I told you I'd believe you, would you tell me?”
John smiled. “Yes.” He then pointed to the stallion, which was a couple of feet in front of the mare. “The stallion in the lead is Rushing Wind and behind him is Sunny Days. Do those names ring a bell?”
Paul shook his head no.
“Okay,” John grunted. “You were young and probably so excited about getting a horse at the time we bought Half Pint; you weren't paying attention. … Those are her parents.”
“That’s Half Pint’s parents?” Paul’s mouth dropped open. “You’ve got to be kidding?”
“Nope,” John replied, shaking his head. “Like Half Pint, they were also born and raised a few miles outside Boca Raton.”
“Wow! That’s unbelievable,” Paul exclaimed as the two slender, four-legged creatures moved closer. “Who would have thought there would be horses in heaven? Not to mention, Half Pint’s parents. I can’t wait to tell her.”
John gave his son a grin. “I’m glad you said that Paul. Because, before long you’ll get the opportunity to do so.”
“Do what?” Paul asked as a quizzical expression washed across his face. He was clearly perplexed.
“Tell Half Pint that you’ve seen her parents,” John stated.
Paul frowned. “How could I? I thought once you died and went to heaven, you were here for all time and eternity.”
“That’s normally true, son,” John agreed with a nod. “However, in this particular incident that’s not the case. … Haven’t you ever heard of anyone having an afterlife experience?”
Paul’s hand raised to his chin, as was his habit when thinking. He then shook his head.
“No. Not really. However, a few weeks ago Mom took me along to see one of her friends, and the two of them got to talking about stuff like that. But, I really didn’t give it any mind. … It sounded too much like what you might experience if you were doing something stupid, like sniffing glue.”
John laughed. “Well, son, I hate to say this, but congratulations. Without doing anything even close to glue sniffing, you managed to get yourself high. In fact, we’re so high above the planet Earth, if you glanced in its direction it probably wouldn’t appear to be much more than a tiny speck of light.”
“It wouldn’t?” Paul instinctively raised his head and began to gaze at the Carolina-blue sky above them. “Hmm. I don’t see it.”
“Try closing your eyes,” John suggested, displaying a small grin.
In less time than it would take a flash bulb to flash, a huge, rotating, bluish-shaded globe full of continents, islands and oceans with numerous cloud formations floating directly above, appeared within Paul’s mind. It was almost as if by shutting both eyes and mentally focusing, he could see it as if he was looking through the most powerful telescope man has ever built – after it had been enhanced a thousand-fold.
“Wow!” Paul proclaimed. “Can we also see whoever we want if they’re still on earth?”
John negatively shook his head in reply. “No. Unless it is His Will.”
“His Will?” Question marks formed inside Paul’s eyes. “And who is He?”
“God,” John solemnly answered. “This is His kingdom you know.”
Paul bowed his head in a display of contriteness. “I’m sorry. I temporarily forgot. Do you think he’ll forgive me?”
“I’d have no doubt about it,” John stated, gently patting his son’s shoulders. “Our Heavenly Father is a very Loving God. And I’m sure he would be more than willing to forgive any of us for a small mistake like that.”
Paul gazed at this father and an ear-to-ear grin spread across his face.
“Whew. I’m glad. … I was afraid He would be the same way He’s described in the Old Testament and either the ground would open up and swallow me whole or a slew of fire and brimstone would start falling.”
Upon hearing those words, John could not help but burst out laughing. Paul, in return, stood and stared at him – in puzzlement.
“What so dang funny? Isn’t that the way God used to operate?”
“Yes, He did,” John replied, between a few remaining chuckles. “However, that was thousands of earth years ago. Things have changed considerably since then. You’re talking about a time when mankind used to live under ‘The Law’. … Man now lives under Grace.”
“Oh. I see,” Paul said, appearing to understand the difference. “So in getting back to what you said a few minutes ago, what did you mean when you stated you were glad I wanted to tell Half Pint I’ve seen her parents?”
John’s expression quickly turned serious. “What I meant was – very soon now, it’s going to be time for you to return to earth.”
“I can’t stay here with you … for all time and eternity?”
“I’m sorry, son,” John said, embracing Paul’s shoulders in a tight, loving grip. “God brought you here for a very specific purpose, and soon it will be time to go back. He has a plan for your life and part of it involves providing support for your mother and Nathan in a way only you’ll be able to do.”
“They need my support?” Paul stared deep inside his father’s eyes. “That’s certainly news.”
“Of course they need your support,” John confirmed. “Your mother loves you very much and needs your assistance since I no longer can be with her. And in regards to Nathan … my youngest not only adores you. He considers you to be a computer god. And he’s definitely going to need your guidance – especially during his teen years.”
“Okay. If you say so.” Paul folded his arms across his chest. “So you’re able to see the future.”
“That’s a definite maybe,” his father said, answering the half question, half statement. “But whether I can or not is irrelevant. What is important is the fact that I know a lot about teenagers. After all, weren’t you the one a few months ago who let the adversary tempt you into smoking your first cigarette inside the hayloft of our barn. And you ended up getting so sick you fell through the floor – and landed in a pile of horse manure?”
Paul’s eyes flew wide open. “Hey! How do you know about that? I certainly never told you.”
John grinned a mischievous grin. “I know. But your mother did during Thanksgiving – just shortly before I returned to Hollywood.”
Paul thought about this as a bald eagle glided overhead. Then a few seconds later, a gray storm cloud developed in the distance, and a flash of yellowish-green lightning lit the sky – milliseconds before one of its tentacles struck the ground with a resounding boom.
“I think it’s near the time I provide you with the information you’re going to need before returning.” John said in a hurry as he watched the emerging scene in front of them. “These few precious moments you’ve been allowed to stay in the afterlife is about over.”
“What information?”
“Since my burial last December,” John began. “… the game you and Tim Hegler developed has become a best seller. But of course, you already knew that.”
“Yes,” Paul confirmed. “What about it?”
“That in itself isn’t a problem. And neither is the fact that both you and Tim are members of Gibsonville School’s Computer Club.” John then started to draw what appeared to be a box in midair, directly in front of them. And shortly thereafter, a 3-D movie began to display recent events involving the game the club was currently developing for Titan’s Industries software contest – Plutonium’s Revenge.
“Wow. I never knew you could watch anything 3-D without having to wear special glasses,” Paul stated, mouth half open as he viewed the executive meeting at Krypton Software, which transpired several weeks earlier. Its purpose was to finalize the company’s plans to steal the boys’ game.
When the “movie” finished, Paul turned to face his Dad.
“Do those people really believe they can get away with that? I’m gonna need to tell Cathy, Daniel and Tim about it, so we can stop them. And Mr. Thompson and Titan Industries, too!”
John waved his hand, which made the picture box disappear.
“Not so fast, Paul,” he began in a low tone. “As you know, God knows everything … including what Krypton Software is up to. And He has a plan on how he’s going to use their misdeeds for His Purpose.”
“He does?” The wrinkle in Paul’s forehead reflected his doubts. “How is He planning to do it?”
A bolt of lightning unexpectedly stuck the ground less than ten feet away from where John and Paul were standing, and it brightly lit everything within a half-mile radius around them with an eerie glow.
“Here’s specifically what you are going to need to do ….”