Sedro Woolley      3      The Dump              Rev # 7

The storm had subsided to a whimper, and a knock on the door startled TJ, and set off a bark from Socrates. TJ told the person to enter, and Ray came in.

“TJ aren’t you going to the meeting tonight?” said Ray.

TJ looked at his watch, it was four forty, and replied, “Wow, I lost track of time reading this great book. I am going to have to rush to get ready, and get over to the meeting. Tell them all, I will be right there. Tell them I needed to change my clothes, or anything, just stall them.”

Ray left; saying that he would do the best for him. TJ was rushing around as things seemed to keep going wrong, for he could not find any clean clothes to wear. It seemed that after his mother’s passing, that he had let things get a little too sloppy around here, like that of an independent bachelor pad. He finally found some clothes that would work, but he had to put up with two socks that did not match exactly. He hurried into the bathroom, and finished getting ready for he still had this sweaty outdoor musk to him. After cleaning, and shaving, he put on some cologne, and started out the front door, telling Socrates to come along.

TJ looked at his watch, and quickly looked around for an air scooter, not seeing one, he knew then he was going to be a few minutes late, for Robert Gray’s place was on the other side of town. He hurried, and finally seen ‘The Dump’ ahead, Robert Gray’s place. Its image was running at him as it slowed down for him to enter the door. Every eye was on the door piercing him with, ‘why were you late looks’. TJ found a chair to hide in, as things shifted back to Jim. TJ quickly looked around ‘The Dump’, and it was looking better than the last time he was in it.

Jim looked over to TJ, and smiled, as TJ was trying to gain distance from his friends focus. Jim called the ‘Order of the Democratic Minds’ to order. What was this, TJ thought. He had never heard of this group? The other members from the community came out of the background to make up the full council, presently at sixteen, but always at odds with itself. One of them had rejoined them for this special meeting.

“I second the meeting to order,” another voice said.

Jim proceeded on stating that everyone knew why they were there, confusing TJ. Jim went on to say, that Robert Gray had talked to everyone in the community about it, and had asked all of them to vote, and everyone had agreed, except one who always abstains. Yet even that person reflected about it before leaving, stating to Robert Gray that he would not personally mind it. TJ sat there wondering, what vote, why was he not included, for he after all, was now an adult? After all, he was nineteen, and had celebrated his ascension from a boy to a man with his friends. Jim then stated for Otis Redding Carver to give Felix Songbird Steward his loyalty oath, he then came over and offered TJ his hand of respect, as others stood in line to congratulate him also.

A smiling TJ, with the slightest trace of a tear, then stood before Otis to receive his oath to protect Sedro Woolley, protecting its freedom and democracy of individual creative independence. He was given an oath that stated artists should never have to have chains put on them for being creative. That a unique mind was too great to be extinguished by others dictating their conforming, constricting, restrictive obedience to their own narrow interpretation of free spirited art form, imprisoning them as if an eagle in closed space, dying within a broken spirit longing for the open sky. This was a well-crafted verse, and the words were like a canvas that had been freed to paint its own landscape. Otis finally finished it with, “Do you Felix Songbird Steward give allegiance to the ‘Order of the Democratic Minds’.”

“I do,” a proud TJ announced.

“Here, here,” everyone said, and applauded TJ’s new membership.

“But we know that it was not all what the vote was about,” said Jim, sending TJ’s face into another mystery.

Jim went on to tell the audience about Robert Gray’s personal wishes, before he became too ill that he wanted to find a replacement upon his demise. That this person had been confirmed by everyone he had talked to, so it is my great personal pleasure to announce the new inspirational leader of the ‘Order of the Democratic Minds’, and the Sedro Woolley Reservation, was none other than Felix Songbird Steward. This sent TJ’s head spinning into what he had just heard, and sat down with his surprised mouth saying, “What!...... I am just a kid.”

“Vernon William Smith, bring us the ‘Scepter of Truth’ for Felix. Will you then give Felix his oath of leadership, and he will then assume the role of the ‘Chameleon’ after a week of preparation and conditioning,” said Jim.

As Vernon approached TJ, he jumped up saying, “I do not want it, I do not want all the responsibility! Can’t someone a little older take Robert Gray’s place?” Vernon stopped puzzled.

Janet got up, and went over to TJ, “Lets talk,” she said, motioning for Vernon to wait a minute. TJ knew he was going to be in trouble, for the diplomat was at work. Janet started to tell TJ about his legacy, that the winds of time had blessed him with the faith of humanities blessing. She reminded TJ of the time when TJ was younger, and she had taken him swimming. She said that she had found a child afraid of the deep water, that she had to put confidence back in his spirit, and that TJ soon started to wander deeper into the water, swimming upon his own greater strength that now claimed the water under his own terms. TJ looked at Janet, and knew she was cooking his goose. She reminded him how powerful the truth was, that often powerful people have come crashing down in the fabrication of one lie leading into another, until no truth could ever save them from utter failure. “Now TJ, I want you to look deep into the scepter, see, and feel your own reflection, then look at the words that are inscribed on it. Then tell me that you are not qualified for the position, for angel you are.” Janet prodded TJ stood back in front of Vernon, who handed TJ the scepter. Janet then hushed the council members, as TJ stood in the scepter’s reflection.

Having hold of the scepter, TJ looked deep inside its meaning, as images flashed before him in a weird combination of a future, and a past. It was like seeing things coming together, to then fall apart, to form back again with other larger pieces. His mother’s image came slowly out of the mist, to hold a baseball, saying to him he had to play the game, but under his terms of fairness. He flashed out of his trance, and looked at the words like character, honesty, devotion, faith, love, family, trust, friendship. So many dynamic words that he thought the words of compassion, peace, and tranquility stood out even brighter. TJ then found this inscription on it, ‘In God’s blessing, we have been given our minds to do good and/or evil. This scepter is the ‘Truth Scepter’ that overpowers evil from the beauty of seeing the righteousness of telling the truth!’ The tears that appeared out of him, gave him the answer that TJ needed answered. As Vernon gave TJ the oath, he had then complied with his mother’s invisible wishes.

Jim then told TJ to hold the scepter in his right hand. He then put his hand on TJ’s right hand holding the scepter, and extended his other hand to Janet’s, until the last hand reached for TJ’s left hand. Jim said, “Now that the chain is complete, and that the council has unified with its new leader, let us give thanks to our individual beliefs, and break the chain when the last one has finished their prayer. Those that have been chosen will stay, the others may leave with the blessing of this council.” Some prayers were short, others much longer, but the hands still held together, until that last pair of eyes lifted up, to free the bond.

Still in a maze, TJ looked around to see his real close friends, Vernon, and Otis stay. Jim came over, and hugged TJ, then Ray, and so on; until Janet hugged him, telling him how proud she was of TJ. Janet then kissed him on the cheek, which drew a, “Now, I am jealous,” remark from Steve. Steve laughing got a stern look from Janet upon which he had to say, “Cannot anyone have any fun these days.”

TJ was spinning in happiness, spinning in apprehension, trying not to show his uncertainty. “So no more surprises right?” TJ then looked into the smiling faces to see the truth. He was thinking, “What else could there possibly be to surprise him?”

