Soul Dancing with the Brass Band (The Brass Band Series) (28 page)

Will told us before entering the temple that the chanting had been going on twenty-four hours a day to raise the energies in the house to a feverish pitch. Under those circumstances, even the densest person would be lifted to the heights of the group around them. The chanting was a repetitive verse in Sanskrit. Before long we were all able to chant along with the group…
Om Nama Shiva, Om Nama Shivaya
...

I found myself floating in and out of consciousness. Sometimes I was in the room chanting and at other moments I wasn’t aware of anything at all. Soon, a line of boys entered the room with trays of smoking sandalwood and bells ringing. It pushed me even further into an unfamiliar place in my being, but I wasn’t frightened, I felt safe and oddly at peace.

Feeling a tap on my shoulder, I found myself looking directly into the innocent eyes of a boy of about ten. He handed me a well-worn book opened to a page entitled “
Arati
”. After shaking my mind into focus, I took the book and managed to mouth
thank you
to him. Looking around I noticed that everyone had the same book and as the chant began my voice joined theirs.

Om namah, parvati-pataye Hara hara hara mahadev
….

A moment before I would have sworn I’d never heard these words before, but as they rolled off my tongue, I had that déjà vu feeling once again.

Letting myself go with the sensation of being adrift, I closed my eyes just to see what might happen next. I instinctively knew not to get too intellectual about what was happening because my rational mind would not have any logical place to put any of it.

The chanting around me got softer as I floated further away and I was intrigued to find it was gradually being replaced by a different group who were chanting a slightly different version. It was beautiful, as if the two groups were singing
in
rounds
like we did in grade school. Remaining very still, I was tempted to open my eyes, but found my lids were too heavy, as were my arms and legs. The only option left to me was to just
be
and let myself bathe in the beauty of it all.

From my blissful state, I eventually heard the chanting voices reverse and I knew that I was returning to the temple in which my body sat. My initial emotion was disappointment, but I continued to just let it
be
. I listened until the other voices faded completely to silence and that magical moment was over.

I remember very little about the ceremony that happened at midnight. I floated and merged with my thoughts and at times had absolutely no thoughts at all. Will eventually laid me down on the soft temple carpet and placed my pillow under my head. I felt him drape my shawl over me, tucking it in at the corners with loving care. I wanted to say thank you, but couldn’t really manage it.

I felt the heat of Will’s body next to me and his hum as he took my hand in his. That was the last thing I remembered as everyone feel asleep on the temple floor.

The subtle shuffling of feet brought me partially to my senses. Will gently helped me to my feet. Apparently the sun was rising and everyone was moving from the temple to their personal quarters.

We entered a hallway and the six of us followed Will and George in silence. We climbed the stairs and as Will opened doors, we dropped out of line, two by two. Mom and Dad took the first room, then Gilbert and Dr. Edwards. Ruth and George disappeared into George’s room and Will took me to his. We all needed a little more sleep before breakfast was served.

Will’s bed was a twin, but as we climbed into it and wrapped ourselves around one another, I realized we both would have fit even if it
were nothing more than a cot. Engulfed in Will’s arms, I slipped into a deep, deep sleep.

The soft tone of a bell moving along the hallway brought me to
consciousness, alerting us that it was time for breakfast. The atmosphere in the house was very gentle, nothing like the hard-edged world that existed beyond its walls.

I tried to move, but Will’s arms held me tight.

“Not so quick,” he whispered in my ear. “This is the first time I’ve ever had a girl in my bed, actually in my room for that matter. I’d like to enjoy it for just a moment longer.”

I felt his breath on my neck, followed by his warm lips on my ear. I moved to face him and his lips moved to mine. I also felt some serious heat as he wrapped his leg around my hip to pull me closer.

“Going without breakfast would be fine with me, if I thought we wouldn’t be missed,” he said into my hair, “but there’s no chance of that. McCollum will want to meet with us after we’ve eaten.”

I knew he was right. After all, McCollum was the leader of our little band of spiritualists. Will pulled himself up and sat on the edge of the bed. Running his fingers over his face, he turned to me.

“I’ll go and find out the plans for the day. You shower and I’ll meet you in the dining hall for breakfast,” he said, as he put on loose fitting clothes. Clothing in this house was worn for comfort, not fashion.

