The Life Coach

The Young and Angry. A Novel

2010-10-15T18:39:00.000-07:00

Aurora Borealis over Trondheim

Prologue

Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense. Buddha

I am I

I am I, small with little to say

In the great circumstances

I am small, just a grain of dust

Compared to the Cosmos

But still; I am I

And therefore I am as good

And even better than Cosmos

Because I am a part of it

And without me, Cosmos

Couldn’t exist -

And we are all together

Charles Ekram Esteban Danzai-Roenning

Not one of a kind

1

It is early morning in a small town in the middle of Norway. By the river meandering from the ‘Leirfossen’ waterfall all the way through town and into the Fjord of Trondheim four apartment blocks were perched.

On the fourth floor of the block closest to the river a middle-aged man is living with his seventeen year old daughter.

She isn’t his real daughter, but the only child of his ex-girlfriend who died in a climbing accident when the girl was nine years old.

Since then she has lived with Frank Paul as if he was her father. She has taken his family name, but is not adopted by him.

They go along pretty well as they have been living together since she was a kid of only six…

This morning he woke up very early. He was awoken by some horrible screams coming from the floors above somewhere…

He was a curious man.

He put on his Moroccan Koftan and slippers and went out into the corridor.

He couldn’t hear the screaming now, but he heard someone coming down the stairs

He stood still on the landing until he could see a young man dressed immaculately in the latest style of fashion.

He looked clean and his shoes were so thoroughly brushed that he could use them as mirrors.

Frank looked at him and asked him if he’d heard the terrible screams? The man had a faint smile on his face.

He looked friendly and nodded his head; “Yes I noticed”, he said, “and as you say: “it sounded horrible!”

Frank watched him as he was talking and didn’t believe a word of what he was saying.

Before he ventured further down the stairs he asked him,:

”do you live here? I cannot remember seeing you before.” “No, I do not. I was just sleeping over with a friend.”

“And what is your friend’s name”, Frank asked, ever so politely.

“The man looked at him with a smile and said:

”I don’t want to give out his name; we may all be in trouble if I do. We have to take care of our friends, when needed, don’t you think?”

Frank just looked at him and said: “I guess I do, in my way.”

Then he said good morning and turned to go into his own apartment; he could hear the mild voice of the man saying: “and the same to you, Frank Paul!”

Frank turned and looked down the stairs where he could hear the steady steps of the night guest.

The man looked up and flashed a white smile at him.

Frank went inside and waited for a while.

He anticipated the time the intruder would use to walk all the way down the stairs to the ground floor.

He calculated it to be five-six minutes.

He waited ten minutes to be sure and then he went out into the corridor again and up the stairs to the next floor.

There were three flats on each floor, but everything seemed to be quiet and in order on the first one he visited.

So he kept on walking up the stairs to the next floor, but it was all tidy and quiet there too.

Finally he reached the sixth floor and could hear the sound of flowing water from one of the flats.

He went over there and noticed that the door had been splintered where the door handle had been; now it was lying scattered on the floor

Water was seeping out underneath the door. The woman who lived there was one of the few persons he was talking with in the block.

She was beautiful, but most of all she seemed to have a brilliant mind and some kind of wisdom.

Frank didn’t know what she was earning her living from.

Sometimes he met her late at night and then she looked very tacky…

He rapped his knuckles at the door, but there was no other sound in there than the flowing water. He pushed the door wide open and went inside.

Out from the bathroom there was a steady flow of water mixed with blood.

He opened the bathroom door and froze on the spot just inside when he saw his neighbour lying in the bath tub, most probably dead.

He turned and left the flat after having turned off the water. He tried to close the outer door by jamming a pair of shoes underneath it…

He ran down the stairs and into his own apartment.

Carla had just got out of bed and now she was standing in the hall; paralyzed.

She looked at him and asked him where he had been?

“Just upstairs to have a look at things”, he said

“What things?” she asked. Then she looked down at his slippers and saw that they were colored red.

“Frank; what’s happened?!” He looked at her and said: “let me have a cup of coffee first.”

She turned to him again and said: “There was a man here asking for you”

He spun around and looked at her. “What did he look like?”

She looked at him and said: “he looked like a lawyer or a business man and he was very well dressed!”

“Ok, let’s calm down a little first and I’ll tell you what happened here today while you were still asleep.

They sat down by the kitchen table and he told her what had happened the last fifteen minutes.

When he was finished she just sat there with her mouth wide open…

“Oh, Frank, what are you going to do? He might be coming for you too!”

“Actually I don’t think so; this man has something else on his mind.”

“I have to call the police, or better; a friend of mine who is into this line of work. Do you remember Ole who used to visit us some years ago?”

“Yes”, she said.

“He has written many books about this kind of criminality.”

“Oh, I am forgetting; I have to call the police to report this nasty incidence.”

He drank his coffee in one gulp and went out into the hall to call. Ten minutes later he came back into the kitchen looking at his watch.

“I guess you’re off to school soon?”

“Yes”, she said, “but I am a little afraid to leave you.”

“Nice of you, but have no fear, Carla, I can take care of myself, but I am not sure of you. Do you have some friends you can stay with a few days?”

“Do you think I am in danger?” she said with her eyes wide open, staring at him.

“I don’t know, but this man is dangerous for anyone, including himself.”

“Do it please, just for your own sake - and mine”, he said.

Carla came up to him and gave him a hug.

“I have many friends, and I am going to ask them today.”

“Ok, keep in touch, will you.”

“You too!” she said. She prepared her breakfast and her lunch for school.

Fifteen minutes later she left with a worried look on her face.

Frank wasn’t in a good mood himself after she was gone.

He knew from experience that people with a mild voice and a nice face and an impeccable appearance was not what they appeared to be.

On the contrary; in his experience they were hiding something; what they mostly were hiding would be of the deep and murky kind of emotions and actions…

He sat down and poured himself another cup of coffee while he looked out of the kitchen window.

Ten minutes later someone were pushing his doorbell by the entrance downstairs.

A man’s voice said that he came from the police station to investigate what he had reported this morning; the nearest police office was just across the river.

He opened the door and waited for the Officer…

He arrived after 2 minutes and knocked at the door. Frank went out into the hall and bid him to come right in.

The Officer introduced himself as Trond Melhus.

Frank liked him immediately; he had this ability to see through people.

He had learned it throughout his many years of training and studying Gestalt Therapy and from many years of intense meditation.

He asked Melhus if he wanted a cup of coffee and the policeman was smart enough to say yes.

They sat down and chatted a little and then Melhus asked where the incidence had happened.

Frank took him to the fifth floor.

He showed him the splintered door and said it’s still open…

It was still wet on the landing outside the door.

Frank pulled out the shoes and they entered.

Melhus went into the bathroom. He looked at the scene and said: “mm Paul; I’ve seen this kind of scene before. You see the throat; it’s cut open and so are her wrists. If I am right I think we will find another sign on the body to indicate who did this.

We haven’t got the identity of the murderer, but he or she is leaving us clues all the time. Have a look at her left breast.”

Frank bent over and could see a small silver brooch pinned through her left nipple

“It looks like an angel”, Frank said.

“Exactly!” Melhus said, “This is the third victim of this monster!” he said with disgust.

“Ok, I will call up the station and tell the forensics to come and evaluate the scene. Meanwhile we can have another coffee and you tell me what happened, ok?”

“Yes, sure.” Frank replied.

“Your coffee was of the best class you know! Much better than my wife’s!” Melhus said as they walked down the stairs.

Frank smiled a little, but he was trembling inside.

They went into Frank’s apartment and sat down by the kitchen table. Frank poured two cups of coffee.

Melhus produced a notebook from his coat’s inner pockets and started writing the date and the name of the witness.

Then Frank explained in detail what had happened since he woke up this morning. Melhus wrote it down and closed the book; then he emptied his cup

“Very good Mr. Paul”, he said, “It’s not often we have such good statements as you have given me here.” He touched his notebook and pocketed it again.

“So”, he said, “anything else to tell me?” Frank had been thinking about that and told him about the impression the ‘stair man’ had induced in him, and about the Gestalt Therapeutic way of seeing people and their inner mandates.

Melhus looked at him and said; “You know, Frank, you could be valuable for us down at the station. I wonder if you could pop in one day and tell us more about your abilities.”

Frank wasn’t keen on this, but he nodded and told Melhus to call him.

With that he rose and thanked Frank for his frank report on the morning’s events.

E-mail: crnning@gmail.com

Web Site: http://illioscoaching.com

Seealso: http://easywaytowrite.com/magellan/charles_roenning.html

Soldier of Misfortune

2

Arthur Rosenborg was a junior partner in F.B. Shipping. The company wasn't of the biggest ones, but it was
conservative enough for young Arthur who wanted to mingle with the elite in the little town.

He also ran a Publishing Company called: “Inner Nature of Man;” which focused solely on man’s darkest sides.

He was also in cahoots with an establishment called: “Gentlemen’s Club no. 1”

This place was nothing but a brothel despite its audacious name.

Inside, on the first floor there was a huge bar and red puffed up sofas covered with purple velvet.

Upstairs in the second floor there were twenty compartments of various size and shape and equipment for the love making business.

Only the wealthy could afford the prices in this little dump…

Rosenborg met some raised eyebrows and problems concerning his involvement with the Gentlemen’s Club no. 1.

He didn’t have any problems in fending off these by means of his charming appearance. He was a slick and well dressed and seemingly polite and friendly young man with a white, flashing smile.

Later on in the morning a group of three policemen and a doctor rang his bell and he opened for them…

Upon reaching the third floor they knocked on his door and asked him to show them the apartment where the murder had been committed.

He took them up to the fifth floor and they found their way in. One of the policemen said he’d be down with him soon to have some more details on the incident…

Frank went down the stairs again and went into his own apartment to relax a little from the busy morning he’d had today.

He went into the living room and sat down in the sofa with his legs on the low coffee table. He sighed and sank down in the soft cushions. He dozed off and dreamt about the elegant man he had seen on the landing just outside his own door.

He was looking at Frank while waving his index finger in front of his face, saying: “Careful Frank, something may happen to you one early morning too!” Then he flashed a white smile at him and faded away.

Frank jumped out of the sofa and was very disturbed by this vision.

Someone at his door was calling at him; “hello, hello.”

Frank went out into the hall where one of the policemen was peeping into his kitchen.

“Ah, there you are Mr. Paul. I just wanted to have a quick chat with you before we leave.”

“Ok”, he said, “ask away.” The constable pulled up a notebook like the one Mr. Melhus had processed from his pocket and Frank couldn’t but smile.

“Standard equipment, Frank”, the copper said with a smile on his face.

Then he asked some of the questions Melhus had asked him earlier this morning. Frank went through it again and the policeman nodded. Then he wanted to know how Frank had come upon the murdered woman.

Frank told him and described in detail what he had observed in his neighbour’s flat…

The officer said;” thank you, we might have to talk with you again if you don’t mind?”

“Fine with me”, Frank said

So he was finally left alone and the time was soon noon…

He went out into the kitchen and made a cup of tea for himself.

As he sat down by the kitchen table he was thinking of Carla.

He was very anxious about her safety.

He had seen such a deep and dark abyss of malice in this well dressed young man.

He was convinced that this slick character was a psychopath.

No one could have done something as bad as he’d done this morning and still be in control as he seemed to be when Frank first saw him.

