Hello - My Name Is Anthony 846y

Charleston, SC www.PalmettoPublishing.com

Hello – My Name is Anthony

Copyright © 2021 by Shirley Short

All rights reserved

No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means–electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or other–except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without prior permission of the author.

First Edition

Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-63837-377-3 Paperback ISBN: 978-1-63837-376-6 eBook ISBN: 978-1-63837-378-0

This book was written with the gift of automatic writing and it was given as a gift to say Thank You.

CONTENTS

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

CHAPTER 1

I n my quest for knowledge and understanding, I came upon a story. A love story about a girl named Dina and a boy named Anthony. Dina was a pretty girl of 17 years. She lived with her mother in a small apartment just above a grocery store. Dina and her mom were what you would consider poor by most standards. Dina’s mom worked in a pub and, when Dina wasn’t in school, she worked in the grocery store below her apartment. Dina was a shy girl and she didn’t make friends easily, so she spent her leisure time reading or listening to classical music on the radio. Dina’s mom was a kind woman and a hardworking woman, which didn’t leave much time for anything else. By the time she would get home at night or the wee hours of the morning, she would fall asleep exhausted. She would still be sleeping when Dina would get up in the morning for school. Dina’s dad ed away when she was a very small girl, so Dina never really knew him. However, she did miss the idea of having a dad like everyone else. One day early in the spring, Dina was walking home from school and as usual, took a short cut through one of the small alleys near her apartment. It was the day before the trash men would come, so the alley was full of filled trash cans. As she walked, she came upon a trash can with the top off. Dina saw something stuck in the side of the can that looked like a wooden board with hinges. It looked like it was only partly folded up because something was inside it to keep it from folding flat. Why it caught her eye she will never know. Her curiosity got the best of her and she pulled it out only to find that it was an old Ouija board and planchet someone had thrown away.

Now Dina didn’t really know very much about Ouija boards, but she had heard some of the kids in school talking about them. She decided to take it out of the trash and take it home. Work and school kept Dina very busy so the board stayed in a drawer for the next few weeks. In fact, she almost forgot about it until one evening after work. Dina was feeling kind of lonesome and went to the drawer to get a sweater to sit out on the fire escape. She found the Ouija board tucked in the drawer with the sweater. What the kids had said about the Ouija board started to come back to her. Dina decided she would try it and see if it would work for her. She put her hands on the board and rested the fingers of her right hand lightly on the planchet. She waited for a while then asked if there were any spirits there. She waited and waited but nothing happened. She thought to herself “maybe I’m doing something wrong. Maybe my hands aren’t on it right or maybe I’m asking the wrong questions”. She continued to try many different things, but nothing seemed to work. She was getting tired, so she put the board away and went to bed. Somewhere in time, somewhere else and yet nowhere else, there were voices. There were male voices and female voices. These voices were talking about Dina, the girl who was trying to use the Ouija board. In fact, the voices seemed to be coming from under the table where Dina was sitting when she was trying the Ouija board. “Her name is Dina” one voice said. That voice sounded very sweet. Another voice said “Who is Dina? What is she to us?” This was an important sounding voice. “I would like to know what we are doing here!” said someone else. “Yes,” said someone else. “So would I.” “Well, if you will all quit chattering for a bit, I will tell you. My name is Thomas and I was sent here to explain to you all why you were asked to come here. From time to time there is someone from the other time who sits down to use the Ouija board.” At this point, someone called Paul interrupted and said, “We all know about

people using Ouija boards, but why are we here? Isn’t there another group of people who usually take care of Ouija board situations? A select group?” “Yes, Paul” said Thomas, “but this time it’s different. Dina is different and each of you have been chosen to meet the need that can be felt in this room.” “All of us here have other things that we would rather be doing” said Paul. “This really seems to just be a waste of time.” “Time? That’s what we are all about” said Judi. “The time is now. All of us here were picked for a reason. Look” said Judi, “Dina is sitting at the board again and she is waiting for something to happen.” “It’s the middle of her night” said Jo. “Why is she awake?” “Maybe we were all talking too loud” said Paul. “If we weren’t here, we wouldn’t be talking at all and she wouldn’t be awake expecting something to happen on the board.” “Would you be quiet Paul!” said Judi. “Dina is talking to the board and I want to hear what she is saying.” “That is a good idea,” said Jo. “I want to hear what she is asking us to do. I mean, if we are here to help, we need to listen.” While they were listening to Dina, someone entered the group unnoticed and just stood there listening—and this is what he heard. Dina woke with a start. She thought she heard someone call her name. She laid there for a few minutes thinking it was here mom calling her. But all was quiet. She tried to go back to sleep, but she was wide awake. She got up and her first thought was “maybe the Ouija board would work for me now.” The setting was right. It was the middle of the night. The only light she would use was a candle she had when she didn’t want to waste electricity. Dina lit the candle and set it on the table where she put the Ouija board and sat down. She closed her eyes and said a little prayer. She put her hands on the board and planchet and asked, “Is there a spirit here who will talk to me using this board?”

As she waited, she wondered, “What will I ask if there is a spirit here? Will we just talk? Should I ask questions?” There were so many thoughts going through her head. She was beginning to get tired just thinking. Dina put her head down on the table and fell asleep with her hands still on the board. “Well how do you like that?” said Paul. “What a waste of time. She didn’t ask us anything.” “Blow out the candle and let her sleep” said Judi. Jon, another one of the voices not heard from yet, said “If I was inclined to get tired, I would be exhausted from listening to all those thoughts!” “She was saving up all the thoughts for most of her life, waiting for someone to listen,” said Thomas. “Did anyone really hear what she was thinking? Or were you all to busy wishing you were somewhere else?” Anthony sat there quietly, just the way he had come in. He had what could be misconstrued as tears in his eyes. He wasn’t sure just why he was here. He had been called away from a very important project. But he knew when the call came it must be very important. So, here he was, with an ache in his heart he hadn’t felt since he lived in the other time. Even though Dina’s thought were many and coming fast, Anthony picked up something else that went deeper than her thoughts. It was coming from deep within here heart of hearts, her soul of souls.

CHAPTER 2

A week went by before Dina sat down at the board again. This time she didn’t take it out of the drawer. She had left it on the table so it would be a reminder to her to try again. Saturday morning Dina and her mom were having breakfast together, which didn’t happen very often. While they were eating, Dina’s mom asked her what she was doing with a Ouija board in her room. Dina told her how she found it in the trash in the alley. “It’s really a bunch of nonsense Dina,” her mom said, “but if you want to waste your time doodling with it, it doesn’t make me no never mind, just don’t neglect your school work or your job.” Dina wanted to talk to her mom more about the board, but her mom had to work two shifts that day so there was no time. After her mom left for work, Dina cleaned up the kitchen. Since she had the day off, Dina decided to really spend some time with the Ouija board. Maybe the reason it wasn’t working was because she wasn’t giving it enough time. Dian went to her room and sat down at the table. She said a little prayer and asked if anyone was there to talk to her. As Dina sat there waiting for a response, that lonely feeling she would feel from time to time, came over her so strong that she began to cry. If only she had someone to talk to, to confide in, maybe this feeling would go away and stay away. Her tears were falling on the board, so she got a cloth to wipe it dry in case the spirit did want to talk to her. She wanted the planchet to be able to move on the board without getting stuck in her tears. As Dina began to wipe, she noticed

some of the letters start to smear on the board. She stopped wiping in fear she would wipe off all the letters. After all this was an old board and the letters were somewhat faded. Dina let the board air dry while she fixed herself some lunch. She was really surprised how much time had ed from the time she sat down at the board to lunch time. After she ate, she went back to her room and sat down at the board again. As she was sitting there, Dina noticed the letters that had been smeared by her tears. The T, the H, the O, the N, and the Y. She wrote the word on a piece of paper, and just sat there and looked at them. “THONY” It was strange to her why just those letters were smeared. Her tears had covered most of the board when she was trying to wipe them up. Maybe the spirit was trying to talk to her. No, that was silly. Whoever heard of a person by the name of “THONY”? Or for a spirit for that matter. Didn’t spirits have exotic names like moon and stars or some such names like that? Still she had a feeling about those letters, that she didn’t understand. She continued to sit at the table to wait for any kind of response. She asked if a spirit was trying to speak with her, but no one answered. While she waited more thoughts came to her. What kinds of things she would talk to a spirit about? Would they sat strange things she wouldn’t understand? Or maybe just everyday things, like she and her mother would talk about. Or was there some one there that would be interested in listening to her talk about things that meant a lot to her? So, Dina waited till supper time and then put the board in the drawer where she kept it and went outside to sit on the fire escape. “She’s given up” said Jon. “No” said Judi, “I’m sure she hasn’t. it’s just that she’s been at it for so long.” “I wouldn’t blame her for giving up” said Jon, “we aren’t really being much help to her.” “She’s not being much help to us either” said Paul. “We’re not even sure just why she’s trying to use the board.” “Paul, maybe the reason we don’t know why she’s using the board is because we still aren’t listening. Jon what has impressed you when Dina is sitting at the

board?” asked Thomas. “I guess I’m wondering why she isn’t with her friends. I mean a whole day in her time has ed and all she did was sit at the table and wait for the board to respond to her. What about you Jo? What are you receiving from Dina’s effort?” said Paul. “Confusion, I guess. She doesn’t seem to have her thoughts together. She’s just waiting” Jo responded. “Well we’re waiting to,” said Paul, I guess it’s time I did something about this situation, so we can get on with it and get it over with.” “No Paul. We must give her a little more time. I don’t think she’s ready for us yet” said Judi. “Judi’s right” said Thomas. “It’s not time yet.” While all this conversation was going on, Anthony was just listening and thinking to himself, Confusion.? There’s a lot of confusion in this room, but another feeling was starting to materialize. Maybe Dina was going to give up! If only there was another way beside the Ouija board as a means of communicating with Dina. There had to another way to get through to Dina so that she wouldn’t get discouraged. Because just when you think nothing will change, it does! Anthony knew there was a need deep inside Dina that wasn’t being expressed, and in some way, he had to find a way to help her to not get discouraged. “There is one of us that hasn’t been heard from in this room yet and that is Anthony! Anthony, what are your impressions of this situation?” asked Thomas. Everyone in the room turned to look at Anthony. They didn’t hear him come in and they seemed concerned that he hadn’t made himself known to the others there. “Anthony,” said Thomas, “please let us hear from you, and everyone else contain yourselves if you can, until after Anthony is finished talking”. “It’s the Ouija board” said Anthony. “I think there are some preconceived ideas about the Ouija board. Dina doesn’t know much about them. We consider it obsolete. It was a means of communication used many years ago. It has become outdated according to popular opinion, I guess it’s like comparing the horse and

buggy to a jet plane,” said Anthony. ‘Wow! said Judi. “A horse and buggy! That reminds me of a ride I took in central park one time. It was fall and cool and we needed a cover to keep warm.” “Come on” said Jon. “Let’s not get to melancholy about this horse and buggy thing. “We’re talking about an old Ouija board and one with hinges on it at that.” “I think there is a parallel here,” said Jo. “Maybe we should pursue this after all. All she has is that board, and she wants to use it, or she wants it to talk to her.” “That’s right,” said Thomas. “that’s what we are here for—to encourage Dina to continue with the board until she gets a response from it. Then we can help her to understand why she wants it to respond to her.” Anthony just stood there thinking to himself, there’s much more to it than that. I must get through to Dina in a different way before the Ouija board will respond to her.

