BOOK 1: SERENDIPITY / CH. 5: A RING IN A RED BOX
SATURDAY LUNCHTIME
“OK, so it's plugged in, there wasn't any smoke, the computer has booted, and it looks like it's ready. Shall we start, John?”
“Yes, let's. Ooh, I see how we hold hands, there's a hole here between the two sides.”
“Can we?”
“Hold hands? Yeah, why not. You press start.”
“Ooh, pretty pictures.”
“I'm not giving you clues, but I'm thinking of something.”
“How nice my delicate hand feels in yours?”
“Yes, something like that, but something else too. Press a button.”
“Oh, I got that one, it was the cute kitten!”
“This one?”
“Nope, I pressed a tortoise. What was it?”
“A lettuce.”
“Ah.”
“And this one?”
“Are we supposed to talk?”
“Probably not.”
“Oh I've only got one picture. So you've got to guess, I guess.”
“Yep, and I guess the little girl.”
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
“No, I had a sandcastle. Let's try without speaking.”
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“Sarah, the pizzas should be ready.”
“Oh, is that why I've chosen food related things for the last five turns?”
“Maybe. You got 20% accuracy, not bad. I only got 7%, which given that there are ten choices a time, isn't that great. Shall we walk to pizza, fair lady?”
“Yes, let's. But such a small sample's just not conclusive, not with these statistics. We're going to need a lot more data to show anything, John. But I'm not sure this test is relevant to me. If I am picking up thoughts, then it's not pictures. It's much more like unspoken words. Like yesterday, I believe you that you didn't say anything about your time for mourning being over, but when I spoke, it was as if I'd heard them. I don't know if it was from you or God.”
“So a better test would be the picture shows a ring, and I think ‘one day I'll give you a ring’.”
“And it's in your bedside table in a red box.” Sarah gave a little fearful moan. “Did I really say that?”
“Yes, you did, and... yes it is, and no, I don't know where those words came from. They just sort of came to my mind as I stopped talking. Maybe from God, I don't know. I was so certain that I would give it to you. Maybe it was just word association, giving you a ring, well, that's the most significant one I have to give. Sally's wedding ring.”
“John, I think I'm getting scared. Did I just utter something else prophetic, or hear your thoughts, or hear something that was meant only for you?”
“It can't have been meant only for me, God's not that sloppy. Either it came from me or was for us both. But let's have that pizza.”
“And tea, I want everything to feel better.”
“That is a great suggestion. I'll start it brewing.”
“We should pray, John, shouldn't we?”
“Yes, you're right. We should have before we breakfasted, and everything.”
“But breakfast was in little pieces, starting with bits of cheese we stole from on top, so we didn't think of it. But now we have a proper meal.”
“Let's pray. Thank You, God, for this food, all the food You've granted us, for bringing us together, for the rebukes and encouragements You've given us. Help us, dear Lord, to understand what's going on, to hear Your voice and to know what is from You, and what is from gifts You've given Sarah. Thank You, Lord, for this confusing start to our relationship, help us to make sense of it eventually, and to honour You and each other every step of the way.”
“Amen, Lord. Thank You for John, for the amazing way he's committed himself to helping me. Lord, I also pray for certainty and wisdom for both of us about where we should and shouldn't go, what we should and shouldn't try to analyse. Guide us, Lord, we ask.”
“Amen.”
“Let's eat.”