Jim thanked everyone there, about keeping silent about Robert Gray’s wishes, smiling at TJ, who made up this frown, one of those ‘I will get even with you looks’, and then TJ proceeded to smile. Jim explained about the Order to TJ, and that all of them had been members of it for quite a while, but could never tell TJ about it, because of the secrecy of the oath. He said that Robert Gray had approached them about elevating him right away, so you could learn the position quickly. Everyone had agreed that you would be the best choice, because of your talent, intellect, and diplomatic ability of reasoning things out. Therefore, in his will, he left me the responsibility and the paperwork to set up this initial meeting.

Jim proceeded on with the rest of the will, and the mystery of Robert Gray as a very complex man. He had experienced a rough life, like some have experienced here, like Ray. To Ray, he gives all his admiration, for Ray helped him understand the two worlds better. He said that a large piece of the finest granite and another one of marble would be delivered to him soon. However, as Ray knows, he would rather leave this meeting right about now, for he would be happier not knowing any more details. Ray looking relieved, and told everyone so long, for that was his clue to leave the meeting. Ray left, and Jim continued on with Robert Gray’s will.

“To Janet and Steve,” Robert Gray went on to tell Steve to never do anything wrong to Janet, for she was an absolute angel!

Steve blurted out, “Angel hell, she is a hellion.” Laughing at his own wisecrack he was promptly pelted with a pillow gently tossed at him in love, “Love you too, sweetie.”

Continuing, it said they had an opposite polarity love that had become magnetically stronger; he wished them well in their battles, which drew smiles from the both of them. He told them they would receive some books from a past that they never knew anything about before, and also about new things so shocking that they were alive right now. He said that they both had the duty to keep it a secret until the ‘Chameleon’, being TJ, could hatch them out from that promise. He gave them his love, and respect, telling them that they would probably be happier not knowing any more details, but it was up to them what they wanted to do. They looked at each other, looking into each other’s hidden language, they got up telling everyone that was left, good night.

Next the will traveled Martin’s way, saying it was Martin’s music that left Robert Gray reside inside a soul of peace and tranquility, that with all the responsibilities he had before him, which he had just relinquished to TJ, it was Martin’s music that kept him together after his soul mate had died. Martin’s eyes were raining now, as Mathew put his arm around him to console him. The will went on to say that, ten different instruments would be coming his way for his hidden collection. Robert Gray said that he too had a choice to stay, or leave. Martin contemplated it, and he decided the music was in not knowing too much like Robert Gray. He wished them all well, and closed the door; they then started to hear him playing music into the still night air, notes slowly being silenced by distance.

Getting back to the will, it said there was probably five still left. One of them would be Vernon, the accountant for Sedro Woolley. Robert Gray said that working with numbers was Vernon’s art form, for he could do absolutely magic with numbers, by revealing the truth of their values. He said that in the distant past, some people had been very creative in what they called “Enron Accounting”, or “Creative Accounting” that it finally deflated the picture before it, as worthless. It was sad that a once proud profession could be intimidated by threats into a crime of professional values. Other than these few facts, he was not sure where the term came from, and why it had hurt so many common people leaving others who had abused the system living extremely lavishly. This is why Vernon is a main stay of Sedro Woolley, for Vernon deals with the reality of wealth in one way, or another. There are three different systems at play here to balance the facts. These things will be discussed later by Vernon. The thing about Sedro Woolley that makes it so unique, is that its greatest wealth is realized from the beating hearts of its community of respect that if one person needs help, the compassion of the others is there to support them. Vernon will receive his lounge chair that he has been longing for; he loves to sit down to a book of numbers and a good mystery book with or without numbers.

Jim has already read this, because he is just that nosy, so he knows his duty is to oversee things for TJ, as necessary. This is why Jim will own this place, so TJ will be able to come to visit, and go freely . They will be able to discuss their plans. The people left in the room, will now form the nucleus of the governing element of Sedro Woolley.

Next, we have Mathew my favorite scholarly teacher of the inquisitive mind; his greatest art is in teaching others to think in their own abstract ways, to reach the parts of the mind that need to be challenged to their full potential, to form independent and credible answers. However, Mathew teaches them never to accept the answers as fact, just because someone said it is their truth, which does not make it fact but may make it pure fiction. Mathew is growing from inside his own quest for knowledge from within the Sedro Woolley Reservation, and expanding it way beyond its confining limits. His gift will not be revealed for some time, but when it happens, it will be a dream comes true.

Otis is the gatekeeper, and he loves miniaturized items, so he will have several items to add to his collection. Otis provides the security element for Sedro Woolley. He is also the communication element for trade, and commerce. He helps provide the physical needs for Sedro Woolley. He also facilitates the exchange of items, and ideas from other cultures, from different areas outside of Sedro Woolley. This link will be broken with my departure. This will set off a chain of events that have been set up prior into motion. Therefore Otis, please do us the honor for Jim and TJ’s introduction into the mystery of ‘The Dump’.  Thank you and God bless all of you, and Sedro Woolley. Jim then put down the finished will.

Otis got up, and wandered over to a chair by the fireplace, and sat down. He unbuttoned his shirt to reveal a jeweled charm. Soon a light flashed from somewhere to reflect inside the fireplace, as it triggered sounds somewhere else.

“Wow, that was some light, I am so glad it did not glance into my eyes,” said TJ.

Mathew then stated it was engineered that wherever someone sat in the chair with a certain charm showing, it would reflect only into one reception point, much like looking into some mirrors.

TJ said he hoped there was nothing behind the fireplace that they would certainly get dirty. Mathew said that was no problem that it had been bricked in. Mathew then opened a closet door to ask TJ if he seen anything. TJ looked in to see nothing, and told him that. Mathew then told him to go in, and touch the back panel. TJ walked in, touched the back panel, and everything went pitch black. Darn Mathew, and his dirty tricks, he stumbled around to finally find a knob, he opened it furious saying, “Mathew I swear…,” where the heck was he? TJ felt like someone had pulled a great magical trick on him. There were dancing lights, metallic towers, and spinning sounds. What kind of place was he now in? Soon he heard the mumbling sound of Jim cussing Mathew, finding the same knob, “He is not in……..here”, as his eyes looked around to match TJ’s wide open eyes, as they kept circling around seeing all these new strange contraptions. Mathew, Vernon, and Otis quickly joined them, for they knew the secret.

TJ said, “What is this place?”

Otis replied, “This is the Operational Center for Sedro Woolley.”

“This place looks massive, who takes care of it?” replied Jim.

“I do,” as Jim turned around to see his wife, “and have done so for a long time.”

“Susan, what the heck are you doing here?” said a very surprised Jim. His wife, and Mathew were laughing in the background.

“I have known about this secret, since I went threw the same routine, years ago,” said Mathew. Finding out about this fact, Jim then sent daggers with his eyes toward Mathew.

“Wow, you do not do as good on our own home, how can you manage this huge place?” said Jim.

“Oh sweetie, I have my pets to help me down here. Oh team, say hi to Jim,” said Susan. Just then, about twenty of these miniaturized robots came around a corner scurrying toward Jim.

