Open Writing

After my revelatory experience with the medium, I was keen to explore spiritualism further. I decided to pay a visit to a Spiritualist Church, something I'd never done before. On investigation, I discovered that I live in somewhat of a spiritual desert out here in the suburbs and the nearest gathering of spiritualists took place each Friday night, half an hour's drive away, in a rough, downtown part of the city. I took a deep breath and decided to attend, even if I only did it once. I was on a quest to find like souls. Why did they have to hang out in such a dingy part of town?

Before I left home, I spoke, through prayer and meditation, to two people who had passed over but whom I sensed watched over me. The first was my mother's sister, my Aunt Hazel, who had come through during my session with the medium. I thanked her for coming through before and asked her if she could please give me even further proof of her presence.

Next I called on a man called Pops who had been a sort of adopted grandfather in our family. Pops' s own relatives lived far away in another city so we became his surrogate family and he would often join us on outings and regularly came to dinner, especially when we were having a roast. Pops was both a gentle man and a gentleman and we loved having him around.

Pops was so likeable, in fact, that he had also charmed his way into going to dinner and parties at the Kaye family's home down the road. The Kaye family were rather well off and they had a particular penchant for collecting stamps, not just any stamps but stamps of extreme value. They had personal friends in high places at Stanley Gibbons and they were canny when it came to the tricks of investing in postage. I mention this because, when Pops sadly found out that he was dying of bone cancer, he made a pact with my mother and Mrs Kaye that if there was an afterlife, and he reached it, he would send them a code word. He took that code word from the world of stamps. The code word they agreed on was "Penny Black", the name of the world's first adhesive postage stamp, issued in 1840. Pops died in 1985.

"Pops," I beseeched him, "if you are out there, tonight is the time to come through with your "Penny Black". Please do it for me."

So, firmly locking my car doors, I drove off into the night on my mission. The dilapidated church was down a back alley in a poor neighbourhood where I felt most conspicuous just because I was reasonably dressed and sober. Once inside though, I felt safe and many people gave me an acknowledging nod of the head. To my relief, no-one rushed over to hug me, Spanish inquisition me or pass on the peace or any other dreaded lurgy. There was a great deal of plastic involved in the church decor: plastic chairs, plastic tablecloths and plastic coverings on the floor. There was a self-playing organ in the corner and we sang all sorts of uplifting songs which were mostly classics from the pop charts down the years. The atmosphere was relaxed, light hearted and pleasant. They even gave change when they came around with the collection plate.

There were two mediums present that night and towards the end of the service they walked into the congregation to give readings. I found myself hoping that I'd receive a reading from the male medium as he was far more charismatic, confident and, judging from the responses, more accurate. I was mildly disappointed then when the female medium stood in front of me. "I have your mother's sister here," she said. "She says that you know that she is with you and she tells me that she was not ready to go. She says that when you buy a new pair of shoes tomorrow you must buy them with your head and not your wallet." Everyone laughed, including me. The others presumed that this was a warning not to spend too much money but I knew the reverse to be true. Being married to a careful accountant, I had been buying cheaper shoes all my married life, so as not to stretch the budget. But now, in middle age, I was developing uncomfortable knobs on my feet which rubbed on my unforgiving, plastic shoes. Spirits, I was learning, often come through with mundane matters as a confirmation of the fact that they are around you in your daily, usually ordinary life. I had dithered about what shoes to wear before coming out as I knew that they would become gradually more painful as the evening wore on.

That was the sum total of my message and Pops did not put in an appearance.

I almost choked on a mouthful of tea the next morning when my husband came downstairs and said, "We'd better go shopping this morning for your birthday. Didn't you say that you needed a new pair of shoes?" I went ahead and treated myself to an expensive, delectably soft pair of leather shoes, without the slightest bit of conscience and silently thanking my Aunt Hazel as I did so. I was beginning to trust and enjoy this newly-discovered knowing.

Later that day I happened to glance out of the upstairs window and I noticed some teenage girls attaching a poster to the lamp post directly opposite our house. Intrigued, I went outside to read it.

"Lost dog. 3 yr old Boston Terrier. Penny. Black with white markings."

Pops had come to the party after all!