"You're the ghost writer?" the lady asked.
"Yes, Ma'am. I here about your ad."
"I checked you, and your credentials are good. Come in."
She led me into the living room. I stopped and stared at the window in front of me with the bright blue shade, drawn all the way down.
"That's the portal to another world, a parallel dimension. I want you to help me write about it in a way that will make sense to people."
Something drew me forward. I crossed the room, with her yelling, "No, no, don't touch it!", pulled on the tassel, and the shade shot up, flappity-flap-flap, revealing a blinding light--and something beyond. Away out there beyond.
* * * * *
I awoke, ten days later (I was told), and blind as a bat. Just as I have been ever since. She was there, whispering in my ear. "I'm so sorry. You shouldn't have looked. You never look directly at it."
She took my hand, held it for a long time. "Your medical bills will be paid, and you will receive a monthly allowance for life. It's the least I can do. I must go now, see if I can find someone to help me explain it to the world. Again, I am so very sorry."
That was ten years ago, and I've never heard from her again. The house with the blue shade is deserted; totally empty. I've checked. And apparently she never found anyone to explain what's on the other side of the portal.
I don't think anyone could explain it.
"Yes, Ma'am. I here about your ad."
"I checked you, and your credentials are good. Come in."
She led me into the living room. I stopped and stared at the window in front of me with the bright blue shade, drawn all the way down.
"That's the portal to another world, a parallel dimension. I want you to help me write about it in a way that will make sense to people."
Something drew me forward. I crossed the room, with her yelling, "No, no, don't touch it!", pulled on the tassel, and the shade shot up, flappity-flap-flap, revealing a blinding light--and something beyond. Away out there beyond.
* * * * *
I awoke, ten days later (I was told), and blind as a bat. Just as I have been ever since. She was there, whispering in my ear. "I'm so sorry. You shouldn't have looked. You never look directly at it."
She took my hand, held it for a long time. "Your medical bills will be paid, and you will receive a monthly allowance for life. It's the least I can do. I must go now, see if I can find someone to help me explain it to the world. Again, I am so very sorry."
That was ten years ago, and I've never heard from her again. The house with the blue shade is deserted; totally empty. I've checked. And apparently she never found anyone to explain what's on the other side of the portal.
I don't think anyone could explain it.
