Bruno's Blog

Today, I will be appearing at the Somerville Arts Festival from 12-1:30. My location will be at 15 Division Street along side some of the other talented members of the New Jersey Children’s Writers Guild. Hope to see you there.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to read this short story.  I am nearly finished with the re-writes on my second full length novel, “Five Against One” and should have an update on its possible release date soon…In the mean time, enjoy.  Again this story is of a mature theme and should be read by people over the age of fifteen.-B

Part Four

 They finished their tea and quietly spoke of other things that had occurred in Daniel’s life.  They spoke of his feelings and fears of dying.  Which for the record, were quite the same as most of God’s real children.  They spoke of his family and how the distance had grown between them and he had allowed it to happen.  Justin explained that by his very nature they would have abandoned him and were happier staying away.  Most people were not inherently drawn towards misery.

Justin stood up and slid in his chair.

“Where are you going?”  Daniel asked with a twinge of fear in his voice.

“I was going to draw you a bath, Daniel.  Had you decided on some other method of ending your life? “

“Angel.  Justin, I don’t know if I can do this?  I’m scared.”
      “I can imagine.  It must be very difficult indeed, to think that soon you will be facing an absolute darkness; no one on the other side to greet you, no pearly gates.  For you, Daniel DeFoe, there is only death.  I pity you on that prospect but let’s not forget this is going to make the rest of the world a better place.  Now let me just get a sharp knife, you relax for a moment and I’ll call you up when everything is ready, alright?”

“Justin, I don’t want to die.”  Tears began to seep from Daniel’s eyes.

“Daniel, you have never lived.  You have existed, that is all.  Not once, have you embraced the gifts that surround you and make life precious.  To you the sound of a baby crying is a nuisance and the thought that enters your brain is that the world just gained another mouth to feed.  How do you actually say it?  Ah yes, ‘Great, now there is less for me.’”

Justin stood there with the knife and looked down at the small and helpless creature that now wished it could take back every day that it ever knew.  Justin understood regret, all angels did.  Through the years, God had asked them to do some mighty and terrible things.  Very few nights over the last three thousand years, has Justin been able to sleep without the screams of the mothers of Egypt filling his ears as he and his comrades slew their first born sons.  But the angel knew that with Daniel, it was different.  Even now, knowing that all mankind would benefit from his passing, he sits there and whimpers and moans, Why me? 

Justin walked down the hall and made his way up the stairs towards the bath.  Moments later Daniel could hear the running water through the pipes as Justin adjusted the pressure, trying to get the tub nice and hot.  The pipes strained and they fluttered inside the walls as they always did whenever anyone would try to force too much hot water through them all at once.  In many ways, those pipes were acting very much like his own veins.  He could feel them, pulsing with the life blood that his heart worked so tirelessly to push through them.  “Well heart, you won’t have to struggle too much longer.  It seems you will soon be able to take a rest and stop keeping this horrible creation alive.  You were a good heart.  Strong and always there doing your duty.  Thank you.”

“Daniel,” came a summons from above.

Standing, almost as if he did so against his very will; Daniel DeFoe puffed out his chest and answered the summons with a single brave word, perhaps the bravest word ever spoken in all of human history, “Coming.” 

Many people have walked that final long mile but how many of them have done so knowing with complete certainty that nothing awaited them once the journey was over?  How many people can say that they carried themselves towards the ever-silent darkness, to greet death, with literally nothing to look forward too? 

Daniel climbed the stairs with legs that felt as if they were filled with lead.  Each step made another tear streak down his face.  His left hand clutched the old wooden railing as if it were a lover’s hand.  He so wanted to wake up, to scream and have this nightmare come undone.  Yet with each eight inches of elevation from one step to the next, he knew there was no going back.

Daniel entered the bath and was greeted with a soft and tender smile from Justin who sat there waiting for him.  Daniel got undressed and slid into the tub.  He refused to meet Justin’s eyes now afraid that the angel would think less of him as he cried.

“Daniel?”

“Y-yyess.”

“Is the water too hot?”

“Does it matter at this point?”

