Save Us
A Short Story by Matthew Holmes
A devastating warning that an undetected comet is on a collision course with Earth sends a family on the run to escape the potential threat.
SAVE US
Without any motion in the middle of a neighborhood road, Alexander stands quietly while closing his eyes to calm himself. Meanwhile, his family is finishing up packing their belongings to leave their home. The view from Alexander’s house on a hill overlooks a suburban woodsy area of houses and the ocean in the near distance. Earlier that morning, the news had issued a devastating warning to the public that a previously undetected comet is on a collision course with Earth. The report had followed up with an official presidential speech from the Oval Office confirming the comet and for there to be calm and order. Where the comet is impacting Earth remains secretive because of public safety concerns, yet false rumors are already taking hold. The President had also commented that the timing and location would not be disclosed. This led Alexander’s father, Joseph, to make the family decision for them to pack up and leave their home as soon as possible in an effort to get to a higher elevated area in case of a tsunami event from the comet’s impact.
Standing still in the middle of their neighborhood road, Alexander takes deep breaths as he mentally trails off. Thoughts about his life, family, and the news of the comet cloud his peace. He stops thinking for a moment, opens his blurred eyes, and hears yelling. “Alexander!” Shouts someone from their driveway that he just faintly hears enough to turn to his side. He takes a slow, blurry step and begins walking toward the driveway to the family SUV. Seeing his parents and younger brother frantically loading up their vehicle with supplies and luggage, Alexander watches quietly. His mother, Clara, asks if he’s already packed, and he says that he’s already loaded his luggage into the SUV earlier.
“We gotta go! C’mon!” Joseph yells out. “Where’s Peter at?” asks Clara. Alexander looks back at their house and sees his younger brother, Peter, casually strolling out of the house while pulling his luggage behind himself. “Coming!” Peter shouts. “Let’s go! No time to waste!” Joseph shouts. They pile into their cramped SUV filled with supplies and luggage, Alexander and Peter in the backseats, Joseph in the driver’s seat, and Clara in the front passenger seat. Joseph drives the family SUV out of the driveway as Alexander looks back at their home for the last time with sadness. They leave the driveway and turn onto a neighborhood road. Alexander sees the same view he had when he was standing on the road a few moments earlier. He closes his eyes and rests his head on the side of the backseat. He opens his eyes again from hearing sirens in the near distance as they’re now on the main road where other cars frantically speed by as people are in a state of terror and fear everywhere.
Joseph warns by saying, “we’re going to all have to be careful and alert.” Clara replies, “just focus on the road, dear” in a nervous and concerned tone. She looks back at him and his brother. She asks, “Are you boys buckled up?” Peter answers, “yup,” and Alexander adds, “we are.” Clara smiles, saying, “Good.” They continue to drive westward towards the nearest town that’s on the way to the mountains. Alexander watches the houses pass by, with people running around and packing up their vehicles. Meanwhile, a large pickup truck flies by their SUV in the breakdown lane with its windows down and rock music blasting. The pickup truck driver yells something that Alexander doesn’t clearly hear and accelerates past them. Joseph says, “I guess the rules of the road are out the window at this point.” Alexander quietly replies, “yeah,” thinking about how everyone is dealing with the comet in their own way.
They approach a small town where stores are being looted on both sides of the road. There are car lines at gas stations, and people desperately trying to get supplies. He shakes his head in dismay at the mayhem all around them from the safety of their SUV. Up ahead, there are crowds of people scattered throughout the street, sidewalks, and the downtown center. Joseph slows down, driving to pass by safely without hurting anyone. Drivers are beeping their horns, crowds yell at vehicles, and confronting a small police presence where cops are telling people to go home through a loudspeaker. Alexander sees an old man with a sign that reads, “THE END IS HERE!” In big black bold letters on a poster with a wooden stick that he’s motioning up and down while shouting the same words out.
They’ve slowed to a driving crawl in a line of traffic formed along the route through downtown. Loud bangs against their SUV ring out from inside their vehicle as people throw rocks at them and the other cars. Joseph shouts, “Get down! I’m getting us out of here!” The other car drivers have the same idea because the car behind them slams into their rear bumper while trying to flee from the rock-throwing. After the jolt and whiplash of the crash, Joseph pulls away, driving them down a side street that is only blocked by a thin wood barricade. He slams their SUV through it, lightly damaging the front bumper, and drives fast down a street. After a few blocks, he takes a sharp turn as Alexander holds onto Peter to make sure he’s secure in the backseat alongside him. They’re back on the main road after having driven around the mob that was in the downtown area. Joseph looks around and asks, “Is everybody okay?” Everyone confirms they’re okay because the outside of the SUV had taken a pummeling, but it’s still functioning despite looking like it’s just been through a demolition derby.
