Assignment

Have you chosen your assignment?

I have been obsessed with choosing it for a long time, but where I am, it is the equivalent of a few minutes. My Guide, Ventura, is more patient than I am. Anxiety is engulfing me.

***

Scenes flow on the screens surrounding me, continually changing locations and humans. I have narrowed it down to three, and although there is no right or wrong choice and no hurry in my world, I owe it to the three to select, or the selection may drop to two or one.

Choice One :

Two young adults are studying for their master's degrees. She is tall, slim, blonde, and blue-eyed. He is the same height as her, the only son of East Indian immigrants. His chestnut skin glows in the sun, ebony hair trimmed neatly above his ears, and his hazel eyes smile quietly at his partner.

"Akash, I am ready to go, please, I don't want to be late." She puts her hand on his shoulder, then picks up her briefcase. He follows and starts their small electric SUV, pulling out into the traffic and expertly heading across the bridge into the city.

"Do you want lunch before or after our meeting, my Love?" He reaches for her left hand, and his index finger runs across the enormous pink radiant diamond he gifted her at their marriage. "I am a bit hungry now; I could sure use a quick bite and some tea." She smiled and nodded her agreement. They had time since the traffic was light; Akash pulled into an independent tea house they frequented.

As they sat in a cozy corner booth, she slurped her creamy coffee, and he sipped his green tea; they were quiet, both mulling over the upcoming meeting.

"My Darling, I have been thinking non-stop about the proposal you presented to me. I don't think I can do it."

"What do you mean? Why are we going to this meeting then? You always do this to me; you seem to agree, and then that damned Libra sign of yours interferes, and you can't make a decision."

"But, my Love, I just told you. I have come to a decision. I have decided. I don't want to do this. We can talk to the expert if it will make you feel better, but I'm afraid I can't agree with your proposal. The expert may have a better idea for us.

His statuesque wife with the exquisite wedding diamond began to weep quietly.

Choice Two:

"Sammy, it's everything we have ever wanted! I'm so happy!" A woman with graying hair, shaved on one side to show an eagle tattoo, was grinning broadly at Sammy. "I can't believe it; we are so lucky!"

"We are lucky, Betz, that we are! Rinna is easy to get along with and agreed to all my outlined items. We are going to have a baby, Betz, our baby. Well, you know what I mean." Betz nodded at Sammy, chuckling.

"All right, I will get the contractor to update the downstairs suite, fix the closet door, and remove that built-in Murphy bed. Nothing but the best for Rinna." Sammy leaned in and gave Betz a peck on the cheek, her bushy, long bob of auburn hair swinging.

Sammy answered her phone on the second ring. "Rinna, hi." She put it on speaker. "Yes, Betz knows that you signed the paperwork and is going to upgrade our place so you will be comfortable. We'd like to have a small dinner party so you can meet our parents. Is Saturday okay with you?" Sammy grabbed Betz's hand and squeezed it. "Okay, I am thinking six o'clock if that works for you. All right, see you then." They both said goodbye via speakerphone, and then each phoned their parents.

Choice Three:

"Okay, Hon, just lean back and relax. We have a little bit of time to go, you are only three centimeters dilated. Do you want me to call anyone to be with you?"

The girl's eyes seemed as big as saucers, wet tears rolling out slowly and plopping on her white tee shirt.

"No, I ain't got nobody to call. Oh, oh, it hurts, it hurts!" She sucked in air, grabbing her belly.

"Listen, Honey, you have to try and relax. The pain will be worse if you tense up; breathe deeply like this." The tiny nurse rounded her mouth like she was sucking noodles and inhaled through her mouth loudly. The girl watched and began breathing in unison with Nurse Silverway.

Silverway was assigned tonight to the ward in the poorest section of town, and it was her favorite. She loved helping the people and knowing their stories. This patient she sat with now was seventeen, unwed, and herself an orphan. The girl claimed to have no one to phone and no family or friends, but Silverway was sure there was at least one friend.

"Jenny, I know you have a girlfriend who would want to sit here with you. Let's call your person. C'mon, you don't want to have this baby with just me by your side, do you?" Jenny's eyes brimmed with tears; she licked her sensuous full lips and tasted the salt as they rolled over them onto her shirt.

"Maybe we could call Shirly." Looking at the nurse with eyes like a begging dog, she gave her the number, then crossed her fingers Shirly would answer.

Shirly arrived in forty-five minutes, bringing a book to read, some snacks, and a beautiful nightgown for her best friend to wear after the birth.

***

"Bobboline, I see that you have narrowed it down to three choices. Do you need some assistance? Is a discussion of the choices necessary to help you?"

Ventura emitted a calming influence, an aura of white mixed with green and purple, like the earthly stone fluorite. A slight gesture from my Guide and the colors engulfed me, a mini auric-color devil, similar to dust devils on the earthly plane.

"Choice One would be interesting, Bobboline. However, Choice Two looks different from your past lives. Choice Three – ah, well, many lessons there - for many beings here. All three contain the soul lessons you must still learn, so there is no wrong choice. It is a matter of selecting which you will experience this time. The other two will come later, differently, but include the lessons. Let me see. Ah, yes, several here with us are considering two of your final choices. Understand, though, you have priority selection, and they must wait."

"But Ventura, I don't want to put some other out by selecting the choice they want!"

Bobboline was confused and concerned she would cause unhappiness.

"Bobboline, there is no unhappiness here – or there. Unhappiness is the perception of humanity, not of souls. There are no hurt feelings; you have the first selection this time. Do you understand?" Ventura sent another auric-color devil to envelop Bobboline.

"I understand and have made the decision."

Bobboline could not voice the choice aloud because, in the instant of the decision, Ventura transported Bobboline's soul away to await the new assignment.