Jim started dancing around, trying to land between them, “Susan what the hell are these things?” as he finally landed on the floor with them surrounding him, “Call these things off!”

“These are my robotic cleaners, they just want to love you, and want to clean you up. So clean Jim up.” These robotic suctions arms extended, and proceeded to clean Jim right there, as he then pleaded for his wife, telling her their home was okay, giggling so hard for he was so ticklish. “Please Susan, please, gets these things off me!” requested Jim.

“Okay, Jim is clean,” said Susan, as they retracted their arms, and scurried around the corner, except one, which Jim eyed, and as he tried to move away from him. It kept following Jim by mirroring his movements. Then they all heard this remark, “For Pete sake Susan, you know how I hate to be followed like this.”

Well, the audience was beyond roaring, they were just busting with all this humor.

“With all this abuse, I should not have taken this doggone opportunity, for I get enough harassment upstairs,” said Jim. Jim heard a whirring sound behind him and looked back saying, “Okay Susan, okay. It is just the humiliation.” Susan asked Jim, “Who was going to cook dinner at home tomorrow night?” With a question like this in a marriage, there is only one answer, “I will sweetie, will steak do?” Susan said, that would be fine with a little wine, and some mighty fine loving, making Jim blush in front of his friends. She said for Zipper to dock itself, as it zipped by Jim, startling him, going around a corner, relieving him. Susan gave Jim one of those looks that said Zipper could be called back anytime. 

Jim and TJ kept looking around to see things that they questioned about what they where, things with moveable arms sequencing things before them. Finally, they came upon a large room, they called the control room.

Otis said, “Mamacita engage full security, sequence Felix Songbird Steward, and also James Buford Wallace.” Susan looked at Jim saying silently Buford, Jim then looked at her hard squinting, and turned his head toward Otis, leaving Susan smiling with some new ammunition. What he did not know was, she had a cousin named Buford, and respected him. Right about then, the lights signaled a security sweep in progress, and a screen started monitoring the area above, within, and all below ‘The Dump’.

Mamacita replied, “Yes sir,” then Mamacita started talking in a foreign language to Mathew and Susan. Jim and TJ looked over at each other wondering what they were talking about, for they were just nodding, and conversing in this strange language.

TJ decided that he could also talk to Mamacita in this language, so he decided to try something he had put to together in his mind, and told Mamacita something.

Mamacita replied, “Well that sounded like a little Spanish, with some Italian, going French, but it was still Greek to her. Closest translation, “Hello, I need my ass whipped in a language that I do not know.”

Bad move thought TJ, as everyone laughed at Mamacita’s reply. Jim of course had to remind TJ about putting things together, without first asking beforehand, where they went. TJ said there could not be that many languages. Mamacita replied, two hundred thirty two so far, with others being looked into. Mathew said that all he knew fluently was about twelve, and Susan said she knew four, which was all news to Jim.

Mamacita stated, “Initialing sequencing, Felix Songbird Steward, nickname TJ, enter the booth with the lights flashing for scanning and questioning.” TJ entered to find the voice in the booth was that of Mamacita, which upon the door closing muted the others outside. It said it was scanning TJ, and found the broken left hand from his childhood, noting that the healing had been excellent, suggested more zinc in his system. Mamacita then scanned for DNA testing, body fat testing, and others tests until that part of the exam was complete. Next was mental conditioning part with Mamacita checking the mental development of TJ. Mamacita finished with family history questions, and TJ answered all of them. It never mentioned anything about his dad, except to ask his name. Mamacita completed the analysis, and told TJ he could join his friends outside.

Mamacita stated, “Initialing sequencing, James Buford Wallace, nickname Jim, enter the booth with the lights flashing for scanning and questioning.” Jim entered to find his own set of tests.

TJ tried talking to everyone, trying to find out more information about the things around here, but he was told it depended on his testing results, so he decided to just relax, and ask some simple questions of Mathew, and the others.

Jim came out saying how amazing Mamacita was, for it knew every bone that he had ever broken, and that it even had told him that he needed to walk two kilometers more a day for a while, that his body fat ratio was a little too high. “Yeah, it is all in his head,” said Susan, getting a good look from Jim.

Mamacita then replied, “All computer tests have been completed with no major problems, authority level for Jim is XXXX, and TJ is XXXXX, which brought a funny look from Vernon, Mathew, Otis, and Susan. Otis told Mamacita to put his security level on the screen, and it showed him 2/3 of the way up the scale. Otis asked Mathew to do so, and it was slightly higher. Then it was Vernon turn to show his, it was very close but slightly below Otis’s level. Jim put his mark on the screen, and it was half way up the scale. Susan’s mark came between Otis and Jim. Finally, Otis asked TJ to ask for his to be put up on the screen, it was above the very top level. Well, this had to be a system error, as Mamacita came back to say, assume this position here at Sedro Woolley, lowering it to the very top of the scale. Everyone eyes looked back at TJ in amazement, all TJ could do was tell them, “This has to be a screw up.” As all their eyes floated back to the screen, Otis then asked what Robert Gray’s position had been, which fell between Mathew and TJ. They again looked back at TJ, and all he could do was to hold his hands up in the air, to say he did not know what was going on.

Mathew gave TJ and Jim, both a charm of their own. Mathew stated that Robert Gray had told him he had obtained a level that needed no charm entry, and he knew that TJ had definitely ‘no charm’, everyone laughed at his remark. Jim and TJ were instructed to be at ‘The Dump’ at nine tomorrow morning that they would be given some time to walk off their fat, or to find some needed charm in their words.

They approached the main entry door of the Operational Center. Jim was looking over his shoulder for his critter friend, to see Susan smiling. He told Jim that she had things to accomplish, and would be up in a short while. Just then, Zipper zipped out making Jim speed up, as Zipper flew past Susan, to then retreat into Susan steps, as all the critters then awoke to dart about.

Mathew stated for them to open the door, walk in, wait ten seconds, open the door again, and walk out. Everyone motioned for TJ to lead the way. TJ walked in waited, and opened the door to be floored by Socrates, for he just had to go really bad. They left ‘The Dump’, and Socrates made this dash for the tree line. TJ kept walking for home, trying to figure out what was going on around him. TJ knew he had become physically, and mentally exhausted with all the different things that had happened today. TJ would sleep well tonight, or so he hoped to with all his additional charm. A barking Socrates flew by TJ playing hide, and seek, with Socrates winning that night’s game easily.

Sedro Woolley      4      The Control Room            Rev # 4

TJ tossed, and turned during the night, for he was at odds with what he thought he could do, and the nightmare of what was to be expected out of him. It was similar to quicksand suctioning him in, and suffocating him whole. What if he made a mistake? Would everyone here in Sedro Woolley, be swallowed up, by his inexperienced actions? He awoke several times during the night with sweat on his face, he walked around very confused, to then fall asleep again, this happened at least three times before dawn finally broke for TJ.

TJ washed up, and quickly dressed sending him scurrying for the cliffs. This time he was lucky to find an available air scooter to go to the limits of where it was allowed to be used. He proceeded up the trail with his backpack. Socrates was rushing ahead to break the trail for him to follow. Soon TJ was walking again in his mother’s footsteps, and upon reaching her memories, the sky opened up into dynamic sunshine. Sunshine radiated down upon TJ saying a prayer, while overlooking the valley of his first inner flight. TJ felt the mist of the morning, and it put him at ease. TJ released his mind into meditative reflections, he then felt the strain of last night’s demands start to leave him, like a black cloud evaporating into the soft white pillows above him.

TJ thought it would be nice if life could be as simple as awaking, levitating your thoughts across the horizon unhindered, never fearing the gravity of the reality of change, to wander naked as you please without the audience of criticism, mated with a soul mate like a pair of untamed eagles, set free upon their eternal tranquil flight.

The chipmunks had found the nuts, and by instinct TJ’s hand reached inside his shirt pocket, pulling Nibbles out a nut. He laid his hand flat on the ground for Nibbles to come, and get it. All this happened with his eyes still looking upon the horizon. Nibbles grabbed it, and then left TJ in his tranquil trance.

TJ reflective mood needed a pen, and he wrote down, “The horizon is your aspiration. The valleys, rivers, mountains, and terrain are your obstacles, gravity bruises you to a landscape of reality that you must take your first step in, and never look back to ever regret it.” TJ wrote down about seven verses, and thoughts, he looked down at his watch to see that he had better hurry up to be at ‘The Dump’ on time. TJ decided that the shortcut was in order to speed him down to his appointment, so he proceeded down to it. He told Socrates to go ahead, and he flew past him to meet TJ down below. After landing, and releasing the harness, he walked a short distance down to his air scooter, and started the air scooter back at a speed comparable to a person walking. He could hear Socrates coming fast, so he told him to jump on for a ride back into town.

Reaching TJ’s house, they both rushed for the front porch, and this was the closest TJ had gotten to beating Socrates, in a long while. TJ threw down his backpack inside, then he grabbed an apple for his breakfast, and left figuring it would be faster for him to get there with the air scooter, they both got on it and left for ‘The Dump’.

Knocking, and hearing Jim acknowledge, they entered ‘The Dump’. TJ started ribbing Jim about if Jim had lost any of that body fat in his head yet. Of course, Jim had to say that TJ would never have the charm to have any chance of ever getting ahead. Jim motioned TJ to the side door, and pointed down at the bottom of it. It had a trap door installed for Socrates. Jim said, “Some master you are, to let your dog suffer that bad. I came up from down below last night to look out, and see Socrates making a dash for the trees. I had asked Mathew if Socrates would be allowed below, but with all his hair, and other things, he thought it was best to not let him go down there. We decided a trap door would be a better idea.” Socrates had seen them before, and we had him going in, and out of the door in no time.

Mathew was next to come in with a ‘nice you could make it’ comment to TJ. The three were talking together about recent things around the town. Otis showed up and proceeded to the chair, to send  the signal for entry. Mathew stopped him, and said let us see if TJ can get down below, without using any one of the charms. “I will bet a meal to anyone here that he cannot get down without using a charm,” said Mathew. They were no takers, for everyone there was sure he would need a charm to get down below into the operation center. TJ walked into the closet, and ten seconds later, he walked out into the operations center. He looked back at the door expecting it to open soon.  Mathew finally opened it complaining that it had made them use one of the charms. He looked at TJ, and asked, as Otis was coming out, “How come you have such a high security clearance?”

Jim came out to hear TJ saying, “I am not sure why, I was let through without using one of the charms. I have no reason that I know of, to have been given a higher security, than anyone else here.”

Mathew then said he was glad that no one had taken the bet. They all proceeded to drift toward the control room. Jim keeping a watchful eye out, looking for any critters maneuvering around him.

Susan was in the control room monitoring the conditions in Sedro Woolley. Entering the control room, Mathew explained to Jim, and TJ that whatever they learned about the operation center that it had to stay in the subconscious that people had to have a need to know about this place. They did not want people nervous that they were being monitored at different times of the day, while they were outside. The monitoring was more for protection, than it was about watching what people were doing. “Remember Steve’s encounter with the bear,” said Susan, “the bear had an electronic collar on it that was triggered when it had met Steve. Steve also had an alarm system with him that all of you use, when you are out in the wild, it also helps track someone if they get lost. A special shock forced the bear to get quickly away from Steve. That is why it never did attack Steve. All kinds of large predator animals are set free to wander, but normally had collars installed on them to protect people, if they became a threat to them, or wandered too close to Sedro Woolley.

TJ grabbed a scratch pad, and everyone knew what was going on, for inspiration to TJ happened spontaneously. It could never be controlled, that it was important for TJ to get it out of his system quickly, before he lost his train of thought. TJ could then work on it later that he had to get the gist of it, so he wrote down, “Where does a dream start, except upon the mind of an imagination set free to fly on its own path.” Finished, quickly he then added, “Words fade to become silent, as ghosts upon graves, only to be reborn in umbilical cords.” Finished as per custom, the others glanced at them, prompting Mathew to say, “Not bad for someone that does not have anything upstairs!” Everyone started laughing, and it brought a smile out of TJ. Mathew continued with, “It is sad, but there was a time that one could be terminated for free thinking, for just jotting down a thought.” This brought reflection to the crowd, as TJ wrote Mathew’s thoughts down, to reflect on its seriousness later.

Susan went on to say there are safety features in place, like watching for fires, both manmade, and by any natural elements like lightning that might get started by accident. She said the only place that was monitored inside extensively, was ‘The Dump’, but that fire detectors and special chemical sprinklers were in all the buildings. Susan showed Jim, and TJ many of the systems security features. Here are some of the examples on how they have saved several of the residents from major harm. She said that Mamacita did the monitoring, which are found around the Sedro Woolley Reservation, whenever one of the systems registered a problem, Mamacita would react. Susan told Mamacita to do a warning test for code red, for those here in the control room. Jim and TJ jumped a little, startled by the vibrations coming from their charms, and it brought smiles from the others, who were expecting it. On Wednesdays, around noon, the charms will buzz in a system test, to make sure that they are all operational but that a response at any other time was an indication of some sort of problem somewhere. The whole team was to try to respond to the operational center for instructions, and solutions. Susan told Mamacita to give an all clear signal, which was a double burst repeated after five seconds, three times. She said the test on Wednesday included both signals.

Mathew took over from Susan to say that while he was responsible for making sure the power was being maintained that certain areas of expertise were primed to the individual talents of those maintaining the operational center. Therefore, you will have some areas that you will be the expert in, but that you will also still be responsible for all the other areas here. Mathew continued with the electrical system saying that all the power lines were installed underground a long time ago, and that there was a power grid in place for new buildings, as utility hookups were needed for them. Mathew had several screens come up to show power usage and past demand levels. He said that the system was designed to surpass the needs of present day Sedro Woolley. He went over some of the other controls quickly. He notified Jim that this would be one of the areas, he was expecting Jim to learn about first. Jim put a beautiful smile on his face. Mathew showed Jim, and TJ how to get the instructions that could be used to help learn about the electrical system. They left the control room, and went down a long corridor to a room stating earplugs were needed inside. Mathew stated that there was no need at present for earplugs, because none of the generators was being used now, and due to the short duration of the visit. Mathew opened the doors and showed them the generators. Mathew said that there was a buried main distribution line to a mountaintop on the edge of Sedro Woolley’s boundary, where solar, and wind turbines were, that these normally supplied the electricity to Sedro Woolley. He stated that this room was soundproof and that the exhausts had special venting locations. They left the unnerving quiet of the room, for the sounds never echoed in Mathew’s speech. Outside Mathew explained that the generators were seldom used, to conserve the fuel that was used here.