They continue to drive away from the town and are out on the open road among farms, fields, hills, and dense forests. Still traveling west towards the hopeful safety of the higher elevated mountains, the view has become peaceful for Alexander as he watches the passing scenery with puffy clouds in the blue sky above them. Peter falls asleep, taking a nap, and their parents chat about random stuff that Alexander isn’t paying much attention to as they continue on the road.
They want to make a pitstop to refuel and use the restrooms if it looks safe. A small shopping area with a grocery store, gas station, and other businesses comes into view. It looks empty of people, so Joseph pulls into the gas station, opens his door, and steps out to refuel their SUV. Peter puts the backseat window down to talk, but Joseph orders him to keep the window up, stay in the SUV, and lock the doors until he finishes. Alexander watches their father nervously, looking around for any threats while gassing up. At that moment, a family minivan pulls into the station from another direction. A man slowly driving the vehicle pulls up to a gas pump and stops. The father of the family minivan cautiously steps out. He’s watching Alexander and his family to see if he can safely gas up. Alexander sees his Dad give a thumbs up toward the other father. The man nods back while giving a thumbs up, and now both men are refueling their vehicles from an unspoken truce that Alexander thinks is cool.
There’s a young woman sitting in the passenger seat of the minivan staring at Alexander. He notices her after the gas truce, she smiles at him, and gives a light wave of her hand in a hello gesture. Alexander slowly waves his hand back to her and smiles. They continue to stare at one another happily, but Joseph has returned from fueling and interrupts their quiet moment by saying, “we’re waiting until that minivan leaves. Then, we can check out the gas station store and use the restrooms in peace.” Clara replies, “sounds like a plan, Stan.”
They wait and see what the minivan is going to do as Alexander looks back at the young woman who appears she’s talking to her father, who got back in their vehicle after filling up. The minivan’s engine turns on, it quickly goes into reverse, takes a wide roundabout to avoid their SUV, and leaves for the main road. Joseph says, “The coast looks clear, so I’m going to go first to scope things out.” He gets out and walks into the gas station store. Alexander pats his younger brother on the shoulder to reassure him that they’re okay and safe together. Their Dad returns shortly thereafter and reports that the gas station store is safe, abandoned, a mess from earlier looting, and the bathrooms are good to use.
Two of them quickly exit from the SUV, yet Alexander stays in his seat, declining to go. “I’m going to stay here and make sure nobody steals our ride,” he tells the others. They nod at him while briskly walking into the store. Alexander pulls his cell phone out from his pants pocket and checks to see if there’s any service to get a news update. Sitting there alone, he presses the on button to his phone, but there’s no service. He puts the phone back in his pocket and stretches his arms from side to side. After several boring minutes, his family walks out of the store, holding their prizes of free snacks and drinks. Alexander thinks to himself that he’s glad they’re okay and in good spirits. They get back in the SUV, joining Alexander, and they drive west, continuing toward the mountains.
It’s in the afternoon when the drive becomes even more scenic as the road begins to slope upward with larger hills and mountains around them. Joseph says, “The higher we go, the better off we’ll be, I think.” Clara agrees with him by singing, “higher and higher!” Alexander sees them laughing together in the two front seats, reminiscing about Ghostbusters movies, and it makes him happy that they’re safe and happy. Then, Alexander looks over at Peters, who’s shaking his head in disapproval of the second movie their mom is referencing “the Statue of Liberty walking is over the top,” he replies. “There will be no OG Ghostbuster bashing in this car,” their dad states in a serious tone. Changing the subject, Clara says, “Hey, there’s a scenic overlook up ahead. We should stop and check it out. We’re probably high enough now where there wouldn’t be as great of a tsunami threat.” Joseph agrees with her and drives them up to the scenic overlook area.
Once parked, they all get out of the SUV and walk out to look at the view of the mountains in the distance. Nobody says anything. Alexander smiles and appreciates the moment. He then makes the first move to head back to the SUV, with the rest following him. Seeing his parents holding hands with Peter skipping around happily, Alexander feels relieved and safer than he felt earlier. They all get back into the SUV, and Joseph says, “Can’t beat the fresh air up here, can you?” Alexander replies, “Yeah, Dad, you can’t.” Joseph comments, “now we just gotta find a place to land for the night and wait this thing out.” He drives them away from the scenic view area and back on the main road. They continue upwards along the road with a rocky stream below that Alexander is watching out the backseat window.
Time feels like it’s suspended in quiet moments of silence as Alexander and his family watch the empty road, jagged rocky hills, and endless woods that pass by. By early evening, it’s cloudy with a colorful sky to add to the ambiance of it all. Joseph breaks up the long silence to say, “I guess we should start to be on the lookout for a place to rest for the night.” Clara responds, “we’re not going to find a hotel out this far up in the country.” Alexander thinks about their dilemma and adds, “if we come across a campground or park, we can set up shop until we figure something better out, can’t we?” His Dad says, “Yeah, I suppose so. Good idea, son.” Peter asks, “Are we going to sleep in the car?” Clara replies, “You’ve been sleeping just fine on the drive up here.” The family laughs in response as Peter yawns and stretches his arms out to say, “That’s true.”
