The Dalai Lama's Cat (28 page)
How different all this was from the first time I’d visited Café Franc and was almost hurled forcefully from its door. What would have happened, I wondered, if I hadn’t made my way here in the naïve expectation of a delicious meal? If a home hadn’t been needed for Kyi Kyi, or Franc hadn’t been taken on as a student by Geshe Wangpo, or Sam hadn’t shown up at just the right time?
There was something mysterious and quite delightful about the chain of events that had led to this point.
And the events that were to continue.
Later in the evening, when the initial surge into the bookstore had calmed down, Serena walked over to where Sam stood with a commanding view of the gathering.
“It’s been a wonderful evening!” She radiated happiness.
“Hasn’t it just?”
Sam, I noticed, managed to avoid the floor and was looking directly at her, a helpless smile on his face.
Then they both started to speak at the same time.
“You go,” she said.
“N-n-no.” He gestured to her.
“I insist. You first.”
From my vantage point, I could see flecks of red dotting Sam’s neck. Like storm clouds gathering, the flecks melted together to form a crimson wave that rose steadily toward his chin then suddenly halted.
“I was just going to suggest,” he began, louder than strictly necessary. “Seeing as we’ll be working together—”
“Yes?” Serena prompted. As she brushed her hair back, her earrings glinted under the lighting.
“It would be a nice idea, but only if you had the time … ”
“Yes?” She nodded encouragingly.
“I mean, maybe we could get together sometime. Perhaps for a meal?”
She laughed. “I was going to suggest exactly the same thing.”
“You were?”
“It’ll be fun!”
“Friday night?”
“Deal!” Leaning forward, she softly kissed him on the cheek.
Sam squeezed her arm.
At that moment Franc emerged from the crowd behind them. Meeting Sam’s eye over Serena’s shoulder, he winked.
Back home that night, I took up my usual position on the windowsill. The Dalai Lama, having returned from Delhi, sat on his chair nearby, reading a book.
The window was open, and along with the fresh scent of pine, there seemed to be something else in the air. A hope of things to come.
Watching His Holiness read, I couldn’t help thinking, as I often did in contemplative moments like these, how very fortunate I was to have been rescued by such an amazing man. Images of that day in the streets of New Delhi still arose unbidden. Especially those final moments when I was wrapped in the newspaper and my life force seemed about to leave me.
“Most interesting, my little Snow Lion,” the Dalai Lama remarked after a while, as he closed his book and came over to stroke me.
“I am reading about the life of Albert Schweitzer, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1952. He was a very compassionate man, very sincere. I have just read something he said: ‘Sometimes our light goes out, but is blown again into flame by an encounter with another human being. Each of us owes the deepest thanks to those who have rekindled this inner light.’ I agree with that, don’t you, HHC?”
Closing my eyes, I purred.
David Michie
is the best-selling author of
Buddhism for Busy People, Hurry Up and Meditate,
and
Enlightenment to Go.
All have been published internationally and are being translated into many languages. David was born in Zimbabwe, educated at Rhodes University in South Africa, and lived in London for ten years. He is married and based in Perth, Australia.
Website:
www.davidmichie.com
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