Life of Reilly

9780373772049_PL.inddExtracted 1 threads from 9780373772049-exw.PDFUntitled Article 01: UntitledoeI TAKE IT YOU werent satisfied to be quantum con- sciousness dispersed through eleven dimensions? Lynn Reilly stood in the living room of her little bungalow, the tropical breeze of Treasure Island blowing through open windows and screened doors. The furnishings, though sparse, were wicker with brightly colored pillows. Curtains matching the pillow coverswhich Lynn had made herself tossed gently in the breeze. It should have been an idyllic evening scene: tropical breeze perfumed by exotic flowers, the sound of the surf in the distance, the sun settling low in the sky and casting a golden glow everywhere it touched. Should have beenbeing the operative phrase. Lynn had forgotten all that beauty because she was standing in the doorway of the room staring at her Aunt Delphine. Delphine looked pretty darn good. As if shed had a face lift. Nothing exaggerated, just enough to take a few years off. Her skin tone was great, too. Lynn would have given her right arm to achieve that particular satiny rosy look. So Delphine looked great. The only problem was, she shouldnt have been standing in Lynns living room. Because Delphine had died five years ago of a stroke. Delphine smiled. oeYou could at least say, Hi, Aunt Delphine. Its been a while. Instead, Lynn said, unable to wrap her mind around what was happening, oeYoure supposed to be dead. oePah! Delphine replied, frowning. oeDeath is far overrated, dear! And by the way, youre wrong about the number of dimensions. Lynns knees started to give way and she sagged onto the nearest chair. Was she really discussing quantum physics with her dead aunt? Shaking her head in shock, she asked, oeOkay, so how many are there? oeSorry, dear, Delphine said. oeYoull have to earn your Nobel Prize on that one. And that was Delphine, as enigmatic in the after- life as she had been in life. Wasnt she supposed to be playing harps with angels or something? How could God have let her escape from heaven to come to Treasure Island? But then, given Delphines nature, the better question might have been: How could God havepreventedher? oeYoure not supposed to be here, Lynn said lamely. oeProbably true. Delphine said. She was wearing her favorite green dress which was covered in huge red cabbage roses, and settled onto the other wicker chair. Well, not settled, exactly. She almostfloated. oeBut I thought Id drop in anyway. oeHow soon can you drop out? Lynn asked point- edly. God, this was impossible. She loved Delphine. How could she nCivil-Brown, Sue is the author of 'Life of Reilly ', published 2007 under ISBN 9780373772049 and ISBN 0373772041.