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My Stars and Other Highlights--Looking Up

A. D. Nance


My Stars and Other Highlights

  A. D. Nance

  CONTENTS

  1 Baseball – Boom

  2 I Shot a Sling-shot Into the Air

  (next edition—3 Apollo and Tiney)

  FOREWORD

  This is the first edition of a series of fantasy short stories. I have incorporated elements from people and events in my life which have much meaning for me and will for others too. I believe that all intelligent beings must seek answers to the big tmeless questions such as why we are here. We must seek the Source.

  INTRODUCTION

  There may come a time when you will want to reflect on your life and write something about it. Such a time has come for me. My time in this world has not been special or unusual to the human experience. Of course, I believe we should view each human and their life as precious and unique. Although, many lives are similar and would not be the most interesting reading material. So my story will not ask you to spend your time reading about the rain in plainsville falling mainly on the mundane plain, so to speak. It will be from a different viewpoint, let’s say, the stars. My Stars is my attempt at merging real life with science fiction, or rather, far out adventure.

  As a youth I was fascinated by stories of space and weird wonderful things everywhere. Like many, I enjoyed reading certain so-called space adventures by the writers of the time; Wells, Verne, Bradbury, Asimov and a few others that I happened upon. One book I had was called The Stars – My Destination. It was in the basement of our house on 14th Street in OKC. One time between my short readings of it, someone left me a note of a sort. It read two words at the top, my stars. Then under that were written the names of my children and myself, Ely, Maria, Alan. I’m sure my wife Sally wrote that for me. I never finished reading that book. But I like to think that I reached my destination as a husband and father. In that sense my stars have shone bright and steady. Now, I will admit that I have spent many hours watching television treks to the stars while my kids were trying to get my full attention. These star treks captured my imagination.

  One thing about these shows appears to parallel me and my family. They changed with our location. Let me explain. The long running Next Generation was on television at about the same time that we lived in Florida—from the fall of 1987 until 1994. Then we lived in Oklahoma from 1995 until 2001. Those were the same years that Voyager trekked the airwaves. And finally we landed in North Carolina when Enterprise began its five year trek in 2001. In real life this is nothing but coincidence. But in My Stars it has meaning.

  Elements of my real life such as personalities and events are woven into the stories. These are more or less progressive in the life of the main character. As he moves through time and space he learns about reality and about himself. More importantly he learns answers to age old questions such as ‘Why are we here?’ Some of the stories are allegorical in nature. The main character learns to apply principles and truths that have come to be regarded as universal. They are good for intelligent people of any culture, planet, or star as it were, and can apply in any time. So the main character is not from this earth. The time is not necessarily future because it is a different earth. But this is not just a collection of so-called moral lessons. We need not be trapped in a tragic world. We can take voyages to new worlds in a positive present and future.

  ONE: BASEBALL—BOOM

  It was a fine day. Sunny it was with some light puffy clouds rolling across the blue sky. It was a fine day for baseball in early summer. The ball diamond was in a park on the outside edge of the city. It was a joy to hear the young players chatter drifting up into a real sky. Most of them being 12 years old, did not know what it was like to play under the airdomes. That was years before, when the atmosphere had not been cleansed and stabilized. The time after the global atmospheric disaster when airdomes were needed to provide an artificial day was now passed. So these kids did not really know what that was like. They were indeed a new and blessed generation. This planet, healed and given a new lease of life, was our happy home. Those young players on the field were just as natural as the clouds, grass, and birds, yes real birds in the trees. So as the birds and the family and friends watched, the Bluejays were at bat against the Rebels.

  The Bluejays were set to win their second game in this youth team series at their home field. It was the bottom of the ninth inning, 2 outs, and the score was tied at 5. The pitcher for the Rebels was ALDANON-1-BETOKUSE –214 or Aldo for short. Aldo was feeling the pressure of this moment. These were the moments that dreams hung in the balance over. The pitcher, being the key player by putting the ball into play, was the center of attention. With his selected pitch, and degree of control, he had a significant impact on the outcome. But also with ten thousand variables on the ball, anything could happen each time.

  The batter, Leon, had a good average and was known to hit all pitches and pitchers. This time he was hitting left-handed, which was his strongest. Aldo prepared to throw his pitch. He wound up and let it go. The batter connected and it shot down the first base line, but curved foul. The pitch was a little inside and not fast enough, Aldo realized. The home plate umpire threw Aldo a new ball. The boy with the bat, Leon dug his feet in at the plate. He swung the bat to get ready then held it out toward right field as if to say, ‘That is where it is going to fly.’ The catcher signaled a fast ball which Aldo agreed with. Then he let it go. Crack! It was a line drive to the right of second base. The shortstop was there and got his glove on it. But it was high and did not stay in the glove. The center fielder covered and threw it to second, holding the runner at first.

  As the Bluejays crowd was cheering excitedly, Aldo was thinking, ‘Okay hold it together and concentrate. Just get one more out.’ This batter was a decent hitter, but not as confident as Leon. He was nervous. This was as high pressure for him as it was for Aldo. The first pitch was low, a ball. The next one was inside, ball 2. More clouds had been moving in overhead. It was hardly noticed because of the tense situation on the field. The next pitch was fouled back. The fourth one was another ball, outside. The count was now 3 balls, one strike. This inning seemed to be so long for Aldo as he was trying to keep his composure. The next one was a swing and a miss. It was now 3 and 2. Aldo could not throw another ball. It had to be a strike. Thunder could be heard in the distance. The whole visible sky seemed to be focused on this game and was reacting to the building climax. Aldo looked for the catcher’s signal, but could only see a blurry hand. He threw his slider. The bat got under it hitting it high. All eyes were on the ball as it soared higher.

  Then CRASH! BANG! BOOM! Lightning crackled overhead as if the ball caused it! It was a bright explosion of light fissures going out from a center that was nearly directly over the field. Since everyone was already looking up at that moment, it made quite a frightening impression for everyone. Rain started pouring down in the next seconds. No one was able to see where the ball went or if it even came down. The matter at hand now was getting out of this severe weather. The game was over.

  This was something that people in general had not gotten used to yet. That is the unpredictability of the weather. Under the airdomes of the past, the air or weather was fully controlled. But after the atmosphere cleared up, the domes were no longer needed. Then laws were enacted that banned all weather control or tampering with the atmosphere. No more would we risk losing our precious balance of air around the globe that protects and preserves life. So the weather was going through its cycles again and we were willing to submit to it. Everyone ran to their cars or buildings nearby. There was no cover at the b
all field except at the team benches. Aldo’s home was a short distance, about a block or so away. So he ran. He ran through the rain with a feeling of relief more than anything. He was relieved that the game was over even though he knew that it was not really over.

  Aldo also felt a good feeling of a new start. It was a feeling of success and contentment. He thought it was like when you have fixed up your old bike that had been abandoned outside for a long time. And you find that it rides just like new again. He hoped that others felt the same way too. Just as you cannot control fully where the bat will hit the ball, man cannot fully understand, let alone control the natural forces. They deserve our respect.

  This event happened on 6806.21 on the old stardate system. I was known as Aldo back then in my childhood. This is my history. These are highlights and some important things I have learned in space and time.

  TWO: I SHOT A SLING-SHOT INTO THE AIR

  Stardate 6608.13

  The August sun was extended and oppressive this year for a youth who enjoyed looking skyward. Aldo and