It Happened In Church - October 19, 1962
Chapter Ninety Eight - Marie passes
January 1, 2020
The Family gathered for their First Day Celebration. It was the first bright sunny day after a heavy snow a few days earlier.
There were outdoor activities. John demonstrated the fine art of frozen cow pie throwing to the feigned disgust of the women folk. There was the annual atlatl competition where children of all ages lined up to win “Grandpa John’s Gold”. John posted an ounce prize in each age competition for the best hurl. That was defined as hitting the target the size of the coin from the longest distance. John playfully groused as “going to the poor house” as he was relieved of coin after coin. He got a thrill out of the littlest one, who were barely potty trained, hurling and had no idea what an ounce was. The youngsters really put heart and soul into. Losers got a hug from Marie and a “you’ll practice and do better next year” from John. Finally, the crowd hooted as Marie got out to compete in her age group. She was alone. John complained bitterly that “it wasn’t fair” and “he’d been supporting her all her life”. Ever the vamp, she, of course, nailed the target, collected her coin, made a big show of putting it in her bra, and telling John “to come up a see me tonight about getting it back”. This horrified and embarrassed her oldest children. Got a big laugh from everyone else. And, several of the young winners went to “offer John his coin back so he didn’t have to steal Grandma Marie’s”. John got great glee out of explaining that it was Grandma Marie’s idea of a joke. And, that they should insist their mommy explain it to them. Great fun.
There were inside activities. News was shared. Chloe announced the Luke was going to be a daddy. Songs were sung, prayers offered, games played.
Marie happened to be watching Gee3 and Bee3 when Chloe broke the news. They were holding hands as they usually did. Marie wanted to remember to ask the UVT docs about that. They did it almost naturally. She saw no indication that they were coding. They seemed agitated for a moment.
When the opportunity presented itself, she drew them aside and asked: “What’s wrong?” Bee3 stood mute; his eyes confirmed to Marie that that there was a problem. Marie turned to Gee3: “My dear beautiful talented grand girl. Tell me, please, what is the problem?” Geee3 looked at Bee3. He nodded. Gee3 spoke quietly: “Chloe is going to have twins, but they are complaining of a heartache.” Marie was confused. “How can you know that?” “The older girl twin told me.” “She spoke to you.” “Well not exactly! They were both casting images. When we looked at the images, it was like we were in their with them. We could feel the pain.” Marie vaguely remembered about PSI, mental telepathy, and such. She need to get John. And, June Junior! Maybe it was time for the twins to come a little out of the closet.
After a confab, it was agreed that Marie would pretend to discover a new power. They’d use that to get Chloe to the doctor. Then, they’d figure out what to do next.
That day, Chloe was in the Bennington Good Samaritan’s Pre-Natal Intervention Unit. Everyone of those fourteen hospitals had such a unit. John’s obsession with infant mortality had pushed the frontier back past conception. Cardiologists, with a defined symptom in hand, were able to echo the problem area. Surgeons, who no longer needed knives, piloted tiny ‘fingers of god’ to the problem areas, closed the holes in each baby, and navigated back to the docks. Without distressing Mom or the babies.
John complimented the medical team for their miraculous work. The head doc, a mere lad, said: “We can fix them if we can find them. In this case, Miss Marie told us where to look. It was easy. We need her to train us how to do it.” John said: “She has skills that can’t be taught. But we’re trying.” The doc went away to write up his findings. There was some mild interest but no ‘witches and warlocks’ uproar.
Luke and Chloe expressed their gratitude to Marie for saving their babies. She demurred saying “It was the ravings of a loony old lady.” But she gathered the cabal and expressed her displeasure at concealing the truth. John relayed the doc’s observation. How would they solve this ‘opportunity’?
+++++
John engaged the UVT psych department to make a house call. While not letting them in on the secret, there was an extensive discussion. Out of that discussion came some interesting ideas.
