Stephen's Secure Blog #243
These stories about Stephen began was when he was 10 years old, and
moving to a new part of the country to attend a special school for
gifted students, in the 1950's. This was from a time before computers
would fit on a desk, and when people communicated with friends in other
countries by actual letters sent through the postal service. He wrote
225 of them to a friend. He stopped writing to his penpal, but found he
still wanted to record his life, in case he lost his memory again, and
wrote 30 entries in his first logbook. Then he wrote to an artificial
intelligence called Geenee, in the master computer in his school for
gifted students, which he started attending in 2016. Now it's after
2018, and he's continuing to save his memories in a secure blog.
All characters are fictitious, even if some of them might have names
that belong to some actual people, or act like people we know.
The stories may not be posted in chronological order.
Stephen is 16 in this story, in the Fall of year 7 of his special
school.
Stephen's Secure Blog #243 "Second Show in Thailand"
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We had some supper in the staging room. Soon after that, the
orchestra conductor came in. I asked him about the Anthem. He said "I
would like to do it, but I'm very reluctant to change the program. It
throws off the musicians." We agreed the dance band would do it, which
they were very happy about. The hotel manager came in, and we exchanged
some friendly things. Then I said, "Your assistant was chewing his
fingernails so much, he might not be hungry for days." He laughed. I
said "I had trouble keeping him out of the way. He was making everybody
nervous. I mentioned it to the TV station manager, who had some words
with him on my behalf, and he crawled away like a puppy who had been
caught making a mess on the floor, which I think he almost did." He
laughed so hard, I was afraid he might hurt himself. He said "I don't
think I'll tell him that, but thank you for the humor." I grinned, and
said, "You're welcome!"
Soon, the band and orchestra were in place and tuned. While we waited
for the doors to open, I played some ragtime things on the piano. I
went over to see Srinoy and his parents. They were very happy about the
news he had told them. I grinned a lot. I greeted the museum director
and his wife. Then there was a problem. Armed men in uniform came into
the room. I asked them why they were there, but they wouldn't talk to
me. I said very loudly, "STOP! There will be no weapons in this room.
If you don't leave immediately, I will remove you." They ignored me. I
ported them to outside the hotel entrance. They ran back inside, with
guns in their hands, and I ported them back again. A man came up to me
and said, "Who are you?" I said "I am Stephen, and this is my show." He
said "I am the assistant for the Prime Minister. We need to have the
guards here." I said "I will guarantee the safety of everybody in this
room. If you want the guards, who will NOT be necessary, they must
leave their weapons somewhere else." He said "That is unacceptable." I
said "There will be no weapons in this room. I will not allow it. If
you make more trouble, the show will be canceled. I don't think your
boss would want to be responsible for that." He said, "I don't think
you will cancel your show." I grinned, and said, "I won't have to. Your
boss might, because if he wants his guards with him, with guns, I won't
let him in, either." He said "You can't do that." I said "But I am
doing that right now. I suggest you go out there and explain the
situation to him." He said "You will come with me." Then he tried to
grab my arm.
I held him still with a 4th hand. I whispered to him, "Pay close
attention. I'm trying to save your life. Do you know how many millions
of Buddhists would kill you for trying to touch me without my
permission? I would not like that to happen. I suggest, when I release
you, that you do as I suggested, and very carefully." He whispered "Who
ARE you?" I said "I told you. Please try to listen, this time. I am
Stephen. Also known as The Master Teacher, who gave his love to the
world. Now go." I released him, and he stumbled away in shock. Hawk was
almost choking to death, trying not to laugh. Rose poking him, really
didn't help. The assistant went out the door, and came back in a minute
later. He bowed very low to me, which I returned not nearly as low,
which he noticed. He said "The Prime Minister agrees that his guards
will not have guns with him." I said "Then he may enter. It would be
nice, and POLITE, if all in his group actually have tickets. If the
guards bother anybody who DOES have a ticket, or if they get in the
way, or do anything else I don't like, I will remove those who do that.
And their clothes." He went back outside. Hawk couldn't keep quiet, and
had to cover his mouth tightly. It didn't work well. I said to him,
"I'm not sure I like your new instrument." Then he almost collapsed to
the floor, laughing his head off. Rose couldn't keep from grinning.
Chad had better control, but just barely.
