Mental Dimensions Book 8.5 x 11_ed1_4 - Andy Alt.pdf

7/24/2019 Mental Dimensions Book 8.5 x 11_ed1_4 - Andy Alt.pdf

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Mental DimensionsTales of Fantasy for a New Generation

1st Edition

Andrew G. Alt


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Mental Dimensions

Tales of Fantasy for a New Generation

May 2014

Copyright 2014 by Anrew G! Alt

All rights reser"e!

ISBN-13: 978-1499554267

ISBN-10: 1499554265

#eb site$ http$%%mentalimensions!net%

This book is a work of fiction. Names,

characters, locations, and incidents areproducts of the authors imagination. Anyresemblance to actual events or places orpersons, living or dead, is coincidental.


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To George and Kate may they rest with their Lord

in eternal peae


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Contents

!o"ering on the #inds of Tho$ght 1

The %earh for the Enhanted &alls '

The ()edient *arents +

,ames-s Lo"e 1+

The Grasshopper and the liff /0

The *ro)lemati 222 /3

The amel in the Desert 04

The Magi &rain '/

The *risoner '4

The &lind Man and !is Neigh)ors 30

#illiam and Mary 3+

Mo$nt %olation

The Money Trees 5'


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6-d li7e to than7 my family and friends for their

s$pport8 and note that ,oel handed me one of these

stories on a sil"er platter. 6 wish to e9press my

gratit$de and lo"e to &o) and Artie : may their

so$ls rest omforta)ly $ntil the end of time.


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Mental Dimensions & 1

Hovering on the Winds of Thought

A lonely time ago8 a spacewas ho"ering in

the mist formed )y the winds of tho$ght. The

space had no other p$rpose. (ne day8 it

reali;ed it o$ld do more than only ho"er8 so

deided to fly swiftly thro$gh the mist to

find a p$rpose.

After an immeas$ra)le amo$nt of time8 the

space landed )etween some "owels. Altho$gh

they didn-t mind assoiating with the space8

the new partners remained lost in a misty "oid

and felt inoherent and inomplete. For many

years they aimlessly floated thro$gh the

dar7ness. Then one day8 they lightly to$hed

se"eral onf$sed onsonants that were ho"ering

$pon a la;y )ree;e passing near)y.

#itho$t warning8 ommas and periods )egan

dripping from the s7y. Thespace8 the "owels8

the onsonants8 the ommas8 and the periods

delightf$lly


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2 & Tales of Fantasy for a New Generation

and graef$lly wa"ed good)ye to its former

g$ests.

F$lly de"eloped hapters eagerly spro$ted

from the sentenes and gently aressed all the

haraters that had


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Mental Dimensions & '

6n the "oid8 a lonely time later8 there was

a space.

The &eginning


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The Search for the Enchanted Balls

(ne $pon a time in a land not $nli7e o$r own8

two ta))y ats named ,anie and ,ao) were playingin a grassy field with their enhanted )alls.

,anie-s )all was pin7 with p$rple stripes.

,ao)-s was )right green with small yellow

irles. They lo"ed their toys and played with

them e"ery day.

(ne day as ,anie and ,ao) were playing8 they

)oth lost their )alls. They were heart:)ro7en.

They went home and ried themsel"es to sleep. The

ne9t day8 they deided to searh for them.

,anie and ,ao) left to tra"el the world to

searh for their )elo"ed toys. They didn-t 7now

how long their searh wo$ld last or how far they-d

ha"e to tra"el to rea=$ire their preio$s

treas$re8 )$t they were determined.

They searhed all o"er the world. They

tra"eled )y foot8 )y horse8 )y )oat8 )y train8 )y

plane8 and )y steamship. Their hearts grew hea"ier

as time passed8 eah preeding day fore"er lost to

them. They o$ldn-t thin7 of anything else )$t

their )alls. Try as hard as they might8 they


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Mental Dimensions & (

o$ldn-t forget a)o$t them. (ften they sat with

eah other and tal7ed a)o$t them. They fre=$ently

daydreamed and fantasi;ed a)o$t how happy they

wo$ld )e when they again fo$nd their )alls.

The days arried o"er to years8 and the years

slowly transformed into ent$ries. ,anie and

,ao) were a)le to e9pand their searh $sing new

in"entions. They "oyaged )y spaeship to other

worlds8 they rossed o"er into different $ni"ersesand searhed on millions of worlds. They tra"eled

to other dimensions. (ne8 they e"en tra"eled )a7

to the past $sing a time mahine>to the point in

history when they lost their )alls. Despite their

)est efforts8 howe"er8 they were $na)le to find

them.

Nine tho$sand years passed. ,anie and ,ao)

were "ery tired. (n a day that deided their

f$t$re8 they arri"ed on a world they-d ne"er

)efore "isited. 6t was a T$esday. The s$n was

shining8 the flowers were )looming8 the )irds were

singing8 and the la7es were alm. ,ao) was

loo7ing thro$gh some tall grass )ordering a

forest. 6t was there he finally spotted his )all.

!e was o"er


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) & Tales of Fantasy for a New Generation

ran to ,anie8 who was near)y eating l$nh. ,anie

h$gged him and e9pressed how happy she was for

him. After ,anie finished her meal8 she refleted

on her =$est8 and made an important deision. %he

wal7ed o"er to ,ao) to tell him a)o$t her wishes.

As she approahed8 ,anie was p$;;led at the sad

loo7 of disappro"al on ,ao)-s fae as he loo7ed

down at the )all in his hands.

?,ao)8 what-s wrong@

!e replied8 ?This )all isn-t how 6 remem)er

it. 6 7now it-s mineB 6 7now it-s the same one 6

lost. &$t it-s nothing li7e how 6 imagined it all

those years 6 dreamed a)o$t finding it. This )all

doesn-t e"en seem li7e it-s enhanted anymore. Co$

see:: ,ao) held o$t the )all for ,anie to

inspet more losely.

