BEYOND THE BLUE - a coming of age novella
an excerpt - pages 88 - 93
Anthony did as he was instructed and opened his history book to page thirty-seven. Then, looking through his window, he peered until Enigami popped into view. "Hello again, my purple friend. Sorry I had to disappear on you like that," Tony apologized.
"Let us get directly to the issue at hand. What is this beat up you mentioned before, Anthony?"
"It's something the bullies are going to do to me if I can't come up with another eighteen cents by Friday, Enigami."
"And this is something that is very difficult to achieve?"
"Almost impossible, Enigami. I don't have a lot of time and eighteen cents is a lot of money. Can you help me?"
"In timelessness we have no need of money, Anthony, but of course I will help you. How can this injustice be prevented?"
"The only way I know to prevent it is to find a way to earn more money," Tony answered. "I'm finding out that earning money is a lot easier said than done but I don't know any other way to appease the bullies."
"Why should you pay money to these bullies, Anthony?"
"What choice do I have, Enigami? I've got to pay them."
"Tell me what I can do to help you solve this problem, my little friend."
"Oh, Enigami, I don't know. I just wish my dad were here. He'd know how to help me handle this situation."
"Do you want your dad to be here, Anthony?"
"No sense in wanting the impossible. Dad's dead. But, sure, I wish he was here."
"Anthony, in timelessness nothing is impossible. Have you not already discovered that when you look beyond the blue you see me dressed in the colour purple?"
"Yes, I see you," Anthony replied.
"Okay," the purple man continued, "now I ask you this. What do you see when you look beyond the purple?"
"Look beyond the purple? You mean look beyond you, Enigami?"
"Yes! Yes! What do you see when you look beyond me?"
Tony stared at his purple friend, then relaxing his gaze he squinted just a little and tried to peer through and beyond the purple. It certainly wasn't easy but with a little more concentrated effort Anthony began to gain some clarity. He could see a vague outline of a chalky white formation but it was shadowy; not clear at all.
"Say my name," his purple friend stated. "Say my name and I'll stop the question game."
"Say your name?" Anthony repeated. "Why, your name is Enigami."
"Say it louder!"
"Enigami!" Andrew shouted in silence. No sooner had he shouted the name when the shadowy white formation began to take a darker, more defined shape. Soon, there was no room left for doubt in Anthony's mind. He was seeing with clarity now. "Dad?" he asked hopefully. "Is that you, Dad?"
Anthony heard his father's quiet whisper. "Yes, it's me, son."
"Oh, Dad, I miss you so much. Where are you? Are you in heaven?"
"I'm beyond the blue, Tony. I'm beyond the blue and above the purple. I have been resting in the warmth of the white light and this is where you have found me, son."
"Dad, can you help me? How should I deal with these bullies?" Tony pleaded.
"Tell me more, son," his father said.
"They are blackmailing me, Dad, and I'm not sure I can find enough money to get them off my back. Enigami questioned whether I should pay them even if I do raise the money which I doubt I will. What should I do? Can you help me?"
"I can't stay with you long today, son. But to answer your question, I offer you these words of wisdom. Overcome evil with good. And remember, son, love conquers all.
"Dad, I don't get it. Please explain," Anthony begged but to his dismay he saw the white light dissipating. His father was no longer there.
Suddenly Enigami reappeared asking, "How important is a name?"
"What? Anthony asked. "What kind of crazy question is that?"
"When we see, do we always see clearly?" Enigami persisted.
"I thought I was seeing clearly. I did see my Dad but for such a short moment. He gave me a message but I didn't understand the meaning of his message. And he was gone before I could get him to give me an explanation."
"I ask you again," Enigami insisted. "how important is a name?"
"I guess I don't know the answer to that one, Enigami."
"Would I be the same friend to you as I am right now if my name were not Enigami?"
"Yes," Anthony replied, "I think so."
"My name is not Enigami."
"It isn't? But you told me it was."
"Did I? Or did you tell me? Sometimes people make assumptions. In this way people get their facts distorted. Sometimes people have a hard time remembering names. And sometimes people put too much stock in a name. What is a name? What is the value of a name? Is it anything more than a label?"
"I guess not. I'm not sure I understand. Why are you asking me so many questions? What are you trying to tell me? I'm so confused," Anthony confessed.
"Think, Anthony! I'm asking you to think! Sometimes people get facts twisted, yes? And sometimes people get names totally backward, true? Have you considered these things?"
"No, I haven't," Anthony admitted.
"Then consider them now. Do you agree that sometimes people get names totally backward?"
"I don't know," Tony said. "I suppose so."
"Take the logic one step further, my friend. Is this something you may have done?"
"I don't know Enigami. I just don't know."
"Think about it. Think about it, Anthony. I repeat, sometimes people get names totally backward. Have I not already told you my name is not Enigami? Perhaps it would help you if you read my name from back to front. It may help you to find a solution to the dilemma you are currently facing. Will you think about it?"
"Yes," Anthony replied. "I promise I will think about it. Enigami, thank you for letting me visit with my Dad even if it was only for a few seconds. Do people need to die to go beyond the blue and above the purple to rest in the white light as my Dad is doing?"
"I repeat; my name is not Enigami. Tony, when you have given yourself the time to consider what I've said to you about my name, you will have taken the first step on your way to an answer to that very important question."
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