Spiritual Summer
A novel by Nori J. Muster
Chapter Eleven
Then next morning rain clouds still hung in the sky. Sandy opened the drapes and stared out the window. It looked cold, but no rain was falling. She decided to call home. Her mother said they weren't planning anything special. Sandy translated that to mean her mother and father both wanted to go different places, so they hadn't reached any decisions yet.
"I'm not sure if I want to come home," Sandy said. "It's a long drive and there are a few things I have to work out."
"Do you have some new friends down there?" Mrs. Edinburgh asked.
"I just don't feel like driving. The friend I want to see is Jeff, the one from the Krishna temple. I showed you his picture, remember? He got in a car accident in L.A. but I can't get in touch with him."
"That nice boy who gave you the ring? The one you talked about so much while you were here?" Mrs. Edinburgh asked. "I'm so sorry, dear. But can't the people at the temple give him a message?"
"The temple doesn't have his number. He was in the hospital for a while, but now he's back with his mother. I can't look it up, because she changed her last name."
"I can't believe the temple doesn't have his number. What about that woman you stayed with, what was her name? The guru's secretary?"
"Mom, I can't call Prana for his number. What if she doesn't want me to talk to him?"
"That's ridiculous. You just gather up some courage right now and call her. What do you have to lose?"
"That's true," Sandy said. "All she can say is no."
"Now you're talking. Do it right away and put your mind to rest. When you know what you want to do over Christmas, call me back, will you dear?"
Sandy said goodbye and pressed the button down. She dialed Prana's number. Please answer, please answer, she thought.
"Hello, Prana?"
"Is this Sandy?"
"Yes, Sandy, you remember me?"
"I thought that was you," Prana said. "Thanks for your note. How's Santa Barbara?"
"I'm just starting finals, but it's going okay. I have a favor to ask. I've I heard that--" She hesitated, crossing her fingers. "I'm calling because I heard Das Anu Dasa got in an accident."
"Yes, the poor kid."
"I want to talk to him. Do you have his number?" She prayed, hoping Prana would say yes.
"I think I have it. Hold on." Prana put her on hold.
Sandy walked back and forth around the bureau playing with the telephone cord. Her palms were sweaty and she shifted the receiver from ear to ear.
"Here it is," Prana said, giving her the number.
"Oh thank you, thank you Prana." Sandy scribbled the number on a piece of notebook paper, anxious to hang up and call Jeff.
She dialed the number and Martha, Jeff's mother, answered. Sandy took a deep breath and tried to calm herself enough to talk.
"Hello, is this Mrs. Miller? My name is Sandy Edinburgh. I met you at the temple one time."
"My name is Mrs. Mitchell now and we're not taking any calls from the temple," she answered.
"Wait! I'm sorry Mrs. Mitchell, but I'm not calling from the temple. I'm in Santa Barbara. I'm a student, remember? Is Jeff okay?"
"The doctors say he'll pull through. He has a broken leg and broken ribs, but he was in a coma for seven days. Let me see if Jeff can come to the phone. Hold on."
Sandy waited, now feeling even more nervous.
"Sandy?" Jeff said, coming on the line.
"Oh, Jeff, I've been so worried. I didn't hear from you for so long. I called the temple last night and they told me what happened. I've been frantic trying to get in touch with you. This morning I called Prana and she gave me this number. Jeff, what happened?"
"Pretty wild story. Why don't you come down here and visit? I'll tell you everything. You can stay here in the guest room."
Sandy drove down the highway toward Los Angeles wondering what to expect. On the phone Jeff's mother mentioned that Jeff had a big, bulky cast on his leg. Just the idea of a car wreck worried Sandy. She turned the heater off and exited the highway at Reseda Boulevard. She turned right, following Jeff's directions, crossing a busy street up into a hilly residential area. The street forked to the right and left and Sandy followed the directions to the address. As Jeff indicated, she turned onto a long driveway and followed it to a stucco and glass house.
She parked and rang the doorbell. Martha came to the door looking more casual than she had at the initiation. She wore lime green nylon slacks and a green and white cotton shirt. Her hair was still in a bun, but without the hat. Martha welcomed Sandy and invited her into the living room to sit down.
"You'll have to excuse the mess," Martha said. We moved in two months ago, but haven't had time to unpack everything with Jeff being sick and all."
Sandy looked around the room. There was a grand stone fireplace with Christmas wreaths and stockings hanging from on mantle. Next to it was a Christmas tree, not yet decorated, with boxes of ornaments and tinsel lying at its feet. The walls were lined with moving crates. Sandy noted the large windows overlooking The Valley below.
