The Secret Quest

PROLOGUE

Tomar, Portugal.

October 29, 1917.

Little Lucia Santos almost fell face first onto the cold stone floor of the ancient medieval castle, after she had been harshly shoved through the open archway leading to the master chamber.

The door slammed shut behind her. Lucia had never been in a castle before and found the old medieval fortress to be extremely dark and intimidating.

Two men stood behind a brown wooden desk, one very old man and one younger. Lucia’s focus however, was on the desktop and what rested on it. It was so lifelike that it made the young peasant girl extremely nervous. It was a goat’s head. Its disturbing beady eyes seemed to be ominously staring directly at her.

Finally, one of the two men began to speak, thankfully taking the girl’s attention away from the horrifying animal head.

You must be Lucia? The older gentleman uttered. The little girl that has everyone in the country talking. Yes, I’m Lucia. The girl responded shyly.

I’m Master John Alfonso and this is my apprentice Mr. Constantine. The tiny peasant girl politely curtsied hello, while bowing her head. Please do not bow to us. The Master stated. According to all the talk, it should be us who bows to you.

The girl did not respond.

So Lucia, you and your cousins have been very busy lately. The question was rhetorical, he then continued. Now you claim you and your cousins were wandering the fields of Cova da Iria, playing as children do, when all of a sudden you are visited by the beautiful Virgin Mother, who according to your statement, appeared above a tree before you. Is that correct?

Lucia just nodded.

Then you claim that she bestowed to you three secret prophecies? Again she nodded shyly.

So my dear, can you elaborate to me, exactly what the Madonna had said to you and your cousins?

I can only tell you the first two secrets.

Why only the first two and not the third?

It was our Lady’s wishes. She stated flatly.

Okay then, what were the first two? the Master pressed, as his tone became a little more aggravated.

The Blessed Mother first showed us a vision of the underworld.

You mean hell? Questioned the apprentice, who for the most part until then remained silent.

No, the Virgin Mother didn’t say it was hell, she told us it was the underworld; a place where lost souls go when they lose their way.

Then what?

Then she foretold of pending doom to us all, if we as a people didn’t amend our ways.

Did she say anything specific about how we should go about changing our ways?

Yes, she told us that mankind must reawaken our lost senses, that we must stop fighting for greed and concentrate on opening our inner light. The two men eyed each other with eyebrows lifted. And what did Our-Lady say was to happen if we didn’t?

She said that eventually corruption within ourselves and external forces would completely consume our souls, locking us out of heaven’s gates forever.

The two men looked at each other once again, as if hiding a shared secret between only them.

Now Lucia, knowing what great calamity may befall all of mankind, how can you withhold such vital information, such as this final secret?

The third is not the final prophecy, she said more are to come.

Did she say when?

No, just that she would appear again in the future to three others.

The two men turned their backs to the little peasant girl and began speaking with each other in secret. Lucia couldn’t make out what they were saying, and heard only low murmurs. After a few seconds they returned to face the child.

Now Lucia, we are very important men in the community, we could make you and your family quite wealthy; all we ask is for you to co-operate with us. Now please tell us exactly what the Virgin Mother told you.

I’m sorry, but the Madonna told us to keep it a secret until the world is ready.

Ready for what?! The Master yelled as he angrily pounded his fist into the wooden desktop, cracking it.

She did not say. Responded Lucia unfazed by the Master’s belligerent behavior. I’m sorry, but no matter what you say or do, I will go to my grave with these secrets.

The leader of a great and powerful secret society looked deeply into the child’s eyes and saw with dismay, the reality of her conviction. She was speaking the truth. Like her two cousins who were interrogated individually before her, this young child would never tell. And no matter what he said, no matter how much he would threaten her, this small girl and her two cousins were prepared to die in order to protect this secret.

Chapter #1

Toronto, Canada.

Present-day

Journal entry 730

Two years ago today, my life and senses were altered forever. A being of pure light and energy, which my limited vocabulary can only describe as a spirit guide or angel, visited me.

It told me of a great and important mission, a mission I was destined to undertake.

I was instructed to give up everything, all my material possessions, my home, my car and most of my clothes. All I kept was a black wool toque, an old torn up brown winter coat, a pair of blue jeans ripped at both knees, a white long sleeved shirt, a pair of old brown boots, my bank card, my passport and a picture of my beautiful late wife Sandra.

