On Greetings

              It was a Friday night.  I was at the church just before youth group started.  My energy levels were running a little low and I was preparing myself in the office as the youth arrived.  One of the youth, a very good friend of mine, saw me and came over just to say hello.

            Sounds pretty normal.  That’s what you do when you see someone.  You say hello.  Only this greeting was unlike and far superior to any other I had ever received and have since received. 

            I confess I don’t remember most of the contents of the greeting.  There was a compliment or two.  But it wasn’t just the words that made it so beautiful.  It was the excitement she had.  The energy she put into the greeting.  I could see so clearly she was genuinely happy to see me.

            My energy levels were instantaneously replenished.  My spirits were lifted.  All because of one greeting.

            I still think about it from time to time.  And then I wonder to myself, why is something like that so uncommon?  What would happen if I stopped worrying so much about what people might think of me and showed excitement when I saw someone I cared about?

            Do we live in a culture that is afraid to show genuine affection for one another?  To display excitement when we see someone we love?  Worse yet, are we allowing the external circumstances of the world to dictate our internal love for one another?  Are we losing the love we used to have?

             The world will know we are His by our love for one another.  How are they going to see our love if there is no external expression of the internal affection we have for one another? How are they going to see that if there isn’t even any internal affection? 

            Something as simple as a greeting can change the course of an entire day.  Don’t be afraid to show genuine affection to the ones you love.

We share God’s DNA.  We share in Christ’s blood.  We share in the same Spirit and in the same salvation.  We are knitted together by an eternal bond.  A bond that goes far deeper than any disagreement or political differences.  May the world see that through the way we treat and greet one another.

When a Father Makes Time for His Children

          I stood in the backyard.  The sun was shining with one of those heartwarming glows.  The sky was mostly clear.  The evening was still but for the shrill cries of children laughing.

Two of my brothers were playing with their children.  A primitive form of tag.  My nephews and niece’s childish minds could not fully comprehend the rules of the game.  But that didn’t matter to them.  They got to run and reach out to tag their dads. 

A smile involuntarily stretched across my face as I watched.  There are some moments in life where I don’t want to step in but just stand back to watch.  To witness the beauty in the moment.

My opinion of my nephews and niece didn’t change.  I love them but they were not what made this moment hit so hard.  So, what was it that caused this memory to linger in my mind, striking emotion in my chest and eyes?

It’s a beautiful thing to watch a dad take time to be with his children.  Watching them play such a rudimentary form of tag far beneath their level of intelligence.  And yet they love it because they love their children.  They love watching them laugh.  They love spending time with them.

So often I make the time I spend with God about me.  I’ll check the clock.  Sit down spend a bit of time reading my Bible and spend a bit of time praying.  Check the time again.  On a good day I’ve spent an hour, maybe a little more.  I think I’ve done pretty good.

But this moment watching my brothers spend time with their kids has flipped spending time with God upside down.

I make the time to spend with God (saying now I don’t think it’s wrong to set aside time to spend with God and in fact think it is very healthy and important).  But the Creator of the universe, our heavenly Father, makes time to spend with me.  (Also literally makes time.  Think about that for a second.)

The moment I witnessed between my brothers and their kids was beautiful because two dads took time to spend with their kids.  The kids responded with love and affection. 

It’s the same with God, I think.  What is far more amazing than me spending time with Him, is God spending time with me.  A broken, wretched man like me and somehow God wants to spend time with me.  If that is not good motivation to set aside time for Him, I don’t know what is.

I can almost guarantee if you ignore a toddler consistently, you’re not going to be the person they’re excited to spend time with.  But when you set aside the time to be with him, the results are beautiful.

Knowing that God longs to spend time with us should fill us with such love and affection for Him that we long to do the same.  And we can any place, any time.  What a great, loving Father we have!

Talk Less. Smile More.

            I think I talk too much.  I think I’m too sarcastic.

            I’m not always quick-witted, but I can be at times.  At times too quick-witted.

