The Unveiling, page 13
part #3 of Chaos Series
“What if there’s nothing to go back to?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Nothing. Just forget it.” Tamika said, rather bluntly.
“Did you lose someone close to you?” Brian probed.
“I’d rather not talk about it, okay?”
“As you wish.” Brian climbed out of the dented cab. He turned to leave, then stopped. “I haven’t seen Craig in more than a year. He was one of my best friends growing up. Not only do I have to console him on the loss of our friend Justin, who’s no longer with us, Craig also lost his mother. She died of a heart attack on the day of the disappearances.”
“Yeah, I know. He told me when I dropped off his phone. Sorry.”
Mulrooney sighed. “Going in there won’t be easy. But I plan to do my best to remain upbeat if only for Craig’s sake.”
Tamika felt ashamed. Who am I to bring him down to my level of misery? If he’s trying to move on, who am I to judge? “I lost my two boys…and my…mother,” she blurted out, getting teary-eyed. She never opened up like this to a stranger before.
“Sorry to hear that, Tamika. Are you okay?”
“Don’t have much choice now, do I?”
“Sure you do. You can either crawl into a corner to die, or you can look for a reason to continue on. As for me, I choose life.”
“I guess you right.”
“Why don’t you see if you can take a short break and join us for breakfast?”
“I don’t know, mister,” Tamika said, hesitantly. “Like I said, I just started my...”
Brian cut her off, “Tell you what, if you can join us, great. If not, no big deal.”
Tamika couldn’t help but like Brian. He seemed honest and friendly. “Oh, why not,” she finally said. “Guess Craig will be surprised to see me, huh?”
“I believe he will. How could he not? It’s an amazing story.”
“Are you sure I won’t be in the way?”
“Positive. Just give us a few minutes to get reacquainted then come inside.”
“Okay. But if I get called to pick up another customer, I’ll have to leave.”
“Understood. See you inside soon.”
“Okay.”
25
CRAIG RUBIN WAS SURPRISED to see Brian Mulrooney. And overjoyed. He gave his longtime friend a punishing bear hug. Though only 5'8'' in height, Rubin was deceptively strong from so many years in the restaurant business. A little overweight with a noticeable potbelly, he didn’t look strong enough to inflict so much pain on another person. Brian’s lower back begged to differ.
“Sorry about your mom, pal,” Mulrooney said, once they were seated at a booth near the cash register. The restaurant was packed with customers and Craig was busy, but this was a special occasion.
“Thanks. Just hope Pop survives. But let’s not talk about it now. Too many people watching, if you know what I mean.”
“Yes, of course.”
They were still on their first cups of coffee when Tamika Moseley approached them.
“Can I help you?” Rubin said, looking at her skeptically. Then he realized who he was, “Tamika?”
Tamika nodded.
“Hey, Tamika, long time, no see,” Brian joked. It earned him a brief smile.
“Wait, how do you two know each other?” Craig was totally confused.
“Believe it or not, Tamika drove me here,” said Brian.
“You gotta be kidding me!”
“Nope. As soon as I said ‘Mitzi’s’, she knew exactly where to go.”
Craig Rubin gave her an acknowledging smile and a nod of the head.
Brian downed the rest of the coffee in his cup in one gulp. “Anyway, when Tamika told me she drove you to the airport last Saturday, I asked her to join us for breakfast. She told me she had…”
“A rain check, right?” Craig interjected.
“Am I imposing?”
“Not at all,” said Craig. “Please join us.”
The conversation quickly shifted from Craig and Brian to Craig and Tamika. Brian listened to their chance encounter last Saturday with great interest. Tamika was quite animated as she recounted how Richard Figueroa vanished in the backseat of her cab soon after Craig got out.
“He was sitting in the exact same spot as you,” the taxi driver said, pointing her finger at Craig. Chills shot up and down Rubin’s spine.
“I was in line waiting to board my flight when it happened. Saw this girl vanish right before my eyes,” Craig said, still unable to fathom it all. “She wasn’t the only one; the man behind me also vanished. I fell back into what was left of him. Freaked me out! Had it happened twenty minutes later, who knows, maybe I’d be a goner too, like those other planes that went down.”
Tamika held her hands up to her mouth. “Had that been me, I would have gone off the deep end!”
Brian was completely spellbound. “Man, oh man! You’d think the two of you were childhood friends! How can I possibly top your stories?”
“By telling us where you were when it happened?” Tamika replied.
“Well, what Craig didn’t tell you was the reason he was going to the airport in the first place was to spend time with me and Justin in Michigan.” Brian’s tone dropped considerably. “Justin and I were at a football game when it happened. One minute we were having the time of our lives. The next minute he was gone.”
“Gone? As in dead? Or disappeared?” Tamika asked.
Craig weighed in: “Disappeared.”
“Was he a Christian or something?” Tamika blurted it out against her better judgment, immediately regretting it. Shut your mouth, girl!
“Why do you ask?” Craig replied, already knowing the Phenomenon had been pinpointed down to the Christian populace. Totally blinded to the Truth, Rubin didn’t take it all that seriously. Perhaps they were wrong. He practically rolled his eyes.
