Door to Kandalaura (5 page)

“Absolutely, I said. “When I think of all those galaxies and the fish we saw today,
it blows my mind. How did he think it all up? I've been thinking about asking God
for some tropical fish and certain animals for when I get to heaven. Do you think
that's stupid or maybe a little selfish?”

Andron laughed. “No way,” he said. “Doesn't your Bible say he delights in giving
good gifts to those who love and trust Him? Maybe you should ask him for your very
own Dolphin Bay.”

“I like the way you think,” I said. “Speaking of creation, I‘m starving.”

Andron gave me more food, and we headed back to his house.

“Tonight,” he said, “we'll go to “the Gathering” together. You'll celebrate with
us and eat the best food you've ever tasted, then you'll see how we worship. I think
that'll give
you a better understanding of our planet and what we're all about. You
won't forget tonight, I promise. There's nothing like it on Earth.”

“OK, so now you've got my curiosity up again,” I replied.

He just smiled his knowing smile, but he was right about the worship: there was nothing
like it on Earth.

Chapter 7

SIGHTS, SOUNDS, AND CELEBRATION

I
T
WAS
ALMOST
time for the Gathering. We left a little early because Andron wanted
to show me around. As we entered the clearing, the number one thought on my brain
was food. I smelled it before I could see it . . . food, glorious, wonderful food!

“We usually celebrate for about an hour before we sit down to eat,” said Andron.

When I heard that, I reached for whatever was growing on the nearest tree. I seemed
to be eating three or four times as much as Andron. My body was burning energy at
a much faster rate.

The clearing was at least the size of a football field, carpeted with the thickest,
greenest grass I had ever seen. I took off my shoes, stretched out flat on the ground,
and ran my fingers through it once again. Andron looked at me as if I had lost my
senses. He doesn't get it that small things like this amaze me. I could have stayed
there a long time, but he kept going, so I followed.

Scattered around the outside edges of the field were sets of tables and chairs. Each
setting was different. Andron's father probably designed a lot of the furniture.
Table legs looked like they had been hand carved. One tabletop was shaped and painted
like a real flower. Some had handwoven table cloths.

I don't usually pay attention to how Mom sets our table back home, but I couldn't
get over how beautiful and inviting each place was. Their dinnerware looked much
like our china, but I think it was all hand painted. Utensils appeared to be made
of gold, and jewels were scattered across many of the tables.

Each setting was surrounded by a garden. The smell of the flowers reminded me of
our South Sea islands. What really grabbed my attention were the ponds and miniature
waterfalls, and all the greenery around them. The sound of water was relaxing. I
was taking it all in and could have stayed much longer, but Andron seemed to be on
a mission and hurried me along.

“I love what your people have done,” I said to Andron. “I think I'll ask Dad if we
can do something like this in our backyard back home. This is better than our fanciest
restaurants. It's like being in a fantasy.” Birds and huge butterflies flitted here
and there throughout the gardens. I could have watched them for long time. I hope
I have lots of them in heaven.

Next Andron took me over to a cluster of booths where chefs were preparing dinner
for the gathering. When they spotted us, they came out and joined us.

“Chef Armanti, this is my friend, Mikey, from Planet Earth,” he said.

“Welcome, Mikey,” said Chef Armanti. We've been looking forward to meeting you. Andron's
been sharing with us about your planet. We're very interested.”

“You must sample some of our specialties,” said another chef. “I believe you call
them appetizers.” They all treated me like royalty. I didn't understand why, but
when they offered me food, I didn't turn them down. My stomach was glad to help out.

“This food is fit for royalty.” I said. And I meant it.

Andron then directed me to other booths set up by artists and craftsmen.

“Some of our people have brought items from their shops,” he said. “I want you to
select some mementos of your trip to Kandalaura. They'll bring back good memories.”

“Andron,” I said, “I couldn't possibly forget a thing. Kandalaura will always be
on my mind. Ahh, even the smell of your chefs' food is unforgettable. Tell them I
said so too.

“I have to agree with that,” said Andron. “Now let's go choose.”

I followed Andron from one booth to another. Everything I saw caught my eye, but
I couldn't choose. How could I just take things these people had spent so much time
on? I didn't feel I had done anything to earn them, and I had nothing to give in
return.

Andron put his arm around my shoulder. “Mikey,” he said, “I know you're having trouble
with the money thing again, but our ways are different here. You've got to get over
it. Let my people bless you. It gives them pleasure.”

I still couldn't choose, so Andron had to choose for me. He chose sharp-looking T-shirts
for me and my parents, and even for Ben and Mary. For my mom, he chose jewelry fashioned
from wood and precious stones. He chose a special carving knife and Kandalaurean
wood for my dad. For me he chose a book of paintings featuring the birds, butterflies,
and fish of Kandalaura.

I looked at him and was going to say that he had chosen exactly what I would have
chosen and then thank him.

“I know,” he said before I could speak. “And you're welcome.”

“Andron,” I said, “I'd like to write a little thank you note to each artist and designer.
I think I saw some stationery in one of the booths.”

“Great idea, Mikey,” he said. “My people will love that,
especially since it'll be
written by someone from another planet. It's like getting an autographed baseball
from one of your star athletes,” he said.

We located some note cards, and I began writing.

“I think it'd be a good idea to run these gifts over to the transport,” said Andron.

