more potholes on their way to the end of the street. Two blocks down they pulled up in front of a two-story vinyl-sided house with a front porch covered in vines. The house was big for the lot; strips of grass on each side were all that constituted a yard. The asphalt driveway was crammed with four cars; other cars lined the street on either side, belonging to who-knew-what homes. Although the house looked old, it and the yard belonging to it were neat and clean—less rundown, overall, than any of the surrounding homes.
Chris found a place to park a few houses down, and all four piled out of the truck. Richard cleared his throat. “Well, we’re here.”
With a nod to Mary, Richard took the lead. Chris and Tyler fell in behind them, Tyler feeling particularly conspicuous. Could anyone in this distinctly city neighbourhood tell how much he and Chris didn’t belong here? They were fishermen and village boys through and through. Thank God.
As they turned up the crowded driveway to the front door, Richard paused, looked over at Mary again, and then addressed the boys. “I think it’s best if you don’t mention Reese,” he said. “Perhaps not Patrick either. In fact, maybe you’d better let Mary and I do all the talking.”
“Fine with us,” Chris said, and Tyler nodded. He wasn’t sure what in the world he would say to these people anyway.
Richard rang the bell, and the foursome stood back to wait for someone to come to the door. It was while they waited that Tyler became aware of a sensation in the air—something much like what he had felt sitting next to Richard, but not quite so expansive. It was like something was present and active in the atmosphere all around them, but whatever it was could not be seen or heard, only felt. He glanced at Chris but couldn’t tell what his friend was feeling or thinking.
Tyler narrowed his eyes and focused on the front door. The Oneness was unnerving. He wasn’t sure he liked this introduction into their world—or the fact that it seemed his world and theirs were one and the same, and he had simply been unaware of it up until now.
The door swung open, and the sensation grew so strong that Tyler took a step back to avoid being knocked off his feet. And he knew what it was.
Personality.
For an instant there in the driveway, edged up against a faded blue Volvo, he could feel the force of a personality shaped and infused by the power of individual souls linked together, still distinct yet One. It knocked the wind from his lungs.
“Won’t you come in?” the young woman in the door asked.
Richard and Mary had already stepped inside. Chris was following but had paused on the doorstep to see what was keeping Tyler.
“Yeah … thanks, I’m coming,” he managed.
The tidal wave of personality had somehow ebbed. He was aware of it still there, still surging in the air like water, but it was beyond his reach again. The house seemed quiet when he stepped inside.
Beyond a narrow entryway full of running shoes and rubber boots, lined with a long horizontal coat rack that was mostly empty thanks to the time of year, the house widened into a common room. It looked as though every possible wall had been knocked out in order to open up the floor. Couches, arranged in square configurations, surrounded several coffee tables. Chairs and reading lamps took up corners. There was plenty of floor space left over. Some of the seating was occupied; six people looked up with curious, welcoming eyes as the newcomers entered.
A middle-aged man wearing a grey sweater and glasses approached, holding out his hand. He shook Richard’s hand warmly, greeted Mary like a long-lost sister, and welcomed Chris and Tyler. “I’m David,” he said. “Please, come have a seat. Sharon’s gone to make you coffee … or would you prefer something else?”
“Coffee’s fine, thank you,” Mary said, and the others nodded. “We can’t stay long.”
“Well, I must say I’m surprised to see you. It
Chris found a place to park a few houses down, and all four piled out of the truck. Richard cleared his throat. “Well, we’re here.”
With a nod to Mary, Richard took the lead. Chris and Tyler fell in behind them, Tyler feeling particularly conspicuous. Could anyone in this distinctly city neighbourhood tell how much he and Chris didn’t belong here? They were fishermen and village boys through and through. Thank God.
As they turned up the crowded driveway to the front door, Richard paused, looked over at Mary again, and then addressed the boys. “I think it’s best if you don’t mention Reese,” he said. “Perhaps not Patrick either. In fact, maybe you’d better let Mary and I do all the talking.”
“Fine with us,” Chris said, and Tyler nodded. He wasn’t sure what in the world he would say to these people anyway.
Richard rang the bell, and the foursome stood back to wait for someone to come to the door. It was while they waited that Tyler became aware of a sensation in the air—something much like what he had felt sitting next to Richard, but not quite so expansive. It was like something was present and active in the atmosphere all around them, but whatever it was could not be seen or heard, only felt. He glanced at Chris but couldn’t tell what his friend was feeling or thinking.
Tyler narrowed his eyes and focused on the front door. The Oneness was unnerving. He wasn’t sure he liked this introduction into their world—or the fact that it seemed his world and theirs were one and the same, and he had simply been unaware of it up until now.
The door swung open, and the sensation grew so strong that Tyler took a step back to avoid being knocked off his feet. And he knew what it was.
Personality.
For an instant there in the driveway, edged up against a faded blue Volvo, he could feel the force of a personality shaped and infused by the power of individual souls linked together, still distinct yet One. It knocked the wind from his lungs.
“Won’t you come in?” the young woman in the door asked.
Richard and Mary had already stepped inside. Chris was following but had paused on the doorstep to see what was keeping Tyler.
“Yeah … thanks, I’m coming,” he managed.
The tidal wave of personality had somehow ebbed. He was aware of it still there, still surging in the air like water, but it was beyond his reach again. The house seemed quiet when he stepped inside.
Beyond a narrow entryway full of running shoes and rubber boots, lined with a long horizontal coat rack that was mostly empty thanks to the time of year, the house widened into a common room. It looked as though every possible wall had been knocked out in order to open up the floor. Couches, arranged in square configurations, surrounded several coffee tables. Chairs and reading lamps took up corners. There was plenty of floor space left over. Some of the seating was occupied; six people looked up with curious, welcoming eyes as the newcomers entered.
A middle-aged man wearing a grey sweater and glasses approached, holding out his hand. He shook Richard’s hand warmly, greeted Mary like a long-lost sister, and welcomed Chris and Tyler. “I’m David,” he said. “Please, come have a seat. Sharon’s gone to make you coffee … or would you prefer something else?”
“Coffee’s fine, thank you,” Mary said, and the others nodded. “We can’t stay long.”
“Well, I must say I’m surprised to see you. It
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