I have done everything that was asked of me, and yet I have not received the sign I was told would come. Wait for the lonely cancer in the sun. That was the only clue given to me. I play it over and over in my mind every night just to make sure that I never forget it. Still, to this day, I haven’t figured out what this ambiguous sentence is supposed to mean.

Most may think I’m insane for giving up my whole way of life because of a dubious and mysteriously vague vision. If that premonition stood alone I would have never quit my job, or given my life away. But something else happened that same day. Something horrible. Something I never ever mentioned out loud. Two years ago on this day, I lost my beautiful Sandra and our unborn child she carried.

My wife was violently raped, her body used as a plaything by some sick and malevolent man. I was beaten to the point of near unconsciousness. His cruel and rusted black iron crowbar shattered my knees and shins. My arms immobilized by industrial duck tape.

And like some horrific and torturous nightmare I was forced to watch the whole thing.

Do you know what it’s like, to helplessly watch everything in your life disemboweled, and raped from you?

Do you know what its like to watch the people you love most in this world suffering, and dying before your eyes, knowing that you are powerless to stop it?

I do.

When this evil creature finished with my wife’s body, he looked at me with this demonic and sinister smile on its cold and scarred face, and as he proceeded to strangle the life from her, all I wished was for him to finish me off as well.

But he didn’t. That was the cruelest part. When he was done, he just calmly buttoned his blood stained shirt, and strode out of my broken door, leaving me almost crippled, emotionally dead yet still breathing air from my lungs. As I lay there paralyzed beside my wife’s lifeless body, praying for God to take me away as well; that’s when I saw it; the being of brilliant light. That’s when I saw what I believed was my spirit guide. That day it revealed to me everything; my life’s purpose, and what I needed to do. Then it left me with a gift, the gift to see beyond what my two eyes were capable of.

As he put pen to paper, James’ eyes began to swell, and liquefy. He was finding it increasingly hard to breath, as if a tsunami of painful memories crashed his mind. His past life resurrecting within him creating the feeling of suffocation, he felt as if he were drowning in a pool of emotion.

I don’t wish to write anymore of this, my heart is too weak. However two years have passed, and I’m now a 33-year-old vagabond, living on the street, and I spend my spare time conversing with people only I can see. Can my existence get anymore pathetic than that? Well, at least it seems like my life may get a bit more interesting. I have a new neighbor on my block. She looks very young, too young to be on the street. My guess is she’s a runaway. Judging by her branded clothes and professionally coifed hairdo, I’d say she comes from a wealthy family. She hasn’t spoken with anyone since her arrival earlier today. I may try speaking to her later. She seems lonely, and in need of a friend. Truthfully though, she’s not the only one.

Chapter #2

Thursday march 12.

James closed his brown leather diary and slipped his blue ballpoint pen through the rings in the centre fold. With a yawning stretch of his stiffened arms, James Christopher stood up from the wooden park bench where he customarily sat while writing in is journal. The middle-aged vagrant loved watching the hustle and bustle of human traffic as they obliviously passed him by, while he observed them from a place of peace and serenity. He found it to be intriguing, being on the cusp of the two contrasting worlds, as if he were in the middle of two separate dimensions. James always wondered if that was how it felt to be a lost and grounded spirit.

The sky above Toronto’s metropolitan skyline began to morph into a shimmering and heavenly twilight. James watched as all the tall skyscrapers in the heart of the busy downtown illuminated all at once. He loved the city; which was odd since he and his family originated from a very relaxed and rural part of the United States. His parents immigrated to Canada when he was just eleven years old. The farm in which his family grew up stopped being productive. Needing a change of scenery, they decided to take a job offer across the northern border. It took some getting used to but eventually James took very well to the fast pace of the big city. His family also did quite well in Canada; his father became a carpenter making a decent wage, while his mother opened up a flower shop in Toronto’s west end. They did so well, that even though they missed the family they left behind in the U.S., there was never a need to move back. They became full Canadian citizens making Toronto their permanent home.

James whistled for his dog Max who rushed to his side upon hearing the familiar tooting. James turned 33 yesterday and celebrated his birthday alone on the ice rink of Toronto’s new city hall watching people skate in circles for hours. He also found that ironic.

He and his only true friend Max made their way back to his old winter spot, the lobby of the Bank of Toronto. His old debit card still had a use, to unlock the door and let him in. The wind had picked up as he arrived at the now vacant financial establishment. James was used to living outdoors and got quite good at predicting weather patterns, and judging by the smell of the wind and brightness of the night sky he could tell that on this night a winter storm was approaching. James didn’t mind the cold as long as he was bundled up warmly in the sleeping bag that some good Samaritans had given him. However that being said the soaking wet snow and frosty cold winds made sleeping outside extremely dangerous.