            Words escape my mouth before I think them through.  That’s probably not the best habit to get into.  I find myself regretting things I say more often than I used to.

            “If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.  Pure and undefiled religion is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.”  James 1:26-27

            Strong words.  I like to use these verses in an argument against the way most Christians use social media.  But I’ve been finding them an equally convicting and a useful reminder for myself.

            As Aaron Burr says, “Talk less.  Smile more.  Don’t let them know what you’re against or what you’re for.”

            Okay, I only agree with the first two lines of those lyrics.  I think that talking less and smiling more can be a good rule of thumb for someone like me.  However, I never want to hide what I’m against and what I’m for.

            “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth.  Keep watch over the door of my lips.”  Psalm 143:3.

            What a wonderful prayer.  A reminder that we can bring all things to God, including the way we speak.

            I’m trying to get away from insulting others.  Even the fake insults.  The ones when I’m just joking around.  It’s a hard habit to get out of.  I grew up doing it and have done it for most of my life.

“But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man.” Mathew 15:18.

            Those words from Christ.

Words are powerful.  As a Christian, I want the words that leave my lips to be words of truth.  Words that build up and not break down.  I hate it when something I’ve said has hurt someone.  Or the times where I get frustrated and that comes out in the tone I speak in.

            I want to spur others in my life towards Christ.  And I think one of the ways to do that is by the way that I talk to them, the way that I listen to them, and the way that I encourage them.

            So, in conclusion, I’ll quote Aaron Burr again.

            “Talk less.  Smile more.” 

            I pray the Spirit leads me in times I need to talk and in the times I need to listen.  May I have an ever-growing awareness of those around me and of God, so that I shall speak rightly and listen graciously.  Amen.

           

Indescribable

 

            I always hate it when I feel something, something that I want to describe but just can’t come up with the words.  There’s an irony in saying you can’t find the words to describe something, as in doing so you’re describing the very thing which you have said you cannot describe (this was a fun sentence).

  It’s indescribable.

            But I’m rambling because I’m trying to figure out what to say.  It’s not that I don’t know what I want to say so much as I don’t know how to.

            I want to talk about relationships.  Family and friends.  Past and present.

            But mostly present.  Those people that are continuously feeding into my life in ways they probably don’t know.  This is a shout out to you. 

            I hope you know who you are.  If you don’t, then that’s on me.  I haven’t made obvious the same love that you have lavished upon me.

            Sometimes I can get caught up in my own head.  Sometimes I create narratives in my mind that have negative effects on the way I treat people.  Sometimes I doubt your love for me.  And sometimes I just need to stop and remind myself of the blessing of you.

            This is, in part, one of those reminders.

            I don’t know if anyone else has experienced such a feeling of love in their hearts that you can feel it physically.  Like a weight in your chest.  A love that can bring tears to the eyes and hope to the soul.  I want to have that feeling more and more.  And I’ve been finding as I pursue a relationship with Christ that it has become more common.  It’s not so easy to twist love for your own devices when you’re in communion with Love itself.

            That kind of love is indescribable.  

            The love that I have for you isn’t even a sliver of a sliver in comparison to the love that God has for me and for you.  I forget that far too often.  I more easily remember His love for me, but I think that I can lose sight of the fact that His love for the ones I love is far greater than my own.  He loves them in a way I will never be able to.

            Maybe I don't know what I'm trying to say after all.  The only thing that I can really think of is; I love you more than words can contain.  I could exhaust my entire vocabulary in an attempt to let you know what you mean to me.  I wouldn't come remotely close.  And yet that isn’t even a glimpse of the love that God loves you with.

            I’ll just leave you here with the chorus from a song called “Loving My Jesus” by Casting Crowns.  This is where my heart has been at lately and continues to grow in.

Loving my Jesus

Showing my scars

Telling my story of how mercy

Can meet You where You are

And I pray the whole world hears

The cry of my heart

Is to see all the ones I love

Loving my Jesus

Joseph and Sinclaire: The River Crossing

            This is a story about the start of an unlikely friendship.

