Enchanted Country

Chapter One

I stood in a country white, two-story farmhouse. We were having some kind of a party. A group of my family and friends from the city attended. We were all due back into the city that evening. I turned around and walked into the kitchen to get some more ice and drink, when a tooth in my mouth felt loose. I walked up to the counter where the bartender stood.

"What can I do you for?" the bartender asked.

When I tired to speak to him, my tooth popped out and flew onto the counter. The bartender told me not to worry about it, but it grossed out one of the other kitchen helpers. The guy gave me my drink as I noticed the sunset flowing through the kitchen window door. I stared at its marvelous colors of gold and rust.

"You goin' to re-join the party?" the bartender was trying to make small talk, but I couldn't take my eyes off the sunset. It drew me in as if summoning me to hear its voice. It called to a place inside me that had long been void.

"In a minute." I replied blankly. "I want to watch this sunset a little longer."

"Suit yourself."

Secret thoughts surfaced in my head. No matter how successful I was, or how glamorous the penthouse I lived in, or even that I had all the right connections, I just felt like I had forsaken the most genuine part of myself. I couldn't explain it or put sense to it; I just needed a change. I was wearing out. Life was old. My purpose was no more meaningful than this party. I responded out loud, lost in my thoughts, "It is such a shame that they're so busy in the other room partying that they miss such a beautiful celebration taking place outside. What a sunset. I mean, I know it happens everyday, but it makes it no less spectacular. Don't you think?"

I turned around to look at anyone in the kitchen who might share my sentiment, but the helpers had gone back into the crowd serving little snacks from their little trays. The bartender, too, had left to refill the beverage bowl.

I opened the kitchen door and walked out into the back yard. There was a picnic table and a beautiful old tree stretching up and outwards as if embracing the whole countryside. I was glad I wore my flats instead of my pumps. The earth felt soft beneath my feet. I inhaled deeply the fresh country air.

I just don't retreat to the country often enough, I thought. When I was younger I couldn't wait to live in the city, and now, there just seems to be something so simple and so right here. I love the peace and quiet, the call of the whippoorwills, the dance of the fireflies, and the songs of the tree frogs and crickets. I leaned against that ancient oak tree and sipped my glass. I gazed across the gravel road to the rolling pastures and grazing fields beyond, at the small woods that developed at the far end of them. The sun was now gone behind the trees and only a faint wisp of color remained in the sky. I felt so comforted and warm.

Then suddenly I heard what sounded like Native Indians singing. They chanted just loud enough to be carried by the small breeze. I tried to gather where the sound was coming from, and I decided it must be from the trees beyond the fields. I peered closer into the thicket to see if I could see anything, but nothing was visible. It was too far away.

The drum rhythm hypnotized me. I fell into its sway. The crescendo of the music pulsed louder in my ears. My heart beat to the trance of their song. I yearned to follow that sound. What was there? I never knew American Indians lived in this part of the state? I traveled toward the road, my feet carrying me forward without instruction. Something beckoned to me beyond the trees and I embraced it's welcoming.

Chapter Two

It was then I knew I was conscious in my dream. I was aware of my surroundings. I had traveled to some place, entered another reality. I stopped to wonder why I was here? Where is this dream taking me? What lessons and treasures awaited me? I urged my dream to continue forward. I prayed nobody from the party would come out of the farmhouse to interrupt the potential of this journey thus thrusting me back into the non-lucid dream state again. I wanted to go, no, I needed to go where I belonged and nothing was going to stop me.

I came to the end of the front side yard where the grass curves down to the road. A fairy appeared. It had beautiful large wings, larger than a giant moth. The fairy resembled a male, almost like the childhood tale figure of Peter Pan. He had the curled toe shoes, curled hat, and small tights outfit. I had never seen a male gender-looking fairy before. How exciting! I kept walking forward but watched him. The fairy hovered above to the left of my peripheral. He whizzed around me and hovered back to the same spot. Then the fairy whisked through my hair like a strong breeze and disappeared. But I didn't feel like he was really gone; I couldn't see him, but I could still feel his presence. It was as if he placed a magical comb in my hair. What was this place that Native Indian music and fairies resided together? I became eager to find out.

I walked across the gravel gray road, not even checking both ways before crossing. There was no hesitancy in my step; I had to continue before my dream kicked me out of here. I was going to reach the Enchanters who emitted this soulful music that called to me. Nobody from the party seemed to notice me from the windows, and now I felt safe to carry onward and see what lay in store for me.

A divider path lay between the fenced pastures. There was enough room for one, possibly two people to walk side-by-side.

Please continue dream. Please! This is what I wanted. Don't fail me now!

I did want to go to the country. I had so missed the smells, colors and textures. I wonder if I'll meet anybody?

A voice spoke. I turned but saw no one.

An unusual animal in the pasture to my right caught my eye. I walked up to the fence. It looked like it was one-third duck, with a duck's face and tail feathers, one-third ostrich, with an ostrich-feather shaped body, and one-third cow, with cow legs and hooves. It was fantastically strange!

"Did you talk to me?" I asked the animal as it drew near. His coloring was exotic with streaks of midnight blue running throughout his entire body. "Can I touch you?" I continued. Was this a carnivorous animal? Would it bite me? Siding with caution I decided to reach out my hand just up to the fence so it could sniff me.

"Humph!" the creature retorted, turning its tail feathers in the air and pranced off.

Startled and amused, I chuckled, "If I didn't know better I'd think you were trying to snub me."

"S'he (pronounced sea) is." the voice spoke again.

I swung around yet again, but I still saw no one.

"I'm behind this board." It said as if reading my thoughts.

I walked over to the other barbwire fence and peeled back the layer of particleboard attached to the fence to conceal a hole. I discovered a brown dairy cow, or at least upon first glance it looked like a diary cow. This cow's face looked like a young calf but its ears were scalloped around the edging and it smiled like a human. Another shorter calf was standing off to her right.

