Sunday, August 6th, 2017 | 10:30am
It was a particularly balmy day, and not a single cloud blocked the sky. A warm gust of air washed over Teddy’s face as he sat quietly at the route 403 bus stop, pushing his strawberry hair out of place. He had been waiting a few minutes now, and in a relaxed state, he emptied his mind and let his thoughts run rampant like waves on the ocean. A school bus drove by, full of children laughing and playing. He watched as one kid, smiling and full of joy, outstretched his small, cheezie-stained hand and motioned a wave. Teddy pushed a grin and sraised his hand to return the gesture. Foolish kids, Teddy thought, speculating about the unburdened and simple problems the kids must have. A red sports car whizzed by with it’s top down. Inside were two girls loudly singing along to a modern pop rendition of Good Vibrations by The Beach Boys, their glowing blonde hair dancing in the wind. Teddy involuntarily shook his head, his face plainly showing irritation at what he had witnessed. He began thinking about the outstanding bills he had to pay, and how his boss had pushed a new project on him at the last minute, and how his wife never showed affection anymore, and how his kids resented him, and how his parents didn’t give him enough as a kid. Each thought came and went, leaving him increasingly agitated. His thoughts were interrupted when a man dressed in a silver suit and white tie sat next to him. There’s plenty of room on this bench, why’d you have to sit so close to me? Teddy thought as he pushed himself against the side of the bench, trying to recover from the invasion. The man had a long greyish beard and wore tiny monocles, which reminded Teddy of Santa Clause.
“Good morning to ya, chap! The name’s Jack – nice to meet ya!” the man spouted in a wispy voice sounding nothing like Santa.
“You as well.” Teddy responded, hoping this would end the exchange. Teddy thought it was easier to conform to the daily conventions of basic human interactions than reveal his authentic attitude, which was cold, bitter, and angry.
A few minutes passed by and Teddy comfortably returned to his earlier state of thoughtfulness at the motions of activity surrounding him.
“I’ve seen that look before.” The man said, interrupting Teddy once again.
“What?” Teddy said rhetorically. He had heard the man just fine, he just thought it was rude and nosy of the man to make an unsolicited comment about him.
“Yep! Plenty enough I’ve seen that look, a hundred times over. In a former life, that is.” Jack offered. “I can see through ya’ a mile away there, chap! Right now you’re probably thinkin’ somethin’ like who is this man to sit here, to question me, to exist? Am I right?”
Jack had a revealing grin on his face, the type of face one would have moments before checkmating an opponent. Jack was in fact correct about Teddy, and Teddy knew it.
Feeling a little unsure, Teddy answered Jack’s presumption, “No, you’re wrong. I was just watching the cars.” Teddy lied.
Jack chuckled and shifted his body a little bit.
“Who are you anyway?” Teddy asked, revealing some of his irritation. It wasn’t every day that a man dressed like a business-Santa made such bold statements about an ordinary person.
Jack turned back to face Teddy. “It doesn’t matter who I am, what matters is who you are, Teddy.”
What does that mean, Teddy thought, and, I never introduced myself. Teddy opted for the former question, “What does that mean?”
“It means you have the ability to alter your circumstances, Teddy. Your life is your own and the decision is yours to either change it or get a new one, ya see?”
Teddy contemplated Jack’s words and thought about the implications of accepting them.
“What does that mean?” Teddy asked again.
“It means you have the power to start again.” Jack reiterated.
Teddy thought critically about what Jack was suggesting.
“Look, I said I’d seen that look before, Teddy, and it’s true that I have. On myself. I hated the world and everyone inside of it, including me. I didn’t want to be there no more. I was high time over it, so I traded it in for this one, and look at me now! I’m happier than a clam!”
Teddy felt a tinge of jealousy rush through his chest. He resented the man. Still, something didn’t make sense to Teddy. How could this man have traded his life? What does that mean, Teddy thought for the third time. Thinking better than to ask the same question a third time, Teddy opened a little, “I can’t just change my life. I’m stuck.” Teddy said.
“You don’t have to change, Teddy son! Like I said, I exchanged mine, a while back. It must’ve been a few years now, I can’t quite remember, the ol’ memory unit is hazy.”
A light dimmed in Teddy’s brain, and he began to see the future as if he were still a child, a new world before him. He’d get a job that gives him all the flexibility and money he could desire. He’d start a family that cherishes and respects him. He’d do what he wanted when he wanted. Oh, the life he could lead!