“It does if you don’t want to linger too long.  The hotter the water the faster you will reach the end.  It’s odd to say, but I don’t wish to see you suffer.”

“Justin, will you stay with me? I can’t bear the thought of dying alone. I know that I’ve lived alone and pushed everyone away but I won’t have the courage to do this without you here.  I’m a complete coward, you see; always have been. I hid safely behind an emotional wall so as not to get my heart broken.  I scared people off with my cruel words and snide ways so I would not have to possibly face rejection one day.  You’re right, I’ve squandered my life. Who will care if I take it now?”

“Daniel, I have never sat through a suicide, there are rules.”

Daniel grabbed the angel’s hand and squeezed it tightly, “Please dear God, don’t leave me.”

Justin could not deny such a plea, “Very well Daniel, I’ll stay to the end.”

Daniel took the sharp serrated knife from Justin’s hand and as he cut long vertical bands across the wrists on both his arms he whispered, “Thank you, Justin.”

The angel sat quietly as the first few minutes crept by.  The only sound in the room was the occasional drip of water from the spout and the odd sniffle from Daniel.

As the red viscous fluid began to collect and thicken on the cold tile floor around the tub, Justin heard Daniel take in a breath and try to form a question.  It was apparent that weakness had already begun to tug at his fragile frame as he had to repeat himself several times before the angel could understand what it was he was asking.

“Will…the world be…a much better place wi…without me?”

Justin placed his hand on Daniel forehead.  “No.  Not much better, just better.  Honestly Daniel, most people, with the exception of about forty souls, will not notice or care for your passing.  The sad part is, that of the forty that will recognize your death, only two will come to the funeral.

Tears flowed freely as the last of Daniel’s energy was used to mourn his own passing.  In a voice that barely held enough breath to carry its words, Daniel weeped, “Just…two.”

Justin nodded.

“Wh…who?”  Daniel gasped as he shuddered and tried to hold on.

“Well, the minister that will be hired by the funeral home.  He, of course, will be there.”

“A..and?”

“Alfonse.”

“Al..?”

“Yes, Daniel.  The one person who did you the greatest injustice for his own selfish, lustful reasons will try to make peace with it by coming to your funeral, and asking for your forgiveness.  How does that make you feel, Daniel?”

Daniel couldn’t answer, for he died then, holding tightly to Justin’s hand, content and with a smile on his face, he went towards the darkness, and embraced it.

Justin released his hold on Daniel’s hand and an odd thought suddenly came to him,

“Daniel DeFoe had made the ultimate sacrifice for his fellow man.  His death, in a small way was going to make things better for all of us.”

            Justin took a long, deep breath, looked up and softly said, “Well, we can’t have that happening again, now can we Sir?  I suppose you would prefer me to stay the course and visit the other twelve, correct?”  Justin waited for a moment, received his answer and without looking back, left Daniel’s house began walking down the street and simply disappeared.

Fin

This short story is intended for a more mature audience.  If you are one of my younger friends please by pass these entries.  I promise more Soul Patrol news will be forth coming very soon…

Part Three

 The two companions, for now they were, fell into stride beside each other thinking through the silence.  Each, in their own way, was trying to come to grips with what would soon be the end of Daniel Defoe’s life.

They reached the front door of number seventeen and seeing that Daniel was fumbling for the keys in his pocket, Justin touched the door and it immediately unlocked itself and swung gracefully open.  The angel was pleased by the door’s reaction and in a gentle voice blessed the house as they entered past the threshold.

“Justin?”

“Yes, Daniel?” he replied.

“If you bless my house, are you not also blessing me?”

“No, Daniel, I was not.”

“Can you not bless me?”

“What would be the point?” The angel asked, somewhat confused.

“It would make me feel better if I knew I had an angel’s blessing upon me before I did anything stupid,” Daniel chuckled nervously.

“Without making this more complicated than it already is, this is not about you, Daniel.  This is about everyone else.  If you are going to do this, you must do it with the idea that you will get nothing out of this sacrifice what-so-ever.  You will receive no thank you, no reward, nothing.  All will continue on as if you were never here, only slightly better.”