I was beginning to wonder if my stay was being shortened. Andron seemed to be on
a mission to show me everything he could really quickly.

As I was finishing the last note, more people were beginning to gather on the field.
The men and boys wore shirts like we might see in Hawaii. The women and girls wore
brightly colored skirts with layers of ruffles. One little girl wore a top covered
with butterflies. I thought they were real because they flapped their wings.

“That's my cousin, Juliana,” said Andron. She designed it herself and engineered
the butterflies so they would move. She's only five years old, but we never know
what she's going to come up with next. On your planet you'd probably say she's a
very ingenious little girl. Did I get that right? You have so many sayings on your
planet.”

“I'm shocked at her talent.” Something was happening to me inside.
I need to work
harder to use my God-given talents. I've gotten too comfortable. I'm never going
to be the same after this visit.

“Don't be too hard on yourself,” said Andron. “Do the things you have a passion to
do, and do them well, but don't forget to enjoy yourself while you're doing them.
Maybe that's something you can learn from my little cousin. She's like a ray of sunshine
wherever she goes because she's so happy doing whatever she does.”

“Wow! You're really giving me food for thought. I don't
remember thinking about deep
stuff like this back home. My brain might be frizzled out by the time I get back.”

Andron laughed and introduced me to some more friends and relatives. He especially
wanted me to meet the musicians before they started playing.

He led me to the end of the field where they had built a stage. Musicians were seated
to one side of the stage.

“They'll want you to see our musical instruments.”

“I'd like that. I'm learning to play the trumpet in our band.”

So we headed for the stage. More people had gathered now. There was a lot of chattering
and hugging going on. I had no idea what this celebration would be like. But the
people were laughing and having a good time already, so I decided it could be a good
thing, not something to dread like I do when we have “get togethers” back home.

Andron headed toward the musicians, and I followed. They were warming up.

They sounded pretty excited.

“This is my friend, Mikey, from Planet Earth,” he said. He seemed rather proud of
me.

The musicians greeted me warmly, the same way the chefs had done They gathered ‘round
us and seemed super interested in anything I said. I didn't know whether to feel
special or like a unique animal in a zoo, but I didn't take offense. I knew they
were genuine.

“I‘d love to hear how these instruments sound if there's time,” I said. Some of them
were completely new to me.

My interest pleased them, so one by one or in small groups they played short little
pieces for me. I liked talking to them and learning about their music. Some of them
even let me give their instruments a try. We all laughed when I could barely get
a squeak out.

I think the stringed instruments were most like the ones
we have on earth. Some violins
had eight strings and could be played in three part harmony all at the same time.
I think the bows were made of horses' hairs like ours. They looked similar, and I
know they have horses on Kandalaura.

Most of their horns were much longer, and some of them could also play three part
harmony. The sound was regal, as if they were announcing an important event like
the Olympic Games. One instrument looked like our saxophone, but had more twists
and keys. I didn't try to play that one.

The percussion instruments took my breath away. There was a semicircle of huge drums
behind the other players. These sounded like Asian drums and our tympani. There were
Irish sounding drums too, but I didn't see any snares. They invited me to play the
biggest drum. Wow! What a thrill just to beat on it a few times!

There were also instruments like our xylophones and marimbas. They were hung vertically
and ranged in sound all the way from the marimba to bells and chimes. When they played
these with some of the stringed instruments, I thought I was in heaven. Of course,
I've never been there, but that's what it seemed like.

I was curious about another instrument that was shaped like a bamboo pole, hollow
inside except for seeds. When turned upside down, it sounded like rain falling. It
also had another use. When they were pounded on the wooden stage to a certain beat,
they sounded like an army battalion marching.

“These musicians are always creating new instruments,” said Andron. “We never know
what they might bring to the next celebration.”

I thanked the musicians for sharing and taking time with me. I shook hands with them
all. I don't know if that's their custom, but they seemed pleased.

“They really make me feel special,” I said to Andron, “even though I'm only eleven.
I know I'm just a normal person, but they make me feel like I'm some kind of dignitary
or something.”

“They like you,” said Andron. “And you're from another planet. They're glad you're
here for our celebration.”

“Speaking of celebration,” I said, “what exactly are we celebrating?”

“Well, we celebrate our Creator, first of all, because He made life on this planet
possible. Then we celebrate life in general, family and friends, and just being able
to enjoy each other like this. Does that make sense?”

“Sure,” I said. “On our planet, it seems like we do more competing than celebrating.”
I had another question too.

“Yes,” said Andron, without waiting for me to state my question. “Though we celebrate
our Creator, that's still different from our worship. You'll see.” Then he said
no more and smiled his smile.

I realized that their celebration and worship were things not to be described with
words but experienced. That whole concept of what he was thinking popped into my
head the moment he smiled. Am I beginning to read minds in this atmosphere? I wondered.

“Perhaps,” said Andron. “Perhaps.”

This whole mind communication thing seemed really weird. I suppose it could save
a lot of time in the long run, but I still liked expressing myself aloud sometimes.

“I'll never forget the sounds I've heard this afternoon,” I told Andron. “I'm looking
forward to hearing more tonight.” I wish I could have recorded it, but I had no idea
what their celebration would be like. I did know there would be good music and plenty
of food. The food alone was enough to spur me on.