Golf In A Parallel Universe (37 page)

I pushed my chair back sliding backwards on the floor. I am confused. I do not know how he understands that this statement “Keep it Parallel Jim, Keep It Parallel” seems to have an effect to me. He looked at me. “And you hear that statement in your mind quite often don’t you. Especially in pressure situations on the golf course, right?”

I just looked at him, not knowing what to say, because I have heard that statement when I am playing in a tournament and under a stressful situation. And I also seem to hear it in two voices in tandem, his voice and some other voice.

“The reason that statement has such an effect on you Jim, is because it is the most important thing of your life right now. I will explain that later” he said.

“Shall I go on?," he asked. “I just nodded my head, sitting there dumbfounded. "I am sure you noticed, the very first time you picked up a golf club after the Masters, that's when you first heard that voice in the back of your head, correct?” I nodded my head. “Let me guess. Every time you hit a ball on the practice range or on the course, that little voice was just thrilled, correct?," he asked. I nodded my head again. He continued on. “From that point on that voice was cheering you on. You really started to enjoy golf more than ever. For the first time in years, golf was really fun for you again. Before you were just a burned out professional golfer at the end of your career. But suddenly had extreme enthusiasm for the game. That's why you have practice so hard since you won the Masters. There is a good reason for that. In the other universe you were just a normal amateur golfer. And when your other self joined you in this Universe, he was thrilled to hit a golf ball like a professional golfer. So that's why that other voice has been cheering you on and making you more motivated than ever. And that's why you have worked harder than ever on your golf game, because it is so much fun now. Does that sound familiar?," he asked. I just looked at him. I know he is telling me how I feel, but I am not sure how to react.

“This is not just happening to you,it happens to other people as well. For example elite athletes such as football, basketball players. They have the same experience as you have. They had themselves cast into their bodies, mind and soul from the Parallel Universe. You see athletics working very hard at their game. Much harder than the other players. And they develop into elite players because they work so hard. The reason they are working so hard is because they are having so much fun. They also have that voice cheering them on. They were not professional Athletes in the other universe. It also happens to non-athletes such as people in business or politics. Now I am not saying all elite athletes or successful business people are experiencing themselves coming over from a Parallel Universe. But some do.It is very rare that someone crosses over but it does happen. And Jim, you are one of those people that is experiencing this phenomenon." I just sat there, wondering what to say. “That's it in a nutshell, any questions?," he asked.

I jumped up. “Questions!?," I barked out in a laughing in a and confused tone. “I don’t know what to say. I don’t believe any of this crap," I cried out. “I understand Jim. But just go with this for a few minutes, he replied. "Ok, fine! I barked out. “I will play the game."

“Tell me this. How do you know all of this anyway?," I asked as I was staring at him. “Because," he replied as he stood up and walked towards the window and looked out at the view of Chicago. “It happened to me also." He turned around and looked at me. “I know exactly what you are going through, there is so much more that I can tell you," he said.

“OK” I said laughing. I folded my arms. “Prove it!. Sure you described a few things that I may be going through. But that may have been just a good guess. You know I am going through some emotional issues. Tell me something that will convince me," I said upbeat tone.

“OK” he replied. “I will tell you some things that maybe will convince you. As I mentioned before. The two Parallel Universes are similar. We all have carbon copies of ourselves in each universe. But the names, careers or life paths are different. Just because you are someone famous and successful in one Universe does not mean you will be on the other. So tell me Jim. How long have you been playing on the PGA tour?," he asked. “Ten years” I replied. And I am sure that you know golf history really well correct?." “Sure” I replied.

“OK then," he said with his arms folded and finger on his chin in a thinking gesture. “Have you ever heard of a professional golfer named Jack Nicklaus?” he asked. I thought for a few seconds. “Nope, I have never heard of him," I replied. “Think harder, you see him in your mind, don’t you," he asked. I started thinking. And I could picture this person in my mind. And then he spoke out. “The Golden??” "Bear!” I replied, in a confused tone. "Tell me about him," said Jerry. “The greatest golfer that ever lived," I replied.