They stepped inside and Daniel turned to close the door before following Justin into the kitchen.  The angel made his way towards the stove.  He then gracefully placed the kettle on top of the gas burner.  “Come on in Daniel, sit down and I’ll make you a nice cup of tea.  No reason this has to be completely miserable for you, right?”

Daniel pulled out one of his kitchen chairs and sat down.  “Thank you Justin, most kind.”

“Well, that’s the whole point isn’t it?  Being kind.  Makes one realize just how interconnected people are.  Imagine if everyone came into work on the same morning with no coffee, no sleep and no smiles on their faces.  Imagine how long that day would last.  You think Dante had the whole idea of hell locked up?  I don’t think so, especially since he never imagined a world as tightly jammed full of people as this one, who had not yet had their caffeine.”

DeFoe watched the angel as he handled the cups, silverware and kettle.  Justin seemed so normal, so human, as he poured the tea and placed a few biscuits on a plate for them to share.  It made Daniel feel a bit awkward.  He had never enjoyed cooking.  All of it had been a chore to him, something that had to be done, a necessity.  But now that he was facing never cooking again, he suddenly wanted to bake a gigantic chocolate cake. 

“I see that you are starting to understand how much you’ve missed along the way.   Cooking, for example, is one of those acts that can be very selfless.”  Justin sat down and poured their cups, “I’m not talking about working in a soup kitchen, mind you.  No, what I’m speaking of is making someone their favorite birthday dinner.  Chicken soup when they’re sick, or a cheesecake when they need a pick me up.  How come you never made Caroline shrimp scampi, Daniel?”

“Smells up my kitchen,” he replied, taking a biscuit and snapping it in half.

“Is that the reason, honestly?  Did you know that during the almost four years she invested in your marrige, she must have dreamed of coming home to a candle light shrimp scampi dinner at least two hundred times, if not more?”

Daniel took a bite out of his biscuit, “Did she?  Is that why she ended up screwing her boss?  Because as one of the dreaded thirteen who refused to make her favorite seafood dish she had no choice but to break her vows with that fat bastard?  Tell me Justin, as he made love to her on his big mahogany desk, calling her all sorts of names as she laid there and let him use her, was it my fault?”

“Well Daniel, we are in some gray waters here.  If you are asking was it you who drove her away with your spiteful pettiness both in and out of the bedroom, I would have to say yes. As a matter of fact, the reason she slept with Alfonse was to spite you at the most base and primal level.  She knew how much you disliked him and how it always concerned you that he was a lecherous and shady character.  So, when she could take no more, when her patience and love had run out, she let happen the one thing she knew would ensure that you never took her back.  She was a coward, you see.  She knew if she had an affair with any other man that you might just take her back.”
            “If I’m so selfish, why would she think I would ever take her back?”  Daniel asked sipping from his tea cup.

“The answer to that is so obvious Daniel. Do you really need to ask me that question?  You would have lorded it over her, to control, humiliate and eventually make her into your slave.  You have an amazing memory of times and events, Daniel.  Have you forgiven anyone yet who has done you a grievous wrong or harm?  By making love to Alfonse…”

“Stop right there, that was NOT making love.  I saw the tapes the private detective uncovered from the security cameras.  That was not.”  His voice fell off.

“Well, I cannot say that I am an expert on human coupling techniques but I can tell you this, Daniel.  Both sexes have needs and they are not always so straightforward and basic.  Leaving them alone, not sharing them, not exploring them together has shattered more than one strong relationship over the millennia.  There are two people in a relationship.  Two.  In bed they try to become one but they are still two and need both their dark and light sides nurtured.  Remember, Eve broke God’s covenant when she took the apple but take it from me, they both looked happy sharing that first sinful bite.”

“Justin, what if I was truly sorry.  What if I could change, become more giving, more compassionate?”