Back at the control room, Mathew said that the temperature inside the homes were controlled by individual desires that a deep cavern and a grid of heating and cooling lines flowed in the cool or heated air that was needed for their individual comfort. Jim also seemed to be very interested in this, so Mathew told Jim; he would soon be in charge of this segment, drawing a bigger smile than possible out of Jim. Susan had to reply, “Well there goes the climate control of Sedro Woolley, for all that extra fat in his head is starting to fizzle.” This of course drew a stern look from Jim, and smiles from all the others.

Mathew went on to say that, TJ’s responsibility did not have any special areas but that he was to oversee the overall system, and make sure all the needs of the people here were met, which at times proved to be a task.

Otis took over, taking them to another part of the underground of ‘The Dump’, showing them a warehouse, where all kind of food items were being stored, along with all kind of personal items that were needed by the residents. They were distributed to the six stores in Sedro Woolley early on a Monday morning, before most residents were even up. That the system was so automated that once an item was sold, it was taken from a storage area down here to await delivery Monday that also cold items were set into coolers for Monday transfers. He said there were tunnels underground, which entered these attached covered buildings attached in the stores for delivery. That recycled containers were brought back in the return trip, to be shipped back to the suppliers.

The transports also travel to the art stores to pick up the physical items bought from the local artists. He said that the non-physical things, like your own writings were transferred from these stores by a wireless means to Mamacita, where all of the artistic items are marketed to willing customers. You can see that we are stocked rather well, and that there is plenty of room. If more room is ever needed, we plan for it with Mamacita, and special machines are brought out of storage to carve out the needed area.

Otis went on to explain that waste was handled by two ways. Human waste had special pipes that did not allow them to be clogged. That special bacterium was used to break down the human waste and special filters filtered it to best technology in place today. He said that the solids and used filters were shipped outside for disposal. Since all food containers were reused, and that 80 % of the other items were recycled, it really left very little for them to dispose of outside of Sedro Woolley, which by the way is very expensive, and forces us to conserve. Otis said that artists helped sometimes by using the trash to create art, getting a laugh out of all of us. That way we are paid, rather that have to pay to export it.

Drifting back to the control room, Otis showed Jim and TJ that everyone had these personal accounts for electronic transfers. Otis said that all shared in funding the operation of Sedro Woolley, that some without large funds had to pay less, compared to those having more substantial funds. He said that Sedro Woolley had no poverty, people who did not have anything. People in Sedro Woolley always had something to contribute, even if it was on a small scale. Otis said that it was in the pride of everyone to contribute that helped keep people happy, and giving them a reason to use their minds for the benefit of all.

TJ said, “There is a lot more in the running Sedro Woolley that I was not aware of.”

“Yes there is, and we get challenged with new things happening around us, like right now. We have been working with the three doctors in town, who have been sworn to secrecy. We have a patient coming in right now, non critical,” said Susan. Otis left to get the patient from the delivery area. Susan went on to explain that while the doctors were fully trained, that they had to, at times, rely on additional information. Susan looked over at the booth, she told Mamacita to put the booth horizontal for a scanning test. The booth started to rotate as Otis rolled in Theodore Wright, a resident that they all knew well, who was eighty-two. Otis pushed him into the booth, and Susan signaled the remote doctor, who proceeded to run a remote scan on him. Susan displayed a screen to show all kind of information on Theodore. She then explained that any information that they seen was to be very confidential. She said that he was getting a physical, just then a sound sounded as the doctor did something to him. Susan explained that the doctor had found something, that lasers and non-invading procedures were used to fix potential problems. “By the way Jim,” said Susan, “I am a full fledged doctor, and have been for a long time that is why you see me going into these doctor’s offices at times.” Jim looked very surprised, yet he knew there was probably going to be more of them in the works in the weeks to follow. Susan went on to say that people were anesthetized at the doctor’s office and transferred down here without ever realizing that they had left the office. Twenty minutes later, they were done with Susan scanning the information that she had been monitoring, and triggering a problem area to the other doctor. The screen disappeared with her saying, Theodore has to stay away from those sweets a little more. With Theodore sweets was a passion, they all knew that, and that it was not confidential information. Susan stated that they were finished with showing off another aspect of the operational area.

Theodore was now awakening back in a doctor’s office to a doctor telling him to cut down on the sweets, with a determined Theodore telling the doctor, to mind his own damn business.

The security system alarmed from another screen identifying Vernon, as he was signaled admittance. Mathew told them that by using this screen or by asking Mamacita, it would tell, or show them all of the occupants within ‘The Dump’. Mathew asked Mamacita to show who was here, it showed Jim, Susan, Mathew, Otis, Vernon, and TJ. It then added Socrates, who must have been outside for a second playing or doing his business. Mathew said that it was nice to know who was here at times, for your mind sometimes played tricks on you, when you were here alone.

Vernon came into the control room saying it was showering a little bit outside. Mathew said it would be a good time to show Jim, and TJ these screens of the weather within Sedro Woolley boundaries. TJ asked why there were boundaries, and was told that this was the only area that they were interested in reporting about. There was all kind of data from rainfall data, to weather predictions for the rest of the week. A lot of this information before them would appear in the Sedro Woolley Artist Gazette, a weekly report of Sedro Woolley happenings, events, and weather predictions.

Vernon talked to Otis to see what they had covered. Vernon came back to Jim, and TJ to say that he was really the Bank of Sedro Woolley, which handled the wealth of a community. He said that Jim and TJ were the new bank board members who oversaw his actions, that each one of them had an independent system to collaborate Vernon’s numbers. He said that they could use the systems already in place that had been used by the prior bank board members, or invent their own verifiable system. He suggested however that they use the systems in place for a while before changing them as both Jim and TJ nodded in agreement. He said that the numbers should never lie, for there is no real way to manipulate the truth when it is questioned as true facts. He went on to show a few things about the things needed out of the two of them, and the reasoning for three branches of governing financial matters.

Mathew stepped in to say that they needed to go to the Governor’s Room. Everyone proceeded toward the room as Jim, and TJ trailed them to find it.