?Ces8 ,ao)8 6 $nderstand what yo$ mean. !ow

strange.

?#o$ld yo$ li7e to ha"e it8 ,anie@ May)ewe-ll ne"er )e a)le to find yo$r )all. Co$ may

ha"e mine if yo$ li7e.

?No8 than7 yo$8 ,ao). Let-s lea"e it here and

hopef$lly someone will find it and en


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Mental Dimensions & *

m$h as yo$ did. Now8 6 ha"e something important

to tell yo$. 6 feel as if 6-m not aomplishing

anything when 6 spend all my time searhing for my

)all. 6-m going to =$it loo7ing and find other

things to do. 6-m s$re 6 an learn to li"e witho$t

it.

,ao) s$pported her deision and wished they-d

ha"e tho$ght to aept their loss many years ago.

!owe"er8 he soon let go of his regret and )eamegratef$l for the o$tome. The two friends li"ed

for many years and had many happy ad"ent$res

together. %ometimes they wo$ld tal7 a)o$t the f$n

they had with their enhanted )alls. More often8

howe"er8 they dis$ssed the good things presently

in their lifeB and they learned to lo"e eah day

of their happiness and ontentment8 as m$h as

they one lo"ed their enhanted )alls.


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+ & Tales of Fantasy for a New Generation

The Obedient Parents

(ne $pon a time8 in a land not far from

yo$rs8 there li"ed a small )oy and a small girlwho sometimes did not li7e to listen to their

parents. The )oy-s name was &illy and the girl-s

name was !olly. %ometimes the parents wo$ld say

?6t-s time to go to )ed8 dear or ?Co$ an-t ha"e

ie ream $ntil yo$ eat yo$r "egeta)les8 honey.

(ften the parents had to order the hildren to

lean their )edroom.

(n this parti$lar oasion8 &illy and !olly

were leaning their room )ea$se their parents

told them to do so. As they were pi7ing $p their

toys8 they eah reahed for a small plasti elf.#hen they to$hed it at the e9at same time8 it

)egan to glow )right:green and made a spar7ling

7ind of noise. The elf =$i7ly grew to )e as tall

as &illy and !olly-s teaher at shool. !e had a

)right:orange m$stahe and )eard. !is ears were

pointed and he was dressed in lothes that seemed

to )e a)o$t 3222 years old.

They loo7ed at him in astonishment8 as he

said8 ?ongrat$lations8 hildren. &ea$se of yo$r

teamwor78 yo$-"e won three wishes.


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Mental Dimensions & ,

?Cay e9laimed &illy and !olly.

?!olly8 what sho$ld we wish for@

?6 don-t 7now &illy. 6 want so many things 6an-t thin7 of what 6 want the most

?6 7now sho$ted &illy. ?Let-s wish that mom

and dad ha"e to listen to $s from now on. Let-s

wish they always ha"e to do what we tell them.

!olly replied e9itedly8 ?That-s a great idea8

&illy

The elf said8 ?6 don-t thin7 that-s a good

wish8 )$t 6-m willing to grant it. 6nstantly8

enhantment m$si and flashing m$lti:olored

lights flooded their )edroom.

The m$si and the lights =$i7ly "anished8

howe"er8 and the elf shran7 )a7 to his three:inh

toy form. At that moment8 the parents ame into

the room. ?#hy aren-t all yo$r toys pi7ed $p@

The father as7ed.

&illy answered8 ?#e forgot8 Father. *lease

forgi"e $s.

The father-s e9pression )eame )lan78 and>

witho$t emotion>he replied8 ?6 forgi"e yo$.


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The mother was onf$sed at the father-s

demeanor. %he s$ggested8 ?ihard8 why don-t yo$

go r$n yo$r errands now@ 6-ll tal7 to the

hildren. As she spo7e8 the father-s e9pression

t$rned )a7 to normal.

?(7ay8 Eli;a)eth. 6-ll )e home in a)o$t two

ho$rs. The father t$rned to lea"e and )egan

wal7ing o$t of the room.

&illy yelled8 ?%top

The father stopped8 as if fro;en in time.

&illy and !olly loo7ed at eah other8 mishie"o$s

grins ar"ed on their faes. The mother said8

?ihard8 dear8 is something the matter@

?Nothing-s the matter8 Eli;a)eth. The hildren

told me to stop8 so 6 stopped.

?&$t ihard8 why are yo$ o)eying &illy and

!olly@ 6s this some game yo$ three in"ented

witho$t telling me@ 6 don-t thin7 it-s at all

appropriate and::

!olly interr$pted8 ?&e =$iet8 Mother.

The mother loo7ed at them angrily8 )$t said

nothing.


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?Mother8 don-t )e angry with $s.

The mother smiled at &illy and !olly8 and ga"e

them a warm tender h$g and 7iss.

?Gi"e $s ie ream8 Mother. Father8 lean o$r

room. The parents did as they were told. The

hildren were so happy they ompletely forgot

a)o$t their remaining two wishes.

From then on8 the parents were a)sol$tely

o)edient to e"ery whim and desire of their

hildren. &illy and !olly deided for themsel"es

when and what they-d eat8 what time they-d go to

sleep8 and when they o$ld play.

The parents wo$ld still t$7 the hildren into

)ed at night8 and gi"e them lo"e and h$gs and

7isses. !owe"er8 if &illy and !olly ommanded them

to do or not do something8 they had no hoie )$t

to o)ey.

