Guardians of the Secret
copyright © 1998 by Cary Shulman
All Rights Reserved
9.
Sara's house was in a well to do suburb of Philadelphia. Unlike the other houses on her block, Sara's front yard was filled with children's toys. Today was her daughter's birthday, but the yard was always like that. Sara was in the playroom finishing decorating as she waited for the guests to arrive. Jack was in the living room with four year old Melanie, while seven year old Jason was loudly strafing presents with his hand.
"I want to open a present," Melanie more than urged.
"Wouldn't it be more fun if we waited until everybody was here?" Jack reasoned.
Melanie shook her head. Tommy's strafing had gone up some decibels. Jack addressed it.
"Tom, could we tone down World War Three?" Tommy was in a world of his own. Jack turned back to Melanie. "Okay. How about as a favor to me?" Melanie shook her head.
"Good. I'm glad that's settled," Jack said with joking finality as Sara walked into the room. She was obviously angry with him and he noticed with concern.
The trees had some autumn color on the road that led to Sara's. Dark clouds were framed in light by the sun. Had Michael noticed and entered into it, it might have opened a door. As it was, it was all background to him as he sped through the curves confined to his own world. A birthday present was on the seat next to him. He reached into the glove compartment for a cassette tape and started it, but his thoughts were elsewhere.
"I've called this talk Gauguin's Questions, which refers to the title of one of his paintings. He painted it in 1897 in Tahiti. If you're ever get a chance to visit the Fine Arts Museum in Boston you should definitely do so. It's on display there and a masterpiece and a summing up of his art. Its title is, 'Where do we come from?, What are we?, Where are we going?' In all of Gauguin's travels, to Brittany, Arsle, Martinique, the South Seas, you can sense he's searching for an interaction with people and place that would put him in touch with the source of his creativity. I think in doing so he was trying to find answers to those three questions.
"Which brings us to sexual fantasy. I think like all creations and myth, sexual fantasy attempts to answer these same three questions: Where do we come from?, Who are we?, Where are we going? It's an interaction with people and place that tries to put you in touch with the source of your life."
"Where are we going?" Michael repeated to himself as the tape continued. "We're going to a birthday party. My son's birthday is...What the hell why dwell? Get off it. Sara invited you, she wants to make up."
Across the highway was a produce stand with a United parcel truck parked nearby. Michael glanced over. The truck was empty, and no one was working the fruit stand. Michael puzzled over the oddity. He looked for someone in the surrounding trees
"When you got to go, you got to go," he said to himself as if to test out a theory. He drove on with a look on his face as though it didn't pass muster.
Jack entered the kitchen as Sara was making dip in a food processor. She wasn't happy. Jack tried to make peace.
"It's Melanie's birthday, can we just forget it?"
"You always want to forget it when you're wrong."
"Okay, a terrible thing happened to Michael. But that was years ago. He's got no friends, he barely keeps his business afloat, he drove his own family away. His ex won't even let him see his own son."
"You're condemning him for her being unforgiving."
"All I know is Michael has no life, and you do."
"He has a life. You just don't appreciate what he's trying to do."
"You don't appreciate what I'm trying to do. It's time to move on. You've got the talent for something better."
"Better or less threatening?"
"It is threatening when it ends up with some moron calling like that. Look, it's not a matter of blaming anybody. I had no idea myself it would..."
One of the Parents swung open the kitchen door.
"We're ready."
In the living room Michael was talking to the two kids. Melanie was holding a large plainly wrapped present.
"Are you going to open it?" Michael asked.
"Jason's lost the card."
Jason defended himself. "Shows what you know. It didn't have a card. The deliveryman gave it to Mommy. And now it's.. mine."
Jason snatched the present and ran toward the backyard with Melanie in screaming pursuit. Jack went after them. Michael looked like he'd put two and two together and didn't like the answer.
Melanie chased Jason around a jungle gym as he teased her with the present. Jason tripped and fell, but landed on his back still holding the package to his chest. The two tussled for it. It was about to fall as Jack came up and caught it.
"Jason stop teasing Melanie. It's her birthday and her present."
"Then why can't I open it?" Melanie reasoned.
Jack was about to argue, but the logic got him.
"Okay, just this one present."
Melanie was thrilled. She immediately began undoing the ribbon and peeling away the wrapping paper.
"Don't open it!," Michael yelled.
Jack looked up and saw Michael running toward him shouting. Melanie tore away the paper and started to lift the lid off the box. Jack suddenly held the lid closed as Michael ran up with Sara behind him.
"What the hell is going on?" Jack demanded.
"I think it's a bomb. Set it down easy and get away from it."
"Bomb?!"
"We're wasting time."
Sara tried to reason with Michael. "Michael, I don't think this..."
Michael grabbed the package out of Jack's hands and heaved it. The package tumbled through the air, finally hitting the ground between some trees. The group watched the package in stunned silence. Michael braced for an explosion. A moment passed. Another. No explosion. Just silence. Melanie started to cry, breaking the silence.
"This is absolutely crazy," Jack said as he started walking toward the package.
"It could still go off," Michael warned.
Jack didn't stop. Michael pulled out a gun and ordered Jack to stop.
"This is madness," Sara said frantically.
Jack kept going. Michael raised his gun and fired. The package jumped as a bullet went through it. No explosion. Jack was stunned, while the children cried even louder. Michael fired again. The package jumped again. Again nothing. Michael fired again and again and again. Nothing happened. The children were hysterical. Jack, absolutely furious, turned to Sara.
"This is the insanity your show is leading to. Ex DEA nut shoots birthday present."
Jack turned and walked angrily into the house. Furious herself, Sara comforted her children as she led them inside. Michael was left standing alone.
copyright © 1998 by Cary Shulman
All Rights Reserved