Solomon's Private File #235
These stories about Stephen and Solomon take place starting in
1950's. Stephen wrote about his life in letters to a penpal, and then
in a secure blog, in case he lost his memory again, in the master
computer in his school for gifted students, which he started attending
in 2016 in a new incarnation, until his death. Now his son Solomon is
attending the same school, and is writing in his own secure blog for
his future incarnations.
All characters are fictitious, even if some of them might have names
that belong to some actual people, or act like people we know.
Solomon is 26 in this story, in the Summer of 2052.
Solomon's Private File #235 "Out On a Limb"
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The President of the National Rifle Association asked to meet with
me. I ported him to the Navajo Nation Convention Center. After the
tour, I said, "You've made some er, discoveries." He looked
uncomfortable at that, and more at my grin. He sighed and said, "Yes.
We had more criminals among our membership than we ever considered
possible." I said, "And the gun industry has had significantly less
sales." He said, "Yes. Our people feel less need for self protection."
I said, "And even less need for membership with you, and MUCH less need
for fanatical representation." He said, "Er, yes." I said, "Am I really
to blame for that, or are you?" He said, "I see what you mean. You did
tell us you could act if we didn't support more gun control. We didn't,
and you did." I said, "And is that really a bad thing for the country?"
He said, "It isn't bad. I have to say it, you did the right thing." I
said, "You still have members and a good purpose. I'm not your enemy. I
never was." He said, "I realize that now. I apologize for what I said
before." I said, "Accepted." We hugged with love.
Family Planning asked to see me. There were a lot of people in that
conference. The spokesperson said, "We want to thank you for what you
did, however you did it, in support of our mission." I said, with a
smile, "You're welcome. How I did, whatever I did, was with love for
all. Sometimes that actually works a little. Yes, I showed them that
love would work better for them. Some then saw that as obvious. Those
who needed to hate something, still needed to use you for that, but
it's becoming less as time passes, as they see they have less and less
support and relevance." Nods of understanding.
One said, "Does God really support what we do?" I said, "That's
complicated. Can he directly support abortion? No, just like he doesn't
directly support war. He knows you are very good people who have to do
some bad things for the good of all. You have his respect and love, for
your sacrifice and dedication. Think of it this way. HE could do all
you do. He could use my abilities to do it. Even prevent the need. He
doesn't. That's our work. Therefore, he must support you, because he
makes you necessary. Oh, I can almost see the gears in your minds
engaging." Chuckles. I said, "Have no doubt. You know I speak for Him.
God DOES love you." I wrapped them in my love, and then shifted away.
Mom said, "That was a tough one." Galya said, "You were very
careful." I said, "Had to be. God doesn't at all approve of ANY
abortion, but he won't interfere with that choice, in this very
imperfect world, which he is actually responsible for in large part.
Yes, God does feel it. He DOES suffer with us and for us. I KNOW this,
personally. It's necessary, how all this is managed. But we sure don't
have to like all of it." They agreed.
A 14 year old boy was walking in the woods of Oregon. He had a rope,
and threw one end over a high limb of a tree. I said in a friendly
voice, "Hi there! Whatcha doin'?" He spun around, and said, "Who said
that?" I said, "I did. I said that. I'm saying this, too. And you're
asking. We're both saying something. I think that's what a conversation
is." He said, "Where are you? I can't see you." I said, "Sure you can.
I'm right here. You just put that long thing on one of my limbs. I'm a
tree." He looked at me in surprise, and said, "But trees can't talk!" I
said, "Oh, is that true? Am I in one of your dreams?" He said, "I'm not
dreaming." I said, "Oh. Then are you in MY dream?" He said, "Silly.
Trees can't dream!" I said, "So I can't talk, and I can't dream, and
you're talking to me like you can hear me. And you call ME silly?"
He giggled, and said, "You're right. Sorry. I wasn't thinking." I
said, "I think you were thinking about something else, so there wasn't
room in your thinker to think about me much." He looked sad, and said,
"I think so." I said, "Tell me." He said, "I don't want to talk about
it. It's private." I said, "I like private. Well, I'm here all alone,
so I'd better like it." He said, "Oh! Are you lonely?" I said, "Trees
don't know a lot of words, but if that means being alone, I was, but
now I think I'm not. You're here." He said, "True. I was lonely, but
now I'm not." I said, "You know why I was lonely. Now you can tell me
why you were." He said, "I don't have any friends." I said, "That's
bad! Ah, what are friends?" He said, "You don't know?" I said,
brightly, "I will, after you tell me." He smiled, and said, "Then I'll
have to. A friend is somebody you can talk to, who you can trust with
your secrets, and he can trust you with his. Somebody who likes you,
and does good and fun things with you. Somebody who's never mean to
you." I said, "That sounds great! How do you get one of those?" He
said, "I don't know. I've tried."
