BOOK 1: SERENDIPITY / CH. 26:MAMA NG

SATURDAY, 15TH JULY

“Thanks, Arwood. We thought she might refuse to talk to us otherwise,” Sarah said as they approached the house.

[Then you're as silly a chit of a girl as I never laid eyes on. Come on in, along with young John there. Arwood can come too if he really wants to. Tell him the drains in the kitchen are blocked again.]

Sarah laughed, and John and Arwood looked at her in surprise.

“Your mother says the drains in the kitchen are blocked and I'm the silliest chit of a girl she's never laid eyes on for thinking she wouldn't talk to us.”

“Sounds like my Mama. I'll go and play plumber then,” Arwood said, resigned to his fate. “Mama will be in the front room.”

“He's a good boy, my Arwood,” came a strong but elderly voice. “Knows when to keep his nose out of other people's business.”

“Thank you, Mama, I won't eavesdrop.”

“Sorry lad, you couldn't if you wanted to. I'm going to be thinking at this pair, not jabbering. Thinking don't tire a body so.”

“Mama, you could jabber from dawn till dusk, without a break. I've heard you.”

“But it tires me, boy. Thinking now, I can do that from dawn to dawn no problem.”

[So, you're Maggie's little girl. I see that in you. So you got your ability honestly enough. But what about your tin man here? You didn't have no gift nor power when we last met, John. What happened?]

[My fault, I prayed. Um, I need to back up some. From about age fifteen I got terrible headaches in crowds. We've since realised that was when the tiara my Dad made got smashed. Did you know about that?]

[I did, girl, but it wasn't to be a long term measure, just ‘till you grew in your power.]

[Well, when my parents died, my aunt raised me and she didn't know a thing about it.]

[Oh lass, she knew. I told her, but she wouldn't listen. ]

[Oh.]

[Carry on, girl, what's done is done.]

[Well, the computers didn't know what was wrong with me, but thought it was some kind of trauma from the attack. But I was OK as long as I didn't go into crowds. And then, well, John, you carry on.]

John explained about the way he'd seen her details on the list, and how they'd met. How she'd felt so safe with him and how he'd felt so protective of her, how she'd rebuked him, and then how they'd proven that she could hear his intentions and the prophesy of the ring. Of how he eventually admitted his love for her.

[And then I got scared. I didn't want this thing to tear us apart, as I thought it might if I was to hear his thoughts without him hearing mine. I was terrified that the things John was thinking were from God might be from this gift, and that that was an unreliable basis to build a marriage on. I prayed that if I had to hear his thoughts then he should hear mine too.]

[And the last line of her unspoken prayer was, ‘don't let this thing drive us apart.’ And I heard and said ‘Amen.’ For some reason that surprised her.]

[God does like surprises, doesn't He! And since then you've found each other's thoughts and the peace. I can see that in you. Good start.]

[I have a question, Mama Ng. How much could my mother do? It's just that when we found each other's thoughts, the Spirit joined us and said this was beyond her, but some of what she could do seems beyond us.]

[Oh well, your ma, she had the power, but not the gift. They're different, see.]

[We'd thought it was something like that,] Sarah thought, [but we don't know how.]

[Your ma was good as can be in using the power. She'd be able to tell intentions towards herself or those close to her. She'd know thoughts at touch, listen quietly and could hide too. Hide her intentions, her thoughts. That's right handy, if you meet someone else with the power. Not everyone with the power's a child of God, you know.]

[We thought that might be the case, but we weren't sure.]

[But that's as far as it went for her. She prayed for the gift, but the Lord said no. I don't know why.]

[And the crowd thing? Is that part of the gift or the power?]

[Ha, I call it the pain myself. Except in worship of course.] Her eyes lit at the memory. [It's part of the power, dear, and your ma didn't have it, but she knew about it. I think her grandma had it, and she knew you had it too.]

[And Dad made the tiara to turn it off somehow. But it got smashed.]

[Not to turn it off. dear. That horrible thing rang bells in your little brain so loud that you didn't hear the power or the pain. It made you numb, girl. Don't try to go back there, it'll be like plucking your eyes out just because you don't want to shut them.]

[Oh. But I don't know how to shut my eyes, Mama Ng! The peace is great, but I can't walk around high on that all day. What do I do about the pain? Can you teach me?] John could hear the desperation in her mind and reached for her hand.

