Wake-up Pages

Jeremy

October 8, 2014 Wake-Up pages.

J: I'm Jeremy
Me: How can I help?
J: I think I lost my ring.
Me: Your ring?
J: It's gold. It's my wedding ring.
Me: How did you lose it?
J: I think it... I don't know.It couldn't just fall off. It's pretty tight. I must have taken it off when I... I don't know. 
Me:What do you remember, Jeremy?
J: I remember being at a dance. In a nightclub.
Me: With your wife?
J: No. My wife stayed home. I was having an affair. I forgot about my ring so I put it in my suit pants pocket.
Me: And then what?
J: I was in the bathroom? I was sitting on the toilet? The ring fell out of my pocket? That doesn't make much sense does it? I didn't put the ring in my pocket. I left it on the sink in the restroom.
Me: You put the ring on the sink.
J: I went back to get it. A man was holding it. He said how much will you pay to have it back. I said he should give it to me. He said maybe he should give it to my wife. He said she would be interested in where he found it. 
Me: A night club?
J: A gay night club. I told him to give the ring back. He said I should pay him. I said that was extortion. He said no, it was blackmail. He recognized me. I'm in politics and I couldn't have anyone knowing I'm gay.
Me: What did you do?
J: I pulled out my gun. 
Me: You carry a gun?
J: Concealed. I'm licensed. But he was too.
Me: So what happened? 
J: I suggested he return the ring and I would offer him a suitable reward.He was just about to agree when someone barged in and startled him. He fired. I think I did too. 
Me: Is he dead too?
J: I think so. I haven't seen him. I really want my ring.
Me: I'll call Ben. 
B: Hi. I'm Ben. 
J: I'm Jeremy. I lost my ring. 
B: I think it's time for you to go to the TSP and start over. 
J: What do you mean?
B: You do know that you're dead?
J: Yes, but I still want my ring. I don't want my wife to know that I took it off in a gay club.
B: The truth is going to come out. Everything is revealed in the TSP 
J: No I don't want my wife to know. I love her. It isn't her fault that I'm gay. And I needed men. Once in a while. She will be heart broken.
B: Jeremy, you and your wife both took on a challenge: you of being someone who doesn't fit, and she of loving someone who doesn't fit, in a society that doesn't easily tolerate people who don't fit. Once you get back to the TSP you will see the reasons for the lives you lived and you will feel a lot better about it all.
J: I can't imagine any reason for being incarnated as a closeted gay guy in politics in Alameda.
B: Alameda CA?
J: I'm in Florida. 
B: Oh that's different. Alameda CA is pretty open.
J: I know. I wish I lived there. But still, I never meant to hurt Julie.
B: It's okay. Julie has her own job to do. Why don't you come on with me and I'll take you to the TSP. 
J: I guess I have no choice. 
R: You could stay here and whine about how horrible you were. 
J: I can't get my ring?
R: Julie is going to want it
J: I wish it was all different.
B: That you were straight?
J: Not really. I liked being gay.
B: That you hadn't married Judy?
J: I really do love her.
B: That you hadn't gone into politics?
J: I love politics.
B: Why don't you try it again. Perhaps in a more accepting time or place. 
J: Can I do that?
B: In the TSP all things are possible. 
J: I want to help the world be better and kinder to people like me and Julie. And even that guy in the bathroom. He was acting out of desperation. I don't want people to have to be desperate. 
B: Better get started. You are going to have to do some serious planning.
J: Okay. Let's get started.