CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT Mike
Druzella’s car door shut, alerting me that she had arrived for her weekly session with Mom. A minute later the doorbell rang. I waited until they’d exchanged greetings and moved to the kitchen table where they always held their meetings.
The plan was for me to casually show up and feign interest in what they were talking about.
Sometime during our conversation I was supposed to tell Mom my big news.
Druzella and I hadn’t quite figured out how that was to happen.
How was a person to announce they’d recently arrived from the future and another universe?
“Hey, Mom,” I said, turning toward Druzella. “Hello again,” I added, feeling nauseated at the prospect of defending the type of story I planned to tell. “What are you two up to?” I asked. “Casting spells? Poking voodoo dolls of the neighbors?” I teased.
“Mapping the charts, honey,” Mom said. “Nothing your skeptical mind would care about.”
I pulled out the chair near Mom. “That’s not true,” I said, sitting down. “You never know.”
“Speaking of that,” Mom began, sliding out of her chair.. “Hang on, Druzella. I got Michael something from the library yesterday that I want to give him.”
Mom headed to the living room and I looked at Druzella. “Do you want me to bring up parallel universes or are you going to?” I whispered. “Maybe it’d seem more natural if you did,” I added.
Mom was back in an instant.
I nervously tried to act normal even though I’m sure I failed.
She handed me a book. “Parallel Universes,” she proudly stated, tapping on the cover of a book that had a photo of deep space on it. “Just like you’ve been talking about.”
I flipped the book over to the picture of the author on the back. He appeared to be a science type nerd. “Thanks,” I mumbled before handing it to Druzella.
“I thumbed through it,” Mom said. “Too much science for me but it does offer some unique perspectives.”
Druzella opened the book and leafed through a couple of pages before speaking up. “Anything astrological or spiritual with regards to these universes?” she asked, sliding the book across the table to me. Apparently we were playing a game of Hot Potato.
“Not really,” Mom stated. “Mostly scientific theory and what-ifs.”
“Kinda weird huh, Mom?” I inserted, thinking now was as good as any to dive in. “Could you imagine?”
“Ever since you brought it up to me, son, I’ve been thinking about parallel universes,” she began. “I’ve read that déjà vu might be related to them.”
“That sounds plausible,” Druzella inserted. “I certainly believe in infinite possibilities in our world, so why not?”
“Could you imagine multiples of us?” Mom asked, directing her gaze to Druzella. “That would really be something, wouldn’t it?”
“Absolutely,” she agreed. “There are still so many unsolved realities to our known world. Ripples in time or even time travel,” she added. “We might have many parallels to our lives. I think the concept is fascinating.”
Mom looked at me. “I wonder if a person would know?” she questioned, and then answered her own question. “Probably not. I mean, I don’t sense anything about another me out there somewhere.”
“But what if you could?” I blurted out.
Mom puckered her lips, placing an index finger to her bunched up lips as she gave serious thought to my question. I sensed Druzella inhale as we both anticipated her reply.
“Nope, not for me,” Mom answered. “I don’t think I’d want to know.”
“Well that’s interesting, Kathleen,” Druzella observed. “You’ve always seemed to be a woman interested in discovery.”
“Good point,” Mom agreed. “But discovering on my own terms.”
“Valid point,” Druzella concurred. “I imagine that our stars and their alignment might be involved in these parallels,” she added. “Opening doors to them perhaps?”
I saw an opening that Druzella had just skillfully delivered. “You like that, right, Mom? The stars and stuff?” I asked, perhaps too eagerly.
“I do, yes, but we’re talking about multiples of ourselves. This is where I’m unsure,” she pondered. “I wonder if you’d know?” she repeated, seemingly stuck on that part of the crazy theory. “Because I’ve experienced déjà vu but just not to the point that I’ve seen myself in another dimension.”
Mom was so involved with the topic that I struggled to know how I should proceed with telling her my truth. I kept looking at Druzella but all she did was make a barely perceptible nod with her head to encourage me to keep talking.
“Here’s a wild idea, Mom,” I interrupted.
She smiled and directed her attention to me, seeming to be happy that I’d shown interest in the book she’d brought home for me.
“Let’s say that in this parallel universe that you could have a second chance because you knew you were there before?”
“Oh yes, that’s interesting. Now that does require more thought,” she said. “So, in your scenario I’d be aware. Is that what you’re asking?”
“Yes,” I murmured, feeling like my stomach could empty their contents. “Something like that.”
Mom’s face softened, reaching for my hand. “Oh, honey. You’re wondering if I’d try to save your father, aren’t you?”
“Well maybe,” I acknowledged. “I mean if he was in that universe.”
“I’m sorry, Michael, but I’m not sure,” she stated without hesitation.
I sensed Druzella watching me from the corner of my eye.
Mom’s answer was unexpected. “I love the idea of parallel universes though. It gives me comfort to think that I’d get the chance to live many lives.
I’d love to trust in that theory because it aligns with my belief that there is something more and that we get many lives.
Reincarnation is a cornerstone of Buddhism, so I like the idea of continuing on. Possibly over and over.”
“So, you’re open to it?” I pushed, waiting to make a decision about whether to tell her. “Even if reincarnation wasn’t actually part of the plan?”
“Sure. I’m open to ideas that I don’t understand. But maybe the knowing part wouldn’t work for me?” she said. “I prefer the surprises of life because I like to think I’ll get to experience many more lives so I won’t stress on tragedy so much while living this one.”
I simply couldn’t take the back and forth any longer.
After all of our debating I wasn’t sure Mom was for or against the possibilities.
This mother was different from the one I’d experienced in my latter teens and early twenties of the new millennium.
This inquisitive version was at the beginning of her spiritual search which caused me to hesitate.
“Would it freak you out if I told you I knew stuff about parallel universes?” I asked, pushing the book she’d borrowed out of my. “I think I have more, shall we say, concrete information?”
Druzella turned to me and smiled, encouraging me to move forward. “I’m certainly open to your perspective, Mike,” Druzella stated.
“Michael?” Mom asked. “Do you have something you want to share?”
“Do you trust me, Mom?” I asked. Her eyes narrowed and she leaned back, crossing her arms. I pulled her hand closer so I could hold it. “And I mean truly trust me? In a way that would upend everything that you know to be true? You’d be required to open your mind like never before.”
“Well, honey, you’re scaring me now.”
“Please just listen, Kathleen,” Druzella said. “With an open mind if you can.”
Mom was surprised to hear Druzella’s input, turning to her she asked, “You know what Michael has to say?”
“I do,” she confessed. “He has consulted me.”
“Then it must be serious,” Mom said, tugging on the edges of her long sleeves and looking around nervously. “I have to admit I’m a bit surprised, maybe even hurt that you didn’t involve me, Michael.”
“Mom, please hear me out. I didn’t purposefully go behind your back. In fact, Druzella sorta knew something was up when we first met,” I admitted.
“And what exactly did she know?”
Druzella and I exchanged glances and she nodded encouragingly, silently telling me it was go-time.
“That I’m from another universe.”
How to describe Mom’s reaction? Was it a snort and a laugh? Was it an uncomfortable laugh that sounded like a snort of disbelief? Whatever the reaction, she definitely appeared flummoxed.
“You are from another universe?” she asked, raising an eyebrow and then smiling like she was in on a joke; or better yet, the victim of one.
“Yes,” I said.
Her smile faded. “You’re serious?”
I nodded. Druzella nodded.
We both waited.
At that exact moment, the front door burst open. “Hello?” Coop hollered. “I’m here and I’m hungry. Anybody home?”