"Oh, there you are. Were you talking to me the whole time?" I responded with pleasantries.

"Yes. I smelled you when you started walking past our water hole, over there." she swung her head back.

"You certainly are lovely." I said. "I have not seen animals like you before. What is your name?"

"Oh, we don't have names." she smiled again.

"Well, then how do you tell yourself apart from each other?" I asked.

The cow laughed and said, "We just do. Don't pay attention to s'her (pronounced sir) in that pasture over there. S'he (sea) just feels like s'he is superior over you and others simply because s'he is both male and female. Where as, you, are one over the other. S'he doesn't feel like s'he should have to familiarize s'herself (sirself) with anyone of lesser make-up.” Then with a second thought she retorted, “ Not that you are! It’s just s'his (siz) own little personality quirk. You get use to it."

“Would s'he (sea)," savoring the new word, "have bitten me?"

"Oh no." said the brown cow. "It mostly eats herbs and shrubs, tiny insects, plants, weeds, that sort of thing. When it shoves its tail feathers in your face, that's s'his (siz) greatest insult. I wouldn't mind s'him (sim) though, s'he (sea) is really a gentle soul once s'he lets you get to know s'him."

"What about you?" I asked. "Where do you come from? How many others are there like you?"

"I don't know." She remarked surprisingly at the thought. "This is my place. I stay over there with my family by the little pond. We rest in the shade of that great oak tree next to it. Where did you come from?"

"I recently just came from the farmhouse across the road."

"Road? What is a road?"

"Uh, a gravel dirt line that you walk over." Why would she not know what a road is? Was she born in this field? Or did she not recall how she got here?

"Oh! I have not seen that for many years." she stated.

"Then, you remember?" Delighting in her response.

"Oh, I don't forget many things. But now I must go, my family is calling me, and I see Digum has come to fetch you home, as well." She turned around and walked off, the little cow trailing beside her.

I was confused as to who Digum was, but I yelled after her. "I enjoyed meeting you."

She flipped her tail in a friendly wave, turned back her head to catch my eye and laughed.

I hoped I would get a chance to talk to her again. I looked down the in-between path and sure enough somebody was coming to meet me. This must be Digum, I thought. He seemed quite a few years younger than me, maybe fourteen or fifteen. He had short brown straight hair, a horizontal striped blue T-shirt on, and long denim shorts, with plenty of pockets that came just past his knees. He wore sagging socks and tennis shoes. He was a lanky fellow but he made up for it in his smile.

"Hello, Digum." I said when he arrived to rest at my spot.

"I see I have already been introduced." He smiled.

"Yes, she was kind enough to tell me." Nodding my head in the direction where the cow now lied with her family.

"Well, we best be going."

I glanced toward the small shelter of trees and noticed I could still hear the prayers and praise lifting up to the Spirit of Heaven, still chanting for me to come closer. The music was much fainter now. "Are we heading toward those trees, toward the music?" I asked.

"Heard that, did you? Good. You may be further along as Rami thought you could be. Never mind that, just now, we must continue this way, quickly, if we want to make it back to the house before dark. That is why the music gets fainter. It celebrates the evening sunset and stops when the last bit of light vanishes from the sky. It's one of my favorite activities of the day."

"So, that's why I heard it and others didn't? I was tuned in to it and others were busy with the party?"

"That's right." Digum responded.

We walked further along the grassy path, edging closer to the trees. I could see another smaller farmhouse. It had its porch light on. "Is that where we are going? To that house?" I pointed.

"Yes. You will meet Rami when we get there. Actually, he is the one who told me to go get you. He figured you would want to stop and talk to the animals. I'm just glad I didn't have to meet you at the gravel road. That is the most dangerous part of this journey."

"What do you mean?" I asked confused. It seemed harmless enough to me.

"When Rami met me there several years ago, I was stuck. I couldn't leave it. I was so used to following the path plowed out for me that I didn't know how to choose my own way. You see, the road already designated by others defines your past, states your present, and insures your future. It is not easy to just give up that insurance and not know what or who you'll meet or what you'll face even a minute from now."

After a moment's silence Digum asked astonishingly, "Are you telling me you didn't even give it a second thought?"

"No." I said. "I didn't. I was so intent on following the music, and then the fairy met me before I crossed the road."

"What fairy?" Digum asked, now he was confused.

"Didn't you ever have a fairy meet you?" I asked surprised, stopping a couple hundred yards from the house.

"No."

"He looked like Peter Pan only with large beautiful butterfly wings."

Digum shrugged his shoulders.

"He was about this tall." I measure with my hands about eight inches apart, trying to jog his memory.

"Never seen him." Digum maintained.

"Hmm." I pondered most confused. I shrugged my shoulders and proclaimed, "Well, you will because he has stayed with me."

"Where is he?" Digum began looking around to catch a glimpse.

"Well, uh, I think he is in my hair." I blushed.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, I know it sounds silly, but he flew around me and then swept through my hair like the wind. Then he was gone but I have felt something like a comb in my hair, here, ever since." I pointed to the spot above my left ear.

"Maybe the fairy gave you some sort of blessing or talisman to help you across the road?" Digum reasoned.

"Could be." I speculated.

"The pink light is just about gone, we really should hurry."

"Yes, let's." I responded happily. We raced toward the porch and collapsed laughing when we reached the steps.

"Rami has fixed up your room and has prepared the house for your arrival." Digum gasped in between breaths. He encouraged me to follow his lead to take off my shoes before going in. I opened the creaking screen door and with a gesture bowed and waved to invite Digum to go before me.

Chapter Three

It was an old farmhouse, small, 70's era looking, pea green linoleum flooring in the hallway. We scuffled down the small corridor that led to several rooms off to its left and right and one main room at the end.