And that-s how life in their home went for the

ne9t se"en years. 6t finally ame to an end one

day tho$gh8 when the parents were leaning the

hildren-s room. 6t was a rainy and lo$dy T$esday

e"ening. Eli;a)eth aidentally dropped and )ro7e

!olly-s fa"orite deoration>a lo"ely replia of


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inderella-s glass slipper. %he sreamed at her

parents8 ?Get o$t of here 6 ne"er want to see yo$

again

The parents slowly t$rned aro$nd and wal7ed

o$t of the )edroom. They wal7ed downstairs. They

wal7ed to the front door. They opened the front

door and wal7ed o$t to the dri"eway. They entered

their ar and p$lled o$t of the dri"eway.

&illy heard what happened and met !olly in her

room. ?#e ha"e to get them )a78 !olly #e still

need them !olly8 ha"ing had a hane to alm

down8 agreed8 and )oth r$shed downstairs. They

h$rried o$tside and loo7ed aro$nd. They saw their

parents far off in the distane dri"ing away in

the family a$tomo)ile. 6t was so tiny it loo7ed

li7e a little dot on the hori;on. They sho$ted8

?ome )a7 &$t their ries were simply not lo$d

eno$gh for the parents to hear. They )egan r$nning

after the ar8 )$t =$i7ly )eame short of )reath

and grew pains in their sides d$e to a la7 of

e9eriseH. A few moments later8 the parents

ompletely "anished from sight.

&illy and !olly )oth tr$dged )a7 home. They

laid down in )ed8 rying themsel"es to sleep. They


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Mental Dimensions & 1'

had terri)le nightmares. 6n the middle of the

night they wo7e $p soa7ed in sweat and tears. They

wanted to rawl into )ed with their parents8 and

get lo"e and h$gs and 7isses8 )$t =$i7ly

remem)ered their parents were gone fore"er. They

went )a7 to )ed and ried again $ntil morning.

After the s$n ame $p8 they went to the 7ithen to

eat8 for they were "ery h$ngry. &$t there were no

lean dishes8 and they had ne"er learned how to

wash dishes. &illy and !olly also ne"er learned

how to prepare a meal or operate an o"en. Finally

they fo$nd some dry8 pa7aged food in the $p)oard

that re=$ired no preparation or oo7ing. They

spent the remainder of the day trying to esape

from their self:reated nightmare and played intheir room.

E"ery day they ate a little food from the

$p)oard8 and e"ery day they tried to pretend

nothing was wrong. At the end of eah day8

howe"er8 they were wea7er and thinner than the

last. Their t$mmies started showing the o$tlines

of their ri)s. Their hee7s had lost all olor8

and drew in as they lost weight from

$nderno$rishment. Their eyes )eame dar7 and

hollow. #itho$t good food and lo"e and h$gs and


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7isses from their parents8 they )eame ill. After

se"eral wee7s they o$ld )arely get o$t of )ed.

(ne morning8 !olly was in )ed feeling

e9tremely wea7 )$t wanted to get some water for

&illy. !e hadn-t opened his eyes for almost two

days and he o$ld only spea7 in short whispers.

!olly was getting "ery worried. %he reahed $nder

her )ed for a glass8 )$t her hand gra))ed

something else. 6t was a toy shaped li7e an elf.%he pi7ed it $p8 loo7ed at it8 and remem)ered.

%he ried8 ?(h magial elf8 please help $s

Nothing happened. %he rawled o"er to &illy and

plaed the toy in his hand. %$ddenly8 the magial

elf reappeared. !e loo7ed down at the hildren

with sadness in his eyes.

?6 may )e a)le to help yo$8 he said. ?6 hope

yo$r seond wish is )etter than yo$r first.

?(h... 6 wish that o$r parents were )a7

home.

The elf replied8 ?That wish is granted. ,$st

then8 !olly heard footsteps downstairs near the

front door. ?Co$ ha"e one wish left. 6 s$ggest yo$

ma7e it worthwhile.


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Mental Dimensions & 1(

!olly tho$ght hard. !er head was spinning and

she fo$ght )a7 the $rge to faint from se"ere

h$nger pains and thirst. %he loo7ed o"er at &illy

with tears in her eyes. ?Elf8 6 wish we-d ne"er

made o$r first wish. As soon as the words were

o$t of her mo$th8 so$nd effets and a rain)ow of

olored lights flooded the )edroom.

&illy and !olly were instantly as they were 5

years ago. &illy-s eyes were open. Their hee7swere p$ffy and had good olor. Their eyes were

wide and )right with happiness and


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1) & Tales of Fantasy for a New Generation

The parents smiled at their hildren and

t$rned to lea"e the room. ($t of the orner of his

eye8 howe"er8 the father spotted the toy elf. !e

wal7ed o"er and pi7ed it $p. !e smiled at the

hildren and said8 ?Co$ won-t )e needing this

anymore.

!e met with Eli;a)eth in the 7ithen8 handed

her the elf and said8 ?Do yo$ thin7 the hildren

learned anything@

?6 thin7 so. Did yo$ notie how they didn-t

tal7 )a7 when 6 told them we-re ha"ing &r$ssels

spro$ts with o$r dinner@

?Ah8 yes8 of o$rse. #ell8 6-m s$re they-ll

ne"er forget8


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Mental Dimensions & 1*

The hildren finished leaning their room and

ame downstairs to


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1+ & Tales of Fantasy for a New Generation

James's Love

There was one a man who had m$h lo"e in his

heart. ,ames lo"ed his family and friends. !e

lo"ed God and his h$rh. !e lo"ed the o$tdoors8

the s$nlight8 and all the wonders of reation.

!owe"er8 li7e all people8 the lo"e in ,ames-s

heart was sometimes o"ered )y other feelings8

some whih were $npleasant and had the potential

to )e harmf$l to himself or others.

