CHAPTER 14
RANDY WAS MISSING, first thing in the morning. Bobby was the first to notice when he awoke near Janet and Tanya. Getting up quickly, they searched the area. Most of the other people were still sleeping when they discovered Jasper was also missing. The clear plastic wrap of left over party food was empty and crumpled up. They found it thrown on Randy’s unoccupied dirty blanket. Crumbs littered the area. Someone had eaten all the food.
Running out from under the bridge they found Jasper sitting on a hill-top near the early morning traffic. The cars slowed down slightly as the early morning commuters observed Jasper in what looked like a meditative state. Sitting, facing the city of Kingston while holding Randy on his lap, Jasper rocked the sickly man back and forth like he was his child.
The only way Jasper could do this and keep himself safe from the attacks of the porcupine Demon was for Elana to tie it up in her silver lasso. When she did this, the porcupine Demon would become dormant.
The rising sun lit up the city of Kingston which made it look like it was made out of gold. The skies told Jasper to expect rain, however at the moment the skies were clear and calm. From where Jasper sat, he did his best to look all the way down the main street of the city. The others thought Jasper was experiencing a tranquil moment; a quiet start to the day. The truth was quite the contrary as Jasper looked out over the waking city, he observed a battle stricken war zone of armored Angels. They were in direct opposition to a multitude of Demonic forces.
Janet and Tanya shivered. Each of them had their arms wrapped around themselves. “I can’t believe we slept outside under a bridge all night.” Tanya said as though her friends and family wouldn’t believe her if she told them.
“Yeah, I have to call my house.” Janet replied with an unpleasant and uncomfortable reaction to the nippy morning air, “This was crazy. I’ll never do it again. My roommate will be worried sick about me.”
“If you go back, I won’t be able to take you forward.” Jasper told the two young women.
“Hey, Jasper, listen. Let’s go down to Mickey D’s and I’ll buy us all breakfast. Okay?” Bobby offered with a twisted smile.
“That sounds great.” Janet said. “Life is too short to waste it like this.”
“You will soon find the life style you cherish is the true waste.” Jasper added as he repeated what the Angels instructed him to say.
A little girl seemed to appear from behind Bobby’s legs. “Huh? Who are you?” Bobby asked.
“I’m Tessa. My mom’s still sleeping. Do you have anything to eat?” The little girl wasn’t more than four or five years old.
Bobby bent down to the little girl. “Hey, if you go and wake your mother up quietly, she could come with us to a restaurant where I’m going to buy everyone breakfast. You have to be quiet though. Don’t wake up the others. And do not tell them I’m buying breakfast, okay?”
“Okay.” Tessa answered sweetly as she turned and stumbled down the trail that led back under the bridge.
“What are we waiting for Jasper?” Janet asked. “I can’t just hang around here, I’m freezing. My back hurts from sleeping on the ground and I think I’m catching a cold. I have to get back home where I belong.”
“Ah, there he is, right on schedule.” Jasper said as he stood up lifting Randy with him. Randy tried to support his weight with his legs.
“There is, who?” Tanya questioned Jasper only Jasper wasn’t sure how to answer her since she’d never met Pastor Reed before.
“I was waiting for someone, and now I see him.” Jasper answered her, still just as vague as before.
The others squinted their eyes to look into the city, in the direction Jasper was looking. The early morning sunshine reflected brightly off glass and chrome. The bright flashes of light hurt their eyes and made it difficult to see anything so how could it be that this blind man could see better than them?
“You must have some pretty good peepers, Jasper.” Bobby said as he rubbed his tired eyes. “Those people look smaller than ants from here.”
Shielding his white sensitive eyes from the morning sun, Janet handed Jasper a pair of sunglasses. He wore them with gratitude.
“Thanks for noticing.” Jasper told them. “I do see quite well, considering.”
The voice of little Tessa was heard shouting, “Mommy! Mommy! The man outside wants to buy us all food!”
Bobby snapped his head around and looked at Jasper. All of his color left his face. “What are we going to do?” Bobby asked, “Come, on! Let’s bolt!”
Jasper grabbed Bobby by the wrist. “No!” he told Bobby, “You will buy us breakfast. Like you promised.”
“What the!... We gott’a get out’a here! Full mecha!” Bobby raised his voice.
The term ‘full mecha’ was a catchy phrase the young people in Kingston liked to say.