They approach a bridge that crosses a stream as Alexander looks ahead along with his parents from the front seat. What they see is a small group of brown-robed, slowly walking people with shaved heads wearing sandals on the sidewalk going in the same direction their SUV is traveling. As their vehicle reaches the bridge, Joseph slows down and asks Clara to put the window down as he reassures her they appear to be peaceful Buddhists. Alexander puts his window down as they drive up to the group, who have stopped walking and turn to look at them.
Clara says, “Hi there! How are you all doing?” A Buddhist answers, “hello, travelers. We are enjoying this gift of a day. How are you?” Alexander replies, “good, but we’re looking for a place to stay. Do you know any place around here?” Another Buddhist speaks up, “we have Zen Village.” Joseph asks, “Does Zen Village accept lost visitors?” An old-aged Buddhist answers, “of course, we do.” The other Buddhists look to their elder and bow their heads with respect. The elder Buddhist bows back in a return of shared respect.
Joseph then replies, “Great! Thank you. Can we just follow you to Zen Village?” The elder Buddhist walks up to them, standing next to the SUV, and gives instructions, “follow this road for another three miles, and on the left is our lodge where you may park. At the lodge, we’re having soup. Tell those at the lodge that the Master has welcomed you as our guests for the evening, and I will see you later to find you possible accommodations if you are interested.” Clara replies, “That’s very nice of you, Mr. Buddha. We’re going to talk it over with our family if that’s okay with you?” The elder Buddhist warmly smiles, puts his hands together in a praying gesture, and says, “peace be with you in whatever you decide, my fellow travelers,” as he slowly walks to rejoin the other Buddhists.
Alexander is first to speak, “we gotta do this! This is perfect! I don’t even think they know what’s going on with the comet. They’re just up here in the mountains doing their thing!” Joseph asks, “Yeah, but what if it’s a cult? Or some crazy horror show we could be getting ourselves into?” Clara looks over at her husband and says, “You watch too much TV. Let’s go check it out, and if it looks sketchy, we’ll just drive past it or bounce if we feel the vibe is off.” Alexander adds, “yes! Listen to Mom, please, Dad.” Joseph shakes his head, replying, “Okay, let’s give it a go.” Clara calls out to the group of Buddhists, “thank you for your generous invite,” as they drive away from the Buddhists on the bridge.
The Buddhists continue their walk in the same direction, bowing slightly in acceptance. A few miles pass by, and there’s a restaurant lodge on the side of the road with a campground going up a hill overlooking a mountainous area. There is a large painted brown sign with white lettering that reads, “ZEN VILLAGE: LODGE & CAMPGROUND AT MOUNTAIN PASS.” Joseph says, “it looks like we were going to come across this place anyways, but now we have a personal invite from the Master Buddhist himself,” he says in a humorous tone. Alexander comments, “I thought the Master seemed very nice.” Peter adds, “I’m hungry.” Clara answers, “I could eat something substantial, too. The snacks we had earlier aren’t cutting it.”
Joseph drives into the parking lot of the Buddhist lodge, and they exit the SUV. Alexander steps onto the ground and feels a tingling sensation in his legs throughout his body. He closes his eyes, and a flash of light sustains his vision for a moment until he opens them up to see his family walking towards the lodge. He calls out, “Wait for me, guys!” Peter looks back and waves for him to come along. He catches up at the stairs leading to the entrance, where his parents are already talking to a couple of Buddhists about what their Master had said to them on the bridge. The Buddhists immediately welcome them as guests and walk them around the deck of the lodge to a back patio area that looks out at the hill with huts and campfires going into the forest where they live. The Buddhists serve vegetable and rice soup from the back patio with a few dozen Buddhists scattered around enjoying the soup, with some standing and others sitting. From what Alexander could sense, nobody seemed to be bothered that they were there. A Buddhist directs them to pick up soup bowls and serve themselves. Joseph, Clara, and Peter are getting their soup while Alexander walks around in wonder. He’s taking it all in at this scenic place, while some Buddhists are eating soup, others meditate, and some walk to and from their huts up the hill in the distance.
Alexander comments, “This place is awesome, and we’re safe.” A Buddhist replies, “safety is just a moment in time. For all, life is a constant risk in nature.” Alexander looks down at the Buddhist monk sitting cross-legged with no soup whose eyes are closed who said the statement. Alexander answers, “You’re right.” The Buddhist monk adds, “even a Buddhist Master is not always right and can be lost from time to time.” Alexander doesn’t reply and looks back at his family enjoying their soup. Peter sees him and calls out, “Soup! Alexander! It’s good.” Alexander walks toward them and says he’s not hungry. He’s contemplating what the Buddhist monk had said to him. After eating, the Buddhists return to their huts, while a few remain at the lodge to clean up. They tell their guests that there’s a group meditation when the Master returns from his walk. Other than that, they can stay in one of the huts for the evening and night and do as they pleased, as long as it’s respectful to others around them and remain peaceful.
