Here and There

CHAPTER ONE

 

 

IN THE HUMAN WORLD

 

Once upon a time, in the human world, there was a wonderful lady who had been a good wife and an excellent mother and a loving Grandmother and a wonderful Sister and kind Aunt and a fabulous sister-in-law and a good friend to all who lived in a lovely town called Amriswil and later in Wil and she had been very much loved in return by her husband and children and grandchildren and by her sister and brother-in-law and nieces and nephews and by all her friends far and wide. But on one dismal day, although the sun did shine its brightest and the birds did sing their loveliest songs with all their wildest chirps and trills, she so very suddenly died which shocked not only her husband, her children, her sister, and brother-in-law but also her friends who lived close by and those who lived far away... yes… and the sad news came to far away me. I cried and cried and thought of her family and how this would be so hard for them all to face this sad fate, especially for her husband. My grieving knew no end…. this lady had been my best friend and had always helped me in so many ways. Because my grief was boundless and endless… my friends in New York invited me to come for a visit and have fun with them and enjoy their lovely country house with Rena and her three adorable children. And so I packed up for a week and a day and flew from sunny San Francisco to breezy New York. When I arrived there was much rejoicing and kissing, we saw many musical plays, went to the opera many times and took the children to the see the ballet, listened to charming symphonies, went on many fun merry-go-rounds with the children, fed the ducks in Central Park, walked around the grand city with the children and stopped at The Butterfly   Museum and many other grand museums and we also went to the beautiful children’s library where the they were having a charming exhibit of Barbar, the famous elephant, and all enjoyed looking at all his books and went to the Ritz Hotel and had tea and cookies and listened to the Music Man perform his fancy dance and perform his magic tricks while his princes sang her lovely song of butterfly angels…. And I adored it all. But there where times when my thoughts would wander to the departed friend and in the middle of noisy Manhattan… I would find solace in a little church.

       Then the weekend came and I went with Rena, her husband and, her delightful children to the country house. When we arrived… Rena’s parents and brother and his family were there as well. We all had a wonderful dinner and as the evening was still so mild and warm… we all strolled around the grounds and sauntered into the Enchanted Woods.

       As we meandered, I noticed a darling hammock in a lovely little gazebo that stood in the middle of the grass. I remarked on how charming it was and the following day I asked Rena’s mother if I could have a pleasant rest in the hammock and read my book and Rena’s mother said, ‘Of course you must do that, darling, and you can have a little doze in the hammock too, it’s quite a comfy one…. I’ll get Robert to put out some blankets there for you.’

However, the next day and the day after I spent all my time with Rena, her family, and her delightful children but on the third day of my stay there I went to the enchanted little gazebo and lay in the hammock to have a wee nap. As it was late afternoon and quite humid and very warm… I quickly fell asleep and had one long and bizarre dream and since no one came to wake me up just then…. The dream just never seemed to end until little Fiona, Fia and, Athena finally woke me up and brought me straight down into the real world.

 

 

 

CHAPTER TWO

 

WHERE AM I?

 

My dear friends… when you begin reading the story of my dream and read about my best friend, Melissana, who just died… that is when her adventures will begin.

       There was once a lady her name was Melissana or Mellie, that was her nickname. (But we will call her Melissana for now.) On the day that I was having my bizarre dream… Melissana found herself lying on soft green grass which was surrounded by lovely white flowers… she noticed the beautiful trees and the dashing blue sky with its three golden suns, THREE GOLDEN SUNS she thought, and that was when it suddenly dawned on her that she was not in the right place…. Not in her nice home with her loved ones. Melissana tried so very hard to remember what had happened just before she came to this utterly beautiful, but also unreal (it was way too beautiful here,) place with its three suns. She remembered being in a white room with her husband and her three grown children and listening to very lovely, no, no, no, no, listening to extremely exquisite music…. Oh… she could still hear it now but much softer.

       She kept thinking, ‘Where am I… where am I…. and where is my family… how did I get here?’

       Very slowly she got up and began walking on the small path that was so lavishly grazed with little yellow flowers. Melissana did not notice how the flowers swayed backward when she walked by them… No… For Melissana there was far too much to look at… the grand trees robed heavily in rich green branches and dotted with red flowers, the grass that was so emerald green, the birds that sang and chirped and trilled so sweetly and were ever so handsome in their flaming colors, and she saw a beautiful little diamond river, wedged between more gallant and noble trees, that never seemed to end and the exquisite music now playing so softly and then again but a bit louder and then soft as a whisper in the breeze.

       ‘Where am I… where am I? I have walked with my family in Hudlemoos and through the wild Bavarian Forest which is the most beautiful but never have I seen so much beauty as here…. Not even when we hiked up the Säntis Mountains did I see so much glory as I am seeing now…. And this music… this rapturous music….. honestly, where am I and where are the others! Joe, Jason, Jenna, Julie!!! Where are you???’

       She sat down on a rock and began to suddenly cry because everything around her was just too beautiful and because she was feeling also so lonely and alone and because she did not have the slightest idea where her family was to witness all this beauty and where they where in this lonesome and divine quiet countryside.

       She thought, ‘Where are the other people here…. Why can’t I see them walking around? They must be nearby somewhere and where is my family? I’m trying so hard to remember what I did last before I came to this strange place.’

       But Melissana just could not think or remember anything. Then at the end of the small path she saw a road sign…. It looked like a wooden road sign and she thought, ‘Oh good… now I’ll walk over there and see where I am… maybe I can find my way back home.’

       As she walked to the road sign she noticed how quiet the birds suddenly had become and how some of the flowers were closing their petals and the trees looked as if they were nodding their heads and the sky became a darker blue but the three golden suns still shone bolder and stronger.

       Again she thought, ‘ Oh is it already late afternoon? Oh where am I…. Am I in Swizterland….but everything is so much more beautiful here? Maybe I’m in the Unterengadin… Now that is one of the most beautiful places in Switzerland but then how, in all world did, did I get here without my family? I must tell my husband about all this as soon as I get home…. And we must come here again…. Maybe we can take the grandchildren or maybe the walk would be too much for the little ones.’

       At last she arrived by the wooden road sign and thought, ‘ Hah…. What a plain road sign that is… just like any country road signs that you’d see in Hudlmoos. And in the middle of all this extravagant beauty…. a plain road sign…. Humph… so crazy…but wait I see there are two arrows pointing…one to the left and one to the right… Mmmm…. That’s odd… I can’t read what it says.’

       Using all her intelligence… she tried to read what both the signs said but the print was very, very small and Melissana was having a mighty hard time trying to figure out anything… where her family was… why there were three suns in the sky… where in the world was she and how was she going to get home and make dinner?

She squinted her eyes a little and then a little more and thought, ‘Really….this is impossible to read and I have very good eye sights…the eye doctor never told me that I had to wear eye glasses….I’ve never, ever had a problem before….but this is truly not going too well…. nope… not at all…. I have to stop looking at this road sign or else I’ll go absolutely mad!’ Well, oddly the road sign began to move back and forth and up and down too… making it impossible for her to read.

