IV

Near the end of one of our walks, Reverend Jim said he would like to finish our conversation over a boilermaker and asked if I didn’t mind, knowing I was a teetotaler.

Don’t mind at all, I said.

Ah, this is good, been a while. How’s your Roy Rogers?

Tasty, thanks. You know, Jim, this business of the beginning of all things is quite a puzzle, And, we don’t have all the pieces to get a clear picture.

No, you are right. Let me tell you what I think. Do you have the time?

I have the time.

I think there was a couple, Fred and Wilma, who were in love and one warm night left their cave to sleep under the bright objects in the sky. They have a language so we will put them out in that field, flirting and it is 50,00 years ago.

Fred asks Wilma if she has any idea of how they came to be here, in this place. Wilma says yes and points to the cave and rubs her belly. Fred asks if they can make a belly popper. Wilma smiles and nods her head in the affirmative. Fred makes an advance and Wilma pushes Fred away and says, not now.

Fred pointed at a shooting star and turned to see if Wilma saw, Wilma was sleeping.

Fred started thinking about things he would ask Wilma about after she wakes up like; who made all this stuff like the grass, the dirt, the trees and everything else. How come, sometimes, he feels so alone and he can feel that way when he is with everyone in the cave. He wants to know how it is that all the different kinds of food he eats come out looking nothing like before he put them in his mouth.

Fred knows that Wilma will have the answers, she is so smart.

Fred did think of something about the world and he wonders if Wilma has thought of the same something. He will ask her when she awakes. Meanwhile he will sleep also and lay close to her and she can’t push him away ’cause she is sleeping.

Hey, Fred, wake up. You were almost on top of me.

I am sorry, Wilma. I was sleeping, I don’t know what I am doing when I am sleeping.

Are you sure, Fred?

Pretty sure, Wilma. Hey Wilma?

Yes, Fred.

I thought of something and I was wondering if you thought of the same something also.

What something, Fred?

Something in the sky. Something that is like us but not really.

Is this one of your lonely thoughts, Fred?

Yes, Wilma. That something did it all, put it all together.

Fred, what something could do that?

I don’t know, Wilma. I was hoping you might know.

All I know, Fred, is someday, someone will say they know something that no one else knows.

It will start from there, Wilma?

It will start and spread like wildfire.

Everyone will want to know.

That is right, Fred.

It will start because they are feeling lonely, Wilma?

I believe so, Fred. There will be another reason.

What other reason, Wilma?

Power. They will say that something said something about leadership and it will start and spread like wildfire.

Wow, Wilma, you sure I can’t touch you.

I’m sure, Fred. Let us go back to the cave and have breakfast.

I’m right behind you, Wilma.

Not too close, Fred.

V