            Joseph was a centaur.

            Sinclaire was a faun.

            You see, fauns and centaurs don’t normally get along.  Centaurs are known for their wisdom and stoic personality.  Fauns are known for their lightheartedness and joviality.

            They shared a personality trait though.

            Stubbornness.

            Both races were stubborn as could be and it was no different for Joseph and Sinclaire.

            They first met at a river crossing just as one might expect in a story such as this.  The bridge was of course only large enough for one person to cross at a time.  Both reached the middle of the bridge at the same time. 

            “Turn around little faun,” commanded Joseph.

            “I shan’t,” responded Sinclaire.

            “I’m further.”

            “And yet you aren’t because your oversized rump stretches much further back than I am.”

            “Move or I shall toss you into the river, little faun.”

            “I shall not move.”

            “Insignificant creatures should move for superior races.”

            “If I were to move that would be feeding your ego’s obesity.  You should be leading by example, you great big oaf.”

            “I can’t lead by example if there isn’t anyone superior to move for.”

            “You great villain!”

            “What shall you do, little faun?  Stamp your little hooved feet?  Your blows would be nothing but a tickle to my muscular frame.”

            “Then I have nothing to do but break your spirit.”

            This argument continued for quite a long time.  Neither gave in to the other and they soon found the sun to be setting and it seemed as if neither would make it to his destination any time soon.

            “Are those four twigs of yours getting tired yet?”

            “If you don’t move little faun, I shall move you,” warned Joseph.

            “I do not think you could move a single flea from your flea infested hair.”

            In that moment Sinclaire knew he had gone too far.  Joseph’s hair was his greatest pride.

            “Not a single flea or fly has lingered in my locks since I was a wee centaur,” huffed Joseph.

            And without another word, Joseph pushed poor Sinclaire into the frothy river.  Sinclaire’s small frame sank below the surface before bobbing up a few feet away. 

            “Help!” he cried, “Help!  For I cannot swim.”

            The noble creature that he was, Joseph forgot their petty argument and leapt into the water to rescue the faun.  His muscular frame soon reached the faun and his arms caught him up.  Joseph fought against the current and he reached the embankment and dragged both himself and Sinclaire up out of the river.

            The two, lay side by side on the embankment panting for breath.  Sinclaire stood up and laughed long and hard.  Joseph stared at him confused and annoyed.

            “What is it, you foolish creature?” asked Joseph.

            “It is not I who is the fool,” grinned Sinclaire.  “For I can indeed swim.  I have just used that as an excuse to reach my destination.  You see, you have carried me to the side of the bridge I was seeking in the first place.” 

            Sinclaire doubled over with laughter.

            “You, impudent faun!” said Joseph standing up.

            It was a long chase that took place but eventually Sinclaire’s fear outran Joseph’s red-hot rage.

The Cloud Dwellers

“I’m tired of trying to fix things,” Eric screamed into the sky.  “This planet is too broken.  Just let me go somewhere with no troubles and no pain.”

            Eric fell to his knees in anguish.  The wet grass soon soaked the knees of his jeans, causing them to cling uncomfortably to his skin.  He felt a soft touch on his shoulder and looked up to see a kindly old man standing beside him.

            “I know the place you’re looking for, my friend,” the man said.  His voice was gentle and easy-listening.  “All you have to do is come with me.”

            The man’s hand slid off his shoulder and in front of Eric, open in a gesture of welcome.  Not really sure why, Eric took that hand.  The man helped him to his feet and then motioned for Eric to follow him.

            “What’s your name?” Eric asked as he continued to follow the man deeper into the field in which Eric had been.

            “You can call me Carefree,” the man said with a smile.

            “What kind of name is that?” Eric asked before he realized what he was saying.

            “It’s my new name and my description, Eric.”

            “Wait how do you know my name.”

            “I’ve been watching.  Watching…and waiting.”

            “Waiting for what?”

            “For you to fully realize that you would want to come with me.”

            “I’m still confused.”

            “Don’t worry, Eric.  All will be explained soon.”

