The Summer Vacation
Chapter 43
Written by rachel76m
Edited by Don Kaufman

We wake up in the morning fully rested. The morning is a repeat of yesterday. I open some of the bags and packages of fruits, nuts and seeds. I take out some bowls and pour them to each one. I place some of them on a plate for Amber and Cobalt. I put two paper napkins and two cups of water for them. I make some milk from the powdered milk and water. I keep it in a pitcher and put it in the fridge when I’m done with it. I make myself a bowl of cereal and take another apple for my breakfast.

Amber and Cobalt come flying in, they see what I put out for them. “We are getting spoiled with you taking care of us, Richard. We are used to taking care of ourselves.”

“I know, Amber and Cobalt. But until you know more about what is available to eat here on Earth, I need to provide for you. You need to teach my children when they come forth.”

“You’re right, Richard.”

I give the morning thanks to the Creator for the meal. Once said, we begin to eat our morning meal.

“What is this seed, Richard? It is very good.”

“That is the sunflower seed. Don’t worry about planting them. The seeds come from very large seed pods. They are actually fruits from the plant. The plants come in different sizes and produce from 800 to 2,000 seeds. They can grow very tall.”

“Wow! That is a lot.”

We enjoy the morning meal very much. I have a few nuts and seeds as well. When we get done, we clean up the plates, bowls and cups. I place them in the rack to dry. Amber and Cobalt see what I’m doing in keeping the kitchen clean. I walk out to the back door. I sit in the chair. Amber and Cobalt are sitting on my shoulders. We wait until the local fairies show up.

“We’ll do one more day like this tomorrow. The rest of the week will be spent in Cherokee for their Planting Festival. You will need to be in butterfly mode as you follow me. You can always whisper to me.”

“Okay, Richard. It should be a good time there.”

Amber and Cobalt take their knives and cut a little bit of my hair. They tuck it inside their clothes to remember me throughout the day.

“That reminds me. I have the twelve special gifts from the unicorns. We will need to identify each one. I would like to mount them on a board and hang it on a wall.”

“We’ll help you identify each one, Richard. That will be great to see them displayed. Then we can fly by and touch their manes and smell them to remember them always.”

“That’s the idea, Amber and Cobalt. Look. Here they come. Enjoy the day with your distant cousins. I will be here like yesterday.”

“Thank you, Richard.” Amber and Cobalt take a long smell of my hair. They hold my ear lobe to remember my presence and touch. Then they take off together and fly with the fairies into the forest.

Once I see them enter the forest, I get up and walk back into the cabin. I step out to the front porch and sit in one of the chairs to wait for Anna and Sarah. They show up in about fifteen minutes. They get out of the car, I help Sarah bring in the portable sonigram equipment and set it on the coffee table in front of the couch.

Anna continues with the computer in printing out some more documents while Sarah examines me. I take off my clothes like I did yesterday.

Croin, you’re going have to protect my fairy’s ears. We are using sound to produce the images on the screen. I don’t know if it will hurt them or not.

Okay, Richard. I’ll try to protect their ears.

I leave my underwear on for modesty’s sake.

As soon as Sarah touches the metal bar to the skin. I get an immediate ‘kick’ response from the new born.

“Stop, Sarah. The sonigram is too powerful.”

“Yes, I felt their kick as well. There is no adjustment with this type of sonigram. What can we use to record?”

“Let me try a crystal and see if I can do some magic.”

“Okay, Richard.”

I get back up and walk over to a shelf to retrieve a crystal from Twainor. I also take a three inch long clear quartz crystal as well. I get back on the couch. I position it above my womb. I put my hand above it and recite some words. I don’t see anything happening. “Hmm . . . Put the sonigram bar on top of the crystal, Sarah. If that doesn’t work we’ll try the quartz crystal.”

“That’s a good idea, Richard. The crystal will act as a buffer.” Sarah places the sonigram bar on top of the crystal. I don’t feel any kicks from my new born this time. Sarah gets a nice surprise when she sees the images on the screen. Anna looks at it as well. We are smiling when we see the two fairies being formed. When we try the quartz crystal, we get the same results.

Right now, their wings are just beginning to bud. We can see clearly they are male and female like twins. Sarah sends three pictures to the printer to be printed out.

“Too bad there is no color with this sonigram equipment. But seeing this is very exciting.”

“Yes it is, Sarah.”

“Congratulations on your impending birth, Richard.”

“Thank you, Anna.”

“What will be their first meal Richard when they are born?”

“They will drink my milk from my nipples like a baby would for their first meal. After that, they will eat normally like a fairy would.”

“That makes sense, Richard.”

We go out for lunch again for another quick bite.

We continue through the day in getting things done. Anna and I go into town to file the paperwork to make sure the cabin stays in my name. We stop by to see the mayor and the police chief and tell them what is going on. They appreciated being told.