There was a statistically significant increase in the number of multiple births; this was generally attributed to a species-wide imperative to repopulate. The joke was that if a boy looked at a girl, she’d pop out twins. Quads if he looked twice. There was statistical truth in a jest.
There was an increased amount of focus by people on abilities. Physical and mental abilities were held in awe. A proper attitude was highly valued. Pride was OK; bragging was not. Embarrassing some one, with excessive showmanship, might get you challenged to duel. Honest mistakes were correctable; cheating could get you ostracized. There was a large interest, represented by voluntary funding, of organizations exploring the limits of the mind. With the end of government grants, researchers had to develop new funding sources. Instead of writing grant applications, they wrote stories in the popular press. Like in history, patrons were found.
Charities — new ones were formed; old one rehabilitated. Recently the March of Dimes (Now, a ‘dime’ referred to a tenth of a gold ounce! Far more valuable.) was reactivated to cure childhood diseases without vaccines. Across the State, tenths (one tenth of an ounce) were donated in big blue cans. The people were energized.
There was an increased willingness of people to get involved and be civil with each other. It was not uncommon to hear of private charities springing up to solve personal problems. It sprang from medical problems first. Children no longer had to be photogenic to engender sympathy and concern which translates to donation. People were really taking “Right to Life” seriously.
The psych gang identified one significant change in charity, pre- and post- Church Day. The people demanded a specific endpoint. A smart goal — specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely. No more open ended organizations to cure ‘birth defects’, ‘lung disease’, or such. No more open ended United Ways that became a self-serving self-propagating machine for pigs to feed off of their entire lives. Now, ‘ounce a year’ executives were common. Demonstrable progression to the goal on simple thermometer charts. Gigantic financial prizes were awarded by Grand Juries for cures. Organizations celebrated, and were honored, when they closed down. ‘Mission accomplished’ was a good ending. Now society was changing. The level of real education was skyrocketing. Everyone was what one wag labeled ‘professor, plumber, and entrepreneur’.
They gave the cabal a lot to think about.
+++++
January 13, 2020
For John’s 81st birthday, Marie chartered a large luxury 150 person capacity lighter than air plane. It was called the “Good Ship Tom T”; the airline’s passenger flagship. All the natural and adopted children, spouses, and all the grandchildren and their dates were whisked from the farm for the two hour flight to New Your. They landed at the old Columbia University football field where they were escorted by the El Calde of Nuevo York to the Good Shepherd School Museum. The curators closed the Museum to the general public for their Benefactor’s pleasure. John and Marie took the family on the tour. The Shelter stairway lead them down to the main room and the mural. The conservators had sealed it plexiglass cover exactly as it was left. John’s and Marie’s letters were open then and were open now. Marie pointed out Jody’s to John. Closed then; fittingly closed now. John, out of remembered habit, prayed at Zita. The tanks now all had name plates. The Children and Grandchildren all went exploring. Marie and John sat in the Queen’s Corner one last time. She said “Thank you”. John was, as usual, confused, “What for?” She continued “For not pressing for sex that night. I would have you know. It would have been good, but not as good as in Vermont after the priest.” “Marie, your happiness has always been paramount to mine. I could no more steal that from you than I could betray you. I wanted it so badly up to that point, after that the uncontrollable desire left me, and I was on my best behavior. Even though that morning, your little classmate almost escaped its pen and came close to causing me to sin. But, I was a man and covered you up. That was the morning you woke up and were looking for your clothes. That’s when I knew I had to be very careful.” Marie blushed. “I did. I was half-awake and couldn’t remember how the evening ended. Now, I know I’d have remembered that.” “Sure you say that now, but we have nothing to compare it to.” with a wry grin. “John, you’re terrible and insatiable.” “Funny that’s what I always thought about you.” Although they both knew that was no longer true.