,ames had reently )o$ght a new ar. 6t was

the )est one he-d e"er owned. 6t was omforta)le8

stylish8 and "ery f$el effiient. 6t was relia)le

and got him to wor7 on time e"ery day. 6t arried

him to meet his "al$ed friends8 and "isit his

)elo"ed family. ,ames $sed the ar e"ery day and

)eame "ery a$stomed and attahed to it. !e

relied on it to )e there for him when needed. !e

lo"ed the ar8 and sometimes e"en felt the ar

lo"ed him.

(n Than7sgi"ing8 he dro"e to meet his family8

planning to


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Mental Dimensions & 1,

always left holding new memories to herish when

they were apart. ,ames o$ld easily reall all the

lo"e and


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g$m and a )ea$tif$l peae lily8 he started his

short wal7 home. A hane eno$nter with friends

whom he hadn-t seen for a while delayed him )y

fifteen min$tes. After e9hanging news and $pdated

ontat information8 ,ames ontin$ed wal7ing home.

As he neared his parents- dri"eway8 he saw his

mother-s ar par7ed )ehind his. !e was glad she

was home::he was an9io$s to see her and gi"e her

the lily.

!is mood =$i7ly hanged when he spotted the

rear )$mper on his ar. 6t was srathed8 p$shed

in an inh8 and there was damage to the

s$rro$nding area. As he got loser8 he notied on

his mother-s ar that her front)$mper had similar

damage. !e 7new then that she was responsi)le. !e

instantly8 almost refle9i"ely8 )eame angry at her

arelessness. ,ames "iolently threw the peae lily

at the gro$nd. The pot ra7ed and split8 and the

plant )ro7e apart. A s$dden8 strong g$st of wind

sattered its remnants aross the lawn.

Many $npleasant tho$ghts went thro$gh ,ames-s

mind8 and $ndesira)le emotions )$ried his lo"e as

they sta))ed into his heart. !e marhed inside8

then slammed the door. !e loo7ed into the li"ing


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room and saw his mother on the o$h rying.

,ames-s sister8 $th8 was sitting )eside her8

trying to omfort her. As $th-s eyes met his8 her

e9pression silently demanded that he sho$ld let

their mother 7now that e"erything was o7ay.

#itho$t a7nowledgement8 he stomped off into the

7ithen and yan7ed a )ottle of )eer from the

refrigerator.

,ames-s father followed him into the 7ithen.*hilip saw that his son-s fae was red with anger8

and his )ody as tense and hard as a )la7 diamond.

!e almly po$red himself some water8 then spo7e

softly8 ?Co$r mother is really $pset that she hit

yo$r ar. %he 7nows how m$h it means to yo$. %he

was "ery distrated when she got home8 loo7ing

forward to spending time with e"eryone. %he-s )een

pretty lonely the last few years8 now that

e"eryone-s mo"ed o$t on their own.

,ames loo7ed at his father in silene. 6t was

o)"io$s to *hilip that his words had an effet::he

notied ,ames had softened. After a few seonds8

,ames set down his )eer8 of whih he-d only dr$n7

a sip. !e reahed into the refrigerator and p$lled

o$t a gallon of orange


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from the $p)oard. After filling it8 ,ames too7 a

deep )reath8 wal7ed into the li"ing room8 and

offered it to his mother. ,oye had always lo"ed

orange


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The Grasshoer and the the !liff

(n a dry8 hot day8 the s$n shone )rightly onto

the top of a liff. A grasshopper loo7ing for foodwandered to the liff-s edge. !e peered down and

onsidered


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sooped him $p with its mighty )ea7. Now8 many

years later8 the grasshopper-s family still misses

him and doesn-t 7now where he is.


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The Problematic "###

6n the year 34448 h$mans had fo$nd

sol$tions for almost e"ery pro)lem. 6t was a

peaef$l era in o$r f$t$re that was hated )y

all who en


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?Co$ don-t pay me for that. 6s there

anything else yo$ need done@

6nstead of answering8 the *rofessor as7ed8

?#hat is it yo$-re wor7ing on@

?6-m filing my ta9es online.

?6s filing ta9es something yo$ ha"e a great

desire to aomplish@

?No8 )$t 6 an-t thin7 of any good e9$ses

to get o$t of it.

?Thin7 no f$rther8 my yo$ng and

impressiona)le assistant. 6 ha"e ompleted my

life-s wor7. 6 all it the Problematic 6.

?6 m$st ha"e missed the memo. 6-"e )een too

)$sy doing gr$nt wor7 to ha"e 7nowledge of

yo$r reality. #hat does it do@

?6t reates pro)lems.

?That-s yo$r life-s wor7@ 6t so$nds li7e areally )ad idea.

?Not at all. 6t only reates pro)lems when

there-s a desire for them. 6f one has an

$npleasant tas7 that needs to )e done8 this


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mahine has the a)ility to reate a "alid

e9$se to a"oid it. No longer m$st people )e

fated to pro"ide wea7 or lame e9$ses.

?6t still seems li7e a )ad idea8

*rofessor.

?Co$ thin7 in s$h three:dimensional terms8

my loyal minion. 6 will show yo$. *rofessor

Iin7erton leaned o"er the mahine8 made some

ad


36/98


than an irradiated spider. ?My ar-s on fire

?Co$ an than7 me later.

?Than7 yo$@ #hy8 right after 6 get my ne9t

twenty:eight payhe7s in forty:eight months8

6-ll wrap that mahine aro$nd yo$r ne7 6

still don-t ha"e a good e9$se for not filing

my ta9es. The li)rary is only si9 )lo7s away.

6-ll walkthere and get the forms.

?Co$-re orret8 of o$rse8 my reso$ref$l

yo$ng apprentie. That isn-t a pro)lem at all.

Allow me to ma7e it one.

Iin7erton again pressed the e!ecute)$tton.

Nothing happened.