[That's one way, what your man is doing there. But there's better. Reach out and wrap her in your love, John, put a blanket round her to keep the pain away.]

John tried reaching out to Sarah like he had the first day, like he'd almost forgotten about. [Like this?]

[That's good. You'll get better, but that's good. See how you can leave her protected while you pay attention to the outside world?]

John tried, and realised he was able to. [Now there you're loving and protecting her like a good man should protect his wife, and I've never ever heard of a man with the pain, so maybe that's the way the good Lord intended it. I know you're not officially married yet, but you are as committed to each other in your souls as you'll ever be, and if you think a moment you'll know it too.]

They realised this also was true. All thought of postponing their wedding vanished.

[Much better.] Quite what she was commenting on they weren't sure. But they didn't mind either. [Now you're learning to use the gift to block the pain, and its good. Seeking peace is great too, as I'm sure you know. You seek peace and there's nothing that'll harm your mind, not even demons going to get you there. There aren't many around, but you remember it, just in case. Of course, you seek peace and you can't really do much else at all. So you'll need to learn to hide too, I'm sure.]

[Yes, My mother tried to teach me, but I couldn't understand what she meant.]

[And you at what, six or seven? Of course you couldn't. She was trying to push you too hard, but she had her reasons.]

[What reasons?]

[Oh, I'll tell you soon enough, don't worry. Now, one way of hiding is like this. There's other ways that are faster, but this way is easiest to get. Listen first, then do. You think of your most terribly embarrassing moment, like when you wet your bed when you were a teenager, that sort of thing, and you imagine how you probably wanted the ground to swallow you so no one could ever know you existed. And then you ever so quietly make yourself sink down into the ground and you're not there any more. Sarah, your turn first.]

Sarah remembered her embarrassment and sank into the earth. It felt strange. She was quiet and the world was quiet. She touched John and thought, [do you hear me,] but he didn't respond.

“Try thinking something to her, John,” said Mama. Nothing. “You decide to do something to him now, Sarah.”

She thought and decided to tickle him. For the first time in weeks she caught him unawares.

“This is strange. How do I get back to normal?”

“Oh, that's easy, you just come up from the ground, Sarah.”

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She tried, and struggled. It seemed the ground didn't want to let her go.

“It feels like I'm stuck in mud, Mama. I don't know how to get out.” She heard the worry in her own voice.

“OK dear, don't panic. It happens sometimes. Imagine you're in a bubble and just float to the top.” Sarah imagined a bubble and rose, ever so slowly. She was out.

[That was a bit scary, Mama.]

[I expect so dear. Don't try it for too long. About half an hour at most. Another way out is seeking peace, but I wanted to show you this way so you'd be able to help people with the power but not the gift.]

[Does it stop the pain, Mama?] John asked.

[Yes, lad, but no better than your care does, and it carries a cost. The longer you do it, the harder it is to get out. In some ways it's like that tiara. Sarah's worn that tiara for so long I was pretty sure she'd get a bit stuck.]

[And if someone gets really stuck?]

[Unless they get out sometime, somehow, then they end up in the mud for life, dear. Their thoughts stay hidden for a few days, and then they're just normal people.]

[And if they have the gift?]

[Then they can probably get out by seeking peace, I'm not sure. My Ma never had the gift, but she lost the power, that's how I know.]

[That's sad.] John thought.

[She lost dad, see. He died, and she hurt so much, I think she thought it would hurt less. I'm not sure it did, and I know it meant we couldn't help her so well.]

[Should John try and hide now?]

[Yes, John, you try to sink into the mud.]

John thought of when he'd most wanted to vanish, after breaking his mother's favourite vase, and tried to sink. His awareness of Sarah's companionship disappeared, and it felt lonely. “It feels lonely down here,” he said.

“OK, now do something to one of us.”

He thought. The obvious thing was to tickle Sarah or kiss her, but he decided against it and kissed Mama Ng instead.

“You naughty boy!” she said, but he thought he'd pleased her too. He floated out of the mud and thought, [Did I surprise you, Mama?]

[Of course not, I know what naughty boys are like! But I didn't hear your intention either.]

[Why is this useful, Mama? What might the bad guys do?]

[Well, say they've been eating thoughtful chicken.]

[Ooh, then they don't need touch to read you,] Sarah said.

[And they can think fear at you too, dear, and enjoy your pain. They can think horror at you, and they can get even nastier. They appear to be charismatic leaders and develop followings because they know what makes people tick, what people want. And I'm sorry to say, Sarah, that your mama's cousin was a right nasty piece of work.]

[What can be done against people like that, Mama?] Sarah asked.

[Well now, the law don't know nothing about their power, but they're usually criminals too, so some end up behind bars. Mostly all you can do is pray, child. Pray their power will be taken from them. That's what we did with your mama's cousin in the end. Three of us joined hands round the man in the queue at his local take away and prayed that God would strip him of his corrupt power in the name of Jesus. Couldn't have done that without hiding.]

[What did the other customers think?]

[Well, he went out of there screaming blue murder, and we told people that he was a corrupt politician, which happened to be true too. I guess they thought we meant political power, I seem to remember we got a round of applause.] [Mama, could you tell all this to Kate and Karen too, they're even newer to the gift than us.]

[I could if they come fast, lad. But I think you'd better do it.]

[Mama?]

[Call Arwood, dear, I knew this was coming. The Good Lord told me I'd pass on what I knew before I went home, and I don't think He meant by long.]

Sarah ran to fetch Arwood.

[Mama, are there others you know with the gift?]

[Just you four around here. Arwood's daughter May's got the power. She's a good girl, maybe she'll receive the gift when she grows.]

“Arwood boy, give your Mama a kiss, lad, I think I'm maybe going home at long last. I do feel a bit tired.”

“Mama!”

“Now don't you cry too much, boy, you know I said a while ago that I'd got a job to do and now I think I've done it. So if I go, don't you go resuscitating me or anything silly like that. You know I'm going to a better place. Go call the clan, lad, I'll try and stay till they're all here. John, Sarah, you're in the clan too now, do stay.” [Oh, and give Hannah the recipe. I'd have given it to her years ago but couldn't remember it all. You don't need to tell her that though.]

[OK Mama, we will. You rest,] John reassured her.

[Ha, I'm going to the biggest party in eternity, and he says rest!]

[I think he means save your strength for the clan, Mama, don't you go running off to the party without saying goodbye.]

[Oh, all right. I'll enjoy some peace for a while then.]

“She's resting, Arwood.” John told her anxious son. "Do you want me to help call people?"

“No, John, it's done. She made me set up a messaging system a few weeks ago. Said eighty years was plenty. I triggered the warning when you called me and I've just confirmed it. Everyone should have heard by now. I'll just call Hannah and check it worked.”

Hannah was already on her way with their children, as were other family members. Arwood was the youngest of her five sons, but all had stayed within an hour's travel of Mama. That was the way she'd wanted it and they weren't going to upset her that badly by disobeying. Edwin, Arwood's eldest brother, lived the furthest away, and was now finding out how expensive it was to buy hypersonic transfer tickets for his family at no notice, but there was no question of them not coming. Of the entire clan, only Matthew, brother number four, wouldn't make it. He was just having his appendix taken out in hospital when Arwood made the call. As the clan members came, Sarah felt the pressure on her mind building and reached for John's hand. He understood her need and she felt the pressure disappear as he wrapped his love protectively around her. Along with that pressure the remaining fears about their wedding day disappeared.

An hour after the alert had gone out, almost to the second, Mama Ng opened her eyes and looked around. “Matthew's in hospital, Mama,” his wife reported. “He's OK, but they had to take out his appendix.”

“Poor lad, not his fault he can't be here. You give him a kiss from me, girl. And some thoughtful chicken when he's well.” There were chuckles around the room along with questions from the younger generation, met with “you're too young to know.”

“Hannah, Sarah's promised to give you the recipe, and you others might want to check that recipe too. I've a feeling I was forgetting things at the end, but Sarah's mama got it written down.”

Arwood volunteered, “And since Sarah made some for us innocently, I know that the recipe works as reported.” More laughter.

“May dear, you need to go hold hands with John and Sarah sometime. Now if you like.”

Arwood's sixteen year old daughter did as instructed. It seemed like Mama was giving words of wisdom and comfort to each one of her relatives.

[Hello, May,] John thought. [Mama's told us some things you might need to know some time.]

[Hi, John, hi, Sarah. I've never talked like this to any grownup but Mama.]

[That's OK,] thought Sarah. [You know you can talk to us too, and on Sunday we'll introduce you to Kate and Karen who you can talk to this way too.]