            Eric fell silent as he wandered after Carefree, not really sure why he was still following this stranger.

            They reached near the edge of the field and that is where Carefree stopped.

            “What are we doing?” asked Eric.

            Carefree turned and smiled at Eric and beckoned for him to come closer.  Eric hesitated but his curiosity got the better of him and he stepped closer.  Carefree took his hand and pulled it forwards.  Suddenly Eric’s hand touched something that shouldn’t have been there.  That wasn’t there.  It was invisible. 

            Eric took a step back.  “What is that?” he asked nervously. 

            “That my friend,” said Carefree, “is the way to the Cloud Realm.”

            “What is the Cloud Realm?”

            “It is a place of wonder and excitement with no problems and no worries.  It is beautiful and you will love it.  All you have to do is climb the ladder.”

            Eric stood with his hand on the invisible ladder.

            “Why do you hesitate, Eric?” Carefree asked gently.

            “Um, what’s it like?” said Eric.

            “It’s best that you see it with your own eyes.”

            Carefree put his hand beside Eric’s upon the ladder.  The ladder phased into sight, shimmering with many colors.  Carefree began climbing.

            “Wait,” said Eric, “but I haven’t decided yet.”

            “I cannot make this decision for you, Eric,” said Carefree pausing his ascent.  “I can only advise you to take this opportunity.”

            Eric took a deep breath and put his foot on the first rung and then his other foot on the second. 

            “Good man,” laughed Carefree.

            Eric was beginning to see why this man was called Carefree for he truly seemed to be.  It took a long while to climb the ladder.  The air didn’t seem to grow thinner as Eric expected even as their height grew very great. 

            The ground below faded into a blur as they continued their climb and then finally, they reached the top.  Eric pushed through a thick cloud and that is where the ladder ended.  Right on top of the fluffiest cloud you could imagine. 

            Carefree stood a few paces away, waiting for Eric.  Eric was clinging desperately to the ladder. 

            “Come, Eric,” Carefree said, “step off the ladder.”

            Eric shook his head.

            “I’ll fall,” he said.

            “You will not fall.  I'm not falling, am I?”

            Carefree walked over to Eric and held out his hand.

            “Take my hand, Eric.”

            A couple more minutes passed as Eric wavered but eventually, he took Carefree’s hand and stepped out onto the cloud.  Just as Carefree said, Eric did not fall through the cloud but stood atop it. 

            Carefree laughed as he let go of Eric’s hand who instantly grasped his shoulder instead. 

            “Follow me,” said Carefree taking off into a light jog.

            Eric was beginning to get used to the fact that he was standing on a cloud and ran after Carefree.  After a couple hundred of feet, Carefree and Eric ran into someone else.

            “Who’s this, Carefree?” asked the man who had long blonde hair and an equally long beard.

            “This is Eric,” answered Carefree.  “Our newest townsperson if he chooses to accept.”

            “I am Fulfilled,” said the man with blonde hair.

            Eric held out his hand but Fulfilled ignored it and swept him up into a giant hug.

            “Welcome here, brother,” he said as he let go.  “If you stay, we shall have to find you a better name.”

            Carefree continued on, closely followed by Eric who was having a hard time taking everything in.  A few minutes more of walking and they reached a wall of cloud that rose twenty feet into the air.

            “What now?” asked Eric as they stood at the base of the wall.

            “Only one who truly wants to live here can walk through this cloud,” said Carefree.  He smiled at Eric.  “Why don’t you give it a try.”

            Eric was still trying to comprehend all the absurdity that he was dealing with but this wasn’t really any crazier than the other things he had done so far.  So, with a deep breath and a shake of his head, Eric decided to take this at full speed.  He backed up twenty feet or so and then he pushed off.  In a few bounds he was running in a full out sprint.  The wall rapidly approached.  He brought his arms up to protect his head and…he hit the wall bouncing off and landing a few feet backwards. 

            Carefree laughed as he helped Eric to his feet.