"It's a beautiful house, Mrs. Mitchell."
"Call me Martha," she said. "Before we wake up Jeff let me show you your room."
She led Sandy down a hallway to a bedroom with a double bed, a floor lamp, and a chest of drawers. "Do you think you'll be comfortable here? I couldn't do much about all that," she said, pointing to a row of unpacked boxes. "It took a lot of work just to get the room looking livable. There's a bathroom right next door and I've left some clean towels for you here."
Sandy sat beside Jeff's bed waiting for him to wake up. The covers came up to his chest and he looked just as he did over the summer, except thinner. His hair was shorter on one side and there was a scar along the hairline above his ear. His breathing was even and he seemed to have a slight smile. Sandy didn't want to disturb him, but she had already waited half an hour, so she took his hand and stroked it. He gradually came to consciousness and opened his eyes, looking at her for a long time without speaking. Then he smiled and squeezed her hand.
"You're here," he said. "I just had the strangest dream. There was a big storm and the people at the temple put me into the water in a wooden shoe. They shoved me off into the water with no food or water; nothing, not even oars. But the boat had a little sail. I was going to sail to an island but it wasn't there. Then all of a sudden I was in my mom's new house and you were here, but I couldn't believe you were here. Then I woke up and here you are. Am I still dreaming?"
"Does it feel like a dream?" Sandy asked.
"No, but sometimes dreams feel real."
"What does it mean?"
"I feel like that old shoe," Jeff said. "They treated me like an old shoe. They used me to drive the airport van and didn't let me get any sleep, but when I crashed they just discarded me. When they saw my hospital bills they called my mom to pick me up."
Sandy sat quietly, listening.
"When I first woke up from my coma I couldn't talk or move. Even though I looked like I was asleep, the doctors told my mom and Vern to talk to me, so they did. My mom held my hand all the time and Vern came over after work every night and read to me from the newspaper. I had total amnesia about the accident and the temple. I couldn't remember anything until later. When I finally opened my eyes it all came back to me. I felt guilty because of abandoning my mom and being cold to Vern. She loves me and he does too, but I rejected them. When I could get around well enough they took me to their therapist. We talked about everything. My mom told me how worried she was when I joined the temple. The therapist made me take responsibility for what I did. She would not let me off easy, like I was still a kid. I'm twenty years old. I was trying to throw my life away. I see that now. I thought that I was no good and I thought that ICKW was the best I could do."
"Rest now," Sandy said, lowering her head to his shoulder.
"We're a fine bunch," Martha said, looking around at the others at the dinner table. "Christmas is two days away and we haven't even started getting ready." She stood up, took Jeff's plate and stacked it on her own. She was a great cook and creative, too. She had come up with vegetarian versions of her favorite dishes for Jeff. Sandy also enjoyed Martha's special cooking.
"We're falling behind in our Christmas duties," Vern said, pointing to the still-undecorated Christmas tree standing amid unpacked moving crates in the living room.
"What do you expect? It's been years since we've celebrated Christmas," Jeff said. "I mean with a real tree, and all."
"My family never gets a tree," Sandy added. "We usually just go somewhere, not really in the holiday spirit, I admit."
"So what if we're not the greatest experts. We'll improvise." Vern said, getting up from the table. "When Martha is done with those dishes, then we can all decorate that little tree she bought."
"Maybe I should help her," Sandy said, leaving Vern and Jeff at the table.
Sandy and Martha talked and loaded the dishwasher. When the kitchen was clean, they joined Vern and Jeff around the tree. Jeff was still having trouble getting around because of his broken leg, so Vern dubbed him the artistic director and set all the ornaments and tinsel around him on the hearth.
"I don't have any edge on this," Jeff said. "But I think we should start with the lights."
Everyone agreed that would be a good place to begin, so Vern and Martha started untangling the lights.
"Oh, wait a minute," Vern said, turning to one of the unpacked moving cartons. "I have something that will put us in the Christmas mood." He opened the lid of the box and began pulling things out. He found a record album and held it up. "A Jolly Christmas from Frank Sinatra. Perfect condition vinyl, 1957. Let me put it on." He carefully removed the disk from its cardboard sleeve that showed Sinatra tipping his hat in holiday greetings. He carefully placed it on the turntable and set the needle down gently.
Frank belted out a jazzy "jingle bells" as Vern returned to the tree decorations.
"Want to help me with the lights?" Martha asked, offering Vern the end of the cord.