I said, "Trees don't want much, but when we do, we work to get it, no
matter how hard it is. Can take a long time, too. That root you're
sitting in. Oh, and thanks. Warm. Anyway, there was a rock in the way.
It took a lot of pushing at it, and a long time, but it moved, and my
root could grow big enough to help me to grow tall. Trees don't give
up. Do your kind give up easily?" He said, "I don't know. Am I doing
that?" I said, "You came here to be alone, didn't you? None of your
kind to be friends with here. What's the rope for? Going to make a
swing?" He said, "No, I was going to kill myself!" He cried. I said,
"Interesting. You're making it rain. Do you do that often?" He had to
giggle. He said, "No, I'm crying. It's what we do when we're sad." I
said, "That's bad. Don't be sad." He said, "How do you not be sad?" I
said, "That's easy. You think of things you like and are funny. One
time I said hello to a dear, and he jumped so high I thought he would
almost never come down." He laughed.
I said, "A happy sound. Don't do that near a dear." He laughed some
more. I said, "Am I a friend?" He said, "I think you are." I said, "I
like that. You were going to use me to kill yourself. Is that what
friends are for?" He said, "Oh no, it's not. I'm sorry. It was mean of
me." I said, "I think, more it was mean to yourself. Dying hurts really
bad. Animals here are born from bigger animals who care for them. Are
you a big one of your kind, or a little one? I've seen bigger ones,
with sticks that make loud noises." He said, "You mean adults with
guns. I'm a kid. A little one. Adults are parents. I have one, my
mother. My father died. I have a new one who doesn't like me." I said,
"I'm sad for you. Does he have kids of his own?" He said, "No." I said,
"Maybe he doesn't know how to take care of them." He said, "I didn't
think of that. A new kid he has to take care of." I said, "Sounds
scary. Big responsibility. Maybe he's trying too hard, or afraid of
doing it bad?" He said, "I didn't think of that! You're smart!" I said,
"Thanks. I'm trying to be, for you. I think that's what friends are
for."
He said, "It is." I said, "Have you been that way to other people?"
He said, "I don't think so." I said, "Oh. I think I see a way to fix
your problem. To have a friend, you have to BE a friend, but not to
have one, but to be somebody people want to be friends with." He
thought a while, and said, "I think you're right. I think I was
thinking only about myself, not about other people. I'm stupid!" I
said, "I thought you were a kid." He laughed. He hugged me. I said,
"Are you one of those they call tree huggers?" He laughed again, and
said, "No, but it's what friends do." I said, "I'd like to hug you
back, but a tree can't do that. Mind if I change into something else?"
He said, "You can do that?" I said, "Sure. Alright?"
I made it happen slowly, turning into the real me. He said,
"Solomon!" I said, "I don't know if the entire forest heard that, but I
sure did!" He laughed, and hugged me, and I gave him all my love. He
had an erection, and was embarrassed. I said, "Don't worry about that.
Happens often in my hugs. Doesn't mean a thing." He said, "Really?" I
said, "Yes. Even big macho men. Aliens, too. And some even know in
advance, and don't mind it at all. Doesn't happen every time, but
still, a lot. Happened with my father, too. It's a natural thing, er,
with that thing." He laughed. He said, "Mine can squirt. That happen in
your hugs, too?" I said, "Sometimes it does. Older than you, usually."
He said, "Even those who aren't gay?" I said, "Right. Body doesn't care
about gay or straight in my kind of love." He said, "Oh. You sure do
have a lot of it." I said, "That's why I have to share it. Too much to
keep inside me. You don't want me to explode. Make a BIG mess." He
laughed.
