Chapter 23
The graduation ceremony was held on the soccer field. A large stage was set up at one end with blue and white streamers and balloons decorating the stage and podium. Blue chairs were set up on the field and most people were already seated.
“Over here!” Claudia called as we approached the field. She flagged us over to sit with her and Rachel near the front.
Nick greeted Claudia with a kiss and I instinctively turned away. I didn't need to be reminded of how much I missed Anna. I noticed Claudia pull away and whisper something to him about "later,” which reminded me of her mind-reading capabilities. Crap! She read my mind. I felt like an idiot. She giggled.
“All right, cut it out,” I said to her with a grin.
“Sorry, I can't control it yet,” she giggled.
I took a seat next to Nick. Noah sat down on the other side next to Rachel. I noticed Rachel gave him a flirtatious smile, which was not unusual for Rachel, but I wondered, for Noah’s sake, if there was more to it than that.
Claudia leaned over to me and whispered, “Yeah, she thinks he's cute.”
I pretended to be offended and gasped, “You shouldn't be doing that.”
She laughed innocently. “What? It's for the good of mankind, isn't it?”
I wasn't overly comfortable sitting close to Claudia, but I guess she was used to reading people's candid thoughts, so she shouldn't be surprised by anything I thought. I knew she could hear what I was thinking so I thought, in a joking manner, Keep my thoughts to yourself, got it? She threw me a quick, devilish grin. Just like Anna would have.
I caught sight of Matthias out of the corner of my eye and my smile immediately vanished from my face as I remembered my failure. It bothered me that I didn't know what I had done wrong. I did everything exactly the way I thought I should. And most of all, I really believed I was healing her. Now that I had doubt in my head, how was I going to one hundred percent believe anything the next time I had to do something? I was always going to doubt myself now, which would put me back at square one.
Claudia leaned across Nick again and whispered, “Don't beat yourself up about it. These things happen. One day you'll be great enough to do anything.”
I thought, Will I? Or am I not cut out for this after all?
She whispered back, “Patience, young one.”
I smiled and tried not to think anymore. I was starting to feel a little violated. I'm sure she heard that too because she didn't say anything else about my random thoughts after that.
The rest of the campers took their seats. The ceremony was scheduled to begin any minute. I looked around the crowd and spotted Sam, James and Matthias huddled near the back, discussing something seemingly serious. I wondered if it could have anything to do with my failed healing attempt yesterday. Did I disappoint Sam and James too? Then Matthias held up a finger and reached into his pocket for his cell phone. He immediately stepped back and answered his phone. James and Sam both watched him closely. Matthias closed his eyes and slowly shut his phone, holding it to his mouth. Sam reached out and wrapped her arms around him. James lowered his head into his hands.
My heart sank. That must have been the dreaded call. The call Matthias never wanted to hear. His little Becca Jean was gone to heaven. I watched through blurry eyes as Matthias walked away from Sam and James and up the hill into the mess hall. I couldn't help but feel completely responsible.
A few more minutes passed and James appeared on stage to welcome everyone and make a few remarks and jokes about the weekend. I tuned out most of his introduction as my thoughts were with Matthias. Would this give him more strength, or bring him down? Would he be able to heal his own heart, or could I do it for him? James had said something that first night about an experienced healer being able to heal minds and spirits. Maybe I could do that for Matthias? Who was I kidding? I wasn't even able to heal a body yesterday, much less a mind or spirit.
By the time I put my attention back on James, he was well into a monologue that seemed important.
“. . . which is why we have the closing ceremony at this hour, when the sun is at its highest and most powerful. Gifted Ones receive their strength from the sun. We are most powerful in the light. The Defiers are most powerful in darkness.” James paused and took a sip of water. “Now, you have all been given the opportunity to consider whether you are willing to commit to this lifestyle. For those that are, when I call your name, please proceed to the stage where you will sign the covenant. Once you have signed, you will then be branded with the mark of the Gifted Ones.” James paused again, this time to pick up an instrument on a table, which resembled a microscope similar to that used in biology class. “This instrument will be used to collect the sun’s powerful rays and burn the mark of the Gifted Ones onto your wrist. Once you are branded, you may go take your seat.”
My heartbeat sped up to a rapid run. Did I want this? Could I do this? If I was only going to be mediocre, was it worth giving up Anna for? It wouldn’t be. I’d rather be with her and live a normal life than have to give her up for this mediocre “gift.”
Claudia lowered her head and squeezed Nick’s hand. He looked in her direction, then quickly in mine.
“You alright, man?” he asked.
