Part 3:
Dale has no clear recollection of life before we found him.
Only vague memories of wandering around, looking for food, surviving day to day.
Beyond that? No details.
We’ve discussed it in great lengths, imagining how he might have come to exist.
Magic? Strange science?
Genetic mutation?
Is he an alien??
All we know for sure is that, for a time, he rambled down life's pathways.
Weaving his way through the maze.
Until arriving here with us.
Only vague memories of wandering around, looking for food, surviving day to day.
Beyond that? No details.
We’ve discussed it in great lengths, imagining how he might have come to exist.
Magic? Strange science?
Genetic mutation?
Is he an alien??
All we know for sure is that, for a time, he rambled down life's pathways.
Weaving his way through the maze.
Until arriving here with us.
I cannot explain Dale’s existence.
It's odd! (Understatement of the century.)
And yet … the lack of explanation does not particularly trouble me.
I cannot explain the moon and stars, either.
We all wonder the truth about things, but live our lives without dwelling too much.
The matter remains an ongoing mystery.
Just like Stonehenge, or Roanoke, or the Great Pyramids.
It's odd! (Understatement of the century.)
And yet … the lack of explanation does not particularly trouble me.
I cannot explain the moon and stars, either.
We all wonder the truth about things, but live our lives without dwelling too much.
The matter remains an ongoing mystery.
Just like Stonehenge, or Roanoke, or the Great Pyramids.
After I'd headed for home.
On that first night?
Rick wadded up some blankets in the living room.
Dale was exhausted and fell asleep without complaint.
The second night, however, was different.
Dale asked about Rick’s bed.
“One side is totally free,” Dale said. “Unused. Can’t we share? I tried it and believe me, I like it.”
“You were on my bed?”
“Well, yeah, while you were at work. Much more comfortable than those old blankets.”
“Look, I don’t really know about sharing my bed with you.”
“It's a king-size. Plenty of room."
“I don't know."
“How about I race you for it? First one up the stairs.”
The absurdity of racing a talking lion for the prize of allocating half his bed made Rick amused.
Amused enough to agree.
“OK, sure. Ready, set, go!”
The race dashed past absurdity and straight toward astonishment.
Rick ran about three steps before Dale disappeared from sight.
My brother reached the bedroom to find the lion atop the mattress.
“What happened?” Rick asked.
“I was just … thinking about getting here fast. Like, focused. And then suddenly? I was right here! In the blink of an eye.”
They’ve been sharing the bed ever since.
On that first night?
Rick wadded up some blankets in the living room.
Dale was exhausted and fell asleep without complaint.
The second night, however, was different.
Dale asked about Rick’s bed.
“One side is totally free,” Dale said. “Unused. Can’t we share? I tried it and believe me, I like it.”
“You were on my bed?”
“Well, yeah, while you were at work. Much more comfortable than those old blankets.”
“Look, I don’t really know about sharing my bed with you.”
“It's a king-size. Plenty of room."
“I don't know."
“How about I race you for it? First one up the stairs.”
The absurdity of racing a talking lion for the prize of allocating half his bed made Rick amused.
Amused enough to agree.
“OK, sure. Ready, set, go!”
The race dashed past absurdity and straight toward astonishment.
Rick ran about three steps before Dale disappeared from sight.
My brother reached the bedroom to find the lion atop the mattress.
“What happened?” Rick asked.
“I was just … thinking about getting here fast. Like, focused. And then suddenly? I was right here! In the blink of an eye.”
They’ve been sharing the bed ever since.
So yeah, that's the story so far.
It's funny, when I think of all the things I’ve ever wanted? Or thought I wanted?
I found the best one without even knowing it existed.
Destiny or dumb luck?
Fate, karma, kismet?
Don’t get me wrong.
I’m not saying things happen for a reason.
I’m not saying they don’t, either.
Maybe the answer is ‘both,’ if you know what I mean.
Hopefully someday we get more answers.
I bet we will.
But until that day?
We'll have to consider this ... undisclosed.
Yes.
As yet undisclosed.
It's funny, when I think of all the things I’ve ever wanted? Or thought I wanted?
I found the best one without even knowing it existed.
Destiny or dumb luck?
Fate, karma, kismet?
Don’t get me wrong.
I’m not saying things happen for a reason.
I’m not saying they don’t, either.
Maybe the answer is ‘both,’ if you know what I mean.
Hopefully someday we get more answers.
I bet we will.
But until that day?
We'll have to consider this ... undisclosed.
Yes.
As yet undisclosed.