James (jcm0824) smiles at Blue and Dirish. He is unable to resist slapping Blue’s delightful derrier as she passes by him winking and dangling the spare key to The Dungeon in The Ice House.
“Happy birthday Blue, Have fun,” he murmurs softly and Blue giggles, knowing she will.
Dirish highs fives his good friend and follows Blue. “Glad you told me about this place my friend,” Dirish wiggles his eyebrows playfully at James and his two lady friends.
James chuckles, glad that he did too. He whispers to the two beautiful women at his side, Snowbunny78 and Sexilicious and asks them both if they would like a little privacy of their own.
The two ladies agree and eagerly take his strong hands, walking with him to the Spa room.
*****
James feels happy that he has good friends here and looks around at the bar as he walks. He feels the warmth and affection all around him.
It seems to glow in the room, a faint glow that begins to get brighter. Somehow he knows it is a good light and his eyes travel the room and he sees the hue is brighter where his friends are.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Doris says softly, standing beside him. Suddenly he realises all the people in the bar were frozen in time. Some in animated discussion, some dancing and laughing.
Even Snowbunny and Sexilicious are statuesque still holding his hand.
“What am I seeing?” James asks slightly bewildered.
“All the love and friendship you created since you have been here.” Doris whispers to him. “It glows and strengthens and the bonds you have with people are never broken. They last through time."
“Am I dreaming? It seems so serene and beautiful” James whispers and memorises the scenes before him. All his friends including Cheya, Bluedenim, Dirish, Sexilicious and Snowbunny laughing, smiling and glowing the brightest for him.
All have bright eyes, and almost a teardrop shimmering and forming in them.
He looks closest at them. “They seem different from the rest.”
Doris smiles at him, “That’s because, they sense it.”
James looks at her, seeing her properly for the first time. “You are the lady in the portrait, dancing over the stage with your man”
Doris nods. “My Stanley. We live here, have done for over a 100 years”
James swallows, “My illness beat me in the end, didn’t it? That’s what you mean by sensing it. My friends know, I have to leave them”
Doris nods again. “They know. They don’t want you to suffer anymore,” she says softly.
James smiles, “I was getting tired. I think I put up a good fight though”
Stanley floats down to stand by Doris, putting his arm around her waist, “You sure did”
James chuckles, feeling good, happy and full of life ironically, the best he has done in ages. “What happens now?”
Doris answers him softly guiding him, “You whisper to your friends, each memory of you, you wish them to remember and keep, you say good bye to each and every one, promising each, that you will live in their hearts forever. You may be gone. You won’t ever be forgotten.”
“I’m not sure, I want to go yet,” James whispers to them.
“That’s normal.” Stanley soothes him, “It’s just that first step into the unknown. A new chapter for you”
“That’s why we are here,” Doris says, “There are people waiting for you in the next plane, but you can take your time with your friends. Time means little here.”
“Should I be scared?” James asks not sure of his feelings.
Doris shakes her head. “No, don’t be scared. There is a fabulous set of drums up there, some golden ropes and things that you enjoyed here,” she chuckles. “We have some very thoughtful Angels who know how to make new comers feel right at home”
James chuckles, “Should I blush?”
“Absolutely!” Doris and Stanley say in unison and they all burst out laughing.
James suddenly feels better, wonderful even. He knows his time has come and he knows that he has had a good, full filling life. Slowly it flashes before him and Doris and Stanley hold him steady as he sees and remembers.
When it’s over, James is smiling. “My life was wonderful”
Stanley and Doris nod in agreement. “You are a very special man. You will be greatly missed”
Doris takes his hand, “Come, whisper in your friends ears the special memory you wish them to have, we will wait for you over here”
James approaches each of his friends, each of his band members in the Cocks N Roses and each of his special ladies.
He whispers things only for them and notes the glow brightens around them.
The moments are special, unique and ones that imprint in their minds and souls forever.
“Good bye, my friends,” he tells them at the end, “Don’t be sad at my passing. Be glad we had the good fortune to meet each other, to spend time together and to make wonderful memories together”
He kisses each lady and shakes each man’s hand.
He turns to his new friends, Doris and Stanley, “I am ready”
Then as if on queue, a giant stairway appears in the centre of the AB&G with the glow of his friends in the afterlife at the top.
And with Doris and Stanley by his side, he ascends with a sense of peace, of happiness and of joy.
“Do you think, I could come back to visit the Spa and bar on occasions?” James jokes with the ghostly couple.
Laughter is heard and Doris’s answer, “Oh, we insist”
The AB&G returns to normal time, James has passed but never forgotten. His imprint on the AB&G and The Icehouse will be there forever, in its history.
His friends sense and feel his spirit and raise their glasses in toast to the special man who was part of their lives.
“To James – jcm0824- and the wonderful memories, he created. Rest in Peace Dear Friend.”
And the drums on stage suddenly beat and play on their own….
Gun's N' Roses - Knockin On Heavens Door - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tmc8rJgxUI&feature=kp
In memory of our jcm0824. A much respected and loved member of our Forum Village.
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