"I sleep here." Digum invited me to take a look inside the second door off to the right.

"It's lovely." I said. Practical. I thought.

"Well, Rami will have everything you need to settle in. I must go to bed now." He walked in and sat on his bed, which consisted of a sleeping bag unfolded on the floor.

"Oh, okay." I responded, "Thank you, Digum, for coming to my rescue. I don't know what I would have done once the music stopped and it was so dark I couldn't find my way around." Then silently to myself I thought, would I have returned to the party? Gave up my moment and just gone back to what I knew? Would I have then woken up from this dream?

"Oh, there was no chance of that! We would have never let that happened." He stated matter-of-factly.

"Amie." A male voice called to me from further down the hallway.

A gentleman probably about seven years older than me was standing just outside one of the last doors on the left, before the main centered room at the end of the house. He was wiping his strong muscular hands with a hand towel. Layered, groomed, long hair that didn't quite fall to his broad shoulders, because of his long neck, was the first thing I noticed about the man. He was certainly eye candy to behold. Muscular chest, toned abs, at least as much as I could tell from his simple button plaid shirt he wore. He had long, probably well-toned legs from the look of his tanned defined arms, but he was wearing some faded blue jeans that concealed the truth. He had a gentle but directing face about him. He had a small mouth, piercing eyes, and healthy skin that revealed a touch of pink in his cheeks. This had to be Rami. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't already romantically fantasizing, I'm just stating his description, because for a teacher he was perfect.

"Amie, this will be your room." He encouraged me forward. "I have taken the liberty of preparing a warm bath for you, so that you can clean yourself off and relax."

I peered into my room, which looked more like a converted cleaning closet into a tub room.

"I know it's rather small, but once you have moved further along in your studies, then we will arrange other quarters for you."

Whatever you say. I thought. I was just appreciative he was willing to take me in and teach me. If I had to stay in a small room, so be it. I found it interesting that I didn't even question what would happen to me or what would I do once I made the decision to start my quest. I only knew that if I got the chance I was going to jump in with both feet and see where it took me, which is exactly what I thought about doing in that bathtub.

"It was very sweet of you to run my bath, thank you." I said simply.

"It was my pleasure to serve you,” said Rami.

"So this is where I am to learn?"

"Yes, but first we must have you sleep. Do you need something to drink while the water finishes filling up in the tub?"

It was then that I realized I had not even had dinner. Then I began to notice how much my teeth were still crumbling in my mouth. What was this phenomenon? I couldn't stop it. I was so caught up in the adventure and the new animals that I just kept reflexively raking out the shards of teeth out of my mouth. Of course, now, I was self-conscious about it. Did it mean something? I asked Rami.

"Well, certainly everything has a meaning.” He acknowledged. “While you go to the kitchen, which is just behind me, I'll go consult the Book of Knowledge and we'll see what it says."

"Thank you again, Rami.” I headed towards the kitchen eager to understand what my teeth had to do with this journey, this dream. Was there a cure?

As farmhouses go, this was the typical farmhouse kitchen, rectangle in shape. It was the entire back length of the house. The windows decorated above the sink overlooked the backyard, barn, and corral. The sliding glass doors off to my right looked like a later remodeled addition. The cabinets and counters led all the way around the kitchen except on either end, which on the left looked like it led to a washroom. I'll have to explore that later. I thought. On the right side of the kitchen squared another set of small windows with a deep freezer underneath it. A little dining table was in front of the deep freezer with lots of papers, books, cups, and other odds and ends shuffled all over it. In fact, the deep freezer shared as a desk.

I found a small cup in the cabinet by the sinks and poured myself a glass of tap water, making sure, of course, not to swallow any teeth still disintegrating in my mouth. Would I have any teeth left?

While leaning against the entryway from the small corridor, waiting for my bath to fill, I stared off into the dark beyond the sliding glass doors. A strange flying creature appeared outside the door. Was it another type of fairy? It started knocking on the glass. Then a second one appeared. “Won’t you let us come in?” They asked. Their heads seemed larger than their bodies and I was curious as to how their wings could sustain them? They had distorted faces, unkempt, disheveled hair. I wasn't use to seeing winged creatures that seemed so impure. Something about them wasn’t right. I was most unnerved by their presence. They kept knocking on the door coaxing me to come closer.

"Won't you slide open the door, just a crack? We just want to talk." They pleaded.

Since this wasn't my house, and I wasn't sure who they were or what their intentions truly were, I didn't budge from my spot. I only quietly mouthed, "If you wait, then I will ask my friend if it's okay, and he will let you in. However, since we are settling down for the night, you will probably have to find some other place to play."

A bright light split through the windows like a great golden sunlight. I shielded my eyes. Were these creatures going to come in anyway? I squinted to adjust to light’s brilliance. This was a different energy, somehow assuring, loving, and inviting. This great sun mesmerized me. Its top half was golden and its bottom black. I felt its warm rays melt into my skin. As my eyes adjusted, I realized the black portion was actually the sun's reflection on the land. It rose higher in the sky; the day began to dawn. The trees burst into their summer colors as definition rose from the void. It touched the horizon. The sky became lighter and the bees began to hum through the air in search for their breakfast.

Did I stand here all through the night? I became confused. Did the creatures put some sort of spell on me? Did I miss my warm bath Rami prepared for me?

BOOM. A loud thud came from behind me.

"Here we are."

Startled, I jumped, nearly spilling my water all over the kitchen floor. I looked back at the glass doors but everything was dark. I rushed toward the side window and leaned over the deep freezer to search the sky for some sign of that golden sun. But it was gone. The night had returned; the stars twinkling gloriously above.

"It's dark again!" I commented, surprised.

"Did you expect something else?" Rami asked.

I turned around and looked at him. "Well, yes, actually." I stated in confidence, "I saw a brilliant golden light like the sun rising up over the hill. It was the most beautiful and large sun I have ever seen."