       Melissana stood there some more and felt utterly hopeless. She saw a rock and sat down and began to weep and suddenly she gave herself a very strict talking, ‘Oh stop that, you’re behaving like a baby…just take the left road and see where it leads!!!! Who knows there might be a little house where I could spent the night…..I’m never going to get back home in time to make dinner for the family….oh dear… Joe will have to make his own dinner and the kids will find something to eat… I really hope they don’t make those horrible T.V. dinners.’

       So our dear Melissana took the left road and finally noticed how all the little flowers moved aside and made a small path for her to walk upon…. Again she was so very touched by all this unreal beauty that surrounded her. All of sudden she noticed that it was getting dimmer and darker but the three sons still shone brighter brighter then ever. Suddenly she came to a complete dead end… A stonewall was blocking her way…she stood there…very surprised indeed. After standing for a little while, her salty tears were slowly welling up in her eyes, she decided that the smart thing was to walk back to the road sign and maybe, she was getting a bit tired and her stomach was beginning to growl, she’d have a little rest or if she had the energy then she’d continue walking on to the right side of the road to see what would happen…. Maybe she’d come to yet another stonewall…. She did hope that it wouldn’t lead to another dead end though but to a little house where she could spend the night…. She was beginning to get so tired.

       When Melissana returned to the road sign she discovered that she still had the bounce to continue walking on the right side of the road and suddenly she noticed on the ground lay a beautiful honey colored wicker basket with red and green apples, a small loaf of nutty bread, a white bottle of clear sparkling water and a white linen napkin decorated with a blue flower. She had no inkling who brought the basket to her or how the basket got there but she wasted no time in ravenously eating the delicious morsel. After she finished she felt much better and realized that not only did she have the bounce to continue on her walk to the right side but that she had so much sparkle and vibrancy for her search to go even further but to where… even she did not know… and she realized that her hunt for a little house to rest in was not at all so necessary any longer. So… she walked on and again noticed how all the little flowers moved aside for her and made a path for her to walk by…. Melissana was truly touched and very, very, very mystified by all this. She walked and walked and sang a lovely song about the mountains and the valley. Suddenly as she walked she stumbled across a big brown log…she thought, ‘Oh… I’ll just step over it and be on my way…. I see a charming little town… this is odd but I feel like I really have to get there .’ But she realized that she could not step over the log. She tried and tried and tried but could absolutely not get over that log.

       She was felt so miserable about this and said to herself, ‘ Oh no… now what is this? I cannot believe this…and this is only a simple log!!! I have taken so many walks with Joe and the kids in the woods and we have all managed to step over a thousand logs! I mean…. This is seriously and simply ridiculous! Honestly, this is truly a very strange and a beautiful but super tricky place. Seriously… where am I!? I mean really… three very bright suns all night long, lovely and delicate flowers that step aside for me when I walk by, beautiful and unknown baskets with food appear out of nowhere, a road sign in the middle of nowhere with funny writing that no one can read!!! No this is definitely not Switzerland… Swizterland would not have so many strange and crazy things around and where, oh where, oh where are all the people… and where is my family and why am I here?’

       Again, our dear Melissana found a rock and sat upon it and wept and wept and wept… until she suddenly heard a little small but very shrill voice.

 

 

CHAPTER THREE

 

 

THE HELP

 

‘Melissana, Melissana… over here…. No, no, no, no, no, no you are looking in all the wrong places… olala… not there, you silly, down here on the ground… not up there in the trees, I am not a fly, a flea or, a bee. Honestly… big people are quite slow in figuring things out… very clumsy they are… little people are so much smarter and a lot quicker and the ones who the earthlings call the dumbest are really the sharpest and the ones considered the sharpest are, to me, to be really the dumbest and unfrierndliest… olala. Oh sweet dear… Melissana is just not getting it… Melissana, Melissana over here by your feet…. No, no look at your right foot! Ach mymymymymy, I am trying to make this easy for you….. pay attention… you must focus… You are not focusing!’

       ‘But where are you and what are you???? I cannot see you anywhere and I am focusing very, very hard I’ve been focusing all day in this beautiful but crazy place!’

       ‘Over here, over her… but you must look quickly because I move zippy and swiftly… now I’m by the shoulders…. No no your left shoulder… olala!’

       ‘Oh, why can’t I see you? Can’t you please stay still? I’ve had a really big day today. I don’t know where I am, I cannot find my family and, I think I’m going to cry again!’

‘Oh no, no, no, no, no… you cannot cry… you absolutely cannot cry you or I will not be able to help you. Rain, tears and, snowflakes cannot be near me….. olala… Melissana! The queen said that you needed help and summoned me to come to your aid but if you cry, or sob, or shed a wet sniffle…. I will have to fly, to swim, to be blown away by the wind… olala!’

       ‘Oh please, please,’ said Melissana quite frantically and was on the verge of crying yet again, ‘ please can’t you just stay still, please?’

       ‘No, no I cannot because I never can stay still… I move, I fly, I glide in the arms of the air, swim in the sea, play with the waves, tell dreams to the wind, flow through the trees and tall flowing grass, and kiss the bees and flowers, and flutter with the butterflies to here and there and from there and to here and to everywhere.’

       Melissana stood very still… Looked quite astounded and said, ‘Sigh…Well, what are you… a bee, a wasp or one of those ugly flies that sting?’

       ‘No.’

       ‘Are you a person…. Perhaps a child? Children never stop moving… They talk just like you, always babbling on about nothing and talking nonsense.’

       ‘No.’

       ‘Well, I can’t see you at all and I certainly cannot guess what you are.’

       ‘Hmmm.’

       ‘Oh please tell me…. I am so lost and it’s almost dinnertime… I really should be getting back home so that I can fix dinner…. I don’t want my family do eat only canned foods and that dried up junk that they love so much and always eat when I’m not there.’

       ‘Oh, but canned food is better then nothing, my dear, and your family never considered eating junk, that stuff you call junk is called dried apricots…. I have never heard of ‘junk.’

       ‘But why can’t I see you? This is very frustrating! Are you trying to annoy me… huh?’

       ‘Oh no, no, no, olala…. It is not my nature to annoy…. Silly darling, the annoyance is coming from you…. you are annoying only yourself. You, my dear child, are turning the annoyance into a problem.’

       ‘Oh…. this is really very infuriating! You are being super infuriating. But… I do not understand why can’t I just see you? It would be so simple if you could please slow down or just show yourself to me.’

       ‘I am a little wee speck… actually you could see me but your will to do so is not strong enough yet…. I guess… You have too much anger in yourself, darling. Olala…. All you would have to do is wish, with all your heart and soul, to see me.’