He felt sorry for him, thinking of what kind of future he would have to go through. It wouldn’t be easy; he would have to face a lot of obstacles and defeats on the kind of road he had ventured onto.

He finished his tea and went into his office, which was the smaller of two bedrooms in the apartment.

Inside he had built two desks for him and Clara where they could search the net, write and talk with friends. By the window there was a bed where Carla slept…

Now he wanted to find out about this man showing up in the stairs…

He found the number of the police office and asked for Detective Melhus. The receptionist asked him who he was and where he lived and if he was calling from his own phone. Frank told her the truth and nothing but the truth. She asked him why he wanted to talk with Officer Melhus. He briefly told her about what had happened this morning and she said:” Just a minute Mr. Paul.”

A couple of minutes later she was back again. “It’s funny, “she said, “he wanted to see you today too. He will call you in half an hour.”

“Thanks”, Frank replied and hung up.

He sat for a while by the desk and decided to call Ole.

He remembered his number and knew that he was staying at home most of the time; so he wasn’t surprised when Ole answered immediately.

“Hello there, Frank!” he said, “long time no see! What’s on your mind today, Doc!” Frank smiled; it felt good to talk with his friend again.

He said:”Ole, I am going to meet with a policeman today and I wonder if you’d like to join us for a hefty conversation in a coffee shop somewhere. This cop is a good one. His name is Trond Melhus. Are you familiar with that name?”

“Melhus is one of the best in this town, but why do you want to talk with him – and me, for that matter?”

“You see, something terrible has popped up and I would like to invite you into it. I like this policeman and I think we will have a good cooperation with him.”

“We? What is this, Frank? What has happened?”

“It will all be revealed today. Melhus will call me very soon and then I’ll call you back, ok?”

“This sounds as a prologue for a good novel to me; I am in!”

“Thanks, Ole. I am looking forward to see you again.”

He went into the kitchen and looked out at the busy lunch rush. The area he was living in was called “The sunny side” and there were lots of restaurants and coffee shops and shopping centers there; very convenient for anyone living in this neighbourhood. People were rushing in for lunch now from nearby offices and companies and schools…

The phone rang and he grabbed the one on the wall right in front of him and answered: “Frank Paul here.”

“Hi coffee man!” a jovial voice said, “Do you have time for a chat today in the ‘Blueberry’ or wherever you prefer?”

“Exactly what I was going to ask you. I will bring a friend; Ole Tjern. I guess you know him?”

“The best crime writer in town”, he said, “No problem; just bring him. He might even be of help.”

“Your description of him is exactly what he says about you being a policeman.”

“Sounds promising! What time will be convenient for you?”

“Blueberry in half an hour? I have to call Ole.”

“No problem! See you there.”

Frank called Ole again and told him where and when. Ole was eager to meet with them and said he would probably be there before they arrived. He lived in the neighbourhood and could walk over there in ten minutes.

Frank went into the bathroom to brush his teeth. While doing that he looked at himself in the mirror.

“Now, what are you getting yourself into, old man?!” Frank shook his index finger to the reflection of his face.

He dressed; casually as always and left for the coffee shop and hopefully good company and a pleasant conversation…

He went down the stairs and thought of this morning’s events. Just a few hours ago a murderer had come into his life and walked down these same stairs!

Outside he just had about a hundred meters to walk to the ‘Blueberry.’

The Sunny Side had once been a shipyard and still there were signs of it all around in the area. The old brick houses of the old yard were now rehabilitated for all kinds of shops and coffee shops.

Cranes were still standing immobile along the canals. Two anchors were also placed on an open space by the entrance of the shopping mall.

All around the blocks and apartment houses there were canals filled with water. They had once been docks for building ships…

‘Blueberry’ was situated in the old office building of the yard and was a popular place for the younger coffee - shop - crowd, but also for people like Frank who had plenty of time at his disposal as he was on a pension and had been so for twelve years.

"The Sunny Side

He was still having clients who needed to get rid of blockages and difficult relationships or just needed to be aware of the positive sides of their lives.

Otherwise he was also busying himself with painting and drawing. Sometimes he sold some of his collection, but mostly he gave them away. He didn’t want to charge too much for his products as he didn’t see himself as a professional artist…

He reached the coffee shop and could see Ole inside with a beer in his hand. Ole wasn’t too amused by all the coffee that was drunk among his friends, so he stubbornly stuck to his pint of dark beer.

Now he became aware of his friend approaching outside and waved at him. Frank waved back and jumped the stairs up to the entrance and went in. He went over to Ole and grabbed his hand and shook it.

Ordinary Norwegians would feel awkward about this kind of procedure. For him and Ole it was common sense; to touch like this was a way of strengthening the relationship and make people feel comfortable.

This had become a habit between them many years ago. Ole smiled at him: “nice to see you again my friend”, he said, “let’s meet more often; hopefully we can have some more to share after this meeting?”

“Who knows? I surely hope so”, Frank said

“Ah, here’s our man of law”, Ole said and pointed out the window. Soon Melhus joined them and announced that he would pay today!”

“What you really mean is that we have already paid you through our taxes and now it’s your time for a payback?” said Ole, “by the way; my name is Ole Tjern.” Melhus looked at him and smiled, “any new novels lately?”

Melhus looked around in the coffee shop and asked them: “Can we move to a quieter corner. I wouldn’t like it if someone with big ears sat too close to us!” So they moved to the adjacent room that wasn’t frequented as much as the main one…

“I hope to have one on the block one of these days!” Ole said as they sat down in the almost empty room.

Melhus looked at him and said:” maybe you will have it up close this time?”

“That would be too close for me I think, but I believe our friend here is grossly annoyed with this killer. He might even go after him.”

“Are you sure it is a he?” Melhus looks at them both. Then he turns back to Frank and says: “can you describe the man you met in your block again, Frank?”

Frank told them how the man looked and what he saw in him and how he behaved and how he actually launched a covert threat against Frank and his daughter.

Ole just looked intensely at Frank when he described the whole event. Then he asked Frank:” the description of this man; are you absolutely sure he looked and behaved like you said?”

“Absolutely!”

“Then I know who he is!” Ole said and looked at both of the men.

Now Melhus was as intense as Ole. He asked Ole who this guy was and Ole came out with a name after some thinking. He whispered now; “there is only one man in this town that fits into Frank’s description and that’s Arthur Rosenborg!” His voice was barely audible when he spoke the name.

Melhus leaned back in his chair looked out into the air and sighed heavily.

“Frank, can you tell your friend what you saw in this man?”

Frank told Ole that he didn’t doubt a second that the man he met had to be a psychopath and especially after he had turned up at his door while Clara was alone there.

Ole stared at him. He said: “where is your daughter now?”

“At school, “Frank said, “but I have told her to stay with friends for some time”.

“Good!” Ole said.

Melhus had a worried look on his face.

“Is there something you’d like to share with us Officer?” Frank said.

“I am not sure. I know this man of course. He is in with the high shots in town. We believe he is supported by his father who we suspect is a drug dealer, but he is a veteran who knows all the tricks and we have never got anything on him.”

“Good men, I am also a bit worried about this meeting’s purpose. What did you have in mind when you decided to invite your friend with us, Frank?”

Bakklandet, old wooden buildings

Frank says: ”Ole is the man who as a civilian knows the most about cons and ex-cons and crooks and crimes in this town. He has been doing thorough research for many years around here. He is a valuable source for anyone who wants to track down any kind of crime!”

“My problem is that I cannot see how I as an Officer of Law can cooperate with two civilians like you; especially in this case. I have to talk with the mighty boss and I guess you both know what that may lead to?”

“He will turn us down on the spot!” Ole says, “But do you have to tell him? Birger Grytvik is the most incapable head of office that has warmed the chief’s chair in your department, ever!” said Ole

“Anyone knows that!” Melhus says, “But still I have to deal with him. I see you two as a formidable resource for this kind of plot.” He sighed and said:” I‘ll have a talk with him and use all my skills as a negotiator which are not too bad. Ok? I need you to be very quiet about this; understand?” He added:” and Frank if you have told your daughter about this, you must tell her the same! It’s very important!”

Arthur Rosenborg has just left his office at F.B. Shipping in the Fjord Street and is now on his way to his other occupation; the Publisher company, which is not too far away from his more respectable office.

The company is run by Arthur and his cousin Peter. They have also hired a Solicitor and a Psychologist.

The first to fend off any complaints about the company’s dirty literature and the latter takes care of both the writers and the psychology used in their products and those of them who have fallen into the trap of their own works; as they dive so deeply into the abysses of darkness and fear…

These employees are of the darker kind themselves, obviously.

Arthur went up a narrow alley and reached the ‘Krambu Street’ where he rented a couple of shabby rooms on the second floor in an old wooden house for their tiny company. His cousin hasn’t arrived yet, but Arthur sits down in his swivel chair and picks up a newly arrived manuscript from someone who wrote under the synonym; “Filthy Amanda”

Arthur smiled and licked his lips. “Sounds promising Amanda,” he said and opened the envelope. He picked out the pile of papers and prepared himself to dive into it.

He went over to the kettle to boil some water for a cup of coffee. While waiting for it to finish he looked briefly through the first chapter; “Amanda; your choice of name really fits you!” he said and smiled broadly; almost drooling.

The water was ready and he added a bag of Nescafe to it and went over to his desk again…

He was way into the manuscript when he heard someone coming up the narrow staircase leading from the sidewalk and up to their office. “Peter, is that you?” he said in a loud voice. No answer, but then he saw a middle aged man stick his head into his office. Arthur recognized him at once as Ole Tjern, the well-known local writer. Arthur rose up and went over to him and shook his hand. “Ah, our excellent local crime reporter is here in our humble office,” he said and smiled, “are you here to deliver a manuscript? I would be very happy to publish it for you!”

Ole looked at him and said: “maybe one day I will shock you with one, maybe”…

“Then, what can I do for you?” Arthur said. Ole looked around and noticed there were many files with writers he knew, but with whom he didn’t socialize.

Actually I was looking for manuscripts I could look into. I am just into the first steps of a new novel based on crimes committed here in Trondheim. It’s the first time I’ve done that. I have been ‘inspired’ by a series of murders lately and had a chat with Detective Melhus in the central police station in a coffee shop today… He recommended “Inner Nature of Man.” I believe that’s the name of your company?”

Arthur just looked at him. He smiled and just stood there scrutinizing Ole’s appearance.

“I am afraid we haven’t got anything by local writers here for the time being. We receive manuscripts from many places in the country and ever so often from other countries too.”

“Oh, that’s a pity!” Ole said,” have you heard about these murders here in our town?”

Arthur was standing in the same position he had taken a while ago; as he was frozen to the floor. He looked down and said: “yes I have and it’s a devastating experience. Here in this small and peaceful corner of the world! Who would have thought that?”

Ole looked at him and said; “well. I have to find someone else’s manuscript then. Thanks for your help and I might come back to your offer to publish my latest novel. I am following this tragic case here you know.”

He turned around and was about to open the door when he heard Rosenborg saying:” if you are here for some other reason you better tell me Mr. Tjern. I could be of some help in filling you in with details from these nasty affairs going on here in town. Have a nice day.”

Ole nodded and opened the door. Then Rosenborg obviously had some more to say:” If this investigation leads you here I might be of substantial help for you Mr. Tjern. Don’t forget!” He turned around and sat down in his swivel chair to read again.