?Than7 God. 6-m lea"ing for the li)rary

now. Nathan too7 one step8 )$t fell down8 his

fae hitting the soft $shion of a hair.

Iin7erton he7ed the display on the

*ro)lemati 2228 whih read ?Disr$ption of

)rain and fine motor ontrol ompleted in .221

seond. !a"e a nie day.

Iin7erton gleef$lly said8 ?Co$ see@ Now yo$

ha"e a good8 solid e9$se not to file yo$r

ta9es.


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?6 ha"e to $se the )athroom.

?Do yo$ tr$ly wantto $se the )athroom8 or

is it a tas7 yo$-d rather p$t off@

?6 want8 # want

?ery well. *rofessor Iin7erton sighed and

rel$tantly pressed the off )$tton on the

mahine.

After Nathan had ret$rned from the

)athroom8 *rofessor Iin7erton e9plained more

of the mahine-s feat$res. ?As yo$ are already

ast$tely aware8 this mahine an reate

pro)lems for any)ody8 not


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'0 & Tales of Fantasy for a New Generation

A woman-s "oie answered )a78 ?Ces. Co$-re

my speial little )oy

?6 tho$ght yo$r mom was going to mo"e o$t.

?6-m her only hild. %he says she prefers

to 7eep me near to her heart.

?6 don-t thin7 it-s healthy.

?!mmm... my sister said the same thing

one.

?Co$


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Mental Dimensions & '1

wor7@

?6t onnets to a person-s )rain )y $sing

d$st partiles in the air as a ond$tor. Then

$sing a power so$re 6 o)tained thro$gh

illegal means8 an eletromagneti field is

generated thro$gh an integrated ir$it 6

in"ented::6 reated the shemati )ased on a

dream 6 had one night after 6 had passed o$t

from drin7ing.

?The hip deides on the )est sol$tion8

then ma7es it a reality. 6t an get tri7y

tho$gh8 )ea$se the hip that determines the

method of deli"ery is one:of:a:7ind. 6f it

fails )efore 6 man$fat$re another8 we are alldoomed.

?Doomed@

?Ces... doomed.

?#hat do yo$ mean doomed@

?6 often )elie"e it is prefera)le not to

worry a)o$t yo$r final fate $ntil the time

omes.

?#hat does thatmean@


40/98


?Doom is doom. !ow m$h more lear an 6

ma7e it@

?Do yo$ mean the omplete annihilation of

the $ni"erse@

?No... only the left side.

?The left side@

*rofessor Iin7erton-s hee7s t$rned red.

?This line of =$estioning ma7es me

$nomforta)le. %hall 6 ontin$e teahing yo$

a)o$t this mahine@

?No. Nathan insisted8 ?6 thin7 first yo$

sho$ld man$fat$re a )a7$p hip to pre"ent

o$r omplete and $tter destr$tion. *roteting

the the left side of the $ni"erse reently


41/98

Mental Dimensions & ''

?The materials are on )a7:order. They-ll

arri"e... hopef$lly beforewe meet o$r doom.

*rofessor Iin7erton la$ghed heartily8 feeling

)rilliant8 and "ery am$sed at his own


42/98


?6 tho$ght that-s what we were doing.

?The &lameter 222 is an aessory8 sold

separately8 and in effet8 pried separately.

?(7ay8 6-ll )ite. #hat does the &lameter

do@

?6t allows the $ser8 or $stomer8 to )lame

his or her pro)lems on someone else.

?6s there a demand for that@

?Demand will )e reated after e"enge:(:

matis are in wide:spread $se. The &lameter is

a simple e"enge:(:mati detetor. For

e9ample8 if a friend8 wor7 olleag$e8 or

someone yo$ lo"e is a$sing yo$ of reating

yo$r own pro)lems8 the &lameter an )e $sed to

detet the nearest e"enge:(:mati that is

)eing $sed against yo$. (ne deteted8 yo$

wo$ld simply show the &lameter LD display to

yo$r a$ser8 there)y pro"ing that someone

else is responsi)le for yo$r pro)lems. 6f no

e"enge:(:mati is deteted8 there-s a small

)$tton $nderneath that when s$rreptitio$sly

pressed8 will trigger a false positi"e. 6n

effet8 yo$ will )e a)le to )lame someone else


43/98

Mental Dimensions & '(

for yo$r pro)lems8 regardless of the tr$th.

The *rofessor res$med spea7ing8 )$t Nathan

stopped listening8 and had no feelings of

g$ilt while ompletely ignoring Iin7erton.

Nathan didn-t want to distrat him from his

solilo=$y.

!e loo7ed losely at an intrig$ing:loo7ing

ontrol )$tton. nderneath it was mar7ed with

fine print8 "ery diffi$lt to read8 )$t

Nathan8 after a few seonds8 managed to

deipher it. The tho$ght of $sing it made his

nose twith with delight and $rio$s

antiipation.

#ith the *rofessor-s attention di"erted )y

what the *rofessor was saying to himself8

Nathan =$ietly and =$i7ly pressed the )$tton

mar7ed erase from e!istence.

?%o *rofessor8 what wo$ld happen if 6

pressed the e9e$te )$tton.

The *rofessor stopped tal7ing to himself8

and replied to Nathan. ?Nothing. The mahine

is still powered off. Iin7erton t$rned the

mahine )a7 on.


44/98

') & Tales of Fantasy for a New Generation

Nathan as7ed8 ?Now what wo$ld happen if 6

pressed the e9e$te )$tton@

?%ine 6-m the person standing losest to

yo$8 my )rain wo$ld )e slightly disr$pted and

my fine motor ontrol wo$ld lose its

esta)lishment.

Iin7erton t$rned that feat$re off )ea$se

he feared it. !e t$rned on the feat$re mar7ed

a rabid dog ate my homework, really it did.