       ‘What?! What are you jabbering on about and why do you always say olala? This olala business of yours is driving me kukuk crazy!’

       ‘O dear, o dear, o dear… temper, temper my little one…. No need for that tone…. Melissana.’

       ‘I am not a little one! I am a grown woman and why are you calling me Melissana… my name is Melly.’

       ‘First try to see me and then I will explain to you why your name is now Melissana and not Melly…. I am guessing that you still do not know what happened to you.’

       ‘What happened to me? What do you mean by that… I am in Switzerland somewhere…. Right?’  Said Melissana in the most insulted voice.

       ‘Now, now, dear chi – .’

       ‘And NEVER, EVER call me dear child again!’

       Melissana was so overcome by what she had just heard and was quite confused, angry, tired, hungry and, super annoyed that she still had to try and see or find this unknown ridiculous person or whatever it was in order to get any information or maybe, if she was really lucky, she could get on a train or bus that would take her to the right town and be with her family. Again she saw a rock and decided to have a relaxed moment and close her eyes for just a minute and have another good cry because crying always helped her…. But in the midst of doing this… the invisible voice suddenly spoke tremendoulsy loudly and saying,

       ‘Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah! No sitting down and crying now…. I will not call you ‘little one’ or say ‘olala’ but you should try to see me. I move quite fast so you must be very quick with your eye and no…. I cannot stay still… unfortunately not…. I cannot control my body. But once you see me then I can explain to you why I call you Melissana and help you.’

       ‘I only wanted to sit down and close my eyes for a minute. And why is it so difficult to try and see you? Can’t you please help me a little bit now?’

       ‘Well, I am very small and very quick…. I fly and glide wherever the movements take me…. but no…. I am not a bird or a fly.

       ‘Are you a fish swimming in the air? I’ve never seen this done before but I feel that anything crazy could begin to happen now.’

       ‘No, I am not a fish but you are very close. I glide like an elegant fish. You are finally using your imagination, young lady, well done.’

       ‘Really???’

       ‘Yes, keep looking and use your imagination and keep wishing to see me because this is something you have to wish foor…. You should try to look for me using your heart, soul and, will. I know you can do it, Melissana!’

       Melissana looked and looked everywhere but could not see anything…. Not a thing.

       ‘Can you move something like a rock or a flower and maybe I can see you making the movements?’

       ‘No… I do not think that will work. I could perhaps move a rock or touch a flower but I would no longer be in that same spot…. You must understand… my body will fly away like a swallow soaring up into the sky or down into the water. I never know where I will go next.’

       ‘Hmmmmm…. This is very, very difficult…. Really, really difficult.’

       ‘Yes, difficult it is but it will make your eye sights very keen and your soul will become so much wiser for the unseen and invisible.’

       ‘Hmmmm and I have to use my heart, soul and, will?’

       Melissana looked again and again. Her eyes began to ache and got all dried up from looking so hard. Then she became very exhausted and almost gave up… when all of a sudden she thought she saw a very small but shockingly bright light sliding from flower to flower right in front of her.

       She gave a little shriek and screamed with pure delight and excitement, ‘Oh…. I think I just saw you….  a tiny bright light…. Like a very, very tiny dot that glides and glides…. Exactly like an elegant fish flying in the air!’

       ‘Yes that is me but can you see more of me?’

        ‘Oh now I see you changing colors from a bright white dot, to pale pink, to darker pink, to a misty red, then to darker red then to blue and purple and green…. ohhhhhh so beautiful!!!’

       ‘Yes, yes that is me…. That is me… hooray… hooray now you can see me!!!!’

       `Oh… Where are you now? I think I have lost you? Are you playing games with me? Please come back right now… please! Do you have a name?’

       ‘No… I am not playing games with you…. Remember try to wish to see me and you must wish with all your heart, soul and, mind to see me all the time… Oh and… Don’t forget to use your will…. I know you can do this Melissana. Oh yes… I have a name… it is Florisa.’

       ‘What a pretty name… Florisa! OK… Now I’ll look for you again but don’t leave me this time!’

       ‘I won’t leave you but you must---.’

       ‘Yes I know, I know that already…. I am doing the best I can. Oh goody… I found you….. Boy, you are really beautiful…. So glowing and you fly so lovely.’

       ‘Thank you…. But I am very, very glad you were able to see me again…. Now I can really help you towards your next step and you should be closer to home in no time.’

       ‘Now… tell me why you call me Melissana and not Melly and why am I here…. Am I not in Switzerland? I haven’t seen a single cow grazing grass and we have a lot of cows grazing in the fields in Switzerland. And where are all the people?’

       ‘My dear Melissana, the people are all there but again…. You have to wish for this with all your heart, soul and, mind. Sweet Melissana… This is not Switzerland.’

       ‘What?!’

 

 

 CHAPTER FOUR

 

WHAT FLORISA SAID

 

  ‘What…. I am not in Switzerland? Then I must be in Austria or in Germany…. Right?

       ‘Nope.’

       ‘What do you mean ‘nope?’ Come on, be a little more specific. What kind of answer is that?’

       ‘A very clear answer my dear… ‘Nope’ as in ‘no’. In your world do you not say ‘nope?’

       ‘Well…. Are you going to tell me where I am? I really must know so that I can get home. So… Where am I?’

       ‘Hmmm…. Can you guess?’

       ‘What do you mean… can I guess? Of course not!!!! Can’t you see Florisa… I am wildly frustrated, extremely tired, madly hungry and unbelievably exhausted and totally out of my wits and you are asking me to guess where I am?!?’

       Melissana was truly upset. Out of nowhere a rock appeared…. Melissana…. too tired to be in awe about the rock just appearing out of nowhere… Simply sat on it like a big lump and her eyes began to fill up with salty tears.

       ‘Oh Melissana, Melissana…. Remember, no tears or I will have to fly, to glide away and I do not want to do this…. Because I am here to help you…. Please, please do not cry…. I promise not to leave you or make you guess anymore… I will help you on your journey home and soar with you every step of the way… as far as I may go.’

       ‘But I can’t help it. I am so lost here and if it hadn’t been for you…. I would be so tremendously lonely in this big beautiful but desolate place. You must tell me where I am.’

       ‘Yes, yes… Of course…. But first you must have some nourishment… so let us walk over to the Soul’s House to find your room…. You will be sleeping in the pale pink room reserved only for the most confused traveler’s.’

       Straight as an arrow… Melissana stood up into the air and said, ‘What…. Am I confused? No, I most certainly am not a confused person… I am extremely clear-headed and intelligent…. I just do not know where I am right now and I  am completely frustrated and simply out of my witsand I am very, very exhausted! Honestly!!! And what is the Soul’s House…. A public or private house or a hotel? And really… Why are there still three suns and it is now getting darker… in fact… is it very dark right now…. And why do objects suddenly appear and disappear…. And, why oh why, can’t I step over that crazy log on the road so that I can get into that nice looking town where they probably will have a bus or a train that will take me straight back to my home and why can’t you answer any of my questions without being so infuriatingly difficult and so picky?’

