A Coltheart
Death was on his mind.
Never thinking or seeing the final chapter of his life to be written at such a young age of 25 but, I suppose things happen.
As he gripped his arm rests tighter with a kung-fu like grip as his white knuckles were showing. He began to ride out the ultimate fear he never thought he would experience in his life as, his aircraft he was on started to go up and down. Fighting the turbulence that was plaguing this certain flight since the very moment it disembarked from “the Owl man hanger airport.” Speculations could be that god must have been pissed against someone on this “albatross” that could have been trying to get away from a great sin they have done. Or to the “even minded” they could describe it as bad meteorology or “Science” just happening at the wrong time.
(Regardless, of the viewpoint one could have) his viewpoint was his own piss poor decision making that brought him there. Sweating through his impressive attire he chose to wear upon the long flight seeing as though he was a man on a mission.
Not of a government agent or some fancy villain trying to run from the law but, he dressed to kill for the certain area of 1st impressions. As he sought out a very important person that could make or break his childhood dream- a dream, to go in a lengthy explanation that stems back to a personal place with him as it began in his childhood.
As it became a little bit of an overwhelming joke amongst his family that translated to follow him like a black cloud that never left him. He always seemed to have this artistic talent that he continuously expressed from simple artwork to writing as he gotten older. Writing was the talent he never really had gotten over as something within his mind opened experiencing a similar supernatural event as though he was living a vivid spirituality of an Enlighted phase. He could not really express that to his parents Pam, and Darren or his siblings in the order of oldest to youngest (he) being the 2nd oldest. Leaving his vast ramblings of storylines and other creations of superhero’s went over Bobby’s head (the oldest) then Dannys (the youngest) and lastly Craigs head (the baby brother). In a way he was exiled to the “black sheep role” without a fair trial leaving up to imagination the singular description of his life being watered down to “tough.”
However, from the life being labeled as such even, at the ripe old age of eight years old and up-his personal family never really were cruel to his love for the “self-expression” he used to always be albe to wield it so. He was still albe to put himself through the hardships of balancing out his daily routine of school, then jobs, and a decent social life to still create his endless universes. 1400 to be exact with a number as the rest could be traced back on crinkled up pieces of notebook paper saved in trash cans throughout his life.
His proudest creation of a “universe” however was the one he had made resting comfortable next to him tucked in nicely in his dark leathered satchel which, took up the space of a seat next to him. His only sidekick he would take with him upon a journey such as this.
Within this “universe” was a complex group of stories.
Great stories at that.
Stories that describe monsters and humans in various ways that excite the newer mind of “want” you could say. His best story was the tall tale of a fictional land of “gusts” a kingdom that rest sorely in the sky buried deep within some clouds. Medieval in nature mixed in with a modern twist of a “steampunk” taste. Within this “sky kingdom” of his mind there is, a mixture of a fictional races and humans (alike) living side by side, the notelike hero of the land (for instance) was 4th black smith out of 10 for the whole city.
One Maurice Coltheart. He was secretly named “The Cold breeze” for various darker and sadder storylines he had written for the character. (not a privilege to do by any means) but, he did out of the character building to make him such a threat to any evil he would throw at him. A camouflage I am sure the author also did to make “him” better than him (if there would be a comparison in real life). As Maurice Coltheart was everything that he never represented in his real life as he was handicapped with such judgment.
It was that precise character that made him look directly over to the satchel. He placed his own mind out of the problem of death and focused on the purpose of making this “mountain Universe” he named to go public. Which then would make him and his journey through life more enjoyable thus why he was there.
He looked ahead to his own vacant space within his small area that belonged to him trying, to self-propel to a place within his mind to bring him peace.
He was quickly interrupted before he had the chance. From an unlikely place he did not expect. Right in front of him.
“Hi”
A small boy from the seat in front of him popped his head up just enough to make eye contact with him.
“Hey how you are doing sport”
“Ok? Grandmas’ kind of sick. She took some pills and went to sleep”
“Yeah well, it could be best dude. Grandmas in some plans are not the best with heights just, let her sleep. What your name?”
“Tyler...”
“Really? So is mine. That is cool huh?”
“Yeah...”
the young boys reply touched the author in a familiar place. A place of understanding. Something he himself was always robbed from all his life. in a way, he made it his mission to give out that feeling. No matter the problem.
In this case a young boy who was unsure of what to do on such a long flight.
The older Tyler made it his personal interest to entertain this younger version of the name by asking the honest questions one would, ask a child.
“So how old are you Young Tyler?”
“Um 8”
“Oh cool. You in school? What is your favorite subject?”
“Recess”
“Ha yeah mine was too. Let me take another guess “kickball?” “Cherry bombs?” am I right?”
Both Tylers then break down in a quiet chuckle as the older version must have hit on a relation of what elementary kids still do from his own hey-day. The older woman next to the kid stirred a little which spooked the younger Ty. The author made a serious face to add in to the comedy of the forging friendship.
“Hey you look nice where are you going?”
“Welp I am on my way to Mr. Hans house”
“Who is that? Like a fish man or something?”
“Ha no bud. He is a famous movie director-he is filled with magic that can help make the stuff come alive”
“Alive REALLY? COOL!!”
his loud voice made his sleeping matriarch of his family stir again. Both Tylers waited till she stopped before the writer explained a little better of his present course of action.
“Yes, you see Tyler when I was younger like you, I was gifted with a huge imagination. An imagination that seemed to go on-and on like the universe in outer space. So, in a way with being gifted all of that I started to create all of what was in my head to pen and paper, chalk and the sidewalk, the whole paint and a canvass thing. it's great. And overtime my creations that I have made turned into actual stories.”
“Stories?” the young Tyler said as it was a word that piqued his interest.
“Yes stories. The good ones. The bad ones. The cool ones. Like Clark Kent becoming superman or my favorite when the good guy beats up the bad guy and saves the girl and the day right?”
The kid Tyler smiled and nodded.
“Stories. Stories that to me marks your life journey that could lead you to have power from living the “tough” the one I had to live. Personally young buddy I am tired.”
“So, is that why you are going to see the “Fish man?”
Tyler looked dumbfounded as he realized all over again that he was talking to a child. So, he concluded it with a sincere form of flattery before the complimentary send off to the other Tyler.
“Yes, and yes, my friend. I must seek out the Fish man and give him a series of my own best creations of stories within my mind in hopes that he would give them life. But, eh I am still not feeling so well from this roller coaster sit back and press that button for one of them nice ladies to bring you another soda and snacks. Ok?”
“Ok” the young Tyler looking a tad sad of the conversation ending but, was met with a childish excitement as he zoomed in on the button pressing it rapidly.
Tyler laughed silently as he leaned back more into his comfortable seat trying to rest. Closing his eyes with a steady comfort as the plane found its rhythm. Lullabying him to sleep.