I also told them about what happened to the pond that night. They will make sure the Cherokee brethren have access to the pond and to help keep an eye on the back side of the property.

~~~000~~~

The fairies fly into the forest. They follow a small stream to a private location. Soon it opens up into a beautiful cataract of small waterfalls with boulders everywhere. It is lush and green everywhere. However, they see some dead chestnut trees just outside the area.

“This is very beautiful. It reminds me of some places on Twainor.”

“If it reminds of your Twainor, then we are glad. Yes this is one of our beautiful places here. It will be even better when these chestnut trees come back to life with the seeds that were brought back.”

“Yes, I can see it now being more lush than ever before.”

The fairies dive through the little water falls and enjoy the coolness of the water. They continue to explore more of the forest and what it has to offer. They see woodpeckers going after some bugs in the trees.

“That bird is like the one on Twainor. We call them wood chopper birds. However, they are different in color and design. Their beaks are little different.”

They continue on in the forest. Soon they come near a hiking trail.

“We need to change into butterflies. We can come across people hiking along this trail.”

“Okay, Traphel.”

They all change into butterflies quickly. Soon there is a group of hikers on the trail. There are six of them hiking with backpacks and tents together. They see some blackberries near the trail. They stop to take some from the bushes. They leave about ten berries on each bush. They have their snack with crackers and water. Once they are done, they continue hiking down the trail.

“That was interesting. They didn’t eat all of the berries. Are most people respectful like that?”

“Some are, Amber. Some are very respectful along the trail. The ones that are careless and selfish are the problem. They will leave little bits of trash along the trail and eat all of the berries they see. It is then we send some bees or wasps after them. Once they see them, they run and scream like crazy down the trail. Some get the message. Some do not.”

The six fairies smile at Amber and Cobalt. Amber and Cobalt giggle and laugh at the joke.

They continue to fly around to explore more of the forest. They see some gorgeous scenic views. They see some large waterfalls pouring over a rocky ledge. It creates a misty veil in the area.

They stop to have their noon repast and eat some berries, drink some nectar from flowers and a few nuts along the way. They start flying back to the cabin a different way. They come to a mountain top to get a grand view of the area.

“This land is beautiful, Traphel.”

“It is Amber. Tomorrow we’ll take you to a larger town that is nearby. We’ll follow some bees, butterflies and other insects who are seeking nectar and pollen. We’ll show you some of the problems the people have created.”

“Well, you are educating us. We have to know what we are up against to help Richard out.”

“Yes, you do.”

They fly down the mountain quickly toward Mt. Blanc. It takes them about two hours to get there. They stop to rest near the pond to catch their breath. They see Richard and the ladies sitting on the back porch again.

Amber and Cobalt fly in and sit on my shoulders. Traphel and the others follow them.

I recognize one of the fairies from NC State. “Hello. I remember your wings at NC State.”

“You do remember me. My name is Traphel. I’m one of the fairies that is looking out for you.”

“Well, greetings, Traphel. We have a surprise for you. How would King Oren and Queen White Dove feel if they saw the two fairies residing in my womb?”

“They would be elated to see them. Should I go send for them?”

“Why don’t you go ahead and ask them? We have the equipment inside set up for a viewing. We can only let in a small group at a time.”

“We understand. There are about one hundred fairies that are gathered here. They can send word to the other fairy clans and give them the good news all the way down to South America. It takes longer to send a message across the ocean.”

“How do you get news across the ocean?”

“A sea dragon or two will help us. We ride on their backs to rest. We stop at some islands along the way so we can rest longer and regain our strength by drinking nectar from the flowers on them.”

“Then let it be a time of celebration.”

“Yes, Omega. We’ll tell King Oren and Queen White Dove.”

The six fairies fly into the forest. It takes about a half hour for all of them to show up. They are all excited they get a chance to see the new ones before they are born.

Anna, Sarah, Amber, Cobalt and I walk into the cabin. I lay on the couch and get comfortable after taking off my shirt.

King Oren and Queen White Dove with about ten fairies come flying in first. Sarah puts the device on my womb with the quartz crystal underneath it. They look on the screen and see the newly formed fairies. They smile and are glad they get to see them this early. They rub and touch my womb.

“Ooh . . . they just moved, King Oren. They know you are here.”

“That’s good, Richard. This is a great day to see them. When are they due?”

“In about six months. That will be in November. I will still be in class this Fall at NC State in Raleigh.”

“Hmm . . . we would like to be there when they come forth. Can you be here for Thanksgiving?”

“I’ll try, King Oren. This is my first time. Sarah wants to be here as well.”

King Oren looks at Sarah.

“I would very much want to be here when it happens. We know it will be a miracle for a human to give birth to fairies.”

“We know, Sarah. The roads should still be okay leading to Mt. Blanc. The first snow fall usually occurs the first week in December. By that time we make plans to fly to our southern feeding areas in Florida.”

“Well, then, let’s hope.”

“Then I will make plans to be here, King Oren. I will be at the butterfly conservatory tomorrow.”

“That’s good, Richard. Now let the rest of our kinfolk see the images.”

Groups of ten come in each time. They smile when they see images of the new born on the screen. They touch my stomach and feel their heart beats. Each one gives me best wishes and congratulations on the impending births. It takes about an hour for them to see my newborn for themselves. They fly back into the forest with great joy and merriment.

We go out again to another restaurant in Mt. Blanc. This time we choose the local seafood restaurant. This one has a back porch as well that has a view of the creek. We each order a different fish entree and salad. Amber and Cobalt like the orders we make. They also see what the other people have ordered. They soon figure out the odd smell from the shellfish orders. They let me know they don’t like it. I whisper back to them, it is because they are scavengers of the sea to help keep it clean. They hope in time the people will stop eating the shellfish so the oceans can get cleaned up.

After we get done eating the meal, we go to the park again to see the sunset. We enjoy watching the colors change as the sun sets. When we see the moon come up, we clap our hands and thank the Creator for another wonderful day.

Anna drops me off at the cabin. This time we don’t get any unwanted visitors. We say our good nights and go our way to get some sleep tonight. Anna and Sarah tell me they will be going back to Charlottesville, Friday morning. They would like to check out the Planting Festival in Cherokee. I tell them I will need to be at the Butterfly Conservatory tomorrow to solve their scent mix problem. They said that is okay. It will give them time for themselves. They will catch up with me later and contact me on my cell phone.

In the morning, we have another nice breakfast. Afterwards, Amber and Cobalt leave with the fairies for another day of exploring the area. I drive down to the conservatory to see what I can do. Croin comes along with me to keep me safe. I park in the driveway and get out of the car. I lock it up and walk to the main entrance. I still see a lot of butterflies hovering around the building. I can still smell that strong scent mix.

Once I get inside, I get greeted by the owner.

“I’m so glad you are here, Richard. We have a serious problem.”

“What is it, ma’am?”

“The butterflies are acting very erratic. It seems they want to get outside.”

“Where is the scent mix you used? How did you use it to attract the butterflies?”

“I put the liquid in these plastic flowers.”

I pick one up and smell it. My nose twitches when I think it smells acrid. “This liquid is not what it seems. I think it changed to something else. You better collect all of the liquid you put out and put it back in the five-gallon bucket quickly. Then wash the plastic flowers. This liquid needs to be tested at a lab. I’m thinking it changed into an acrid type poison. As soon as heat gets applied, it will smoke and fill the room.”

“A poison? Oh my G-d! Don’t say anything more!”

I quickly help them put the liquid back into the bucket and clean the plastic flowers.

“We need to let the butterflies fly into this space so we can clean out the Conservatory. Hopefully, once it is safe, they will fly back in. Bring in some real potted plants first. They can rest there and drink some nectar to get their strength back.”

“Of course, Richard.”

We go out to the outside garden and bring in about a dozen potted flowering plants. We put them in key locations around the shop. The door is watched by the assistant to make sure the butterflies don’t escape when a visitor comes in.

“Turn off the fan and open the doors.”

The owner turns off the fan and opens the door. The butterflies immediately fly into the store space. They hover around me and land on my shoulders and head. I bring them near the potted plants. “Take your rest here. We need to check the Conservatory.” They fly off and land there to take their rest and get a drink of nectar from the potted plants.

We go into the Conservatory to retrieve the rest of the scent mix and plastic flowers. We clean it up thoroughly. Soon it is back to normal. We check the condition of the plants and flowers in the Conservatory.

“It appears to be safe now, Richard. I will definitely not order from that company again. I better stick with the natural flower scents instead of this man-made concoction. I hope they are okay. I didn’t see any dead butterflies on the floor in there. So, that is a good sign we reacted in time.”

“Yes we did, ma’am. I have been thinking about something. During the winters, is this the only place that is warm for them?”

“It is Richard. Most of the butterflies in the area will leave here and go south to lay their eggs. Then they will migrate back here to grow up and repeat the cycle. I see a lot of butterflies hanging around here so they can be close to here. I think they want to come inside.”

“Is there a special entrance that will allow butterflies to come in and leave when they want?”

“The only type of set up I saw is for a colony of bees. I’m sure you’ve seen those at the various science centers in North Carolina, Richard.”

“I have, ma’am. They have their own special plexiglass tube that leads directly to the hive that has a plexiglass enclosure around it. If there is a small opening in the wall here, it will need some protection to allow only the butterflies in and not the other insects and birds.”

“I see what you mean, how can we distinguish that?”

“Well, if there is a sound that keeps the other insects and birds away and not the butterflies that can work. Or maybe an infrared unit that will detect the butterflies by size, shape and weight it will open a door for them. If it is a short tunnel, it will be easy to put spikes or nails at the outside entrance to keep the birds away.”

“I have seen the use of those spikes to keep the birds away. That is easy to do.”

“Maybe a combination of a fan unit and the infrared unit. The infrared unit detects a bird, a bee or wasp. The fan turns on and blows them out of the tunnel. The infrared unit detects a butterfly and lets them pass through the door that swings open for them and closes once they enter. It should work both ways for an exit as well.”

“That’s a novel way to do it, Richard. I will look into it. Thank you very much Richard. If there isn’t one available on the market. I could ask the local high school to see if it can be built in their electronic shop.”

“Yes, the students will have a chance to get creative and learn how to market a device.”

“Thank you for the ideas, Richard. I will contact the school tomorrow.”

“Well, let’s see if these butterflies can be coaxed back into the Conservatory.”

I look at a group of butterflies resting on a potted plant. “We need you to check the Conservatory out. Is it safe to go in there now? Land on my right shoulder if it is okay. Land on my left shoulder if it is not.”

The owner smiles when she sees me trying to talk to the butterflies.

The four butterflies on the plant fly off and flutter into the Conservatory. We follow them inside. They flutter about checking everything in the room. Once they get done, they land on my right shoulder.

“I don’t believe it. They heard you. I will need to remember that.” The owner walks up to the four butterflies and talks to them. “Thank you very much. You can tell the others now it is safe to come back inside. I will be more attentive to your needs this time.”

The four butterflies fly off my shoulder and land on her right shoulder. A tear comes down her face as she smiles. The four butterflies take off and fly into the store. They fly about the space. Soon the rest of the butterflies leave the store and into the Conservatory. She turns on the fan once they are all inside and close the doors.

We walk around to make sure there are fruit slices and honey water in the bowls for them to drink. She checks the plants to make sure of their health. “There is a group of plants the larvae and caterpillars use as food before making their cocoons.” She sees there are enough around for them all. We exit the conservatory and take the potted plants back out to the front garden area of the building. We don’t see the hordes of butterflies around the building anymore.

“Well, apparently they were trying to tell me something was wrong. The butterflies all have returned to the forest where they belong. I sure did learn my lesson this time.”

“Just stick with what you know, ma’am. Remember they are susceptible to insecticides and sprays.”

“I don’t do that in the Conservatory, which is a clean environment. I just water the plants when they need it. I am familiar with the common diseases and predators of the butterflies. I have several books for sale here for the public.”

“That’s good. Well, I need to get going. I will be visiting the Planting Festival tomorrow.”

“I’ve been to them. You will have a great time there. We get an increase in visitors when that happens. Thank you for all of your help, Richard.”

“You’re welcome, ma’am. Have a great week.”

“You too.”

We give each other a quick hug. I leave the Conservatory and drive back to the cabin.

The owner looks at me while I leave. He sure does know his butterflies. That cologne he has on is really nice. Oh well, let’s get ready for the extra visitors. I need to write down that note to ask the local high school for help.