       ‘My, my, my, don’t we have a lot of questions? Yes, yes, my dear, all your questions will answered in good time but first we must get to the house where your meal shall be waiting for you… it will do you good to eat and drink something before everything happens…. Come along, sweetheart, now off the rock and up you go, oh look, the humming birds have arrived and are wiping your salty tears from your eyes… Olala!’

       ‘Ohhh… what beautiful humming birds and they have such soft feathers…. I’ve never seen a humming bird sit so still… this is really quite awesome. And what do you mean when you ‘Before everything happens…. huh? Nothing is going to happen right, Florisa?  I’m going home…. Home to my family… correct?’

       ‘Yes, the humming birds are quite awesome indeed and wait until you see your lovely room. You will have a splendid rest…. olala. Oh I musn’t say those naughty words. Come along dearest.’

       So, both Melissana and Florisa walked uphill to a big beautiful house… That is Melissana walked and Florisa glided in her floating way and with all her splendid colors shining forth.

       Suddenly Melissana and Florisa stopped in front of a very nice and stately old-fashioned house all made of a soft red bricks. A very handsome man, Melissana could not tell if it was a young boy or a young man or a very elegant old man, opened the door. Melissana could not help but stare at his glorious blue eyes that seemed to shimmer and shine and glow with love and kindness.   

       In a lovely velvety voice he said, ‘Hello Florisa! Oh, this must be your guest?’

       ‘Yes…. Her name is Melissana… She is very hungry and tired and has been here since this morning.’

       ‘I will escort you both to the room… Supper will be waiting in the room… Marla made her special soup and exquisite home made bread and freshly whipped butter… the soup ought to be piping hot and will make your tired guest feel better… I can see that Melissana has had a big day.’

       ‘Oh yes…. Very big indeed,’ replied Florisa.

       Melissana noticed that the house was filled with many colored rooms and here and there she saw homey fireplaces, which smelled of lavender and rose, but again she saw no people… However she did see a sweet little silver-gray kitten that meowed loudly. Upon seeing the little kitten, Melissana’s tiredness left her instantly and she ran to the kitty shrieking with sheer delight, ‘Oh look a kitty! Come here, honey bunny, sweetie-pie, lovey-dovey, come here.’

       However, the kitten had different thoughts and shrank back from the shrieking intruder and ran swiftly to Florisa who likewise glided straight to the kitten and together they played so enchantingly and sweetly with one another as if they had known each other forever. Then they stopped in front of a little door and the young man opened the door to  a most darling pale pink room overlooking a treasure of a garden. The room was small but exceedingly cozy and a fireplace welcomed both Melissana and Florisa. The little kitten simply sauntered right into the room and made itself at home on the nice pink bed. On an elegant wooden table, covered in pretty pink floral tablecloth, was Melissana’s lovely dinner.

       ‘Excuse me,’ said Melissana sitting on the silver chair, ‘but I am so ravenously hungry…. So if you both don’t mind I shall begin.’

       Immediately she sat down and ungraciously stuffed herself with the delicious bread and divine soup and drink, she wasn’t quite sure what the drink was but is was so out of this world delicious and she was so thirsty and she screamed in an even more delightful and thrilling voice, ‘Oh my… This is the most delicious bread and soup and drink I have ever had and the butter… yum-yum…. Absolutely so mouthwatering and so absolutely flavorful… even my sister, and she is the best cook, can’t make such a divine and scrumptious meal like this… uh yum!’

       The young man gave a smile and said, ‘Yes, Marla is the quite the best.’

       While Melissana ate… the young man escorted himself out saying, ‘Good night Florisa and Melissana and sweet kitty. Pleasant dreams.’

       After Melissana ate her most delicious dinner, she took off her journey gown and put on the white fluffy gown that Florisa told her to put on for her resting time. The snowy white gown smelled of lavender, kittens and, calendula herbs.

       Then a big surprise came to Melissana…. Not only did the kitten jump on her nice, clean bed at Melissana’s side but Florisa and another gliding one, Florisa said it was her sister, Ilijana, performed a beautiful flowing dance just for Melissana and the darling little kitty, with soft tinkling music in the background. Although Melissana watched this spectacular dance with true fascination and admiration… her eyes became heavy with sleep.

       The next morning arrived extremely bright and early and Melissana didn’t see either the sweet kitten or Florisa when she woke up. Feeling a bit alarmed at first, she quickly dressed into her journey clothes and yelled, ‘Florisa, Florisa where are you?!’

       ‘You don’t have to yell, I’m right here.’

       ‘Oh… But I couldn’t see you and where is that darling kitty?’

       ‘I think Fluff, the kitten, has gone out to play with the butterflies and you could not see me just now because the great big sun has arrived along with the three smaller suns… In all this light and brightness you cannot always see me but you will see me once your eyes have adjusted to the brightness.

       ‘Oh… Four suns…. my… this is crazy!?’

       ‘Yes… Now come along, deary, and eat your breakfast while it is nice and hot and then we will journey on.’

       Florisa floated to another charming little table that was bedecked with a lovely pale blue floral tablecloth.  Upon the table stood a lovely bowl of steaming porridge, a small and dainty dish filled with the finest almonds and golden raisins and, a beautiful crystal glass of creamy milk that was just waiting for Melissana’s watering mouth.

       Melissana sat down and began to eat, ‘Oh my…. This is the best tasting porridge I have ever had and this milk…. It taste so heavenly… and oh, and the almonds and raisins taste like little crystal sugar gems from the highest mountains... It all taste so much better then from the market….oh and look… a darling little vase with a real Edelweiss flower… these flowers grow only in Swizterland in the steepest and highest mountains!!!!’

       ‘Yes…. It is all so tasty, indeed, and both Marla and Erwin thought you might enjoy the beautiful flower…. A small gift for you.’

       Suddenly Melissana remembered that she had to get home as soon as possible. And… she did wonder… why were there four suns today? Yesterday there had only been three suns. So she began asking Florisa her many questions.

       ‘Florisa, now you must absolutely tell me where I am and how I can get home… and no fiddling around please! I’ve got to get home today or my husband and the children will worry dreadfully and why are you not calling me Melly? The only people who call me Melissana are people who do not know me very well but you seem to know me quite well. Melissana is too formal a name. And you told me yesterday that you would give me all the answers to my questions. Honestly… four suns…. You know…. In my country, Swizterland, we only have one sun and that is all and we are extremely happy with that one sun!’

       ‘Alright… my dearest here are your answers. This beautiful land is called, in your language, ‘The Meeting Place’ but in our language it is called ‘Nambra’. When a human being dies on earth…. Most souls come to Nambra to find their spirit homes…. But not every soul that dies comes to Nambra…. Many continue to stay on earth and cannot move on because their loved ones cannot let go and often cling to that soul with great sadness and homesickness…. But you were very lucky that you came to Nambra so quickly.’

