Golden Anniversary.

As the flag reached the top of the pole, the uniformed official lifted both arms upwards and outwards in the salute of the Planetary Supervisors Association. A resonant roar built to a crescendo and he bowed his head as two star class fighter rockets flashed overhead, their titanium based wings sucking in the sun’s glow and throwing it as diamond like sparkles to pattern the watching crowd.

The noise faded into the distance and he turned back to the podium and adjusted the microphone. “Ladies and gentlemen, I first saw that happen when I was six year’s old and the noise made me cry for hours.” He pushed his uniform cap backwards letting the light touch his lined brow. “Now, I welcome you to the golden anniversary of the population of this planet. I shall not dwell on the reasons for the demise of earth and the nuclear havoc caused by warring nations in their Middle East. Awareness of what occurred is both taught to our children and analysed by adults on a daily basis.”

He touched the mask that hung suspended in front of his throat. “When America first discovered Planet 650/Alpha, we had no idea that simultaneously Unified Europe had developed an inter planetary transit vehicle. Fifty years ago a fleet of ten of these tpts as we call them left a ravaged, war torn earth for here.” He paused, holding the mask across his mouth for a while. Then as a murmur of approval spread through the crowd, he smiled. “Not quite identical to earth’s atmosphere, but an occasional three second burst from this little baby and we can manage fine.” He opened his arms and shrugged. “Okay, our sports activities must all take place indoors. Never made any difference for darts and snooker players, though.” He waited for the laughter to die down. “Fifty years. And yes, today is more than a golden anniversary. It is a celebration of fifty glorious years of living on this planet.” The applause ran for several minutes until he raised his arms. “As you all know, we have decided 650/Alpha is not the most appealing title for our world. The competition to find an acceptable designation has now finished and we have chosen fifty possible conclusions from which to select.”

He pointed to the office on his left from where a group of uniformed personnel were walking across the grass. In front of them six children encircled a teenage girl in a green flowing dress and carrying a brightly coloured box. As they reached the podium, the children formed a half ring around her. Dipping her head in acknowledgement, she extended the box towards the speaker. With a smile he shook his head. Then, holding a finger to his lips, he turned to the lad closest to him, took his arm and led him to the box. Bending his head, he whispered to the youngster who looked embarrassed. Then he plunged his hand into the box and removed a card. As the crowd clapped and cheered, he scurried back to his place and stared at his feet.

“My friends,” the official held the mic and stared at the card. A smile spread across his face. “Ladies and gentlemen, this is our world, our environment, where we live…”

A voice shouted from the third row of the audience, “Get on with it then.”

Laughter erupted and the official dipped his head before laughing back. “I reckon you all know what was in my speech. I only have one word for you and that is..” He paused, then coughed gently, “…Rebirth. That is the new name for our planet, Rebirth.”

A chorus of approval swelled into cheers and shouts of joy. The little boy who’d chosen the card ran to his mother who sat at the front of the audience. The official nodded wisely; the two fighter rockets roared overhead again and the newspaper editor wondered whether to use ‘Born again’ or ‘birthday’ for his morning headlines. Perhaps, he thought, why not just Golden Anniversary.

WAKING TO DREAM

I've decided to add some of the short stories I've been writing. If you like them, please let me know


WAKING INTO DREAMS

It must have been around one am when we both dropped off to sleep. It was a warm June night and both of us had felt a gentle breeze whisper through our open window and touch our sweating bodies with a ripple of shivers. Another shower was out of the question. The pulsing rhythm of a power jet had turned the evening’s second spell beneath the cascade into a frenzied bout of love making, our bodies becoming as one as we’d twisted and moved in harmony with the dynamic forces pouring from the chrome shower head.

