DESTINY

Peter Woodgate

Malcolm was dreaming, he felt soft kisses all over his face and arms.

He woke up, opened his eyes, and stared at the ceiling. Bloody fan has been left on again, he thought, what a waste of electricity. I’ve told her so many times, “it won’t cool you down, it just moves warm air around the room.”

Malcolm glanced left, his wife was fast asleep, and, for a moment, he thought about turning it off. “Better not, I’d probably wake her up

 in the process and that would be a disaster.”

He continued to stare at the ceiling and his mind wandered as the soft hum and movement of the blades drew him up and through the pulsating fan.

In a flash, he was jettisoned from Earth and past the moon, “I must be travelling at the speed of light” he gasped as the planet Mars loomed in front of him.

Malcolm had always been interested in astronomy and, on favourable nights, (usually when it was cold and the sky was clear), you would find him, with his telescope, out in the garden.

 It was since his retirement, some 30 years previous that he had put all his energy into keeping himself busy, unfortunately, as the years flew by, he found his body could not keep up with his brain.

He was frustrated and grumpy, “who said retirement was bliss” he would repeat to himself, “bloody idiots. Was I put on this Earth simply to play my part in ensuring that the human race would continue. No, there is a bloody big Universe out there and I would like some answers, I refuse to lay down and act like an 80-year-old is expected to.

So, here he was, rushing towards Mars at the speed of light, Then, he was past the Red Planet hurtling towards the asteroid belt playing “dodge the rock” before passing through on his way to the “gas giants” of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. He was gaining speed as he passed the sad looking demoted Pluto.

Once, when discovered, was crowned as a minor planet but now reduced to satellite status and pushed aside by the recently discovered mystery planet nine.

Malcolm could hardly believe his eyes as he burst through the Milky Way and, grateful he had not been sucked in by a Black Hole, made his way past areas where stars are born, these are given the names Crab and Horsehead Nebulas. His head was now in a spin as he encountered Pulsars Supernovas and distant galaxies of all shapes and sizes.

But why, he’s thinking, what is it all for? Perhaps it is to teach me that I am unable to explain what has been displayed before me. The sheer size and beauty

Of the canvas stretched out for all to see, yet, unexplainable.

It appears, perhaps, I should be resigned to accepting my fate and trust what I am unable to alter.

 

Malcolm was awake again and opened his eyes, the fan was still on, it had all been a dream. A dream perhaps yet a warning, did he need to alter his thinking?

Suddenly a voice broke his thoughts. Happy Birthday Darling, I’ll go and make a cup of tea and you can come down and open your present.

Still feeling rather bemused by his recent dreams Malcom trudged downstairs and was greeted, in the lounge, by a rather large and heavy box, no doubt from Amazon. Was he ecstatic as his present was unpacked? Well, yes and no.

The negative thought was “another bloody assembly Job” the positive “it was a fire pit.” Malcolm had often remarked on how lovely it would be to have a fire outside whilst drinking a pint or two in the colder autumn evenings.

“Well, what do you think about that then,” his wife smiled whilst handing him a cup of tea. “Ah, that’s great,” Malcolm replied whilst juggling thoughts within his head. The present, on the face of it, would appear a truly thoughtful gift, even though he did not relish the assembly.

However, Malcolm's mind was on the march again.

Conversely could this be an attempt, by his wife, to give him a taste of his destiny.

What do you think?

Copyright Peter Woodgate