            “Nothing to worry about,” Carefree said.  “Very few make it through on the first try.  It’s part of human nature to question and want to know more before delving in completely.”

            Carefree stepped through the wall.  After a moment his hand popped through the wall and motioned for Eric to grab it.  Eric did so and the hand yanked him forward and he was through the wall.

            Inside it was just like a town, only everything was made of clouds and everyone was friendly.  There was not a grim expression in sight.  Not a stressed being racing to their next problem.  Everyone seemed…happy.  Just plain happy.              “Welcome to Perfection,” said Carefree his arm waving in a large arcing motion.  “Our home.”

            “It looks…”

            “Perfect,” said Carefree, finishing Eric’s thought.  “Come.”

            Eric was greeted by a great many people, all seemingly blissfully happy.  Eventually the two of them made it through the crowd of people and Carefree led Eric into a small dwelling empty but for a cloud bed in one corner.

            “This must be quite the shock for you, Eric,” said Carefree.  “I would suggest getting some rest.  I will show you around tomorrow and then you can make your decision whether or not you want to stay.  I truly hope you decide to.”

            Carefree left leaving Eric to his thoughts.  It had been a truly overwhelming couple of hours.  He took Carefree’s advise and decided to wait until morning to make his decision.  His head was too full trying to comprehend what was going on to make any lifechanging choices.

            The next day was spent touring the town which was much more extensive than Eric had originally thought.  The buildings were architecturally amazing due to one of the Cloud Dwellers having been an architect before he came to live in the clouds. 

            This place was truly breathtaking and as the day progressed, Eric found himself longing to live there. 

            Time flew by quickly and evening was soon upon them.  Darkness fell and Eric was greeted with a magnificent sky, filled with bright stars and dancing Northern Lights.  It was this that tipped him over the edge. 

            The Cloud Dwellers were all gathered together as they were every evening, enjoying each others company.  Eric stood up and everyone’s gaze turned upon him.

            “Um,” said Eric nervously, “I think I’ve made my decision.”

            “You think?” said Carefree gently, “It is best to be sure.”

            Eric thought for a moment.

            “Yes,” he said, “I have made my decision.  I have decided…to stay.”

            The Cloud Dwellers erupted into cheers and whoops.  They rushed around Eric shaking his hand and pounding his back.

            “Alright, alright,” yelled Carefree over the noise.  “Let’s not make our newest Cloud Dweller change his mind.”

            The others laughed but the crowd quickly dispersed.  Eric was a little flustered but pleased at the reception. 

            “What’s his name going to be, Carefree?” said someone from the crowd.

            Carefree closed his eyes and a thoughtful expression appeared on his face.  Everyone waited with baited breath.

            “His name shall be…Atpeace.”

            A few minutes passed as Eric pondered his new name.

            “I think that is a good name,” said Eric.  “Because I think I shall find peace here.”

            Another round of cheers and whoops echoed across the sky.

           

            A couple of blissful weeks had passed.  Two wonderful weeks of peace, without any troubles, sorrows, and problems.  Atpeace knew more than ever why this town was called Perfection.  Life seemed completely…perfect.  There was simply no other word for it.

            Then he woke up one morning.  Something felt wrong.  He found himself missing his old life problems and all.

            “I can’t help but notice you’ve been a little down in the dumps of late,” said Carefree one day.  “What’s the cause of that?”

            “I think I’m going to leave,” said Eric.

            Carefree didn’t seem surprised.

            “Many before you have said the same thing,” said Carefree.  “Not many have actually left.  They all come to their senses.”

            “I miss my old life.”

            “What you’re feeling is guilt that you are living the perfect life where they aren’t.”

            “That isn’t it.  I think I want to go home.”

            “No, you don’t, Atpeace.  Give it time you’ll feel better in a couple of days.”

            Eric fell silent.

            “Have I ever, mislead you, Atpeace?” asked Carefree.

            “My name is Eric.”

            A long silence followed.

            “Have I ever, mislead you…Eric?”  For the first time Eric heard a different tone in Carefree’s voice.  A slight strain behind the smooth speech.