“Jim, you just told me you never heard of him and now you tell me he is the greatest golfer that ever lived?? I am sure if we try to pull him up on the Internet we will find nothing of this guy," he told me.

One more," he said holding up his finger. “Complete this statement. “Arnie's Blank?." I barked out “Army." “Who does Arnie's Army follow," he asked. “Arnold Palmer, one of the greatest golfers of all times," I spoke out sharply. Then he looked at me. “Jim, you are a professional golfer. Have you ever heard of Arnold Palmer before?," he asked. “No, I have not. You're tricking me," I said as I jumped up from the couch. "You are just playing some stupid word game and leading me into saying these things. “No I am not Jim. It just so happens they are two of the greatest golfers of all time. But they are in your other Universe, not this one.

“You're Nuts," I replied. "OK, it is not important that you believe me right now. But in the future it will be more important. Actually, it will be imperative that you understand all of this before you go back to your home universe. But let me show you one quick thing and you will see that I am leading you in any way."

“This is all crazy," I replied. “You are just playing some type of word game and leading me into these answers. "Do you have some pens and paper," he asked. I took out a sheet of paper and pen and gave it to him. He sat down on the table. Now you take a paper and pen go across the room, so you cannot see me. I am going to tell you some names. You write the name down and describe who they are. Just picture them in your mind." he said. “Ok” I replied. I took the pen and paper and went over by the sofa and laid my paper on a small end table. “OK” he said as he started writing. We cannot see each other's writings. “Write down “Michael Jordan." Ever heard of him?," he asked. “Nope, I replied”

“Write down who you think he is. So I wrote down his name with the description of Basket Ball player, I have no idea why. “Next name is “George Washington." Ever heard of him?” “Nope” I replied. I wrote his name as down First President of the United States for some reason. “And Last” he replied. “Bill Gates." I wrote his name down and wrote Computer Businessman.

As we finished, I was on one side of the living room, and he was at the dining room table close to the door. “Ok," he said as he stood up and turned the paper over. “I have got to go. We have lots more to talk about, but I think you have had enough for the day. Hang in the buddy, it is all going to be OK," he said.

He turned around and walked out the door. I just stood there. I was surprised that he left so suddenly, but I was glad to see him go. I have had enough of this. I stood up with the paper in my hand and walked to the window and looked out at the view of the city. I was telling myself that this guy is crazy. At the same time I kept looking out of the corner of my eye at the table with the paper on it. I was trying to ignore it thinking this is just a joke. But I had the uneasy feeling that maybe something is really going on here. I walked towards the table. I laid my paper down to the right side of his paper. I could feel my heart pounding. I took a deep breath, and I turned over his paper with my left hand. I looked, and I was stunned. They were both the same thing. Each of these names which I have never heard of, but pictured them in my mind clearly. My description of the names was the same as his. There is no way that Jerry Churchill could have seen what I was writing. At this point, I realized that this could not be a trick. He is telling the truth.

I just sat down on the sofa and put my head in my hands. “This has to be a bad dream” I told myself. I tried to rationalize this. I tried to figure out if this was some elaborate trick. But he was right on with everything. And how could it be a trick when I wrote down those names.? I just walked around the apartment confused. And that stupid voice came back in my head again and it yelling at me. It kept telling me the same thing over and over. "Let's go play golf, Lets go play golf." It was driving me crazy.

Before long it was dark. I was exhausted and went to bed. My dreams were intense. Same dreams as before. I saw myself playing golf at that same little golf course in that same small town. Trying to hit the ball, but I was just a hacker. I saw my wife and kids crying telling me to come home. It was the same thing over and over again. It seemed like it went on for ever.