They sat for a while and just were. The funny clock was speeding up. They looked at it and laughed. Then they took the secret elevator from the stock room. Stairs up at their age were often avoided. The curators were there waiting. The family had boarded the bus. Marie and John said there good byes for the last time. The Curators were in awe of these living legends. Photos were taken. A brief conversation with the Cardinal Archbishop of New York who blessed them on their journey. And, sent them off with the praise, “Your teachers are very proud of you and are waiting to welcome you into the Lord’s house.”
+++++
After the trip, the cabal met again. June made the decision that Bee3 and Gee3 had to make their own decision. Bee3 announced he would step forward and claim the power; Gee3 would hang back and deny having it. Should there be a ‘witches and warlocks’ reaction, Gee3 would preserve the mutation for future generations. Bee3 and Gee3 were going to bank some sperm and eggs for their future use. Only to allow themselves to have children in case of an accident. Marie was troubled by this as contrary to her understanding of Church teachings. But the Church had been really missing for a long time.
Bee3, leading the rest of the cabal, went to Luke and Chloe apologizing for the deception. He explained the rationale for lying. He shared pictures via the mentat page of their babies’ castings before and after the repair. They wanted him to be their babies’ ‘doctor’. Bee3 laughed with them as he explained he didn’t ‘know’ anything.
Bee3 made himself known to the UVT medical and psych staff. And, secret testing began.
The power wasn’t restricted to targeting just relatives with babies. He was faster than a rabbit test. And, they learned something very important. People had an aura around them and the aura had a reflection. Perhaps that was their Guardian Angel. The color of that aura told a lot about their physical and mental health.
How they were going to manage this bit of news was staggering?
+++++
January 17, 2020
On her eightieth birthday, Marie confided to John that her mental power was slipping. Had slipped away. She couldn’t remember her lists. All of her white boards no longer came when summoned. The library was closed to her. She would appreciate as a birthday gift if he never make reference to her former skills again. She often held Brother Kevin’s laminated copy. After this conversation, they begin to go to morning Mass daily and recite the rosary at Stonehenge every afternoon regardless of the weather.
Gee3 noticed it first; Bee3 quickly confirmed it. “Grandma, why is your mind silent? We can’t catch anything. You’re not projecting anything to us. We miss it.” Marie hugged them: “My mind is failing me. Please don’t mention it. Please, promise me.” “Yes, Grandma, with the usual caveats!” They, of course, immediately went and told their mother. Together they all grabbed John and questioned him. He explained. They were grim.
She retired from her position as Colonel of Cryptology and Training. The ears section threw her a special party. Many of her ‘ears’ returned for it. She was elated they found her so inspiring.
John, very concerned, took her to the State’s leading geriatric specialist. He found nothing wrong. And, he counseled his famous patient, that his research showed she’s held her powers far longer than most eidetics. Usually the skill is lost a puberty. Medically, he finds nothing wrong with her. He treats her for a mild form of depression. As the last of the Classmates, it’s probably draining on her emotionally.
She doesn’t like the pills and stops after two.
+++++
Gee3 and Bee3 had been working on TomT’s legacy equations. While their Mother strictly forbid it, of course, the usual caveats always applied. They were climbing on their Father’s and Grandmother’s shoulders. As one would expect, they found mistakes. They applied other choices. They came out with similar, but significantly different answers. He’d been so close. If he’d shared the whole problem, he’d might be alive today. He didn’t have to die.
They first presented their case to their Grandmother. She wasn’t able to follow their math. But she was still respected at the UVT Math department. At her call, the Head of Department rounded up his best professors and students. They made a house call.
Before they arrived, Marie briefed John. His only concern was the NDAs. He created the Great Martyr Barbara Corporation, John too knew as lot of Saints, for the exploitation of this idea. Three classes of stock. Marie, John, and June Junior as the A class. Gee3 and Bee3 as the B class. And the Math crew as the C class. Knowing John’s ability to turn cow poop into gold, the guests couldn’t sign fast enough.
John went to break the news to June Junior. She was unhappy.