James slipped the card through the sensor, and after hearing the click he pulled open the door. The warmth of the bank smothered James like a warm blanket fresh from the dryer; it had been almost a full 24 hours since he’d been indoors.

The snow began to come down heavily making visibility outside the bank glass window difficult. James sat bundled up comfortably gazing at the white wintery world outside, he noticed that for the first time all day the busy downtown streets and sidewalks were barren of traffic; except for one lonely person. James tried hard to focus past the falling white fluffs that were impairing the clarity of his vision; he tried to make out who the crazy person was that stood shivering outside amidst the storm. It was the young lady, she was sitting by a mailbox crouched over and shivering as snowflakes ricocheted off her frozen face.

Stay here Max, said James turning to his fury companion I’m going outside to invite her in. As soon as he finished speaking he opened the door and walked out into the freezing cold.

Hey there James spoke as he stood above her. The pretty blond haired girl glanced up startled, and then turned away from the stranger ignoring him. The young lady looked to be maybe around the age of 17 to 21 years of age. Her thick pink designer coat was zipped up tightly to her neck, but James was concerned about her head and ears as they were completely exposed.

My name is James, what’s yours. He asked politely, which was followed by a long awkward silence. I’m not a crazy killer or anything, if that’s what you think. I’m just a regular harmless old bum, if you don’t count the bad stench. He finished with a playful wink. James thought that maybe a bad, but well-timed joke would soften her attitude. It didn’t.

What do you want? She rebuffed the cold stranger in an irritated tone.

Well… He searched in futility for the right thing to say as the girl’s snappy attitude caught him off guard. Well its kind of cold out here, I was watching you shiver from the inside of the warm bank over there, and I asked my dog Max if he didn’t mind having company; we argued back and forth for a while but despite his protestations, I thought I’d still come over here and ask you if you wanted to join me. There that should win her over, young people love playful sarcasm, he thought to himself as he awaited her response.

If you think that by telling me that you talk to your dog, that that’s supposed to alleviate my fear of spending the night alone with a strange homeless man, then you are on drugs. She snapped sharply. So I guess that’s a no? James said as he waited a few seconds for an answer to a question he knew wasn’t coming. Okay but if you get too cold, and chose to come in after all, then just tap the glass and I’ll let you in. When James finished his statement he turned with his pride a little bent, and quickly made his way back to the warmth and refuge of the bank foyer. I guess it’s just you and me Max old boy. He said as he bundled himself up again in his soft sleeping bag.

Why do teenagers have to be so stubborn? He thought.

He peered through the glass window and took one last look at the lonesome youth before he finally decided to call it a night. It was getting increasingly harder to see the girl, as a thick sheet of white snow was now draping the window. The homeless man prayed she’d be okay.

His eyelids started to grow heavy; James never had a hard time sleeping. He was one of those people who pretty much closed their eyelids and fell instantly asleep, and today was no exception as his mind was already drifting into a coma like state. A dark fog enveloped his mind, and then just as soon as the darkness overtook him, it began to clear up. Blurry shapes formed then cleared, transforming into visible images. James was back at home, his old home, the one he sold before he moved to the street. All the furniture was just as it had been. The Ikea sofa, his old 24-inch TV, and his orange-red carpet were all there as he remembered it. A familiar enchanting voice could be heard singing in the kitchen. A song he was well acquainted with; the theme song from the old television show, "The Facts of Life". James hated that show, but his wife used to love it. And like a hypnotic fairy’s spell, he followed the sweet sound of his wife. As he crossed the threshold to the kitchen where he expected to find a wonderful ghost of his past life, when suddenly his momentary elation was torn from him by the frosty taunting of the indifference of reality. James found himself standing alone in the middle of his hollow former eatery. It was empty; his wife’s beautiful voice had vanished. Sadness overtook James once again. He dropped to his knees; tears fell from his eyes, and bounced off the cold kitchen tiles. He wanted her to be there more then anything in the world, but she was gone. And the reality of his life sunk in, he would never again hear his wife sing.

TAP! TAP! TAP! James jumped up startled from his nightmare. It was the runaway. She was shaking uncontrollably outside the bank’s glass door, tapping vigorously to come in. James quickly unzipped himself from his sleeping bag and opened the door for the freezing teenager.

I see you’ve had a change of heart. Joked James as the door swung closed behind her. If you want you can use my sleeping bag for the night."