       ‘What… are you telling me that I died?!?!?!?’

       ‘Yes my dear… I know this comes as a big surprise to you… This is why I could not tell you right away yesterday…. You would have not believed me at all and besides you did not even know where you were.’ 

       Again a rock appeared out of nowhere and like a heavy rock herself, Melissana sat on it and began to scream in sheer and utter bewilderment,  ‘What… what are you telling me? This cannot be possible!’

       She, Melissana, was so not ready for this news at all. She just sat there looking at her interlaced hands and a tear began to slowly flow from both her eyes and traveled down to her cheeks and ended by her lips where she could taste her own salty tears…. But Florisa, so kind and wise, did not, this time, remind poor Melissana not to cry or Florisa would have to fly away, no, all she said was, ‘Dearest darling Melissana, I must glide away for a short moment to see the young man again, I think I forgot something, but I shall be back very soon. The flowers will comfort you and the birds will tweet their loveliest song for you.’

       And quietly Florisa glided toward the Souls House but out came all the flowers in their magnificent splendor and the birds piped and trilled a concert which made Melissana perk up and listen, it was a piece her musical family had played for her on her last birthday. Slowly Melissana’s tears dried and Florisa returned in no time with the silver-grey kitten.

       At once Melissana looked at Florisa and said, ‘Oh you’re back already and ohhhh kitty, kitty.’

       ‘Of course, I would not leave you for too long at a time like this. I have to make sure that you get to your new home safely.’

       ‘But I thought you’d left earlier just now because of my crying?’

       ‘No, I broke the news to you….. I only had to leave to ask the queen, who is staying at the Souls House, something and bring Fluff for you. I did not wish to leave you all alone for too long… that is why I asked the flowers and the birds to keep you company… they are very good comforting.’

       ‘So… how did I die? I can’t seem to remember anything about that… I have been trying to remember but my mind has gone completely foggy.’

       ‘You died of cancer. Remember?’

       ‘I did??????????’

       ‘You don’t remember?’

       ‘No…. absolutely not.’

       ‘But you remember your family being there by your side in the hospital?’

       ‘Yes… that I do remember… as clear as a bell I remember that… But I think I only had a stomach problem and was about to have surgery.’

       ‘Do you remember your sister and her family being there too?’

       ‘Yes… yes I remember that too… and I also remember that she was very ill but she came as well… I know she had cancer too, like me, but much worse and we all thought that she would die soon. I remember once how my husband and I drove in the car to see her at the hospital in her hometown. My children were all there too. My sister’s whole family was there. Everyone was crying but I don’t remember seeing myself cry… no… I think I was busy being the strong one…. Telling everyone not to cry and that it would all be OK… Yes… now I seem to remember that part… telling everyone to be strong, telling them that crying was a healing process but then we must all move on and then suddenly my sister was gone from all of us.’

       ‘Oh you remember that part… her death? But your sister did not die. My dear Melissana… you don’t seem to remember everything as it really was?’

       ‘No, I’m afraid not…. That is all I can remember.’

       ‘Well, I will refresh your memory and then you shall remember everything clear as crystal water… because it was a little bit different as I remember... I was there but no one could see me because I had my robes of invisibility on.’

       Florisa glided in colorful circles all around Melissana’s head and said, ‘OK, now tell me what you see.’

       Suddenly Melissana saw a large screen and saw herself lying in a bed in the hospital. Her whole family was there. The children, all grown up so handsome and lovely, had very sad eyes and were holding their mothers feeble white hands. Her husband did likewise but then he ran off to a corner and covering his eyes with his hands began to bawl like a lost lonely boy who was about to loose his best friend.

Very close to Melissana’s other side was her sister holding Melissana by the shoulder and whispering, ‘Oh Melly, Melly.’ Mellisana’s husband ran back to his wife clutching his mouth and hugging his children and they in return hugged him. Melissana saw how in that moment, her husband began shaking uncontrollably and his face getting ash white… in fact everyone’s face turned the same color and then the screen disappeared.

       Florisa looked at Melissana and asked her, ‘Did you see who really died?’

       ‘Oh… it was me who died… not my sister!’

       Melissana simply sat there on the rock and thought silently for a long time…. Trying to remember the pain from the cancer because she knew if she could remember the cancer pain that had gone through her whole body…. then it might help to remember much more about her stay in the hospital. After a long silence she finally said, ‘Yes…. Now I remember my pain and always having to go see the doctor. The doctor wanted me to have radiation and chemotherapy but I did not want that because I knew that it would make me weaker. The doctor was not too pleased about this idea of mine and then I had to stop seeing him because it was getting too expensive for me to see him. My sister had very bad cancer too and we all thought that she would not make it but somehow she did… I think she had a much better doctor. I went to see a new doctor again, even though it was very expensive, and he told me that the cancer had already spread throughout my whole body and told me that I wouldn’t have long to live anymore but I didn’t believe him and stormed out of the room… I did not wish to hear this from him at all. Then I went to a different doctor yet again… he was very kind I remember but also told me that the cancer was spreading very quickly and told me that it was my choice to continue to live or to die… He also told me that I should talk to my family about whether to have radiation and chemotherapy or do nothing at all… Yes… he was so much gentler to me because I was already so heartbroken by my illness and very worried about telling my family how very serious the cancer really was.’

       ‘And did you… I mean… talk to your family?’

       ‘Yes, I tried having a family meeting but everyone was so busy…. I told my son and two daughters to come home on the last weekend but they are now grown up and all have so much to do…. My youngest daughter, in the last minute, could not make it because she had to play the organ in a church and then my son got caught up with something important and then my eldest daughter had an unexpected visitor and my husband had to go to a meeting…. So I just shoved our family meeting to the following weekend but I guess fate had different plans. Now I remember clearly,’ she looked at Florisa and said, ‘Thank you for circling around my head and making me remember. It was a few days later… Wednesday morning… that my dear husband rushed me to the doctor…. I wasn’t feeling well at all and then everything went completely blank… When that happened I must have been here in Nambra. Yes, the cancer was bad but I was already beginning to get used to that feeling of pain and not saying anything to my family, they were all so busy with their own lives, and everything happened so fast and so suddenly… much faster then any of us had ever thought.’

       Kind Florisa looked at Mellisana and said, ‘You are very lucky, that you came here to Nambra so quickly… some souls when they die, cannot pass so freely into a spiritual world but your family must have loved you very much and wanted you to be pain free in the next life…. Nambra is one of the many spirit worlds… It is one of the greatest places to be in… Yes… Someone has also helped you. My dear Melissana, now that you know where you are…. I think it is time to move on to the next step.’

       ‘Oh but what can that be now? I’ve had way too many surprises these past few days.’

‘Why, my dear, you can’t stay in Nambra forever… Oh no.. You must journey on and find your spiritual family.’