Now Jeannie sighed with contentment as we both slipped into dreams. Immediately in the fantasy world I became aware that I was holding her hand and leading her forward along a grassy green track that seemed to hover below our feet. A gently flowing stream trickling over and around small water worn rocks brought a flash of memory from earlier in the evening, but instead of a frantic coupling of bodies a gentle sense of belonging to and with Jeannie transmuted the thought into harmonious amusement and we both turned and smiled into one another’s eyes.

I looked forward again and saw as though surrounded by a misty halo a lady riding side saddle on a large brown horse. As the horse slowly drew closer its right leg found a stone on the path and began tapping a cadence on the harder surface giving resonance to the air around us that almost hummed with an electric vitality.

Nervously glancing round I saw Jeannie was now behind me, bending towards the ground, holding her hands beneath the pink and red flowered dress she wore, pulling its lacy hem sideways and slightly backwards. With a shock I realised she was trying to curtsey. My mouth must have been gaping wide as I swung back towards the horse and its awesome rider.

Ultimate power with a pure spiritual essence I have never before imagined could exist, sent shivers through my mind, drawing out my inner psyche, inspecting both its faults and what I feel is my better side. Then as though a light switch had been flicked upwards, the laser like intensity faded and I could look at the crowned rider in her swirling blue robes.

Her pale face inclined downwards slightly, her brow lifting into two frown lines as though questioning why we should have trespassed into her domain. An intangible authority radiated dominance without any need for the sparkling diadem encircling her auburn hair. Swirling cobalt blue spun through her robe as flashes of gold reflected the radiant sun that gave a slight shadow on her hidden side. I looked into her eyes and to this day many years later I still cannot attempt to describe their colour. Suffice it to say they twinkled, flashed, smiled, frowned and saw what mortal eyes can never comprehend, all aspects occurring simultaneously.

With a voice gentle, calm, but all knowing, she asked “With what purpose travel you to these realms?” her barely moving lips giving a slightly old world turn to the question.

“To learn of mystic pathways”, I replied, reaching for Jeannie’s hand as she too stared in utter fascination. “To move forward along the evolutionary streams and to serve the source of light”

“You have much to learn, but you will always be welcome here.” A sparkling diamond in a form never seen in our world hovered just above her breasts. Her left hand glittered with jewels that seemed to cascade over and around her fingers as she reached for and touched the diamond before upturning and extending it in my direction. It was as though tiny fireflies glinted and flashed.

“My lady, I thank you” I said, giving a tiny bow. The horse snorted, almost in derision, as I continued, “We both acknowledge your majesty, your power and your wisdom. May we ever serve you, in honour and glory?”

I flashed a glance at Jeannie who looked totally mesmerised. “May we now leave you in peace?”

This time as her words sounded in our ears, I swear there was no movement whatsoever in her pale lips, but the words resonated with a powerful echo. “Return to your world, where together you will share your life. Think always of me, The Lady of the Sceptres, who will guide and teach the two of you.”

As she said the word sceptre a garland of glittering stars sparkled where the diadem had been. From the diamond around her throat tiny sparkles of golden light cascaded towards us and flickered around our bodies. Then the horse grunted once more, shook his head and slowly turned, powerful thighs tensing ready for a journey. Once more he looked back at us and I still think that this time he winked before the whole scene vanished.

A ray of sunlight popped through the leaves of the oak tree outside my window. Pushing down with my hand to twist my body upwards I looked down at Jeannie, breathing softly in sleep. I kissed her brow and then let the forefinger on my other hand rest gently on her left breast, circling the nipple which hardened to my touch. Moving my finger back towards me I traced a straight line until reaching the other beautiful symbol of femininity, but this time as I touched the nipple, my thumb joined in to give a gentle squeeze.

One eye flickered half open, so moving closer I blew softly onto her beautiful red lips which glistened where her tongue had gently touched them as she awoke. Both eyes were open now and smiling up at me.
Now I knew that together we would travel this world in love and adventure and that the mystic cord which had spiralled around us, would last long after this incarnation and lead us ever forward into time and space.