Will smiled and kissed me goodbye before leaving the room. I stretch
ed while rummaging in my overnight bag for my robe. I made the bed by pulling the sheets tight and tucking all four corners neatly before grabbing my bag and heading to the shower room across the hall. It had been kindly set aside for Mom, Ruth and my use during this weekend. The boys were to use the facilities in another wing.

The showers were six stalls divided by plastic curtains. Leaving my robe on a hook in the main room, I closed a curtain and let the warm water wash over me. It wasn’t long before the sound of other showers and the billowing of the curtains told me Mom and Ruth were nearby.

“Hey girls, how did we all survive last night?” It was Ruth’s voice and she was in high spirits. “Come on girls. Speak to me!”

Mom giggled, “I could sleep for another hour, but Terry couldn’t sleep at all. I decided to get up to give him a break. I thought if he had to spend another minute trying to be silent and still, he might explode. He’s in the shower now and I’m sure he’s talking to whoever will listen.”

“Will and I slept like logs. I don’t think my sleep has ever been so absent of dreams.” For Mom’s benefit, I left out the part about how good it felt to sleep next to Will.

“Does anyone know what the schedule is today?” Mom chimed, already turning off
the water, ever the environmentalist. Mom always took short showers, not wanting to waste
Mother Earth’s bounty
, while on the other hand, her daughter always lounged as long as possible, with the hot water on high. I’m sure over the years I’ve wasted the water that she has saved.

“Will told me we should meet in the dining area for breakfast. I bet there’s a table set aside for us,” I answered.

“I’ll see you girls downstairs,” Mom said enthusiastically as she left the room. She was clearly enjoying her new adventure.

“Are we alone now?” Ruth asked from the next stall.

“I think so, why?” I answered, turning to let the hot water run down my back.

“I’m having such a good time.” The swoon in her voice told me I was listening to a girl falling in lo
ve. “George and I talked about ‘us’ last night. Did you hear me, Hillary? I said us! There is an US! He loves me!”

I reluctantly turned off the water, put on my robe and stepped out of the shower. Ruth joined me, rosy red from the hot water.

“Come here, girl.” I said, opening my arms. “I’m so happy for you, Ruth.”

Ruth had been hoping for this with George and even though I thought it would always happen, it was really nice to see Ruth’s dreams coming true.

“This is my first time,” Ruth said as we released each other from our sisterly hug. “I mean, I’ve loved guys before, but not guys that loved me back and I’ve had guys that were wild over me, but I couldn’t get away from them fast enough. But this time, George and I love each other equally, at the same time. It’s what I’ve always wanted!” Ruth’s face was a mixture of smiles and tears.

“Has George told you much about what went on, while you were in Kansas City?” I asked, wondering if George and Ruth were also soul mates. I figured George would tell her if it were important and knowing Ruth, she would tell me even if she wasn’t supposed to.

She said nothing, so I kept my mouth shut. We hurried to our rooms to get dressed and walked to the dining hall together.

Breakfast was a mixture of raw and simple foods, along with some cooked rice from the evening before and a pot of hot water for tea. We worked our way down the line, taking a little of everything. Just the si
ght of food proved to me that I was starving. The tables were in a room just around the corner and as we made the turn, Will and George noticed us and waved us over. All meals were supposed to be eaten in silence, but our table was not following the rule. Between Dad, Gilbert and Dr. Edwards, the silence had absolutely been broken. The boys at the surrounding tables were having a good giggle, probably finding the excitement contagious. Having six strangers in their midst, three of them females, was highly unusual.

Will announced that after we finished our breakfast and washed our dishes, we were expected in McCollum’s quarters.

Remembering McCollum from the Spring Fling party night, I was both frightened and fascinated by the thought of him. He was not pleased with us that night and I shrunk a bit under his gaze and I wondered if I would feel any different now.

George led the procession with dishes in hand, back to the kitchen. We scraped the remaining food from our plates into a bucket, which would become mulch for spring vegetables. We then cleaned the dishes and placed them into a tray that would later pass through a dishwashing system, the grey water nourishing the gardens. It was all very efficient.

“You’ll have a few minutes in your rooms before your meeting with McCollum,” Will told us on the way up stairs. “Someone will be around to gather you up, so when you hear the bell, it will be a signal to follow your guide to McCollum’s quarters. Don’t be frightened.” That last part was clearly directed toward me because everyone else was giddy with anticipation.

My disappointment was tangible as Will told me he would be going up ahead of time. All of my insecurities surfaced with a vengeance. I couldn’t even imagine entering that room without Will by
my side, only to face McCollum eye to eye.