CHAPTER 3

I t was starting to get cool as Dina sat on the fire escape and she was glad she had a sweater on. It was times like these when she wished she had someone to talk to, someone who would listen and someone who would share their thoughts with her. There were so many thoughts going through her head and so many feelings, and sometimes the thoughts and the feelings didn’t go together. She was angry because her mom had to work so hard, but she understood. She wished she and her mom could spend more time together, but she knew that couldn’t be. But if her dad were still alive her mom wouldn’t have to work so hard and there would be more time. Then she thought about her father. It would be nice to have him to talk to also. But never mind. This is the way it was, so she just had to be satisfied with it. Or did she? Maybe that old Ouija board would talk to her soon and, and then she could ask it to find her father. Then they could talk to each other. She began to get discouraged again. She had had the board for a few weeks now and nothing had happened. Maybe nothing was going to happen. “Dina’s beginning to get discouraged,” said Jo. “I really think we should try to communicate with her somehow before she gives up altogether.” “Maybe we should just move her table,” said Paul. “That would scare the interest right out of her. Then we could be on our way.” “No!” said Thomas. “We are not finished here yet.” “We haven’ even started,” said Judi. “You’re right,” said Jon, “we can’t stop now.” Anthony said nothing. He was thinking again. Somehow, I must get a message to Dina that someone is interested in her and what she thinks, what she needs. But how? There were only

a few more weeks before thanksgiving and Dina was very busy working in the store. She also had to write a short story for her creative writing class, and up to this point she didn’t know what she was going to write about because she had spent so much time with the Ouija board. That evening while Dina sat at the Ouija board it came to her, just like that. Write about her experience with the Ouija board! But she hadn’t had any experience with the Ouija board. What would she write about? Well, this was a creative writing class so she could get creative. She could write about the experience she would like to have if she were to have one. Dina sat at the board for a while, again waiting for something to happen, someone to talk to her through the board, but nothing happened. She went to get paper and something to write with and she began to write her story. She spent most of the night writing and when she was finished writing she looked at it and thought, I haven’t given it a title yet. Then she wrote on the paper, “Hello My Name is Dina”. Dina felt good about the story. If she couldn’t have a real experience, make believe was the next best thing. It was getting late so Dina went to bed and slept well. Everyone was talking at once. They seemed to be interested in what Dina had written. And yet, they hadn’t really touched on the most important issue. Dina’s need, thought Anthony, goes much deeper than her curiosity about a Ouija board. It was this need that Anthony was going to zero in on someway, somehow, and soon. “She has written a story about a board that doesn’t work in the conventional way, and yet she maintains the new things happening in her life are happening because she has opened her mind to the board,” said Paul. “How do you think using the board could change anyone’s’ life if it didn’t spell out any answers to her questions,” asked Jon? “She hasn’t asked the board very many questions up to this point in her time,” said Jo. “Your right,” said Judi. “I think all she wants is for someone to respond to her, but not just any old spirit,” said Thomas. “That’s why we are here. But she doesn’t know it,” said Paul. “And because the

board has not responded to her, she has written a story about new things happening in her life. Things that started to happen just about the time she found the board.” “Did you notice the part in the story, where she writes about having a new friend, anew girl in school? And her mom getting a raise in her job so she doesn’t have to work so many long hours, and she can spend more time with Dina!” said Jon. “But you know the most touching part that I see,” said Thomas, “is when she writes about her dad coming to her in a dream and telling her that he loves her and misses her.” “Of course, there is the most romantic part,” said Judi. “You know the part where she tells about the note ed to her in the hallway in school. The only person she tells the content of the note ‘hello my name is Tony and I love you’ is her new friend.” “Well.” said Thomas, “this is all very interesting, but we are no farther ahead than we were before. Dina still sits at that board just about every day and it hasn’t responded to her yet. That means none of us here has a clue as to what Dina needs!” For a long time Anthony has been still, just listening. Now it is time for him to speak. “You have all ed over the very thing, if it can be called ‘a thing’ that Dina needs.” One of you even used the word that may come close to describing it, and that word was respond. However, that is not her need. That is what we do when we know the need, and the only way to know the need, is if you have had, or have the need yourself.” “I know Dina. I recognized her the minute I came into the room, and my heart went out to her. But I had to wait to see how great her need was. To see if her need would reveal itself to be as great as mine, or greater. Then and only then could or would I respond to her. Not only am I going to respond to her, but the fact is that I have already responded to her. I was the one who inspired her to write the story for her creative writing class. In the writing of that story I had a chance to see how deep Dina’s need was. But even more important, Dina had to be awakened to her own need in a greater way. She has been awakened, and now her quest has begun. The next time Dina sits down at the board, I will respond to her.”

Everyone in the room just stood there listening to Anthony. All but one of them was very excited to see what was going to happen when Dina sat at the board again.

CHAPTER 4

A fter Dina got finished working the next night, she came upstairs, she was feeling kind of tired. She wished her mom was home, she really needed to talk to someone. Her day had been filled with mixed emotions. First, she was happy that she got an A on her story, but then she was asked to read it in front of the class. Some of the kids snickered at her while she was reading it. I never would have written that story if I had known that I would have to read it in front of the class, she sat there thinking to herself. She wanted to cry all over again, just like she did in class today, after she had read the story. She went into her room and sat down at the table, and without thinking, she knocked the Ouija board on the floor. She got up from the table and went to pick the Ouija board up from the floor, and she noticed the planchet had landed on the board right side up. She sat down on the floor and just looked at it and started to cry. The only right thing that had happened to her all day, was that the board didn’t break when it fell. Strangely it fell in an open and in the right position. Dina said out loud, “if there was ever a time that I needed a friend, it’s right now.” Right at that very moment the planchet began to move. She was transfixed as she watched it begin to spell out some words. She reached up on the table to get something to write with. The first words she wrote were, “Hello my name is Anthony and I want to tell you about myself and my experience with your Ouija board. Yes Dina, that’s my Ouija board. I made it a long time ago, and I was very surprised to see it again when I was called here to speak to you. Let me begin my story.” Dina had a hard time at first, keeping up with what was being spelled out, and for a time some of the words ran together. She had to separate them as she went along. Some of the things Anthony told her would to make her start to cry, but

the planchet was moving so fast she didn’t have time to wipe her tears. The Ouija board started to get a little wet so she had to stop the planchet from moving so she could wipe it dry because the planchet was sticking. Thomas, Paul, Jo, Jon and Judi just stood there in wonderment, as Anthony worked the Ouija board. This was the first time these entities had a chance to meet each other. The work they did in their time kept them in various places, so they really had no occasion to meet one another. Now they were together for the first time, on Dina’s behalf. Thomas wanted to talk to Anthony, however he didn’t get the chance until Anthony was forced to stop because of Dina’s tears. “Anthony” said Thomas, “you have been in this time, it seems like forever. I have not yet met anyone who has been here as long as you, and yet time has not changed the basic need of mankind. I think I can speak for all of us when I say, we have all been moved by your understanding of Dina’s need, for indeed it has been your own.” The Ouija board was as dry as it was going to get, so Dina put the planchet back on the board and it started to move again. Anthony started to tell Dina how the board got made. “When I was very young Dina, I lived on the streets. I don’t know who my parents were because I was in an orphanage until I was nine years old. We were not treated very well, and after a time I decided I couldn’t take it anymore. I left to live on the streets. I slept in alleys and ate from trash cans. Unlike most children I had no friends to speak of. I spent most of my time by myself. The older beggars would look after me, just to make sure I was alright. They were the only family I ever had.” “One evening we were sitting around a fire that one of the old men made to keep warm. One of the older women started talking about the origins of the Ouija board and what it was used for. No one else in the group had ever heard of a Ouija board. I became very interested in what she was saying and asked her to describe a Ouija board to me in detail. As she talked, the need to make a Ouija board begin to grow in me. Later in the night after everyone was asleep, I got up from where I was laying and went on a hunt for the items I would need to make the board.”

“The old woman didn’t tell me how big the board was in measurements, but she did show me with her hands and arms, so off I went on the hunt. I was unable to find a piece of wood big enough, so I used two pieces of wood that were almost the same size. I whittled down the piece that was larger and matched it to the other piece. I found some hinges from an old door in a house that no one had lived in for years. I put the hinges on the two pieces of wood to connect them, which also made it easier to carry. The planchet I made was from the lock on the old door. The hole in the planchet is the keyhole for the lock. Some of the old beggars had taught me how to read and write, so putting the letters on the board was easy. The only thing that wasn’t easy was figuring out what I was going to put the letters on with. Pen and ink were not easy to come by, so I had to use something else. One evening just before sunset, I was sitting and watching one of the old beggars start to make a fire. I noticed his hands were all black from the pieces of charred wood he was using to get the fire started. I picked up some of the smaller pieces and made a mark on my hand. It worked! However, it also rubbed off, so how was I going to get it to stay on the wood.” “I tried many things in the days to come, but nothing worked. One day I saw someone walking on the rail tracks with leaves and dirt sticking to his boots. I asked him what made all that stuff stay on his boots. He told me it was the sticky stuff that came out of the wood that the rail ties sat on. He said after a while it gets so hard that it won’t come off your boots. I mixed the sticky stuff I got from the rail with the charcoal. I used a small stick to put the letters and numbers on the board.” It was getting late and Dina was tired. It really had been a long day, and she did have to get up for school the next day. Dina stopped the planchet from moving and put the board back on the table it had fallen from. She quickly read over some of what she had written down. It was all a mystery to her. Who was Anthony really? And why after all this time did he decided to respond to her on the Ouija board? Was the Ouija board that she found really the board he had made? Dian looked at the board more closely, and she noticed the letters that had smeared the first time she had cried, “thony”. Those were the last five letters of Anthony’s name. Anthony did make this board, and he made it with his own hands. Dina turned the board over to see if there was any date on the board. Sure enough, there in the righthand corner was a date, November 9,1883.

CHAPTER 5

I n the time of the other place, Paul is getting ready to leave, and Thomas stops him. “You can’t leave yet, Paul. this experience is not over.” “What do you mean it’s not over?” said Paul. “Dina’s need has been met and Anthony has responded to the Ouija board. What else is there?” “I’m inclined to agree” said Jo. Then Judi piped up, “I’m not ready to leave yet.” “Neither am I” said Jon. “We want to hear the rest of Anthony’s story.” “Well,” said Paul, “I don’t. I’ve heard enough already, and as I said when I first came here, what did this all have to do with us anyway?” Thomas was at a loss for words. “I know it seems like we have seen a conclusion to this, but we have not. I have received no word that it is time for us to leave. In fact, we may be here for some time to come.” Anthony was being his usual quiet self. After Dina went to bed, he felt empty, and yet filled up at the same time. There was still much more he would share with Dina and soon. In the morning before Dina went to school, she put away the paper where she was writing Anthony’s story. She didn’t want to show it to anyone. She didn’t want to get laughed at again. Not that her mom would laugh at her, but she just wasn’t sure she would understand. Into the drawer it went and the Ouija board with it. That evening when Dina got home from school, she found her mom sitting in the kitchen, reading the story that Anthony was telling her through the Ouija board. Dina’s first reaction was to get mad, but then she noticed her mom had been crying.