Turning around; Jasper, Bobby, Randy, Tanya and Janet saw little Tessa in the arms of her mother, and all of the other homeless stood behind her. They looked up at Jasper’s group with a humbled expectation of fulfilled hunger in their eyes.
Bobby bent down close to Jasper and whispered into his ear. “If I do this, Jasper, I’ll be broke.”
“Don’t worry. Trust God that all things will work out in the end. You must do this.” Jasper wasn’t only passionate about what he said, but the way he expected Bobby to pay, came across like an exciting challenge with a reward attached, no doubt.
Grumbling, Bobby went along with everyone. Together, they all walked into the city. Traffic was again slowed as people tried to figure out what the crowd was all about. Jasper led everyone the long way into the city, zig-zagging throughout the streets. No one understood why he didn’t take a direct route to the fast food restaurant. They were very hungry.
Bringing everyone by the missionary outreach, Jasper found Pastor Reed standing out front. Walking right up to the Pastor Jasper said, “Hello.”
“God bless you, sir.” The Pastor said back in response as he actually paid Jasper no mind. Jasper felt like he was just a nuisance. The Pastor was preoccupied standing on his tip toes and craning his head as though looking for someone. “I’m sorry, the outreach is only open for supper this week.” He spoke with kind eyes.
“Are you looking for someone?” Jasper asked.
“Yes, actually, I am.” The Pastor replied.
“Is he a scruffy young man with long hair, a beard and walking a lamb?” Jasper asked the Pastor as though it was a riddle.
“Yes, yes, do you know him?” Asked Pastor Reed.
“I am, Jasper. I’ve had an eventful night which included a ‘make-over.’”
The Pastor took a step back and gave Jasper a good stare up and down. “You don’t look the same at all.” He said with amazement. Jasper removed his sunglasses and his white eyes were unmistakable.
Tanya flipped out her cell phone where she carried before and after photos of Jasper’s make-over transformation. Pastor Reed looked at the pictures for a long minute chuckling because the two pictures of Jasper were so drastically different.
“Yes, well, Bobby here has been so kind as to invite us all to breakfast this morning.” Jasper told Pastor Reed. Bobby slapped his hand to his fore-head in disbelief. Then Jasper continued. “Would you care to join us? I could fill you in on everything that’s happened since I saw you last.”
“I would be honored, Jasper.” The Pastor craned his neck to look at Bobby. When the Pastor waved and smiled, Bobby felt obligated to smile and wave back, but it was forced and awkward. The Pastor realized this and said, “You’re doing a very good thing in the eyes of the Lord, young man, God bless you.”
Bobby was less than thrilled. “Ya, it’s my pleasure.” As the group began to walk down the road again, Bobby made his way to Jasper’s side. “Why don’t we just wear big signs to invite the whole stink’n city of Kingston, Jasper?”
Jasper tried to smile as he carried Randy. “We’re all making sacrifices.” Jasper told him
“Let’s just get to the
restaurant. The sooner we put this behind us the better, all right?” Bobby wanted Jasper to know of his frustration.
“Open your heart to the joy of giving.” Jasper told him, but it didn’t seem to help. Pastor Reed heard Jasper’s comment.
“And what have you given?” The Pastor asked.
“My old life.” Jasper looked at Bobby with those haunted eyes of his. “Everything I was, I gave it all away.”
The group filtered into the restaurant and stood in the line-up. Many dirty looks came from people who’d already been served. They were disgusted to share their breakfast morning with the homeless. Many people gathered up their breakfast and walked out.
Jasper went to the front counter with Bobby. “These people behind us are here to order breakfast and put it all on this person’s bill, please.”
“Is that true?” the young employee at the till asked.
“Oh yes, it is.” Bobby was beginning to sweat.
The restaurant went through quite the workout, but Bobby could see how happy everyone was. The homeless talked and laughed together and for a moment, forgot about their worries. A special spirit filled the entire restaurant. Even the people behind the counter serving could feel the positive change in the place. It was like no other morning and Bobby forgot how worried he was about his savings.
Tessa’s mother introduced herself to Jasper and the others. Her name was Megan. With her hair a mess of tangles and knots, Megan tried to smooth it out, smiling with a missing tooth, wearing worn dirty clothes. “You folks sure are kind. I’m not sure how we can repay you, but I was wondering, did you also have plans for lunch?”
