The Feet of God

9 - AND THEN THERE'S MA

There was no escaping it.  Bob continued her saga, “In the company of Krishna Merman the universe unfolded before me in ways I’d never imagined before.”  I think she choked back tears from her memories.  “And wherever he is now, on whatever road he wanders, I will faithfully follow The Path of the Loud Enlightened One.”

“I take it he dumped you?”

This got me a full-on evil eye.  “The Master took me to Gorda Fortuna and entrusted me to the care of Ma, just as he'd brought home so many other young Seekers collected from freeway median strips and interstate off-ramps.”

“So how does Ma fit in all this?”

“Ma is a Seventh-Tier Shemama whose public outreach is in publishing the teachings of Krishna Merman.  All Seekers, Finders and Reapers use these texts as a guide to retrace The Path of the Loud Enlightened One.”  Bob’s mood turned dark.  “Until now.  We gotta get back to seek the wisdom of Ma.”

“About what?”

“About something so horrible it could destroy everything Krishna Merman and Ma worked so hard to build.”

“What’s that?”

“Cynicism.”

Bob fell into a silent spell as we headed north and east, pushed by her burning desire to reunite with Ma and the rest of the Seeker fellowship.  It was turning to dusk as we peeled off the two-lane highway and got onto a dirt road leading toward a stand of tall trees.  This road quickly degraded into a path of stone and ruts.  “We’re almost home now.”  Bob’s mood noticeably perked up.

Soon the trees fell away and we came out onto an even, open space.  In the middle of the field rose a big farmhouse surrounded by barns and other outbuildings.  Around the farmhouse I could make out dozens of pitched tents aglow with firelight and folks moving around burning bonfires.

Bob pulled the truck alongside other parked vehicles next to one of the barns.  As we got out of her pickup a male voice shouted, “Bob!”  Running towards us came a tall, young, auburn-haired, blue-eyed dude.  I hated him on sight.  This guy wrapped his arms around Bob in a huge hug, and they both squealed and grunted in a ritual of mutual delight.

“Rufus!”

“Where are you coming from?”

“The Third Path of Sought Enlightenment.”

“All right!  Did you stop in Encino?”

“No, not this trip.  Things got too weird.  I gotta see Ma right away.”

“You brought an offering, I hope.”

Bob reached behind the driver’s seat and pulled out a bottle of Johnny Walker Black that had been hidden there all along.  “Ma doesn’t suffer fools gladly.”  (Somehow I took this as a bad omen, if not a personal affront, since she never offered me some.)

They both laughed knowingly and began heading in the direction of the farmhouse, their arms lovingly entwined.  Bob looked back at me, “Come on newbie, it’s time to meet her.”

I followed close behind Bob and Rufus as the happy couple walked up the steps to the front porch.  Rufus opened the creaky screen door and escorted Bob inside.  He slammed the screen door shut right after them, so I just invited myself in.  We entered a room of golden incandescence, and a scream of joy pierced the air.  I knew I was about to meet someone extraordinary.

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