~~~000~~~

The fairies fly to a farm once they change to butterflies. Amber and Cobalt soon see a familiar structure.

“That’s a water mill! We have those on Twainor!”

“That’s great, Cobalt. This mill crushes dried corn to make corn meal or as some people say here, grits.”

They flutter about seeing the structure. They see people walking in and out of it. They see them packaging the corn meal into small bags for storage and to be sold at the local markets.

They leave the area to find another common sight in North Carolina, a gem mine. It takes them about an hour to get there. They have a bite of blackberries along the way. Soon they see a large business devoted to the gem mining business. They see large equipment excavating a side of a hill. Then the soils are poured into five gallon buckets. They follow the buckets to a long sheltered bench area. They see people paying for the buckets and panning for their own gems. They see the people collect the gems they find into jars. The gems come in various sizes from grain size to thumb size.

They sit on a rafter and watch what the people are doing. They whisper to each other again.

“Don’t they go underground to find the gems?”

“There are some mines like that. This one is designed for the general population. Sometimes a good size gem will come forth, then that person is really happy when they find it. Most of the gems are grain size.”

“On Twainor, the dwarves mine the gold, the silver and the gems. I don’t see any dwarves here.”

“Heh, heh, maybe not Cobalt. There are other mines in these lands the people will go after. There are coal mines, copper mines and other metals the companies go after.”

“The only time we get distressed is when they strip the surface for these resources, and the forest disappears along with it. In some ways it is safer to do it from the surface than going underground. There have been some nasty accidents in the underground mines. People have lost their lives in them.”

“I guess that is what happens when you have a lot of people to take care of and make a profit.”

“That’s true, Cobalt. The electricity demands of the large cities are staggering. They create the power plants several different ways. All of this is done because the magic was taken away from the people a long time ago. The people had to find other ways to stay warm and survive.”

“Hmm . . . no magic and they do this to stay alive. I hope Twainor doesn’t lose the magic. I shudder to think what they will go through if that happens.”

The fairies leave the gem mine to see some more sights in the area. They see a power generation plant for electricity. They are not impressed with the smoke emitted from the towers.

They do like seeing the dam generating electrical power. It is clean and not harmful. But then they are told the land behind the dam had to be flooded to generate that power. They become disappointed when they hear that.

Then they are shown junk yards and landfills. This time they can’t believe the people would do such a thing in throwing the used stuff away. They see all sorts of trash in the piles. Not only that, it smells really bad. They hope Richard will be able to get their attention that this needs to be taken care of and done safely. Perhaps there is a use for all of this mess.

“There are some communities that try their best in recycling the trash. They sort the trash into various piles of metals, plastic, glass and wood waste. It is a lot better there than it is here. This too is one of the problems with large populations.”

“Well, let’s hope the Omega will give them some good lessons on taking care of the land better. We can see the people can get greedy and don’t care what they do afterwards.”