Bobby lifted his head quickly in response to what he’d heard. Bobby was about to run out of the restaurant when Jasper put his arm over one of Bobby’s shoulders with a smile of encouragement. Bobby was the last to be served so he could take care of the bill.
A news crew entered the restaurant in response to an anonymous tip. They noticed right away something strange was in the works. Starting up their broadcasting equipment, they were quick to begin asking Bobby a lot of questions.
The total cost for breakfast not only maxed out Bobby’s credit card, he came up short by $56.95. Jasper asked the customers if they could help.
Perhaps because the news cameras were rolling or out of a genuine desire to help, people began to come forward. Janet and Tanya counted the people who courageously came forward and counted them. After dividing the total amongst the people, Janet said, “If each of you could give $11.39, this bill will be fully paid.”
The people did pay and others actually gave money directly to the homeless people. The news broadcaster stood in front of their camera and said, “An event of good will has begun to take place at this Micky D restaurant. Good Samaritans are popping up all over and assisting the homeless who came here as a group looking for breakfast. Who knew we had so many good hearted people in our great city, but there is one person here today who’s pioneered this whole event.” She took Bobby aside and asked him many more questions, the reporters painted Bobby out to be some sort of hero, a religious do-gooder or something for feeding the poor.
Replying to the camera, Bobby said, “I couldn’t bear to see the people of Kingston so hungry.” He smiled from ear to ear and felt much better about his decision to pay for breakfast than ever. “I didn’t expect it to cost so much and ran out of money, but other people came; good people, and they began to pay the debt until it was fully paid. Thank you everyone!” He shouted back to the people. Bobby had no idea the whole thing would turn out so rewarding.
The news reported was thrilled by the story and tried to keep the energy up, “Tell us again, how did it feel when you saw the total you were billed?”
Now Bobby was beginning to shine up to the camera, “Whoa, when they gave me the bill my eyes popped out! I thought they were joking. I literally had to swallow my heart back down into my chest. I couldn’t have predicted an amount in the thousands.” A glow came over Bobby during his five minutes of fame. “It wasn’t until all was paid for when I experienced something profound begin to take place in my heart. It felt so good to be such a big part of everyone’s experience today.”
“Did you order any breakfast for yourself?” The reporter asked.
Sheepishly Bobby admitted, “Yes, I ordered eggs, bacon, hash browns and a small orange juice. It was delicious and I thought I was going to see it again because shortly after they gave me the bill.” Bobby felt a sense of good will move through him. It was all an experience he would treasure for the rest of his life.
After everyone had eaten their fill, they all gathered outside the restaurant. While socializing amongst themselves, Jasper raised his arms and said, “Listen up! I come from a place called Ceramecy. I invite you all to follow me. You’ll have to leave the city and all you own.”
No one responded well to Jasper’s offer. They acted like they didn’t even hear him, so he added, “Those who are chosen will hear my voice and follow me.”
Following his little announcement, Jasper lifted up Randy into his arms and began to walk away from everyone. The porcupine Demon was still bound in the silver lasso. The group of people just stood in front of the restaurant together. They weren’t sure what the scruffy blind man was talking about.
The news reporter was about to question Jasper, but had second thoughts about it. Bobby was her story. She didn’t want to get side tracked by some fool’s ramblings.
“So, now what?” One of the homeless men commented. “Is he just going to leave?”
“No, he’s invited us to follow him.” Janet said.
“He’s cuckoo.” People snickered about Jasper as the homeless didn’t understand him at all.
“It was planned.” Came another, “Feed the homeless, put it on the news. What would be better publicity for someone?”
“Yeah, they get rich but the homeless remain homeless.” A lady grumbled in frustration.
As Jasper walked away, the crowd, gathered in front of the restaurant, began to break up and wander off. Bobby kept his eyes on Jasper and wasn’t distracted by the others. “One day, when I’m an old man, do you think I’m going to regret this moment if we don’t go with him?” He asked the others.
Some of the people, like Janet, Tanya, Pastor Reed and Tessa looked on at the back of Jasper as he walked further away carrying the limp body of Randy in his arms.
“We’re always looking for something great or supernatural to come into our lives. Why is it when we finally find it we’re so quick to dismiss it. Jasper could be it. That long awaited something we’ve longed for which’ll give us meaning to why we were ever put here on this planet in the first place, but if we let him go, we’ll never know.” Added Pastor Reed. “No, I don’t just believe God is working through this man, I know it! And if I let this opportunity pass me by, God will be disappointed in me once again. No, not this time.” Pastor Reed left the others and hustled to catch up to Jasper.
