“I know you’re a little young for this kid, but I taught all my children to play this game.  They got pretty good at it, especially my little girl.”

“Where is your little girl?”

Jake sighed.  “I don’t really know, she left home a long time ago and I haven’t heard from her since.  Her brothers live over in California and I don’t get to see them very much either.  So now I have you until they find your mother and I need a checkers opponent.  King me!”

They played for a while and Jake ordered pizza for dinner.  As they ate, Nicky told Jake about being with his daddy and Crystal.  His father had taken Nicky for one of his regular visits and when the time was up he loaded everyone into the RV and hit the open road.

Jake’s heart went out to Nicky’s mother.  He knew what it was like to lose a child and never know what happened. 

** *** **

The next morning Jake took Nicky into town for breakfast.  As they entered the diner, Margaret looked up from her breakfast and waived for them to join her at her table. 

For the next two days Jake and Nicky enjoyed each other’s company.  They fished, took hikes, played checkers and read stories.  As the time passed, Jake developed a real soft spot for the boy and selfishly wished that Sheriff Bresler wouldn’t be able to find his mother.

Finally on the evening of the third day, the phone rang.  Jake stared at if for a few rings before he lifted the receiver.  He took a deep breath.

“Hello?”

“Good news, Jake.  We found Nicky’s mother.  She will be here tomorrow morning about 9:30. 

“Um, sure.  I bring him in then.  Thanks.”  Jake hung up the phone and swallowed hard.  He walked back to the fire where Nicky had stacked the checkers up into red and black towers.  “Well, son.  I got news.  Sheriff Tom found your mom.  She’ll be here in the morning.  You’re going home.”

“Oh,” said Nicky.  “Are you coming too?”

“No son, this is your home you are going to.  I live here.”

“But I want you to come.  You’ll like my mommy.  She tells funny stories like you do and she bakes good cookies.  Please come with me.  Pleeeeaase.”

“Tell you what, I’ll ask your mom if I can keep in touch with you.”

“I’d like that.  Maybe she will let you live with us too.”

“Well it’s getting late.  Big day tomorrow.  Go get ready for bed and I will read you a story.”

            Jake had trouble sleeping that night.  Memories of the past few days filled him with both joy and sadness.  He would miss the boy.  Childish laughter and shared adventures had brightened his weary spirit.  Now it was all going to end; alone once again.

** *** **

Nicky sat at the breakfast table playing with his cereal.  Jake sat with his hands cupped around his coffee mug; his gazed focused intently on the salt and pepper shakers in the middle of the table.  The clock on the wall slowly climbed toward 9:00.

“Uh, Nicky we need to get going.  Your mother will be at the sheriff’s office and we don’t want to keep her waiting.”

“Don’t forget to ask her if you can come and live with us, okay.”

“I told you that I can’t live with you, but I will ask her if I can come and see you from time to time.  Now go get your stuff.”

Nicky didn’t know what to feel.  He would be glad to see his mother again; on the other hand he would miss the kind old man who had taken him in.  As they drove into town, he grew more determined to convince his mother to let him keep in touch with Jake.

** *** **

            They pulled into the parking lot at the Sheriff’s Office.  A lump rose in Jake’s throat as Nicky took his and squeezed it.  Together the old man and the young boy walked through the double doors. 

            “Nicky!”  The woman sobbed as the child rushed into her arms.  She buried her face against the boy’s hair.  “I have missed you so much.”  She wiped her eyes.  I’m so glad you’re alright.”

            “Well here’s the man you have to thank for that.”  Tom stepped forward.  “Mrs. Alexander this is Jake Colver.  He rescued your boy from the lake.”

            Nicky’s mother stopped hugging her son and lifted her head.  Jake looked at her and his mouth dropped open.  Mrs. Alexander stood up and looked intently at the old man.  Then tears welled up in her eyes.

            “Dad?” she whispered.