Entering the room there was a chair behind an elevated bench in the center. In front of the bench was the ‘Scepter of Truth’. Around in a semi circle were eight chairs, and desks with nametags on them. TJ looked for his when Mathew tapped him on the shoulder, pointing up to the elevated chair in the middle. TJ went to the side and maneuvered to the center chair where he spotted the book, “Rule Book For Meetings”. Mathew seeing that TJ had found the book told him to finish reading the book, to find out how to conduct a formal meeting, and that once he was finished with it, to give it to Jim for him to study it. Mathew told TJ to grab the gavel, the thing that looks like a hammer, hit the round wooden disk hard three times, and say, “The Meeting will come to order.” TJ did so, and Mathew took his cue from TJ to second the motion for the call to order.  Mathew then went on to explain these meetings were held weekly, if needed, to discuss problems and report figures. He said that Mamacita would keep the secretary’s notes for the meetings for future references. The rest of them discussed figures, and reports that had been issued, while Jim and TJ stood in the background, this time around. They were both told that they were glad that they had been added to the team, and where then applauded with best wishes. Mathew suggested that the meeting be adjourned, then he whispered into Jim’s ear, upon which Jim then seconded the motion for adjournment. Mathew told TJ to hit the gavel hard, and say. “Meeting adjourned.”

“Since we have some time available, and it is near one, we will eat here Mamacita.” Mathew said to relax, for it would be about fifteen minutes before they would be served. He said that Susan had ordered for the two of them, that they could order their meals in the future from Mamacita. Soon a scurrying sound was heard as a side door opened, sending these moving platforms into the room, and stopping in front of the desks that they had been using. They then elevated the trays that they had attached to them. One of them maneuvered to the far side, and approached TJ from behind. Otis and others had told them to de-magnify, grabbing the trays, so Jim and TJ did the same. The meals were excellent, and everything was to everyone’s liking. During lunch, they discussed different topics. Mathew stated that each one had of these carts, they were called a service mouse, and to look at their individual names on there front panel. TJ’s service mouse was called ‘Mighty Mouse’. Jim’s mouse was called ‘Rat’, which he promptly caught Susan laughing at. Looking down at hers Jim saw ‘Big Mouse’, with a picture of a big mouth below it that cracked Jim up. Jim said she was a big mouth all right. Susan looked down at what everyone was looking at, to be surprised, and stared at Mathew, who could not keep from laughing. Soon everyone was laughing

They drifted back to the control room, to lose Otis along the way, who had other important things to do. Mathew explained that Mamacita had a wealth of information stored in it, for anyone with a free will to study from all the different topics found inside it. TJ was thinking that people could use all this information as a treasure for their minds. That after all, were not men and women put on this earth to wonder upon the wealth of independent reasoning. That no one should have the right to deny another the opportunity to reach for the heavens of knowledge.

The others had wondered off, leaving TJ looking over the things that he had requested. He felt the urge to ask Mamacita a question about his mother’s death. TJ asked, “Can you show me the file of Walking Moon Steward and things related to her death?” He shivered, remembering how it had hurt him to see her in that casket. Mamacita’s reply came back, “Sorry TJ that file has been sealed by someone with a higher authority.” TJ wondered who would have a higher authority in Sedro Woolley, and then he realized that it must be someone from outside the community, maybe ever his father. He asked Mamacita to open a file with his dad’s name in it, and all Mamacita kept replying was, “Sorry TJ, access denied.”

Sedro Woolley      5      The Eviction          Rev # 5

From the first full day to today, the fifth day at the Operation Center, TJ had a few more messages from Mamacita of ‘Sorry TJ, access denied’. They all had to do about his family, and anything outside of Sedro Woolley, but TJ had learned a wealth of information in between as Jim and TJ melted into the team effort. Jim had taken to the responsibility like a Labrador to water, he wanted to tear the place down, and then rebuild it back with his eyes monitoring it. He would seek out sketches and computer aided drawings that dissected this place, and equipment. Jim had come up with a truce agreement with Susan about the Zip team and Zipper. He was actually starting to use Zipper at times, for he had found out that Zipper had a built in video system inside some of his tentacles that could get into places that Jim could not see, so they had paired up, but Zipper had to stay in front of him, so Jim knew where he was.

TJ had found out that almost all the systems in place, had a redundant check and balances in place to notify Mamacita, who was continuously monitoring every aspect of day-to-day life in Sedro Woolley, and the systems associated with it. TJ had stumbled upon the communication system, and it had looked like TJ was succeeding, when Mamacita told him to wait, it was trying to contact a person. When Mamacita said that the person was ready, it had the audacity to show him on screen, he had been outfoxed with a sign that then flashed, ‘Sorry TJ, access denied’. TJ had found out it had been deactivated by someone with a higher authority.

TJ’s puzzle of the operational center was coming together, when Mamacita announced that they were having an urgent meeting, so TJ started walking toward the Governor’s Room. TJ had figured out that Mathew must have called for a special meeting. He arrived to Mathew’s question, “Why did you call the meeting, for it was none of us here?” TJ looked around to see everyone was already there. “I did not call for a meeting,” said TJ. Just then, Mamacita called the meeting to order, surprising everyone, then not hearing anything, Mamacita asked if there was a second. After a little hesitation, Mathew seconded it, and everyone found his or her seats.

The side door opened, and an elevated platform came in. Mathew and Susan recognized it right away, as some of the other then followed, as Otis said, “That it was Robert Gray’s ‘Field Mouse’.” It went to the far side, and came up behind TJ. He then picked up the items from the tray, which included instructions, a map, and some other items. All eyes where on TJ as he presided over the mystery. TJ looked over the items, and instructed Mamacita to show, ‘The Visit’.

Several screens appeared for all to see Robert Gray’s face. He proceeded to wish everybody well. He said that by now that Jim had rebuilt the place several times over, bringing laugher and one blush from the crowd. He went on to say how much pride he felt about those that were listening to his words that it was time to set some other things into motion. The video zoomed back to see Robert Gray with TJ’s baseball tossing it up and catching it several times. Then he said, “TJ it is time for you to play ball, that the game had started, and that TJ was at bat.” TJ was listening with great respect to the image of the man before him, but was confused about the game’s rules, and what was being asked of him, out of the game. The video went on to say, it was time for TJ to play ball with the Outlands, to leave the nest, and see what is outside of Sedro Woolley.

Well aware of the attention of the others around him, TJ could not figure out this mixed happiness with this deep regret, for his questions would finally be answered, but that the answers may not be, what he wanted to hear. TJ looked at the eyes before him. Mathew was envying him, Susan was feeling for him, Jim was being Jim, Otis was indifferent, and Vernon was in shock. All their eyes were on TJ knowing that he would be leaving. They were thinking, "How long would TJ be gone from Sedro Woolley?"

Robert’s video stated that no one was to let anybody know the whereabouts of TJ from then on, especially when TJ would be gone from Sedro Woolley. They were told to tell others that he was probably camping in some remote isolated location that the others would soon get used to this response. He told TJ that additional information had just been delivered and that other things were programmed inside Mamacita for TJ to find, that after the playing of this video it will trigger there release. Robert thanked everyone, and the screens retracted.