"Ah." Rami sighed in satisfaction. He leaned back in his chair, folded his arms around his chest and smiled.

Curious as to his reaction, I again sub-consciously raked out more broken teeth that had accumulated in my mouth. Now, however, there seemed to be less than before. "Does this mean something?"

"Yes, my friend. It means a new day has dawned for you. A new chapter or era has begun to take place in your life."

A sense of joy and relief warmed my soul and all I could do was smile.

Chapter Four

Rami opened up the large centuries old leather bound bible. It looked like it contained the answers to any question one might have. Rami turned the aged yellow pages until he reached the section he was looking for.

"I don't know if this helps or not Rami," I interjected not really wanting to interrupt him and yet peering curiously as to what wisdom lay hidden within this huge book. "But I have noticed a change after the vision of the sun. My mouth seems to be somehow healing."

Rami continued examining the pages, not offering any acknowledgment of hearing me. He ran his right index finger down the middle column of the left page, over half way through the book. "I see." He tapped his finger on the source he was trying to find.

"What?" I asked. "What did you find?"

"According to this you are shedding old habits, old ways of looking at things or dealing with life. You see, Amie, we use our teeth to chew our food, just the same way we use our mind to chew the bits of meat and morsels we ingest and digest about life. It seems you are finding a new way to take in and assimilate what you are receiving."

"This is good, right?" I didn't want to get my hopes up, but it sure sounded like a positive step.

"It definitely means you are reaching out for new alternatives to life, not just accepting what is handed to you. You are finding new meaning, calling upon new resources. This openness will aid you greatly in the months to come." Rami closed the book.

Lesson One done for tonight, I thought. I glanced toward the sliding glass doors and figured the "fairies?" would be gone. "Uh, Rami, I know you must be tired, and it is time for me to go to bed now . . ."

"But first take your bath."

"Right." I smiled. "Would you mind me asking another question? I have noticed something odd, and I wondered if I could ask your opinion on it?" I pitched my voice up higher on the end as if to say, "Please?"

"What is it?" Rami smiled as if he already knew he wasn't going to be able to go to bed at his usual time this evening.

I explained to him the strange winged creatures I saw hovering outside the sliding glass doors. Rami got up and turned on the back porch light to see if he could see them, but they were no longer there.

Then I wondered, what if I could only see them? Digum hadn't seen any fairies. So I asked Rami. "Do you see fairies, at all?"

"Everyone has different guides and teachers and friends with them, Amie. You are blessed the faery have welcomed you into their life. As for the "fairies" at the door, the next time you see them let me handle them. You were wise not to open the door. These are mischievous and bothersome creatures that would rather be pranksters than to be your friend. This is why you visually noticed impurities about them. They cannot hide their true nature, any more than you can hide yours. But that is another lesson for tomorrow and many other journeys to come." Rami finished walking back to push the dining chair under the table. "First you must rest."

"I'm so keyed up, I don't know how I'll be able to calm down." I responded honestly.

He put his hand on my shoulder. "You will. Take the bath. It will help. I placed an herb in the water to help you relax. Rest well." Rami placed his hands in prayer position, slightly bowed, and said, "Welcome to our humble abode. You are pleased to stay as long as you wish, and leave whenever you wish." He picked up the large ancient Book of Wisdom and carried it off to the front of the house where he disappeared into one of the rooms and closed the door.

"Good night." I stated as an after thought, but no one was around to hear me. I stared around at my surroundings. The crickets sung outside, but all was silent in the house. I walked into my room, the light blue bathtub actually looked inviting as the scent of lavender and another unrecognizable herb wafted through the steam.

Chapter Five

The next morning I awoke to Rami stirring me from my dreams. I was scrounged and curled in a fetal position on a short thin mat that covered the cold linoleum floor with a small throw blanket serving as my covers. I slowly aroused my stiff shoulders from their limited flexibility.

"It's time to get up." Rami said gently. "There is much to do and someone I want you to meet."

Though I was still quite tired, my adrenaline kicked into gear when I realized where I was. I was still lucid dreaming and nothing had faded away. This was the first time I ever actually slept in a dream and woke up to its continual play.

Rami left so I could get oriented. I didn't have anything to change into as I stared down at my clothes. I was thankful I at least decided to wear pants to the party instead of a dress.

I walked into the kitchen and inhaled the aroma of an inviting breakfast waiting just for me. Mmmm. I thought. Crisp pork bacon, fresh chicken eggs straight from the hen house, and hot brewed coffee ground straight from the bean, tantalized my tongue. A warm ray of sunshine cast through the sliding glass doors and windows. It made perfect sense to me why the kitchen had been placed at the back of the house and why the remodeling had been done. For farm people who got up before the crack of dawn, what a beautiful way to wake up to the morning. I listened to see if there were any sounds of the Native Indian music I heard the night before. Yet I heard nothing. I'm sure some celebration must have welcomed the dawn. I might have just missed it sleeping in. I was extra determined not to miss the festivities from now on.

"Digum has already eaten and is out in the barn taking care of the animals." Rami said pouring him a mug of coffee. "After you have eaten and cleaned up the kitchen, Digum or Mare-Sani will give you a tour of the rest of the grounds." He smiled. "Would you like that?"

"Very much, Rami."

"How did you sleep?"

"Quite well." I said. "Happy that I woke up and found I was still in the same place."

He took a sip of his warm beverage and smiled. "Well, I have other things to do." Rami started shuffling some papers off the dining table and stuffing them under his arm. "I am sure you will like Mare-Sani." He stopped in front of the hallway and looked me in the eye again. "She sees fairies, too, you know."

That was all he needed to say and he knew it. He left the room smiling and it was the last thing he said to me for the rest of the day. I inhaled my food. I realized for the first time this morning that I was having no more problems with my teeth. Then that thought quickly faded and was replaced with the idea of meeting this Mare-Sani who also saw fairies. I was so giddy I could barely contain myself as I stuffed another slice of toast with strawberry jam in my mouth.