The evening turns to nighttime darkness with overcast skies. The only lights in the forest come from the campfires in front of the huts and candlelights from the lodge. The family of four are sitting on the grass in front of their hut on the hill, looking out over the woods and mountains. Alexander is relieved that they made it through the harrowing drive up to the mountains. From the lights of the lodge, he sees a figure in robes walking towards them. It’s the elder Buddhist who has returned from his walk.
“Hello again, my fellow travelers,” says the elder Buddhist. Joseph says, “Hi, thank you so much for everything. It’s very nice and peaceful here.” The elder warmly smiles and replies, “we’re happy to offer what we can here at Zen Village. We have an evening meditation session at our temple up the hill that I was on my way to, if you would please come and observe.” Alexander sees his parents nod to each other as they get up. The elder points towards a path and says, “it’s just up the hill following the path.” Peter gets up, and the three family members walk in the direction of the path, leaving Alexander sitting there with the elder Buddhist standing near him, looking at him.
The elder Buddhist Master sits down next to Alexander. He says, “what you want to happen and what’s actually happening are two different things,” as he’s sitting next to Alexander on the hillside looking out among the forest, huts, and campfires. Alexander looks over at him and worriedly asks, “So our reality is only what our mind comprehends?” The Master answers, “what I mean is our imagination can create a reality, and who’s to say or know if we’re in the actual reality?” Alexander feels dread and sweat on his face as it feels like the warmth of daytime all of a sudden. “Who are you?” Alexander asks as the Buddhist Master smiles at him and replies, “I’m simply just a thought and part of you, my friend.” Alexander realizes that he may be wrong about what’s going on around him and asks, “Am I alive or dead?” The Master says, “alive to the best of my knowledge. Still standing in the middle of the neighborhood road with a comet on the way.” Alexander feels the sorrow of being in some sort of dream world and asks the Master, “so, if you’re not real and not a spirit guide, are you the grim reaper?” He softly answers, “No, my friend, but I could have been if you wanted me to be in your mind. I am only you. A projection of what you want in a teacher and savior, so you don’t feel so lost trying to desperately save your family in this very creative mind of yours.” Alexander asks, “If this is all made up in my mind and I’m talking to myself and envisioning all of this, can I see my family again and say goodbye to them?” The Master replies, “you could. You have all the time you want here. That’s why I haven’t come to talk to you sooner because you appear to need more time to settle and get comfortable with what’s really happening in your life.”
Alexander thinks about the shocking sudden truth all around him. He’s realizing this world is a made-up box in a dream-like state. He jolts feeling a rush of emotions that all of the actions and people in this reality are just himself filling out his dream world to make it feel real enough and grounded. The Master acknowledges the devastation and ruin that Alexander feels and says, “it’s okay to let go and just be alone. It’s also okay to want to save and help others from pain and suffering, too. That’s a noble quality few have, but maybe the best thing is to let this go where you don’t have to save anyone, and we don’t have to save you. Wouldn’t this relieve a lot of the burden you’re clearly feeling?” Alexander wipes a tear that runs down his face while thinking about his burdened situation. How he brought his own cultural bias, stereotypes, and assumptions into this dream world of salvation. He was being a hero saving his family, and then the Buddhist monks could save him from the doom he and everyone is facing in reality. Alexander says, “I never meant for all of this to not be real. I just couldn’t let go of my loved ones or my life that I love so much.” The Master replies, “this dream world of yours is a gift. You have been given time by some power or energy in the cosmos to find closure, feel safe, comforted, and maybe to learn and be able to let go.” Alexander nods and says to him, “I’m ready.” The Master leans over and puts his arm around Alexander’s shoulders, helping him to shakily stand up and replies, “no, we’re ready together.” They both stand up, looking out over the hillside. The Buddhist Master turns looking into Alexander’s eyes as he fades into Alexander’s body while smiling at him with comfort and respect. All around darkness envelops the scenery, the sky, the hillside, the ground, as Alexander’s eyesight goes blind to darkness as light replaces it. He feels a final strong jolt of awakeness in his mind and body!
Alexander opens his eyes from his dream world as he stands in the middle of his neighborhood road. Fully awake from his visionary family trip to the Buddhists in the mountains, he realizes that his hopes in his mind are gone. In the distance, he hears a family member shout what he had just heard before the start of his dream state, “Alexander!” This time, he looks at his family home, wishing his loved ones well. He then turns back to look out straight ahead. Above him, a massive comet is exploding down towards Earth at a high speed, with a fury of flames and brightness. Alexander stretches his arms out with open hands, and in a pose of acceptance, sadness, and calm, he breathes deeply, watching the comet make contact with the surface in front of him. The powerful, incomprehensible blast of energy instantly annihilates him, his family, and eventually everyone and everything on Earth.