            Eric turned and faced Carefree, looking him dead in the eyes.

            “I think you have been misleading this entire time,” said Eric quietly.

            “How dare you,” spat Carefree.  His countenance had changed, his eyebrows arched downwards in angry glare.  “I offered you the perfect life.  A life without troubles and pain.”

            “No, what you offered me was a way to hide.  A way to ignore life’s problems.  I was just too weak to see that.  To see that everyone here is just a coward.  You aren’t living the “perfect” life.  You’re hiding from life.”

            Carefree’s eyes were wide with wild anger. 

            “If you want to leave,” said Carefree trying to contain his rage, “I cannot stop you.  Just know that you will not have the opportunity to live here again and you will live your life regretting this decision.”

            “I don’t think my life with be the one filled with regret,” said Eric evenly.  “I think deep down inside you know that I’m right.”

            “Get out,” said Carefree. 

            Eric turned and walked away but stopped after a few paces.  He turned and looked at Carefree one last time.

            “I sincerely hope you come to your senses and give life another chance.  What you have here isn’t really living.  Living is taking the good with the bad.  Without the bad we forget about the good.  I realize that now.”

            Eric left without looking back.

           

            Eric’s climb down was long.  It probably felt longer than it was.  His anticipation grew the entire length of the ladder.  Finally, his feet hit the ground.  He smiled.

            “Eric, you expect me to let you have your job back?  You didn’t show up to work for two and a half weeks.”

            “I know, sir,” said Eric. 

            “I don’t think this is going to work.”

            “Okay.”

            Eric pushed his chair back and walked to the office door.  His hand grasped the handle.

            “Wait.”

            Eric turned around. 

            “What made you come back?”

            Eric thought for a moment.

            “I sort of gave up on life.  I didn’t want to deal with its problems anymore.  So, I left and went somewhere where I could hide from them.”

            “But what made you come back?”

            “I met someone with his head in the clouds and after awhile, I realized that I didn’t want to live like that.”

Evening Party

It was supposed to be a garden party, but the rain and thunder began.  No one much felt like getting soaked while wearing their finest clothes, and so they gathered up everything from outside as quickly as they could.  Therefore, the garden party turned into an indoor party.

            Everyone was still enjoying each others company conversing and playing games.  It was agreed that this was one of the finest parties that they had ever put together.

            No one heard the first knock on the door.  Nor the second.  Nor the third.  The thunder clapped far too loudly for the weary traveler to be heard.  It wasn’t until the sixth or seventh try that someone heard his insistent pounding.

            Gerald, the owner of the home, reluctantly moved to answer.  He was enjoying his party and wasn’t in a hurry to leave, but he did, thinking of the person who was waiting out in the rain.

            Another knocked echoed through the house as Gerald reached the door.  He pulled the door open and was almost flung backwards with the force that the wind blew.  

            A tall figure quickly stepped inside without an invitation.  He pulled back his hoodie hood.  His hair was plastered to his forehead by the rain.  His eyes were wide open and he was glancing over his shoulder back into the storm.  The man’s fingers fidgeted and ran through his hair flicking water onto the floor.

“Excuse me,” said Gerald trying to get the man’s attention, “can I help you with something?”

The man didn’t respond but now stood perfectly still staring out into the curtains of water.

“Excuse me?”

The man finally turned around and his eyes locked onto Gerald’s.

“There’s something out there.”

The man’s voice was a hoarse whisper, barely audible.  Gerald had to strain his ears to hear.

“What?”

Just then Gerald’s wife walked up.

“Who is it, Gerald?”

            “I don’t know,” said Gerald.

            “You haven’t asked?” she said.  She held her hand out.  “I’m Tina, what’s your name?”

            The man’s gaze now attached to her.  His eyes were still wide filled with some sense of horror.  He didn’t take her hand.  Something about him wasn’t right.  He seemed distracted.

            “What’s with him?” Tina whispered to her husband.

            Gerald shrugged his shoulders.