While washing the dishes and discovering where they should go, straightening the papers around the counters and table, and wiping the counters down, I watched Digum work around the barn. He pushed around a wheelbarrow, filling it with hay and then disappeared back into the barn again. I thought if I could hurry, I might still catch him in his work, and then he could introduce me to the farm animals. Maybe I could even help him.

I opened the sliding glass door and walked out to the back porch. Heading down the back cement steps I made my way toward Digum, who was now leaning against a pitchfork talking to a pretty girl. This had to be Mare-Sani.

"Hello." I extended a warm smile to my new friends with a wave.

"Hello back." Mare-Sani said.

"Amie," Digum began, "this is Mare-Sani."

She reached over and gave me a warm hug. "I have looked forward to meeting you for a long while."

"You knew I was coming?" I asked perplexed. How long has she known? Or was it inevitable? I thought to myself.

"Yes." she said joyously. "I just didn't know when." She winked.

I could see why the fairies liked her, Mare-Sani had to be one incarnate. I had an overwhelming hunch that she and I would become kindred spirits. Of course, I wouldn't be surprised if most people saw her that way.

Mare-Sani had short sun-bleached blond hair and sparkling deep blue sea eyes. She was wearing short denim coveralls and a tiny flower print cotton shirt underneath. She was probably about 5'6", small frame and thin, but she packed quite a punch with her personality. She was probably a couple of years younger than me, and definitely a country girl. I wondered where she came from? Was Mare-Sani born around here? Or did she come from another farmland? Or did everyone come through Rami's house the way Digum and I did? Is that how Rami came?

"Oh don't worry about such things." Mare-Sani laughed and placed her arm around my shoulders.

She could read my thoughts? Wow! I exclaimed silently in astonishment. We headed for the front of the house while Digum went back to his chores.

"Your questions will all be answered soon enough. This is your first day here, wouldn't you rather meet all the land and the animals first, before getting to the whys and the hows?"

I wrapped my arm around her waist and said happily, "Would I!"

We paused, laughed like little giggly schoolgirls, and ran to the front porch to gather my shoes. After sliding on my flats, we headed back to explore the fields and pastures behind the small thicket of trees that actually seemed to be in the center of this land, not to one side as I had previously calculated.

Before we made it around the bend of the house Mare-Sani caught Rami's eye, who was sitting at his desk in the front right window. She waved and Rami smiled back, the same infectious grin one couldn't help but have in Mare-Sani's company. It's as if when you look at her she kisses you with one of her own smiles and it gently seals upon your lips displaying it back to her for her inspection.

Yep! I thought to myself, She definitely has to be a fairy.

"Not yet," Mare-Sani said, "although sometimes in my dreams I imagine myself to be. I'm working on it."

We cornered the house walking back toward the barn. I loved the way she could lovingly read my thoughts. I looked forward to the day when I could do the same back. I hoped we would be seeing a lot of each other in the future. That is, now that I was here.

The fields beyond the house and group of trees were as plentiful as the ones I encountered in the front. Mare-Sani chattered on, pointing here and there as to where so and so lived and such in such like to squander. A natural stone moss footbridge gave us a short cut across the small babbling creek. We stopped and watched the abundant fish swimming in the translucent clear water. Such lively creatures made there dwelling therein.

We walked and explored and I absorbed every second, whatever nature wished to impart, the sun wanted to warmly bestow, and my enchanting new friend so readily and happily was willing to share with me from her favorite adventures. We were nearing a clearing when I began to hear some familiar noises. For the first time I became anxious. "Is that cars, like an interstate that I'm hearing?"

"Yes, it is." Mare-Sani said not slowing her stride.

I slowed my pace, however. I did not want to be here, not this quickly.

"Oh, don't worry." Mare-Sani grabbed my hand to pull me along. "This has always been here. It is a natural part of way life is here."

"What do you mean?" Not sure I was totally convinced.

"Well, for every natural state of being, there is its unnatural state of living."

"Like the yin and the yang?"

"Exactly." Mare-Sani responded delighted that I understood.

While I may have been able to state the logistics of my surroundings that did not make me feel any less disconcerted.

"Now, there is nothing to fear.” Mare-Sani coached me. “I know having immersed yourself in that sort of life for so long you are naturally apprehensive about being around it again. But Rami tells me you saw the Golden Light of Illumination."

"You know about that?" I was psyching myself up for the inevitable when I paused and took my eye off the stream of cars speeding by and looked at her. Of course, I never heard it verbalized in quite those terms. It made my experience last night sound so extraordinary. Then again, this whole place was extraordinary.

"Sure! I think you will surprise yourself how little effect it has on you anymore. You are going to have to be near it anyway. Not all of us live and abide in the country, you know. Some of us actually work in the city."

"We do?"

"Sure! You want to see?"

"Um," I hesitated, but when I looked into her assuring blues eyes that read, C'mon, it'll be fun! I psyched myself up and said, "Okay."

We cleared the field and I saw skyscrapers, old brick buildings, busy highways, hotels, grocery stores, boutiques, cinemas; people were everywhere. I was so tense I thought I was going to pass out, but Mare-Sani squeezed my hand as she coaxed me forward.

As we crossed yet another intersection and I watched the bustling city roar by me, it began to sink in the impact of the decision I made when I crossed the road onto my new quest. I had left my mother and sisters, friends, my whole way of life behind. I didn't even question it when I crossed that gravel gray dirt path, which seemed so long ago, when in truth it probably wasn't even twelve hours ago. But somehow this road brought it all home to me. I didn't regret my decision, I just hoped I wouldn't see them, not yet. I didn't want to be tempted to fall back into my old patterns. I was afraid to find out my answer.