THE END
A devastating warning that an undetected comet is on a collision course with Earth sends a family on the run to escape the potential threat.
SAVE US
Without any motion in the middle of a neighborhood road, Alexander stands quietly while closing his eyes to calm himself. Meanwhile, his family is finishing up packing their belongings to leave their home. The view from Alexander’s house on a hill overlooks a suburban woodsy area of houses and the ocean in the near distance. Earlier that morning, the news had issued a devastating warning to the public that a previously undetected comet is on a collision course with Earth. The report had followed up with an official Presidential speech from the Oval Office confirming the comet and for there to be calm and order. Where the comet is impacting Earth remains secretive because of public safety concerns, yet false rumors are already taking hold. The President had also commented that the timing and location would not be disclosed. This led Alexander’s father, Joseph, to make the family decision for them to pack up and leave their home as soon as possible in an effort to get to a higher elevated area in case of a tsunami event from the comet’s impact.
Standing still in the middle of their neighborhood road, Alexander takes deep breaths as he mentally trails off. Thoughts about his life, family, and the news of the comet cloud his peace. He stops thinking for a moment, opens his blurred eyes, and hears yelling. “Alexander!” Shouts someone from their driveway that he just faintly hears enough to turn to his side. He takes a slow, blurry step and begins walking toward the driveway to the family SUV. Seeing his parents and younger brother frantically loading up their vehicle with supplies and luggage, Alexander watches quietly. His mother, Clara, asks if he’s already packed, and he says that he’s already loaded his luggage into the SUV earlier.
“We gotta go! C’mon!” Joseph yells out. “Where’s Peter at?” asks Clara. Alexander looks back at their house and sees his younger brother, Peter, casually strolling out of the house while pulling his luggage behind himself. “Coming!” Peter shouts. “Let’s go! No time to waste!” Joseph shouts. They pile into their cramped SUV filled with supplies and luggage, Alexander and Peter in the backseats, Joseph in the driver’s seat, and Clara in the front passenger seat. Joseph drives the family SUV out of the driveway as Alexander looks back at their home for the last time with sadness. They leave the driveway and turn onto a neighborhood road. Alexander sees the same view he had when he was standing on the road a few moments earlier. He closes his eyes and rests his head on the side of the backseat. He opens his eyes again from hearing sirens in the near distance as they’re now on the main road where other cars frantically speed by as people are in a state of terror and fear everywhere.
Joseph warns by saying, “we’re going to all have to be careful and alert.” Clara replies, “just focus on the road, dear” in a nervous and concerned tone. She looks back at him and his brother. She asks, “are you boys buckled up?” Peter answers, “yup,” and Alexander adds, “we are.” Clara smiles, saying, “good.” They continue to drive westward towards the nearest town that’s on the way to the mountains. Alexander watches the houses pass by, with people running around and packing up their vehicles. Meanwhile, a large pickup truck flies by their SUV in the breakdown lane with its windows down and rock music blasting. The pickup truck driver yells something that Alexander doesn’t clearly hear and accelerates past them. Joseph says, “I guess the rules of the road are out the window at this point.” Alexander quietly replies, “yeah,” thinking about how everyone is dealing with the comet in their own way.
They approach a small town where stores are being looted on both sides of the road. There are car lines at gas stations, and people desperately trying to get supplies. He shakes his head in dismay at the mayhem all around them from the safety of their SUV. Up ahead, there are crowds of people scattered throughout the street, sidewalks, and the downtown center. Joseph slows down, driving to pass by safely without hurting anyone. Drivers are beeping their horns, crowds yell at vehicles, and confronting a small police presence where cops are telling people to go home through a loudspeaker. Alexander sees an old man with a sign that reads “THE END IS HERE!” In big black bold letters on a poster with a wooden stick that he’s motioning up and down while shouting the same words out.
They’ve slowed to a driving crawl in a line of traffic formed along the route through downtown. Loud bangs against their SUV ring out from inside their vehicle as people throw rocks at them and the other cars. Joseph shouts, “get down! I’m getting us out of here!” The other car drivers have the same idea because the car behind them slams into their rear bumper while trying to flee from the rock-throwing. After the jolt and whiplash of the crash, Joseph pulls away, driving them down a side street that is only blocked by a thin wood barricade. He slams their SUV through it, lightly damaging the front bumper, and drives fast down a street. After a few blocks, he takes a sharp turn as Alexander holds onto Peter to make sure he’s secure in the backseat alongside him. They’re back on the main road after having driven around the mob that was in the downtown area. Joseph looks around and asks, “is everybody okay?” Everyone confirms they’re okay because the outside of the SUV had taken a pummeling, but it’s still functioning despite looking like it’s just been through a demolition derby.