Tamika looked at Brian. “Remember that guy I told you was in my cab when everything happened?”
“Yeah?” Brian’s ears perked up.
“Well, he told me it was a ‘Christian’ thing even before it was confirmed in the media.”
Craig surveyed the restaurant to make sure everything was fine, “If he’s so smart, why don’t you tell us where everyone went?”
“He, Charles, believes the true Christians are in Heaven with Jesus. In fact, he’s totally convinced they were raptured, and claims he can prove it.”
Brian Mulrooney’s mind started stirring like never before.
“Interesting,” Craig said, with little conviction. Just then, Joel, the assistant manager, approached the table requesting Craig’s assistance in the kitchen. “If you two’ll excuse me, I’ll be right back. Hopefully before the food arrives.”
“Sure. Take your time,” Tamika replied.
Say something! Say something! Mulrooney thought. “Tell me more about this Charles fellow.”
“Like I said, he was in my cab the day of…”
Brian cut her off, “Yeah, I got that part. He really believes the true Christians are in Heaven?”
“Yes, sir, that’s what he believes.”
“What about Catholics and the many other religious groups out there who proclaim to be Christians?” Brian was still confused.
“Hey, it’s not my theory, it’s his.”
“I understand. It’s just that…” Brian hesitated.
“Just that what?” Tamika demanded.
“I think he may be right.”
“Oh yeah, why’s that?” Tamika tensed up. Not another one!
Brian knew Craig could return at any moment. He wasn’t yet ready to spill his guts to his longtime friend. He thought it amazing how a person could totally open up to a complete stranger at the drop of a hat, yet it almost took an act of Congress to discuss such issues among friends and family, especially something as delicate as changing one’s religious beliefs.
“What I’m about to tell you can’t be shared with Craig, at least not now.” He eyeballed Tamika, “Do I have your word?”
Tamika nodded yes.
“As you rightly guessed, Justin was a born-again Christian. But I didn’t know until the day after he was gone. He left a Gift for me, which just happened to be a Bible. It was the very last thing I ever expected from him of all people.”
Brian shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “So here I was still in mourning for my departed friend, holding a Bible he left for me before he disappeared. It was freaky. He also enclosed the most heartfelt letter explaining how his life was completely transformed after he become a Christian. It was deep. Too deep to ignore.”
Brian took a sip of his coffee. “You gotta understand, Justin never talked about God or religion growing up—never! Suddenly he proclaims to know the only way to Heaven? I admit I was defensive at first. I mean, I was the one with the religious education, not him. I was skeptical to say the least. But the more I read his letter the more my eyes were opened.”
“Are you a born-again Christian?” Tamika asked.
“I don’t believe so, why?”
“Because you sound like one to me.”
Mulrooney considered her words before replying: “I don’t know what I am right now, Tamika. I’ve been a Catholic all my life. I was always taught that the Catholic Church was the one true Church. Even though I stopped going to mass every week, just knowing I belonged to the Church gave me this comforting assurance.
“Now I’m not so sure what to believe. Justin’s letter forced me to question everything in life. I’m still not myself, mind you, but I admit I feel so much better when I’m reading God’s Word, even despite the tragedy.” Did I just say that? Mulrooney was silenced by his own words.
Wish I had that same assurance, thought Tamika. “When I first heard Craig’s cell phone ringing in my cab, I thought it was Charles’ phone at first. The next morning, I called him at the Waldorf-Astoria where he staying to see if he lost his phone. He said he didn’t. Out of nowhere he invites me to dinner. Said he knew where my two boys and momma were and could prove it.
“Of course, I didn’t believe him. Still not sure I do now. But I decided to meet him anyway. I spent all that morning looking for my boys.” Tamika started tearing up. She took a deep breath and exhaled. “So, I’m looking for my boys right, and the phone rings for the fifth time. I figured what they gonna do arrest me if I answer it? It was your friend, Craig. Now I’m sitting here with you. Go figure.”
“Simply fascinating!”
“I guess it is a little strange. Like we was meant to meet or something.”
Brian paused a moment. “Is Charles still in New York?”
“Yeah. Matter of fact, we had Thanksgiving dinner last night at the Waldorf. He’s even more convinced now that Jesus came back for His Church.”
“Would you mind if I called him?”
“Why you wanna do that?”
“You see, I’m stuck with a dilemma. In my backpack I have a Gift for Craig, from Justin. I’ll give you one guess what it is...”
“A Bible?”
“Yup,” came the reply. “At least I think it is. My problem is I don’t know how to give it to him. It’s not the kind of Gift one opens in front of others, especially at a place like this. He’d be embarrassed and so would I. I need to wait until the timing’s right. But it must be done before I head back to Michigan tomorrow morning. I intend to give the other Bible to my parents.” Mulrooney grimaced. “Probably be a tough sell though...”
“Why’s that?”