“Well, I tell you what Nicky, why don’t you finish your chocolate and then you and I can take a ride into town and we will look for your dad and Crystal.”  He smiled as Jake poured him a cup of coffee.

“Can we find my Mommy too?  I miss her.”

“We can sure try, son.  But I need to know her whole name and her address.  Do you know where she lives”

“4223 Maple Drive.”

“Great!  And what town?”

“Springfield.”

“Oh, which Springfield?”

Nicky shrugged and sipped his hot chocolate.  Tom looked at Jake and shook his head.  “Well, it’s a start.  There’s a whole lot of towns named Springfield in this country.  Well, finish up your hot chocolate Nicky and let’s go into town and try to find your Mama.”

** *** **

The Sheriff’s office buzzed with activity as the three of them walked through the door.  Nicky clung tightly to Jake’s calloused hand. 

“Oh, hey Sheriff, I was fixing to call you.” Said Deputy Smith.  “We got a couple of dead bodies out by the RV park.”

Tom drew his hand across his throat, a movement to silence the deputy.  Then he pointed to Nicky.  “Um son, why don’t you go with Deputy Henderson over there and she will help you look for your mama.  Susan, this young man’s name is Nicky he is from Springfield.  He knows the address, but not the state.  Now Deputy Smith, come into my office and tell me all about what you found.”

Nicky pulled on Jake’s hand and dragged him over to Deputy Henderson’s desk.  While she questioned the boy, Tom talked with his other deputy about the murdered couple.  The detectives had found a large quantity of cocaine at the scene.  The pair had been identified as Frank Harris and Crystal Simpson and the signs of a struggle indicated a drug deal gone bad.

With his father dead, the boy needed a place to stay until they could find his mother.  Tom hated the idea of putting Nicky with Social Services; they were always so backed up and it might be several days before a suitable foster family could be found to take him.  He looked around the room, and hit upon a plan.  Since Nicky and Jake had formed an attachment, and his old friend had begun to care about someone again, the ideal situation was would be Jake to take the boy for a few days.

“I can’t do that!” Jake exclaimed.

“Would you rather he went to Social Services?”

“Well, no.  But can’t you take him?”

“You saved his life and you already have a connection with him.  He trusts you.”

“But I’m not set up to take care of a child.”

“It shouldn’t be more than a few days.  There’s a whole lot of Springfields to go through.  We’ll check each one to see if a small boy has been reported missing.  Don’t you think that little guy will be better off with you than in the Safe House Orphanage?”

“Um, well, I guess it would be alright for a day or two.  But what if you can’t find his mother?”

“Well, then I guess we will have to move on to plan ‘B’.”

“Plan ‘B’ huh.  Okay well I’d better take Nicky and buy him some more clothes if he is going to stay for a while. “

They walked across the square Whittle’s Mercantile, the local general store.  As they opened the door Margaret Whittle, the owner, approached them.

“Hello Jake, who’s you friend?”

“Um. his name is Nicky and he is staying with me for a few days.  I need some clothes for him.  I don’t know the size.’

“Well,” she replied.  “Let’s start with a size 4 and go from there.  It’s nice to have company for a while, isn’t it Jake.”

The old man shrugged, and then secretly smiled to himself.

On this morning an irritating noise broke the stillness.  He looked up in time to see a wave runner careening wildly.  As the craft drew closer, to his horror, Jake spied a small child, about 4 years old, clinging to the driver of the PWC.  The wave runner made another quick turn; the child lost his grip and tumbled into the water.  Unaware of his loss, the man sped away.

Jake pulled off his boots and dove into the water after the boy.  He moved with the swift steady strokes he had developed through years of competitive swimming.  Within moments he had reached the child, who bobbed up and down in his life vest.

“It’s okay son, I’ve got you.”  Jake secured his big hand around the boy’s chest.  “I’m going to take you to shore.  You’re going to be fine.”

“Daddeeeeee!”  the boy screamed.  “Daddy come back.”

“Just relax son, and let me swim for both of us.  It will be easier to get you back on dry land.”

