Look to the clouds above where lies my home of a thousand years
It is I who softly enters your dreams as nightfall falls infused with tears.
Is it not I whom you carry in your heart,
Waiting patiently for the day we are no longer apart?
Hush! Be silent! We will see each other on that fateful day I’m told.
I am the one who makes your heart warm when all around is cold.
My wings spread out as I journey into the unknown abyss
I bring sunshine into the darkness to a heart amiss.
How bright are the eye that holds back that one single tear,
I can no longer kiss your sweet lips I fear.
I leave with an unfinished song in a voice so strong
Of a lover's gift to you, my beloved who has done no wrong.
Like my heart, the grave is empty and forlorn
Look no further. I have flown away to be alone
My spirit abides with you forever.
In no time, we will be together
The poem was meant in honor of someone deceased and the author obviously had strong feelings. Paul had no idea who that person might be—his benevolent gesture was to a greater spirit. The deceased Allison. This grave site was located near the gate where worshippers entered. Pastor Cleghorn, sick from the flu that was going around at the time, rose from his sick bed to perform the farewell benediction. He felt obligated to Ms. Dawkins who had toughed out his terse sermons for years and had frequently served the good Reverend dinner at a table he frequently invited himself to.
Due to his illness, his farewell address was shortened to a mere twenty minutes to the happy relief of all who attended the brief service. Barely noticing Brad and Rose when they arrived, Allison was thankful for their attendance at her earth mother’s funeral. Rose, unusual for her, was quiet and somber, saying very little. Brad was just thankful Allison was finally home. Looking forward to spending as much time with Allison as time would allow as both having demanding, busy schedules. Allison met with the clamoring public craving her attention with invitations offered to speak all over the nation. While Brad was back at the university studying the science of rocket propulsion.
The University had placed Allison on a four-month paid sabbatical which she used to grieve the passing of her earth mother, Peggy. And to give talks about the history of ancient finds by archeologist in the Zambian region and the historical importance associated with discovering such ancient artifacts like the ancient female skeleton, just discovered, dubbed ‘mystery woman’ by the media. Leaving her little or no time to teach a full semester, often filling in as a guest speaker in some of her old classes: amazed that the love of teaching was still with her.
Part of her travels included giving lectures to various Archaeological Institute of America (AIA) chapters. AIA is the oldest and largest archaeological organization with over one-hundred affiliated societies throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe. When not traveling or lecturing, Allison spent time at the Peggy Pink Pig (PPP) ranch, hanging out with her siblings and Billy, her favorite pet goat. Brad and Rose made frequent visits, with Rose, as expected, being the life of the party. Paul and Pauline flew in from New York to spend long weekends with family members. Rebekah took breaks from her veterinary studies to amuse everyone with her frequent animal cruelty stories, promising that when she ruled the animal kingdom, things would be better.
But these visits were different from past visits. Rebekah, having met and befriended Belinda, a veterinarian student and close classmate were inseparable. It was apparent the two were soulmates, spending all their spare time together. Uncle Bubba may not have had the same worldly experiences as the other family members, but his love for each one of his sister Peggy’s siblings knew no bounds.
And they in turn could not imagine coming home to the PPP ranch without being greeted by the smiling face of Uncle Buba who enjoyed nothing better than to carry on his sister’s legacy as Iowa’s top domestic hog breeder. ---Giving birth to pink pigs which Peggy’s ranch was named after---and goat breeder---producing little Billy, Allison’s favorite pet.
Goat breeders are part of a distinguished class of just over three-hundred goat breeders known around the country. Goats come in a variety of colors, sizes, and uses. They are raised for their hair fibers, dairy, and meat usage, and for people like Allison, Peggy, and Uncle Buba, their companionship. The PPP ranch excelled in the number and different breeds of goats found on the PPP ranch. Charlie? Well, Charlie was making plans to travel to Rhode Island to visit his love interest, Sara.
