A Dreaming Frame of Reference

“Can’t you just change back to the head you had an hour ago?” pleaded Charley.

She looked over to her father and Francesco to appeal to them for agreement. Calvin stepped forward - he felt oddly calm amongst this weirdness. It was as though he was in an unrelenting dream.

With some events, life can be like that. When life outruns your experience, or the unexpected happens right there before you, it can put the mind into a dreaming frame of reference - for in dreams we are used to the haphazard and the random, and are rarely surprised by anything. It is this part of our thinking that steps up to embrace the fantastic surprises that greet us.

“I’m staying with the dog head”, Chips said belligerently.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances

Reputation

It was plain to everyone that Bruce Lee-Chips could not continue to be seen as he was now, wearing this, his Weimaraner look.

His newly found physical body was quite small - he looked more like a tall child in an elaborate mask; however his nose was moist and his tongue hung out to one side, and his eyes were obviously, intelligently, real.

Although it is impossible to graft a dog’s head onto human shoulders, word would get out that this was exactly what Johnstone and Johnstone were now trying to do - and achieving.

Before long they would not only lose reputation for being family-friendly, they would probably be hauled away by some not-so family friendly government agency. This would not do at all.


-Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances

The Moral Compass

“By this one device we can trace the moments with order. In this quarter we have vespers, in that quarter we do chores, by that quarter there is supper, and with the final, there is prayer and rest.

"The Holy never stop praying - even in their sleep. And, when in the night we fumble through the dark awaiting sunrise, it can even predict that - it is the most valuable tool we have.”

“What call it?”

“The moral compass. It marks our duties and benedictions … this one Brother Francis is for you to take back to your Community. At present, it is only one of five, and so the honour I give is great.”

Francis nodded his head in a half bow, and after being instructed on its care and duties he carefully placed it in his knapsack, and started out for home.

.......

“Murmur - here’s one more for your charity pile” Francis said, tossing the box into the collection.


- Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances

Thinking inside the Box

“This is a great moment Brother Francis.”

Francis felt himself to be at one of life’s crossroads, but did not know why.

This new Pope seemed genuine enough. He had been mightily understanding all told. He had kept to himself for the main part and allowed the Brotherhood to do as they may, without influence or interruption.

It was only a small box of polished oak, inlaid with lines of pearl. He lifted the lid to see what the artefact looked like.

“The dial goes around, and around, without stopping. And, it knows the rhythm of the day, with each day passing. It even marks its pace by the smallest of bells.”

-Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances

His Head Morphed

“You can't be Sirius”, Puck chuckled when he saw what had happened.

Wildly, and most oddly, the Asian man now wore the velvety head of his former self, the Weimaraner. After he had started weeping, holding the magic mirror of Charley’s, the very shape of his head morphed back into Chips and stayed there.

“Was not sure what to call you - but now, Sirius it is” he laughed again - not unkindly.

“Dad this is not funny. You’ve got to get him to change back … he can’t be seen like this.”

But it was too late - Calvin had overheard and seen everything. He had been sitting up the back of the lab all of this time quietly and no one had noticed him, not one.


-Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances

Crisis of Identity

“Come, come look there” - he pointed to her mirror, which Charlie still wanted to get back in the moment.

Looking into it at his reflection she could see the image of the grey dog … and then it changed to a face that she did not recognize, and then to another, and another. It was reflecting back the subtle images he had worn of his former selves.

“I don’t really know what has changed in that regard - I am sorry if somehow I misled you. Everybody said they loved you at the time.”

“And now they don’t”, he said mournfully. He went very quiet.

Crisis of identity - that’s what this is, she thought to herself. He’ll get used to his new self soon enough.

“Please, can I have my mirror back now? - it was my mother’s. Anyway, how did you know it would do that?”

“I didn’t” he shrugged, “I just guessed after seeing you with it and Master Black”.

“Oh”, said Charley who had not yet fully reconciled herself to talking to a dog.

- Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances

Unloved

“Why don’t you love me now?” he asked, with a soft toned sophisticated English accent.

“Now?” Charley asked in genuine surprise, wondering if there was ever a before.

“When I was a Weimaraner you would greet me with a smile - you had kind things to say - you would whisper in my ear and stroke my fur. You told me you loved me.”

“Yes, but … you were a dog then.” Charley could hear the harshness of her own words as she said this.

“Yes” said Chips-Bruce Lee.


- Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances