[Softly, Colorless]
We stood in the cloud covered mountaintop of the Always Sunny Monastery.
“I’m brother Bing Shao, we have quarters prepared for you. I’m so happy that you found the shortcut. Please follow me.”
We followed him a short distance.
“This hut here is for the women, this one here is for the men. We live a simple life here but we do hope you are comfortable. Food will be brought for you shortly and you will meet with the master in the morning.”
“Is it always this cloudy Brother Bing?”
“No Jaq, it is always sunny here, the mountain rises above the clouds. If you see clouds, do not be concerned. I’m sure after talking to the master tomorrow, the clouds will be gone.”
“Brother Bing, I’m sorry I just realized that we never gave you our names.”
“We have eagerly been following your progress through the tower Jaq, you are all known to us. Draco Lord Dragon. The Monkey King Groucho. The Beautiful Model Frida. The Master Potter Harry. The Agnostic Lesbian Jaq. The Cute and Playful Demon Nyx.”
Nyxi hissed at Bing.
“Come now Nyx, you have to trust Jaq and Frida. You want them to trust you do you not? You are welcome here, Demon Lord. We do not value Angels above Demons, to us you are two sides of the same coin.”
Bing scratched Nyxi under her chin, pop, Nyx sat crossed legged in front of the brother.
“You monks are constantly ruining my fun.”
“Come now Nyx, trust and honesty, go hand and hand.”
“Wait Nyx you’ve been Nyxi the whole time.”
“Yes Jaq, catchup, remember when I said to Cheryl.
“Good, just remember the agnostic, lesbian is under my protection, none of you are allowed to make fun of her admittedly tiny breasts. Do we all understand each other?”
How can I protect you? If I’m not around you, what is the easiest way to be around you, a cat! Didn’t you wonder why Literal Heaven had no effect on me. That narcissistic God had no power over me. The only magic in the system was in Peter’s waiting room, that’s where you all were transformed. But you were never in any danger, the god himself had no power, no magic, you knew that though, otherwise an open rebellion would never have worked. Once you leave that tower floor its magic would be reversed by the tower itself.”
“But you sleep with Frida and I.”
“Yes it’s glorious, who doesn’t enjoy a good cuddle. Just look at a basket of kittens all rolling around with each other and tell me that’s not the high point of life.”
“You watch us have sex.”
“No Jaq, she never did, whenever we would start to do anything Nyxi always left the room. I thought it was because she was afraid we were hurting each other, but this makes a lot more sense. Thank you for saving me from Other Jaq, Nyx.”
“See isn’t that better having it all out in the open Nyx, I think Jaq just knew instinctively she did name you Nyxi. Now Frida you don’t have to be jealous of Nyx anymore.”
“Ah, you were jealous of me Frida?”
“Yes you two are awfully close.”
“But Jaq’s tiny breasts just aren’t attractive to me, now you on the other hand have some impressive knockers.”
“See that’s just what I’ve been saying, Jaq is flat as a board. But Frida, I will never forget that time she flashed me, picture perfect melons.” Groucho added.
Brother Bing gave a belly laugh. “I’m so glad you have all come, your food will be brought soon. The master will call for you individually early tomorrow morning.”
I felt self conscious going into the hut. Three futons were placed on the floor equidistant apart. Frida took charge right away, dragging two of the futons together. Then she turned to Nyx and said. “Hurry up and transform, we’ll never all fit if you remain demon sized.
Frida stripped and got under the futon, she held the covers up for a second before Nyxi dove underneath them. I could hear her purring, as Frida scratched her under the chin.
“Come on Jaq, strip and get in here with us, I always sleep best when the three of us are tangled up in each other.”
It was cool in the hut, not cold, but still I stripped off my clothes quickly and ducked under the covers, it was already warm and cozy.
“We love you Nyx, don’t we Jaq?”
“Yes Nyx, we do, we really do.”
The purring was so loud, it kept me awake. But I didn’t mind because it was really true. I loved Nyx but not like I loved Frida, I just loved her.
It was still dark when a young nun brought in a cast iron pot of barley tea and three cups.
“Jaq, I’m sorry if I woke you but the master is a very early riser, he’ll be ready for you in about fifteen minutes. I thought you might like a cup of tea and a minute to compose yourself.”
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“Thank you sister.”
“My pleasure, we have all enjoyed your tower journey so much. Anything you wish for, if it is in our power to grant we will.”
“Perhaps just a moment of your time sister.”
“Certainly, Jaq.”
“Are you happy here sister?”
“Very much so Jaq, I have everything that I need, food, a safe place to live and a large group of friends, just what I need according to Epicurious, Friends, Freedom, and Thought/Tranquility.”
“What if you want to leave?”