“I don’t know,” was all I could say before I heard my name being called . . . “Jacob Rovert.” Jacob Rovert. Did I want this? Was it worth it?
Claudia leaned over, “It’s your choice, Jake. But trust me, you are meant for great things.”
James Chisholm called my name again, this time searching the crowd for me. “Jacob Rovert?”
But then I noticed Matthias hurrying onto the stage. He took the microphone from James and found me in the crowd. “Jacob,” he said. “Please come up here for a moment.”
As uncomfortable as it was, what was I to do? Maybe if I went up there and told James and Matthias in person about my uncertainty, I could buy myself more time. I quickly, and uncomfortably, made my way to the stage. My heart still racing, now it ached for Matthias and his loss.
When I reached the stage, Matthias reached out and gave me a strong embrace. I reacted with a tight squeeze.
“Thank you, Jake,” he choked through tears.
I pulled away and looked at him, then at James, who was smiling proudly. “For what?”
Matthias held the microphone to his lips and turned to face the crowd, with his one arm still wrapped tightly around my shoulders.
“I have had the greatest honour in mentoring Jacob this weekend. He is one heck of a healer and I feel so privileged to know him.” He turned to witness my tormented expression. Then he whispered in my ear, “Those test results were the ones I ordered last week. The new results just came back and you did it, Jacob. You did it!” He turned to the crowd and shouted, “Jacob healed Becca Jean!”
Cheers erupted from the whole campground. My mouth fell open as my eyes wandered through the crowd and gathered all the elated expressions. Did they know Becca Jean? Was this something everyone had been praying for?
Everyone was on their feet now. Cheering. Matthias was still clinging to me, and James was patting his face with a handkerchief. It finally hit me. Becca Jean was alive and she was going to live a long and healthy life because of me. I did it! I was a healer! I turned and hugged Matthias again. “Congratulations, man.”
“It was all you, Jake. All you.”
That settled it. I shook hands with James Chisholm and took my place next to the other graduates to prepare for the branding ceremony.
There were thirty-three of us in total, ranging in age from seven to fifty-seven. James showed us the mark of the Gifted Ones, which was a small tattoo, a little bigger than a quarter, placed on the inside of the left wrist. Noah made me go ahead of him so he could delay it that much longer. Nick and Claudia watched from their seats, giving us a thumbs up any time we looked in their direction.
“Jacob, you're next,” James said in a comforting, and almost proud tone. “Come sit here, my boy.”<
br />
Just as I sat down in the chair across from James, a loud clap of thunder sounded and a dark cloud billowed through the previously cloudless sky, covering the bright and powerful sun.
James seemed amused by this as others in the crowd gasped and murmured to each other.
“Do not be afraid,” James began before turning his lowered voice to me. “The enemy is tormented over this. He knows the power that lies within you.”
James held his hand toward the sky and commanded, “You have no power here. Your efforts are futile. Be gone and let the sun of man shine down on us!”
Instantly, the clouds vanished and the sun seemed to shine even brighter than before. James brought the tube down onto my wrist and turned the glass toward the sun. I closed my eyes, feeling the heat on my flesh, smelling the aroma of my burnt skin, and hearing the cheers from the crowd. I opened my eyes and saw the beautiful rainbow painted across the sky.
It was Noah’s turn. I stood up and gave him my seat and watched as he steadied himself and practised his slow breathing. I ran my fingers over my new tattoo and felt the rough indentation of my skin. The mark was unfamiliar to me. Not a shape, and not a word.
“What does this mean?” I asked James before leaving to take my seat.
“These are the letters “G” and “O” in ancient Hebrew writing. It has two meanings. It stands for Gifted One, and also, the acronym “GO” is a reminder to us that we must go out into the world and fight evil. Never rest. Always be on your guard,” James explained.
“Hmm, I like it,” I said as I pulled my sleeve back down over my mark and patted it gently.
After the ceremony we sat around the edge of the field while Noah nursed his arm. Most of the campers had already left for home but Nick wanted to wait a half an hour so we could avoid the parking lot congestion. It gave us a chance to let all the events of the weekend soak in before we had to say goodbye to the place.
Rachel stretched and laid back on the grass with her hands behind her head. “What a great weekend.”
“Yeah, I have to say, I was not expecting it to be that much fun,” I admitted.
“Told you,” Nick added.
“So that's great news about Becca Jean,” Claudia said. “Bet you didn't see that one coming.”
“No, that was a complete surprise. I'm really happy for Matthias. He's been through a lot. This is good for him.” I smiled as I thought about Matthias sharing the news with his family.
