The Car and The Cloud

On the car ride to school, Faith was full of her usual advice. "Love, I'm glad to see you taking more interest in how you express yourself."

It was only a 12 1/2 minute ride to her middle school from their farmhouse.

Hope's thoughts now were on her meditation. What could it mean? Dreams were always so cryptic, so in need of explanation.

Her mother continued, "You know, I'm sure Gramps will be thrilled to discuss your meditation with you. I would love to hear some about it, too."

Should she bring it up? Dragons roaring light to save you from a smothering grey static cloud was hardly considered proper conversation.

"Oh, it's difficult to make sense of mother. The unconscious can be so unforgiving."

Faith smiled. "Sometimes our dreams are trying to tell us something, Love. I find talking about it helps. And you know when words aren't enough, I have my art."

Besides being a State Representative and former elementary school teacher, her mother was also an accomplished landscape painter.

"I am very rational you know, mother."

"I know, Love. I also know there's only one way to get better at something and that's to practice."

Two nods of Hope's baskets.

It was always the same way with Hope. When she saw the World, she saw an intricate masterpiece. Everything from an Autumn leaf's fall to a downpour in April made beautiful sense to her. She wished more than anything she could express that beauty to the World.

There was solace in sense, Science made her feel welcome, but even Science missed the point of the wonderful beauty in creation.

You see dear reader Hope James was a genius and the difference between just a very smart person and a genius is: A true genius has a level of compassion to match their level of intelligence.

Hope genuinely cared for the World. She saw it Beautiful and Oh! how she wanted to share what she saw!

People didn't see like she did and her genius heart and mind knew it would help so much if they could.

The car slowed to park in front of her school. "I'll give it some thought today, mother. Do well at the speech."

"Of course, Love." Faith turned to look at Hope and lifted her arms up. Hope mirrored her as they both said in unison, "Don't wrinkle the suit," while they leaned in to kiss each other on the cheek.

"Have a good day at school, Love."

From the school sidewalk, Hope watched her mother drive away.

As Faith turned the corner to leave the parking lot, a grey static cloud like she saw in her meditation formed above her mother's car.

Hope stood still and wondered what to do. The first school bell rang, so she went to class.

Later that afternoon Hope's father picked her up and told her that her mother, State Representative Faith Esperanza James was killed in the latest school shooting.

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