I went back to the piano, playing more rags. The Prime Minister came
in, and I nodded to him and grinned, and he returned that. His guards
stood along the back wall, looking nervous. One couldn't get in the
door. I called out to the assistant by his name, and said, "I said no
guns. That guard has one strapped to his leg. Is this how you keep your
word? I've removed the leg of his trousers so you can see it for
yourself. I told you what I would do. Now he is outside the hotel,
without his possessions, which are now where he lives, and he's looking
very embarrassed. He might want to go home for his things, but I'm not
sure a taxi will want his business, in his er, undressed state." Some
people laughed, including the Prime Minister.
When the hotel manager signaled the hall was clear, I stood, and he
closed the doors. I moved to the center of the stage, and said in Thai
and English, "I will be speaking in the language of Thailand, and will
sing in some other languages, but all of you will understand my words
in the language most known to you, whatever that may be. If you do not,
please tell me, and I will include that language in this process." One
said in English, "Swedish." I copied the language from his speech
center, and added it to my own. I said "Is it working now?" He grinned
and said in Swedish, "Yes, and thank you." I said "Lovely language. I
had not learned that one before. Thank you for giving it to me. Are
there any more who need help?" Silence. I nodded, and said, "I love
Thailand and its people. I hope the people with two legs don't have a
problem with my including the elephants in that. I love them, too. I
have been treated so well here, but that's to be expected of a Buddhist
country. This is where my love to the world started from, and that is
why I have chosen to start my music here. My love tells me to. It will
be an honor and a privilege for me to sing the National Anthem of
Thailand for you here tonight." I said proudly, "All please stand, for
the National Anthem of Thailand!" Some were very surprised at that, but
they all stood. The dance band started, and I sang it with all my
heart. There was good applause when we finished, and they sat down.
I said "The first selection of music we will play for you tonight, is
the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in E-minor. Er, after I go get my
violin." Some chuckles. I did get it, and checked the tuning. I nodded
to the conductor, and we began. We played really well, and received a
lot of applause. We had to bow a lot. Then I announced, "Next, I will
play on the piano, an original composition I have named 'Over the
Horizon'. I composed it in this country. I hope you like it, in this,
its first public performance." I played it. I stood and bowed in
silence, then there was thunderous applause, and soon all were
standing, still applauding. I bowed a lot. After a long while, I was
able to be heard, and said "After that, I think we all deserve an
intermission. Please be back in fifteen minutes." While that was in
progress, the Prime Minister came up to me and introduced himself. We
bowed. I said "I apologize for the incident of the guards." He said "So
do I." We grinned at each other. He said "You were serious about loving
my country?" I said "Absolutely! Wonderful people! Wonderful elephants!
I have to like the religion. I wouldn't have made the shield, which I
have not done for any other country, if I didn't love Thailand." He
said "Are you a citizen of The United States?" I said "Yes, and also of
Belize, which if you are not familiar with it, is a small country in
Central America. I have something like citizenship with the Native
American Navajo Nation. They adopted me into their Tribe, and named me
one of their own. And I have citizenships in other VERY far away
places, which can't be seen even in the darkest of nights." He said
"Yes, I have been informed of your other activities on behalf of er,
us, for which I thank you VERY much!" I said "You're very welcome. It
is my honor to serve."
He said "I know of your goal, but that doesn't seem to be in
compliance with your group's policy." I said "You are correct. It
isn't. This is my personal task. I didn't ask for it, but I was ordered
to do it." He said "Who could order you, the most powerful being in the
galaxy?" I said "They who allow me to remain in this form, in my last
life, and delay joining them." His jaw dropped open in astonishment. I
said "I did not always look like this. I was changed by them,
instantly, in the ceremony in Chiang Mai, when I gave my love to the
world, and was given the task. I get occasional pokes from them, when
they want show me they approve of something I was thinking of,
regarding my task, which some others in my company have felt, too. I
find that quite annoying, which amuses them." He said "Wow!" I said "I
hear that a lot." He laughed, and I grinned.
I said "Much of our knowledge and training, which forms the basis of
who we are, has come, in part, from Tibet. They still have the ability
to learn to do so some of what we can do. If the Chinese push them too
far, some Adepts in Tibet may turn to The Dark Path, and cause a
terrible disaster on Earth. Only we can stop that, so we must. So, I
have come out in the open, with something of who I am, to help in my
task, because I may not act against people for just disagreeing with
me. I am trying to make what I need to happen, so obviously inevitable,
that it will be practically unopposed, when it eventually does happen."