Moments later the pair arrived back on the shore.  Jake picked the child up.  He carried him into his house and sat him down in the kitchen.  He grabbed a blanket from his bed and wrapped it around the child’s shivering shoulders.

“My name’s Jake Colver.  What’s yours?”

“Nicky.” The boy sniffed.  “Where’s my Daddy?  Where’s my Mommy?  I want my Mommy.”

“Tell you what Nicky, do you like hot chocolate?”

The child nodded and a slight smile crossed his lips.  “With little marshmallows?”

“Always,”  Jake smiled.  “Why don’t you go into the bathroom and dry off.  I’ve got some old clothes that my boys outgrew.  They will be kind of big but at least they are dry.  I’ll be right back.”

After he had changed, Nicky wandered over to the fireplace and poked the flames.  He looked around the room then turned his gaze toward Jake.  The old man sat on a stool next to the wall phone.  He spoke in low tones to someone on the other end. 

A few minutes later the whistle of the tea kettle let them know that the water was ready to create hot chocolate.  Nicky came over to the table as Jake set down two steaming mugs.  “So, young man, how many marshmallows do you want?”

“Ten.”

“Ten it is.”

Just then a car pulled into Jake’s driveway.  A moment later a heavy hand knock on the door.  Tom Bresler, the county sheriff stepped into Jakes kitchen.

“Nicky, this is Sheriff Bresler.  He’s going to help you find your folks.”

“Hi, Nicky.  Do you know your last name?”

The child smiled, “Harris.”

“Do you know your dad’s first name?”

“Daddy.”

“Daddy.”  Tom shook his head.  “Do you know where your daddy lives?” 

“He lives in a RV.  He goes all over.”

“What about your mommy.  Do you know her name?”

“Daddy called her Mare.  She doesn’t live with us.  I lived with her and Bill, then Daddy came and took me away.  I miss my mommy.”

“Do you know the name of the town she lives in?”  Tom sat down next to Nicky.  “It would be a big help if you could tell us about her.”

She was singing and dancing about a happy place, and, her bright white smile reflected her special grace.  Her grace, that out of nowhere came, brightened the lives of many that day.  The children began to dance with her, and, in a very short while they too sang her plan.  The ball laid still as the energy moved from following the ball to dancing freely about.   About the time, once boring, following a bouncing ball, now, seemed unimportant because a child’s thought took form.   Forms can come in, when we feel cast out, and, focus on what we know we can do, and, that which we want.  Wants are not wrong they bring purpose to life.  Life is meant to be happy and booming.  So, the next time the ball doesn’t come to you, focus to see where your thoughts are looming.  Looming thoughts can propel you into to a better place if you simply allow your child to follow grace. 

Grace warms the heart of the giver and the receiver.  There isn’t a material possession that can add such quiver.   Quiver your energy into who you want to become.  Become full of love like that darling dancer.  Dance into the day simply rest at night, and, begin refreshed knowing who you have become.  You deserve to be happy and prosper.  If not that, then, what are you after?  Is it an afterlife, that you may never know, which allows you to stuff hope? 

Be like the tiny dancer who knows that her heart, feet, and mind took her places no one else can go.   Be happy and prosper as you dance away, into a glorious place only you can create.  As the ball you were following, becomes still, you melt into love and grace.  Be still long enough to let pure beauty rise to make your day.

Timeless Dreams

 1. This e-magazine is a professional publication. Most of us are not professionals, so we have to start somewhere. As a whole there are a number of factors we have to keep in mind when we edit: spelling, grammar, sentence structure are important. However, content, context, and clarity are what will make an article or storyline stand out from other less well executed material. We do have to pay attention to the finer details of writing. All of us have written our own material, and thus have experience in this way that can help us see another’s writing in a light that non-writers would not be able to glimpse. An experienced editor can always tell who is a professional and who is not, and who has “promise”, or the seed of genius that will involve their readers and will make more money for their magazine or press. We also have to keep some of this in mind.