“Becca Jean is one cute kid,” Nick said. “She was at camp the last two years.”
“Matthias took her here with him?” I asked, confused.
“Yeah,” Claudia said, “because she's a Gifted One too. Didn't you know that?”
“No, I had no idea,” I said as I sat up straight. “What's her gift?”
“She has Wisdom,” Nick answered. “Smartest little six-year-old I ever met.”
“Didn't see that one coming,” I said, scratching my head.
“Yeah, she was quite the little celebrity at camp being the youngest, cutest and smartest Gifted One,” Claudia recalled with a smile.
“Well,” Nick said as he leaned in for a kiss, “I don't know about the cutest.”
Claudia smiled and tickled his nose with hers. I couldn't help the memories of Anna from flooding my head. I turned away from them and saw Rachel and Noah laying on the grass next to each other. I couldn't get away from it. I stood up and dusted off my pants.
“Let's go,” Claudia announced. Thankfully.
Soon we’d be on our way back and I'd be in the comfort of my own home. I reached into my pocket and felt the folded-up piece of paper tucked away safely. Squeezing it gently, I wondered if Anna had thought about me at all over the weekend. I wondered if she had given up on me yet.
When I got home I walked through the front door and dropped my bags on the floor. It was four thirty in the afternoon and I could smell supper cooking in the kitchen. It was clear that Mom was cooking and not Dad because the smoke alarm was dismantled and the batteries were sitting on the floor.
“Hey, Mom, I'm home!” I shouted down the hall.
Mom poked her head around the corner and smiled. “Hi, darling. How was it?” She skipped back to the stove and grabbed the top off the overflowing pot.
“It was good,” I said. “A lot of fun.”
“That's good, dear,” Mom mused as she continued to prepare supper. “Tell me all about it.”
“Maybe later? I’m kind of tired.”
“Sure, honey. Why don’t you go unpack and supper will be ready soon.”
“Sure.” I picked up my bag and stood in the hallway for a few seconds. “So, uh, did anyone call?” I asked as I held my breath.
“No, sorry, darling. It was a quiet weekend.”
My hopes were dashed and I was a little disappointed, but I knew it was for the best. I turned and made my way up the stairs. As I passed Abby’s room, I poked my head in. She was sitting on her bed playing with her horse figurines.
“Hey, Abs,” I said as I threw her a smile and a wink.
“Hey, Bubba,” she responded with a big smile.
Abby started calling me Bubba when she was first learning to talk, like, eight years ago. She couldn't pronounce my name, so that's what she came out with—a shortened version of “brother.” It sort of stuck over the years, but I liked it, and on the odd occasion when she did call me Jake, it sounded weird. Only from her though.
Just as I was turning to go into my room, Abby said, “I saw Anna when I was out for a bike ride earlier.”
My heart stopped and I froze in place. “Did she say anything?” I asked.
Abby put her horses down and looked up. “She said to say ‘Hi’ and that if you got in before four o’clock to give her a call, otherwise she’d just see you at school tomorrow.”
“Are you sure?” I asked as I looked at my watch, confirming that it was well past four o’clock.
“Yes, I'm sure,” she replied, slightly sarcastic.
“Cool. Thanks, Abby.” I called over my shoulder as I went into my room, closed the door and fell onto my bed with satisfaction written all over my face.
Abby was a blessing in disguise. I don’t think she realized it, but she had helped me out more than she knew. My memories took me back to a time when I was eight years old, playing baseball in the front yard. I hit the ball right through Mom’s car window. I would never forget the horrible, angry look on Mom’s face when she came to the front door and stared at me in horror. I cringed in complete fear, but then she gasped, spun around and ran up the stairs. Thankfully, Abby saved my butt by falling out of her crib. Poor kid, but it worked well for me. Mom was so upset by Abby nearly breaking her neck, that she was almost thankful that all I did was break her window.
Another time, when I was eleven and Abby was four, I was coming in the front door about to unveil my disappointing report card to my mom. Abby was on her way down the stairs when she lost her footing and tumbled head over heels all the way down the stairs from the top. She gashed her head open, but saved my neck once again.
There were plenty of instances like this. Abby always, in one way or another, contributed to my easy upbringing. She was a built-in klutz, and I owed her for it. I just wish I knew I was a healer back then so I could’ve taken some of the pain away from her, because she undoubtedly took a world of pain away from me on several occasions.
And again, today, lying on my bed, smiling at the ceiling, I had Abby to thank for going for a bike ride and running into Anna. Life was good. So I thought.