They continue to drive away from the town and are out on the open road among farms, fields, hills, and dense forests. Still traveling west towards the hopeful safety of the higher elevated mountains, the view has become peaceful for Alexander as he watches the passing scenery with puffy clouds in the blue sky above them. Peter falls asleep, taking a nap, and their parents chat about random stuff that Alexander isn’t paying much attention to as they continue on the road.
They want to make a pitstop to refuel and use the restrooms if it looks safe. A small shopping area with a grocery store, gas station, and other businesses comes into view. It looks empty of people, so Joseph pulls into the gas station, opens his door, and steps out to refuel their SUV. Peter puts the backseat window down to talk, but Joseph orders him to keep the window up, stay in the SUV, and lock the doors until he finishes. Alexander watches their father nervously, looking around for any threats while gassing up. At that moment, a family minivan pulls into the station from another direction. A man slowly driving the vehicle pulls up to a gas pump and stops. The father of the family minivan cautiously steps out. He’s watching Alexander and his family to see if he can safely gas up. Alexander sees his Dad give a thumbs up toward the other father. The man nods back while giving a thumbs up, and now both men are refueling their vehicles from an unspoken truce that Alexander thinks is cool.
There’s a young woman sitting in the passenger seat of the minivan staring at Alexander. He notices her after the gas truce, she smiles at him, and gives a light wave of her hand in a hello gesture. Alexander slowly waves his hand back to her and smiles. They continue to stare at one another happily, but Joseph has returned from fueling and interrupts their quiet moment by saying, “we’re waiting until that minivan leaves. Then, we can check out the gas station store and use the restrooms in peace.” Clara replies, “sounds like a plan, Stan.”
They wait and see what the minivan is going to do as Alexander looks back at the young woman who appears she’s talking to her father, who got back in their vehicle after filling up. The minivan’s engine turns on, it quickly goes into reverse, takes a wide roundabout to avoid their SUV, and leaves for the main road. Joseph says, “the coast looks clear, so I’m going to go first to scope things out.” He gets out and walks into the gas station store. Alexander pats his younger brother on the shoulder to reassure him that they’re okay and safe together. Their Dad returns shortly thereafter and reports that the gas station store is safe, abandoned, a mess from earlier looting, and the bathrooms are good to use.
Two of them quickly exit from the SUV, yet Alexander stays in his seat, declining to go. “I’m going to stay here and make sure nobody steals our ride,” he tells the others. They nod at him while briskly walking into the store. Alexander pulls his cell phone out from his pants pocket and checks to see if there’s any service to get a news update. Sitting there alone, he presses the on button to his phone, but there’s no service. He puts the phone back in his pocket and stretches his arms from side to side. After several boring minutes, his family walks out of the store, holding their prizes of free snacks and drinks. Alexander thinks to himself that he’s glad they’re okay and in good spirits. They get back in the SUV, joining Alexander, and they drive west, continuing toward the mountains.
It’s in the afternoon when the drive becomes even more scenic as the road begins to slope upward with larger hills and mountains around them. Joseph says, “the higher we go, the better off we’ll be, I think.” Clara agrees with him by singing, “higher and higher!” Alexander sees them laughing together in the two front seats, reminiscing about Ghostbusters movies, and it makes him happy that they’re safe and happy. Then, Alexander looks over at Peters, who’s shaking his head in disapproval of the second movie their mom is referencing “the Statue of Liberty walking is over the top,” he replies. “There will be no OG Ghostbuster bashing in this car,” their dad states in a serious tone. Changing the subject, Clara says, “hey, there’s a scenic overlook up ahead. We should stop and check it out. We’re probably high enough now where there wouldn’t be as great of a tsunami threat.” Joseph agrees with her and drives them up to the scenic overlook area.
Once parked, they all get out of the SUV and walk out to look at the view of the mountains in the distance. Nobody says anything. Alexander smiles and appreciates the moment. He then makes the first move to head back to the SUV, with the rest following him. Seeing his parents holding hands with Peter skipping around happily, Alexander feels relieved and safer than he felt earlier. They all get back into the SUV, and Joseph says, “can’t beat the fresh air up here, can you?” Alexander replies, “yeah Dad, you can’t.” Joseph comments, “now we just gotta find a place to land for the night and wait this thing out.” He drives them away from the scenic view area and back on the main road. They continue upwards along the road with a rocky stream below that Alexander is watching out the backseat window.
Time feels like it’s suspended in quiet moments of silence as Alexander and his family watch the empty road, jagged rocky hills, and endless woods that pass by. By early evening, it’s cloudy with a colorful sky to add to the ambiance of it all. Joseph breaks up the long silence to say, “I guess we should start to be on the lookout for a place to rest for the night.” Clara responds, “we’re not going to find a hotel out this far up in the country.” Alexander thinks about their dilemma and adds, “if we come across a campground or park, we can set up shop until we figure something better out, can’t we?” His Dad says, “yeah, I suppose so. Good idea, son.” Peter asks, “are we going to sleep in the car?” Clara replies, “you’ve been sleeping just fine on the drive up here.” The family laughs in response as Peter yawns and stretches his arms out to say, “that’s true.”
