Page 30 of Spring Showers

With refreshed boundaries, and having skipped the flower arranging, it was crucial that he not miss any more activities. They had agreed to get to know each other moreon a professional level, and he still had a job to do.

Grant took up the rear of the pack behind the old man with the cane, Buzz, and allowed the others to get to Thandie first. After all, they were all real guests, wanting a relaxing experience. Whereas he hadn’t even paid for the privilege of being there. Taking up the rear gave him a better vantage point to take-in and take note of the whole scene.

“Thank you all for coming here. Today, we are going to practice a type of meditation. As you can see, I have brought some supplies for your use today. What you’ll do is take a mat and find a quiet spot along this stretch. Find a comfortable seat,” she pointed to a chair and nodded to Buzz, “and using the materials within your reach, you’ll create a stacked stone sculpture called a cairn.”

Thandie picked up two mats by their bungee strap. When her eyes came back to the group, they swept over the tops of the heads in front of Grant and landed squarely on his face. “I see you back there,” she said.

A slight hesitation in her voice, barely perceivable, and a shake of her head, like a chill had just run down her spine, caused him to bite his lower lip. He certainly had an effect on her. There was no use in denying it anymore, but it was yet to be seen whether the effect was a good or bad thing.

“Why don’t you come down to the front and demonstrate for me.” Thandie waved him forward.

What was he supposed to do? A different kind of heat warmed his neck, but not from the sun—from his rising anxiety. There was a reason he preferred to take up the rear, sit in the back of the classroom, and by no means did he want to demonstrate anything to anyone. She gave him a smirk, and the side-tilt of her chin encouraged him to come up. He obliged her request.

The group broke out into applause as he moved between them and took a mat from Thandie’s hand. Taking a bow, Grant couldn’t help but chuckle at the anxiety he had just felt. It was ridiculous. He was ridiculous. These people looking at him had nothing but good vibes towards him, but even still, he wanted to hide under a rock, not stack them.

Being nervous wouldn’t serve him now. He took a deep breath as he came beside Thandie. Seeing the tension in his face, she placed her soft fingers on his forearm and calmed him further. “Okay. Okay. What do you want me to do?” Grant asked and unrolled the mat.

“Now, take a seat.”

Grant flopped the rubber mat onto the ground and sat, but as soon as his bottom hit the surface, he was right back up again. “Ouch.” He laughed without humor and rubbed his bottom where something goosed him. Folding the mat back, he revealed a rather pointed stone sticking up from the place where he had attempted to sit. He kicked the errant stone away and tried sitting again, this time with more success.

“Now, reach for three stones of various sizes. Taking the largest one, place it in front of you so that it has no wobble,” she said, and he acted out her instructions. “Now, take the medium-sized stone and balance it on top of the first.”

Grant caught on right away. Though he’d never taken part in any Zen rock stacking before, the concept was one that every kindergartner would be familiar with. “I got it,” he said as he balanced the remaining stone.

Thandie clapped, having joined the others for a better vantage point. “Very good,” she said. “Now, this was the most basic example and certainly a good place to start. But I want you to challenge yourself with this meditation. Remember, this experience is only for you. With each rock you place, you will assign something to it that you need to let go of. I want you to see that, as the structure rises, your negative thoughts, your trauma, and your vices together can be turned into something beautiful.”

Behind Thandie, Margret raised her hand. Grant pointed in that direction, causing Thandie to turn around and face the group.

“Questions?” she said.

“Hypothetically, what if we don’t have anything that we need to let go of?” Margret asked.

Anne nudged her friend and put up a palm to Thandie like a crossing guard. “Thandie, I got this.” She looked Margret straight on and took her shoulders in her hands. “Listen to me very carefully. Nobody, not even you, is perfect enough to have nothing they need to let go of. Even Gandhi, as good a man as he was, let go of his shoes. You will sit there, and you will build a tower of all the things wrong with you.”

Margret was slack-jawed at the rebuke, and Grant held in his amusement with his lips between his teeth.

CHAPTER15

Having handled her friend so fully, Anne nodded to Thandie and spoke under her breath. “May I suggest you begin with your ego?” The two women traded friendly shoulder nudges and caused the other to laugh.

Thandie held in her giggle. “Any more questions?” She waited a moment.

A hand went up from the rear of the group. “Do we get to eat when we’re through?” one of the trio asked.

“Snacks are on the way down and will be served by the dock. Now, grab your mat and fan out. If you need assistance, I’ll be walking amongst you all. All you need to do is ask me.” Thandie clapped her hands and felt a smile spread across her face. She wasn’t sure about adding this activity to the schedule at first, but as the guests’ eyes lit up while taking their mats, she could see that it already had promise. “And don’t forget to have fun with it.”

“I could use some help,” Grant said, leaning back on his elbows with his ankles crossed out in front of him like he was sunbathing. He tugged lightly on her leg, and she sat beside him on one side of his mat.

“That’s what I’m here for. What do you need help with, Grant Goldie?” She spoke quietly until the guests had made their way further along the old shore.

“I need . . . I want to know you.”

A blush heated her cheeks at his bold declaration. “I don’t think that’s very professional.”

“No, it’s not,” he said.

She was afraid to look at him and be sucked into the smoldering gaze that she could feel on her skin. She remembered her job again and what was at stake. “I’m not promising that I’ll answer, but you may ask me one thing.”

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