Chapter Six

Mare-Sani’s words echoed in my mind, I think you will surprise yourself how little effect it has on you anymore.

Fear felt so unnatural around Mare-Sani who was so certain and loving. So I took a deep breath and was determined to enjoy myself. We headed for a parking garage holding up an eight-story hotel.

“Some of us work here.” Mare-Sani said continuing the tour.

“As what? Maids?” I stared up at the building as we crossed underneath.

“Sure, but not all of us do servant work. Some of us own buildings and corporations. Some are so famous they influence large amounts of people.”

“How can they do that and not get so caught up in the whole illusion of it all?” What secret had they come to discover?

“They just don’t.” She stated simply, as if that helped me. “They have grown past that. Besides, we all need to be in a place that will be the best benefit for all, wouldn’t you agree? If we all lived in the country who would help those who lived in the city?”

She made sense.

“God places us in the positions we need to fulfill to bring about the greatest changes, love, and hope.”

I nodded in agreement. Mare-Sani had a way of putting things in such logical and rational explanations.

Approaching the sidewalk to the grocery store, Mare-Sani asked if I wanted an ice cream pop. “This is one of my favorite places to go.” She smiled and I skipped after her.

Only when I reached the outside ice machine I noticed some of my friends exiting the store. U-TURN! My mind screamed, to which I did an about-face and scurried the other way.

Mare-Sani sensed my uneasiness and darted after me. “What’s wrong?”

“I know those people.” I whispered from around the ice machine, pointing to the group of women who were chattering among themselves. “I don’t want them to see me.”

“They are your friends?” She asked.

“Yes.” I crouched in front of her.

“Then why don’t you want them to see you? Friends are for greeting, not hiding from.” Mare-Sani turned and looked at them again. “Let’s meet’em!” And before I could reject her idea she sped off in their direction.

“Hi! I’m Mare-Sani!” she offered enthusiastically. “But you can call me Mary.”

They stared at her strangely.

“I believe we have a mutual friend – Amie?”

I was mortified! I did not want to see them, especially didn’t want to talk to them, not at this juncture, but now I couldn’t escape them. Mare-Sani had made certain of that.

They were dressed in their navy blue business skirt suits and fur wraps, veiled bonnets and high stiletto pumps. With their animal hide gloves adorned with expensive jewelry, they pulled down their name brand sunglasses in unison to reveal their professionally appliquéd faces.

“Amie?” The spokeswoman of the committee retorted. “Where is the Darling? She skipped out on us last night during the party. She never even mentioned a kiss-kiss good-bye.”

“Well, we were just going in to get some pops.” I heard Mare-Sani say, as I winced but stepped into line beside her.

“There you are!” They exclaimed with shock.

“Where have you been? Trilly has been trying to call you all morning!” The duly elected spokeswoman stated. Then upon closer examination of my dress she said, “What happened to you? You are still wearing the clothes you had on last night?” As if a light bulb went on in her head she whispered closer in my ear, “Did you get lucky?” and slapped my hand with a smile.

The other ladies pushed Mare-Sani out of the way to capture all the delicious details. Mare-Sani didn’t seem to mind, but it highly disturbed me. “I can’t really talk to you guys right now. I’m spending the day with Mary.”

“Yes, where did you find the simple-minded country girl anyway?” They inquired softly.

How amusing it seemed to me how similar they were to the unusual animal I had met yesterday which snubbed me. Isn’t that what they were now doing to Mare-Sani? The resemblance sure fit, although both would have been highly insulted if I had mentioned it.

“By the way,” the leader of the girls nasaled on, “your mother and sisters are here. We ran into them in the store, and when we couldn’t find you, we invited them to go shopping with us. We could go back to your pad while you changed, now that you are here.” Before I could interject anything she rattled on. “Yes! That is what we will do. I’ll call Trilly to let her know we will be delayed for about a half hour.”

“No!” I reached for her cell phone with a bit of panic. “Don’t call Trilly.”

They looked at me shocked. “Well, don’t be silly. It is no trouble.”

“We have other things we need to do, don’t we Mary?” I asked with pleading eyes for her to agree.

“Actually we do.” She stated to my supreme relief. “Amie can’t go with you ladies today. Sorry.”

“Oh?” They leaned back on their hips staring back and forth at Mare-Sani and I. Then with some skepticism stated, “Well at least go say high to your mom before you go galloping off again.” Then the spokeswoman looked at the other girls crowded around her. “Get it? Galloping? Horse? Country?” They all began to giggle and tweeter like little annoying birds.

I actually hung around these people? Feeling nauseated, I rolled my eyes, grabbed Mare-Sani by the elbow and led her past the cars to leave the parking lot. The farther away we get from here the better. I thought.

“What about our pops?” Mare-Sani asked.

Are you kidding? I thought, but instead said, “We’ll come back later, or I’ll buy you some another time.”

“But we are right here?” She turned and headed back to the grocery store entrance.

Before I could catch her she was already inside checking out the freezer section. I quickly scanned the store as I walked. Thankfully I didn’t see anyone I recognized, though I peered over the aisles just to make sure.

“You know, you are not going to enjoy this treat as much if you keep hyperventilating like you are.” Mare-Sani said sensing my thoughts over debating which flavor she wanted. “Stop panicking. So what if you run into your mother and sisters. I would like to meet them.”

I bet you would. I thought. That is precisely why I’m on the look out for them. I want to avoid another incident. I looked at Mare-Sani and said, “You don’t understand. I don’t want to stay.”

“Then don’t.”

“But they are all probably waiting outside for me. They will persuade me to go with them. You don’t know them like I do. I’ll get distracted and before I know it I’ll be whisked away.” I stammered releasing the thoughts that haunted my head. “I don’t trust myself around them.”