“We only have one chance at this life.” Janet responded, “This whole thing might turn out to be a huge let-down, but at least I will know for sure what Jasper’s all about. I’m sorry, I agree with the preacher. I have to know for sure if Jasper is the real deal one way or the other.”
Tanya and Bobby went with Janet to support and protect their friend.
The ones who chose to pursue the truth about Jasper followed after him. This was how the Lord separated the people.
In all, Pastor Reed, Bobby, Janet, Tanya, Tessa and her mother Megan, and of course Randy were all who remained with Jasper.
“Jasper! Jasper!” Pastor Reed called out as he jogged toward him.
Jasper turned at the call of his name. He saw the Pastor taking the lead with Bobby, Tanya and Janet following behind and finally, the little girl Tessa and her mother Megan.
“Wilson, I don’t want to be responsible for the death of a child.” Jasper spoke quietly to the Angels. The Angels came in close to Jasper and Jasper continued, “Ceramecy should b
e tested. We need to be confident the place can even sustain us all comfortably. We have no idea what it will be like to survive a winter out there. It’s so remote in those woods with no way of communicating with the rest of the world.”
“Have faith, Jasper.” Wilson responded to his concerns, “If you leave this mother and her daughter to the mercies of this city, then the child will surely die.”
Jasper closed his white eyes and sent up a little prayer as the people approached him. In his prayer he gave up his worries to the Lord.
“Jasper, I want to be perfectly clear about something.” Pastor Reed started, “If any of us wish to leave at any time, from where ever it is you want to take us, we won’t hear any arguments from you.”
“Agreed.” Jasper told the group with ease. “I’m not part of any earthly organization. Like I said, the Angels lead me. You have nothing to fear. Together, you all easily out number me.”
“So, where are we going, Jasper?” Asked Bobby, bluntly.
“We’re going to a place, up until now, only I’ve known about. There, you’ll have free shelter, free food and I will have the opportunity to share with you the glorious reality of the Lord.” Jasper told them.
“I know of other Christian retreats that sound just like this.” Pastor Reed said.
“This is no Christian retreat like you’ve ever known, I can assure you. This is Ceramecy. Your instruction won’t come from man there. It’ll come directly from Heaven.” Jasper told them.
Everyone looked at one another. Jasper sure had something monumental to share with them, or he had some monumental hoax to play on them.
When Jasper wasn’t around, everyone raised their suspicions about him. They contemplated whether or not he was some kind of con-artist or even mentally unstable. He told them stories but he hadn’t shown anyone signs, visions or miracles. Still, despite their wild suspicions and because of Jasper’s sincerity, they wanted to see for themselves if he was crazy or not. The people wanted to find out just how far they would have to walk to get to Ceramecy. Jasper wanted to tell them, ‘Ceramecy is just this side of Princeton.’ But he couldn’t. Instead, Jasper repeatedly promised them, “It’ll be like paradise.” The Angels warned Jasper not to say too much or the people would leave. “Light only enough so the people can find their next step. Revealing the whole road will entice them to go their own way. Then they’d miss what God has planned for them.”
Somehow, people thought Jasper was going to show them some sort of miracle, but the true miracle was the patience Jasper found in the people.
“So, you say you can talk to Angels?” In a cocky attempt, Pastor Reed began to challenge Jasper. “Is there an Angel here, right now?”
“Yes,” Jasper answered honestly as he turned his head to follow an Angel as it glided by. “You have one floating behind you right now.”
The Pastor was quite amused by the answer and decided to play along, “Oh? What’s his name?”
Jasper chuckled, “A she, and her name is Taila.”
Leaning back and crossing his arms, Pastor Reed began to address the Angel, “Taila, okay, Taila? If you can hear me, say something to Jasper so I know you are true and not just a figment of his imaginings that he wants me to believe.”
Jasper listened to the Angels. The others listened in intently but tried to remain inconspicuous about it. They were all ready to throw in the towel along with Pastor Reed.
Losing patience, Pastor Reed quickly decided Jasper was a hoax. He was about to say something when Jasper raised his hand to silence him. “Just a moment, Pastor Reed. The Angels aren’t finished speaking just yet.”
Pastor Reed smirked and shrugged his shoulders. After letting out a breath, he decided to wait a moment more.