The great math conference went on for about 16 hours straight. The assembled math geeks came up with one critical finding that was incorporated immediately. The room that TomT died in was reconfigured. His ‘royal foil’ was reversed. The hammer and anvil was wrapped in the ‘royal foil’ as well. One power generator was removed.
Now all that was left was to try it. Who would be the operator?
There was tremendous discussion. June Junior vetoed any one but her. John ‘overruled’ her and nominated himself. Marie ‘overruled’ that and nominated herself. She argued that she was closer to the end of her productive life since she’d lost her math and other skills. She was adamant. What’s more she was right.
Everything was prepared. Marie entered the room. She took a deep breath, said her act of contrition, and pressed activate. There was a tremendous noise and then nothing. She separated the hammer and anvil. Inside was a luminous block. The royal foil was glowing with a bluish reflection. She didn’t know what they had.
She exited the room. Everyone else crowded in. Using tongs, Gee3 lifted the blue block of ‘mystery material’. Bee3 took the royal foil and wrapped the block in it leaving the top open. A power block was connected to the foil wrapping the block and a ‘mirror’ appeared above the unfoiled block. They passed a large roll of royal foil thru the ‘mirror’. The block was called God’s Egg; the mirror His Window.
They now had the material to make the theoretical gate. The twins were really excited. They took it out to their Dad’s large drafting room. The mob of math geeks pulled up floor space. Chairs were allocated to the old folks.
Rolling the foil out, the twins cut out two large rectangles. It was going to get more than a little confusing. Gee3 and Bee3 peeled the two layers apart. Gee3 labeled her pairs “G/in” and “G/out”. Bee3 labeled his pairs “B/in” and “B/out”. On opposite walls, they put a G/in and B/out on one. And, G/out and B/in on the other.
Marie, and everyone else, had the idea of what was supposed to happen. June Junior was given the honor of the first toss. She picked up a pencil off the drafting table, walked to the ‘GIN’ door, and tossed it. It bounced back. So they had guessed wrong. She picked it up and threw it at ‘BOUT’. And it disappeared; landing on the floor on the other side of the room. The excitement was palpable. John went to the bathroom, grabbed a roll of toilet paper. He unrolled some and threw the roll in BOUT holding the end and it came out of BIN. He rolled off some more and tossed it in GOUT and it came out GIN. Rerolling the paper, every eye was looking for flaws. John announced: “We now have a package delivery service. Let’s get an animal.”
John, Bee3, and Luke went to the barn for a suitable animal; they came back with a lamb, a sack, and a length of rope. Bee3 threaded the rope thru the gates, portals, whatever they were going to be called. John covered the lambs head with the bag and tied the rope to the collar. Luke started pulling the rope. The lamb resisted at first; then it went thru, came out, thru, and out. John said: “We have a lamb portal.”
Marie got up and walked to the wall. John said “NO!” Too late. She stepped into the wall and out the other side. In and out again.
She said: “It’s weird. Like stepping into a long silver hall, that is only one step long.”
John tried it.
Upon coming out, he said: “We have a portal!”
John asked the June Junior, Gee3, and Bee3 what they should call it. They deferred to Marie. She cried: “I don’t know my saints any more.” Gee3 went to her and said: “It’s OK, Grandma, the next saints on your list was Saints Cosmas and Damian.”
+++++
Great Martyr Barbara Corporation announced it’s portal offering of Saints Cosmas’ Entry door and Saint Damian’s Exit door.
+++++
October 19, 2022
Marie doesn’t awake. John just lays holding her. The journey is over; his life has ended.
He sings quietly to her: “Mama said there’d be days like this.”
Finally, as the sun began to peek in the window, he arose. Stepped into his farmer johns and buttoned up the iconic red checked shirt that he’d become enamored of. Walked downstairs to the fireplace, took down the Unk’s double barreled shotgun, loaded it, and went to the flag pole. He raised the Vermont standard. Took careful aim. Said his prayer and fired.
