So, he had finally done it. He had raised his consciousness to a high enough level that it had opened a channel between earth and the distant star Arcturus. Only ascended spirits on earth were able to communicate with higher beings. Bill let his chest expand as he sucked in a deep breath of air.
Then what about his mother? Not just communicating, but having a full-blown affair with one. He exhaled, his shoulders slumping.
Bill made sure to trim the fat off the meat and cut it into bite-sized chunks before placing the pieces tenderly on a saucer. Funnily enough, he had no more complaints from his mother as he fed the cats over the next few days. Nor did they talk to one another. What was he supposed to say to her? So you're cheating on dad then? By sleeping with an alien from a more enlightened world?
Was it an insult or a compliment? On the one hand, seeing Arcturians meant that he had raised his psychic intuition to a deeper spiritual level. He wouldn't have seen his mother's lover if it wasn't for his higher understanding. It would have looked like she was frolicking all by herself. But, on the other hand those higher beings were a potential cause of great havoc in his earthly life. And whether he liked to admit it or not, he was stuck on earth until he gathered enough knowledge to move beyond his physical body.
"The cats really enjoy this food. Very nutritious for their cat-like ways," said Bill over his shoulder with a knowing smile, as he put the remnants of the Sunday roast outside. His mother fixed him with a warning stare, but said nothing. Bill felt a tremor of pleasure. He loved having the upper hand.
"Or is it rats, mum? Am I attracting rats rather than cats with all my scraps?" Bill dusted off his hands and closed the door. "That has a nice ring to it, don't you think? Rats. Cats. Scraps. I should be a poet. The things poets write about."
He could see her face redden. Calm before the storm.
"That's enough! That's about all I'm gonna take from you!"
Bill widened his eyes in mock protest. "What did I say? Sounds like I've accused you of something. Unless you're admitting to something that I don't know about?"
At that comment, his father looked away from the TV and fixed him with a stare. "What are you getting at, son?" Bill dropped his grin.
"I think he means he's the rat!" said his mother. "The biggest damn rat of them all. Clear off out of my sight. Go on! You lay-about!"
Bill narrowly missed her hand as he slipped out of the kitchen. Maybe he was taking things too far. If his mother really was having an affair, did he want his father to know about it? If they got divorced, then it would all be on his conscience. And he didn't want anything to interfere with the higher wavelength he was now operating on.
The cats were coming for their food. One was skulking near the fence. Another padded across the wet lawn. Bill watched as the bushes ruffled and then parted. It stood amidst the shaggy mass of branches, master of all cats.
Bipedal like humans, yet no more than four foot two. Bill's feet propelled him towards it, the saucer dangling in his hand like an extra, deformed limb. It made no attempt to move or run but simply waited for him to come, it's dazzling green eyes fixed on him. Hypnotic.
"Welcome," said Bill, "To the earthly plane."
The Arcturian dipped its head, one ear pointing horizontally to the side.
"You are on the right path to enlightenment, my friend," it beamed into his brain telepathically.
Bill was seized with several confusing messages at once. The urge to strike it, to punch it on the nose overwhelmed him. At the same time, he felt a desire to bow down before it. What a tremendous compliment. To be a master while still in the flesh! Instead, his assembled thoughts manifested themselves in a manner that surprised even him.
"Would you like to come for dinner?" said Bill.