“Mother,” asked Dina, “why have you been crying? And why have you been reading my story and what are you doing home at this time of day?” She almost choked over all the questions she was asking her mom, seemingly all at the same time. Dina’s mom was startled by Dina coming in because she had been so engrossed in the story. “Oh! Dina your home. I thought you had to work at the store today.” “No,” said Dina. “this is one of my days off.” Again, Dina asked her mom the same questions. Diana’s mom looked at her and said, “sit down Dina, and I’ll explain to you first why I’m reading your story. then I’ll explain the rest.” “I was given a half a day off today, and so when I got home, I went to the laundromat to do our laundry. When I got home, I went to put your clothes away and I found the story laying on top of the Ouija board in your sweater drawer. It seems I never have time to spend with you or to talk to you so I can find out what you are doing. When I saw the story, I thought it must be the one you had to write for creative writing class. I didn’t really think you would mind so I took it out, and I’ve been sitting here ever since. It’s quite a story Dina, but it has left me up in the air. I can see you haven’t finished writing it yet.” “No, it’s not finished yet,” said Dina starting to take the pages off the table. “I’m not very happy about you spending so much time at that old Ouija board, Dina, but the story you are writing is very interesting, and I hope you will let me finish reading it when it is finished. Now then is one more thing I would like to share with you. I got a raise in pay today where I work.” “I didn’t think they would give raises to waitresses mother,” said Dina. “They don’t Dina. I’m the new manager! I have worked there longer than anyone else and the manager is moving away. They had to find someone to take his place who knows the business,” her Mother said. “My hours will still be long for a while, but we will have more money to live on. With the extra money I can get ahead with the bills. In a little while you won’t have to work down stairs at the store, and you can concentrate more on your school work and your writing. You really are good at this writing thing.” Dina didn’t know what to say. She was no longer upset with her mom for reading her story, and she was happy for her mom’s new job. However, what

made her the happiest was that she was spending time with her mom right now. That’s something she had dreamed about! It felt so good because they were sharing with each other. For the first time Dina’s mom was aware of her. She even liked her story, even if it did sound strange to her. Dina didn’t have the heart to tell her that the story wasn’t for creative writing class. It was a story being told to her by someone named Anthony. Oh well, there would be time for that later. Right now, she would just enjoy the time she was spending with her mother. Anthony was looking forward to the next time he would spend with Dina at the Ouija board. However, Paul was having a very hard time. “Why is it we must listen to this dribble?” asked Paul. “In all my time here in this time, I’ve never experienced anything like this.” “Well neither have I,” said Judi, “but I’m finding it all very exciting.” “So am I,” said Jo. “It’s like being in a verbal library. There are stories being told, different stories.” “Yes I know,” said Jon. “I’m beginning to think that in some way we are all a part of these stories.” “You may be right,” said Thomas “And finding out what part we play,” said Anthony, “may be the key to why we were all called to be here.”

Dina was anxious to hear more of Anthony’s story. After she finished work that evening, she came upstairs and sat down at the Ouija Board. For the first time since she had found the Ouija board, Dina really looked at it. The work that must have gone into making the board was amazing. There were no marks on the wood to show where a knife had been used to whittle one side down to match the other, and the letters were drawn so beautifully, Anthony must have been an artist, or a cabinetmaker or woodworker of some kind. Dina closed her eyes and put her hands on the board, without touching the planchet, and said a little prayer. Just as she finished the planchet began to move,

so Dina took her paper and pencil and began to write, “Hello again Dina, this is Anthony. I have missed talking and sharing with you. Are you well?” Dina just answered out loud, “yes Anthony, I am well, and I have missed you too. I have some questions I want to ask you.” “Dina, all your questions will be answered as I continue to tell you my story,” Anthony responded. “After I finished making the Ouija board, I looked for the old beggar woman who had told me about the Ouija board. I wanted to show her what I had made. When I found her, I showed her the Ouija board. She got tears in her eyes and put her arms around me and hugged me. I jumped in surprise because I could not ever being hugged by anyone. If she was surprised at my reaction she never let on.” “We sat down, and she told me to put the board on my lap. Then she told me to place both my hands on the board. She put one finger on the planchet. She closed her eyes for a moment and then started talking to the board. I have to tell you I was very surprised at this because none of what she was doing was anything like she had told us when we were all sitting by the fire that night.” “The planchet began to move under her finger, and I had to move my hands to the sides of the board. It seemed to be spelling out words—like the planchet is doing for you now. If you could see me now Dina, you would see my finger on the planchet. When she was finished, I asked her what was happening? She told me she was asking the spirits to come close to me so that their energy would go through me to the board. From that day forward, the Ouija board would work for no one else but me.” Dina wanted to ask Anthony, if that were true, why was the board working for her now? But Anthony was spelling out words to fast for her to ask, so she continued to write. Anthony continued, “the old beggar woman told me that once someone used the Ouija board, their spirit and the other spirits were together forever and that the board would not work for anyone else, except a blood relative. I knew then I wouldn’t have to concern myself that anyone would want to take my Ouija board, because they knew it wouldn’t work for them, unless they were related to me, and as far as I knew I didn’t have any family.”

“I asked the old beggar woman how I should address the board, and what kind of questions I should ask. She told me I should always ask in love and I would always receive in love. I should never demand and anything I wanted to know, or anything I would need would be provided. I had lived about 17 years in the world. All I ever had was what I had begged for or stolen. It was a bit hard for me to believe that from that day onward all I would need would be provided.” “That evening when we were all sitting by the fire to keep warm, I opened my Ouija board, put the planchet on it and placed my hands on the board. I said the little prayer the old beggar woman had told me to say and took a deep breath and waited, at first, I didn’t know what to say, so I just waited. After some time had ed, the planchet began to move, and it started to spell out something. At first, I couldn’t make out what the spirit was spelling, so I took a stick and wrote the letters in the dirt. They seemed to be scrambled but I kept writing until the planchet stopped.” “These were the letters I wrote down—A, C, D, G, O, P, Q, R, S, T, Y. In order to make any sense of these letters I had to put them in a different order. I somehow knew there was a name in these letters and if it took me all night, I would figure it out. Well, after working at it for some time I fell asleep.” “When I woke up it was just daylight. I decided to find the old beggar woman and ask her to help me figure out these letters, but I couldn’t find her. In fact, no one seemed to know where she was. She was gone. It looked like I would have to figure this out by myself. So, once again, with stick in hand, and dirt at my feet, I wrote the letters in the dirt. Finally, the name came to me. ‘PRADAGY’ was the name of the spirt who would speak to me through the board.” Anthony told Dina many things that day as she was sitting at the Ouija board. She learned that by the age of eighteen, Anthony had been hired by one of the town workers to be a cabinet maker. Anthony’s Ouija board was made so well, that the man who hired him knew he would be an asset to his wood-working business. Anthony worked as a cabinet maker the rest of his life. By the time he was twenty-five, Anthony had bought out the man he worked for, and the cabinet business was his. He fell in love with his former employer’s daughter and they were married. They had three sons and a daughter.

The only family Anthony ever knew were his in-laws, and he loved them dearly. However, occasionally, he wished he had known who his real family was. Despite the many years of loneliness and poverty, Anthony was not a bitter man. He had found the love of a beautiful woman and four beautiful children. Paul was getting more agitated as time went on. All this was just dribble. What has Anthony’s life story got to do with me, I mean us? Jon was beginning to wonder the same thing. However, Judi and Jo were just content to listen. Thomas was just a bit perplexed a first, but as the story unfolded, he began to understand, and see the wisdom of everyone being here, and soon they would all understand why they were all here. Anthony could see that Dina was getting tired, so he spelled out the word ‘goodnight’. Dina went to bed with a feeling of contentment that she had never felt before. A feeling of being cared for. As she started to fall asleep, she muttered to herself “if my father were only here.”

CHAPTER 6

I t wasn’t until the weekend that Dina had a chance to sit at the board again. In fact, it was early Saturday morning when she woke up to the sound of her own name. She knew it couldn’t be her mom because Saturday was the only day she could sleep in. Waking up at six a.m. wasn’t Dina’s idea of sleeping in. So, she got up and walked over to where the Ouija board was, and she saw the planchet moving in circles. She sat down and the planchet began to spell out some words. Anthony was talking to her again. “Good morning Dina. Did I wake you up to early? I hope not, but I was eager to continue my story.” Dina didn’t mind being woke up so early, she was beginning to look forward to her time with Anthony, and his willingness to share his story with her. It made her feel a part of something and someone. She loved her mother, and other than her mother she knew no other family. In fact, her mother never even talked about her father. Every time Dina would try and approach the subject, her mom would just tear up and say “I just don’t want to talk about it. He’s dead. That’s all, just dead.” Anthony continued to tell Dina the story until there was a knock at the door. It was her boss from the grocery. He asked her if she would mind the store for him a few hours while he ran an errand. Dina went back to the board and saw the planchet spell out the words, “we will talk later,” so Dina got dressed and went down stairs. “Anthony, why are you telling Dina your life story,” asked Jon? “I believe there is a connection between Dina and myself. When that connection is made Dina’s needs will be met,” replied Anthony. “But there is so much time between the two of you,” said Jo. “What kind of

connection could you possibly make?” “Maybe,” said Judi, Dina will meet Anthony’s great, great, great, great etc. grandson and fall in love. Dina has never had a boyfriend. Wouldn’t that be romantic?” For once, Paul was quiet. He seemed to be in deep thought. “What do you think Thomas?” said Judi. “you’re the leader here. You must know more about this than any of us.” Well, I do know something about what is going on, but so do each of you. You all have been listening to Anthony tell Dina his story. Or, you have been complaining about having to listen to Anthony tell Dina his story, but you have not been listening to your selves.” Thomas continued, “I have been hear watching all of you, and each of you have a different reaction. Paul’s reaction has been the most vehement. Jon seems to feel the same as Paul, but he hasn’t been as verbal. Jo is doing more listening than talking and she seems to be waiting. And Judi, you are an incurable romantic. You see love and romance in everything. Since we are all going to be here for a while, maybe we should share a little of ourselves with each other. Until you were called to this room, you had never met before. Is that true?” They all agreed. “Well now is the time, so who would like to start?” “I’ll start” said Judi. “I came from a time in a country in the other time called Ireland. That’s where I was born. I lived there for the first eight years of my life, until my family moved to England. I grew up in England. When I was old enough to be on my own, I moved to the United States.” “I was born in Ireland too,” said Jo, “but not in the same time as you were Judi.” “Let Judi finish,” said Thomas. “Then you can tell us your story.” Judi continued her story. “When I moved to the United States, I was very much alone. I had no family except for a cousin I was introduced to by a letter my father had given me before I left Ireland. My mother had taught me how to sew, so the work I did in the United States was that of a seamstress. I sewed for many families in the town I lived in. I met and fell in love with a man who was the son of one of the families I sewed for. We were never able to have any children of our own, but we did take in one child, a boy. He was a darling. His mother died