Vern shook the colored bulbs and started putting them in the sockets. Then he and Martha started to wrap the lights around the tree.
Sandy noticed that Jeff was sitting quietly, watching everyone else work. She let Vern and Martha continue with the lights while she sat down next to Jeff on the hearth.
"What's going on?"
Jeff tapped the plastic on the ornament box with his finger and looked down.
"Hard to just sit and watch?"
"No, I don't care about that," he said. "But I haven't gotten any presents for anyone. How can I go out when I'm like this?"
"There's still one day left. I could go out. Come to think of it, I haven't gotten any presents for anyone, either. I could get them something from both of us."
"But the crowds will be miserable," Jeff said.
"I like crowds," Sandy said.
"What will I get for you, then? I can't make you buy your own present," he said.
"Get me something later, when you're better."
Jeff smiled.
"Come on, Jeff," Vern said. "You can help with the tinsel."
Jeff opened the package and put a few strands on the tree. Everyone hung the tinsel and the ornaments. Vern turned over the Christmas record. Soon the tree was decorated and Martha started gathering up the empty boxes and cartons and stacking them at the side of the room.
"Will you relax, Martha?" Vern patted the couch next to him and she sat down.
Sandy sat down on the hearth next to Jeff.
"That's the most beautiful Christmas tree I've ever seen," Martha said.
"It was a lot of work," Vern said, "but worth it. What do you kids think?"
"Looks good," Jeff said.
Sandy nodded.
"You say you travel at Christmas every year, Sandy. Where do you go?" Martha asked.
"My father works all the time, so when he gets a vacation he usually wants to go to a resort, or something like that."
"That sounds exciting," Martha said. "Have you ever been overseas?"
"Oh, sure. We've been to Europe three times, Mexico twice, Canada once, and Hawaii and Florida a bunch of times. About five years ago we did a tour of Asia: Hong Kong for Christmas, then Tokyo, and then Bangkok for New Years. It was hectic, but fun."
"I used to travel to Asia for business," Vern said.
Even though Vern was dressed casually in a sweater and slacks, Sandy could not help thinking of him in a business suit. He always looked so formal, with his neatly brushed gray hair and gold wedding ring.
"The farthest I've ever been is New York City," Jeff said.
"I took you to Canada that one time, remember?" Martha said. "We visited your Aunt Dorothy and Uncle Jack in their cabin and hiked in the mountains all day long?"
"I remember now," Jeff said. "And they had those horses in the back."
"You remember that?" Martha turned to the others. "He made friends with this one pony and spent all his time with that animal. We just couldn't keep him away from it."
"Aw, Mom," Jeff said. "Do you have to tell baby stories?"
"You were cute!"
The next day Sandy went to a mall and bought perfume for Martha, a desk calendar for Vern, and a brown and gold terry cloth bathrobe for Jeff. She had it all wrapped at the store and drove back to Jeff's house. When she came inside, she admired the tree and put the presents around it. She noticed several other packages lying on the white cloth around the foot of the tree. Martha had lined up her Christmas cards on the mantle and hearth. It's so Christmas-ish, Sandy thought, delighted to have an old fashioned Christmas.
Vern was at work and Martha was gone. Sandy cracked the door of Jeff's bedroom and looked in.
"You asleep?" she asked. "The tree looks nice."
"Did you get everything?" he asked, looking up from one of the moving cartons stacked along the wall.
"What are you doing?" Sandy asked, sitting on the corner of the bed.
"My mom packed these boxes from our old house. I was just looking at my old stuff."
Jeff continued looking through the boxes as he and Sandy talked. Martha cooked a big holiday dinner and they ate together. Most of the conversation was about Christmas, the beautiful tree, and the appearance of so many presents so quickly.
Sandy awoke the next morning to the sound of Frank Sinatra. It's almost nine o'clock, she thought, looking at her watch. They'll open all the presents without me. She jumped up and went out to the living room in her pajamas and slippers and looked at the tree. The lights were on; some blinking, and there were candy canes in all the stockings on the fireplace. She heard the others in the kitchen and went out. Martha was making pancakes for Vern and Jeff, who were sitting at the kitchen table, eating.
"Good morning, Sandy," Martha said. "Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas," Sandy said, rubbing her eyes. "Am I late?"
"No problem," Vern said. "It's Christmas!"
"I heard your music."
"Aren't old records the best?" Martha said, putting fresh pancakes on the table.
Sandy ate a few pancakes and then went back to her room to get dressed. When she came out to the living room, Vern, Martha, and Jeff were sitting on the couch.
"We want you to deliver the packages," Vern said. "You get to pick."