Ole went down the steep stairs to the sidewalk. He couldn’t decide if he had been threatened by Rosenborg or not.

“I’ll have to talk with Frank again”, he thought.

The Life Coach: Blogger Buzz: Blogger integrates with Amazon Associates

2010-09-11T21:25:00.000-07:00

The Life Coach: Blogger Buzz: Blogger integrates with Amazon Associates

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2010-09-11T21:18:00.000-07:00

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L.J.

2010-03-14T00:19:00.002-08:00

1st prologue

We are in the northern part of the European continent in the middle of the country and in a smallish town.
In a kitchen in a 2 rooms apartment there's a 6 year old boy frolicking around with a lot of energy as a boy that age just has to do. He jumps around, asks his mother questions, whistles and sings.
Eventually his mother who is busy baking turns to him and tells him to go outside instead before she goes nuts. She turns back to her baking and is not saying a word...
The boy says: "I don't want to go out now; there's no kids out yet!" Not that he cares; he finds the kids his own age are stupid and acting irrationally, especially the boys...
He looks at his mother's back and realizes that it is much more convincing than any words.

He turns around and goes into the small hall to pick up his shoes and puts them on. Then he leaves without a word...
Outside he looks up at the sun, tilting his face towards it and smiles when he feels the warm rays caressing his face

He crosses the street and walks over to a grassy slope that reaches down to a big field that once was a soccer pitch.
The slope continues along the long side of the field and is shaped like giant stairs; because they once were carrying seats for the public.

He looks down the path leading down to the field and starts descending.
On the short end of the field there's a big and red wooden house that once was the barn of a small farm at the outskirts of town. Now it's a store house for recirculated paper.

He walks along the red wall until he reaches the corner and turns around it. Now he is facing a small field with shrubs, grass, weeds and hundreds of dandelions.
He walks a few steps and sits down with is back against the wall. He looks out into the air without looking; as children of his age can do; fall into meditation.

He notices a shining light floating through the air, aimed at him. It is the size of a soccer ball and is shining brightly, but the light from it is not hurting his eyes, actually he feels good by looking at it...

It stops one meter in front him and levels with his eyes. It keeps on hanging there, in the air. Then he hears a voice talking to him in his head. It says: "You are never alone. You are one with the whole Universe." The boy doesn't quite understand, but the soft and mild voice feels good to him...

He looks around and realizes that the dandelions are shining too. They are swaying as if they are dancing. He cannot help himself swaying with them as he is so fascinated by everything happening to him.
Then the dandelions start talking in his head too: "We are suns like the light in front of you and we are one with you, as you are one with us for all eternity." The boy is delighted even though he still doesn't understand the meaning of what is happening...

He looks at the field again and notices that all the plants are shining with a transparent purple aura around them. Inside the aura there are small beings floating or flying around.
He rises up to have a better view of it all and he is thrilled by it!
Gradually the light is fading and the whole scenery enters into it's "normal" state again.

From a distance he can hear some calling: "Jay, are you there?"

The boy doesn't bother answering...

croenning@rocketmail.com see also: www.illioscoaching.com

the life coach 1

2010-03-14T00:19:00.001-08:00

The Life Coach

2nd Prologue

Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplaceable spark.... Do not let the hero in your soul perish, in lonely frustration for the life you deserved, but have never been able to reach. Check your road and the nature of your battle. The world you desired can be won. It exists, it is real, it is possible, it is yours." - Ayn Rand

Such is my faith that I do not know who I am. I am not in charge of my life as I believed it was, just a few years ago...

My name is Jay Storm. I am a counselor and a psychological therapist and a so-called life coach.

Ironic, isn't it; the life coach is not in charge of his own life. Many clients have I helped towards realization of themselves and their inner abilities to live a better life; to be fulfilled as what they truly are.
Myself? I don't know what I am doing here. I have many thoughts in my head, but I do not know where they come from; they don't seem to be mine anymore.

What to do? Where do I go? What is going to happen to me and more important; who am I if I am not me?

Picture a white room. Everything inside this room is white;

which means that there are no references or contrasts that can indicate where I am or what kind of room this is. No shadows, not a trace of any other colour...
If a black spot suddenly would appear in front of me as if there was a wall there; how would I feel? What would that spot mean to me and how would the room change? Maybe it wouldn't change, but just prove to me that this is a completely white room; that it's there. I can see it now although it's still very white.

I am trying to see myself as the black spot. I think I would feel very much alone. More now than before the black spot appeared.

Who has created this room which would drive me insane if I kept on staying here?

I think I would draw another spot a short distance from the first one and then a line in between the two spots. I would already feel much better. I would keep on doing this until I had lines and dots all over the room and I would be satisfied and say to myself; "Hey, I have a grip on this now! I can clearly see the room."

Maybe it could work out that way, but I doubt it would make my life better or make me understand it.

I woke up one morning after having a nightmare. I could not remember what I had been dreaming, but I was very alarmed and felt uncomfortable when I set my feet on the floor. I just sat there for what must have been 15 minutes; totally empty, but I could still feel the turmoil inside my stomach or rather in the Solar Plexus area … I was sweating although the room wasn't very hot. I knew: 'sweat coming from within' as I called the phenomenon to myself. Something significant had been going on during the last half hour...

Something deep inside that had been waiting for many years to break through. This had started to happen about 20 years ago. I had started meditating 2 years before, which had affected me profoundly. My mind had opened to depths I couldn't have imagined existed just 2 years before...
Now I was just waiting for the revelation to show up; what was this about? I lay down on my back with my head on the pillow. I think I just dozed off again, but then came this voice in my head, saying: "wake up Jay, wake up Jay, WAKE UP JAY!!"

I found myself standing on the floor several steps away from the bedside. Now I could only hear the sound of tiny bells in the middle of my head... Then; as it was coming from far, far away; a distant voice from a child saying: "do you remember, Jay, when you were a little boy sitting in the light many years ago?" I didn't know what to say or how to express myself... "Just talk normally", the child's voice said. Still I hesitated ; "the shining light and the flowers, Jay!" The voice sounded a little annoyed now. I said: "you mean; you were there? How do you know about this? Who are you??" Then, to my amazement the voice said: "I am you and you are me!", "please, can you explain?" "I am Little Jay, who saw these visions and I still know them and live them. Would you like to recapitulate them and be one with me and then I can be one with you..." I went to the bed and sat down. I was crying now.

L.J. as I had always called him and who had been on my mind and in my heart for so many years... Could this be true or was I still dreaming?

It took some time before I came to my senses again and it seemed like the boy understood; he was waiting for me. I said through tears that I would love to be close to him. Then I heard his clinging laughter in my head; L.J.'s laughter as I remembered it when I laughed as a boy! I became euphoric now; I laughed and I cried and went around in the room, stopped by the window with tears of joy flowing down my cheeks.

What a joy!

the life coach 2

2010-03-14T00:18:00.000-08:00

The Cafeneion

Doll enters the cafe. She marches up to the counter and says in a loud voice: "I had too much Tsekoudia last night and I have decided that I need some more today; as a cure and, while you're at it, please pour two shots of whiskey too!"

She looks at Glow behind the counter as if she is not going to process her orders and laughs her horse like laughter.

She continues to stare at Glow with blood shot eyes, but Glow doesn't mind her; she's just happy to have a paying customer...

Doll finally turns around to view the other guests this early Friday morning:

"Bloody Hell, what a sorry creed you are hosting here today, Glow! I think I will have my drinks served outside.
Out she marches without a glance at the others. No one complains about her outbursts; they all know her...

Jay was sitting in his corner, tapping away on his computer keypad: exactly what iswritten above.

"Sometimes I hate these two lost cases of humanity", he mutters to himself.
"They are ugly in all senses of the word, lost in this forsaken place. They are constantly grumpy and unpleasant to be around. They are drinking a lot, which doesn't make them any more edible..."

Doll is big as a walrus and can scare any man or woman out of their wits by lashing truly horrible sarcastic comments at them in a pitched voice that must blow any decibel measuring instrument in to pieces.

She is usually dressed in jeans and a t-shirt in dull blue-grey colors and she never wears a bra; everything dangling freely around on her torso; no walks on the cat walk for her; ever

Glow has a flare about her, but her grumpy and negative appearance kills it immediately...

Doll stumbles out the door sighing heavily with one hand on her forehead. Glow follows with the drinks on a tray and a huge glass of red wine for herself.

Before she can put the tray down on the table, Doll has grabbed the glass of Tsekoudia and gulped it down in one go. With the tray placed in front of her she immediately grasps for the nearest glass of whiskey and hoists it down her throat, followed by the other at the same pace...

Then she burps loudly with her mouth wide open. She licks her mouth and laughs her laughter again.

Glow has placed herself neatly with crossed legs on the other side of the table and is now sipping her wine like a lady.

There are still some British manners left in her, although she might not be aware of it.

Her face is shaped like the Himalayas as they can be seen on a satellite photo taken from space.

She constantly moans about the Café that doesn't bring the money she had anticipated 4 years ago...

For Jay it works like this: he cannot stay too long with any of these hippos. "No wonder people are shunning this place", he says to himself.

Jay feels like he is provoking them by his shear appearance; so he puts his money for his espresso on the counter and steps outside; saying good bye to the two beauties that have arrived at a more happy state now.

Doll's face has turned purple and he worries for her health, but why should he?

After a few steps Doll growls something that sounds like: "Honey, are you leaving? Don't you like us anymore?!" and then the laughter...

Jay hastens off, reminding himself that this must be the last time he visits this place, which is something he's told himself through grinding teeth many times before.

The Café is shabby and worn out by being old and in the latest years neglected.There's occasional leakage from the ceiling due to dried up concrete or, more likely; the remaining concrete is at a level of 20% compared to the rest of the compound which fills up the remaining 80% that is consisting of sand and pebbles...

When it rains the few guests must balance their steps in between buckets and pots that covers one third of the floor.

There's an old gas heater by the wall and it's lit during these wet circumstances; this mainly happens in wintertime and early spring.

The furniture is made out of the traditional Greek wooden chairs wound up with hemp string fitted as seats. Every 15 minute one should take a walk to ease up the tensions in one's but and back. There are wooden tables to match the chairs. There are no table cloths on the tables. The owners are not too keen on extra expenses forlaundry and the hassle of too much equipment in the Café.

In fact this is not a Café as a Northern European would see it. It's a traditional "cafeneion", where men used to smoke 60 cigarettes in 2 hours and have a glass of Ouzu and Mezes; a small dish of sardines, small pickled cucumbers and sweet red pepper and olives, all sprinkled with olive oil and served with white bread...

Jay lives just 150 meters down the street, so it's convenient for him to drop in and have his morning coffee there now and then.

He starts his stroll down the street and already after 20 meters he is feeling relieved; the air is fresher; the light brighter...

The Café is situated on a little Platia named after a once famous Cretan General

It could have been a cozy place, but with these owners it will never happen. They just want to get out of the business and sell the whole establishment.

Jay lives in a newly renovated old house. His friends would call it a luxury to live there, but he can afford it with his reasonable income in the form of a pension and disability benefits from his own country. He feels better here; his disease can take the Mediterranean climate much better than up north where he comes from.

Looking down the street he can see the fishing harbour which lies by the local beach - just a few minutes' walk away.