Mathew asked TJ if he was surprised as he was. TJ acknowledged that he sure was, and had mixed feelings about it that he had a lot of reflecting to do on it today. TJ stated that he did not even know when he would be allowed to leave, and for how long. Much to TJ’s surprise Mamacita replied, “You will leave two days from today, and no longer than four days from now, that it was imperative that he keep to that schedule for Sedro Woolley’s sake. That the time away would be at least four days and as long as he wanted to stay away.” This made TJ feel like he was being pushed, or maneuvered, much as if a puppet. He did not like that feeling at all. TJ liked things to be on his own terms, but it seemed the older he was getting, the more demands that were being asked of him.

TJ asked if anyone had anything else to discuss in this session. Some other small things were discussed during the meeting, and then TJ adjourned it.

Each one came over to talk to TJ in a private conversation, to offer their best wishes and individual thoughts about the trip.

TJ went back to the control room with the things that had just been given him. Walking back TJ realized that two days meant that he had only today, and tomorrow to get all his information together at the earliest, or three more days at the latest. He first asked Mamacita to explain what the items were that he had received off the tray. One was a map of the exit point, an electronic fund transfer card, one item was programmed to reveal its purpose later, the last item was a list of things that he needed to take with him, and additional instructions. This reminded him that he had better get someone to help get all his clothes cleaned up, and talk to Jim about having him watch Socrates. Gosh, he was going to miss, Socrates. He jotted some notes down for the trip, as he kept pumping Mamacita with questions.

Sure enough, some of his questions were now being answered, some with, ‘You will soon find out yourself’, frustrating TJ. It was as if someone had programmed Mamacita to know what TJ would ask. Yet questions, like if the food was going to be the same, were answered with, ‘Yes, but with lots more variety for some elements of the population’, leaving a bigger question afterwards for TJ to ponder. He asked again how long he would be outside Sedro Woolley; the reply was, ‘As long as you want, and as little as that is expected.’ What kind of answer was that? TJ was given instructions on how to exit Sedro Woolley and codes to remember. He was told to bring his baseball, for it had several uses that would be revealed over time. TJ thought, how a ball could ever make any kind of difference anywhere, in any kind of time frame.

After about four hours of this tit for tat questioning with Mamacita, TJ figured that the only way he could find out better answers to his questions, was to investigate them for him self. He went to the massive library he had found down here, and thought maybe by doing some research TJ could find out more by himself. He looked at the reference material, spotted a likely candidate, a book on different cultures, and asked Mamacita to deliver it. Mamacita’s reply, ‘Sorry TJ, access denied’. He would have retrieved it himself, if he knew where to find it in these aisles. That there were a half a meter wide, six meters high and thirty meters long. The aisles had books on both sides, and there were forty some aisles in which these special robots maneuvered in, to retract any book that Mamacita authorized for reading. He succeeded on only a few attempts, which helped but still left this big gap. He did research the game of baseball, studying its rules and instructions for a while. He told Mamacita that he was going to check that book out of the library, and much to his surprise, Mamacita replied, “It had already been logged out to you. That it had been waiting for TJ to ask about it.” 

He then determined that he was going to commit to the day after tomorrow to schedule his exit from Sedro Woolley, for he knew that if he never went, he would be forever sorry, and that if he waited another day that Mamacita’s answers would drive him out of here anyway.

TJ decided to leave ‘the Dump’, heading toward the operational centers exit door, he spotted Susan to explain to her about his bachelor problem, and she smiled into a laugh, to tell him that she would help. She said that she would contact Janet to assist her, if she needed her. She added that just for spite she would draft Jim by twisting his arm a bit. She said she would plan with Janet to assure that Jim would have a very memorable experience of it tomorrow. TJ told her about Socrates and then Susan volunteered Jim’s service. Jim never had a chance to say no, not that it mattered for TJ was sure Jim would have done it anyway. It is that Jim hated others, to put together their words for his. TJ stated he was going up to the lookout point to reflect on things, and clear his mind that he would come back later on tomorrow, and come to ‘The Dump’ to finalize his exit with Mamacita. TJ stated that he hoped that any further questions that he would ask of Mamacita, would be more direct answers. Seeing Susan’s questioning eyes, he said that Mamacita was creating more questions with every answer, that Mamacita had made him more confused, as the day went on. He could see in Susan’s eyes that she understood what TJ had meant. TJ realized at that moment that maybe Mamacita had a little too much of a woman’s understanding, too much of a feminine touch inside it.

Arriving upstairs, Socrates started dancing around with happiness over seeing him, it was then that he decided to make an early night of it. TJ wanted to bring in tomorrow, with the sun breaking over the horizon within the glow of a beautiful sensual experience.

Arriving home, TJ set the alarm for four in the morning, cleaned him self up, so he could leave right away, and fell quickly asleep.

TJ’s dreams that night were of a mystery, and when he awoke to the alarm, they vanished just as quick, not even leaving a comment within him to jot down. He grabbed his backpack, and a flashlight as Socrates was soon jumping onto the air scooter. He turned on the lights of the air scooter, and they were off into the high country. He parked the air scooter, and started up the trail, as Socrates dashed past him to check out everything. The spirits were out haunting the night, and much to his surprise a full moon was enlightening his trail, as images floated past him upon these ghostly reflections of inspiring awe. Reaching his lookout point, he realized that he had made good time, for it was only four forty five. TJ had looked at a computer screen yesterday, checking to see what time sunrise was going to be at, TJ said it was going to be at five twenty one.

Sitting down, he felt the wind seek him out, as the night came alive around him. TJ sensed the power of nature as the stars streaked him off into a trance, for there were millions of them to pick on for his visionary trip, but TJ looked for his ‘Poet’s Star’, which seemed to illuminate with an extra glow this morning, as his mind meditated among the owl’s morning song. His thoughts were of pure pleasure seeking out the gems inside the tranquil dancing mind, from the signs that were being delivered to him to reflect on. Why would anyone want anything more than the treasure that lay before him?

Nature, as if a flower, opening up to the sunlight as TJ turned his head toward the East, to see the light slowly showing the silhouette upon the horizon. The redness started to burst across the clouds of darkness, dancing upon the colors exploding among the landscape, and dreamscape of the land. The bird’s chorus awoke to its morning ritual, as nature blossomed its colors to begin another beautiful day, the sun finally jumping upon the sky to wander its path of east meets west.

TJ grabbed his pen to reflect on, ‘Some people are so perfect they dissolve away in it’. TJ knew that he was not perfect, so whom could this be about, for all his friends were imperfect, but maybe some reader would reflect on it somewhere to reason it out. Next was, ‘The view across possibility lies upon Heavens Bridge’. TJ reflected that this one must mean that in the heavens of believing in something that the impossible may just become somehow possible. ‘Valley of the painter’s dreams, wild flowers among its grasses, grazing tranquility of gentility, towering trees of determined faith, expressionism of mind to nature’s canvas.’ Now this must be about this place here, his place of inner tranquility.