He said "That might actually work. I sincerely hope it does. I promise
all the support Thailand can give you in this." I said "No! You must
not. I do not want even one inch of this country, and its people,
harmed in any way. Never!" My tears surprised him. I said "I must do
this on my own. Interference with my plans might actually cause harm to
my goal. But I thank you very much for your kind offer. No person or
instrument I didn't want to hear our conversation, has heard it. I
should tell you something of my plans. If we can, we will be doing at
least one more concert here, probably after the start of the new year,
featuring a young Thai soloist. I see the people are returning." We
bowed, and he went back to his chair.
When we were all ready, I said, "Next, I will sing in the original
Giuseppe Verde." I got in the mood, and nodded to the conductor, who
started. I sang it in character, with a lot of gusto. I didn't need a
PA system, because I could project my voice very well. After we were
done, there was another standing ovation. We bowed a lot. Then the
orchestra left, and went to the ready room, and the dance band, who
hadn't left, picked up their instruments, and Hawk and Rose joined
them. I announced, "Next, we will play two songs from Benny Goodman,
'Don't Be That Way', and 'Sing, sing, Sing', with the Siam Hotel Dance
Band, and two guest soloists. They are Rose and Hawk RedCloud, of the
Navajo. They represent the 'Native Americans for Endangered Native
Peoples' organization, which is dedicated to supporting native peoples
who are being pushed off their land, and or are forced to become people
who they are not, by people who are not of that land, who have the
power to enforce their will on others who are less powerful. It
happened to them in the past, being the people who lived in what is now
America, before the Europeans came there and took away almost
everything from them. I support them and their goals, because I think
they are right and just, and because they support Tibet, a Buddhist
country which is being deliberately destroyed by their conquerers. The
proceeds from this concert will go to their charity. Thank you for your
contribution." I took up my clarinet, and we started, and it went
really well, and the solos were terrific. We received standing ovations
again, and I made Rose and Hawk bow alone for their due.
Then the orchestra filed back in. While that was happening, I told
the audience some things about Tibet; its history and religious
teachings. Then I said, "For our last selection, I will sing the love
song from the movie, 'The Godfather', 'Speak Softly Love', in English."
I turned to the conductor, and when he was ready, he started the
introduction, and then I sang with all my heart. When it was over,
there was dead silence, and then some really loud applause. I bowed. I
gestured for the orchestra to rise, and they bowed, too. Then I bowed
again, and then walked off the stage. I had to come back again, and I
bowed. I raised my hand, "Well, one very last thing." They settled
down, and resumed their seats. Rose brought my violin to me, and we
bowed to each other. I played my usual encore, with all my heart. I was
glowing by the time I finished, and wrapping them in my love, which
spread to all of Thailand. Rose took my violin, and I raised my arms,
and said in a strange and powerful voice, "May all you believe is holy,
bless you with their love and care. Thank you for allowing me to give
you some moments of pleasure, and my love. Farewell, my friends, till
we meet again." I bowed, and when I straightened up, I made my silvery
disappearance act, porting to the staging room, and then let my love
die down. They still applauded, even though some were a little startled
and confused. Finally, they started walking out.
Immediately there was a meeting with the hotel manager, the TV
station manager, Chad, and myself. We didn't care if others heard, and
they did listen. We discussed the next concert, and what it could have
in it, and when. And we discussed my talk on Thai TV, which will not be
live. The Prime Minister came in and listened to that too. When we were
finished, he came over to me and congratulated me on my performances,
for which I graciously thanked him. Then he left, looking thoughtful.
Then we musicians had a great jam session until late morning. Then I
met privately with Chad, and gave him my memory of my discussion with
the Prime Minister. Then I said, "I know he's going to do something,
even though I asked him not to. He can't help it." Chad nodded, and
said, "Probably make you a citizen, to start." I said "Probably. That
wouldn't hurt in itself, but it might set a precedent which other
countries might want copy, but worse, highlight some which won't." He
said "Something we will just have to accept. We can't refuse a Buddhist
country." I said "Right. Are you going to market the show to the US?"
He said "Well, I had viewpoints set to record in HD, at the best sound
quality possible. I can edit it and put in captions. It would be a
shame to waste all that work." I said with a grin, "It sure would!" He
looked a little uncertain if I approved of that. I said "Networks would
pay, but I favor PBS. Try for them first?" He said "Absolutely!" We
laughed and hugged.
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Grant
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