By turning his head up the street he has a full view of the "Lefka Ori"; “The White Mountains”. The name does not come from the snow covered wintertime scenario when there's snow down the mountain sides and the highland plateaus. The highest peaks reach up to 2500 meters. The white comes from the color of the building minerals of these mountains.

At this time of the day Jay goes for a bicycle trip into town to meet friends and to buy the latest newspapers; The Guardian is his preferred paper.

He puts his computer in the bedroom cupboard and straps the rucksack onto his back and when he's finally ready; he jumps the stairs down and fetches his bike in the shelf in the front garden. He's happy as a little boy every time he he's going for a ride on his bicycle.

In less than 3 minutes he's in the street saddled for the best event this day. He turns the corner where the talkative owner of the barber shop sits outside in the still cool morning air. Jay smiles and waves his hand at him; a gesture that releases a loud"Kali Mera, fille mho!" Jay is always impressed by the power of the little man's voice! No "sotto voce" there, but then he is a Greek man...

crnning@gmail.com

the life coach 3

2010-03-14T00:17:00.001-08:00

If my words did glow like the gold of sunshine

and my tunes were played on a harp unstrung

would you hear my voice come through the music

would you hold it near as if it were your own?

Grateful Death: "Ripples"

Chet

I am in a room which I call the office although it's a bedroom, but with desks and chairs and a sofa for those of my clients who would like to lie down. The room also has a view to the sea, which is a view that has always had a calming effect on me. The walls are painted ruby red with thin golden vertical stripes. I painted it in this color on impulse and wasn't at all sure if this was the right color. I like it, but I don't know if my clients approve to it. I have asked them and they politely said that it was all right...

I was sitting in my swivel chair with my feet up on the desk, dozing off now and then. Late night yesterday and red wine to go with it...
"Too much, old man" I said to myself.

I was waiting for an early morning client while contemplating the last session with him; one of many and with no progress whatsoever.

I had given him many hints to try something else, but he wasn't very bright and couldn't take it in.

The door bell rang and I went to open the door. Jock was standing outside viewing the sea; his face purple due to his constant drinking.

"Oh, Doc", he said, "I had too many Heinekens yesterday and I am not quite sure if I can think straight today." I was hoping that this statement would lead to a second and more favorable one, but he looked at me and smiled; "still there are things I have to talk with you about , Doc." He insisted upon calling me Doc and I had given up trying to correct him.

"Right, Chet; come on in." "You look great and stylish as always, Chet". "Thank you Doc, it's mostly for the ladies, you know. There has to be some style to it, especially in my age."

He finally came up the two steps to my entrance door and went inside. Inside I could smell his perfume or maybe it was his after shave.

I went ahead and opened the door to my "office".

He climbed in and sat down in his usual chair; the deep ruby red one that had inspired me to paint the walls in the same color.

"So, Chet, you had something to tell me?" "Ah, I love this chair Doc!" was his answer.

"Something else to tell me?"

"Yes, sorry Doc, I always get distracted when I am here, but I feel it's doing me good, you know."

"In what way?"

"At first I am a wee bit nervous, you see, but then, after landing in this chair I just feel so relaxed."

"Ok, Chet, but what was it you had to tell me?" Finally he seems to get to the point, which hasn't got too much of a point

"You see, Doc, I had this telephone call last night from..."

"Lilly?" I said. "Yes, you know, Doc, I am so angry with this woman; she stole my money, you know..."

"Chet, how many times have you told me this story and when are you going to do something about it?"

He turned, if possible, even more purple now; his nose was shining like a beacon; "You know. Doc, I feel good when I come here to have these chats, but when you start cutting me off like this I actually get a little angry!" He had a stiff smile on his face all the time he was saying this.

"So you see these sessions as chats? That's amazing, Chet; as I see them as sessions of treatment where two people come together to help each other out; amazing".

"But surely, you know why I do it, don't you? Or have you forgotten?" He stared at me with the same smile on his face. "Doc, when I feel bad as I do now, our chats will not benefit me at all. I pay you to make me feel better, don't I?"

"Why do you have to bring this up every time you're here, Jock?"

"And how many times have we gone through this same routine?" "You haven't done a damn shit about your own situation. Not a single step towards finding the obvious solutions I have recommended for you to solve your frustration with women... What are you going to do about that?.."

"But, but, you are the doctor!"

"Relax Chet, how many times have we had this subject up for discussion?"

"Of course we have had it up, as you say, that's why I am here, right?!" He had risen out of the chair and came walking towards me. Angry now; he came up to my face with his fists clenched.

"Chet, anything stupid from you and I will report you to the police, we have talked about this too, many times, your anger takes over and you cannot control yourself."

He stops, turns as if to go back to his chair, but then turns back to stare at me again. "I'd like to see your diploma, Doc. Sometimes I wonder if you have any education at all!"

"Sometimes my clients aren't yet ready to face themselves; you are one of these clients. My diploma is hanging on the wall; you have seen it before." "Yes, but it's nothing worth, you know, Doc; if your sessions doesn't help me, I might as well find someone else who are really willing to help me out of this..."

" I have told you before; if you are dissatisfied with my treatment you are free to go wherever you want. Actually, I advice you to do it as you seem to turn into a state of anger every time I criticize your lack of faith in yourself and just walk away to the nearest bar in stead, for your precious Heineken."

He spun around and in one second he came up to me and hit me under the nose and then punched my chin; real hard.

I just sat there, bleeding from my nose and looked at him. He was still angry, but a little bewildered now. He was slow, but he seemed to realize what he had done...

I told him to leave and he turned on his heel and marched out of my office. I could hear the door slam when he left the house...

croenning@rocketmail.com

the life coach 4

2010-03-14T00:14:00.000-08:00

On the beach with L.J.

My house was situated not far from the sea and I felt the urge to get out on my bicycle to shake some of my anger off.

I had had to clean up my messy face and put on a scarf to cover it up

Now I was on my bike; heading for the most peaceful beach at Christopoli. It was still early in the morning and I enjoyed the trip on my bike; as always.

Bicycling is one of the best ways of moving bodies. The fresh breeze in my face, the smell of the sea, the feeling of wellbeing as my body works to keep up my desired speed; in fact it is the most supreme vehicle on wheels that humans have ever innovated…

The lush sunlight coming through the canopies of the trees; the flickering in my eyes and brain makes me feel like I am going to have an epileptic episode...

I am still on my bike and I am doing well, but I am not here... I can watch everything around me, but it's strange, although I have been doing this trip many times. It feels like I am switched into an automatic pilot mode.

I am leaving the lane of trees and I start to recognize my surroundings again.

"It's ok Jay, it's ok; nothing to worry about", a soft and distant voice is telling me this. I start talking with it and soon realize that it's L.J. who has shown up again.

"I am happy to have you here, my little friend", I say and he responds with "ok" and nothing else. I am baffled and wonder if he just wants me to shut up while I am still on my bike?

"That's right!" he says, "wait until we're on the beach where we can play and swim and have a good time, that's better than all the talking you seem to be obsessed with!"

Then silence...

I have reached the so-called Golden Beach now. It lies on the leeward side of a hill which keeps the wind away and hence, also the waves that can be dangerous some times on the beaches lying further west on the island; facing the ocean.

I find a place just beneath some outcrops that provide shadow.

I am not a fan of staying too long on the beach and in the sun.

"Congratulations Jay; this is a wisely chosen spot!" says L.J.

I lay out my big towel and lie down. There are just a couple of devoted sun lovers here yet; turning their bodies every 20 minutes or so and in between smearing themselves in with greasy and sticky cream. They can stay for the whole day like this.

I find it awkward to "talk" with L.J. and he says in my head that I can communicate with my thoughts; "as you have done before, remember?"

"Yes I remember; I was 23 years old and my mum was dying. I was the only one in her room; the rest of the family had pulled back to the adjacent room. She was in a coma and suddenly I could hear her voice in my head, as I heard L.J. now. She said, "So you do love me then!" I jumped out from the wall I was leaning to. My reply came immediately: "YES!" spoken in the same way as she had done. Then silence... She died 10 minutes after this "conversation". I was the last one to stay with her...

"That's it", L.J. said, "that's the way you can talk with me too; without a sounding word...

I smiled and then I laughed. I felt happy with this little boy inside. "Oh, but I am not inside you anymore, Jay. Let's just see it this way: I am with you, but not inside you."

"Now, let's get into the water!"

I was immediately up on my feet and ran into the water and then plunged into it and dived down to the bottom. It wasn’t very deep here. I felt the joy of being one with the salty sea, more than I had ever done since I was a kid, that is; when I was L.J.!

"Exactly, does it feel strange to you?"

"It sure does, my little friend, it sure does! Does this mean that we are as one now?"

"I am not quite sure yet; I must feel it from you first."

By these words my tears started running down my cheeks. I didn't know why, but I have always pictured myself as a loner and this was something very peculiar and strange for me.

"Don't worry Jay. Do you remember what the dandelions and the light said to us way back then?"

I dried my cheeks with my scarf and said; "yes and I don't think I will ever forget it in our lifetime, L.J. In fact; everything around us said that we were one with them. The dandelions said that they were as the light shining down on us, like suns, each one of them. Then the light; repeatedly telling me: you are never alone; we are all one, through all eternity...

And the weed, the grass and the bushes were shining with a purple aura around them and inside this aura there were small beings floating or flying around. No, I will definitely never forget these moments in our life!"

L.J. was laughing his laughter now; the one I laughed more than 50 years ago.

I felt this bliss inside, filling my whole body; it was aching inside my chest. I had to lie down for a while and let the blessed tears just run by their own pace now.

"Surrender, surrender" was all I heard in my head or was it my heart or L.J.

"Let's take a long swim now, Jay" "Yes, let's do that!"

Again I ran into the water like a little boy would, except this time I swam far away out and then let myself just lie still and let the sea just swing me along.

I stayed for 20 minutes and then returned back to the beach which had started to be filled up with sun worshippers now.

"Time to leave", I told myself, but there was no reply this time. I felt good anyway; I could need some time by myself for contemplation...

crnning@gmail.com

the life coach 5

2010-03-14T00:05:00.000-08:00

It's a hand-me-down

The thoughts are broken

Perhaps they're better left unsung

I don't know, don't really care

Let there be songs to fill the air

Ripples in still water

When there is no pebble tossed

Nor wind to be blown

Grateful Dead: "Ripples"

Home from the beach

Jay feels happy when he goes back home after the trip to the beach and the communications with L.J.
He feels like a little boy; whether it's the ride on his bicycle or the meeting with the boy; it will be the same, because cycling is an activity he has always enjoyed since he was a boy.

He rides along all the cafes along the Nea Hora Beach; it's full of tourists now enjoying their holidays in the sun. He had never been a tourist himself, but he enjoyed the sight of playing children on the beach and in the water. These people would come from his northern areas of Europe and this was their vision of Paradise on Earth.

They had 2 weeks with the sun and the lazy life on the beach; charging their batteries before they went home to jobs and school and rain and the cold Nordic climate.

He reached the main road and turned the corner and sped up his pace the last 100 meters to his house.

He parked his bike in the shed in the front garden, locked it and went up to the front door. He opened the door and could hear someone singing inside; following the music on his CD player. "Ah, Pearly is here", he said to himself. Pleased to have her around again.

She was his secretary and kept a neat protocol over his clients' addresses etc. and more importantly; their healing progress as Jay kept a journal for each of them.