“You mean like what if a chimpanzee said he could stop being a chimpanzee and suddenly become Buddha?  No, Daniel, unfortunately the way you are is hardwired into your genes and chromosomes.  As much as I hate to tie science and faith together, you are simply not human.  I mean you only missed being so by one single sugar compound, which when you think of it is a real cock up, but, that’s the way things happen sometimes.”

This short story has a mature theme and should not be read by person’s under the age of fifteen years old…Thank you

Part Two

 “This is madness.  I am not soulless nor is my fate already decided.” 

“Oh well then, I am sorry.  I must have the wrong Daniel DeFoe.  Forgive the intrusion; I will let you get back to your incredibly fulfilled life.”  Suddenly, Justin stopped and cleared his throat, “I apologize, Daniel.  Sarcasm is an ugly way for beings to communicate.  As a seraph of the Lord God, I should refrain from such behavior.”

“You, an angel?  Well, at least I won’t have to worry anymore that I might be having a conversation with some impeccably well dressed lunatic.” Daniel chuckled, “Now, I know I am.”

“So you doubt me?  Very well.  I guess it is only fair to expect a certain amount of doubt, especially since you cannot sense my aura.  What shall it be then?  A minor miracle?  Would you like me to perform some trick, so we can finally proceed and put this business to bed?”

“You’re deranged.  Alright, you wish to prove to me that you are an angel, yes?”

“No, Daniel I wish you to kill yourself and rid the world of your presence but if I must jump through a hoop or two to achieve my goal, so be it.”

Daniel was about to give Justin a task when he felt that uncomfortable twinge again.  Somewhere from deep in his psyche came a pang of fear.  He thought to himself, “What If I gave this unearthly handsome person a task and he was somehow, however improbably, able to complete it, what would I do then?”

From beside him came the answer, “Why, I would hope that you would take my word, run home and blow your brains out immediately.”

“Enough.”  Daniel shouted, “This is outrageous.  I’m going…”

“Home.” 

Daniel exhaled in a way that let Justin know just how furious he was becoming at this whole situation.  He then stormed off down the path that would eventually lead to one of the many park exits.  As he walked, he noticed that his shoes made an odd sort of scraping sound on the flagstones.  It reminded him of an elderly person gasping for breath or of someone trying to cut through bone with a very dull surgical saw.  Each metered step had that same sickening quality to it.  He had never noticed that before.  He had come to this park every day, weather permitting, to read his evening paper and not once did he notice that terrible sound.  It couldn’t have been the shoes, he thought.  They were the same ones he had been wearing with this same suit for over a year now.  His mind stayed occupied on these facts for the next several minutes which then saw his feet carry his body to the wrought iron gate that exited the park.  How angry Daniel had become to see that Justin had beaten him to it.

“Dammit,” Daniel said as he stopped short of the gate and stood staring.

“Thank you for showing some restraint there, Daniel.  Now please, before you go running off again let us consider the facts,” Justin said as he casually approached the seething Mr. DeFoe.

   “You are Daniel DeFoe.  You are forty-one years of age and you are single.  You live at number seventeen…”

    “I know my own address and might I say that none of this proves a damn thing except that you are a well informed bastard who takes delight in making people physically ill from your performance.”

“Do I make you ill?  Sorry, if I do.  It could be the fact that your kind can’t really sense the whole angelic disciple thing.  But I digress.  You have had only one partner sexually in the last six years and only two others beside that; one of which was your own cousin, Sofie.  You couldn’t resist playing with her once you took notice of the way she was blossoming that summer, could you?  Do you remember how angry your uncle was when he found you both.  There you were with her panties on the floor and her lying back; ah, I see you do recall that day, good.  It is one of the many in which you have done nothing but taken for yourself.”  Justin paused a moment to let the images die in Daniel’s mind and to be sure that what he said next was not ignored.  “Daniel, you are evil and must be stopped.  Now, don’t look at me that way.  You are not the first young man to lure a naïve female into playing doctor.   That’s not what this is about.  What this is about is you are a selfish, uncaring, thick skinned, slovenly, malignant, petty little person.  Never, not once in your life have you shared anything without taking in its measure of payback and receipt.  Every charity you’ve given to has been for a tax write off or to impress some young woman who was raising funds for her pet cause.  You’ve never held a door open for someone without becoming angered if they failed to say thank you.  You are the singular root of all that is, was and will continue to be wrong with this world; that is, until you end your own life, of course.