“That is our hope, Amber and Cobalt. When you see the Planting Festival, you will see a big difference in attitude with the local Cherokee people. They already know how to take care of the land properly.”

“That’s good, Traphel.”

“Well, it is time to go back to the cabin. We’ll just get there in time.”

They continue flying around and see the other businesses the people have provided along the way back. Sometimes they have to fly higher to get above the traffic on the roads. They eventually arrive by 4 P.M.. They see me sitting on the porch relaxing there with a drink of water in my hand.

They fly up to me and sit on my shoulders. They touch my ear and smell my hair.

“At what time will you be there, Richard?”

“I will be there at 8 A.M. at their headquarters building. That is when the opening ceremonies will begin.”

“We’ll be there flying around. We’ll be your eyes and ears if something unusual happens.”

“Thank you, Traphel. See you in the morning.”

“See you in the morning, Omega.”

The six fairies fly back into the forest.

“You saw more of what we do for a living, Amber and Cobalt?”

“We did, Richard. It is amazing what the people do to stay warm and survive. We can see why after the Maker removed the magic from the people. We saw some beautiful places and the smelly places like the landfill.”

“Yeah, it can get very ugly sometimes.”

“We did see a water mill that is still in use. That immediately brought back memories from Twainor.”

“I’m sure it did, Amber. I like to go there to purchase a bag of the crushed corn when I can. It is very good. I will make it last a long time.”

“Well, we are hungry. We did a lot of flying today.”

“Good, then let’s go inside and have our evening meal. Sarah and Anna called me. They will be here tomorrow morning to pick us up. We have to leave early to arrive in time in Cherokee tomorrow.”

“Okay, Richard.”

I get up and open the back door of the cabin. I walk inside and close the door behind me. Amber and Cobalt fly over to the dish rack and pick a small plate. They take it to the table. Then they fly back and pick the nuts, seeds and fruits they want to eat for their evening meal. I get my dinner ready by pan frying a filet of trout and vegetables. I put a small salad together and sprinkle some Itallian seasonings on the fish. It takes about fifteen minutes to get it cooked up.

“Richard, can you grill that fish if you wanted to?”

“I can, Cobalt. But I need to set up the grill in the backyard. The grill is kept in the garage for now. I will need to plan it out and get ready for it when I can.”

“I remember those grilled meals Chef Beharn had made. They were very good.”

“Yes they were, Amber.” I give the evening thanks to the Creator for the meal and another day we are together.

We enjoy the meal very much. We don’t talk much this time. Once we get done and cleaned up. I walk out of the cabin and lock it up. Amber and Cobalt fly out with me. We get in my car and I drive out to the park to see the sunset again. We see Sarah and Anna there as well.

We get out and stand near each other. Amber and Cobalt sit on my shoulders as we see the sunset together. We enjoy seeing the colors change again. We stay there until the moon comes up again. It is getting a little thicker each day as it goes through the phases. We clap our hands when we see the stars shining brightly in the night sky.

“Did you take care of the Conservatory, Richard?”

“I did, Anna. That scent mix had a very strange scent. I think it was starting to turn into an acrid poison. I’m glad we got the place cleaned up in time. It would have been tragedy if the butterflies were all dead in there.”

“It sure would, Richard.”

“Once it was all cleaned up, the hordes of butterflies outside the building all left and went back into the forest.”

“That’s good.”

“The owner did tell me as winter approaches. Some of the butterflies linger around it. We think they want to be there because it is warmer there during the winter.”

“Is there a way for butterflies to get in there safely and leave safely?”

“Not right now, Sarah. We discussed some options on how to create a gate opening that allows only the butterflies and not the other insects and birds. She will call the local high school and see if they can create a special tunnel device that will allow that to happen.”

“That will be a good challenge for them.”

“It sure would. Well, we need some sleep tonight. We need to be there before 8 A.M. and find a good parking space.”

“Yes we will, Richard. We’ll be at your cabin to pick you up by 7 A.M.. Then we’ll be there early enough to find a good parking spot.”

“That sounds fine, Anna.”

We get in our cars and drive back to the hotel and my cabin. We all get to bed early for another good night of sleep. I set the alarm on the clock for 6 A.M..

We wake up in the morning a bit tired. I turn off the alarm as soon as I hear it. I sit on the edge of the bed and let the brain slowly wake up. Amber and Cobalt stir under the covers as I go into the bathroom for another hot shower. Once I’m done in there, I walk back into my room to get dressed. I put on the leather corset just in case it is needed. I get myself normally dressed for the day.

I walk into the kitchen and get our morning meals ready. It is now about 6:30 A.M.. Amber and Cobalt fly into the dining room to eat with me.

“We’re glad you had that alarm set, Richard. I think we could have slept in some more.”

“We’ll have more chances for that while we are here.”

All three of us yawn together, “Yaaaawwwn!”

I give the morning thanks for the meal. Slowly our brains wake up when we have our meal. Once we get done, I clean up the plates and cups and put them in the dish rack.

Amber and Cobalt fly up and sit on my shoulders and Croin flies into me and reside there to be ready at a moment’s notice. I step out to the front porch and sit in the chair. We wait until Anna and Sarah shows up to pick us up. We enjoy the morning air very much. Then right on cue, Anna and Sarah show up at 7 A.M.. I get in the back seat of the car. Amber and Cobalt change into butterflies while Anna drives us there.

It takes about a half hour to drive to Cherokee. She drives to the parking lot that is available and finds an empty spot. We get out of the car and Anna locks it up.

We see there is a good size crowd already gathering for the Festival. The atmosphere is just like the Festivals I saw on Twainor. Amber and Cobalt enjoy the atmosphere as well.

We make our way slowly to the Cherokee headquarters for the opening ceremonies. We see some other butterflies heading toward us. The large Fritillary butterfly lands on my head. Some of the people giggle and laugh when they see it. Some of the other butterflies land on Sarah and Anna’s shoulders to take a rest.

“Just don’t do any sudden movements. They can always take off when they want to.”

“Okay, Richard.”

The people around us smile when they see the butterflies resting on us.

The people gather around on the main lawn of the headquarters building. Then we see the Elders of the Eastern Cherokee Nation and other honored guests along with them. It looks like some came all the way from Oklahoma to be here as well.

Crouching Bear and Red Fox smile when they see the large Fritillary butterfly on my head. Crouching Bear begins the opening ceremonies.

“Brothers and Sisters, friends of the Cherokee nation and honored guests. Welcome to the Planting Moon Festival. Enjoy your time here this week. We have been blessed by the Creator that this year’s harvest will be exceptional. While we were on the mountain in consultation, we each received a dream in our sleep. We dreamed the unicorn spirit is now among us once more. The unicorn is a sign of great blessings from the Creator. The unicorn’s spirit will help everyone and bring peace to the lands everywhere on Earth. It will take time for peace to be accepted everywhere.”

The people clap and cheer upon hearing the good news.

Crouching Bear continues, “But first, we must remember the loss of our loved ones since the last year. There was a terrible crash on the roads a moon ago. A plane was forced down and crashed into a car. We have the surviving son from that family who was driving here. Will Richard Moore please come forward?”

I walk up the sidewalk and approach the Elders. I smile as they smile at me. King Oren flies off of me and flutters about. He takes his rest on a nearby marquee sign that is posted on the front lawn. Some of the other butterflies join him as well, including Queen White Dove. I see Amber and Cobalt there as well.

I turn around to face the crowd.

“Some of you might remember Richard. He was in the local Boy Scout troop in Charlottesville. For two summers he spent time with our young braves learning to interact with the land better. This was part of his Eagle scout project. He learned a lot about us and gave an excellent report to the Boy Scout Council in North Carolina and to our Elders here.”

The people clap and cheer. Some remember what I did during those two summers. I helped them in several different areas. The first one is cataloguing their library books. I came up with a better set of keywords for each book and ID code for their computer system. It made it easier to find certain group of books. I became very familiar with the Cherokee history in reading their books. The other is working with their young braves in elementary and middle school to come up with a better education program on caring for the land. Raven Claw and some of his high school Cherokee brothers and sisters helped me immensely with the project. I recognize some faces in the crowd who worked with me and became good friends with.

“Today, we wish to honor his family and the others who perished in the crash. For they are good people who gave us respect just as Richard gave us respect. Richard, please accept this token of gratitude from us. We have a feathered necklace for you. It has the feathers of each of the birds that are represented in the forest here. Fly with a new purpose in life. Let your vision see across the landscape. Mount up with eagle wings and soar to greater heights. We, the Cherokee Nation, honor you this day in remembrance of your family and friends.”

I bow before the Cherokee Elder. Shaman Red Fox steps forward and places the feathered necklace around my neck. I rise up and look at the feathered necklace. I see a beautiful design of bead work and feathers. The eagle feather is in the middle. Then each smaller feather goes out from it on either side.

“Thank you, my friends. I will remember this day forever. You are always welcome on the cabin property to rest in the glade nearby, because I know it was your land first.”

All of the Elders smile and respond in one voice, “Thank you, Richard.”

Then each of the Elders comes up and put a hand onto my shoulder. The crowd erupts into cheers and clapping of hands. I turn around to face the crowd once more. They continue to clap and cheer. I make my way down to stand near Anna and Sarah. They are smiling with great pride.

Some of the Cherokees nearby come up to me and put a hand on my shoulder as well.

Then Crouching Bear shouts out loud, “Let the Planting Moon Festival begin!”

Everyone erupts into more clapping and cheering. We break apart to go where we want to. Some more Cherokee brothers and sisters keep coming up to put a hand on my shoulder or touch me. I acknowledge to many as I can. The Cherokees that I worked with during my Eagle project hug me especially. They give good words of condolence and well wishes on the lost of my family.

I walk along the streets and see the booths available. Sarah looks for the tent that is selling books. She eventually finds three books she needs. They are books on Cherokee herb lore used in medicine.

Anna meets some of the Cherokee lawyers and explains to them about the status of the cabin property and the pond. They thank her for telling them the latest news.

We walk around among the booths. I purchase some typical Cherokee snack food along the way. The butterflies hover about the area. I can hear Amber and Cobalt whispering to me. They are enjoying it very much.

I go to one of the large venues with a stage. I see various groups chanting various songs and performing some dances. I see the same group from Sunday night do the Corn dance for the crowds of people. When they get done, we all give them a round of cheers and clapping of hands. The dancers perform several other dances as well. I stop by the Casino to see what is on the stage there. I see there are several more productions being put on for the visitors.

I meet some of my friends and we have nice chat and what our plans are for the future.

“So, how are you doing at NC State, Richard?”

“I’m doing fine, Raven Claw. I have decided to continue on and earn the Master’s degree while I have the chance. That means I will be here a little more often to rest the brain at the cabin.” I smile at him.

He smiles back at me. “I would do the same thing, Richard. I’m taking some classes through our college outreach program. My intended major is environmental study. As you know, that can go in many different directions.”

“Yes it can, Raven Claw. You’ll figure it out which area you like.”

“Do you have an idea what your Master thesis computer projects will be?”

“I have an idea that will stop the hackers in their tracks. Right now it is in my brain. I’m hoping to get the details figured out my senior year. It very well could make the current systems obsolete.”

“That would be something to see, Richard. Well, take care and see you from time to time.”

“The same to you, Raven Claw.”

We put a hand to our shoulders as we smile at each other. We go about to see the rest of events offered at the Planting Festival. I enjoy the day very much. My mind feels more at ease. It is not stressed out too much. I still miss my family very much. But it is good to be with friends.

After the day is spent, Sarah, Anna and I have dinner at one of the local restaurants in Cherokee. We talk about the things we did during the day.

“When this week is over with, Richard. I want you to visit my office on Monday. We’ll go over to the Shaolin dojo and see what is needed to finish earning your sashes.”

“Okay, Anna.”

We enjoy the fish and vegetables served up to us. Everything is fresh and delicious. After the meal we watch the sunset change colors. We look up in the night sky and see the stars and the moon approaching the first quarter lunar phase.
We finally leave Cherokee and Anna drives us back to Mt. Blanc. I get dropped off with Amber and Cobalt. I hug the ladies one more time before we say good night and goodbye.

“See you soon, Anna and Sarah. I’m just going try and relax to get my thoughts in order. I will spend time with the Wilkersons when I can.”

“I know you will, Richard. Take care now.”

They get back in the car and Anna drives back to the hotel. I unlock the door to the cabin and walk inside. I lock the door once I get inside. Croin flies out of me and flies to directly to the stone carving for his night of sleep. Amber, Cobalt and I get ready for bed quickly. I turn off the lights and get under the covers for another good night of sleep.

The rest of the week turned out to be a repeat of Thursday except for the opening ceremony. I meet more of my friends that I made there. We promise that we stay in touch more often. They promise to come to the glade behind the cabin to check out the pond. Anna and Sarah leave Friday morning to get back to their offices in Charlottesville.

The weekend rolls along as expected. I go to church with the Wilkersons on Sunday. I get a nice surprise in finding the pastor here can now hear the Creator’s voice. Apparently what I started is spreading fast through the USA.

The rest of the day is spent relaxing and walking the trail nearby. I get followed by some fairies along with Amber and Cobalt. I stop to take a rest on a log or a large boulder. Some of the fairies bring me a blackberry to eat for a snack along the way.

The animals take notice of me before they move on and going about their business. I explain to the fairies I will be Charlottesville on Monday with Anna.