Pearly was also his friend and had been so for some years...

She was a remarkable woman to be around. She was the most balanced person Jay had met; which was also the reason why he had asked her to take the job after his former secretary who had gone home to Germany after many years down here.

To his amazement she had answered yes, on the spot. "I have been waiting for this "proposal" since Ingrid left", she said and sent him an inviting smile.

All his office routines went smoothly with Pearly. She was such a pleasant person to be with.

He came into the hall and saw her dancing around while singing. "She could have been a singer too". he thought, "she could become whatever she'd wanted to with all her talents and her character!"

"Hi Pearly!" he exclaimed, "I am going to have a shower, just 10 minutes." "Go on; I am not going to disturb you, if you don't want to", she shouted back.

He smiled and went into the bathroom, which wasn't too big, but very elegant. Jay had a good taste for design and had had some arguments with the Architect and finally she had given in to his argumentation. It was tiled from the floor to the roof in black and white rectangular tiles with vague flower patterns. The bathroom have to be of high standard he told the Greek Architect. She was a proud, Greek woman and used to deal with macho Greek men. Jay had used some time to convince her that he was not like Greek men and especially not Cretan men.

She had laughed at his statement and then she'd become more willing to listen to him...

He had his shower and put on his Arabian koftan that worked as a bathrobe...

Pearly was busy typing cards by her desk now and didn't look up when he came into the office. She was always very focused on what she was doing; at any time. He was thinking as he always did when she was in his house: "what if we could be a couple?" He always put it aside after rethinking it; she was his secretary and wouldn't it be a little awkward to be working with his partner and in the house all the time.

He had asked her once; as a joke, of course. She had looked at him with her most sincere expression, taking her time. Finally she had said: "I think that would have worked out well." Jay had jumped in his chair, but just smiled at her. "Maybe some day", he replied and now it was her turn to smile back at him.

Since then they had always enjoyed each others' company...

Pearly was in love with their mutual friend Earl Grey and used any chance she had to be close to him, but Earl was clear as always; in any matter: "You know that I am married, don't you Pearl? I have a good wife and I am never going to leave her."

Pearly knew this, but she liked his ways and his direct approach to anything that came in his way.

Earl, Pearly and Jay were a threesome who always had a good time together. They seemed to fit each other in all ways.

She had later asked Jay if they could have a session one day. She felt she had some problems with her feelings for Earl and wanted to clear it up as Earl was very clear in his views about this.

After the tiny session she had said; "you know, Jay, it's only Earl or you that I could partner up with".

Jay was put back about this; he just said that he'd keep it in mind...

new.creed@yahoo.com

the life coach 6

2010-03-14T00:03:00.002-08:00

Chet meets with Earl Grey

It's the day after his visit to Jay. Chet is sitting in the Bar Tropic, having a Margarita. It's still early in the morning, but he has called Earl Grey over to have a chat with him about yesterday's ,

incident.

Bar Tropic is run by a British couple who are sweet enough; as they know how to treat their guests in their bar. The bar is a special place in the way that it's built in to an old, ancient house which still carries memories which are blended with the flashy decorations the couple have created.
They have been allowed to paint and decorate as they like.
The colors are horrible here and there, but it's fancy and their guests seem to like it.
The customers are mostly British and a few Greeks who want to have a different environment in a Northern European milieu than their well known Greek establishments.

Sometimes there are some Scandinavians popping in too, but they don't stay long...

This early morning the only guest is Chet. He is sitting by the bar sipping his Margarita and chatting with the bartender, a sexy Greek girl who usually takes the morning and the late night shift. Jock still has a certain charm. He is what Jay calls a "Sweet William" who talks softly and politely with women. Sweet as he may seem; he's very angry with them, mainly because he cannot keep his "Sweet William" attitude for a long time.
He is a moaner and opens up for anything sad he carries inside.
The girls and women grow tired from listening to the same old stories, which are the same as he is telling Jay; and anyone else...

After half an hour Earl enters the bar and walks up to Chet who's a little tipsy by now and way into his first Heineken.
Earl smacks him on the shoulder and Chet turns around, with a red face, ready to return what he sees as an insult. He sees Earl and sighs. "Ah, it's you Earl! Good to see you although you are a little heavy handed!"
"Nee buther, Chet, just a friendly gesture." Earl loves to mock him a little for his Scottish dialect.
Chet is feeling better now after his Margarita and Heineken. "Maria, can you pour up a beer for the hot dog merchant here!"
"No, no; it's too early for me, Chet. What is it you want to talk about?"

"Ah, I have messed up again; you know my temper." And what kind of stupidity have you performed this time?" Chet looked at him. Chet knew he couldn't get away with an easy explanation with Earl.

Earl didn't care if people liked him or not. He had taken his stand many years ago and was happy with that; never stepped back for anyone.
Chet was still reluctant to tell anything, because he also knew that Jay and Earl were close friends and if he said something stupid he knew that Earl would be gone in a second.

"Come on Chet, I haven't got all day!" Chet drank the rest of his beer and started to tell about yesterday’s event. He was clear enough to realize that he had to put the blame on himself. Earl would spot any excuses or attempts to talk around the subject...

"Ok, here it is; I made a fool of myself yesterday at Jay's house and I don't know how to make it up with him again. I am such a fool, but I don't seem to be able to change it to the better."

Earl looked at him and then he told Maria to bring a Greek Coffee for him.
Chet was not prepared for what was coming now; "You bloody idiot!" Earl said, " you know as well as me that if you follow Jay's recommendations, you can come to terms with yourself, but you are too bloody lazy, stubborn and self centered you little dick! Pull yourself together and do something right for once!"

No soft words delivered from Earl Grey; straight to the point; as he saw it...

Earl sat for a while in silence. He got his coffee and sipped down to the coffee grains. Then he rose up and turned to Chet again. "Pull yourself together and apologize to Jay and please; stop your drinking for a couple of weeks at least to clear up your brain if you still have one!"

Gone he was and Chet felt like the idiot Earl had called him. He rose up and paid Maria who just stood there eyeing him up and down. "Take care, Chet." He nodded and was out of the door; his chin hanging down almost to his chest...

Maria heard him swear all the way up the alley…

crnning@gmail.com

the life coach 7

2010-03-14T00:03:00.001-08:00

Jay’s real nightmare

Jay is lying in bed. He has had a bad night after going through the session with Chet.

He went to bed early; exhausted after the special events happening to him. He cannot understand the position of L.J.

He turns and then turns again, adjusts his pillow, checks the temperature on the air condition's remote... turns it down, just to turn it up again 10 minutes later.

Chet is only one of his cases, but the L.J. affair gives him more trouble; on a different level. He cannot understand what is happening. How can the little boy that was him come back in such a way and behave like a Guru? How can his childhood memories pop up like this and in such a form?

"Now you are trying to be rational about something that is definitely not rational, Jay". "Psychologically you can call L.J. your Alter Ego or a Sub Personality or your shadow; coming up from your unconscious to tell you something significant; something you don't want to see or touch, something you think you have finished."

He twists and turns, scratches his aching body... Then gets out of bed to fetch a glass of water he left in the fridge. He picks it out and drinks it in 3 gulps; "Ah! What am I doing this cold water can kill me drunken like this!" His chest aches from the ice cold water. He wanders around in the kitchen; paces around the table looking down at the floor.

He stops in the middle of the floor and looks down to the right and then to the left. "What is this?" The floor is moving on both sides of him, like it is turning into a liquid form. He stands still and do not dare to move in case he should take a wrong step and drown. "But this is my kitchen floor, made of concrete and laid with thick tiles!" Telling himself this; reassuring himself that his surroundings are quite natural, when they are not, as he sees it now, is way out of line. What to do?

He thinks of all the exercises he has been through in all the groups he has attended. He has had some very bad experiences and some very good ones. Now, being all by his own and in his own kitchen, he should be able to cope with it.

"But, on the contrary! I have no one to guide me or tell me what is happening right here and now!"

"Ok, breathe deeply and focus on your lower abdomen and let whatever happens happen." With these words he manages to focus on the situation occurring around him. He looks down on the floor again, first to the right and then to the left.

On his right side, the white tiles have turned pitch black! When he looks down again he sees that it is shaped like an abyss. Way down there he can see something moving; something light as smoke. It's partly yellow, partly grey. It moves around like weed in the sea, but there's nothing reassuring about that image. He feels cold and knows that it's not the water that has kept him cold these minutes he has been walking around...

He quite clearly feels that he is being sucked down into the abyss. He feels all right about it though, because the shapes down there are some kind of life form; it's not only a deep and bottomless abyss.

He steps very carefully now, because between his left and right side there is a narrow line of tiles, just 10 cm wide that he has to balance on. Finally he turns to have a look on his left side; the floor is like it should be, at least the first 20cm, then the floor changes to a grassy small slope. On top of the hill he can see buildings and people moving around.

"Oh, my God!" he exclaims, "this is about life and death and I am given a choice whether I want to live or die!"

His whole body is shivering and cold sweat is running down his back and stomach. His head feels heavy as a bowling ball with all the holes blocked. He looks down to the right again and is tempted to just let himself fall into the abyss.

"If it's death I know I am safe, but I feel like going up the green hill anyway. After all; it's where I still belong." He turns to the left and steps into the green grass, which is now turning into his kitchen floor again.

He can hear a deep sigh from his right side and then the whole kitchen floor is stabilized and turned into a regular floor and oh so well known white tiles again.

Tears are running down his cheeks. He feels relieved, but inside his chest there's a tremendous pain... "It's not your heart", he says to himself, "it's not your heart"...

He stumbles back to bed, feeling numb now... He just falls down into the bed and is asleep before his head hits the pillow

crnning@gmail.com

the life coach 8

2010-03-14T00:01:00.000-08:00

The Threesome meets…

Jay wakes up, looking up to the ceiling. He is confused about last night. He cannot remember what went on. He knows there has been something strange happening to him, but he doesn't have the slightest clue of what it could have been.

He rises up and puts his feet on the cool floor. "If I sit like this and let the blood start streaming I will remember", but he's not quite sure if he wants to remember...

"Ok, let's face it Jay. Get up and make yourself some coffee, that'll clear up your mind. A nice, strong cup of Espresso will do the trick!"

So, he gets out of bed and walks into the kitchen where he starts up his coffee machine.

He sits down by the glass and steel kitchen table, pondering his situation...

Still there's not a trace of any memories about last night.

"Pushed down into my deepest unconscious, I guess."

The coffee machine whistles; telling him that his coffee is ready. He rises up from the chair and: "PLING!" it's all there! "Oh my God, oh, my God! Yes, I can see it now, what the hell is happening to me!!"

He jumps over to the coffee cups and gulps down the first one, like it was medicine.

He walks around in the kitchen wondering what to do. "I have to call Pearly and Earl! Yes, that's it! Where's my mobile?!"

He finds it on the table and calls Pearly first. She answers at once; "hi there, what's up Doc?" He explains what has happened the last 2 days; about Chet, L.J. and last night’s shocking event.

"I'll be there in 20 minutes", Pearly says, "take care, dear!" He manages to smile at her last comment; she has never called him dear before, not like that, at least.

He calls Earl, but there's no answer.

He goes into the bathroom to have shower and shave. After finishing he puts on the most appropriate outfit: shorts and a t-shirt.

He goes into the kitchen again and grabs the second cup of espresso; just luke warm now, but it is coffee and it will wake him up properly.