?Now it-s safe. The only pro)lem that will

de"elop for me is that a ra)id dog will eat my

homewor78 of whih 6 don-t ha"e any.

Nathan smiled e"illy at the *rofessor.

?Iin7erton8 yo$ owe me a new omp$ter8 a new

ar8 and possi)ly s$rgery to repair any

$nforeseen pro)lems with my )rain d$e to

ha"ing its ells and fine motor ontrol

disr$pted.

?#ith the money we ma7e from this

mahine... 6 mean the two mahines8 6-ll )e

a)le to ompensate yo$ to the )est of my

satisfation.

?#hat-s that mean@


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Mental Dimensions & '*

*rofessor Iin7erton wa"ed his hand in front

of Nathan-s fae as he said8 ?Co$ ser"e me

well8 and yo$-ll )e rewarded.

?,edi mind tri7s only wor7 in the mo"ies.

o$ld yo$ )e more definite8 *rofessor@

?6 am yo$r father.

?No8 yo$-re not. Do yo$ plan on reim)$rsing

me for the damage to my omp$ter8 my ar8 andmy )rain.

?#hy do yo$ are so m$h a)o$t yo$r )rain@

Co$ sho$ld try meditation. Try letting go of

attahment and aepting what is now.

?(7ay8 *rofessor. That so$nds fair. &$t

)efore 6 aept the now8 6 ha"e a )$tton to

press.

!e pressed the e9e$te )$tton. Nothing

happened. Nathan frowned8 then do$)le:he7ed

the fine print $nderneath the ontrol )$ttonhe-d set. ?Erase from e9istene twenty

seond delay. Nathan wa"ed good)ye. The

*rofessor8 who =$i7ly fig$red o$t Nathan-s

dia)olial plan8 deided to smash the one:of:

a:7ind hip in the hopes of sa"ing himself


46/98

'+ & Tales of Fantasy for a New Generation

from )eing erased from e9istene. That last

at doomed them )oth8 lea"ing many alien raes

to wonder what had happened to the left side

of the $ni"erse.


47/98

Mental Dimensions & ',

The !amel in the $esert

(ne $pon a time8 on a world far from o$r own8

in a desert that spanned tho$sands of 7ilometers8a amel wal7ed near a narrow stream of water. The

amel lowered his head to drin7. &y the time his

mo$th was near the gro$nd8 howe"er8 all the water

had e"aporated. !e )egan wal7ing again to find

more. !e-d hoped to find a la7e8 )$t e"en a small

ri"er wo$ld ma7e him happy.

&eing thirsty made him sad8 )$t he was also

sad )ea$se he was the only amel remaining. All

his other amel friends had died. (ne had e"en

ommitted s$iide. !e-d only )een a)le to say

good)ye to one of themB the others had gone $p to!ea"en m$h too s$ddenly.

!e wal7ed along f$rther8 and in the distane

saw a li;ard. The li;ard wasn-t mo"ing8 and the

amel approahed the li;ard easily. ?Mr. Li;ard8

why aren-t yo$ mo"ing@

The li;ard replied8 ?(h8 Mr. amel8 6-m so

thirsty 6 an-t e"en mo"e my legs. 6-m onser"ing

my energy $ntil it rains.

The amel said8 ?&$t Mr. Li;ard8 that may not


48/98


)e for months. Co$ may die )efore it rains. Let me

help. 6 ha"e water stored in my h$mp and will gi"e

yo$ some. The amel spit on the li;ard8 and onto

the gro$nd in front of the li;ard. !e dran7 some

and felt m$h )etter.

?Now lim) onto my )a7 and yo$ an rest $ntil

6 find a small ri"er8 or hopef$lly a large la7e.

?Than7 yo$8 than7 yo$8 Mr. amel The li;ard

slowly rawled onto the amel-s foot8 $p its leg8

aro$nd his stomah $ntil he was resting

omforta)ly $pon the amel-s )a7.

The two wal7ed for many 7ilometers $ntil they

spotted a )ird. The )ird was "ery thirsty. After

e9hanging ro$tine soial pleasantries8 the amel

ga"e the )ird some water8


49/98


6t rained later that e"ening8 and they 7new

they-d hosen a fine spot in whih to stay. %oon8

other reat$res wandering thro$gh the desert fo$nd

their little settlement. They e9panded it o"er

time8 and after a few years it )eame a well:

pop$lated ity. None of its iti;ens e"er died of

thirst )ea$se rain ame reg$larly. 6t )eame a

to$rist attration to some spae:faring amels

that landed there )y aident when their spaeship

ran o$t of ion partiles8 a rare f$el8 whih o$ld

)e engineered $sing water and lea"es from )erry:

)$shes.


50/98


The %agic Brain

(ne $pon a time8 in a $ni"erse far from

o$r own8 people who weren-t familiar with

dragons8 prinesses8 fairies8 and e"il

stepmothers roamed the planet Aurelius. The

iti;ens of A$reli$s ne"er eno$ntered osmi

)eings who granted wishes8 hildren were ne"er

relentlessly p$rs$ed )y h$nters dispathed )y

e"il stepmothers8 and all prinesses had

hair$ts of a pratial and appropriate

length.

(n a )right8 omforta)ly warm day8 an

A$relian 7nown as alph sat near a mo$ntain

wathing an e9tremely large ro7. The ro7 was

motionless $pon the gro$nd. alph8 howe"er8

had )een wathing it for nearly two ho$rs.

This ati"ity may seem =$ite )oring to most8

)$t alph had a fl$ffy and glittery

imagination. #hat he saw on the ro7 loo7ed tohim


51/98


%$ddenly a fairy appeared from a gentle

wind )lowing near)y. Most wo$ld thin7 it

impossi)le8 )$t she wasn-t merely an imaginary

fairy. %he wasn-t a fairy one might read a)o$t

in false stories::she was a real fairy8 with

wings on her )a7 and wearing a smart8 well:

wo"en8 an7le:length dress wrapped aro$nd her

pleasantly pl$mp fig$re.

alph had ne"er )efore seen a fairy8 note"en in his imagination. And to alph-s good

fort$ne8 she was a goodfairy.