Th…..th…thanks….b…but…..n…n..n..no thanks. The young girl stuttered, as her tone remained frigid and ungrateful.

W…we…well…s…s…sssuit…y..your…s,,,sself. James teased. The girl again ignored him, and crouched on the floor on the opposite side of the bank foyer.

Minutes of uncomfortable silence passed. James noticed that she hadn’t taken her eyes off of him once. Her defenses were on red alert, as if she were sitting in the same cage with a man-eating tiger.

Would it be okay if I simply asked you for your name? James asked in an attempt to dispel the awkwardness and tension that surrounded the small foyer.

I’m here to keep warm not to chit chat with crazy bums, and by the way just for your information, I have a knife in my pocket so don’t try anything. She snapped threateningly.

Strike three I guess I’m out. James thought as he finally gave up trying to make friends, lay back down and zipped himself up comfortably once again in his sleeping bag.

The wind outside howled frighteningly, James’ prediction was correct; the night brought with it a winter storm. The streets of downtown Toronto were eerily devoid of traffic. As cold air blew through the cracks of the bank door, James closed his eyes and slowly slipped into sleep; where the dream world beckoned to him once more.

Then a voice I thought you said you had a dog? The girl suddenly spoke, startling James awake once again. I do. He answered as he sat back up and rubbed the sleep from his tired eyes. He’s lying right beside you. His name is Max. I think he likes you.

The young girl looked around and saw nothing. I don’t see a dog in here. Are you messing with me? Or was I right, and you really are a nut job? I wouldn’t dream of messing with you. Not with you holding that knife and all. James said facetiously.

Ha ha very funny. She responded sarcastically. So does that make you a nut job then?

Maybe, but my dog really is sitting beside you.

Yeah okay whatever dude, just keep your distance, or I’ll scream. Alright… James replied but I guess you don’t want to know why only I can see him.

She thought for a few seconds then, Why is he invisible? She asked in a condescending tone, as her curiosity got the better of her.

You know you really are a very rude individual. I don’t think you deserve to know. He said as he abruptly turned away from her and made himself comfortable in his sleeping bag as if preparing for sleep.

The young girl thought quietly again for a moment. Then spoke Okay I’ll bite, why can only you see your dog? when she finished asking the question she had already regretted it.

No, I’m sorry but you don’t deserve to know. You’re a mean and sarcastic young lady, and I don’t think I can trust you with the information. Besides you won’t even trust me with your first name. He lay back down, now only pretending to be sleeping. Twenty seconds passed by in complete silence, until finally Sarah, my name is Sarah. She revealed. The bluff worked Now it’s your turn.

Chapter #3

The snowstorm outside continued unabated as James tried to figure out the best way to answer Sarah’s question without her thinking that he was a mad man.

He’s a ghost. He decided that like pulling off a band-aid, the direct approach was the best. Nope, that sounded better in my head. He thought to himself.

"That’s it? That’s the secret?’ Sarah snickered disappointedly.

Well what were you expecting?

I don’t know… an imaginary pet? Or maybe he was really small. I don’t know, just not that.

He is a ghost, or as they like to be called spirit entity. Even as he said it he knew she didn’t believe him. Which really came as no surprise, no one he ever told his secret to ever really believed him.

Do you see these spirits often? Again the young girl asked mockingly. If so, tell me how is Casper the friendly ghost doing these days? Oh I’m sorry I forgot, how is Casper the friendly spirit entity doing?

You joke, but I’m serious.

Don’t you mean dead serious? Sarah said laughingly.

James began to grow increasingly more irritated by the young girls sarcastic humor, especially since it was at his expense. Max was my childhood dog, he died when I turned 24 but instead of crossing over he decided to remain by my side.

Sure he did, and maybe Kurt Cobain could be my spirit boyfriend.

I don’t expect you to believe me James continued unfazed by her laughter. But something tragic happened to me two years ago and ever since, I’ve been able to see spirits.

Yeah, sure you do. I knew you were a screwball all along. Sarah stated while chuckling out loud obnoxiously.

Fine go ahead and laugh, but your baby sister isn’t laughing. James blurted.

Sarah stopped laughing, as James’ last statement didn’t seem quite as funny.

Chapter #4

What did you say?! Sarah snapped the question.

I said your baby sister isn’t laughing James repeated.

And for the first time the young lady was at a loss for words. What?… I mean… how do you know about my sister? She finally uttered.