“So you will be back later in the week?”

“I will try, Traphel. I don’t know how long I will be there, probably a few days. I would like to check the house one more time to make sure everything is okay.”

“That’s fine, Omega. We’ll keep an eye on the cabin. We’ll let you know what is going on when you get back.”

“Thank you, Traphel.”

After spending a few more hours on the trail, I hike back to the cabin to have my dinner. The fairies return to the forest for their evening meal. I have another fish and vegetables for my dinner. When we get done, I get in the car and drive to the nearby park to watch the sunset. We enjoy watching the colors change again as the sun sets and seeing the stars and moon comes out.

When we get back inside in the cabin, I turn on the PC to show Amber and Cobalt the two nebulae. I also show them how I use it.

“Now this is the program called Google Earth  ®. As you can see as I zoom in, we have good photographs of the Earth’s surface in very good detail. Most of these images are a few months old. They try to update it as often as they can. I can bring up various different features about Earth. There are a lot of photos from people around the world.”

I show them some of the photographs and information detail you can get with it.

“That is amazing, Richard. We can learn a lot about Earth by looking at these photos, movie clips and other information.”

“That’s right, Cobalt. Now I’m going to switch to the map of the underwater world.” I open that screen image.

“This is the map of the underwater mountain and ridges. There are also underwater volcanoes as you can see.”

“So this is what the sea dragons and ancient sea life have for their landscape. It is just as varied as the surface.”

“It is, Amber. We are still trying to determine what is living in the oceans. I’ll show you some pictures of the sea life.”

I click on various icons to show the pictures of the fish and other sea life. Soon they see there are a great variety of them. However, they don’t see any sea dragons.”

“How come we don’t see any pictures of the sea dragons and the Ancient Ones, Richard?”

“I would think they are trying to keep their lives a secret as long as possible. They don’t want to appear as a threat to the people of Earth.”

“That makes sense, Richard.”

“Now for the night sky and the stars.”

I change the screen to the night sky. “These stars are from our point of view. We were able to find a way to use telescopes and other instruments. It is like using the Seeing Stones on Twainor.” I zoom in on Orion. “This is Orion, the hunter. As you can see, the stars look like a man. That there is his belt. In that belt is the Horse Head nebulae.”

I zoom in on the nebulae.

“I remember that one now. It is a lot bigger from Twainor.”

“It certainly is, Cobalt. Now I will type in the word Crab Nebulae.” I do that and hit ‘Enter’. The perspective changes and zooms in on the Crab Nebulae.

“I remember that one also, Richard. That is great to see a familiar sight.”

“Yes it is, Croin. Now I will check and highlight those two objects. I will zoom out.” I click the objects and zoom out. “Somewhere between them is Twainor. When Earth gets invited to the Local Group, then Earth will know where Twainor is located.”

“I can’t wait for that to happen. But we’ll have to be patient. At least we can see how Earth relates to back home. I’m sure you can find the other stars where the Outside Helpers come from, Richard.”

“I can, Amber. I will need to get those names from Twainor if or when we get back there again.”

I turn off the computer and the TV. We go to bed well rested with relaxed minds. I wake up in the morning at 6 A.M.. I pack my bags and the satchel. I make sure Amber and Cobalt’s food bag is filled with the local nuts and berries. We take the Twainor nuts and berries out and put them in a container to keep safe. I put it in the fridge for safe keeping. I leave a note on the container, ‘Don’t throw away.’ I take the stone carving with me so Croin has a place to sleep at night. I bring my armor and my ranger outfit with me. This is just in case I need it.

“We’ll try the seeds that can grow in the pots when we get back, Amber and Cobalt.”

“Okay, Richard.”

I make sure everything is secure and safe. I call Sergeant Domasi and let them know I will be visiting Charlottesville for a couple of days. I will be back later in the week hopefully. He appreciated that we told him in advance that we’ll be gone.

We get in the car and drive to Charlottesville. It takes about an hour and a half to get there. Amber and Cobalt look out the car window to see the landscape as I drive down the road. They see very large fields of crops for the people and some fields are empty and barren. They see large communities of towns and cities. They see one building that has several large vehicles inside it. They nibble on some nuts to keep their energy up along the way.

“What are the huge red colored vehicles, Richard?”

“That building is a fire station, Cobalt. It has the trucks and equipment to put out fires. The fires can come from the buildings or the forests. They try to get there as quickly as possible to save the peoples’ lives and property.”

“How do they get the water to them?”

“The larger vehicles will have large tanks of water with them already. However, it will last only so long. Therefore over the years, when the villages, towns and cities are built, we build underground pipes and hydrants. This brings the water to them. It also brings the water to the homes as well.”

“That’s interesting. That is one way to put out the fires. I’m sure it is a problem in the forests. There are no water sources out there, except from the lakes and rivers.”

“That’s true, Cobalt. We would use flying aircraft to do air drops of water onto the fires. Well, here we are. This is where Anna Dawson, my attorney, has her office. Come with me, you need to sit in my shirt pocket.”

“Okay, Richard.”

As I get out of the car, they fly into my shirt pocket quickly. I lock the door and walk to the building. I get inside the building, then to the elevator. I push the button for Anna’s office on the second floor. The doors open and I walk down the hallway until I find her office. I open the door and walk in.

Brenda looks up and sees a familiar face. “Hello, Richard. It is good to see you again.”

“It is good to see you again, Brenda.”

“Hold on a second, let me page Anna.” Brenda pushes a button on the telephone intercom system. “Anna, Richard Moore is here.”

“Thank you, Brenda. I will be out shortly.”

I walk around the room a bit. Soon the doors open and Anna walks in to greet me.

“Hello, Richard.”

“Hello, Anna. I brought my two friends with me. I think they would like to say hello to Brenda.”

“Of course. Come out Amber and Cobalt.”

Amber and Cobalt fly out of my shirt pocket. They fly around quickly to give greetings.

Brenda exclaims, “Oh my, real fairies. They really do exist.”

Amber and Cobalt fly in front of Brenda and hover there. “Hello, Brenda. It is good to meet you. You need to keep us secret as long as possible.”

“Of course I will. Besides, right now you are just fairy tales of myths and legends.”

“That may be true, but the world is not ready for us to know if we exist for real.”

Amber and Cobalt fly over and hover in front of Anna. “Hello Anna, it is good to see you again.”

“It is good to see you again, Amber and Cobalt.”

Amber and Cobalt fly over to me and sit on my shoulders to rest.

“Richard, I called the dojo where you had your martial arts training. They are there waiting for us. I explained to them this needs to be a private meeting. They said it is no problem. They are not expecting the after school students until later in the day. If we get there by 11 A.M., it will be just us.”

“That’s good, Anna. I’m ready to see them.”