in child birth, and no one knew his father. Since I was the only friend his mother had, she wanted me and my husband to raise him as our own. The boy’s natural grandparents on his mother side wanted nothing to do with him, so we never told him the origin of his birth. We were his parents and that was that.” Jo listened very intently to Judi’s story, and if one could pale in this time, jo would have paled. “What was your son’s name,” asked Jo? Jo seemed to be shaking as she asked Judi that question. “His mother’s last wish, before she died was to name the baby Todd, if it was a boy, after her father,” Judi replied. “My father’s name was Todd,” said Jo. “When I was very young, about fifteen, in the other time, I gave birth to a son. Judi! Judith Mary? ARE YOU??? YOU ARE!!” At that moment Judi looked at Jo, and though their looks were not the same, you could see the recognition come into their eyes. They hugged each other, and they both started to talk a mile a minute. Thomas had to interrupt them. “You two know each other? That’s wonderful. After all this time. Even though time has changed you, it is something to see the ‘I know you look’ on your faces.” Jon didn’t know what to make of all this. Two beings, from somewhat different times, knew each other in the other time. Then they meet each other again in this time. It’s truly amazing! “Well,” said Thomas, “we must move on in this experience. There will be enough time later for you to talk over old times. I would like to hear from Jon now. Jon you seemed to be surprised at what is happening here. Maybe this would be a good time for you to tell us your story. Paul doesn’t look like he is ready to talk right now, and Anthony spent some time with Dina earlier. So, Jon what’s your story?” Jon began his story. “I was born into the other world in the middle 1800’s, just before the Civil War started in the United States. My father was in that war and died in that war. I never got to know him. I was very young when he left our home to fight. My mother raised me alone. She never remarried. By the time I was old enough to fight, the war was over. I went to school and studied to

become a lawyer. I ed from that world to this at a relatively young age. I was in my late thirties. I never married so I had no children. My life was rather uneventful, except for the fact that I too had no father that I could . Thomas, you made the comment that I seemed to be surprised at what is happening here. I am surprised, but more than that I am intrigued. As I said, my life was uneventful, so this is all very intriguing.” “Intriguing indeed,” said Paul. “The more I hear the more I don’t understand why we are here.” “This very interesting,” said Anthony, “considering you seem to be the only one who seems to be not affected by all of this. And yet you are the one who is complaining the most. Maybe you shouldn’t be here Paul. You’ve been nothing but agitated since I came in. However, I was late. Maybe you were this way before I got here?” “Now,” said Thomas, “being agitated doesn’t mean Paul shouldn’t be here, or that he isn’t being affected by all of this. Am I right Paul? Maybe it’s time you told us your story.” “I don’t think any of you would find my story very interesting. I was born, I lived, and I ed,” said Paul. Anthony noticed something in Paul’s voice when he said, “I ed.” It was a sadness, and if you weren’t listening very close it would go by unnoticed. Judi and Jo were still very excited about seeing each other again, so it was hard for them to concentrate on what Paul had said. “Please Paul,” said Jon, “we know there has to be more to your life than just being born and ing. You lived in the other time once and now you live in this time. I for one want to hear about the life of Paul. Either the one you lived then or the one you live now.” “Somehow Paul,” said Thomas, “I believe you have a story that needs to be heard. You know why we are all here, and for some reason, don’t want to reveal it. It’s time Paul. You must tell us now, before Dina comes to the board again.” Judi and Jo began to pay closer attention. They had a feeling that something was about to happen, and they didn’t want to miss any of it. And maybe, who knows, they were a part of it.

Paul began to talk very slowly. It seemed very hard for him to get the words out. “I was born in the year 1836.” Right at that very moment, Dina came back to her room and sat down at the Ouija board. As was becoming her habit, she got her paper and pencil, said a little prayer, and waited for the planchet to move. But it didn’t, it was very still and for some odd reason a chill came over her. She didn’t feel very well and got very sick to her stomach. Maybe it was the flu. It was going around with the cold weather and all.

CHAPTER 7

F or the next few days Dina was in bed. She didn’t feel like getting up. On the third day, while she was sitting in the kitchen drinking some hot tea, she heard a knock on the door. When she asked who it was, she didn’t recognize the name. “My name is Sue,” the voice said, “I’m from your school and I came to bring you some homework from creative writing class.” Dina opened the door. “Hi!” said Sue. “You must be Dina, and you look awful! How do you feel?” “Who are you?” asked Dina. “Oh! I’m sorry, like I said before you opened the door my name is Sue. I just moved into the neighborhood, and I started school this past Thursday. I’m in your creative writing class like I said. Mr. Johnson asked me to bring you your next assignment. He knows I just moved here. When he asked if someone would bring it to you, I said I would because I only live a few blocks away from you.” “I’m sorry” said Dina. “I’m not used to anyone coming here, so I was really surprised when I heard you knocking. Thank you for bringing the assignment to me. I should be back to school tomorrow. I’m starting to feel better.” “Hey, don’t rush it,” said Sue. “This flu type can fool you. I know because I had it just before we moved here. It really takes a lot out of you. I wouldn’t go back till next Monday.” “Maybe you’re right,” said Dina. Christmas vacation starts next Friday. I guess I won’t push it. Again, thank you for coming by.” “I’m glad I did,” said Sue. “I’m new here and I haven’t made any new friends yet. Well, at least not till now. I’ll check on you this week and see how you are

doing. See you later Dina!” “See you later Sue.” Dina closed the door, picked up her tea, and though to herself, “I have a new friend!” Just the thought of it made her feel so good as she walked to her room. She laid back on her bed and fell fast asleep in the glow of this new friendship. Paul had just gotten the date he was born out when he stopped and started for the door. Anthony stopped him. “You can’t leave Paul. I need to hear what you have to say.” “No son you don’t have to hear what I have to say.” The word ‘son’ just slipped out of Paul, like he had been saying it forever. “What did you call me?” asked Anthony, “He called you son,” said Thomas. “Anthony, Paul is your father.” Well you could have knocked Anthony over with a feather. Father? How is it that you are my father? How do you know?” Paul just stood there not saying another word. “Anthony,” said Thomas, “Paul knew he was your father as soon as he walked in here. Isn’t that true Paul?” “Yes, it is true,” said Paul. “I would know him anywhere.” “How would you know me?” asked Anthony. “I was in an orphanage until I was nine years old. Even I don’t any other place. I was too young. Again, I’m asking, Paul, how do you know me?” “Anthony don’t be angry,” said Thomas. “I’m not angry,” said Anthony. “In fact, I don’t feel much of anything right now. However, I am curious. I thought when I first came into this room that I understood what was going on because it was going on in my heart. I recognized the Ouija board that Dina has. Through telling Dina my story, or at least the only story I ever knew, I believed that Dina would come to understand herself better and not be so lonely and spend the rest of her life apart from people the way that I did. Now I’m not so sure of anything where Dina is concerned. Nor for myself

for that matter. In view of these new developments Paul, maybe you can enlighten me, as well as everybody else. Paul, please tell us how you know that you are my father.” Paul’s eyes welled up with tears. Not tears of sadness, but tears of cleansing and tears of refreshing. In a broken voice and a full heart, he began his story. “In my late twenties, I met your mother. My best recall tells me, I was twenty-nine. It was a one-night stand, as they say in the new time. I spent one night with her. My wife and I had not been together in that way for a long time. She was very ill. For most of our married life she was not very well. I, being a natural man, needed the closeness of a woman. For the most part my work kept me very busy. I was a medical doctor. However, there was one night and one woman. She was very beautiful and kind.” “I was out walking one evening. As I was crossing over a small bridge, I noticed this beautiful young woman just standing there looking down into the water. When I came up to her, I saw that she was crying and asked her if I could help her in any way.” “No sir” she said, “but it is so kind of you to ask.” “We started to talk. We talked of many things. We talked and walked till early morning. I walked her to her dwelling. She asked me to come in and I did. We made advances toward each other, and stayed in each other’s arms, until the evening of that day.” “A few months later, I received a note from her telling me she was with child, and that it surely was mine. She said she needed help and asked if I would help her. I could not help her. It would put my wife and my position as a physician in jeopardy. She never ed me again. However, I did learn through some friends of mine that she had given birth to a boy, and that she had named him Anthony after her father. After that I knew nothing. I guessed that she had moved away. After my wife ed away, I tried to find her and you, but no one seemed to know what had happened to her. She was just gone and so were you.” Anthony paced back and forth as he listened to Paul, but then he noticed Dina sitting at the board with tears streaming down her face. “Paul, I do want to hear the rest of what you have been telling me. However, in the process of listening to you I have neglected Dina.”

“I can see that,” said Paul, “and I don’t want you to neglect her. Now that I have told you who I am, you will have a little more to share with her. But, before you speak to her again, I have one request. I would like to speak to Dina before you are through.” “Are you sure?” asked Thomas. “Yes,” said Paul. “Oh! This is all too wonderful!” said Judi. Jo just hugged Judi and agreed with her. Jon didn’t say anything, he just had a very pleased look on his face. Dina just sat at the table and cried. “Oh, Anthony aren’t you ever going to talk to me again? I have so much to share with you, and I still have some questions to ask you.” At that very moment the planchet began to move on the board. “Please don’t cry Dina. I’m here. Please, tell me what has been happening to you.” “I have a new friend, Anthony. Her name is Sue. She just moved here about a week and a half ago. I met her when she came here to bring me an assignment from school. I was home, sick with the flu, so I didn’t go to school. You know what is wonderful about Sue being my friend? She and I are the same age. We were born on the same day.” Even as Dina was talking, Anthony began to spell out some words. “I’m so happy for you Dina. I hope you will become very good friends. Dina, I have some very interesting news to share with you. Before I do, I would like you to meet my father.” “Hello Dina. My name is Paul. I’m not only Anthony’s father, but I am also your grandfather many times removed.” “Holy smokes,” said Dina, and she almost knocked the board on the floor. “How do you know that Paul?” Dina said. Before Paul could reply, Dina said “then that means Anthony is also my grandfather.” Dina started to laugh and cry at the same time, because even though she asked Paul, how he knew, she believed him. Now she just wanted to hear how that could be. Ever since the experience with the Ouija board started and Anthony began to

speak to her, there were so many things she had wanted to ask. However, Anthony spelled out words so fast that Dina didn’t have a chance. All she could do was write. Now there seemed to be a break in the writing and Anthony’s story. She took the opportunity to get some answers. To some if not all the questions she had. One of the first questions seemed to be already answered. That was the one about being a blood relative of the person who made the board. If she was a blood relative to Anthony and Paul, maybe they could tell her about her father. Maybe even find him so that he could talk to her through the board. That was the first question Dina asked Anthony and Paul. “It will take some time to find out about your father,” said Paul. “But we will find out,” said Anthony. “Then we will tell you or your father can tell you himself.” Dina just sat there trying to take it all in. In one way it was kind of scary, but in another way, it seemed to be the best of the best that could ever happen to her aside from having her father alive and with her. There was something else Dina wanted to ask. “Would you mind if I invited my new friend to come and be here while they talk to me through the Ouija board?” “Please invite her, but if she feels uncomfortable, don’t press her,” said Anthony. “Well now,” said Thomas, “it seems we have some work to do. Dina wants to speak with her father, so she has asked us to find him.” “Is she sure that he has ed” asked Jo. “I mean, maybe he is still in her time.” “Well, there is only one way to find out,” said Thomas. “We will have to make some inquiries.” “If he did it wasn’t that long ago,” said Anthony. Dina is only seventeen years old.” “Let us all come together,” said Paul. “Let’s gather in a circle and put out the call all together. We will find out sooner that way.” When they had finished their combined effort, a woman appeared in the middle of the circle.