24
Everything Changes
It would be beneath an academician to refer to a fellow colleague as a cash cow, especially one with the academic credentials of Professor Dawkins. But that is exactly the way the University’s Dean of Sciences and Art, Paul Reynolds viewed Allison. With her worldwide reputation of outstanding achievement in just about every field of scientific endeavor, and well-known celebrity status in the field of archeology, raising money for the university came easy.
Just about every head of every major corporation and private entrepreneur with deep pockets, willingly offered donations to the university. When not traveling, giving lectures, and seeking donations, Allison remained at the University, filling in for other college professors. Teaching was in her blood, and she enjoyed every chance she could get to be with her students.
The daily routine of a professor, a teacher of any institution of higher learning is no different than that of any worker, whether in the field of teaching or going to some business office---the drudgery of getting up in the morning to begin another routine workday is the same. But when faculty members and students alike began rushing down the hallway, congregating in the breakroom where the only TV set on their wing of the building was stationed, you knew this was not going to be your normal workday.
The TV’s volume was turned up to near maximum so all could hear. Otherwise, the noise emanating from so many voices would have drowned out the sound of the TV, with everyone standing around, trying to talk at the same time. Allison, curious about what all the excitement was about, decided to join the crowd. It was with stunned attention, that the anxious crowd, heard for the first time the voice of the TV moderator, making the following announcement.
“Today, NASA has confirmed to a shocked world, the news of another planet assumed to be in our Galaxy, trying to contact another planet supporting intelligent life.” “This is what was transmitted earlier in the day and picked up by NASA.”
For all present, the messagesounded like some unintelligible garbled nonsense. But not to Allison. “They are speaking Sorbeezee. the most common language spoken on planet Zorbus,” thought Allison to herself. To her the message was clear:
“TO ANYONE WHO HEARS THIS MESSAGE. PLEASE HELP US FIND ONE OF OUR CITIZENS DISAPPEARING IN OUR YEAR NERBUS, 2323, AND MAY HAVE ENTERED YOUR HEMISPHERE. SHE WAS FOUR YEARS OLD AT THE TIME.”
NASA explained that the same message they received was more than likely beamed out from the mystery planet at different times and into different regions of the universe, hoping the message might be received by another planet supporting intelligent life. NASA officials were aware if, by some remote possibility, the mystery child from another planet had reached Earth’s hemisphere, he, or she would have instantly gone up in flames.
Today, if by the remotest chance, such an alien had reached Earth’s atmosphere and survived. The alien, he, or she, would be much older than four. NASA also announced the agency had an excellent fix on where the message was coming from, giving NASA a rough idea of the location and identity of the phantom planet. And if they should find the planet’s location, NASA was prepared to send up a manned spacecraft to see if human contact was possible. At the end of the broadcast, NASA made a terse remark: THIS IS NOT A HOAX!
Those around Allison, noticing she had turned as white as a sheet, asked. “Professor, are you okay?”
“Yes,” she responded. “I was so shocked and stunned by the news. For a minute there, I
could hardly breathe.”
I should be the person they send to this newly discovered planet,” she thought to herself. But, explaining that she was the lost 4-year-old was not an option. “I must find a way to become an astronaut.”
In no time, Professor Allison Dawkins’ popularity around the country and the world soared up there with the likes of Oprah Winfrey. When she asked a question or made a request, she usually got attention. This was one of those times she felt compelled to reach out to the highest level of government. To put forth her request to be trained as an astronaut—to be the first to explore the new, yet unnamed, planet.
First, Allison wrote a letter to NASA, stating: “It’s about time for a woman to carry on the legacy of Christa McAuliffe. The ill-fated astronaut who was aboard the Challenger in 1981 when, after only seventy-three seconds blew up with the loss of all who were aboard. It was she who said: Imagine a history teacher making history. It was Allison’s theme that she stuck with saying “Let me complete Christa’s vision of the future. I too am a history teacher, standing ready to fulfill the dreams of Christa McAuliffe and many like her.”