I know that she’s been with you ever since you left home, and by what she tells me, she’s not too impressed with you either.

You’re lying! You couldn’t possibly know…….I mean you’re joking right? Because you really couldn’t know. Sarah fumbled her words nervously.

You’re right I couldn’t know, not unless she told me.

Now I know you’re lying because she was barely even born when…

You mean when she passed over due to labor complications? That’s impossible, you can’t know that. I didn’t even know until… James completed her statement once again. Until last year when your mother finally told you the truth. She told you that she only kept it from you, to spare you the grief she was feeling.

Stop it! Sarah cried out in frustrated anger You’re starting to scare me! Who are you? A spy for my father?

I promise you I’ve never met your father, and my intention isn’t to frighten you, only to convince you that I am telling you the truth. Even though you’re sister didn’t grow old in our dimension, she is still a full fledged light being in the after world.

"No ! I don’t care about all that new age hocus-pocus. I don’t believe

you. She ranted on. You’re nothing but a crazy old bum that I shouldn’t have started talking to in the first place, and I can’t wait for the daylight because I’m going to get the hell away from you!"

Fine do what you want. As James responded he suddenly tilted his ear as if listening to something or someone. He listened for a moment, then…

Okay, I’ll try it. He said out loud as if talking to the air around him.

Your sister told me to tell you that your mom was going to name her Tabitha, but you didn’t like that name. She tells me that she loved the name that you had picked. She says she likes the name Nancy better.

Sarah just stared at James with her lower jaw barely touching the floor in disbelief. You’re not lying are you? she asked as the emotion of the moment forced tears down her face.

She really is here?

James softly and caringly nodded his head.

Chapter #5

I never told anyone Sarah Green admitted Not even my mother. I absolutely hated the name she was going to give to my sister, and I definitely never told anyone about Nancy.

James listened again to the air, then chuckled out-loud. Oh really? That’s funny. He said again appearing to be speaking to himself. What? What is she saying?

She’s saying that she was happy when your father came home with a cat to make your mother feel good, and she named the cat Tabitha.

That is funny Sarah responded, Because I can’t stand that stupid cat.

Your sister tells me that’s too bad, because she was the one who convinced your father to buy the cat.

How did she do that? Sarah asked skeptically.

She says that she visits him in his dreams.

Sarah took a moment to reflect. Then suddenly asked,

What does my sister look like?

Well it’s hard to describe, because I don’t see her the way you would think. James continued. Your sister crossed over to the other side before her birth. She never had a chance to develop into anything truly defining.

I don’t understand, what do you mean by defining?

Your sister died so young that she never had a chance to grow attached to her material form. And now appears to me as what most who cross over appear as; a ball or mist, of colored light. In your sisters case I see her as a bluish luminous being. I see Max as a dog because he never crossed over. Sometimes I can’t even see them, only hear them, and sometimes all I can do is feel them as a vibration. I’m not exactly sure how it works, but I believe that the way I see a spirit has to do with the level on the spiritual plane the spirit is in. The higher the level, the further away from us they are. Your sister must be a younger soul because I can actually see her light very strongly.

Wow that’s so beautiful. Sarah exclaimed with eyes watered. So why does she follow me?

Once again James listened quietly for the response. Your sister says that she comes down every once in a while to check up on you and your parents. He continued She helps you a lot. She asks if you remember the time when you lost the earrings your grandmother brought back for you from Israel?

Yeah, I cried for days because of those earrings. I remember I found them inside a pair of my shoes a few days later.

Your sister says that she put them there for you to find. She found them between the sofa cushions at your ex-boyfriend Steven’s house.

The young girl blushed by the mention of her ex-boyfriend.

But why did she put the earrings in my shoes instead of my jewelry box?

She says that she thought about doing that, but then she decided that you needed to sweat over it for a while; to teach you a lesson. James continued. She says that she loves you very much, but that there are times when you act childishly selfish. And that you need to learn to appreciate what you have more, and complain less about what you don’t have.

Sarah thought quietly for a moment about what James translated to her. She didn’t like being talked down to by anyone. Normally if it had been one her friends speaking to her in that manner, she would’ve stormed out of the room in a fit, then pout until eventually someone chased after her and pampered her enough convincing her to rejoin the group. However because it was allegedly coming from her lost sister she really didn’t know how to react. So Sarah did what she always does when she is asked to confront her issues, she promptly changes the subject.

What else has she found? Sarah continued. Ask my sister if she ever found my right blue leather shoe, I lost it last month.

