Would you walk away from a fool and his money?
Nobody is home? I never see this in Heaven. Me fists knocked as loud I could.
The door opened.
I wanted to blurt out what I witnessed, but…
“Hi, Paul. A friend and I went to the park where you perform. How come we didn’t see you there?”
“Oh.”
Paul Buyers wore a smoking jacket and a white scarf wrapped around his neck. I remember the first time I meant him in Heaven years ago. He had paintings he created of all his wives doing different household chores. I also recall that I convinced him to leave his house for a more lucrative venture doing Shakespeare in the park.
“Please, come in.”
We sat on his cloth checkered couch. “I haven’t even put the show together yet.”
“Why? You’re the master of comedy, I know.”
“Let me show you. If you come this way.”
I followed Paul into one of his bedrooms. Me mouth was agape because I couldn’t believe what I saw. “Blimey! I’m surprised! I see videotapes in boxes and a decent twenty-eight-inch telly and finally a VCR. When did you get all the VHS stuff?”
“A couple of months back.”
“What do they have?”
“I got all kinds of movies at this place called Video Unlimited; you won’t see them anywhere else. Let me put one in the telly.”
“Does it show actual programs from Earth?”
“No, just recorded things.”
I sat on a blue soft, padded chair as Paul pressed the play button. I don’t dare explain to Paul about me angel telly since Gabriel only picked a select few for me to tell.
The program came on. Right away, “Duck Broth?”
“Yes, the Larks Brothers at their finest, Tomas.”
“So this is what you have been doing instead of your show at the park?” Me eyes stared at the screen.
“Don’t worry, me boy, inspiration comes in many ways.”
“I hope you’re right.” What will Gabriel think of me watching the telly? Will he come back? I can’t believe Paul and I are watching a tape that Paul owns while looking at the telly screen. The funny part is, I don’t need me tea break on Level 4. While watching, the laughs unfold, I commented, “This is a new, interesting situation. Where on your level can I find this place, Paul?”
“After the movie, I will take you.”
I reached into me pocket and pulled out some gold coins. “How much do they cost, besides the telly and the VCR?”
“The gold coins in your hand will cover it.”
I put the coins back in me pocket and put the gem in me hand, lighting up the whole room. Wow, it even makes the telly look dull.
“Put whatever it is away,” Paul said, a bit annoyed. “I had never seen a stone that bright before. What in
carnation was that?” Paul asked as he paused the tape.
“It’s a stone. I picked up on a beach on Level 5. It’s brighter than a diamond. I wanted to make it a necklace. The jeweler said it can’t be cut. Sometimes, I think it resembles the jewel in the movie Rescue. There’s more to the story. We should watch the tapes. It will help you find material for the one-man show at the park.”
“Can I see that diamond again?” Paul Buyers asked me before we left his house to go to the Unlimited Video.