            “Maybe he was waiting outside for too long,” he suggested.

            “Maybe.”

            Tina moved past the man and closed the door.  This seemed to snap the man out of his state.

            “I’m sorry,” the man said.  He now held his hand out to Gerald who shook it.  “I’m Franklin Jones.  I think you should call the police.  There’s something outside in the rain.  It stalked me all the way to your house.”

            “Gerald,” said Tina, “why don’t you take Franklin to the living room.  I’ll grab him a towel and some tea.”

            Gerald nodded and led Franklin to the living room. 

            When Tina arrived with the tea, Franklin was telling Gerald and the guests how he had arrived at their home.

            “I don’t know why but my car broke down just at the edge of the road leading up to your house.  There was smoke billowing out of the hood.  I couldn’t figure out what was wrong with it and I couldn’t get any signal on my phone.  That’s when I noticed the lights from your house.  They were barely visible through all that rain but thank God they were.”

            Franklin accepted the cup of tea that Tina offered him.

            “Now what was this about something out there?” asked Tina as she sat down next to her husband.

            The man’s eyes twitched open a little wider once again.  Tea sloshed over the brim of his mug as his hands began to shake.

            “I-I don’t know what it was,” he said.  His voice cracked and quaked.  “I was only a few feet from my car when the lighting flashed.”  The man shivered making his grip on his mug loosen and more tea sloshed onto the floor.  “It was tall.  Taller than any human I’ve ever seen.  I don’t know what it was.  Its arms reached out towards me.  Long barbed claws almost grabbed me before I came to my senses and booked it as fast as I could for your door.  I thought I was going to die when you didn’t answer the door at first.”

            There was a long silence.  Franklin lifted the mug with his shaking hands and took a long sip. 

            “Are you sure you weren’t just seeing something?” asked Gerald

            “Yes,” said Franklin.

            “You said it stalked you.  Did you see it again?”

            “No,” said Franklin hesitantly.

            “Did you hear it?”

            “No.”

            “And yet you’re positive that this thing was real and not just the weather triggering an over active imagination?”

            Franklin didn’t answer for a long time.

            “No.”

            “That’s what I thought.  There’s no such thing as what you described.”

            “I guess you’re right,” said Franklin although he still didn’t look convinced.

            “Alrighty,” said Gerald, “now that we have that cleared up, you finish your tea and I’ll see if I can get a tow truck out here.”

            The evening continued and everyone found out that Franklin was actually quite a nice guy.  Gerald wasn’t able to get a tow truck to come out with the storm and torrential rain still pounding down.

            All conversation ceased as Franklin’s mug left his hands and shattered upon the floor.  His face was pale and eyes flitted back and forth looking out of the window.  His finger pointed.

            “There!” he cried, “It was there!”

            Everyone raced to the window and strained to see through the pouring rain.  Long moments passed.  Gerald was the first to leave the window. 

            “I think you need to get some rest, Franklin,” he said helping him to his feet.  “Let me show you to the guestroom.”

            “But-“

            Franklin resisted but Gerald was firm and Franklin eventually gave in.

            “Everyone’s imagination get’s the better of them sometimes,” Gerald said consolingly to a distraught Franklin.  “You just need some rest.  You’ll feel better in the morning.”

            Gerald soon came back down the stairs.

            “Poor fellow,” he said.  “This whole situation has him stressed out.  It's messing with his mind.”

            The others murmured their pity.

            “Well, I think we should call it a night,” Tina said a few minutes later.

            The guests agreed and Gerald and Tina stood in the entryway to see them out.

            “Have a good evening folks,” Gerald said as the first guests were exiting the door.

            Something caused them to pause where they stood.

            A piercing scream.  Filled with the utmost agony.  A cry for mercy.  A final plea for help.

            Everyone was stopped dead in their tracks.  Frozen in terror.

            The last remnants of the scream petered out into a deathly stillness.

            "Franklin," Gerald called.  He put his foot onto the first step leading upstairs.

            The lights went out.