“But Amie, they are a part of who you are and what you are learning.” Mare-Sani said looking up from the pops and encouraged me with her eyes. “You can’t separate yourself from them, don’t even try. Don’t shut them out. They can be a part of who you are becoming now, if you let them. They can help you.” Then without a hesitance she exclaimed, “Ah! Here it is.” She beamed with victory as she held up a pop. “Chocolate Banana Swirl, my favorite. Are you going to get anything?”

I could see why Rami wanted me to pair up with her from the beginning of my journey. She was good. I wasn’t sure if I could handle anymore confrontations though. But I fairly quickly summarized that this was definitely Lesson Two in my daily planner. Okay. I resolved. Here it goes. Why not have an ice cream treat in the process?

“That’s the ticket!” Mare-Sani patted me on the back and headed for the register. I pulled out a Nestle-Crunch dipped bar and we paid the cashier.

Chapter Seven

Popping the savory ice cream sticks into our mouth Mare-Sani and I walked back outside the grocery store. Mom was placing some groceries in the back of the car, while my sisters piled in. Although I didn't exactly avoid them, I wasn't acknowledging them either.

"Don't you just love a cool treat on a nice sunny day?" Mare-Sani asked me, licking the melted stream that began to trickle down her arm. "I would say the morning is pretty perfect and the afternoon is shaping up great!"

"Hh-mm." I mumbled back, sucking on my pop and keeping Mom in my left peripheral view.

"Amie, Darling."

UGH! I thought. I was so busy looking after Mom, I completely forgot about my friends. How did they ever become my friends, anyway? Actually, they were just people I hung with because it was good to be seen with them, although now I wondered why. God forbid I was ever turning into one of them!

"Hello again." Mare-Sani smiled with a mustache of chocolate-banana swirl smeared across her face.

"Uh, hello, again." The women stared down disapprovingly from their leopard colored sun frames and false eyelashes. They turned to me and recited, "Amie, we must speak with you. Trilly says it is absolutely imperative you wait with us until she gets over here before making any other arrangements.”

“I know if I can't persuade you to come with, Trilly will." The leader of the pack giggled as the other girls nodded their heads and chirped behind her.

If anything was ever superficial - heck- artificial! I shook my head. And yet, Mare-Sani was not a bit offended. What did she understand, that I hadn't? I observed my friends behavior more closely and reasoned, well, of course they would react this way. That's how they were raised or conditioned. This is a superficial world and they are the superficial Barbie dolls of this culture. Their examples only epitomize the structure by which this state of being has been governed. They were only behaving appropriately, the result of an inevitable pattern. What did Rami tell me last night? ‘The “fairies” can no more hide their true nature than you can.’ I can't blame people for just being themselves. Maybe it was about time that I was unafraid to be myself. The best that I could do for my friends was simply turn them down, lovingly, and be on my way. "I'm sorry, girls, that won't be possible. I have other important matters I must attend to for awhile." I genuinely smiled back for the first time.

Aghast, they responded, "More important than Trilly?"

"That's right! Right now, I'm spending the day with my new friend Mare-Sani." I wrapped my arm around her back.

"You're welcome to come along if you would like?" Mare-Sani offered.

"No, I believe we can safely miss the adventures of Huckleberry Finn for one afternoon." They all smirked at each other in support of the insult.

"Did you read that book too?" Mare-Sani inquired. "I just love that story! No matter how many times I've read it, I find myself excited all over again just opening the front cover."

I studied Mare-Sani. I just loved the way she handled situations. She didn't get defensive. She simply accepted people as they were, not as she expected to be treated. I admired my newfound friend, more every passing second.

Mare-Sani looked at me and blushed. I don't know if it was because she sensed my admiration for her or that she blurted out so adorably one of her favorite pass times.

"Now, I insist that you stay, Amie, Sweetheart." The elected star queen of material world forcefully stated through her pearly white dentures and her new ruby enhanced lips. "Why don't we go see your mother and sisters? You cannot refuse to say hello to your own family, now can you?" She shoved her arm in mine and began walking toward Mom's car. "By the time we get finished talking to them, then Miss Trilly should be here." She squeaked. "Really, I just don't understand why you are being so difficult? It is so not you."

"Well, maybe I'm changing." I said proudly. "Maybe I don't find shopping and money and masseuses as rewarding as I have in the past. In fact, you might find that a lot of what we used to have in common holds no interest for me any longer."

"OH!" The ladies gasped placing their gloved hands over their tiny pursed mouths. "Are you okay, dear? What's wrong with you? What happened to you last night? I'm going to call Dr. Tremor. On second thought, I'm going to call Trilly, she'll know the best doctor in the country who can fix you. Have you lost all sense of stability? Oh you poor, poor dear!" They escorted me back to their Mercedes and urged me to lie down, help was on the way.

"I'm fine." I tried to explain to them.

"Really ladies, she's okay. Everyone can have a change of heart." Mare-Sani followed.

"That's not a change of heart, I'd call that a transplant! You encourage this behavior? Oh, of course you would. Look at what you're wearing! Look Mary Sunshine, or whomever you call yourself, we'll handle it from here. Go back to your little straw house or wherever it is you came from." They turned their back on her as they tried to sedate me.

I yanked myself from their clutches, straightened my shirt and exclaimed, "Look! There is nothing wrong with me! Okay? I chose this path. And so what? Maybe it is a transplant, thank God, it came just in the nick of time! Wake up and smell the roses, Ladies! Life is not what you think it is. It is not wrapped up in some neat little package that you can have layered in 18kt gold around your little finger. You can do better than this, better than where you are now." I waved my arms in the air for them to take a look around.

"Better?" They said in disbelief. "You're kidding us, right? We have all the money in the world. We live in the best penthouses in the city. We can have any man that we want, and we have more fan mail than we know what to do with. What could be better than that?"

With pity, I replied, "A life."

"Oh, look there's Trilly." One of the extra warm bodies off to the chairwoman's right shrieked. At the intersection a long black limousine veered around the corner.