“I have come, in answer to your call. Dina’s father, the man you are seeking, is not here in this time, he has not ed over yet.” “Do you know anything else about him?” asked Paul. “Yes, I do,” said the woman. “As you know, he is from your blood line. Each one of you here is someway connected to him. That is why you were all called here together to meet Dina. It is time for Dina to know about her father. Thomas you are Dina’s father’s brother. Jon, you are a cousin of Dina’s father on his mother’s side. Strangely,” said the woman, “we needed two here that were connected to Dina’s mother and that would be Jo and Judi.” As Anthony stood there and listened to this woman, there was something about her that brought him a feeling of comfort. Paul began to feel the same thing to, something very familiar. Just as Anthony was about to ask her what her name was, she said she had to leave, but she would be back. She was gone. They all stood there looking at each other. It was amazing to think that they were all in some way related to this young woman named Dina. And, to think they were brought together because of her great loneliness and missing her father, and the wish for more time with her mother. “Well I guess we sure do have our work cut out for us,” said Jo. “Just like you said Thomas.” “That’s right,” said Thomas. “And now we have to get Dina’s mother to tell her what really happened to her father. Maybe we could get Dina’s mother to read the rest of the story that Anthony has been telling Dina. “ “Your right,” said Anthony. “The next time Dina comes to the board I will tell her the rest of the story.” “No, you can’t,” said Judi, “because then she will know about her father before her mother gets a chance to tell her. “You’re right, we have to come up with another plan,” said Thomas.

CHAPTER 8

I n the evening of the next day, Dina’s mother came home from work early and went to Dina’s room. Dina’s friend Sue was there so Dina introduced Sue to her mom. “I’m glad to meet you Sue. Are you new in town?” said her mother. “Yes,” said Sue. “We moved here a few weeks ago.” “Do you live far from here? I wouldn’t want you to have to walk a long way in the dark,” Dian’s mother asked. “No, I don’t live to far from here,” Sue replied. “But my father is going to pick me up later. My parents are history buffs. We bought an old house not too far from here. The old house was restored a few years back. My father is an antique dealer. He is going to put a shop on the first floor of the house, and we are living upstairs.” “Oh yes, I know where that is. You don’t live to far from here,” said Dina’s mother. “You know Dina, you should show Sue the old Ouija board you found. It may be worth something. Maybe Sue’s father could look at it and determine how old it is.” Dina got the shivers when her mother mentioned the possibility of selling the board. “Oh, I’m not so sure Sue’s father would be interested in seeing am old Ouija board. I haven’t even shown it to sue yet.” “You have a Ouija board, Dina?” Sue asked excitedly. “Yes, I do. I found it in the trash a couple of months ago,” Dina replied.

“Well I’ll leave you girls to your chatter,” said Dina’s mother. “I only have an hour to eat, and then I have to be back to work. Tonight, I have to get the place ready for a Christmas party.” After Dina’s mother left the room, Sue asked Dina to show her the Ouija board. “I have always been interested in the spirit world, but I have never had the chance to get in touch with any one. Some of my friends where I used to live had one, but they could never get it to work.” “Ok sue,” Dian said, “but before we try to make , I have to tell you something about the board.” Dina told sue the whole story, as it had been told to her up to now. Sue just sat there, with her eyes getting bigger and bigger, “Do you think the planchet will move for you tonight?” asked Sue. “I don’t know.” said Dina. “I asked Anthony and Paul if they would find my father for me, and they said they would try.” “Well, let’s see if they have anything to report,” said Sue. Dina got her paper and pencil out and put it next to the board. Then she closed her eyes and said her little prayer, and they waited for the planchet to move. At first it moved very slowly. Then it started to spell out the words, “hello Dina. Won’t you introduce us to your new friend?” “Hello, my name is Sue.” “Hello, Sue. My name is Anthony.” Dina and Sue hadn’t spent much time at the Ouija board when they heard Sue’s father’s car pull up. There was a knock at the door. “Hello, I’m Mr. Baker. Is Sue here?” Sue’s father said. “Yes, she is. Won’t you please come in,” responded Dina. “Hi dad” said Sue as she gave her dad a big hug. “I want you to meet my new friend Dina.”

“Hello Dina. It’s good to meet you.” Dina looked into Mr. Baker’s eyes, and got the strangest feeling, but she shrugged it off. “Dina, I’ll see you at school tomorrow,” said Sue. “Ok,” said Dina. “One more thing before I leave. Do you mind if I tell my dad about the Ouija board?” Sue asked. “No, I don’t mind,” Dina replied. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” Sue and her father left. Dina went back to her room and sat down on the bed. She started to get that real lonesome feeling again. Maybe that’s why she got that strange feeling when she met Mr. Baker. Maybe it made her think of her own dad, and how much she missed not having a dad around when she was growing up. In fact, she started feeling so bad that she started to cry, and it was right then she decided to ask her mother one more time about her father, and what happened to him. How did he die, for one thing? And who were his parents, for another, and did she have any grandparents? Were they still living, and if they were why hadn’t she ever met them? She had all kinds of questions to ask her mother. “I think this is going to work out better than we all thought,” said Thomas, who was still basking in the excitement of seeing his brother again. Of course, they were young when Thomas had ed, but even time couldn’t change the fact that they were very close and loved each other dearly. “I guess all we have to do now is wait,” said Jon. “But it may be a long wait for Dina. You know her mother is working long hours,” said Jo, “Because of that, we have to do whatever we can to encourage Dina to talk to her mother about this, but it is not going to be easy.” “How long can we hold her off?” asked Paul. “I don’t know,” said Anthony. “She is expecting us to find her father, and if we don’t come up with something soon….” “Ok,” said Thomas, “let us all get into a circle again. This time, all of our energy

will be focused on Dina and her mother.” They all gathered in a circle and began to focus all the energy they had into Dina ’s world.

CHAPTER 9

I t was getting very close to Christmas, and Dina hadn’t even asked her mother what she wanted. Dina had saved a little money, just as she had last year after she had started working in the store downstairs. The weekend was coming up. Dina knew her mother was busy at work, but she knew she would have Saturday morning to talk to her about Christmas and her father. In the meantime, she tried to get some response from the Ouija board but the planchet wouldn’t move. She started to get upset, but at that very moment there was a knock at her door. It was her friend Sue. Dina was glad to see Sue, and maybe it would take her mind off the Ouija board not working. However, the first thing that came out of Sue’s mouth, even before she took off her coat was, “Let’s talk to Anthony again on the Ouija board”, and oh, by the way, I talked to my dad about the board, and he said he would like to look at it.” “You know Sue, I’m not going to sell that board, no matter what my mother says. It’s mine. Anthony said he made it, and he’s one of my grandfathers. So, you might call it an inheritance from my father’s family. If my dad was alive, he wouldn’t want me to sell it. Plus, right now it seems to be the only connection I have with my father, and I don’t want to lose it.” “It’s ok, Dina. I told my dad you probably wouldn’t want to sell it. Now that we have that settled, let’s talk to Anthony,” responded Sue. “I tried to before,” said Dina, “but the planchet wouldn’t move. Let’s see if it will move now that we are together.” Dina and Sue sat down at the Ouija board. Once again Dina said a little prayer, and they waited for the planchet to move. Anthony was at an ime. There were some new developments coming into

this situation, and he had to be very careful how he handled it. Very slowly the planchet began to move. “Hello Dina. Hello Sue. This is Anthony.” Before Anthony could spell out any more words, Dina asked him if he had made any with her father. “In cases where a person hasn’t been here for very long, it takes a little longer to make . They haven’t had time to get established, so it’s taking a little longer than I had hoped. I will let you know as soon as I have any word.” “Thank you,” said Dina. “I do hope it’s soon. but you know Anthony, my dad has been dead for seventeen years. Wouldn’t that be long enough?” The planchet began to move slower now. “Dina, let me explain something to you about the difference between your time and our time. Your time is determined by years, months, weeks, hours, and seconds. Where I am, time doesn’t have the same meaning.” All of this seemed very puzzling to Dina and Sue, but Anthony assured them that it really wasn’t necessary for them to understand for him to find Dina’s father. For the time being they were satisfied with Anthony’s explanation. The planchet stopped moving, and Sue looked up at Dina, and said, “my father is really going to be impressed with this Ouija board Dina. He may make you an offer that you can’t refuse.” “No Sue. I can’t put a price on this board, but I would be interested in what your dad thinks of it.” How about Saturday? Do you have to work?” asked Sue. “Yes,” said Dina, “but only a few hours in the morning.” “Good! I’ll tell my dad that you will come by with the board on Saturday afternoon,” said Sue. “It isn’t quiet dark yet, so I’d better get going. I told my mom I’d be home before dark. I’ll see you tomorrow at school.” “Well.” Thomas said, “what do you think? Will Dina convince her mom to tell her on Saturday morning before she goes to the place where her father is?” “I hope so,” said Jon.

“I hope so too,” said Judi. “But in my concern for Dina, another energy came to me, and it concerns Dina’s mother. Please gather with me, all of you, and let’s ask for an answer to this situation. I feel it is very important to Dina’s future happiness.” As the group gathered in a circle once again, the woman appeared in the same way that she had appeared before and spoke to the group. “It has been decided that I will remain with all of you, until this situation with Dina has been settled.” “Why are you here at all?” asked Paul. “Yes, I think we all want to know why you are here,” said Jo. “It will be revealed to you in a very short time,” the woman said. “This much I will tell you. I’m the one who put the Ouija board in the trash can where Dina could find it.” Anthony looked at her at that very moment. “I know that I know you. You don’t look the same as you did when I knew you, but I know you.” “Yes, Anthony you do know me. Think back to the beginning of the Ouija board.” “You are the beggar woman! The one who first told me about the Ouija board!” “Yes, I am.” Her face began to have a soft glow about it, and she said, “Anthony, I have never lost sight of you, my son, you have always been in my heart.” That was the second time, in that time, that Anthony had heard that word used in reference to him. At that very moment, Paul looked at her and said, “Julia?” “Yes, Paul, it’s me,” Julia said. At that moment they all noticed Dina sitting at the table with the Ouija board. She was waiting for Anthony to respond. Very slowly the planchet began to move. “Dina, I want to introduce you to my mother,” Anthony spelled out on the board. “Hello Dina. My name is Julia.”

“Hello” said Dina. “Did you know that Anthony and Paul are trying to find my father?” “Yes,” said Julia. “I know, and I’m going to ask you to be patient with them. I’m here to help them. Dina, we all know it’s going to be hard to talk to your mother. We know she doesn’t want to talk to you about your father, but please don’t get discouraged. If you are persistent with her, she will tell you. However, I want to make just one small suggestion. If she won’t talk to you then change the subject. Ask her to go with you to the antique shop when you go tomorrow.” “Why?” asked Dina. “She will want me to sell the Ouija board.” “Don’t worry about the Ouija board, Dina. We will not let anything happen to it.” For some reason, Dina trusted what Julia said. She was getting tired, and she knew her talk with her mother wasn’t going to be easy. She said goodnight to Anthony and Julia and thanked them for helping. “If Dina’s mother goes to that antique shop, it will be a big shock to her,” said Jo. “I know,” said Thomas, “but this situation has gone on long enough. Dina is a very lonely girl, and she needs to have, no, she has the right, to have her family in her life.” “I’m sure that she had all the best intentions many years ago, when she made the choices she made” said Julia. “However, Dina should not have to pay for the rest of her life for the unwise choices her mother made,” said Jon. “I think while we are still all together, we have other things to talk about beside Dina,” said Paul. “Your right” said Anthony. “It is quite wonderful that we are all here,” said Julia, “I know there are still some unanswered questions, some of which I can answer for you. Let me start by telling you that I’m not only your mother Anthony, I’m also Dina’s maternal

grandmother. I was reincarnated, for the sole purpose of making sure that the Ouija board got into the right hands. And, contrary to popular opinion, I knew as soon as I could understand, that I was born to be Dina’s grandmother. However, this was not something I could go around telling the whole world. I must also tell you that as Dina’s grandmother, I am still alive in her world.” Everyone stood there in complete amazement, except Paul. Then Paul spoke up, and at once his countenance changed. Julia stood there in complete amazement. “George?” “Yes Julia, or should I call you my Alice,” Paul said. “Why didn’t you tell me,” Julie asked him. “Well, like you said my dear, it’s not something you go around telling the whole world,” responded Paul. “But how? Why?” Everyone was talking at once. “As time goes on,” said Paul, “you will all know how. It will be revealed to you in a future time. Right now, we will explain to you the why.” “Love is the key word here,” said Julia. “There isn’t a soul in all eternity who doesn’t want or need love. We, Paul and me, are what you might call a test case, to see if the results would turn out good. As you all know tomorrow, in Dina’s time we will find out.”