Daniel blinked, “Are you saying that I am as loathsome as a rapist or murderer because I expect, no I demand people show a bit of civility towards me when I do them a favor?”

“Yes and no.  You see, Daniel, a murderer will be caught, tried and either released or convicted based upon the laws of man.  Should he elude this process, he will, in the next life be made to suffer for any crime that he perpetrated against his fellow man by God’s own hand.  In truth, even if your laws condemn him, if he is unrepentant he shall suffer in hell as well for his actions and choices.  But you cannot.  You, as I’ve explained, are outside those laws.  Oh, not the earthly laws that you know and work so hard at not breaking, but God’s laws.  All the terrible things you are, the thoughts, the actions, they affect everyone around you, but you stay unscathed.  Example, this morning, driving to work you came to a roundabout and pressed your way into the flow of traffic rather aggressively, yes?”

“Perhaps, but nothing that hasn’t happened to me at least a hundred times,” Daniel cited in his defense.

“But on this occasion it was you, your action that caused the owner of the small white Ford that you cut off to miss the next four traffic signals and ultimately end up being late for work.  She was sacked and distraught and headed back to her home.  There, her husband who, through no fault of yours, is an alcoholic. Upon hearing the news, he beat her into a coma.  She was rushed to the hospital but will not survive the night.”

Flabbergasted, Daniel whispered, “That could have happened to anyone.”

“True.  But if that were someone else, someone other than one of the thirteen, balance would be had.  People, God’s children, have balance.  Each one has a role, yes, even the killers and rapists.  But you, you are not part of that plan.  You are simply a walking anomaly that mucks up the works and brings about sad and terrible endings to everyone you encounter.  From the clerk who makes you coffee, straight up to your boss, all of them wince and writher whenever they are forced to endure your presence.  Why? Because they can sense you are anathema.”

Daniel walked past the stranger and straight through the iron gateway.  Turning left, he began to slowly walk home.  Justin’s words swam through his thoughts.  It was all so surreal, from meeting this stranger, hearing these things and somehow feeling that these truths were indomitable.  All of it, much to his horror, was adding up. 

“Daniel, are you alright?”

He turned and met Justin’s eyes, “I’ve been better.”

“Really?”

Stopping dead in his tracks, Daniel suddenly felt very cold, colder than he ever had before, “No, maybe I haven’t.”

Justin placed his arm around Daniel’s shoulder, “You have known these things for a long time.  Perhaps you were unaware at how much your egocentricity tore others apart but as for the rest of it, you knew, didn’t you?”

“What, that I’ve never lifted a finger to do a good deed solely for the sake of being charitable?”

Justin nodded.

“Fine, it’s true.  If I tell someone they look nice it’s so I can perhaps sleep with them one day.  If I pet a dog, compliment a child, hold the door for a young woman, it’s all for the sake of hoping to land up in their bed.  I have to be honest with you Justin, since you first told me of this selfishness I have been desperately trying to conjure up one thing I have done simply out of benevolence.”

Justin stood there and tilted his chin down slightly, “And have you?”

“No.”

This story is meant to be enjoyed by people over the age of fifteen.  Please respect my request if you are a younger reader and bypass this particular story.

