The Cabin Part 2

Dan and Joey looked at each other, Joey more confused than his older relative. Joey 

attempted to step toward the old man, but Gray Beard told him to step back immediately. He did as 

he was told, watching as he cut the thick hide of the fruit, releasing a pungent odor into the air ahead 

of them.

“Dude. Can you not?”

Gray Beard cut a slight smile and turned his head to face his wife, Gertrude.

“They obviously didn’t listen to the whole no questions thing.”

She rocked at the pace of a metronome, in perfect symmetry with the fireplace and crackling

wood beside her. The mere mention of the ‘no questions policy’ clearly dismayed Joey, as he said 

under his breath that he thought this shit was over with. They came here for answers and he was 

hell bent on getting them. 

“It’s not can’t I, Daniel. It is that I must. I have waited nine long year to peel this fruit, and 

by the magic of this place, it has stayed just as ripe as the day I plucked it from the tree. You see,

Joey, all of this is for you. Everything here was erected in your name, constructed with the vision 

of the day you would come.”

Joey was about to speak but was cut off abruptly by Gray Beard.

“Yes, young one. We all seen this day very vividly before you actually lived it. This day had been

promised to us on the day you were born on your plane of existence. You are no longer there, if you

can not see that, and you never shall return. This is your home now,” he explained as he continued to 

cut into the fruit, releasing even more zesty aromas into the air. “This fruit here is called a durian and 

it is incredibly important to not only your existence but your survival as well. This all seems overly…

complicated but once I bless you with the knowledge and the ability to do things like this.”

He snapped his fingers and changed the inside of the cabin to what was now inside of the top

floor of a luxury hotel. Gone was the hard wood floors and walls, replaced by colorful carpet, paintings

and maître d's rushing back and forth with assorted meals and drinks on various carts. 

Another snap of the fingers shifted it back to the cabin where they had first entered. 

Everything as it was. Gertrude with the cat, Gray Beard standing behind the marble table and the 

shelled fruit, except the aroma had dissipated and the durian not yet sliced open. Dan wiped sweat

beads from his brow and wondered if it was more due to the space/time travel or the answers he was 

giving.

“Well you said you wanted some answers, right kid? You may now step forward, I permit you 

to do so.”

Joey did as he was told and walked towards the table, the only thing separating him from

all of the knowledge he craved. His older brother was pacing back and forth because he was unsure

whether he was ready for this responsibility. He knew the plan and he knew to follow it, but it just

didn’t feel right. Against his better judgment, he allowed him to represent himself. 

“Here, come to my side of the table,” he instructed, as the young one once again did as he was 

told. Approaching his side, Gray Beard reached below the table and pulled out an ancient looking 

knife, the blade formed by sharpened rock and the handle made of wood. Placing it in his hand, he 

locked his grip in with his own, guiding him to cut the thick hide of the produce. Peeling through the 

skin, the old man released his grip, allowing Joey to dice it up as his own discretion. He then walked

over to have a discussion with Daniel. Raising his arm from his side and onto Dan’s shoulder, he 

leveled with him.

“You not only knew this day was coming, but you’ve seen it unfold a thousand times. You

need not worry. This is how it was written.”

“Yeah well, it’s a little different when you’re living that day. You’re asking me to give

over my baby brother on nothing more than blind faith. So yes, I’m a little on edge about it all.”

“We would not lie to you nor mislead you. We have always treated you with the same respect

as you show him.”

Daniel nodded his head, knowing every word he just said was true. He turned his back to Gray

Beard and stepped towards a stool in the far right corner of the room, chin resting in his hands as he

watched it all unfold.  The nine year old cut through the fruit, dicing it into bite sized pieces and into a 

ceramic bowl to the right of him. “Very good, now put the knife down and step towards the altar.

Confused for a second, he put down the knife as told and heard a snap of the fingers which

changed their location yet again. What was once a cabin was now a church, darkened by the night,

lights off and only lit up by red candles bouncing off of the black walls surrounding them. Hanging 

from the walls and painted on the ceiling were memories of each nine birthdays, the good ones

and the bad. Highlighted by scenes of laughter and tears, gifts and punishments alike, not a 

memory wasted. A shrine to his life at this point. 

Gertrude and Daniel were now sitting in pews at the church, except now they both had cats

to keep them company. Gray Beard stood at the top of the altar, summoning Joey to meet him there.

He walked toward him, looking at the ceramic bowl that was now in possession of the old man. As he 

approached, he dug out a piece of fruit and knelt down to eye level with him, just as Dan did earlier. 

He scooped out a piece and fed it to him like it was communion. As he bit into the juicy fruit, some of 

it drizzled down his lips and onto the now matte black robe that draped him.

He swallowed it down and felt something overtake him. Something dark, sinister even. Joey 

turned to Gray Beard with a serious look and snapped his fingers.