I woke up the next morning in a cold sweat and the sun was shining in the window. I got up and took a shower and drank some coffee. I sat by the window thinking about what Jerry Churchill told me yesterday. I started thinking, maybe he is not crazy. Maybe he is telling the truth. Everything he told me was spot on as far as what has been going on with me. I thought about it for a long time. I decided to at least keep an open mind. He is correct when he told me that this is a big universe and there is a lot that we do not understand. I started feeling better by at least accepting this a bit. I tell myself this is stupid, but at least it gives me a chance to think maybe I am not crazy after all.

Then my phone rings. It is agent Keller from the FBI. He asked if he can come up, he has something to tell me. I tell him that is fine. I wait for him anticipating on what he has to say. About ten minutes later, there is a knock at the door. I check the peephole and it is him and I let him in.

“Well” he said smiling. We were going to move you to a different city today, because you have been here for a few days. However I got good news for you.”

“What's that?," I asked. Mr. Dafford Hilton is no longer a threat," he replied. “Wow!, they caught him?” I shouted out with a big smile on my face. “Well, not exactly. He was found in a hotel in a small town in Georgia. He committed suicide by shooting himself in the head. He basically blew his head off. The local police confirmed that it was him."

“Wow” I said just shaking my head. “Not sure how I should feel about this. I am glad it is over but sad to see it had to end that way for him. I was hoping he would get caught and eventually get help for is psychiatric issues."

“I know how you feel Mr. Galloway. I have been in this business for a long time. And it is very rare people like him ever get back on the right track. It's not really a bad thing it ended this way," he told me shaking his head.

"OK, what's next?" I asked. "We had our plane ready to take you to a new location today. But since this is over, we can take you home now," he replied smiling. “Wow” I cried out excitedly. “OK," he said looking down at his watch. “It is 10:00am now. I will be back here at 11:30am. We will take you to the airport and we will be on the private jet in no time. We should be airborne by 12:30pm. Should be about a two hour flight back home."

“Cool!. “I will start getting ready now," I said in a happy tone. “By the way," Said Agent Keller. Jerry Churchill is here this morning. He asked if he can come up and talk to you for a few minutes."

“Sure, send him up I replied." As he left, I started thinking. Today is the Friday. The PGA Championship starts next week. I can make it. I will call my agent. He can make arrangement for me and Zack. Also I will call Emily. Maybe she can pick me up at the Airport and we can spend the weekend together.

About that time, there was a knock at the door. I looked through the peephole and it was Jerry Churchill and I let him in. He came in with a big smile. “Hey, I hear you are going home today” he said. I had a big smile on my face. “Yep, for and I gave him a big hug." I almost wanted to cry. “Yeah it's been tough," I said shaking my head. “But hey” I said, “It is all over now. I am turning the page on this. I am going forward and not looking back. I am ready to start a new life. I am ready to see Emily and see where our relationship is all going. It looks like we may have a real future together. And besides that," I held up my hand for a high five which he responded. “I am playing in the PGA Championship next week," I said in a excited tone.

"Hey, maybe you will make history” he said smiling. “I have not been playing” I replied. But I have had my mind on the game. The last few days I decided that if I get to play in the PGA Championship I am going to act like all this stuff the last few days never happened. I will be able to play like I have been the last few weeks. I think I can do it."

“Golf is 90% mental, you can do it he replied." Then he handed me a bag of fast food breakfast sandwiches. “I thought you may be hungry for some good breakfast junk food. “Alright” I said excitedly as I grabbed the bag and sat down at the table. “Funny thing” I said as I started eating “All of a sudden life is good again." I am getting out of this terrible situation that I have been in the last several days, and I will be back to normal in no time. And thanks for the breakfast, this is great.”

“OK Jim," he said. “I am glad things are going to be turning around for you." “Look," he said in a serious tone. “I have to run here shortly. But I wanted to check back with you on how you feel after all that we talked about yesterday?”

“Well” I replied. “I have been thinking a lot about what you told me yesterday. And I am not totally buying it. But I have decided to at least keep an open mind. I am sorry if I told you that you are crazy yesterday," I told him. “No problem," he replied. “That's exactly what I expected you to think. “I would like to talk to you just a little more about this if I could, then I will be finished.”