CHAPTER 10

D ina heard someone call her name, and it woke her up out of a sound sleep. She had grown accustomed to being awaken by voices, but this time it was different. It was her mother’s voice calling her. Dina got up and went into the kitchen to make coffee only to find that her mom had already done that. Dina was surprised to find her mom up so early. “Dina, I have the whole day off. I don’t have go to the restaurant until later tonight. I thought that we could go shopping together today. How does that sound to you?” Dina was shocked, because she couldn’t the last time they had gone shopping together. Maybe it was when she was very little, and her mother took her to see Santa Claus. Humm… That would be a good place to start on her conversation with her mother about her father. “Mother, do you when I was very young, and you took me to see Santa Claus?” “Oh! Dina that was so very long ago, I’m surprised you even .” “Oh, I alright. I even what I asked him for.” “You do?” her mother asked. “Yes mother. I asked him for a daddy.” Dina responded. Dina’s mother just looked at her, in complete surprise. I never knew. Why didn’t you tell me?” “Well, I guess I didn’t tell you because I was afraid it wouldn’t come true, if I

did. Well it didn’t happen anyway, so I guess it wouldn’t have mattered if I had told you. “I’m sorry, Dina,” was all her mother could say. “Mother, tell me about my father.” “Dina, we have been through this before and nothing has changed. He’s dead and that is all there is.” “Then tell me about his family. Did he have any brothers or sisters? Are his parents still alive? Or are they dead too. If they are still alive, where are they? And why don’t know them?” Dina’s questions were coming out fast and furious, and they were not coming out the way she had planned. “Dina, I can’t answer your questions. I don’t know anything about his family. We weren’t married for very long, and his family didn’t live in the same state.” “I had a feeling you weren’t going to tell me anything about him. So, I asked the Ouija board about him.” “You what!” said her mother. That’s just a bunch of nonsense Dina. None of that stuff is true. Whatever it may have told you, it’s a lie.” “Well, it didn’t tell me anything. The spirit who talks to me through the board is called Anthony. He said it would take a while to find him in his time. He hasn’t found him yet.” “Well, if he does find him, he isn’t going to be able to tell you about it. I want that Ouija board out of here and I want it out of here today. Didn’t your friend Sue say her father had an antique shop and he might be interested in buying it?” “That’s right,” said Dina, “but I won’t sell it to him. It’s mine. It doesn’t belong to him.” “I’m sorry Dina but I feel very strongly about this. In fact, I will go with you to the shop, and we will see if that board is worth anything.” Dina, went to her room, and sat down at the table where the Ouija board was. She started to cry, and at that very moment, the planchet began to move very

fast. “Dina, this is Anthony. Go with your mother to the antique shop and take the board with you but leave the planchet here in your room. And, please don’t cry. Everything is going to be alright.” Just then, she heard her mom calling to her. She folded up the board and went into the kitchen with it. As Dina was walking into the kitchen, someone was knocking on the door. It was Dina’s boss from downstairs. He just came up to tell Dina that she didn’t have to work today, and to tell her that someone by the name of Sue called and wanted him to give her a message. “She said that she would see you at the shop, and she gave me the directions to get there.” Dina said thank you, then closed the door and turned to her mother, trying to fight back the tears, that were not only in her eyes but in her heart too. “Dina please try to understand. We could use the money, and it’s not so good for you to spend so much time at that board. You need to spend more time on your school work.” “Mother, I’m an A student. I couldn’t do much better than I do now.” “Well then spend more time with your friends.” “I don’t have any friends. I don’t make friends easy,” Dina replied. “What about Sue? Isn’t she your friend?” Her mother asked. “Well, she could be. I really haven’t known her for very long, and the times we have spent together, we have spent time talking to Anthony on the Ouija board.” “Dina, I’m not going to change my mind. We are going to take that board to that shop and see if we can get some money for it. Then, we will have a little extra to spend when we go shopping.” Dina and her mother walked to the antique shop. It was a good twenty-minute walk. The day very brisk even though the sun was shining. It was the longest walk Dina could ever taking. When Dina and her mother arrived at the shop, only Sue was there. “My dad will be back in about fifteen minutes. I hope you will wait. He really is interested in looking at that Ouija board. I’d like to show you around the shop. We don’t have everything that we need in order to set up our displays, but I think you will get

the idea.” As they were walking around the shop, Dina’s mother ed a few letters that she needed to mail. “While you girls are looking around and waiting for your father to get back, I’m going to the post office. Maybe your dad will be here by the time I get back, and he can look at the board. I’ll be back in a few minutes,” and she left. “Come on Dina let me show you around,” said Sue. Dina replied “You have some beautiful things here. They must be very old.” “Yes, they are. My dad says some of these things are over one hundred years old! In fact, part of this house is over a hundred years old. My mom has been doing some research on this house. So far, we know that right here in this very spot, where the shop is, is the oldest part of the house. The rest was added through the years. My mom is trying to find out who lived here when it was first built,” Sued responded. Then Sue’s mom came downstairs. “Hi! Mom, I want you to meet Dina. She’s the friend I told you about with the Ouija board.” “Hello Mrs. Baker. It’s nice to meet you,” said Dina. “It’s nice to meet you too, Dina. Is your father back yet Sue?” said Mrs. Baker. “No mom he isn’t, Oh! Here he comes now. Hi dad!” Sue ran to meet him and gave him a big hug. The sight of that moment tugged at Dina’s heart. “Dad, Dina and her mother came here to show you the Ouija board. While they were waiting for you her mom went to the post office. She said she would be back in a few minutes,” Sue said. “Dina, Sue has told us how much the Ouija board means to you. Would you mind letting me look at it?” Mr. Baker said. “No, Mr. Baker, it’s right here.” Dina put the board on the table and Mr. Baker started to examine it. Dina’s mother was walking back to the antique shop. As she started to open the

door of the shop, she noticed Mr. Baker looking at the board, but it wasn’t his face that caught her attention. It was Sue’s mother. At that very moment, Sue’s mother saw her, and both women went pale. Sue’s mother started for the door, and Dina’s mother turned and ran down the street. Just as she started to run across the street, she heard her name called. “Julie!” Dina’s mother ran right in front of an oncoming car. By the time Sue’s mother reached her, she was lying unconscious on the pavement. There was a cut on her head that was bleeding. Sue, her dad, and Dina ran out of the shop just in time for Dina to see her mom hit by the car. Dina screamed, and ran to her mother, and shouted for someone to call 911. Sue’s mom bent down and put her arms around Dina. “She’ll be alright Dina.” She called to her husband to call 911, but he was already back in the shop making the call after he saw what had happened. Sue bent down by Dina and put her arms around her and her mom. They all just kneeled there crying. When the ambulance arrived, Sue’s mother told Dina, “You go to the hospital with your mother, and we will follow in our car.” Dina got into the back of the ambulance with her mother, holding her hand the whole time, and telling her over and over that she would be alright. But she wasn’t sure. Who she was trying to convince, herself or her mother? The ride to the hospital didn’t take long, but it seemed like forever to Dina. One thing she couldn’t get out of her mind. She was ing how good felt when Sue and her mom had their arms around her. When the ambulance arrived at the hospital, Sue and her parents weren’t far behind. Dina’s mother was wheeled into one of the emergency rooms. Dina had to wait outside in the hall. “I don’t understand any of this” said Dina. “What happened? Why did my mother run when she saw you Mrs. Baker?” “Yes mom,” said Sue. “Why did she run? And why did you run after her? Do you know Dina’s mother?” Just then a doctor came out of the room where Dina’s mother was taken. “Are

you the family of the woman that was just brought in?” “Yes,” said Mrs. Baker, “we are.” Dina was shocked. “No, I’m her family. I’m her daughter. How is my mother?” “Well, right now it’s too early to tell. We are going to do some x-rays, to see how much damage has been done,” the doctor replied. “Can I see her?” asked Dina. “You may, but only for a few minutes. However, she is still unconscious, and she may be for some time. We think there may be some swelling in the brain, but we won’t know for sure, till we do some x-rays,” responded the doctor. Dina followed the doctor into the room where her mother was. She started to cry when she saw her mother. She was so pale and so very still. “Is she going to be alright?” asked Dina? “I’ll be able to tell you more about her condition after we do the x-ray,” the doctor said.

CHAPTER 11

“T his situation is going to get worse before it gets better,” said Thomas. “I know,” said Paul. “But at one time or another, we have all experienced tough situations our lives.” “Let’s all form a circle,” said Julia. “We must begin to convey energy to Dina’s mother.” As they were gathered in the circle, a pale blue glow surrounded them, and in the center of the circle, they could begin to make out another form. The pale blue glow grew darker, into a dark blue as the form became clearer to them. It was Dina’s mother, looking very bewildered and wondering where she was. When they saw who it was, great understanding was given to each of them. “Who are you?” Asked Dina’s mother, “And, where am I?” Julia spoke first. “Don’t be afraid. We are here to help you, if you will let us. You have just suffered a bad accident.” “Am I dead,” asked Julie? “No, you are not dead. At least not yet. But we think you want to be. Is that true?” replied Julia. “What do you mean, I want to be dead? I don’t want to be dead. Why would I want to be dead?” Julie screamed. “If you don’t want to be dead,” said Jon, “why did you run in front of that car?” “I didn’t run in front of that car! I was running away from my…” Julie hesitated. “Who were you running away from, Julie?” asked Paul.