“They’re convinced whatever happened last week, most Catholics were spared for a specific reason. At least that’s how my father sees it after hearing it from the Pope. Not so sure what my mom thinks.” Brian looked down at his coffee cup. “How am I going to convince my father that many of the things he holds so dear may not be true after all?”
“Now there’s a question for the ages,” Tamika said. “Unfortunately, you asking the wrong person. Can’t help you there, mister, I mean, Brian. But it’s obvious you believe what you reading in the Bible or you wouldn’t be asking for the best approach to give it to others.”
“Perhaps you’re right. I do believe it.” There, I said it. I believe!
Mulrooney glanced up and saw Craig approaching, carrying their breakfasts. “Here comes Craig. Let’s change the subject. Oh, and Tamika, thanks for listening. I feel so much better now.”
“No problem.”
“One more thing: What’s Charles’ last name?”
“Calloway,” was the reply. “Thanks. Something tells me he may be able to help me with my dilemma.”
“Suit yourself.”
26
AFTER BREAKFAST, MULROONEY EXCUSED himself from the table and walked outside. It could wait no longer. Beyond convinced that he met Tamika Moseley for a specific reason, everything inside told him contacting Charles Calloway was the next step on his new journey.
There wasn’t a chance that mere man was pulling the strings on this one. No way! Brian wondered why he hadn’t felt this nudging, this hungering, before. He knew the reason: it all came down to the Book he was now reading with great fervor.
Calloway was just getting out of the shower when the phone rang. On the third ring he answered the receiver hanging on the bathroom wall: “Hello?”
“Ah yes, Charles Calloway, please?”
“Speaking.” Who could this be?
“My name’s Brian Mulrooney. I met an acquaintance of yours today…”
You gotta be kiddin’ me. “Look man, I’m not up to talking business now,” he exclaimed.
“Business? What business?” Do I sound like a salesman?
“What do you want?” Calloway demanded, his voice a few decibels higher.
“Like I said, I met an acquaintance of yours today, a Tamika Moseley…”
After a moment of silence, he said, “Is she okay?”
“As good as can be expected, I suppose.”
“What can I do for you, Brian?” Calloway was relieved it had nothing to do with Cell-U-Loss International.
“Tamika told me you recently became a born-again believer. Is it true?”
“Why do you wanna know?”
“Because I’m looking to become one myself,” Brian admitted cautiously.
“Praise the Lord!” Charles exclaimed.
“Thank you,” Brian blurted out, not knowing what else to say.
“I apologize for the raw intro. I’m here on business and have been stranded here since last week. Guess you could say I’m not in the mood to talk business. Too much has happened.”
“I understand.”
“How can I help you, Brian?”
“Well, to tell the truth, I don’t know what I must do to become a Christian. If you could help me, I’d be grateful.”
“It’ll be my honor to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with you. But just know that only God can change your heart and open your spiritual eyes and ears.”
“Already happening, Charles. So whatever time’s good for you will be perfect for me.”
Hallelujah! “Why don’t we get together now?”
“That would be great! Where would you like to meet?”
“Why not here at the Waldorf,” came the reply.
“I’m sure Tamika won’t mind driving me there. If not, I’ll find a way, even if I have to walk! It’s that important to me.”
“Sounds like a winner, man,” Charles said. “Just buzz or text me when you get here. My room number’s nine-seventeen.”
“Thanks. Hopefully I can be there within the hour.”
“I look forward to it more than you know.”
“Me too, Charles.”
“Wait. Let’s pray for your safe arrival. I don’t want anything bad happenin’ to you on the way, especially if you don’t have God’s eternal assurance. If you were killed in an accident before understanding the true Gospel of Jesus Christ, you’d be doomed for all eternity. Know what I mean?”
Before Mulrooney could respond, Charles started praying, “Father God, only You know the condition of Brian’s heart. If he truly wants to repent of his sins by asking Jesus to be the Lord and Savior of his life, it’s only because Your grace is already at work in him. Please guide him safely here so I can share Your Word with him. I ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.”
“Amen,” Brian replied, in a much lower tone than Charles. This was his first time ever praying with a complete stranger. It was evident Charles Calloway knew to Whom he was praying.
I want that same assurance, Mulrooney thought, walking back inside the restaurant.
“You called him, didn’t you?” Tamika inquired.
“Yep.” For the first time in a long time, Mulrooney’s pale Irish blue eyes were smiling. They were fully aglow. Mindful that others were staring at them, Brian toned it down. Happy people stood out like sore thumbs these days.
“Can’t say I’m surprised. After all, he has somethin’ you want.”
“Can you take me to the Waldorf-Astoria?”
“Sure. But you on your own getting a ride later. I need to make this time up.”
Riding in the backseat of the dented taxicab, Mulrooney couldn’t help but be amazed by Charles Calloway’s genuine concern for his soul. It was quite uncommon in the world he knew, miraculous even. It was equally frightening to think he would be doomed for all eternity if something fatal happened before receiving Christ as Lord and Savior. Shivers shot up his spine.
Tamika Moseley looked in her rear-view mirror. Brian was a million miles away. Whatever Charles told him on the phone, apparently it had worked. He looked so full of hope.