The doorbell sounds and Pearly comes in to the hall. "Ah, Jay, I came as quick as I could, but you know the traffic and the Greek way of driving! You don't look too demolished though."

I just had a couple of espressos and a shower, so I guess I am presentable now." "Inside I feel shaken up, though."

His mobile stops him from saying any more. "It must be Earl", he says. He grabs the phone and says; "hello?" He points at the phone and whispers; "it's him!"

They make an appointment to meet at the “Agio To Kokkora” in half an hour.

Pearly nods her agreement.

10 minutes later they take off on their bicycles; it'll take them 5 minutes to go to the center of town and behind the main cathedral on Halidon; the road down to the harbour.

7 minutes later they have found their table underneath the big Mimosa outside “Agio To Kokkora”, which is a café Jay has visited many times during his years of staying after here.

The owner, who Jay named L.A. after his third visit; not after the first letters of the American city though…

The owner, Vangelis, proved to be a xenophobic of high degree. He arrives in the morning and cries out his "Kali Mera" to his Greek customers, but offers not even a glance of recognition to his foreign guests who have been visiting his establishment for years; hence the name L.A. He is unwilling to serve foreigners and if he has to, he does it very quickly without a glance at them and with an expression of disgust; hence the name L.A.

His choice of music is astonishing, though. As a Westerner, Jay has always been delighted by his music.

“Agio To Kokkora” means "The Rooster's Egg" and Jay's guess is that the Rooster is L.A.

Seated by their table, Pearly and Jay hears a HELLO! just up the Platia and recognizes that the big man coming down to them is Earl Grey. He waves at them and as he arrives he hugs them both in the same embrace.

He looks at Jay and asks: "How are you, my friend?" "Ah feeling better now with you two around! But I need some love and tender care and open minds; I have things to tell you that you might not even believe, but I swear to you both; I am going to tell you a true and almost unbelievable story today."

They order an Avocado salad, which has become famous in Chania; to go with it they order a good white wine.

L.A. is not here and they are served by Maria who has worked here for a couple of years. She's ok, but a little stiff and tied up.

As they are waiting for the food, Jay starts telling them about Chet first, "That Schmuck!" Earl exclaims after Jay has finished telling about his experience with him.

The salad and the wine arrive and they get busy eating and drinking and exchanging small talk.

When the meal is done and the wine drunken; Jay looks them up and asks them: "are you ready for a fantastic journey into my mind which will inflict my whole life and probably my career as a therapist too.

Pearly looks at him; "Come on, Jay; I have been waiting for 2 hours now!" "Yes, let's hear it mate", says Earl.

"Ok here it goes” and he tells them about L.J.'s appearance one early morning and about his wobbling floor and what he saw in it.

It takes him an hour to tell, explain and provide information about his childhood and his psychological view of what is happening to him...

"But, my friends; I actually do not know what is going on. I can give you my analysis, but I think that will not be sufficient as an explanation as to what is happening."

Pearly's eyes are full of tears, but in between she smiles; she already adores L.J. and the way he communicates with Jay and how he appears to be a spiritual figure; to her, that is.

Jay is not quite sure, but he realizes that he has to be open to any comments and views from his two dear friends...

Earl is concerned and he is not quite satisfied with what Jay just has told them. For him the story is too far out. One thing he knows though is that he will help out all he can, whether he believes in his story or not.

He tells both his friends about his decision and his view on what's going on...

"As long as you are around I will always feel safe, Earl!" Jay says” and the same goes for you, Pearly!"

They have been talking for 3 hours and most of what had been said is agreed upon among them.

"I have to go up to Maria now", Earl says", we are going to open in an hour."

"Thanks for listening to me, Earl. I might need to talk with you again. I am afraid that this will be a tough ride."

Earl nods and hugs them both again; "I'll see you both again and, Jay, please take care and do not hesitate to call when you need to." "Oh I'll call when I need your support, Earl"

So, in this way they part. Pearly says she will go with Jay and he's happy with that, really happy...

crnning@gmail.com

the life coach 9

2010-03-14T00:00:00.000-08:00

Reach out your hand if your cup be empty

If your cup is full may it be again

Let it be known there is a fountain

That was not made by the hands of man

The Grateful Dead: "Ripples"

Jay and Pearly's night

Pearly and Jay go by the harbor and the road along the sea, passing the Public Swimming Pool. Pearly turns to Jay and ask him if he wants to dive in? "Yes, but not here, let's go back a little."

They turn and go back about 200 meters.

Jay has been swimming here before, but a long time ago now...

They lock the bikes together and to a pine-tree with chirping Cicadas above their heads.

They walk down to some boulders by the sea and undress. "Just to warn you, I never wear underwear here in this climate", Jay looks at her to see how she will react. She just smiles, "there's no one to see us here when we enter the sea, so I am not shy about that, in fact, it sounds good to be completely naked with you and the Mediterranean Sea!" Jay laughs and feels very happy again! They both dive in and feel good about it. Jay dives all the way down to the bottom and then turns and swims up to the surface again. Pearly is just a few meters away from him and watching him. He smiles and says;"waiting for something?" "Yes," she says, "as I have for some years now..."

Jay swims up to her and puts his arms around her neck and his nose to hers. They just stay like this and then the kiss comes, almost by itself as the situation is very ripe for it...

Let's swim a little further out, says Pearly and they do. They swim for about 50 meters and then they turn again, swimming back to the boulders. Very close together.

They climb up to their clothes and dress in silence. Both know that this has been a blessed moment for them.

They walk hand in hand underneath the pine-trees and sniff in the strong smell of the trees.

"You, know, Jay, we have never been close, that is; close enough to appreciate the depth of our relationship." "My dear Pearl, today you said dear to me for the first time as you meant it. I felt very touched by it."

"I always mean it, but disguise it I guess; just because we have never taken the final step towards each other. We are both afraid to be too close, I think."

"Let's go home, Pearly, and spend the night together underneath my roof. I think we both need it." She smiles at him and says: "let's do that, Jay, my good, good friend."

They do and arrive at the house in a very short time; as they are both eager to have their night together, for the first time.

When they enter inside, Pearly says that it has been a torture being with him for so many years without touching and hugging and kissing...

He tells her about his thoughts in this matter. He has held back his feelings because she was a friend and his secretary and then he couldn't ask her to couple up with him on top of that. She just looked at him; "what! Why not?"

"I am always very cautious about being too intimate with a friend. I believe it may ruin the friendship. If I become too intimate with a friend it will also affect our relationship within the larger group of friends."

"On top of that I think I am shy and cautious by nature and feel that I am not good enough for a diamond like you, Pearl."

She looks at him again and says: "A sweet and good man like you is better than any diamond, Jay; your character and stamina makes you a diamond to me."

Jay doesn't know what to say or do in this situation... "Come on, Jay! Go get her!" It's L.J.'s voice in his head again...

He smiles and laughs simultaneously now and tears are running down his cheeks.

"Oh, Jay, what is happening now?" says Pearly.

"He is here again and tells me to act as I should in a situation like this!" "Who?" "L.J.! He tells me to go and get you!" "Yeah! And are you going to?" "Yes I definitely am!"

He went across the floor, took Pearly's hand and led her into the bedroom.

"No time for showering in this first meeting", he said and she didn't protest.

They fell down into the bed. Clothes were torn off bodies and very soon they were naked with the duvet on the floor. They twisted around, kissing, licking, and biting. Stroking and touching; and when she opened up for him it was followed by a scream of lust and longing from both of them.

Their love play went on for 2 hours and then they both fell asleep like they were dead.

Nine o'clock in the evening they woke up, looked at each other and both agreed that; now it was time for a shower - together.

They went into the bathroom hand in hand with a big grin on their faces.

She turned on the shower, soaped herself in, while he was standing beside her, watching her beautiful and slender body. She turned to him and said:"you are welcome in too, Jay". He stepped underneath the shower and helped her soap in her body; all over. She turned to him and did the same for him. When finished, she turned and put her hands on the wall and invited him to enter her again. He did. He slid into her and started a very slow movement from his pelvis area. He kept on like this and then stopped, but kept himself inside her as far in as he could, moving ever so slightly and carefully. They were staying like this for 20 minutes and she screamed and cried and shook all over; then she began to slide down the slippery wall until she was standing on her knees on the floor. He followed and was still inside her when they both fell to the floor. Still he didn't pull back. They were as one now, in two bodies, but so entwined with each other that it felt like one body; giving itself all this pleasure...

Finally they fell all the way down, he slipped out of her and down on his stomach, beside her.

They laughed and laughed until they cried; mixing their tears with the still running water from the shower.

They managed to get up on their knees again and have another shower; holding each other and gently kissing and nibbling whatever part of their bodies they could reach.

"AH!!" Jay cried out, "It's such a long time ago and when you are the one I am having all this pleasure with, I surely must be in heaven now"...

She grinned at him and went for the towels. She threw one at him and started to dry him. He just stood still and enjoyed it all; what had happened and what was happening in the moment.

She dried him all over and looked up at him, saying: "How do you like your secretary now, my dear?"

"She has been perfect at all she has done for me up to this day, but now she has reached the state of a Star for me! Thank you, my love!"

At this, she looked at him and tears were running down her cheeks... She didn't say anything at first, but after drying herself, she turned to him and said:” I never thought this was going to happen and right now you called me "my love". I need some time to comprehend what has really happened, but I am going to stay with you for a while, if you will let me?"

"Stay with me Pearl, stay with me as long as you want; for ever if you like!"

"We need to land; at least a little now. Would you like to prepare a meal together with me? I have bought some chicken today; we can share it, can't we?"

"Yes, my friend, lover and boss! I am not leaving before you throw me out."

"That's a really good secretary statement, Pearly!"

In the kitchen they were almost dancing around the counters and chairs and tables as they prepared the chicken and salad. They couldn't hold back their caressing, stroking and touching, but the dish was made ready; with love, I must say...

Jay opened a bottle of his favorite Italian wine from the Piemonte area in the Northern part of Italy and poured it up in two tall wine glasses.

"Taking out the best I have today, Pearl."

"To make it even better you can call me what you called me earlier today: "My Love." She smiled at him". As you wish my Love!"

Finally they both sat down at the kitchen table. They were both happy with being kitchen attracted. Jay, because he was used to it from home, since he was a kid. Pearly because she was used to a huge dark oak dining table with only her and her parents, each seated in their own corners and with servants waiting on them.

She had hated it and since she moved from them, she had always preferred a simpler way of living.

They ate all the food, both hungry after the love-making and the excitement from the stories that Jay had told earlier...

Now they sat down in his office to talk about where to go from here. Pearly lived in a studio in the center, not far from "The Egg", as Jay called Agio To Kokkora. She said she would be happy to live with him in his house, "forever", she added.

"You are welcome, forever, My Love!" was Jay's response, "finally."

They became quiet as they sat together in his sofa, drinking wine. Finally Pearly turned to him and said: "Seriously, Jay, what are you going to do with all these events happening to you?"

"I have to take them as they come, don't I? I have to see if I can find if there are some certain patterns to them and go from there."

"While I was walking "the plank" in the kitchen, I found that I just had to be tantric about what happens; go with the flow; don't fight it. Follow my heart and my soul and; hopefully L.J.

I think he is going to run me up the walls soon. He really feels that I need it. He says I am stuck."