We exit the office together and go in Anna’s car to arrive at the dojo. The dojo is located on the southwest side of Charlotte. It takes another hour to get there. We get there by 11 A.M.. We see a beautiful styled building. It has a forest beyond the grassy field behind the dojo. The name of the dojo is The Peaceful Dragon.

I like it already, Richard. That is a good name for a school.

I like it too, Croin. Wait until you see what is inside.

We walk up to the doors and open them. We walk inside and stand in the foyer area. I see my sensei walking up to me. I do a quick bow to him with the hand clasps in front of me. He returns the bow in the same response.

“Welcome back, Richard. It is good to see you again. We were sad to hear of the loss of your family. We appreciated their support while they attended some of our classes.”

“You’re welcome, sensei.”

“Come, have a seat in the office.” We walk into the office and sit in some chairs. He sits behind his desk to be comfortable.

“I hear from your attorney you would like to know what it will take to finish the rest of your sashes.”

“I do, sensei. However, I must reveal something new about myself. I am not the same man when I was here three years ago.”

“In what way have you changed?”

“First, I need to shake your hand. This is to let me know if you are willing to listen to what I have to say.”

“That is unusual. But I will shake your hand.” He smiles at me.

We reach out and shake our hands. Then all of a sudden his face changes expressions. “What is this that I hear in my head? Who is speaking to me?”

“Did you hear a name from him?”

“I did, Richard. He said he is the Creator of the Universe. He said he will help me be a better instructor and teacher here. This is too much.”

Anna and I smile at him.

“I know it is a lot to take in, sensei. Two moons ago I went to another world called Twainor.”

“Twainor? I have never heard of the place.”

“I hadn’t either, sensei. I have been chosen by the Creator to do a wonderful thing here on Earth.”

I then start to explain what happened the last two times I was there. My sensei gets a confirmation from the Creator that I’m telling the truth.

“So you are called the Omega Unicorn and you give birth to your own fairies.”

“That is right, sensei. Right now I’m three months’ pregnant. I’m also part dragon as well.”

“Is there a way to prove that?”

“I can sensei. I need to step out onto the mats and prove it to you.”

We walk out of the office. I take off my shoes before stepping onto the mat. I walk to the center of the floor space. I turn around to face Anna as well. She stays off the mats to watch. She smiles that she gets to see the unicorns again.

“First of all I would like to introduce you to two of my closest friends I met on Twainor. This is Amber and Cobalt. They are fairies from Avel the unicorn.”

They fly out of my shirt pocket in full fairy form.

“Oh my, fairies really do exist.”

“Yes they do, sensei.”

Amber and Cobalt fly up and hover in front of him. They look him over to determine his worth. They turn to face me. “He is a good person, Richard. We like him a lot.”

The sensei smiles when he hears them speak and give a good report.

“That’s good, Amber and Cobalt. Now for my proof I’m the Omega Unicorn.” I thrust my hands out to the side. Then the twelve unicorns appear, six on each side of me. They have their heads up and looking forward.

“Unicorns, so they really exist after all.”

“Yes they do, sensei. There used to be a unicorn on the British Isles. But he was killed before King Arthur came on the scene. The name of that unicorn was Caliber. The naming of that famous sword was named after him. However, that story is a truly a Celtic traditional story and has a different name in their language. The fairies that came forth from him are still here on Earth.”

“I believe you now, Richard. Do you have proof you are part dragon?”

“I do, sensei. Croin, please come up and reveal yourself.”

Croin leaves my body and hovers above me. He shoots a short breath of cold flames quickly. He smiles at the sensei. He flies around him a few times.

The sensei laughs as he feels the wind move around him. “Is this dragon for real?”

“He is for real, sensei. However, Croin here is a memory for me. He is located on the planet Twainor alive and well. He was the first dragon that I met there. We became good friends during those times. He is here to help me and protect me to be the Omega Unicorn. If he were to actually blow real flames, he would use some of my body energy. We can speak directly to each.”

“That is amazing, Richard.”

“It is sensei. With my unicorn abilities, I can talk to the horses in their minds and they can talk to me as well. The animals of the Earth are aware of me as well. Some will protect me as well.”

“How often can you come here to continue with the classes?”

“That is the problem, sensei. I will be taking classes at NC State this fall for my senior year. After that, I will go after the Master’s degree while I have the chance. I was hoping to be here for the summer classes to earn the brown sash at least. I know the black sash will take longer.”

“Earning the black sash will certainly take longer, Richard. I just heard from the Creator. You need to go to China and some cities here in the USA to earn the black sash. This is to further your training in great detail. You will have a new title, Shaolin Dragon Master. There are about forty of these Masters on Earth.”

Croin smiles when he hears that. I like that title a lot, Richard.

I do too, Croin.

“That will take some planning to do the over seas trips and it will cost money to do it, sensei.”

“It will, Richard. You will have a chance to earn and learn all nine divisions that make up the black sash. The tenth degree is when you put it all together. The Shaolin temple that is over there is the Nine Dragon Shaolin Temple. It is one of the oldest schools over there. You will meet one of my instructors there and a very good friend.”

“I take it there is some history with those nine dragons, sensei?”

“There is, Richard. You can find out more about them on the internet. Where are you staying at?”

“I originally drove to Mt. Blanc to get some peace and quiet and get myself together.”

“I understand, Richard. If you can come here for one month for the next three summers. You will have earned your brown sash with the additional degrees. I know you can do it because I remember your dedication to reach the purple sash.”

I look at Anna to confirm.

“He can do it, sensei. He will stay at his parent’s house while he is here. Then he will return to Mt. Blanc to finish his summer vacation.”

“That sounds fine, Ms. Dawson.” Sensei looks at me, “Besides, we’ll get an idea what are some of your dragon abilities. We’ll do that when no one is here. We don’t need to get the other students excited and reveal who you are. I can trust my other instructors here to keep your secret.”

“Thank you, sensei. When is my first class here?”

“We can start tomorrow morning. Do you have your gi with you?”

“It is back at the house along with my purple sash. I have helped teach some of the police recruits in Raleigh during my free time there between classes. They do have their own instructors. I’m used mainly to help the smaller stature recruits and women.”

He smiles, “That is a fine ambition to help them out. The higher degree belts will establish you as a certified instructor as well.”

We bow to each other quickly. We leave the mats. I put my shoes back on. I shake hands with my sensei one more time. Anna and I leave the dojo and drive back to her office. We decide to have lunch along the way.

Once we arrive back at her office, we talk about what is needed to pay for the classes.

“Fortunately these classes are not too expensive. I will set up a payment in full for each month you are here.”

“That sounds fine, Anna.”

“Well, let’s go to the house and get you moved back in.”