‘Oh but how… and will you come with me?’

‘Well, I will come with you as far as I can but you will have to go on your own the rest of the way, my dear.’

       ‘Oh no…. I will not know which way to go… Florisa… you really have to come with me all the way!’

       ‘Now, now, now, my dear, don’t start crying…. You will be just fine.’

       ‘Oh Florisa… I don’t want to get lost again and get all confused…. and there are two roads and oh…. this is really giving me headache. I get headaches when things get very confusing…. sigh.’

       ‘Darling…. You are thinking you seeing two roads but there is only one road and that road will take you to your new home. See that log in the middle of the road?’

       ‘You mean the one that I can’t step over?’

       ‘Yes, that is the one. All you have to do is to step over the log and follow the country road and soon you will be able to enter that lovely town you see… the one with all those pretty rolling green hills. The town is called Saldha and I’m sure you will be very welcomed there and you shall be with your new family who will take you to your new home. Actually it is not really a new home but for you it will be very new home.’

       ‘Really…. what do you mean Florisa?’

       ‘You will find out, my dear.’

       ‘No…. I would like to know now…. I am so tired of trying to figure everything out and being taken by total surprise. I didn’t want to hurt your feelings but all this guessing has giving me one jolly headache!’

       ‘Alright…  A very, very long time… you once lived in Salhda but you wished to leave your spirit home and live on earth and now you are returning to your home and all your loved ones are waiting for you… they know that your life, on earth, has ended and your loved ones know that you are now returning back and they are very, very overjoyed to see you.’

       Oh… Really? Please Florisa come with me…. I’m not so sure about this and besides, I can’t get over that log. Before you came…. I did try to walk on that road to the nice town and couldn’t get over that silly log. I though ‘Mellie this is so ridiculous’ because I’ve always been able to get over many logs.’

       ‘Oh… I see. Well… I think someone could help you to step over that log. Unfortunately I cannot help you because I can’t leave Nambra but there is a good friend of yours who will help.’

       ‘Is it someone from my earthly family?’

       ‘No. Don’t look so sad Mellisana… if it was someone from your earthly family…. They would never let you go or they would never stop crying if they had to let you go and their crying and grieving would not allow you to go any further. Their souls are not ready to help you yet… they are still grieving for you and it will take time for them to become strong again. No family members, sweetest. This is a friend you have not seen in a very long time because it is too expensive and difficult for her to travel to Swizterland and too faraway for her legs. It is your very best friend. Can you guess who it could be?’

       After serious thinking and more serious thinking Melissana looked at Florisa and said, ‘Sorry but I really don’t know. Come on Florisa… just tell me. Oh… Wait… But that couldn’t be possible…. I’m sure she has forgotten me! Could it be Kloena?’

       ‘Yes… It is Kloena! But she is not in San Francisco… No, she is in New York visiting her good friends Winifreda Hollow and her daughter Rena und Rena’s husband John and their darling children. But right now your friend, Kleona, is resting in a pretty little gazebo and taking a nap in a hammock in the beautiful park that now belongs to Winifreda Hollow and her husband. So… when I snap my wee fingers…. You will immediately find yourself on the beautiful grounds of the Hollow Family and not far from were you will be standing…. you will see a very lovely white gazebo, a small house, which will be surrounded by ivy and roses. There you will find Kleona sleeping very peacefully in the hammock. But you mustn’t wake her…. no… she will wake up herself and be so happy to see you and, of course, she will help you step over that log if you just ask her. Once you are over the log everything will become easy… just walk straight to the pretty little town…. And oh… one more important thing… on no account will you tell Kleona that you have died and that you are no longer the earthly you.’

       ‘Oh… but why not? She already knows that I have died. My family, I think, have told her.’

       ‘No Melissana…. Please do not tell her… it would confuse her to no end. Just be a dear and do as I say. OK? Just be very pleasant to her and answer all her questions and ask her to help you step over that log…. Please do as I tell you because you are wasting so much time. Oh, and one more thing… give her a big kiss on both of her cheeks and wave to her a fond goodbye when you leave… do this until you no longer see her. You must do this because she is helping you to step over that log and that is on the way to your destination to your spirit home… without her help you might not get to your spirit home so quickly.… it is very kind of her to help you at all… she has grieved so much for you but wants you to be in a lovely place so she stopped crying and grieving.’

       ‘OK. And you really cannot come with me? I’d feel so much better if you came and so much safer if you only came?’

       ‘No, darling, you must do this on your own.’

       ‘What about Kleona… she could come with me…. right… she has always wanted to go to a spirit home?’

       ‘Oh no, no, no… believe me Melissana… you will be fine and when you get to the nice town then there will be many people who you will know.’

       And so Melissana got up and said, ‘OK, I’ll go but one more question. Will I see you later?

       ‘I don’t know but I did so much enjoy meeting and helping you! Now dearest, we must not waste any more time…  stand up straight and tall so that I can transport you to Kleona.’

       With tears in her eyes… Melissana said, ‘Oh Florisa, I wish you could come with me… I hate saying goodbye to you and I hate saying good bye to anyone… but you have been so good to me and have helped me so much!’

       Suddenly the little silver-gray kitten appeared out of nowhere and Melissana shrieked, ‘Oh look… there’s that sweet little kitty!’

       At that very moment Florisa glided to the kitten, picked it up with her beautiful wiggly arms and, brought the kitten to Melissana saying, ‘I cannot go with you but Fluff can go with you… here…. Hold her and now I must quickly snap my wee fingers.’

       And before Melissana could utter another word… three staggering things happened. The first thing Melissana noticed was that the kitty’s fur was amazingly soft… Softer then velvety feathers, silk or satin. The second thing was that Melissana heard a very strange alarming noise that went swooshing straight into her head, heart and, soul. The third thing was the strangest… Melissana saw a pretty, no pretty was not the right word, a majestically and ravishing little face of a child holding a doll that looked exactly like the ravishing beauty herself…. And the ravishing child was covered and dressed in wild flowers and velvety butterfly wings.

       But all too quickly the ravishing child left and Melissana found herself holding a darling little kitty, standing on gorgeous green grass with little daisies sprinkled on the green grass and, not too far off, she spotted an enchantingly pretty white gazebo covered in ivy and roses. She remembered very quickly that she was no longer in the spirit world and that the kitty was named Fluff and that Kleona, her best friend, was inside the little gazebo fast asleep on the hammock. Melissana also remembered that Florisa, that beautiful gliding spirit, had told her to walk over to Kleona and ask her to help her to get over the log which was on the road that would lead Melissana to the pretty town and to her final destination where her spiritual family awaited her. Slowly, holding the pretty kitty all the while, she took a step and bit by bit walked towards the charming gazebo and there Melissana saw Kleona sleeping so peacefully with a book over her lap. Not wishing to disturb Kleona… Melissana slowly bent down toward the sleeping friend and…. Whoops… Fluff gave a rather loud meow and…. 