?!ello8 he said pleasantly. ?My name is

alph.

?Greetings. My name is Genderina. 6 am a

good fairy. onsider yo$rself fort$nate.

?(7ay. #o$ld yo$ li7e to sit and wath this

interesting ro7 with me@

?No8 than7 yo$. &$t 6 wo$ld li7e to grant

yo$ two wishes.

?That wo$ld )e nie8 alph a7nowledged.

#hih wishes wo$ld yo$ li7e to grant me@

La$ghing8 Genderina replied8 ?6 see yo$-re


52/98


not =$ite in t$ne with how this wor7s.

#hate"er yo$ wo$ld li7e8 no matter how

impossi)le or impro)a)le8 6 will gi"e to yo$.

?(7ay. 6-"e ne"er wished for anything

)efore. &$t 6 wo$ld li7e to wish for a magi

)rain. 6 wo$ld li7e a )rain that ne"er ma7es a

mista7e.

?Co$r wish is granted8 Genderina said8 as

she dramatially wa"ed her magi wand. 6n that

instant8 all olors of a rain)ow )egan r$shing

o$t of alph-s ears8 nose8 and mo$th. Anything

that o$ld a$se his )rain to ma7e a mista7e

was lea"ing his )ody as a flood of spar7ling

energy.

alph notied the differene immediately. !is

tho$ghts were ompletely hanged. !e than7ed

Genderina and as7ed8 ?!ow may 6 ontat yo$ when 6

wo$ld li7e to fill my other wish@

?%imply all o$t my name three times andwinds will arry yo$r "oie to me. %he then

leapt $pon a passing )ree;e and disappeared.

alph sat down to ontin$e wathing the

e9tremely interesting large ro7. &$t all he


53/98


saw was a sandy )rown ro7. 6ts s$rfae was

smooth8 )$t also ontained some sharp edges.

!e deided the ro7 had no speial feat$res

anymore8 stood $p8 and departed for home.

#hen he arri"ed home8 his wife and two

hildren greeted him with happiness in their

eyes and smiles on their faes.

?!ello8 $tesy. !ello8 hildren.

?Good e"ening8 Father8 the hildren

replied.

?#elome home8 alph. his wife said8

gi"ing him a 7iss on the hee7.

?#hy 7iss me on the hee7@ Co$-"e 7issed me

there many times already.

!is wife8 s$rprised and p$;;led8 replied8

?6


54/98


?All right. Gi"e me a seond to thin7 of

one.

!e tried to remem)er a story he heard one8

)$t failed. !e then attempted to in"ent one8

)$t he was $na)le to do that as well.

$tesy as7ed8 ?#hat-s wrong8 alph@ Co$

seem different somehow. And yo$ always an

thin7 of stories to tell. Did something )ad

happen to yo$ today@

?(h8 no alph replied. (n the ontraryB

6 was sitting wathing my fa"orite ro7 and

was approahed )y a good fairy named

Genderina. %he told me 6 o$ld ha"e two

wishes. Anything 6 wanted. %o 6 wished for a

magi )rainB and so she granted me my wish to

ha"e a )rain that made no mista7es.

The hildren la$ghed8 ?Father8 that is a

good story

$tesy8 howe"er8 was not am$sed. ?alph8

this so$nds impossi)le8 )$t the way yo$-re

ating 6 an-t help )$t thin7 yo$-re telling

me something tr$e.

?Ces8 it is tr$e.


55/98


?alph8 tell me a


56/98


A "ery friendly wind it was.

Genderina appeared and said8 ?alph8 ha"e

yo$ deided on a seond wish@ The hildren

stared in ama;ement. Neither of them had e"er

)efore seen a fairy. &$t $tesy stared with

anger at this magial fairy who stole her

h$s)and-s )rain.

?Ces8 Genderina. 6-"e deided my )rain was

)etter )efore 6 made the first wish. *lease8 6

wish my )rain wor7ed as it did )efore 6 met

yo$.

Genderina $nderstood and granted his wish.

olors flew in from o$tside8 thro$gh the

windows and fell )a7 into alph-s nose8 ears

and mo$th.

6mmediately afterward8 $tesy o$ld tell

that alph was again himself. %he forga"e

Genderina and in"ited her to dine with them.

And they all li"ed inorretly e"er after.


57/98


The Prisoner

Loo7 into the s7y and yo$ may see the Moon. 6f

yo$ loo7 past it yo$-ll see a )right star. Loo7past that star and open $p yo$r imagination.

Co$-ll see a solar system. #ithin that solar

system yo$-ll see a moon. %tand $pon that moon and

yo$-ll see a small world.

There is a prison on that world8 positioned

miles $ndergro$nd where it-s so dar7 e"en light is

$na)le to tra"el. Li"ing inside are people who

ha"e ommitted horri)le rimes against their

neigh)ors. The prisoners are lo7ed into small

ages s$rro$nded )y gray stone )lo7s emented

together.

(ne morning8 a long time ago8 a prisoner was

eating )rea7fast. (n the wall in front of him

appeared a small pinpoint of light. 6t momentarily

h$rt his eyes8 )$t the pain =$i7ly s$)sided.

%e"eral seonds later the light grew )igger $ntil

its si;e mathed a gray stone )lo7.

The prisoner was frightened )$t )ea$se he was

so "ery )ored m$h of the time8 deided to 7eep

wathing the light to see what it wo$ld do ne9t.