"Finally. She's spotted you. Now, you'll have to see her," the woman raised her eyebrow and smirked.

"Good-bye ladies." I looked at Mare-Sani, "Let's go?" She nodded in affirmation.

We headed toward the street while my "friends" teetered off toward the limousine. When we meandered around a row of cars, Mom was there. Changing toward another row, there was Trilly. I was trapped, and Trilly was all business as she narrowed the distance between us.

Chapter Eight

“I don’t know what to do Mare.” I looked at her with apprehension.

“Follow me,” was all she said.

I looked back at Mom once more. Time slowed. She was about to sink behind the driver’s seat. The sun’s ray worshipped her lovely face. I could tell she was happy to be alive. I smiled.

Suddenly, sound and action sped me back to my present. Trilly was calling after me. Mare-Sani was behind me off to my left encouraging me to cut through the alleyway. A big delivery truck hogged most of the alley. Men were unloading boxes from the back. There was hardly any room to maneuver at all.

“Go on ahead. I’ll be right behind you.” Mare-Sani prodded me forward.

“Okay.” I agreed. Shaking the daze out of my mind; I longed to get back to the fields. I walked faster and faster. I was sizing up the clear passageways and twisted to squeeze beside the owner who was holding the back door open of the building for the delivery guy who was on his next unload.

“Aaaa!” Mare-Sani cried in distress behind me. I twirled around to see her entangled up in some empty cartons on the ground. The committee and Trilly were at her feet. “Go on ahead!” She yelled to me. “I’ll be all right.”

Part of me wanted to leave, but I couldn’t leave my wonderful fairy friend to face the firing squad. Although, I reasoned she was pretty capable of handling herself. No, I don’t leave a friend in need. I told myself. I rushed back to Mare-Sani’s aid helping her out of the entanglement.

Before Trilly could even speak I looked at her and said, “Take a good look around you, Trilly. Go on. Look where you are. Would you even be caught dead being seen in a place like this?” I paused for affect. Then I finally blurted out what I had really been wanting to say for a very long time. “I don’t need you anymore or your friends. It’s okay if you like that lifestyle, but I have found something that suits me better. So by all means, don’t waste anymore of your time standing here. Go ahead to your spa appointment and your shopping rendezvous.” Then as an afterthought I added, “By the way, It was a lovely party last night. Thank you for inviting me.”

Mare-Sani stood next to me rubbing the dirt off her coveralls and wiped off her knees.

Trilly just stared at me for a moment, cocked her head sideways, contemplating her rebuttal carefully. When she finally spoke she said smiling, “You’re welcome.” She clapped her muffled-gloved hands and commanded, “Ladies we are all finished here. Let’s go redecorate.” She smiled at me one last time, turned around and walked off in her four-inch stilettos.

The others swung their “tail feathers” up in the air at me, which I had to smirk with amusement.

“Are you all right?” I asked Mare-Sani watching the troupe leave, pondering Trilly’s smile.

“Yep!” She responded with no hesitancy, as if nothing had happened. “Told you, you could handle it.”

I took my eyes off the crowd as the delivery man returned to unloading his cartons. For an instant I just stood studying her face as her words processed through my mind. Then slowly my grin began to grow bigger and bigger across my face, until I just had to burst out laughing. She jumped into the laughter the same way she would a rainy day puddle. We fell over each other giggling and walked off together arm-in-arm.

Chapter Nine

We reached the bleached wheat fields again. The vegetation that grew to be so tall bewitched me. It was as if it became a veil between the two worlds. It covered up any sight of the realm beyond its borders.

As we neared the farmhouse Mare-Sani introduced me to some of the farm animals that grazed near the fence. Besides the unique creatures I had encountered yesterday, I also saw some animals that were familiar to me: ducks, geese, sheep, wolves. Wolves? In truth a whole pack of wolves had broken out through a hole in the fence and were now in the pasture skulking around the sheep grazing. Mare-Sani just pointed them out as if they were the shepherds.

“Aren’t you worried that they’ll eat the sheep, Mare-Sani?” I asked concerned.

“Nope.”

“Are you telling me they don’t eat them?” Now confused.

“Aw, sure they eat them, that is the way it goes. The cycle of life begins all over again.” She responds and merrily walks down the path.

“But if you just let them go, what if they kill all the sheep?”

“That’s mighty kind of you to be so protective of the sheep, Amie, but they won’t ever let it go that far. You see, wolves are carnivores, but carnivorous animals only kill when they are hungry. Not as humans do out of greed or for sport. Besides, if the sheep ever realize they are stronger than the wolves, then what would the wolves do for food?”

“The sheep are stronger than the wolves?” I asked incredulously.

“Sure they are! Look at them! They may out number the pack by twenty to one. If they ever figure that out, then they could take the lot by storm and claim back their land. But they don’t.”

“Are they capable of figuring that out?” I had so many questions; there was so much I had to learn. How could it be so simple?

“Well, sure they are.” Mare-Sani explained. “Animals are a lot smarter than most city folk give them credit for. I suspect that is because they don’t spend much time around them."

“Amazing!” I summarized.

I was so happy I was here. I made it through the first trip to the city, and still returned in one piece. I looked forward to spending my days and nights laughing, learning, growing and becoming closer friends with Rami, Digum, and Mare-Sani. I even wondered if one day I might perhaps meet someone at the gravel dirt path to guide him or her to Rami’s house. Or I might even work in the city. I was so glad I came, so glad that this enchanted country had invited me in.

Epilogue

That evening Rami, Digum, Mare-Sani and I gathered around the campfire in the backyard. The smoke, the sparks and flames lit up the scene as dusk settled in. The Native Indians prayerful cry echoed to the four directions and now I finally understood what they were saying.

“Come, Dance with Life. Come Join the Chorus. Come.”