 2. All editing that will be done is valuable and necessary, so always focus on the piece of writing that is your responsibility to edit. It is true that editing can be done in steps, ie. going over the material for spelling errors, or sentence structure, or grammar, or anything that needs to be spotted that needs some correction. It may be that approaching the material as a beginning editor might seem to be a daunting task if taken as a whole, and it may seem to be easier to break it down into steps. If you think about it, it actually may be easier to break it down sentence by sentence, then paragraph by paragraph, looking to see if all the aspects are in order, taken as a whole piece of writing as you progress through the material, looking for all the basics along with clarity of thinking in context. In actuality, it does literally shorten the time needed to edit in the long run, since you will learn the art of editing more thoroughly and will really learn to comprehend what is behind the intent of the writer.

 3. There is an additional responsibility an editor accepts: If the need arises, the editor may reject a piece or call for a rewrite to clarify a “fuzzy” area that is not yielding the clarity needed to be understood by a reader. The aspects of the writing may be loosely knitted together, and needs to be “tightened up” to increase the dynamism or momentum of the piece for more impact. This will come with practice. When/If something does not hang together well, the editor sends it back for either a rewrite or for some entirely new writing to expand or contract what is seen. A professional editor sees multiple submissions in a day, and competition for acceptance is high, since only so much material can be accepted to be used or held back as a pool from which future editions will be taken. The writer does need to know how soon a submission may be given to another source if not used by the present publication. The writer may also state that multiple submissions are being made, which may not be acceptible to an editor under Press policy. This depends on the publication’s guidelines and the writer’s desires, as per negotiation if policy is open to this.

 4. Some things to consider concerning rejection or rewrite: Many writers, aspiring to become professional, have a stack of rejections. Ask any professional, depending on whether it is an article or a book manuscript. It can take months, possibly years with a book manuscript, and multiple submissions to various magazines or Presses to be accepted for publication. Then comes the series of rewrites before an editor is satisfied with the final draft. This is what makes it difficult to break into becoming a successful writer. There are many many aspiring writers “out there”, and fewer successful writers when it comes to assessing the “numbers”. Here is where

MIND-SNAP is different. The “playing field” is leveled in this Neothink Society. Every writer and poet has a better chance at becoming successful here than in the anticivilization. However, even here, with the assistance of the Writers/Poets Essence Team the new writer still has to create an intriguing piece of writing to be accepted for publication. Professional editors often seem “cold and uncaring” to a new writer with no note of encouragement accompanying a rejection slip. I would encourage our editors to proceed with heart and respect for the individual who is striving to become the best writer he/she can be!

 5. Writers do not know, when they are begining,  what they don’t know, so any tips and assistance that will help them to become better writers is importance in our Society. Any insight that will help open up their writing into a full-fledged rendering that will strengthen their writing and involve the reader in living it is appreciated by the writer and this Society. The context of environment, the imagination in construction and the dynamism of emotion and interior contemplation which brings richness in depth is important in a creative piece or in a book, unless it is a professional area of expertise that is factual and already resides within certain guidelines according to the profession. The biggest criteria is: Does it involve the reader’s attention to completion of reading it? All submitting writers need to be open to rejection, critique, and rewrites if necessary.

 6. All writers need this challenge to improve. From the editor’s side, this is not a “challenge”, but from the writer’s side comments on their writing may “hurt” since writers are quite sensitive people and have already put their heart into what they have written, and consider it the best of themselves=therefore it is considered by the writer as a challenge in that sense. It is really a challenge to improve toward excellence! We have to be in the mind-set of openness to accept what others offer to us about our writing, and with that courage just go for plumbing ourselves further down in our depths to reach those more sensitive and meaningful layers of ourselves. The more open and honest these are, the more will pour out into our writing.