 

 

 CHAPTER FIVE

 

 

KLEONA’S HELP

 

 

Jumped gently onto Kleona’s stomach and wandered straight towards her neck where it was warm. Of course Kleona woke up with a jump but when she saw Fluff she gave a shriek of complete delight saying, ‘Oh honey, honey… where did you come from? I haven’t seen you before and I know that there are no kitties living here. Oh my… you are so cute and so, so soft, oh honey honey… And so vocal just like my Honeygirl at home!’

       All this time Kleona never noticed Mellisana standing in front of her… but immediately Kleona felt the very strong presence of someone else standing nearby. Out of overwhelming emotions at seeing her best friend Kleona… Melissana had taken a step back and had kept herself very quiet. But Kleona suddenly saw a soft shadow in front off her and, thinking it might be one of the children, looked straight up. As Kleona lifted her head what a big and shocking surprise met her eyes when she saw that it was Melissana standing in front of her. Kleona just held on to the kitty and felt the kitten’s purr, which seemed to be her only safety at that moment for she thought she was seeing a ghost or was dreaming. After a good long five minutes Kleona spoke and said, ‘Melly…. Melly is that you???’

       Melissana had noticed how pale white her friend’s face had suddenly become and how the kitty had become her biggest comfort but Melissana still could not utter a word. Melissana did not like seeing her friend looking so pale. Inwardly she begged Florisa to give her the courage to speak up… she had never thought it could or would be so hard to speak to Kleona and ask her to help her to get over the log. At that moment Melissana felt Florisa very close to her and telling her in a very quiet tone, not audible to Kleona, ‘Melissana, now you are a spirit in the human world and you are now noticing how hard it can be to talk to humans but Kleona is your true friend and very close to the spirit world, although she does not know this herself, but you can ask her to help you, she will always help her best friends but first ask her about her new kitty… she has just adopted a lovely little calico kitty… a sick little kitty that nearly lost its life.’

       ‘Oh…. why a sick kitty?’, asked Melissana…. Not speaking with her lips but with her heart. She had just learnt that spirits never talk with their lips but with their hearts.

       ‘I don’t know… so why don’t you ask Kleona. Oh and remember not to tell her that you have died otherwise you will not be able to get over that log on the road.’

       ‘Well… what should I tell Kleona if she ask me… Florisa? Florisa! Florisa… please don’t go!’

       Just then Florisa’s voice had begun to quickly fade away and Melissana knew that Florisa had fluttered somewhere else. 

       So Melissana brought all her courage together, took a step into the lovely gazebo which smelt of roses and fresh grass, and said, ‘Hello Kleona… yes it’s me… Melly.’

       ‘Melly?!’

       A tremendously long, long silence followed. Fluff purred madly. He simply loved the baffling smell of confusion between a human and a spirit. It was a smell that cats adore just like catnip.

       ‘Kleona…. It is me… your best friend from Switzerland.’

       ‘Melly, Melly is it really you???!!!’

       ‘Of course it’s me’, said Melissana giving Kleona a big hug.

       ‘But… they all... I mean your family… all told me that you had died… that was only a month ago. Regina emailed me because Iruna couldn’t reach me on the phone. When I read the shocking email I called Iruna immediately. I just could not believe that it was true at all.’

       ‘Ah I see… and what did Iruna tell you?’

       ‘That you had died of cancer. I mean just simply died and your family never knew how bad the cancer really was. I was so unbelievably shocked and in pure disbelieve.... but all I could really do was weep and weep. And here you are right in front of me. I don’t understand this at all. Dead people don’t just simply walk to me. I’m no angel or saint or spirit… I’m just a plain person…right?  Melly… why did your family and Regina and Iruna say such an unkind thing to me or where they joking? What a terrible joke!’

       ‘Yes... you are definitely a person but I don’t know about being a plain person.  And tell me the truth. Do I look like I’ve passed away?’

       ‘No… actually you look great…. Better then ever.’

‘Oh good and remember you don’t always hear well on the phone. OK…  now that we have all this death stuff out of the way… we can now get on with happier topics. So Kleona… how are you and tell me all about your new kitty! Did Mr. Kitty die… what happened to him?’

       ‘How did you know I had a new kitty? I never told you this. Mr. Kitty died very suddenly and besides, it all happened so fast that I never told anyone about this…. I didn’t even a chance to email anybody then. Only A few people knew. But how did you know about this?’

       Oops… Kleona really got me there,’ thought Melissana, ‘I better think of something fast.’

       She looked at Kleona with a big smile and said, ‘A little friend told me about your new kitty!’

       ‘I’ll tell you about my new kitty but first… I want to hear all about you and how in the world did you know I was here and did your husband let you go on this trip? Joe never let’s you go anywhere without a good reason and your grandchildren… how could you leave them… who is looking after them?’

       ‘Oh…. well it’s not very interesting but to answer all your questions… yes… Joe let me go and the grandchildren are all being well taken care of by their many aunts and uncles and, well, I knew you might be here in New York visiting your good friends. See… it’s all very simple but do tell me all about the new kitty…. I’m dying to hear all about it!’

       Melissana thought why had she ever thought that it would be so hard to for her to talk to Kleona. Suddenly a young and familiar voice said to Melissana in reply to her thoughts, ‘Because Kleona is so close to the spirit world even though she cannot see the spirits that have made their home around her. Kleona is also a spirit but in human disguise. However, Kleona does not know this herself at all.’

       Melissana thought this voice had come from Florisa but it sounded a bit different. Melissana looked at Kleona in full anticipation and truly eager to hear about the new kitten.

       She took Kleona’s hand and Kleona spoke in a happy voice, ‘Well…. Mr. Kitty died quietly in his basket. He was having a quiet snooze and, I guess, his heart simply stopped beating. I thought how sweet he looked in his slumber…. Ah but how little did I know what was really waiting for me.’

       ‘Oh my… how did you know that he was dead…. How did you finally discover all this?’

       ‘I got very concerned when he didn’t jump up on my bed like he always does. So… I got up from my rocking chair and went over to him and I gently blew on his fur but he never moved. So… I moved him and was extremely startled to realize that he was not sleeping but that he was stiff with death.’

       ‘Did you call anyone?’

‘Well, both Kim and Sandy were away, they are my friends who live in the building, but I knew they were not there so I called Lisa. We put poor Mr. Kitty in the cat carrier and brought him to the Pet Hospital where I asked for a private cremation and had his ashes sent to me in a box. Then when I arrived home there was an email from Pauletta asking me if I was OK and that she would take me to adopt a new kitty.’

‘Oh… and then what did you do?’