Sandy couldn't recall ever playing Santa before, but it seemed like fun. She took the first package, her gift to Martha, and gave it to her. "This is from us."
Martha opened it and looked at the perfume. She sprayed a little on her wrist and smelled it. "Thank you, Oh! Sandy and Jeff." She replaced the bottle in the box. "It's delicious, thank you!"
Vern took her hand and smelled the perfume, then got a silly love-struck look on his face.
Sandy brought Jeff her present and he opened it. He lifted the bulky terry cloth bathrobe out of the box and admired it.
"That's beautiful, Jeff," his mother said. "Something you'll get a lot of use out of for the next month or two." Martha draped the bathrobe around his shoulders.
"I thought you'd like it," Sandy said. "Here's a little one," she said, picking out a flat, square box. "Oh, this one's for you, too, Jeff." She handed the package to Jeff. "It says, 'From Vern and Martha.' "
Jeff pulled the ribbon off and tore away the paper. He opened the box and all that was inside was a card. He opened it and read. Tears came to his eyes and he dropped it in his lap. He looked at his mother, sitting next to him, and couldn't speak.
"Tell everyone what it says," she said.
"Vern," Jeff said.
"Tell Sandy what it says," Martha repeated.
He handed the card to Sandy and she read, " 'This card good for one college scholarship, signed, the Mitchell and Mitchell Scholarship Fund.' "
"I can't believe it, Mom!" Jeff hugged his mother and put out his hand to shake with Vern. Sandy watched as they shook and hugged and cried. She knelt before Jeff and put the card back in his hands. It was true. She looked up. Jeff put his arm around Sandy's shoulders and kissed her on the mouth.
"Do you think you can get back in at Santa Barbara?" Vern asked.
Oh, Santa Barbara, his old school! Why not? Sandy felt a surge of excitement.
Jeff calmed down a little. "I'll call the school first thing tomorrow morning."
"That's the spirit," Vern said.
"Do you want to do it, Jeff?" Martha asked.
"Are you crazy, Mom? Of course!"
"See, Martha." Vern smiled and rapped her arm with the back of his hand. "Let's do some more presents."
Sandy walked back to the tree. "I know that's a hard one to follow." She picked out another present and said, "Oh, from Jeff to me!" She shook it softly, then tore off the paper. It was a colorful porcelain figurine of Wynkin, Blinkin, and Nod afloat on their Dutch wooden shoe. "It's you on the boat, right?" she said, hugging Jeff. "Where did you get this?"
"It was in one of those boxes. My grandfather gave it to me when I was a kid. He used to read the story Wynkin, Blinkin, and Nod to me. It was my favorite.
"I love it, thank you," Sandy said, setting it carefully on the table. Then she picked out another present and handed it to Jeff's mother.
Martha read the tag. "It's to all of us from Vern." She opened the package and found four tickets. "The L.A. Philharmonic Orchestra at the Music Center! Oh, thank you, Vern!" She gave him a hug, smiling. "Sandy and Jeff, we have four tickets! Do you want to be our guests to hear the symphony on New Year's Eve?"
Jeff nodded yes and looked at Sandy. "Can you stay until New Years?"
Sandy smiled. "If it's okay with your folks."
"You're no trouble," Martha said. "We have plenty of room, don't we Vern?"
"We'd love to have you stay another week," Vern said.
They continued unwrapping presents until they were all opened. Sandy loved the sweater Martha picked out for her, and Vern appreciated the desk calendar because he had not yet had time to buy one. Sandy and Jeff spent the rest of the day talking and watching TV; Martha and Vern also watched TV for a while. They ate a big meal together, then took a long walk around the neighborhood.
The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in the Downtown Music Center had already been home to the L.A. Philharmonic Orchestra for a decade by that time. The building was a soaring structure with white pillars and a fountain in front. From the patio Sandy could see the downtown skyline. Everything seemed so amazing to her, because up until that night she thought Los Angeles had no culture. The concert was inspiring. Vern loved good music and was happy to share it with his newly-formed family. The music ended at 11:30, then everyone poured into the lobby where they served champagne and sparkling apple juice. Vern saw some people he knew from many years of symphony attendance and took Martha to meet them. It was just a few minutes before midnight and Sandy and Jeff found themselves alone, standing slightly off from the crowd.
"I want to remember this night," Jeff said. "It's a new year and I feel so happy."
"Me too," Sandy said.
Just then a clock began to strike twelve.
"I love you," Jeff said, just before kissing her.
She felt like the moment could go on forever.