They approach a bridge that crosses a stream as Alexander looks ahead along with his parents from the front seat. What they see is a small group of brown-robed, slowly walking people with shaved heads wearing sandals on the sidewalk going in the same direction their SUV is traveling. As their vehicle reaches the bridge, Joseph slows down and asks Clara to put the window down as he reassures her they appear to be peaceful Buddhists. Alexander puts his window down as they drive up to the group, who have stopped walking and turn to look at them.
Clara says, “hi there! How are you all doing?” A Buddhist answers, “hello, travelers. We are enjoying this gift of a day. How are you?” Alexander replies, “good, but we’re looking for a place to stay. Do you know any place around here?” Another Buddhist speaks up, “we have Zen Village.” Joseph asks, “Does Zen Village accept lost visitors?” An old-aged Buddhist answers, “of course, we do.” The other Buddhists look to their elder and bow their heads with respect. The elder Buddhist bows back in a return of shared respect.
Joseph then replies, “great! Thank you. Can we just follow you to Zen Village?” The elder Buddhist walks up to them, standing next to the SUV, and gives instructions, “follow this road for another three miles, and on the left is our lodge where you may park. At the lodge, we’re having soup. Tell those at the lodge that the Master has welcomed you as our guests for the evening, and I will see you later to find you possible accommodations if you are interested.” Clara replies, “that’s very nice of you, Mr. Buddha. We’re going to talk it over with our family if that’s okay with you?” The elder Buddhist warmly smiles, puts his hands together in a praying gesture, and says, “peace be with you in whatever you decide, my fellow travelers,” as he slowly walks to rejoin the other Buddhists.
Alexander is first to speak, “we gotta do this! This is perfect! I don’t even think they know what’s going on with the comet. They’re just up here in the mountains doing their thing!” Joseph asks, “yeah, but what if it’s a cult? Or some crazy horror show we could be getting ourselves into?” Clara looks over at her husband and says, “you watch too much TV. Let’s go check it out, and if it looks sketchy, we’ll just drive past it or bounce if we feel the vibe is off.” Alexander adds, “yes! Listen to Mom, please, Dad.” Joseph shakes his head, replying, “okay, let’s give it a go.” Clara calls out to the group of Buddhists, “thank you for your generous invite,” as they drive away from the Buddhists on the bridge.
The Buddhists continue their walk in the same direction, bowing slightly in acceptance. A few miles pass by, and there’s a restaurant lodge on the side of the road with a campground going up a hill overlooking a mountainous area. There is a large painted brown sign with white lettering that reads, “ZEN VILLAGE: LODGE & CAMPGROUND AT MOUNTAIN PASS.” Joseph says, “it looks like we were going to come across this place anyways, but now we have a personal invite from the Master Buddhist himself,” he says in a humorous tone. Alexander comments, “I thought the Master seemed very nice.” Peter adds, “I’m hungry.” Clara answers, “I could eat something substantial, too. The snacks we had earlier aren’t cutting it.”
Joseph drives into the parking lot of the Buddhist lodge, and they exit the SUV. Alexander steps onto the ground and feels a tingling sensation in his legs throughout his body. He closes his eyes, and a flash of light sustains his vision for a moment until he opens them up to see his family walking towards the lodge. He calls out, “wait for me, guys!” Peter looks back and waves for him to come along. He catches up at the stairs leading to the entrance, where his parents are already talking to a couple of Buddhists about what their Master had said to them on the bridge. The Buddhists immediately welcome them as guests and walk them around the deck of the lodge to a back patio area that looks out at the hill with huts and campfires going into the forest where they live. The Buddhists serve vegetable and rice soup from the back patio with a few dozen Buddhists scattered around enjoying the soup, with some standing and others sitting. From what Alexander could sense, nobody seemed to be bothered that they were there. A Buddhist directs them to pick up soup bowls and serve themselves. Joseph, Clara, and Peter are getting their soup while Alexander walks around in wonder. He’s taking it all in at this scenic place, while some Buddhists are eating soup, others meditate, and some walk to and from their huts up the hill in the distance.
Alexander comments, “this place is awesome, and we’re safe.” A Buddhist replies, “safety is just a moment in time. For all, life is a constant risk in nature.” Alexander looks down at the Buddhist monk sitting cross-legged with no soup whose eyes are closed who said the statement. Alexander answers, “you’re right.” The Buddhist monk adds, “even a Buddhist Master is not always right and can be lost from time to time.” Alexander doesn’t reply and looks back at his family enjoying their soup. Peter sees him and calls out, “soup! Alexander! It’s good.” Alexander walks toward them and says he’s not hungry. He’s contemplating what the Buddhist monk had said to him. After eating, the Buddhists return to their huts, while a few remain at the lodge to clean up. They tell their guests that there’s a group meditation when the Master returns from his walk. Other than that, they can stay in one of the huts for the evening and night and do as they pleased, as long as it’s respectful to others around them and remain peaceful.