“Then I just walk down the hill, but you please do not feel trapped here. Please come with me, I’ll show you and explain.”
I followed her a short distance through the mist, to a spot where a glowing portal hung in the air.
“We set this up, when you entered the road, it’s a portal to the entrance of the Tregaron. Please test it, so that you can assure the others, you are not trapped here. You may come and go at any time.”
“Thank you sister, but I would be a poor guest if I did not trust my host.”
“True but wouldn’t a rationalist want to test a proof of friendship, come let’s go together, for I’ve always wondered what it’s like to move from one place to another through a portal.”
“As you wish.”
She took my hand and we stepped through right into Tregaron. Then we spun around and stepped back to the monastery.
“That is amazing like walking, but so fast you don’t remember the individual steps.”
“That’s a very interesting way of putting it. Sister”
“Well I should bring you to the master.”
“Lead on sister.”
I was shown into an older slightly more worn version but just as spotlessly clean, as the hut, we’d been given to sleep in. A very old man sat on a cushion, smiling at me.
“Good morning Jaq, would you like some jasmine tea? I’m Brother Chow.”
“Yes please brother, but I thought that I was to meet with the master.”
“Yes, indeed, the young novices do call me that but my name is Brother Chow, so please call me Brother, or Chow anything but master.”
“As you wish Brother, again I’m surprised, I thought we’d meet in your church or temple.”
“We have nothing to worship, so no need for a temple or church. We do have a meditation hall, but quiet is encouraged so as not to disturb the others who are meditating. We can sit outside for frankly that is the most amazing place within the boundaries of the monastery. Later this morning I’ll have one of the sisters take you to the place that both the brothers and the sisters enjoy the most. But you have something you really want to know don’t you?”
“Yes Brother, I do, I’m searching for my granddad, I’m hoping he is here or you have some news of him.”
“I wish that I could produce him for you Jaq, but he departed a year ago. He stayed for a year studying meditation under Brother Bing. I have a gift for each of your group. For you I offer a month of meditation practice with Brother Chow, don’t worry about how long you are here. You could stay for ten years or a hundred but when you jump through that portal, only one day will have passed in Tregaron. You still have the highest floors of the tower to traverse to locate Henry. Brother Bing will teach you to control your ADHD much more effectively than simple meditation. I hope you’ll consider staying.”
“Thank you Brother Chow, I’ll discuss it with the others.”
“That right there is what makes you a fine leader, would you mind guiding Frida here to my hut.”
“I’ll try or I’ll try to find a Sister to help.”
“I assure you that you’ll have no problem guiding her.”
He was right, I walked out into the brilliant sunshine. The only clouds I could see were well below us in height, clouds looked the same looking up or looking down but it still felt special to be looking down on something I’d always looked up to before.
I went to our hut as if we’d lived here for years and asked Frida if she was ready to meet Brother Chow.
“Jaq, how can you make out which way to go, stuck in this cloud?”
“I’m not sure, something Brother Chow did I believe.”
When we got to the hut, I brought Frida in and introduced her to Brother Chow. As I was exiting the smiling Brother Bing walked up to me.
“Jaq, the master said that he wants me to give you a quick meditation lesson, so that when your group talks about staying for a little while you’ll have some idea of what we are offering. We liked Henry very much and were sorry to see him go, we wish to help each member of your group because you are searching for him. We don’t offer magic or super powers, just honing the talents that you already possess. Just think of this meditation session as a sample. Groucho, Harry and Nyx will also be offered guidance. Groucho in defense, Harry in pottery, and Nyx in openness and honesty. Frida the sisters wish to learn from, poise, self assurance and assertiveness. Draco we will ask that he gives us guidance on philosophy, it’s not very often that a Dragon Lord drops by.”
“I’d be honored Brother Bing for any instruction on meditation you could offer me. My mind is often more chaotic than Groucho.”
“I like it Jaq, monkey mind is a thing, but you have been meditating for quite a while, I’d gradually like to introduce techniques in jhana, Vipassana, and samadhi. To achieve deeper levels of concentration. If you can achieve jhana I believe even shorter periods of meditation will give you more control over your ADHD. Often things in the tower are happening so fast you don’t have time for the focused meditation you can do at home.”
We walked over to the meditation hall, it was the nicest building I’d seen so far here at the monastery. It had four massive poles at each corner then sliding doors on all four sides. All the doors were open, in that respect and only that respect it reminded me of the churches in Literal Heaven. But while the hall was wide open right now it could just as easily be closed and as I was told, often was during the winter months. The floor was polished wood, brothers and sisters sat on their own cushions, eyes closed or half open glancing down. There was no sound to be heard in the hall.
Two hours later I left the hall refreshed and as focused, as I’ve ever been in my life. There was no doubt that studying meditation here would be life changing for me. But what’s the catch?