+++++
June Junior sat bolt upright in bed. She turned to TomT. He wasn’t there. She’d forgotten. He’d never be there. He slept eternally in the lower pasture. She sprung to action. Zipping up her sweats, she took her hogleg and went to the hallway. Brian Junior was coming out with an old AK47 with the double taped reverse magazine. Chloe was right behind him in a revealing nightgown, obviously pregnant, also armed with an AK47. The other children were coming out also at the ready. June Junior thought ‘who would risk invading this home’. She was the Alpha Dog: “Everyone secure and get dressed. Brian, with me!” She went to her parents bedroom. The door was closed. She scratched and entered. Mommy was in the bed. June Junior knew she was dead. She looked at peace. June Junior turned: “Daddy?” The two of them headed for the stairs. Terrible thoughts raced through their minds. Hitting the bottom landing, she piled right into John coming thru the front door. The shotgun was broken open and he was replacing shells: “Hope that has a safety. Good trigger discipline. I assume you know. Sorry, to tell you this way. I didn’t know what else to do. Beautiful morning. She’d be pleased that it was today. Efficient for everyone since we’re all going to Church today anyway.” He walked to the phone. After the usual rigmarole, he said “It’s with tremendous grief, I tell you that Marie has passed. Details to follow. End of message. List Two. List One correction. Remove Big Momma. Save.” The robot answered: “List has one name. Command?” “Same message. Lists threee thru eight. Same message. List Nine Nine Nine.” He hung up. He didn’t care about stats and cost. He looked at his first born son: “Nice abs. Working out?” He turned to his first daughter: “You better get some clothes on. Press will be here shortly. Wouldn’t want them to see the Guv’s nipples.” He went to the kitchen and pressed start on the coffee maker. Racked the shotgun. And went upstairs to take a shower.
Followed by two sad children. The news was passed along. It was going to be a long sad anniversary.
+++++
June Junior and Gee3 dressed Marie in her beloved original beige Good Shepherd sweatsuit that she arrived in Vermont wearing. The top zipper was adorned by small pink, white, and green strips of cloth. Her first campaign ribbons. They slipped on her People’s Medal of Honor. Pinned her stars. Brushed her hair.
They opened the door admitting John, Brian Junior, Bee3, the undertaker and his men. The rollaway was assembled. John moved his Marie to the box and closed the cover. The undertaker draped the box with the Vermont flag; his men carried the box downstairs. At the doorway, they passed it to the Honor Company of the Pownal militia. They carried it to the caisson. There were four black horses. The cortege pushed off. In the lead were three flags. On the right, the Vermont flag. In the center, the banner of the Peoples Medal of Honor. On the left, a Bird Colonel’s flag — completely blood red with the colonel’s eagle on it.
The route was simple. To the Pownal church on foot. Then by caravan to the State Capitol. She lay in state for a day as the People of Vermont streamed by. A service. And back to the Bennington Cathedral for funeral Mass by the aging Bishop. Back to the Farm. Down to the lower meadow. Internment.
For John, it was a blur.
For the family, it was an omen of things to come. Of life on their own.
He went to Marie place in that representation of a Church. Last stone, first row. He could see her tight buns wagging out a song to him. Sadly, he toppled the stone.
He was the last!
+++++
Chloe delivered healthy fraternal twins. A boy and a girl. She and Luke named them John Fourth and Marie Fourth.
Gee3 asked John if he would mind if she resumed using her Grandmother’s name Marie. John, with a tear in his eye, said that would be just fine. Out of respect she called herself Marie3. She said a prayer to her sainted Grandmother every time she heard the name. She held herself now to a much higher standard.
John told June Junior and Brian Junior that when his time came. He wanted no such foolishness like Marie’s funeral. He expected them to lead the family like he would. With sobriety and humor. After all, he wasn’t half the person their mother was. They promised, “subject to the usual conditions”. He threatened to come back and tan both of their hides. They laughed. Only John meant it.
# # # # #