[No boys?]

[Not yet. You and Karen might like to pray for some though. She's twenty and wants a boyfriend too, well, a husband really.]

[Twenty's old to still have no boyfriend. How old are you?]

[I'm twenty-one and I only met John just over a month ago. He's my first boyfriend, so you don't need to worry.]

[I'm not worried, but what's wrong with you that you couldn't find one for so long?]

[I've got high standards. I didn't just want one who could walk and chew gum at the same time. I wanted a Christian man I could respect.]

[There's plenty of them in church. What's so special about John?]

[He can beat me in a sprint and I run FAST. And he's got brains too.]

[Hey, that's pretty cool. I like those standards. Brains and speed.]

[Don't forget Christian too!]

[Oh yeah. Dad'd skin me if I went out with a non-believer.]

[God wouldn't be happy either, and he's got a bigger stick than your Dad.]

[But He never uses it.]

[Mama Ng was just telling us about when he took the power away from someone, girl. He uses his stick all right.]

[{shock} Took the power away! I'm gonna be good!]

[Then listen to Mama, she's dying, you know.]

[I know. {sadness} That's why I wanted to talk about boys, so I wouldn't have to think about it. I don't want Mama to die, she’s cool.]

[{comfort}]

John had been half listening to Mama, and half listening to this strange conversation and decided that Sarah probably had a gift he didn't for talking to teenage girls. But then at his age they'd probably class him as a pensioner or even a parent, and thus not fit to listen to.

Mama was still going strong when he heard May ask, [So, with John's metal leg, how are you going to have babies?]

He thought only for Sarah, [Sarah, should I remind her I'm still listening, or drop hands?]

[Neither, John, just chip in if I get the facts of life wrong, or better still, you answer the girl.]

[!]

[May, do you want John to answer, or me? I mean, I'm a virgin like I hope you are, but John's a widower.]

[Ooh. John, please. Maybe we'll both learn something.]

[Yes, May, but I'm marrying John in a month, whereas you're only asking to show off to your friends or to be nosy. Which one is it?]

[Bit of both, I suppose. Sorry.]

[If you have real questions you can ask, May,] John thought. [But only real questions please that your parents wouldn't mind you knowing the answer to.]

[OK, I know this is probably too nosy, but, urm, I'd heard that John had lost his bits.]

[Well, May,] John replied, [you'd heard wrong. My bits are all there and the doctors say they should all work properly. And even if they don't, May, Sarah and I share the power and the gift, so I expect we can do all sorts of other nice things to each other when we're married.]

[Want to bet her next question is ‘such as?’ Mine too, actually,] asked Sarah privately.

[You've got a wicked mind, girl!] came Mama Ng's thought. [Keep it up! Thank you for talking to May, she needed it.]

“Now I think I've said something to everyone here except John and Sarah. I wanted them to be here because you should think of them as being in the clan now. I've told them a lot of what I know, and they're wise people who the Lord's got His hand on good and strong. Some of you know ‘bout my power and gift, they've both got them. So if there's things you'd come to me for, you can ask them. And now I'm going to give them a present they won't want or expect, or even understand for a while, but tough, that's the way it is. Come here you two. And hold each other's hands and mine. What I received from my Man and his Gran and her Dada and his Mama and her Gramp I pass on to you. Don't you dare leave it as late as I have to pass it on.” [Here you are, catch this and don't drop it. My legacy to you. Hope you don't need it. Some of it's scary stuff. {memory-upon-memory-upon-memory-upon-memory-upon-memory}]

“Someone give them chairs, they're going to fall over, else.”

[Don't even think of trying to process that lot now, it'll probably kill you. Seek peace for a while till the heat goes. Sorry to do this to you, but I didn't have a child nor grandchild with the gift to pass it onto. This is too valuable to lose just because of bloodlines. I'll be gone when you wake up. Have my blessings, children.]

They focused on peace and saw she was, as usual, entirely right. The heat was there for both of them, as strong as they'd ever sensed it. How Mama had been able to do it they didn't know, but this wasn't the time or place to worry. So, together in the cooling flood of peace they waited until the heat left. As the last vestiges of heat disappeared, together they became aware of the great joyful assembly that had been awaiting its latest member, who even now was being welcomed by her Lord and King. Mama Ng had gone home.