We leave her office. Amber and Cobalt sit in my shirt pocket. I get in my own car. Amber and Cobalt get out to be more comfortable. They glide down to the passenger seat next to me. Anna follows me back to the house. We arrive there about 3 P.M.. Amber and Cobalt fly back into my pocket. As soon as I unlock the door and open the door, they fly out to explore the house. I turn off the alarm system and reset the code for it. I walk back out to the car to get my suitcase and bags. Anna and I walk in to make sure everything is all right.

Amber and Cobalt come in from the hallway and hover in front of us. “The air here feels a bit old.”

“We need to turn on the air to get that stuffiness out, Amber and Cobalt.” I walk over to the garage door and unlock it. I walk up to the fuse box, open the panel and turn on the electricity. I walk back inside and adjust the thermostat and turn on the fan and AC to air out the house and some lights. I walk to the kitchen and pour out a cold glass of water for myself. Anna declines a glass. We sit on the living room sofa and chair.

“Fortunately, the security is on a separate circuit, Richard.”

“It is Anna. I would still like to improve these security measures. A thief can still force their way in if they want to. It is a matter of getting it recorded for the police to use. I was a given a tour of the Raleigh police department on what they do. The biggest problem is getting clear images from the cameras. No two are alike in quality from the different manufacturers.”

“I believe you, Richard. Some of the people I counsel have had their homes robbed. They didn’t have adequate security on their doors and windows. The thieves are brazen and do the stealing if the alarm goes on. They are gone before the police show up. The thieves will cut and disable the video cameras in the house and outside the house before they go inside. Some even found the video equipment inside the home and smash that as well. I wish there is a way to get multiple angles and able to switch views with multiple cameras. A single camera isn’t helping one bit.”

“Well, with what I saw on that space ship, I should be able to create a new system that will do all that. Their hologram transmitters are several generations ahead of ours. But we are getting there. It is just a matter how to store the images on the hard drives. There has to be a connection from the home to the 911 station house and the police. I would even put a backup server at your office for additional backup.”

“I would like that very much, Richard. Back ups are very important. If there is a fire, you need that back up plan to work. Well, I need to get back to the office and take care of paying for your lessons. When you get there tomorrow morning, call my office by 10 A.M.. I should have the transaction done.”

“Thank you, Anna. Thank you for all of your help.”

“You’re welcome, Richard. You better take care of your first newborn. Try not to get hit there.”

“All the more to work on my defense and speed to avoid the hits. I will have to leave with you. I need to buy some food for the fridge. It was emptied out before my parents left for Mt. Blanc. The rest of the box and can goods are still okay in the cabinets.”

I put the glass down on the coaster next to the lamp. Anna and I hug each other one more time. Croin flies into me. Amber and Cobalt fly into my shirt pocket. I turn on the alarm and lock the house as we leave. I get into my car and drive to the nearest supermarket. Anna drives back to her office.

It takes awhile to shop around again for what I want to eat. Fortunately, being at the college helped me start thinking independently. I do a good cross selection of foods. I buy some more nuts and fruits for us to eat. Frozen fish, chicken, fresh vegetables and a head of lettuce.

I whisper to Amber and Cobalt in my shirt pocket. “I would not be surprised if I eat more than I usually do during these training sessions. I will be burning a lot of energy. I need to keep eating right so I don’t lose the weight and harm my new born.”

“Then we’ll remind you each day to do that, Richard. That is very important. Avel eats a lot of food for himself and his children as well. That glade where we were at, was reaching the point for us to move another glade. We have to do that so the plants have a chance to recover for the regrowth when they come back there the following year.”

“That is interesting, Amber.”

I continue to fill up the cart that I will need for the first week. At least that is a starting point. I can gauge how much I need to eat each week.

I pay the bill with my debit card. The car gets loaded up and I drive back to the house. I park the car in the driveway. I unlock the house and Amber and Cobalt flies in immediately into the house. It takes me several trips to unload the groceries from the car. Once the groceries are put away, I check my closet to make sure my gi is there with the purple sash.

I walk out to the rear door to the back porch that is screened in. Amber and Cobalt fly out with me and change into butterflies to explore it and drink some nectar from the flowers. I undo the latch for the screen and walk out to the back yard to walk around and get quiet. Fortunately my dad built a high wooden fence around the back yard for some more privacy.

I sit on one of the concrete benches near one of the flower gardens. I breathe deeply and try to take it all in. I ponder what will happen as I get into my role as the Omega Unicorn. I look up to watch the clouds move across the blue sky. “Sigh . . . ”

Amber and Cobalt flutter over to me and sit on my shoulders to comfort me.

“It will get better, Richard. We know you have a lot to do. Like you said, we need to take it just one day at a time.”

“I know Cobalt. I will have you both, Croin and my children to keep me company. The big difference is having a soul mate by your side. You get to have someone who can share your life with you and not truly feel alone. It is always good to have friends.”

“That is a must Richard. We are thankful there are fairies here already on Earth. Now we just need to find the rest of them and give them the good news.”

“We will, Amber.”

“Lie down on the bench and relax.”

“Sure thing, Amber.”

I lay down on the bench. Amber and Cobalt change into fairies and fly into my shirt pocket. Soon our hearts are beating in rhythm. My mind starts to relax and feel at ease. I lie there for about a half hour. Once I feel assured of myself, I get up and walk back into the house.

I call Sergeant Domasi that I will be back home for a month to begin earning my brown sash. “You need to get word to the fairies and the Wilkersons that I will be here for a month. Then I will be back in Mt. Blanc to finish my summer vacation.”

“How can I do that? I don’t know where they fly about.”

“They are watching the cabin. You can drive there and walk around to the back side. They will recognize you then.”

“Okay, I’ll do it. This is a new experience for me. I hope I don’t mess it up.”

“You won’t, Sergeant. They are very patient. Just explain it to them the best you can. They will understand once they get past the initial let down that I won’t be back this week.”

“Okay, I will let them know. See you in four weeks. I’ll call the Wilkersons as well.”

“Thank you, Sergeant. See you next month in about four weeks.” I hang up the phone on the counter.

I make dinner with a chicken breast, vegetables and a salad. Amber and Cobalt take what they want from the bowls of nuts and small fruits. I say the evening thanks for another wonderful day. It takes about a half hour to eat our meal. I clean up the plates and put them in the drying rack. I step out to the back yard to witness the sunset.

“Well, there is not much of the view here. I need to drive to a local park that has some more open space.”

“Is there one nearby?”

“There are a few nearby. I will need to check it out to make sure.”

“Well, we can watch what we can from here.”

We see the sky and clouds change color like a colorful art show. Then we see the stars and moon coming up higher. I clap my hands and give thanks to the Creator for another fine showing.

I go inside the house and get ready for bed. I set the alarm for 6 A.M. again. Once everything is all set and the lights are off, we get under the covers for another good night of sleep.