Not falling for the young ladies evasion technique James tried to get the girl to deal with a more serious issue, one that had been on his mind since he first saw her alone on the Queen street corner.

Why did you run away from home? Can I ask? James just blurted seemingly out of nowhere.

Another gust of cold winter wind blew strongly through the crack of the bank doorway, as if purposefully attempting to break the awkwardness felt in the room.

Boy it does look cold out there. Sarah again attempted to distract from the subject.

James pushed the question again this time not letting her escape the issue. Don’t you think that maybe your mother and father are worried sick about you?

This time there was no response. James continued,

I know that if you were my daughter, I wouldn’t sleep until you were at home, safe and sound.

She snapped. I guess my parents don’t care as much about me as you would, okay! So just back off, because I just met you, and unless your name is either Dr. Phil or Oprah I don’t have to tell you a God damn thing. She remained silent for a moment before continuing her heated rant. So, since you like to open up so much, why don’t you tell me why you‘re a bum living on the street, eating out of garbage cans?

After Sarah’s cruel outburst, there was a really long awkward silence. The air in the bank was as thick as blood. James was taken aback by Sarah’s personal attack. The thought process in James’ mind was suddenly disturbed by the voice of the spirit who had been listening to the defensive outburst delivered bluntly by her older sister. Once the spirit had finished, James completely understood why the confused blond headed girl snapped at him. The spirit explained to him what life was like in Sarah’s household. How her parents were always too busy to spend anytime with her when she was growing up. How Sarah’s mother changed the day of her sister’s tragic death, and how Sarah always believed that her mother would have rather kept her sister over her. The spirit conveyed how lonely Sarah was living in a cold wealthy household, being raised primarily by servants and nannies.

Your sister tells me that your parents don’t even know that you’re even missing yet. The medium spoke out breaking the silence between them. She tells me that your father has been on a long business trip, and your mother has been sleeping all day.

Ooo.. big shocker there. The girl snapped, That’s a regular pattern at my house. They won’t know I’m gone until one of their servants tells them that I’ve been missing; and since I’m rarely home anyway, they probably won’t find out for a while, but I really don’t care. Sarah said matter of factly. However James could see right through the girl’s bravado façade. He knew it bothered her, if it didn’t, she never would have run away. It was clearly a cry for attention.

Look, I’m sorry if I was prying into your business, and I won’t push you into going home if you don’t want to. After all, he thought who was he to give her advice anyway, he ran away from his whole life.

That’s okay. Sarah replied grumbling the words.

What is your zodiac sign, if you don’t mind me asking? James surprised her with a complete change of direction.

I’m a cancer, why do you ask?

Ah. That makes perfect sense. James responded.

Why? What are you talking about?

You see, cancer’s are usually very loving people, but they need a lot of love in return. Cancer’s are also very sensitive, in fact they are the most sensitive sign in the zodiac.

I don’t believe in all that new aged crap. Stated Sarah.

You mean like how you didn’t believe that I could see dead people? The medium snapped back.

Yeah, but that’s completely different. I have a hard time believing that the stars we were born under has anything to do with a person’s behavior. That’s just like, I don’t know, stupid.

You couldn’t be more wrong. It has been scientifically proven that the moon cycles play a huge role in the psyche of every living creature on this planet. Haven’t you ever notice how weird people act during full moons?

Yeah we turn into werewolves. Sarah said tongue in cheek.

You joke, but it’s true.

I know I’m just kidding, don’t get your dirty underwear in a knot.

James laughed and continued his statement. Statistics even show that the accident rate goes up during the night of a full moon compared with other moons. He continued, I used to work as a housekeeper when I was fourteen, believe me, the emergency room was always busiest during a full moon.

Yeah so what? The moon isn’t as far away from us as stars. Sarah shot back.

Have you ever heard of the butterfly effect? James asked.

Wasn’t that a title of a movie?

"Yes, but it is also an old adage that goes, when a butterfly flaps its wings a hurricane forms on the other side of the planet." James continued the point. Everything in the universe is connected. One can not walk without disturbing the dirt.

Wow that’s deep Sarah expressed again sarcastically. Who taught you that one Confucius?"

"No, actually my father taught me that. He used say to me ‘James, watch your step in life, because each one you take causes a ripple effect that will be felt around the universe." James said as he deepened his voice for the effect.

"You see my dad would never say anything that profound. The most profound thing my father says is, ‘Sarah! Try not to get peanut butter on my expensive coffee table. Or, ‘Sarah please be on your best behavior, we