“How?” Teddy asked, in wonder, but still skeptical.
“I thought you’d never ask!” Jack quipped sarcastically. “What I’m about to tell you Teddy, might sound unbelievable but I swear it’s 100% truth. This is a matter of life and death, Teddy. I want you to understand the gravity of what’s to come before I answer your question. Are you prepared to hear this? Do you admit that you are not where you want to be and you’d like a fresh start? Do you understand the significance of what I’m saying?”
Jack spoke with no hesitation and his voice sounded deeper. His expression had changed and his eyes were fixed on Teddy’s. Teddy couldn’t escape Jack’s stare. He understood the seriousness of the situation and felt resolved to carry on, if nothing else merely out of curiosity.
“Yes. I understand.” Teddy responded after a brief pause.
“Okay, well then here goes! I was like you, Teddy, lonely and angry, and desperate for a way out. And I got it. In my previous life I lived in rural China as a rice farmer. As a rice farmer, I was dependent on rainfall for my grain. Well, in my darkness no rainfall occurred and the countryside experienced drought. Subsequently, all my fields dried up and I couldn’t sell any rice. My family starved and everything was falling apart. On a trip into the city, a woman in red was seated next to me at a train station, and told me exactly what I’m telling you now, which is that there is a way out. There is a rite of passage you can go through if you truly desire. When the sun sets, go into the woods and a junction will present itself to you. Two options will be before you, The Witch or The Mystic Crocodile. Select either path - it doesn’t matter they both result in the same fate, which is certain death but the assurance of return to the Earth in a new life, and fresh beginning.”
Jack had a pensive look on his face and he was no longer looking at Teddy. His face was drawn and his head hung towards the ground like a puppet. Jack continued, “I picked The Witch and got boiled in a smouldering cauldron. Even though I had a different body back then, I still remember the skin melting from my bones, becoming one with the liquid I was sitting in.”
Jack was sweating now and revealed a troubled expression. “Anyways, I was dead soon, and the next day I woke up and found myself here, in Calgary, Alberta, home of the Cowboys an’ Rockies and oh boy, how I ever felt good!”
The expression on Jack’s face now displayed an ear to ear smile.
“Sure, this body has its challenges but my new life is great! No regrets, I always say! Worth every sacrifice.”
Teddy sat, bewildered. Unsure of how to respond, he asked the first thing on his mind. “What happened to the woman in red?”
“She went on living her new life in joy. I don’t fully remember what sorta life she had before, somethin’ about an abusive father or such. Anyways, she’s long forgotten about me or The Witch or any of that by now. It’s been years since I’ve been here now. The final stage is passing on the information, and then you forget it all and you’re done. She said I’d know when and who to tell, and I did. You.” Jack revealed.Teddy was amazed at Jack’s story. There was no denying the sincere joy emanating from Jack, it was contagious and Teddy wanted it. Teddy resigned himself that if he had the chance, he was going to do it. Bring on the death, screw this life, Teddy thought.
“So how do I do it?” Teddy remarked.
“Same way I did. Just enter the woods and the signs will show themselves in time. I should warn you though Teddy, once you make the choice to go down one of the paths, there is no turning back.” Jack warned. Perfect, Teddy thought, flashes of new life racing through his mind like pictures in a camera. “I understand.” Teddy said, thinking better than to show excitement.“Great, ol’ chap!” Jack bellowed, returning to his position on the bench.
Teddy got lost back in thought. Images of wonderful scenery raced through his mind. Teddy imagined himself in a natural pool filled with bountiful waterfalls, hitting him and washing over his body as he splashed about. All traces of the old Teddy could be gone, he fantasized. He imagined himself walking through a canola field, naked and alone, leaving all his past troubles, relationships, and experiences at the barren roadside behind him. Just then the route 403 bus came and Jack got up, tipped his hat, and walked on board. Teddy watched Jack enter the bus but was focused on gumdrops in the clouds. He watched as Jack took a window seat and sat down. Jack looked out at Teddy and their eyes locked. A crow landed in the now vacant position next to Teddy, which startled him out of his daze. Teddy looked down to shoo the crow away and when he looked back up the bus was leaving and Jack was gone. Teddy had been so excited that he didn’t realize he had missed his bus.