Finally, Jasper turned to Pastor Reed and said, “Your father; misdiagnosed; was taken before his time… and he has a message for you.”
Pastor Reed froze and his face went pale white, but he didn’t say a word. Jasper had his attention. Then he let him continue. “Jimmy, your mother and sister are here with me. We see how hard it is for you but we are encouraged by your great faith. You need to be strong now. It won’t be long. Before you know it, your life will be in order and all you’ve strived for will be yours.”
Pastor Reed began to weep. Then thoughts invaded his mind. ‘Is Jasper just that manipulative?’ Looking at Jasper with burning eyes of anger, Pastor Reed grabbed Jasper by the collar of his shirt and throttled him. “How did you know my father died? What was my sister’s name? When did she die?”
Everyone was concerned when it looked like a fight was on. The angry Pastor shook a blind man who wouldn’t defend himself. Bobby and the girls ran in to break it up, but it was clear the Pastor’s tantrum had passed and Jasper wasn’t hurt.
Jasper flopped to his knees and held one hand to his throat before saying, “Your sister’s name is Candice. She died in a vehicle accident with your mother when you were two years old. You were also in the car. It was your car seat that saved your life; at least that’s your version of the story. Actually, your guardian Angel saved you.” Careful not to get off topic, Jasper quickly said, “Your father struggled with this loss; you saw it in his eyes every day. The accident ate at him something fierce, but he loved you and took care of you. The greatest hero in your life was your father. He was your whole world. Like him you always wished to be a Pastor. Each time you looked in the mirror you saw the pain of your father’s eyes staring back at you, but he’s not in pain now and he doesn’t want you to be in pain either.”
“That’s enough, Jasper. That’s enough.” Answered Pastor Reed, still battling emotions with memories in his heart. ‘Could it be? Is Jasper really speaking to Angels? Am I missing something?’
As everyone spoke softly together, Jasper saw a Demon bind a net of skepticism over Bobby’s head, covering his eyes. Then Bobby came forward, “Um, I’m sorry, Jasper. I don’t like seeing you get roughed up at all but, I’ve seen professional psychics perform on stage and they appear so authentic but it always turns out they’re just in it for the money.”
“It’s true. When they ask for money you know it’s not real. It’s not about the money. Look at me. I have no money. If what I do is just talent, I would be on the road touring the land and making money at it.” Jasper answered.
Bobby stepped forward. He was uneasy and skeptical about Jasper’s intentions. “I want to trust you Jasper, but what about that news broadcast earlier? Are you up to something? You’ve managed to get everyone to stick around a little longer with your insight into Pastor Reed’s past, but what if I need proof that’s meaningful to me? For all I know, you and the Pastor are in on this together. You could be very good actors. Is there some other way you could convince the rest of us so we can also trust you?”
Jasper paused again to hear what the Angels had to say, “The Angels say there are many instances when they’ve tried to reveal themselves to people, but their efforts were shrugged off as ‘odd coincidences’ or ‘too fantastic to be true.’ They will try some of their techniques and I will point them out to you, but we must keep moving.”
Everyone started off down the road again; their minds; a jumble of thoughts. Mere minutes passed when Jasper pointed to the sky and said, “There, you will see the word, ‘believe,’ written in the clouds.”
“But how? Nothing but clouds blanket the entire sky.” Janet noticed.
Mere seconds later, an area of cloud opened to the blue sky beyond. Surely as predicted, letters formed and no one could dispute the word; ‘believe,’ was written across the open area.
Tanya, who was supposed to document everything, raised her cell phone and caught the image just before it dissolved. Before the group was through discussing this and observing the photo, Jasper told them, “The Angel Joel will reveal his face to you in the light reflected in this pond.”
Tanya tried to steady herself with her cell phone at the ready.
“Now!” Jasper said.
Tanya snapped
the camera and sure enough, the image of a beautiful young man was depicted smiling at them through the shimmering light of the water’s surface.
This went on as seven pictures were taken in all, depicting the faces of the six Angels. One was seen in the leaves of a tree, another in a farmer’s brush-clearing fire; in the bark of a tree with just the right lighting; a sheer rock-face and within the surface of sand from a particular angle.
The group walked miles past Maplegrove and close to the town of Canuk-eh. Without realizing the actual length of the journey, they found they had covered a great distance. Through the magical experience of finding and naming the Angels, they felt they knew them almost as well as Jasper did.