Three Drabbles in One?
“It’s Johnny’s Birthday”
George knew that John was trying to tell him something but the message was unclear.
Generally, he hated birthday and anniversary commemorations, but he decided on John’s 59th it was time to get in touch. It could be done through meditation or hallucinogens. He’d opted for mushrooms.
George sat in total confidence and let his mind travel into other realms as he had done so many times before. John approached him with a smile, looking as he did in ’67 during their psychedelic period.
“Remembered my birthday, did ya? Last one of the millennium? Or would that be next year?”
“Thought you’d be beyond caring about birthdays. Or the calendar. Or arguments about whether the new millennium starts in 2000 or 2001. It’s all arbitrary how we choose to number things anyway, isn’t it?”
“Whatever you or I may think, there are crazies out there who get stirred up by things like the millennium, Harri. I’ve been trying to warn you about that.”
George felt a chill. “Warn me? So it was you with the ‘Double Fantasy’ album every bloody place I turned. And that screeching raven outside my window, too, no doubt.”
“Yeah, well, it got you here, now didn’t it? I had to warn you. You’ve got your own madman out there right now, obsessing over you.”
“What’s his name?”
“Can’t tell you that.”
“Where…”
“Can’t tell you that either.
“Then what’s the point…”
“You can fight the bastard off. You will, in fact. You don’t have to die, George. Not unless you choose it.”
“Why would I…”
“Because you’re too bloody sensitive. Always have been. You can’t let this guy get to you. Remember: life is not just an illusion, whatever your gurus say. I mean, it is an illusion. But it’s not, too. It’s like in Alice in Wonderland - believing two contradictory things before breakfast.” John clapped him on the shoulder and pulled a silly leering grin. “Don’t give up on your life or lose heart because of some lunatic, OK?”
George frowned. “Liv and Dhani seem to want me around so I wasn’t planning on it.”
“Glad to hear it.” John reached out to ruffle George’s hair as he used to, but George grabbed his arm and pulled him into an embrace that felt surprisingly solid and real.
“I’ve missed you, too,” John whispered. “But you’re not due here yet. Understand?”
“No.”
“You will, unfortunately. Now let’s take a walk.”
********
George felt a twinge of anxiety as he thought back to his visit with John. Why couldn’t he remember John’s words clearly? Was it the mushrooms?
John had warned him about something very bad. But, then, he’d said everything would be all right as long as he didn’t give up. That was encouraging.
Good to know John was still looking out for him. Leaving the material world really wouldn’t be so bad when the time came.
But for now, he and Liv needed rest. Their New Year’s Eve Millennium Party was only two nights away.