"In what way, stuck?" "That I have let myself being captured by career, money, work and things that really don't count in this life."

But you are, working because you need the money and you like your profession don't you? I can't see that you are very demanding and ladder climbing."

"No, you are right about that, but sometimes I think I am too modest. I have received some comments on that lately..."

"These sources say that I am squandering my talents. What I do is ok, but it's too small. These sources are among others; me and my past. Where I come from one shouldn't think oneself being better than others. So I was taught to keep my head down, so to speak."

"I have been happy here, with my bicycle and the few clients I have and my good friends, some better than others!"

Jay raised his glass towards Pearly and she smiled and said "cheers!"

"So, you want to stay for ever, seriously?" Jay said", marriage?"

"We can think about that for a while, but the “for ever” phrase sounds good to me!"

"Ok, so that's settled then. I want you to stay, you know." "Yes, of course I know! I am a woman, you know."

"Yes... I know"

Jay looked at her and asked her what she was thinking of the whole situation he had stumbled into.

She looked at him and said: "please, give me some time to think, Jay. What has happened is so way out of line for me that I need to adjust to what it all may apply to."

"What I see though, is that the man I love has had some experiences that I cannot explain, but just observe; as I see you struggling, my dear, and I want to stand by you all the way and hopefully some day I will understand what has happened. I think that when that day arrives I will have learned a lesson I cannot comprehend today."

"That's a statement I can live with, absolutely, Pearly. I am very grateful to you, as I am to Earl for standing by me. I am afraid I will need it and hope that it will not be too much for my best friends."

He paused and said: "Pearly, I need to go to bed now and to have you by my side"...

"Let's go to bed and thank you for one of the best days I have had for a long time. I feel that I have landed into something good!" She rises up from her chair and comes around the table to kiss him all over his face; “Thank you, my love! Thank you"...

And again they go hand in hand into the bedroom...

Jay feels consolidated...

crnning@gmail.com

the life coach 10

2010-03-13T23:59:00.000-08:00

L.J. and Jay meet again

There is a road, no simple highway

Between the dawn and the dark of night

And if you go, no one may follow

That path is for your steps alone

Ripple in still water

When there is no pebble tossed

Nor wind to be blown

Grateful Dead: "Ripples"

The morning sun awakens the couple and Jay is quick to get out of bed and into the kitchen where he prepares two cups of tea for them.

Coming into the bedroom he notices that the bed is empty. He listens for a sound from her and then spots it from the bathroom. she is having a shower. "How neat", he thinks... "She is still here and yesterday was for real!"

He puts the tea cups on the bed tables and waits for Pearly...

She is singing in the shower now, he can hear.

Smiling he sips his tea and his thoughts are going far away to a future with Pearly.

He can barely conceive what has happened since their meeting with Earl, only yesterday.

Here she comes, with his Koftan on. "Ah; you look brilliant, almost like an Arabian lady from 1001 nights. Just a tiny bit too blond, though", he says.

She sits down beside him and takes her cup of tea. So they just sit there; sipping and smiling in between; they just can't help themselves from doing it...

The tea finished and Pearly turns to Jay and says: "I need to go up to my studio and pack things now and I will be back this afternoon, maybe a little late; I have to pay the last rent and it's not easy finding the landlord".

"Take your time Pearl, but do come back!" He smiles at her as she does at him. She goes to dress, while he goes into the office to find some data on the next client.

Pearly soon joins him and after a couple of kisses and more hugs, she leaves. It seems difficult, but as she says; "what needs to be done, must be done. I'll see you, my love!

Big smile from her as she says that...

Off she goes and Jay is walking around in his red office; "she said she liked the colors in this room, didn't she? Or has she commented on it at all? Can't remember"...

He walks over to the red armchair and sits down, looking out at the dark blue Mediterranean Sea and the peninsula across the bay and the Theodoros Island with all the Kri-Kri sheep. This special and rear sheep can only be found on Crete and this little island is now a preservation area for them. No tourists or anyone who haven't got the stamped allowance from the Mayor's Office can go ashore there.

He sees this and himself sitting in the chair contemplating the last two days' events.

Where is L.J. now? He sure would like to have his view of what is happening.

"You are expanded now, Jay!" a well-known voice says. Do you know what that means?"

Jay looks up as if to see the boy in front of him, but he is not of matter; he is a spirit, or what?

"That's right, Jay, you can only see me as a spirit."

"Hello, L.J.; does that mean that you are an angel now?"

"Hmm, I don't have an answer to that, Jay. I would have to be your very private angel then, wouldn't I? I cannot enter any other human, you know; and if it is so, you are an angel too, don't you think? I mean, as I am a part of you"...

Jay contemplates this and has no answer to it himself. "I have to think about your statements, L.J. and maybe I can find an answer; for myself, at least."

"But would it be the right answer, you believe?"

"As far as I understand; it will be, but I might need to go deeper and deeper with these questions. I imagine there are many, many layers here!"

"Ah! You are perfectly right, Jay! I’m happy to hear that. Angels do exist, but not in the imaginary shapes humans want to see them."

"Yes I know, we are still under the influence of priests and false prophets, I believe."

"I am amazed by the way you talk today. You haven't been talking to me like that before. Is it the affair with this lovely woman you were spending the night with?"

"No, it's my own realization that helps me to bend my neck and be humble, but to be humble I have to be strong. You are helping me to really see what I have to do in my life and in this world. I still have a long way to go, L.J."

"It depends on you. I can now feel that you take me in as a part of your life again, my friend; and that makes us one, for a while. That you are able to realize this makes it easier for you, of course."

“Have you got anything to tell me on what I need to do further on?"

"Walk in your own tracks, Jay; you have a lot of experience to build on. I will watch over you and come back when it's needed to see if it's working out for you, if not I will pop up before you know it!" Then he laughs our laughter! Jay feels happy with the situation!!

L.J., are you still there?

No word from the little angel.

As before, Jay feels satisfied anyway, because every conversation he has with him gives him so much to think upon and it may take days before Jay sees what L.J. is telling him...

So he sits still in his ruby red arm chair and watches the view outside; contemplating today's exchange of views...

He is thinking of his two friends that he has involved in his confusion and his everyday life with all these calamities going on.

Is it right for him to do this; shouldn't he find his own way through his own mess?

He knows that he would stay with his friends if they had trouble in their lives. "Everybody needs the comfort of friends, colleagues and family now and then", he said out in the room...

"A little guilt has to show up too", he ensured himself.

crnning@gmail.com

the life coach 11

2010-03-13T23:58:00.002-08:00

Chet appears again...

Jay is having a cup of coffee by the “Nea Hora” beach in the Cappucio Cafe where they have the best Cappuccino. He is waiting for his friend Jeff to arrive.

It is still an hour before lunch and he has brought a book to read while waiting and enjoying it along with his coffee.

He starts reading, but is distracted by the view around him. He is sitting underneath the palm trees by the sidewalk. People are passing by all the time; some wet, some sunburned; splashing water and sand around them. Some are pretty, some are fat, some are young and some are old.

On these beaches in this area of the world it doesn't count how you look. Everybody is there just to; either get the desired tan before they go home after their 2 weeks of vacation, or someone is there to cool off in the water and meet friends, just hanging around. Some fall in love with the beautiful young Greek men and boys and some are being ripped off by smart salesmen and regular crooks.

Gypsy women screaming out their offers; today they are selling beautiful tablecloths in damask. These women have a bad temper and never hesitate to bully their potential customers if they are not willing to buy their products!

Some are there to have a massage by a troop of Chinese massagists and massageuses who visits the beaches of Crete every summer season.

The whole scenery creates a picture of plurality; there's almost nothing going on by the beach that is strange to any humans. Anything can happen...

Jay sits on and tries to read, and he manages for a while until he is disturbed by someone he doesn't want to meet.

A tap on his shoulder and as he turns he is confronted with Chet's purple face; obviously he's had a couple of beers. "Hi, Doc; enjoying the view and the sun?" Chet is ever so casual and smiling.

"Hi, I have to tell you that I'd rather sit here alone than having you around me right now, Chet; I hope you can understand that?"

He notices that Chet's face is darkening and expects the worst. "I was just coming here to apologize for my bad behavior the last time we met, but it seems you don't want to hear what I have to say about it. You know I have the right to express myself on this matter too."

"Chet, sit down, please. If you want to apologize, then do it, but you have to mean it; if not I'd rather not see you around me anymore."

Then Chet explodes again. He has taken his position just half a meter from Jay and suddenly he kicks Jay's chair over so he tumbles down in the gutter. Then he comes down at him and start punching his face and his whole body. Jay is prepared this time and quickly manages to kick him in the groin and Chet falls over and into the street while screaming: "You Maniac, you Academic asshole maniac!!"

People have gathered around them and a couple of big Greek men are holding Chet back. They have witnessed what has happened from the beginning and now they are lifting him up by his armpits and drag him along the sidewalk and then all the way down the beach and when they reach the sea, they keep on walking into the waves until they are far out and then they just shuffle him away into the sea.

Jay has got on his feet again and is taken care of inside the cafe. He hasn't been too damaged by Chet's hits, but he is feeling very devastated by the whole incident.

Still he is worried about Chet; "can he swim? Have they done any harm to him?"

He is mostly thinking of the aftermath of the incident and what eventually will happen to himself.

He goes down to the sea and there, far out, he can see Chet wading in the direction of his flat at Christopoli while angling his walk to avoid anyone who has witnessed what happened. Soon he reaches the beach at the far end of it and creeps up on the sand and walks along the beach until he disappears around the next corner...

Jay goes inside again and orders a Brandy for his comfort.

He sits by the window to watch when Jeff arrives outside.

Jeff has been a close friend for a couple of years now and they often go out together to share a meal or a special event. Jeff is a small, but good looking man and he is annoyed by his size. He is longing for a woman to share his life with. He comes from the Middle East area, but left for the west when he was a young man. He doesn't want to go back to his homeland too often and has taken on a western way of living. He is a good cook and often invites Jay over for a delicious meal. Always pleasant company for Jay, but underneath his smooth masks he carries anger. He is working on it, but sometimes he admits that the mentality of the Middle East is coming up in him...

20 minutes later he arrives outside and the waitress goes out to tell him that Jay is waiting for him inside.

Jeff enters and looks at Jay. He can see the bruises in his face and his swollen right eye.

"Jay! What has happened to you?!"

"Come and sit down with me, Jeff, my good friend, come and sit down with me and I will tell you."

Fadi walks up to the bar and orders a cappuccino.

Coming back to the table he looks at Jay. "Please tell me!"

Jay tells and then he tells again to give Fadi a fair chance to understand the reasons why he has been attacked.

"Are you sure you will keep on with this job, my friend?"

"It's what I know, Jeff. Humans have always attracted me. They are a great species, but also great in the terms of carrying deep sorrows, deep fear and the ability to act on that in the way these emotions are demanding them to. That's when we commit so called "sins", which are just very devastating forces that tear us apart sometimes.

This is what the old Greeks called the “Thanatos and Eros complex”, where Thanatos is the bad and destructive force in our lives and Eros the opposite. They are not good or bad, but a picture of the balance in all living beings.”

"Wow! I didn't mean to go that far, but what you say is interesting"

"Yes, Jeff, it is, but sometimes we are hit by these forces, you know; that's what happened today"...

"What are you going to do about it? Report it to the police?"

