To my surprise, Bonnie‘s intensity got the better of her again, and she
said, "It doesn‘t matter if they are three year-olds or society social
climbers; it‘s the same thing dressed in time and circumstance."
I thought better of winding her up again—too much of a good thing
etcetera—so I said, "They‘re snubbing peers, which is to judge them, so
they‘re expressing self-importance."
Nodding in agreement, she said, "That is an assessment without
reason‘s interference."
I think I‘m getting a handle on logic, as well."
"As well as what?" she said seriously.
"As well as how to wind you up," I said, stepping down a tier.It did
my nerves a world of good to hear her titter; it told me that she wasn‘t a
full- fledged Dreamer-Stalker thing-a-ma- gig.
_____Translating Reality_____
When I came back, Catherine had cleared our plates and left a small
silver tray speckled with cello-wrapped, peppermint hard candies. There
was no bill.
"A question, if I may?" I said, taking my seat.
"Shoot," she mimicked me.
"It seems to me that going forward isn‘t such a given. I mean, you say
you have to move on, and I can see that, but you can fail. K inda harsh, if
you ask me."
"Are we close to what you really want to ask me?"
"Inevitability seems to interfere with free will."
Sighing, she said, "You have an agreement with Intent, so the
question is moot." She grasped my hands. "Again, I strongly suggest that
you don‘t focus on how difficult you think these lessons will be. So far,
it‘s just been words and you have a reasonable grasp on those, so there‘s
nothing to be afraid of."
"I‘m not afraid; I just don‘t get it."
"Get what?"
"What you mean by reason," I confessed. "I mean, really… what the
hell else is there?"
"You experienced the difference not two minutes ago!"
"And now I can see how your resolution was reasonable."
Bonnie gazed into my innocent stare with the astonished awe of an
astrophysicist discovering something denser than a black hole. Eventually,
she lowered her head and taking an audible breath said, "I am going to