Part One

Daniel sat on a park bench reading the Times and wondering about how the world had gotten so positively out of control. Article after article reaffirmed in his head that chaos had somehow found a foothold and was prepared to take on rationality as the new “normal”.
Daniel shifted his weight a bit, placing a slightly larger amount of his girth upon his left side since his right seemed to feel not quite right. He exhaled now that he was situated comfortably again and snapped his paper taunt. During this small amount of time Daniel failed to notice three very important things.
First, he failed to notice that the sun was beginning to set; which was quite a shame because this particular sunset was one of the five most memorable in all of human memory. The shade of the sky was a most perfect autumn purple. People all over the country were simply gooey over this sunset. Children sang, lovers held hands and the elderly counted themselves blessed. Everyone felt special that day, everyone except Daniel.
Secondly, he completely failed to take notice of the well dressed man in a charcoal grey business suit and luxurious silk tie that sat down beside him; and so as to be polite, the gentleman idly played with his walking-stick so as not to bother Daniel until the appropriate time.
And thirdly, Daniel took no interest in the date that was printed on his newspaper. It was October 23rd, in fact. Now if Daniel had been the least bit interested in the date, he would have realized that this October 23rd was very noteworthy, as it was to be the very last day of his life.
A few more minutes passed and the well dressed gentleman smiled as he met eyes with people in the park and occupied himself by guessing their names and addresses. He was very good at this game, so good in fact, that he didn’t even need to bother confirming his facts, he simply knew them all and better still, knew he was right.
Finally, since it was apparent that Daniel was very busy being Daniel, the man spoke and began what had to be the most unsettling event in Daniel’s life, what was left of it of course.
“Daniel, I am, oh dear this is going to be a bit tricky. Let me think, what shall you call me? What name would do me justice? Oh, now that is silly of me. Justice, well let’s stick with that or better yet a version that sounds more the sweeter, yes? Justin it is.”
Daniel looked at the man and couldn’t help but feel odd. “Are you not well?”
“Would it matter if I weren’t?” the richly dressed figure shot back, a question for a question.
“Well it might. I would prefer not to be sick, you see. I don’t take kindly to contagious people who are not courteous enough to know to stay home and not infect others. Is it so damn hard for people to just do what is right anymore?”
“Well, I am not ill or off, or even a tad bit south of center. What I am though, is very glad to meet you and even more glad that you have such an established sense of morality towards your fellow man. It will make this whole conversation so much easier,” Justin said.
“Conversation? Is that what this is? It appears to me Sir, to be the ramblings of someone who has yet to decide exactly what it is that he does wish to speak about. Get to your point please and stop trying to approach the subject from its side. Straightforward, that’s the way to get things done. By the way, how did you know my name? Have we met before?”
Justin smiled, “Oh, I like you a lot Daniel. Yes, yes I agree. Straightforward it is then. Very well. Daniel, I need you to kill yourself. Now, I know you may want to get some things in order before you die so I will of course understand if you need a few hours to set your affairs straight, but the sooner the better if you know what I mean.”
Daniel did not return the smile that was so predominantly gracing this stranger’s face. In fact, Daniel was actually getting quite perturbed at the newcomer and his sharp and vulgar attempts at wit. “Whoever you are Sir, I don’t find you the least bit amusing.”
“Well thank the maker for that because there is nothing I have said that was meant to amuse you, Daniel. The truth of the matter is: you need to die. Actually, the rest of humanity needs you to die. You are somewhat of a problem you see, and unfortunately due to a pre-ordained condition, I cannot kill you myself. So, I must somehow, and this is the troublesome bit, get you to take your own life.”
“How dare you. I have half a mind to call the authorities this very instant,” Daniel huffed.
“Go ahead if you must but it won’t change the fact that your suicide needs to happen.”
Daniel stood up folding his paper and looked around for a Bobbie. Near the large fountain not some fifteen meters away he saw one meandering through the park smiling. It was quite apparent to everyone but Daniel, that the Policeman had just finished gazing at the spectacular sunset and was at complete peace with himself and the universe he lived in.
“Excuse me officer,” Daniel said as he hurriedly approached the patrolman. “I would like to lodge a complaint against that man sitting over there on my park bench.”