"I was just thinking of that, before you came. "Listen: I have done this before. Following the recommendations that Don Juan gave Carlos Castaneda about how to deal with petty tyrants. You have read the books, haven't you?"

"I have, but I don't go as deep as you, you know. Tell me more; what will you have to do to get rid of this one?"

"That's where I need your help, Jeff. Can we go home to my place; Pearly will be coming in soon; she was just going to the market to buy the vegetables for a salad and we can talk about this together. Maybe I can persuade Earl to come too."

"Ah, Pearly!” I hear some rumors about you two! You know you cannot hide anything in our small society here in Chania."

"I know and I am happy that the good news is spreading!" "Shall we go.?"

"Yes, ok, let me finish my coffee first."

Jay waits for his friend, looking out the window...

Jeff finishes his coffee and they leave...

It takes them 15 minutes to reach the house. When they arrive, they can hear Pearly inside. She is singing again... "I tell you, my friend, this woman is probably the most precious treasure I have held in my arms my entire life and I am not going to leave her, ever!"

Jeff laughs a happy kind of laughter. "I am sure, Jay and I am very happy for you - and for her!"

"Thank you, my friend!"

They enter the house and the singing stops. "Hello, my darling! You can keep on singing if you want, I like your voice, you know"... "Is that the only thing you like about me?"

"Give me a week and I will be able to map up everything that I like about you, my love." "Ok, but then"... She enters the hall and sees Jeff there. "Oh, we have a guest, I can see. Hello Jeff!" Then she turns to Jay and notices the bruises and the swelling around his eye. "Jay! What has happened to you?!" "I'll tell you afterwards when we have lunch, ok?"

"Ok, but..." "It's not as bad as it looks Pearly and I promise I will tell you while we're eating."

They go inside and into the kitchen where Pearly has made a delicious salad. "Good men; let's take this out on the balcony and in the shadow, ok?" she says. None of the two good men are unwilling to help...

"All arranged on the balcony, Pearly!" Jay says...

"OK, I am coming right now; can you bring the bread and the wine, please?" "Yes of course, my love!"

Jay goes into the kitchen and opens a bottle of white wine and picks up the bread basket.

As soon as they start eating, Pearly wants to hear what's happened this morning. Jay tells his story and both Pearly and Fadi are astonished by the violence Chet pours out on Jay.

"You have to remember that I am the one who is revealing his bad sides and sometimes I have to provoke him to make a breach in his thick walls. So I will be the one he can use his aggression on. He is angry with women, but has to please them, because they give him something soft and caressing.

Still, there has to be a border somewhere, when he has to be denied access; the point of no return, if you want..."

"When will that moment arrive then, my love?",says Pearly. "We are going to start on that process now. After the last attack I know that this relationship cannot go on; both for him and for me."

"How can we start then?" Jeff asks.

"OK, here goes: a question for you two first; have you ever read Carlos Castaneda and specifically about Petty Tyrants?"

Jeff says: "Yes, but I cannot remember it all, I am sorry; it's a long time ago."

Pearly: "Yes I have and I remember that we were a small group that roamed forests, mountains and spooky places to find the source of power. I also remember some situations where Petty Tyrants were involved; they were a nasty creed, these people!"

"OK, fine. These days we would call them bullies, but still the petty tyrants Castaneda described were real monsters, that’s for sure!

The clue here is that Don Juan described in one particular book how to get rid of them. If you are coming under the power of a Petty Tyrant or a bully if you like, you must do something out of the ordinary, something exceptional that the bully cannot foresee; especially not from you; his victim.

In other words: I am going to create a situation for Chet that he would not expect from me. It involves a couple of friends of mine; Albanians, but not of the hardest mafia kind. They are ordinary guys working in a restaurant in town. I will not relieve their names; they will need all the immunity they can have."

Jeff looks up at Jay: "What would you make them do to get rid of this fellow?"

"I will ask them to go to Chet's apartment in Christopoli and ruffle him up a bit and tell him that they will keep an eye on him all the time as long as he stays here. Your comments will be appreciated."

Pearly says: "I can’t just believe that Chet will accept this. Surely he will see you as the culprit here, don't you think? His next step would be to attack you again and maybe me or some of your friends..."

"Yes, I have thought of that possibility too, but I think that option may be avoided."

"How?" says Jeff. "I will have to see how our plan works out and then I'll tell you. If it doesn't I have to find another solution."

"One thing I know, Jay; I cannot see you beaten up one more time, then I will call the police, whether you want to or not."

Jeff says: "Jay, you told me today that you had done this before. Would you mind telling us how you did it? I am very curious as to how it can be applied to a bully!"

Jay looked at him for a while, contemplating... "OK, I'll tell you, briefly what happened: I was working in Split, Croatia for some time during the war on the Balkans. Me and another guy were running the radio room as radio operators. There was a Pakistani accountant in charge of the economy department. He was a very tidy and punctilious man and a nuisance in his ways. As long as everything went well, there were no problems.

What happened was this: he came into the radio room one day and accused us for using the fax line for phoning home. We denied this, but then he showed us a printout from the PTT office in town that showed our telephone numbers at home. I still protested; saying that my daughters had been with me for 2 months this summer and I couldn't have called them. He was not satisfied with this of course and left the office.

One day he came by the radio room and said that he had to stop my payments for this month until our case was settled. I looked at him and jumped out of my chair. He retreated into the corridor, but somehow I got hold of his shirt collar. I lifted him up against the wall and held him there, saying: "You are not allowed to do that! I have a house and a household to pay for at home where my daughters are staying with their grandmother and I have my own expenses here!!" Then I let go of him and he ran straight into the manager's office. I was later called in and said that I would pay 1000 DM and no more!

We had taken these phone calls, but it was annoying and humiliating for us and that triggered an anger in me that was unique. I have never suffered so much from it before.

I couldn't sleep at night and I couldn't eat. I was angry and aggravated all the time. I lost weight and I was in all ways uncomfortable.

One night when staying at home I remembered the chapters in Castaneda's book and decided that I had to do something about this situation I had brought myself in. During the night I found a plan for it...

The next morning at the office, I went very early to Marw's office and knocked. I went in before he could say: "enter". I came in and said good morning in a most polite manner, while smiling.

I tell you; I really felt good and relieved! After my greetings I just sat down in one of the visitor's chairs in front of his desk, without waiting for his permission. Marw was just sitting there, looking very afraid... I said: "Marw, I want to thank you for showing me the right way in this matter", then I put 1000 DM on his table.

Then, to his astonishment I went around his desk and aimed my steps straight towards him, smiling all the way. I stopped one step in front of him; he backed his swivel chair up against the wall. Then I took the last step up to his chair and threw my arms around his neck and kissed him on both cheeks while all the time saying: "thank you, thank you!" Then I just went out of the office...

There was never a word about this case again as long as I stayed there..."

"Wow!", Fadi said, "I can understand; you should never be that intimate with a Pakistani superior, you know!"

Pearly just looked at Jay and then she said: "can you create something similar again, you think?"

"I hope so, my love!"

They went into the living room and sat down for a chat until Jeff said he had to go; he had some business to attend to. "What kind of business is that, Jeff?" Jay asked. "I am going to Spain next week and have to prepare for it. "Jeff, what is going on here? Do you think that I can guess?" Jay said. "Yes, you can", Jeff said.

"OK, Jeff", Pearly said, "thank you for coming, it's been a pleasure." "Oh no", Jeff said”, the pleasure is completely on my side."

So, there were farewells in the hall and Fadi went off. He didn't live too far away from Jay and Pearly.

crnning@gmail.com

the life coach 12

2010-03-13T23:58:00.001-08:00

Pearly, Maria and Earl meet at the "Muses"

Earl, Maria and Pearly meet in the harbour to try to find a solution to the Jay and Chet problems.

They have chosen the Muses Café, which is one of the biggest and oldest cafés in the most popular area by the square at the end of the Halidon Street The food is not too good. “Muses” is mostly a quick café for tourists and Greek families in the weekends. It's a nice place to sit and observe people; there are hundreds of them passing on their sightseeing around the harbour, which is a beautiful view in itself, although a little worn down now.

Pearly has told them about the second attack from Chet.

"They both need protection and help I believe and I think

Chet needs to be approached in a more soft way than you have suggested, Earl," says Maria.

Pearly nods ... The two women have been talking for a while, but Earl hasn't said a word yet, but he is listening to all Maria and Pearly talks about.

Now he has heard enough to fully participate in the conversation.

"I have been listening to you and I have had a chat with Jay and been updated on the latest insults from Chet. I agree with you that both need a long treatment. What is going on with Jay otherwise; I don't know. He will need our full support I suppose and he has to use his knowledge and expertise on what is happening with him, I hope..."

“What do you mean by treatment, Earl? I can understand that Chet needs to get out of here to stop his drinking addictions first of all. The alcohol seems to turn him in to a monster and he might be heading for a lot of trouble the way he’s is behaving nowadays", says Pearly.

"I have been talking with a couple of friends in London. They say that Chet can be helped there. It's too easy for him to keep on with his drinking here. There's no one to restrain him as he is known as the guy who always needs 'a beer for the road' at any time of the day..." says Earl

"He needs to have a purpose if he's going to stay on here, something that gives another kind of satisfaction than Heineken, but how can we do that; can he be approached at all? Jay has tried for a year, but it's only become a weekly chat for Chet, nothing more to it", says Pearly, "Jay wants to set up a plot for him with actions that will totally change him. You have probably heard about it?"

Earl nods; "there was a time many years ago when I read all the books of Castaneda and I was really amazed of what he had to say. Petty Tyrants, as we know as bullies today were described in detail, and boy; they were nasty beings! It might help. Chet cannot just sit down and moan about his sad life in that kind of scenario! I think it's worth a try..."

“That's fine by me too. I am worried about Jay and if he's being attacked once more I will call the police, for sure!" says Pearly

"Don't forget that Jay is out on another mission here too, Pearly. He has another view and knows better than anyone here how deeply affected Chet is. I can imagine that there are blocks as thick and strong as the Pyramids of Egypt inside this little prat!" After saying this Earl looks at them both and says:"so, if we follow Don Juan's recommendations we have to come up with something significantly scary that will literally shake Chet out of his present moods!"

"I still believe in a soft approach. We can do something that shakes him out of his present patterns in a way that will make him able to realize what is happening to him", says Maria.

"I don't think softness will help 'Sweet William' as Jay calls him. That's his speciality, you know; to dive into long conversations about how stupid he is and how lost he is. He calls himself a 'good for nothing man', you know. He has persuaded himself to see himself that way; in share self pity of course, to get attention and maybe some care; from women, that is..."says Earl.

"I think we have to inform Jay about our talks today and let him have a look into it and find the right way. It's funny, but this may be the only way to cure Chet, you know... I have to go back to the house now; why do I say it like that? Why don't I say 'go home' instead?" says Pearly

Earl and Maria laugh at her. Maria says:"It takes some time, doesn't it? You have been single for many years now, haven't you?"

"Yes and free as a bird, but I have always known that I would get out of it one day, in some way or the other. Mind you, I feel pretty free to come and go now too; Jay is quite happy to have some time by himself; and he needs that too, poor man!"

She gets up to leave when Earl rises up from his chair and gives her a good and hearty hug. "I am very happy for my two friends, you know, very happy that it ended like this, so far... Don't forget to inform our friend."

crnning@gmail.com