TJ started his finger moving again, ‘The painter has hands blessed in a special love, feeling the soul’s intensity, floating images of inspiration, brush stokes falling on canvas breathing from a painter’s heart. Blending colors of creativity, whispering textures of design, warmth of artistic talents flowing freely from within, exploding masterpiece of thought.’ Not bad, thought TJ, for he was now on a roll, as TJ then wrote. ‘Fear will try to close trails with its underbrush, sealing it off from any future opportunity. But taking the trail might expand the intellect with new ideas to explore the inner potential to its fullest perspicacity of challenging oneself, to the highest levels of personal success, in the wealth that a person must go forward upon smiles.’ There it was, TJ answer, coming out from the heartbeats inside him, TJ would definitely make the trip tomorrow. TJ’s hands kept moving as page upon page moved him along his day. Nibbles and the gang had come, and gone, as his hands finally became silent only to write again. ‘Failure is never the desired option, but it must be dealt with, on any road to momentary success, for once success is achieved, and other failures seek to challenge the puzzle of life.’ TJ looked at all this inspiring mess that looked like his clothes at his bachelor pad, so he had to rearrange them, maybe to form some future book, maybe he would call it, ‘The Mind Trip’.

TJ’s hand stopped but his mind was still working, sorting out the facts of yesterday, using what he had learned from his mother’s teachings to assist him. He knew his mother’s spirit was proud of him for the whole terrain talked to his perceptive vision. A pair of eagles, he had not recorded for a long while has soared overhead, as to say, they still had a piece of the sky.

He took the time during the day to study the book on baseball, and found it had a lot more players than when he had played it as a youth. TJ was looking for some kind of clue in it, finding nothing but a game people played together.

He and Socrates had snacked a little during the day, but now his stomach had a growl to it, as it sought out TJ’s watch. It was five in the afternoon, and TJ had decided it was time for the return trip home. He gathered up his piled up words, and slipped them into his backpack. TJ whistled for Socrates, who was taking a nap, and scattering some nuts behind him. TJ looked over the horizon to see nothing, but the dynamic clear weather out there, so he would hike all the way down to the air scooter.

They arrived at the air scooter, as Socrates jumped on it. TJ then headed to his place for he had a desire for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich; maybe some smoked oysters along with it. Arriving home, he looked at his place, and even the outside of it was clean. Oh, oh, he thought, as he walked toward the door, and opened it into a new interior. Every speck of dust was gone, and it even made him take off his shoes. Wow, it was as if a clean freak had landed, and had cast its spell. His bachelor pad was a past memory, for it now was dominated in a feminine touch, even the air reeked of flowering blossoms. The place did have a new atmosphere that he liked, but he wondered how long it would last. TJ wondered if he would be able to find any of his things, he probably would have to think, now where a woman would put something away.

TJ wandered into the kitchen, which had been sterilized with smells and looks. TJ glanced at the table and saw a place setting for him there, with wild flowers in a vase. It even had all the silverware with a note beside it. TJ went over to the note, and it instructed him to, “Look in the refrigerator, and to take the plate in it to the microwave, and reheat it for about five minutes.” He opened the door to see a plate of salad, a plate with Lasagna, and broccoli on it. There went his craving for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, along with smoked oysters. He looked for a bottle of beer to go with the meal when he spotted the bottle of wine with a bow, and card attached to it. TJ put the salad on the table, and put the other plate in the microwave for five and a half minutes. He then put the card on the table, opened the bottle of wine, and poured it into the glass that had been left there. As he was eating the salad, he tore open the card, it had ‘BEST WISHES’ on the outside, inside it had been signed by Mathew, Otis, Vernon, Susan, Jim, and Janet. It said good luck on your extended camping trip. On the back, Janet said that she had brought in the wild flowers especially for him, hinting to TJ that she knew something was up, but was going to keep quiet for her secret sign was on the back that they had made up together, a long time ago. The buzzer went off. TJ had almost finished his salad, and soon he had his entrée before him, as he contemplated tomorrow. He finished his meal, and this time, he cleaned, and put everything away clean.

TJ walked into his bedroom, every thing was immaculate, and so put away, nothing was lying on the floor except clean rugs. There was a pile of clothes stacked on a table with a note. It said that these clothes would look very nice on TJ, in the next couple of days, with Susan’s name on it. The clothes were neatly folded, and they had not even one wrinkle in them. He looked into every drawer to find everything had been put away and upon seeing certain things, he started pulling the items out, he then added them to the pile Susan had started.

Next, he went into the bathroom to find out, it had taken its own shower, and had been cleaned up extensively. TJ looked toward the mirror, there was something there with a pink bow, and already TJ could feel orneriness at work. The label said it was ‘Lucky Charm Powder’. Smiling TJ sprinkled it on his palm, and it was scented baby powder. Darn smart alecks, smiled TJ, as he started to collect the things he was going to need for the trip.

Looking at the time, TJ hurried over to ‘The Dump’. TJ and Socrates got off the air scooter, as they then knocked on the door. Susan answered the door with Jim in the background. TJ entered to Jim complaining how much he had been mistreated today, as he petted Socrates. TJ said that the ‘Lucky Charm Powder’ was some great stuff; it had made him smell sexy, where every one roared.

“We finished the project,” Jim said, as they all went to the closet. “You are the last to try it out.” He told TJ to enter as he normally did, but to say the word, “Outside.”

TJ entered the closet, closed the door felt his normal sensation to have it reverse with him saying, “Outside.” The back panel then slid sideways to reveal the back yard of ‘The Dump’. TJ walked out side to wait for the others to join him. Coming outside, Jim asked him if he had felt the up and down sensation. TJ said that he had felt it. Jim said that all he had to do was mention ‘outside’ before closing the door that it would automatically go outside first. Susan joined them as Jim said that in order to enter ‘The Dump’ they had to be within two feet of this sensor that he was pointing at, with a charm on them, and mention their own name, for each individual entry.

TJ said that it was great that they had completed their project. TJ said it would keep from interrupting Jim and Susan at different times, should they ever be doing something rather unusual. TJ had to wink at them, leaving no question as to what he was hinting about, as Susan jabbed Jim telling him they have to try out the new privacy, getting a smile from Jim.

TJ decided to go over, and touch the hidden door; it opened up to the surprise of Susan and Jim. Jim said it must have been the baby powder. Jim tried it to find a wall with Susan finding the same result then to have TJ open it at will. Jim said someone must have over ridden the programming of the door from somewhere else.

TJ told Jim and Susan that he was going to finish his work downstairs that he would command Socrates to stay at home tomorrow, if he found his back to the house. TJ said he was going to use the new exit to go home tonight, and maybe Socrates would not sense that he had left ‘The Dump’. He thanked them both, and hugged them, since he would probably not see them for a while. TJ approached the panel, as it opened TJ heard Susan say to Jim, “Come on honey, let’s use the front door, it will be faster.”

In the operational center, TJ went to the control room, where Mamacita and TJ had a tug of war, where Mamacita’s programmer won the game. Looking at his watch, and seeing it was almost ten, he decided to leave, asking Mamacita if the communications would be restored when he left Sedro Woolley. Mamacita said it would be reset to normal conditions, except that TJ could not communicate to Sedro Woolley until he had been indoctrinated. “Great, now what does that mean?” thought TJ in frustration.

Exiting ‘The Dump’, TJ was a fourth of the way home, when he heard Socrates bark, and slowed the air scooter to wait for him. Socrates jumped on, and they returned home to where TJ packed all his things, cleaned up, went to bed, to hear the buzzer.