‘I told her that I’d be very grateful and, as I could not wait too long for my new kitty to come home to me, I asked if we could go on Saturday. You know… Mr. Kitty died on Wednesday and I could not wait too long to adopt my new kitty. So we went to the Animal Care & Control and there was this darling little kitty just waiting for me. She was the perfect age, a calico, which I simply adore, and they would have put her down because no one or no pet adoption center would take her because of her heart condition. I couldn’t bear to leave her behind so I decided to take her home.’

‘Oh how kind of you! Do you have a picture of her?’

‘As a matter of fact… I do…. Funny that you ask. It’s right here in the book that I’m reading. See… isn’t she darling?

‘Oh... she is so pretty and look at that sweet little nose!’

‘Yes…. I miss her a lot. I’m having a great time here but I miss my Honeygirl a lot.’

‘Honeygirl?’

‘Oh…. that is the name of my new kitty. Mr. Kitty was my honey boy… so when I adopted the new kitty I decided to name her Honeygirl.’

‘Thank you for telling me about your darling kitty and I’m so happy that you have her. How long are you staying in New York?

‘Oh… we’re leaving the country tomorrow morning… everyone has to go back to work and the children have kindergarten…. and I will leave the city and head back home the day after tomorrow. I’m very anxious to see my kitty. But you, Mellie, how long are you staying in New York and can you come to San Francisco to visit me?’

Melissana thought quickly… ‘Oh… I had better ask Kleona for help now rather than later. But if I ask her to help me now then I might never see her again and it is too soon to say goodbye to her. But I guess I better ask her now. I hope everything goes smoothly and I don’t mess this up.’

‘Kleona… are you OK? You look kind of spaced out? Why don’t we go into the house and get something to drink… it’s a very hot day although it says on the news that it would be raining cats and dogs soon. Actually… it’s getting muggy.’

‘No, no I’m fine… thank you. Listen Kleona… I need to ask you a big favor… if this is OK with you.’

‘Of course, it’s OK Melly, don’t be so silly! Are you in a hurry? You look so rushed up.’

Melissana looked at the little charming town where she had to get to and said, ‘Kleona… I have to get to that little town before nightfall but I need some help stepping over that log in the road. Could you please help me? I’d really appreciate it. Kleone… are you OK?’

Kleona was trying very hard to look for the little town that her friend was talking about but she absolutely could not see anything.

She said to Melissana in a somewhat confused voice, ‘Little town? Melly… I don’t see any little town. Nope… I just see trees and trees and more trees. Yes… I do see that log in the road but I can’t seem to see any little town.’

Looking a bit worried and somewhat puzzled Kleona continued, ‘Melly I don’t want you to walk just anywhere. Where are trying to get to? Why don’t we go in the house and look at the map or, better, we could go online and find it on the Google map. What is the name of this mysterious little town called?’

 ‘Oh dear…. I can’t remember the name… but I have to get to that town… people are waiting for me. Kleona don’t you see it? There is a little castle with blue flags on the roof…. I see it. So why can’t you see it?’

‘I don’t know. All I see are lots of pretty trees and green ferns and some flowers but, come on, I’ll help you to step over the log in the road but will I see you tomorrow or in the city?’

Melissana could feel a tiny pinch as if a bee had stung her. She knew that this came from Florisa. Florisa had told Melissana before her departure into the human world, ‘When I give you a tiny pinch on your arm… that will mean that you must hurry into the little town… OK… and remember to say goodbye to your best friend and thank her completely and with your whole heart for helping you to step over that log. Remember… without her help you would never have been able to get to your spirit home so quickly… she has done you a great service especially since she cannot see the little town.’

So Melissana took hold of Kleona’s hand but before she stepped over the log she said to Kleona, ‘I’m very busy for the next few days but I will try to visit you in San Francisco one day and when I do come… I will let you know how long I can stay with you.’

‘Oh goody. OK… now take my hand and step over the log. Funny that you are asking me to help you…. back in Switzerland it was the other way around…. it was me asking you to help me.’

One, two, three and in no time they both stepped over the big log. Suddenly and astoundingly…. Kleona finally did see the charming little town that Melissana had talked about and she saw the castle with its blue flags waving back and forth. Kleona so longed to go too but knew she had to get back… the children were coming for her and she could hear them running towards the little gazebo.

All this time Melissana was still holding Kleona’s hand. At that moment Melissana felt lots and lots of tiny pinching and had a strong feeling that she must say good-bye to her best friend quickly. She looked at her best friend, gave her a big hug and said, ‘Good bye Kleona and thank you, thank you, thank you so much for your big help in getting me to get over that log and I will see you again very soon I hope and give a big kiss to your precious Honeygirl!’

‘Yes… goodbye Melissana and Fluff… I hope you come very soon to San Francisco and email me when you get home! Don’t forget!’

Little did either of the good friends know what was going to happen next. As soon as Melissana let go of her friends hand it happened. As she turned to wave a last goodbye to her best friend, Kleona, and thank her again… everything was gone… there was no gazebo, no Kleona, only green green grass bedecked with wildflowers and blue sky and lovely rolling hills.

Melissana couldn’t understand this and was truly bewildered and demented but she now vaguely remembered Florisa telling her, ‘When you let go of Kleona’s hand… then you shall be back in the spirit world… so say goodbye to her while you are still holding her hand and thank her for all her kind help.’

Melissana saw the little town and began to walk to her new home and as she walked she was so surprised by a charming intruder…. She saw an enchantingly sweet and beautiful little girl all dressed in flowers and butterfly wings and holding a small doll that looked just like the little girl herself. And the little doll was holding another even smaller dolly that looked just like the bigger doll and the little girl. And that little dolly was also holding yet another extremely smaller, actually, a very tiny doll that looked just like the other two dolls and the little girl. Truly… it was the most delightful but oddest thing Melissana had ever seen.

 She was an absolute dream of a child. The little one gave a divinely pleasant and rippling little laughter, which sounded like millions of little bells ringing on a spring day, gave the beautiful doll to Melissana, took some lovely flowers from her golden nutty brown hair and gave them to the astounding Melissana and said, ‘Mama, Mama… I’m so happy that you’re back…. I missed you so much!’

 

    EPILOGUE

 

And Kleona… what did she think when she turned around to wave a last farewell to her best and dearest friend… was she so bewildered and flummoxed too? No and you know why? Because she had been in the hammock the whole time and thought to herself as she heard the children running towards her, ‘Boy, was that some dream I had….. it seemed so real!’ When the children had arrived at Kleona’s side, she had said to them, ‘Oh hi sweeties! Man oh man…… Auntie Kleona had a big dream and what a what a dream she had. I’m going to tell Mommy and Grandma all about it. Whew… what a remarkable dream!’

       ‘Oh really?’ chimed in the little ones.

       ‘Yes, I’m going to tell Mommy and Grandma and all my friends in Swizterland and in America all about it and you two better be there to listen to it when I tell Mommy, Daddy and Grandma.’

‘Oh goody-goody.….we love stories!’

So, my gentle readers, now I have a question…. was this a dream or was this a real experience?