He said, "You really were that tree?" I said, "Yes I was. I tell you,
when you can't bite, your bark is REALLY worse." He laughed loudly. I
said, "My uncle Hawk is laughing like a crazy man." He said, "He's
watching you?" I said, "Monitoring me. He hears what I say, and what I
feel, from the inside, but the rest is private between us. But he cares
very much for you, because I do. We're all like that." He said, "I
know. I can feel it. I love you." I said, "That's great. We should all
love each other. Your parents do, and they're worried about you." He
said, "Oh! Can you tell them I'm all right?" I said, "If you ask me
to." He said, "Please do it."
I said in the air to the parents while they were about to call around
to find him, "Greetings. I'm Solomon. I'm speaking to you in the air,
because I'm with your son. He's safe and unharmed. We're having a
little talk about friendship, love, and parents. I'll bring him back
soon. I'll hear if you say something." Mother said, "Thank you,
said, "Don't, or you'll have a repeat of this. If that's what you
of other SUCCESSFUL fathers around. Ever thought of asking them how
force, only by example. Be somebody he would want to grow up to be
like, and if it's good, he just might do that. Do you love and respect
your wife?" He said, "What kind of question is that? Of course I do!" I
said, "Just checking. Try doing the same with your son. He's not used
to having you as a father, and he sure didn't choose you. YOU chose
HIM. Helping him to learn to love you, which he can, is YOUR
too, when I deserve it. Just be grateful you don't live with your
mother. Ouch! I've been double-teamed." They laughed.
I said, "Your son asked me to tell you he's alright. That's why I'm
talking to you. If he hadn't, I would have brought him to the police
station. You owe him for caring about you." He said, "I think I
understand. Thank you for all you've done." I said, "One more thing, if
you agree. I was going to give him a crystal with my love in it. But if
enough for that! What an honor!" I said, "I, a little, envy your
pleasure in doing that." Mother said, "Will you tell us where he was,
and why he left?" I said, "Only if he gives permission. I'm asking
him."
I said to him, "Your parents are asking me to tell them where you
went, and why. I said I would, only with your permission." He said, "I
don't know!" I waited. I said, "Your decision. I could tell, or you
could tell after you go home, or you could hold it all inside you.
You're of an age where you are becoming a man, and that means being
as I get home. Will you watch?" I grinned, "A compromise! You're a
tricky one." He laughed, and we traded grins. I said, "Treat people as
friend!" I said, "Right. But not pushy. Then you'd be a pushy cat, and
you don't have enough fur for that." He said, "Now I know it's really
you!" I groaned, and he laughed.
I said to the parents, "He said he's going to tell you himself. It
was a tough decision. Please respect him for it. Expect him after we
hug. I'll port him. Signing off now." I said to the boy, "Ready?" He
said, "Yes." I said, "Don't forget the rope." He said, "But I don't
want it to remind me." I said, "Who's rope is it?" He said, "Oh.
Right." He went and got it. I said, "Growing up isn't easy. It's the
tough parts that do most to make us who we are." He said, "I think I
almost understand." I said, "You will, and much more. Goodbye for now."
We hugged, and I ported him home. They hugged him with tears.
He said, "Solomon told me you asked what happened. I hope you won't
be too mad at me. This rope. I went into the woods to hang myself."
They all hugged and cried. Then he said, "I threw one end of the rope
over the limb of a tree, and was standing there, thinking, how the heck
do I do this, when the tree spoke to me! I know what you're thinking.
It actually WAS impossible!" Chuckles. He told them all but the talk of
what happened in the hug, and very well, too. They were amazed. The boy
said, "I'm not going to do that again. Talking trees! What's next,
laughing dirt?" They laughed. He said, "No, I said dirt." They laughed
some more. He said, "Alright, laughing parents are better. Cleaner!"
Chuckles.
The father said, "Solomon gave me this to give to you. It has his
love in it." The boy said, "Wow! Thank you!" He put it to his forehead,
and grinned really wide. He said, "It's got joke books in it! And how
to be friends. Second best gift, ever!" Father said, "I have to ask,
what's the best gift?" Boy said, with his arms out to both of them,
"Parents!" They hugged and cried, and there was love. And then I gave
them all, my love, too, which they returned.
Mom said, "I would never have thought of being a tree for him. Well
done!" I said, "Thanks. That was a real tree. I replaced it with myself
when he chose it, and ported it back into place when I left." Galya
said, "Oh, so that's how you did it." I said, "Figured he would talk
more freely with something not at all threatening. Big one, but I
love, Hawk included.
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Grant
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