The evening turns to nighttime darkness with overcast skies. The only lights in the forest come from the campfires in front of the huts and candlelights from the lodge. The family of four are sitting on the grass in front of their hut on the hill, looking out over the woods and mountains. Alexander is relieved that they made it through the harrowing drive up to the mountains. From the lights of the lodge, he sees a figure in robes walking towards them. It’s the elder Buddhist who has returned from his walk.
“Hello again, my fellow travelers,” says the elder Buddhist. Joseph says, “hi, thank you so much for everything. It’s very nice and peaceful here.” The elder warmly smiles and replies, “we’re happy to offer what we can here at Zen Village. We have an evening meditation session at our temple up the hill that I was on my way to, if you would please come and observe.” Alexander sees his parents nod to each other as they get up. The elder points towards a path and says, “it’s just up the hill following the path.” Peter gets up, and the three family members walk in the direction of the path, leaving Alexander sitting there with the elder Buddhist standing near him, looking at him.
The elder Buddhist Master sits down next to Alexander. He says, “what you want to happen and what’s actually happening are two different things,” as he’s sitting next to Alexander on the hillside looking out among the forest, huts, and campfires. Alexander looks over at him and worriedly asks, “so our reality is only what our mind comprehends?” The Master answers, “what I mean is our imagination can create a reality, and who’s to say or know if we’re in the actual reality?” Alexander feels dread and sweat on his face as it feels like the warmth of daytime all of a sudden. “Who are you?” Alexander asks as the Buddhist Master smiles at him and replies, “I’m simply just a thought and part of you, my friend.” Alexander realizes that he may be wrong about what’s going on around him and asks, “am I alive or dead?” The Master says, “alive to the best of my knowledge. Still standing in the middle of the neighborhood road with a comet on the way.” Alexander feels the sorrow of being in some sort of dream world and asks the Master, “so, if you’re not real and not a spirit guide, are you the grim reaper?” He softly answers, “no, my friend, but I could have been if you wanted me to be in your mind. I am only you. A projection of what you want in a teacher and savior, so you don’t feel so lost trying to desperately save your family in this very creative mind of yours.” Alexander asks, “if this is all made up in my mind and I’m talking to myself and envisioning all of this, can I see my family again and say goodbye to them?” The Master replies, “you could. You have all the time you want here. That’s why I haven’t come to talk to you sooner because you appear to need more time to settle and get comfortable with what’s really happening in your life.”
Alexander thinks about the shocking sudden truth all around him. He’s realizing this world is a made-up box in a dream-like state. He jolts feeling a rush of emotions that all of the actions and people in this reality are just himself filling out his dream world to make it feel real enough and grounded. The Master acknowledges the devastation and ruin that Alexander feels and says, “it’s okay to let go and just be alone. It’s also okay to want to save and help others from pain and suffering, too. That’s a noble quality few have, but maybe the best thing is to let this go where you don’t have to save anyone, and we don’t have to save you. Wouldn’t this relieve a lot of the burden you’re clearly feeling?” Alexander wipes a tear that runs down his face while thinking about his burdened situation. How he brought his own cultural bias, stereotypes, and assumptions into this dream world of salvation. He was being a hero saving his family, and then the Buddhist monks could save him from the doom he and everyone is facing in reality. Alexander says, “I never meant for all of this to not be real. I just couldn’t let go of my loved ones or my life that I love so much.” The Master replies, “this dream world of yours is a gift. You have been given time by some power or energy in the cosmos to find closure, feel safe, comforted, and maybe to learn and be able to let go.” Alexander nods and says to him, “I’m ready.” The Master leans over and puts his arm around Alexander’s shoulders, helping him to shakily stand up and replies, “no, we’re ready together.” They both stand up, looking out over the hillside. The Buddhist Master turns looking into Alexander’s eyes as he fades into Alexander’s body while smiling at him with comfort and respect. All around darkness envelops the scenery, the sky, the hillside, the ground, as Alexander’s eyesight goes blind to darkness as light replaces it. He feels a final strong jolt of awakeness in his mind and body!
Alexander opens his eyes from his dream world as he stands in the middle of his neighborhood road. Fully awake from his visionary family trip to the Buddhists in the mountains, he realizes that his hopes in his mind are gone. In the distance, he hears a family member shout what he had just heard before the start of his dream state, “Alexander!” This time, he looks at his family home, wishing his loved ones well. He then turns back to look out straight ahead. Above him, a massive comet is exploding down towards Earth at a high speed, with a fury of flames and brightness. Alexander stretches his arms out with open hands, and in a pose of acceptance, sadness, and calm, he breathes deeply, watching the comet make contact with the surface in front of him. The powerful, incomprehensible blast of energy instantly annihilates him, his family, and eventually everyone and everything on Earth.
THE END
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