 7. All editors have their style…Alot of editors take a look at a few pages of a manuscript, and just send it back to the writer. Many read it through for content and impact that it shows if they consider it worth reading, making notes if they find they want to work with the writer & it is a valuable article or book from someone who has alot going for them. Some  editors do it in blocks/getting the jist of it, but ALL look to tear it apart where it needs it in order to improve it or see if the writer responds to improving the writing. It depends somewhat if this is a magazine, or a Press that accepts all kinds of writing to even novels. We are a Press, so more will be required of us. We are also beginning Neothinkers, so more will also be required of us because of this. All beginning editors will become confident in their skills as they gain experience over time. Clarity of concept in context to make a whole big picture is significant as Neothinkers. Our skills will improve as we become more emboldened through our own evolution in Consciousness, which can come to see all, know all, within our own Essence. Our own writing will show this progression!

 8. Yes, I do see that Genius within us and within many of our writers in the Essence Team. We are works in progess, and so is our writing. As we improve, so will our writing. We have to get that ingrained within us…At the most, we are in the trenches=this is the most important step we have taken. A number of good writers are in our Society, and I can see they have IT. But few have not yet claimed IT, nor entered the trenches, seeking toward excellence. Just one example: On the boards, how many times have you seen members say they want to write? Yet we have not had most of them contact us, and most of the time (almost all of the time) we never see any more examples in posts of them furthering their desire. All of this speaks for itself. Now, we as writers have progressed to editors! We also have to claim it! This is our challenge…NOW.

 9. When the InBox is full of submissions, it is a filter to read through all to see what you glean from the mass. Then pick out the obvious rejections, and select the best submission with which to begin your editing. Continue on until the e-magazine is suffused with material. Get with the Editing Team to select the best and better submissions, and here is where you can start! This is the most efficient method.

 10. One last observation: The absolute last thing I want to do is to discourage or appear to put down any writer! or cause anyone to feel depressed about their writing ability. Some professional editors are literally brutal in their critiques to a one of multiple submissions they receive. They do not know the writer, only looking at their writing, and do not have time for the subtleties of encouragement. I hope we editors are compassionate enough to be clear and to the point, yet not be in that realm of brutalizing our writers. We do have to look at things from the reader’s standpoint, since this is a part of our profession, our earning our living $ wise. So alot of responsibility lies with us.

 I’m sure a more accomplished editor would have more to say, but I do wish all the new editors my Best Wishes in our work, since I am one of us. I would predict that within 6 months or less, you will not recognize yourselves as editors or even the writers you are today!

 Love, Lila Bennett

Sat Dec. 5th at 2:10

or

Sat Dec 12th at 5:00

Both on channel 19!!

We’re talking the kind of deep inner passion that makes you want to jump out of bed in the morning and get going!

The kind of feeling we all experienced as a child when we couldn’t wait for morning to come so we could get downstairs to see what was waiting for us under the christmas tree! (even if you don’t observe xmas, you know what I am talking about)

Sadly, most all human misery can be traced to this fact not being widely recognized and emphasized!

If you aren’t doing something creative that truly gets your blood flowing, you are tragically missing out on the very reason for being alive!

There is a great analogy in the field of firefighting.

When firefighters respond to a building fire they know that in order to efficiently put out the fire they have to find the “seat of the fire.”

The “seat of the fire” is the location of it’s origin, the source of the fire, the spot where everything started, the core if you will.

They must work their way through and over obstacles, persisting in finding their way through all the smoke and heat in order to reach the spot where they can then deliver their water right to the source

Then, and only then, will they have accomplished their purpose and extinguished the fire at it’s root.

This is an almost identical process we must all go through if we are to discover the “seat of our own fire” which exists inside every individual and then we will truly achieve our own deep inner purpose.

And when a person makes the discovery of their own “friday night essence”, it isn’t better than sex, just different!

So get out their and strive with all of your alacrity to discover the “seat of your own fire”!

And don’t ever give up!

® JP Baker 2009

(partial excerpt from the forthcoming book: Fire Fighters are Cool…and so can you?)