Julie looked at Paul and said, Don’t I know you? You look like someone I know or used to know.” “Has it been so long my dear child, that you don’t know us?” replied Paul. “Know you, know us? Who is us? Who are you? If I know you, and you know me, why don’t I know you? All this is very confusing to me. Would someone please explain to me what is going on. My head is really hurting,” Julie said, bewildered. “Come my child, come and sit with us, and we will tell you. Then you can tell us,” Paul replied tenderly. “Hello Julie, my name is Anthony. I am the one who has been talking to Dina through the Ouija board she found.” “That’s just nonsense,” said Julie. “No, it isn’t” said Anthony. “Please Julie, let us share our story with you first. If you have any questions, we will answer all of them when we finish.” Anthony began “Dina has been very lonely. When she found the Ouija board, it provided her with a means of communication that she felt comfortable with. Dina is a very shy girl, as you know, and it is not easy for her to be open to just anyone. She is very much like you, Julie. It’s not easy for you to open up either.” Anthony, Paul, Julia, Thomas and the rest, shared with Julie, all that had taken place ever since they were called to come here to answer Dina’s need. When they were finished, Paul asked Julie if she had any questions. “Well, I have a lot of questions,” said Julie. “But there is one that seems to be just a little more important than any of the others.” “What is that?” asked Paul. “Who are you Paul? I know that I know you but somehow, I just can’t seem to place you or Julia. I’m sorry. It’s just you and Julia that I seem to know.” Just as Julie ended her sentence, Paul’s countenance began to change, as did Julia’s. Everyone stood there amazed, because it seemed that they were witnessing a

type of reincarnation. Julie looked at them both and she started to cry. “Mother, Dad.” “Yes Julie, it’s us,” said Paul. They went to her, put their arms around her for a very long time, and kept telling her everything would be alright. “Julie,” asked her mother, “please tell us what is in your heart.” “There is something about all of you that makes me feel very safe and comfortable. But what is in my heart is not easy to talk about,” replied Julie. “Does it have something to do with why you left home after the girls were born?” asked Paul. Julie started to get tears in her eyes. “Father I didn’t want to leave, but under the circumstances I really didn’t have many choices.” “Julie, why don’t you start at the beginning,” said Judi. “We all want to hear what happened and maybe you need to talk about it.” Julie began her story. “Many years ago, long before Dina and Sue were born, I found the Ouija board in our attic in an old wooden box. I used to go up in the attic on rainy afternoons and try to set the board to work but for some reason, I just couldn’t get it to work. Then one day I asked jenny to come up in the attic with me. I showed her the Ouija board and her how it was supposed to work.” Julie continued, “We put the Ouija board between us. I put my one hand on the board and the other hand on the planchet. Jenny asked me if she should put her hand on the board too. I said it couldn’t hurt because up to now it hadn’t worked for me. I was willing to try anything. Jenny put her hand on the board and almost immediately the planchet began to move. We were both amazed at first. After a few minutes, we got used to the movement of the planchet. Once we composed ourselves, we started to ask it questions. Just silly questions at first, but then Jenny started to get serious. She wanted to know who she was going to marry, and how many children she was going to have.” “She was told who she was going to marry, but she was told she wouldn’t be able to have any children. She started to cry when she heard that. She cried so hard that the only way I was able to quiet her down was to tell her I would give her my children. She started to calm down. When she stopped crying, she said

Julie, you must be married to have children, and you said you were never going to bet married. Let’s ask the board if you are going to get married. I told her it didn’t matter what the board would say. I was never going to marry anybody. Just as I said that the planchet began to move again, and what it told us seemed very strange to us at the time. The board told us that I didn’t have to be married to have children. There would be a special way we could do it when the time came. So, we made a pact that when the time came, I would have children and give them to Jenny.” “When we grew up, Jenny got married. I had fallen in love, but I wasn’t ready to get married. I still had things I wanted to do.” “Six months into Jenny’s and Todd’s marriage, they found out they couldn’t have any children. There was some problem with Jenny’s tubes being blocked. ?” “Yes, I ” said Julia. Julie continued her story. “Jenny called me on the phone one day and said she wanted to have lunch with me, so we met for lunch. Jenny started talking about when we were young and about some of the things we did together. She reminded me of the pact we had made about me having children for her. I couldn’t believe she was serious, but she was.” “She told me her doctor had told her about a new procedure called artificial insemination that had just been developed. The doctor told her she probably wouldn’t be able to carry the baby full term because of the size of her uterus. He also told her that because of all the other problems, she might not get pregnant at all. However, there was a way. They would force her to ovulate, mix my eggs with her eggs, and then fertilize them with Todd’s sperm. Then they would plant the fertilized eggs in me.” “At first I wasn’t sure of all that she was saying. It sounded kind of scary to me. Then jenny started to cry, and as always, I couldn’t stand to see her cry. I said I would do it, but that I didn’t want anyone to know.” “After Jenny, Todd and I talked over everything and all agreed on how it would be handled, we had the first procedure done. It took the first time. I got pregnant! Jenny and Todd were just elated and all I had was morning sickness. Everything was going as planned. I was in good health, and I was happy for them too, until I

felt that first kick. It was at that moment that I began to have second thoughts. I went to the doctor in my fourth month. It was at that time that he told me I was going to have twins! I was not sure who was more shocked, the doctor or me. He then told me that only two fertilized eggs had been put in me, and he had never seen this type of thing happen before. When two eggs are implanted, only one egg will implant itself. The other one will die off before it implants itself. So, there I was with two babies instead of one.” “About a week went by before I called Jenny to tell her about the twins because I was really having a hard time dealing with the thought if having to give up a baby. Now it was two babies, and it was a little more than I could handle.” “I finally called Jenny and asked her to meet me for lunch again so that we could talk. We met for lunch and I told her how I felt. I also told her about the twins, and that I wanted to make a deal. Jenny was very excited about the twins. You could see the joy in her eyes, but there was anxiety too because she knew that I wasn’t so sure I wanted to give the twins up. Jenny asked me what kind of deal I wanted to make and if I still going to go through with our original plans. She said she didn’t think she could take it if I went back on our plan and started to cry.” “I told her not to cry until she heard my new plan. There was something I needed to tell her about the twins. I had done a lot of thinking about the situation these past couple of months, and I didn’t want to give up the baby. But now there were two babies. One of them was from Jenny’s egg, and one of them was from mine. My new plan was for Jenny and Todd to have the baby from Jenny’s egg and I would keep the baby from mine. The doctor had already told me he would test the babies at birth to determine the mothers.” “Jenny just sat there listening to me, and she even stopped crying. When I finished talking, all she said was that she understood, and she agreed to my new plan. But she didn’t want Todd to know. I promised I would not tell Todd. And I didn’t.” ‘In those days it wasn’t uncommon for the mother to give birth without the father being in the delivery room. The fact that I wasn’t married, made it easier for me and the doctor to keep everything quiet about the birth of the twins.” “The doctor performed the test as soon as the girls were born. One girl was given

to me, and the other one was given to Jenny. I know that you that day, because you were all so happy for Jenny and Todd.” “I had decided to leave the area as soon as I got out of the hospital for Dina’s sake. Todd knew nothing about Dina, and Jenny wanted it to remain that way. I know you seemed to not understand my leaving, but now I’m not so sure. I think you did understand why I left. Am I right?” “Yes, Julie,” Paul answered. “We always understood, but we were not happy about it. Both the girls are our granddaughters, and we have missed seeing Dina grow up, not to mention how much we have missed you. You can change all of that now if you want to. It’s all up to you.” “Is that why I’m here?” asked Julie. “Yes, partly,” responded Paul. “The other reason you are here is to decide whether you want to live or on.” Dina was sitting at her mother’s bedside while this conversation was taking place between her mother and the other side. Her mother’s head was going from side to side, as if she was having some kind of’ struggle. It was the first movement she had made in over twenty-four hours. Dina ran from the room to get the doctor. When she came back, her mother’s eyes were open, and she was trying to say something to Dina. Just then the doctor came in and asked Dina to wait outside while he examined her mother. Dina went down to the waiting room where Sue and her parents were waiting. Even though she was glad to see them, and glad that they had waited with her, she couldn’t help wondering why they stayed. After all, she didn’t know them very well. Sue was the only one she really knew, and at best she had only known her for a couple of months. When she got to the waiting room, she told them her mother was waking up, and that the doctor was examining her. But as soon as she walked into the room, she could tell something had happened. Sue’s dad looked like he had been crying, and Sue’s mother didn’t look much better. However, Sue had a smile on her face as soon as she saw Dina. She came over to Dina and put her arms around her and just hugged her. Then she looked her straight in the eyes and said, “ the day you told me the Ouija board wasn’t responding to you? You wanted to talk to Anthony to see if he had made any progress in finding your father. I said

that maybe if we did it together it would work.” “Yes, I . What does this have to do with anything?” Dina answered. “Well, you told me once that Anthony told you only a blood relative could make the Ouija board work? Do you that?” questioned Sue. “Yes, I do. But I still don’t know what it has to do with anything,” responded Dina. “Think about it a minute Dina. Why did the board start to work after I sat down with you? Maybe it worked when I sat down with you because I am your blood relative. Dina,” said sue, looking her straight in the eyes, “I’m your sister! Well, half-sister, and half cousin.” “That’s ridiculous!” said Dina. “Why would you say a thing like that? You can’t be my sister. You can’t be my sister!” Just at that moment the doctor came back and told Dina she could see her mother now. Dina went back to her mother’s room feeling very perplexed and beginning to feel angry. When she walked into her mother’s room, her mother was alert and called her name. “Mother, are you alright? How do you feel? What did the doctor say?” asked Dina. “My head hurts, and I ach all over, but the doctor said I’m going to be alright. Dina, are you alright?” Julie said. “I’m not sure” said Dina. “Sue just told me that she is my half-sister. Is that true mother? If it is true, how can that be, and if it’s not true, why would she say something like that?” Dina’s mother looked at her and asked her to come and sit on the bed beside her. Dina came and sat down. “Dina, it’s true. Sue is your half-sister. If you give me a chance I will explain.” Then from behind her, a voice came, “if you give all of us a chance we will explain.” Dina turned around and saw Sue and her parents standing there. “Is this some kind of a joke?” said Dina. “If it is, I don’t think it’s very funny.” Dina got up and ran from the room and out of the hospital. She kept running

until she was home.

CHAPTER 12

W hen Dina got home, she went straight to her room, expecting to sit down at the Ouija board. She wanted to talk to Anthony and get some straight answers. Then she realized that she had lift the Ouija board at the antique shop. Dina sat down on her bed and started to cry. Eventually, through her tears, she saw the planchet on the table. She went over to the table and picked it up, looked at it, and said to herself out loud, “Without the board you won’t work, and I won’t be able to talk to Anthony.” As she was talking to herself, she heard voices. They seemed to be coming from the planchet. The voices were saying, “put me up to your ear, so you can hear better.” Dina put the planchet up to her ear, and a familiar voice said to her, “Dina, I want you to look through the keyhole in the planchet.” For the first time she noticed that the opening in the planchet looked like a large keyhole. She put the keyhole up to her right eye, and with the left one closed, she looked through it. What she saw took her breath away! it was a beautiful room! Before she could make out much detail, she heard someone say, “You don’t have to peek through the keyhole. Come on in.” She was so startled that she dropped the planchet. As she bent to pick it up, Dina realized that she was in the very room she just saw through the keyhole in the planchet! They were all very excited about what had just happened, and they all started to talk at once. “If you all don’t try to control yourselves, you are going to scare Dina,” said Anthony. Dina just stood there. She didn’t know what to make of this. There she was in a room with people she had never seen before, and yet she knew them. She was a bit concerned as to how she got into this room in the first place. Anthony came over to her, took her hand, and said “Hello Dina. My name is Anthony.” Dina just stood there with her mouth open, and her eyes as big as saucers. The

feelings of disbelief and wonder were radiating from her very being. She was transfixed. “Dina,” said Judi, “we are so happy to have a chance to meet you, and to see you standing right here.” “Yes,” said Jo. “We are all glad to meet you, and we don’t want you to be afraid.” “I’m not afraid,” said Dina. “I’m, well, I’m not sure what I am right now. Who are all of you? Why am I here and not in my bedroom, where I was just a few seconds ago?” “All in good time, Dina,” said Anthony. “All your questions will be answered. First, you are still in your bedroom, you are just in a different dimension of it. As you begin to relax, you will have a better view of your surroundings. “Yes,” said Jon. “When you have relaxed, we will spend time with you. You will begin to understand all that has happened to you in the past few months in your time, not to mention your whole life time, right up to now.” Dina started to walk around the room a bit to see if she could make out anything in the room, but things were still a bit hazy. She almost walked into what looked like a pole, but then she looked up, and saw the most serious thing. It looked as if she were standing under a very large table. A giant table to be exact. “Wow!” said Dina. “Is this what I think it is?” “Yes,” said Anthony, “It’s the table in your bedroom.” “You mean we are standing under the table in my bedroom? How did you do that?” Dina said, astonished. “How it was done, well, even we are not sure. Nor are we concerned about it. We are all very much concerned about you and what has been happening, and not happening in your life,” Anthony responded. “Would you like to talk about it?” “Well why not, it doesn’t look as if I’m going anywhere right now.” Dina looked at Anthony. “In spite of all of this I’m glad to meet you. However, Anthony, what has happened in my life has made me very angry. Maybe while I’m here