The policeman turned and gave Daniel the once over before saying in his most authoritative voice, “What do you mean your bench, Sir? I have been patrolling this park for many years now, and I know nothing of any of these benches belonging to just one person.”
Daniel was so taken back by the fact that the officer had chosen to focus on that particular phrase from his statement that he truly did not know what to say.
The officer looked past Daniel towards Justin, who was just sitting there minding his own business desperately trying to avoid affecting the situation in any way. Justin was hoping that this encounter would help speed along the process of Daniel’s demise and allow him to get back home in time to join the choir for their nightly carols.
“Officer, perhaps I didn’t make myself clear. That man over there is disturbing me.”
“How so sir?”
“He is telling me that I need to commit suicide.”
The officer nodded and asked, “And why does he think you should do that?”
“How the hell should I know?” Daniel replied, exacerbated.
The officer’s eyes narrowed and in a very low and threatening voice he whispered, “Sir, I do not like your tone. I suggest you either change it or prepare yourself to spend a night in the lockup. I am not accustomed to being spoken to in that manner.”
“You? You are not accustomed? I am being asked to kill myself by a complete stranger and you are telling me that you’re not used to being spoken to in that manner?”
“That’s right sir and the way I see it, perhaps you should take the gentleman’s advice. Seems like he knows what he’s talking about,” and with that the patrolman walked away, swinging his baton playfully, trying to put the whole ordeal behind him.
Daniel was in a complete state of shock as he wandered back towards the bench. It was not that he was used to being treated well. In truth, most of Daniel’s life was very much like this. He always felt as if he didn’t belong and yet he wondered why he was treated so poorly. Ever since he was a little boy he had been mistreated. Not in a physical or sexual sense, no. This was more of the emotional kind of scarring. Even his parents, as far back as he could remember, had never shown him anything more than polite disinterest.
“You see, it is reactions like those that forced my hand and convinced me to discuss your situation with you. Normally, I would never engage one of your ‘kind’ in a conversation, already being damned as you are,” Justin restarted.
Daniel was nearly beside himself at this point. His upbringing, social status and constant need to be in control were making his insides squirm. He could not help but think that this was all sort of some cruel elaborate joke. “I don’t know who you are…”
“Justin. My name is Justin. We’ve covered that already, Daniel,” the fair skinned stranger standing beside him replied.
“But if this is some sort of prank, so help me God.”
“Daniel, before you go spouting off threats, think to yourself for a moment. If this is a joke, who do you know who would care enough about you to go through all the trouble of orchestrating such an elaborate hoax?”
Daniel Defoe stood there and began to tremble. The question had made his skin, quite literally, crawl. Daniel took a reassuring breath and then wracked his brain for a name, any name which would satisfy the inquiry that had been posed by Justin. Unfortunately for Daniel, no name came to mind.
“There, you see,” Justin chirped, standing and moving himself in front of Daniel so that they were face to face. “Not a single one. Good, then we can stop with the whole cruel trick angle and proceed to the matter at hand.”
Daniel’s eye lit with fire. His trembling became outright rage as he moved closer to Justin with the apparent intent to put an end to this mischief once and for all.
“Daniel, steady,” the stranger said as he took two full steps backwards, “I can assure you that striking me will not solve the problem. In fact, it would only complicate your feelings and perhaps make you feel all the more terrible.”
With a shaking voice Daniel asked, “Why am I damned?”
“Because you are one of the thirteen. You, Daniel, like the others of your species, have no soul. You stand, for all intent and purpose, outside the grace of God and therefore, are not one of his children. When you die, there will be no judgment. You shall not rise to heaven or fall to hell. You will just cease to be.”
 

 ”What would you do if you found out that your existance was the root of everyone elses misfortune and anger? Imagine if you were visited by an agent of the Creator and you were told you were one of 13 people outside the grace of God?” Find out what Daniel DeFoe does on Monday the 24th

Just four more days till the release of my new short story! Stay tuned and make sure to check it out on the 24th.

Hello everyone.  Just wanted to let you all know that my new short story is beng released right here in 5 parts starting on 1/24/11.  Tell anyone who might be interested to give it a read, I dont think they will be disappointed.

Just to keep everyone up to date… The Soul Patrol made an appearence on Radio CFRA Ottowa today and here is the link http://www.cfra.com/chum_audio/bruno_grigoletti_apr19.mp3

http://www.femail.com.au/the-soul-patrol.htm to read the entire interview about The Soul Patrol series and the inspiration behind the novel.