you can clear some of this up for me. Have you been able to locate my father?” “No, Dina, we have not”. “Why?” asked Dina. “With all you have been able to do surely you could find my father.” “Well Dina, if he were here, we would have found him, but he is not. He has not ed over yet and won’t for some time to come,” said Anthony. “How do you know all of this,” asked Dina. “Dina, my name is Thomas. I’m your uncle. I’m your father’s brother. I ed over when I was very young. I became very ill and at the time there was no cure for what I had. I believe they called it polio.” “You’re my uncle?” Dina started to cry. She wasn’t even sure why she was crying. “Dina,” said Anthony, “everyone here is related to you in some way.” At that statement, each one took their turn telling Dina who they were and how they were related to her. As Dina listened to each one, for the first time in her life she began to feel as if she were a part of something. Part of a family. From moment to moment, someone in the group would say something that would bring tears to Dina’s eyes, and at the same time a warm feeling would well up in her chest. However, there was a part of Dina that was still angry. After everyone had told Dina their part of the story, Anthony asked Dina if she would them in a circle. “Why do we have to form a circle?” asked Dina. “Dina,” said Anthony, “we are going to call on some very strong positive energy to come into this room. We know that you are still very angry after finding out about this, and we understand. We want to help. We care very much about what happens to you and we want you to be happy.” “Even though you all have explained yourselves to me, this is still very confusing. You say that my father is not dead. So, that must mean that what Sue told me is true!” said Dina.

“Yes,” said Anthony, “what Sue said is true. She is your sister. But, before I tell you anything else, I want you to us in our circle.” Everyone in the room ed in a circle, and Dina was asked to stand in the center of the circle. “Close your eyes Dina, as we concentrate on positive energy.” Dina moved to the center of the circle and closed her eyes. When her eyes were closed, she heard a very soft voice call her name, “Dina”. “Dina, you can open your eyes now. Standing in front of her was the most beautiful woman she had ever seen and next to her was an equally handsome man. “Who are you?” asked Dina. “Do I know you? It feels like I know you.” “Yes Dina, we understand. We are your grandparents, your mother’s parents.” They opened their arms to Dina, and Dina went right into them. She could not resist. The power was just so strong. All Dina could say was “grandma, grandpa, I love you.” Dina had never known such warmth and happiness. “Dina,” her grandmother said, “we want to help take away some of the anger, if you let us. We want to share with you what you would not let your mother explain.” “Alright grandmother, I’ll listen, but this is still pretty confusing to me,” Dina responded. Julia started to tell Dina what had happened. Before she could get very far into the explanation, Dina burst out “Do you mean to tell me you knew all about me all this time, and you didn’t try to find me?” “Yes, dear we did, but we were asked not to interfere. So, we indirectly interfered. That is when you found Anthony ‘s Ouija board in the trash can,” her grandmother explained. “You mean you put it there?” asked Dina. “Yes, we did,” said Paul. “I put it there. You see, it had been in our attic for many years. We were not sure that you would find it. We could only hope. We are so glad you did.” Dina looked down and noticed that she still had the planchet in her hand. “I’m

not sure how I feel. I want to be happy about all of this but at the same time I’m still a bit angry. There is so much I still don’t know.” “Dina, I want you to put the planchet up to your eye again, and tell me what you see,” said Anthony. Dina put the planchet up to her eye and looked through the keyhole. What she saw really tugged at her heart. She saw the hospital room and her mother crying and Sue’s mother hugging her. “Why is Sue’s mother hugging my mother?” “Because she is your mother’s sister, Dina,” said Julia. “And that is all I’m going to tell you. I think your mother should tell you the rest.” Dina took the planchet away from her eye and found herself outside her mother’s hospital room door. At first, she thought she might be dreaming, but she still had the planchet in her hand. She put it in her pocket and went into her mother’s room. As soon as her mother saw her, she cried out, “Dina, I am so sorry. I never meant to hurt you. I love you so very much.” Dina ran to her mom and hugged her. She really wasn’t aware of any one else in the room.

CHAPTER 13

A few days later Dina’s mother was able to go home from the hospital. However, Jenny and Todd insisted she stay with them until she was completly well. In light of recent events there was a lot to talk about the future. Dina got to know her sister better. Julie and Jenny became close again. Todd was a very understanding kind of a guy, and he was overjoyed to find that he had two daughters—not just one. On the day Dina and Julie were getting ready to go home, there was a phone call from Dina’s and Sue’s grandparents. They were on their way to Jenny’s and Todd’s house, and they wanted Dina and Julia to wait until they got there. Sue said to Dina, “you have never met our grandparents, have you?” Dina didn’t say anything because Dina had not told anyone about her experience with the planchet. She wasn’t sure anyone would believe her, and she really wasn’t sure she believed it herself. Who knows, she thought, if it did happen then she would recognize her grandparents. “Hey Dina, while we are waiting for grandmother and grandfather to get here, why don’t we get the Ouija and see what Anthony has to say about all of this?” Sue suggested. So much had happened in the last two week ‘s, that Dina hadn’t even thought about the Ouija board or Anthony. It seemed that her need for the Ouija board was gone. “Come on Dina” said Sue. “Let’s go downstairs and get it.” But when they went down to the shop, they couldn’t find the board anywhere. They asked their father if he had put it somewhere, but he said he hadn’t seen it since the day of the accident. “I know where the planchet is,” said Dina. “I put it in my jacket pocket just

before I went into the hospital room to see my mother.” “You mean you had it with you that day,” asked Sue? “Yes.” said Dina. I did.” “Why was it in your pocket? Wasn’t it with the Ouija board?” Sue questioned. “No, it wasn’t. When I ran out of the hospital that day, I ran home. I wanted to talk to Anthony. Then I ed that I had left the board at the shop, but I hadn’t taken the planchet with me,” Dina replied. “Why?” asked Sue. “Well, when I went to my room that day to get the board, I asked Anthony what I should do. I didn’t want to sell the board. Anthony told me to leave the planchet at home and only take the board.” Responded Dina. “I wonder why he wanted you to leave the planchet at home?” asked Sue. “Sue, I’m not sure I have all the answers to that, but there is something I want to tell you about that day that I haven’t told anyone else.” Just as Dina started to tell sue what happened, a cab pulled up in front of the shop. The girls went to see who was coming and they opened the door just as their grandparents were getting out of the cab. Dina’s face went white when she saw her grandparents. Her grandmother was the most beautiful woman she had ever seen, and her grandfather was equally as handsome. Grandmother and grandfather just stood there looking at the two girls as tears started to flow. They opened their arms and the girls ran into them. When all the hugging was done for the moment, the girls helped carry their things into the house. “Wow! Look at all the presents!” said Sue. “With all the excitement going on i guess we almost forgot about Christmas.” “Christmas is next week!” said Dina. “Wow! What a Christmas this is going to be. It’s going to be the best I’ve ever had!” Where is your mother, Dina?” Julia asked.

“She’s upstairs getting ready to go. She is feeling so much better since the accident. Grandmother did you know my mother had an accident?” said Dina. “Yes, Dina, I did. Your Aunt Jenny called to tell us. We didn’t want to interfere until you all had a chance to talk,” Grandmother responded. “How are things coming along?” asked Paul. “Well Grandfather,” said sue, “we are a real family now, and I think it’s great that I have a sister! Come on, let’s go upstairs and let everyone know that your here.” Dina’s mother was just coming out of the bedroom when her parents came into the living room with Dina and Sue. They opened their arms and she went right to them. There were more tears and much conversation about many things. “Dina, why don’t we let them talk for a while?” said Sue. “We can go look for the Ouija board and planchet.” “Just before our grandparents arrived, I was about to tell you what happened when I went back to our apartment,” said Dina. “Well, you can tell me while we look for the board,” replied Sue. Dina told Sue what happened when she went back to the apartment. “That’s really weird Dina,” said Sue. “How could our grandparents be in both places? It’s really strange, but then this whole situation has been pretty strange.” “Yes, it has been strange,” said Dina, “and the fact that we haven’t found the Ouija board or the planchet is also pretty strange. “Wait a minute,” said Sue. “Didn’t you say you put the planchet in your jacket pocket? We haven’t looked there yet.” They found the jacket, but the planchet wasn’t in the pocket. “Maybe my mother found it when she started to pack,” said Dina. “Maybe she has it. You know she wasn’t too crazy about me having that board in the first place.” The girls went into the living room where everyone was still talking, and Dina asked her mother if she had seen the planchet. “No, Dina. I haven’t packed your

things. I thought you would do that yourself.” “You know this is all very weird,” said Sue. “We can’t find the board or the planchet.” “You know that board has a lot of history,” said Grandfather. “It was made by your great, great, great, great grandfather, Anthony Toema. “Anthony is the person who talked to me through the board,” said Dina. “That’s the person you were writing about,” said Dina’s mother. “There were some things in that story that brought back some memories. Finding that same Ouija board in our apartment didn’t sit to well with me either but I didn’t know what to say to you Dina. If I had said to much, I would have had to tell you the whole story, and I didn’t know how to.” “You know, that board is worth a lot of money,” said Todd. “The workmanship on it is just beautiful. How did you come to have it, mother and dad,” asked Todd? “It was given to me by my grandfather. He said it really belonged to both of us, your grandmother as well as me. He told me it had quit a history. It seems this is not the first time that a family has been brought together because of that board,” replied Paul. “Wow!” said Sue, “This is just too good to be true—another love story. Oh yeah,” said sue, “speaking of love stories. Dina, i have a note for you. It was given to me in writing class one of the days you weren’t in school, when aunt Julie was in the hospital.” “You have a note for me?” said Dina. “Who would write me a note?” “Well, someone did, and he is kind of cute too,” replied Sue. “Who is he?” asked Dina. “I don’t know his name, Dina. He just gave me the note to give to you. I didn’t read the note. He sealed it shut. I’ll get it for you. I’ll be right back. In a few minutes Sue came back with the note. Everyone sat there waiting for Dina to open it. “What does it say?” said Sue.

“Well, let’s see,” said Dina as she opened the envelope. The note said “Hi Dina, my name is Tony, and I want to meet you. I think I am in love with you.” “That’s all?” said Sue. “That’s all that it says?” Dina just stood there with her mouth hanging open. As she was reading it, she ed a story she had written for creative writing class. But that wasn’t a true story. Or was it? Everything she had written in that story had come true, right down to the boy’s name Tony. “Dina,” said Sue, “what’s wrong?” Oh, nothing. I’ll tell you about it someday. Right now, I would like Grandfather to tell us more about the history of Anthony’s Ouija board,” Said Dina. “I only wish we could find it,” said Sue. “Oh, I’m sure it will turn up somewhere,” said Grandfather. “Thomas, we’re the only ones left here. Maybe we should leave too,” said Anthony. “You’re right, Anthony. Our work is done here,” replied Thomas. Thomas, did you get another one of those calls?” “Yes, I did Anthony. Did you?” “Yes.” And, so it goes. Where do you suppose the Ouija board is this time?