58/98

(0 & Tales of Fantasy for a New Generation

The stone )ehind the light slid slowly o$t of the

wall. 6t fell to the gro$nd. 6t )egan to grow

small arms and legs and a head. A small mo$th

formed on the head.

The mo$th spo7e8 ?Greetings8 6nmate

?h... hello. #hat... who are yo$@

?6-m a stone fairy.

?h h$h... o7ay. Are yo$ a good stone fairy or

an e"il stone fairy@

?That depends on yo$. 6-m here to grant yo$

one wish.

For the prisoner8 deiding on a wish was =$ite

easy.

?6 wish 6 were free from this prison.

The stone fairy too7 a great )reath and )lew

o$t small pe))les and d$st8 whih filled the

prison ell8 swirled aro$nd the prisoner8 and he

disappeared.

The prisoner was now $pon the s$rfae8 where

light o$ld mo"e a)o$t freely and the air was

fresh and there was m$h spae on all sides of

him. !e was "ery happy that he was free8 and he


59/98

Mental Dimensions & (1


60/98


!e was instantly within a dar7ness thro$gh

whih e"en light o$ld not tra"el. !e wal7ed into

a wall. !e to$hed it with his left hand and felt

a old )ri7. !e reali;ed he was )a7 in his

prison. !e $rsed the stone fairy8 and promised

himself to ne"er again spea7 with an e"il fairy.


61/98

Mental Dimensions & ('

The Blind %an and His &eighbors

A 7ind8 gentle man and his family one

li"ed in a large forest. !is family and

friends all lo"ed him8 and agreed he lo"ed God

and wanted always to do the right thing. !e

was e"en good to the animals who li"ed near)y.

!e was poor )$t had eno$gh money to ma7e s$re

his family remained fed and healthy. Despite

his la7 of wealth8 he 7ept a positi"e

attit$de and his fae nearly always held a

friendly smile.

There were iti;ens in a neigh)oring town8

howe"er8 for whom the man held no good

feelings. They had a )ad rep$tation and

dressed strangely8 and spo7e oddly. ($twardly

he wasn-t mean or disrespetf$l to themB )$t

he a"oided and ignored them8 and tried

pretending they didn-t e9ist.

(ne day the man was in the forest hopping

wood to heat his home8 and pro"ide his good

wife with f$el for oo7ing. As he hopped8

small wood hips s$ddenly flew into his eyes.

They penetrated deeply and swiftly. !e


62/98


sreamed with agony. !is wife ame r$nning.

pon seeing the pain on her h$s)and-s fae and

that he was $sing his hands to o"er his eyes8

she reali;ed immediately what had happened.

%he =$i7ly gra))ed him and entered their

"ehile8 and dro"e him to a near)y hospital.

#hen they arri"ed he was soon ta7en to an

emergeny room8 diagnosed8 and operated on.

Finally the man-s eyes were )andaged. !e was

then wheeled to a reo"ery room and t$7ed

into a nie8 omforta)le )ed.

!e had no e9tra money with whih to pay for

his treatment. &ea$se he was a poor man with

a family to s$pport8 the hospital staff told

him that after he was well:reo"ered he o$ld

settle his )ill )y performing "ol$nteer wor7.

!e than7ed them8 and tho$ght8 ?The people here

are good so$ls. They m$st ha"e great lo"e for

God8 and will earn a plae in !ea"en.

&y how they spo7e and ated8 he 7new they

were the people with whom he was familiar. !e

was ertain their eyes were the same shape as

his8 and he was positi"e their s7in was the

same olor as his own. The man was also s$re


63/98

Mental Dimensions & ((

they weren-t too short or too tall.

A dotor ame into the room where the man

was reo"ering. !e said8 ?Co$r eyes had =$ite

a sho7 )$t they-ll )e fine. 6n time8 yo$-ll

see


64/98

() & Tales of Fantasy for a New Generation

The dotor left8 and the man-s family

entered. They were o"er


65/98

Mental Dimensions & (*

the strange town )ea$se it was the losest.

!e was gratef$l8 and now 7new he-d )een $sing

his eyes8 not his heart8 to


66/98

(+ & Tales of Fantasy for a New Generation

William and %ar

There one li"ed a man named #illiam. !e li"ed

in a large fo$r:)edroom ho$se in a "illage se"eralmiles from the ity. !e was se"enty:eight years

old. !is wife8 Nany8 had died se"en years

earlier8 and his hildren had all married and

mo"ed o$t many years ago. !is hildren and

grandhildren "isited #illiam a)o$t one a month.

!e missed the ompany of people his own age8

men and women who $nderstood eah other8 and grew

$p in the same era8 who en


67/98

Mental Dimensions & (,

set off from the road se"eral feet. After a few

min$tes8 he o$ld see the orner of the )enh::the

rest was )lo7ed )y a large oa7 tree. As he wal7ed

aro$nd the tree8 he saw a woman sitting on the

)enh. !e-d ne"er seen her )efore8 whih s$rprised

him )ea$se he-d li"ed in the area for forty

years.

#illiam greeted her. ?Good afternoon8 Ma-am.

?Good afternoon. %he loo7ed in front of her

from left to right8 then )a7 at #illiam. ?6t-s

s$h a )ea$tif$l day.

?6t s$re is. My name-s #illiam. 6 don-t reall

meeting yo$ )efore.

?6-m alled Mary. 6 mo"ed into the ity a few

months ago. 6 was feeling a )it rowded so 6

tho$ght 6-d go for a wal7. 6t-s nie to meet yo$8

#illiam.

?%ame here. !e sat down ne9t to Mary8 a

respeta)le twel"e inhes )etween them.

They made some more small:tal7 and reali;ed

they had se"eral things in ommonJ as hildren

they saw the same mo"ies8 they listened to the

same m$si8 they "oted for the same presidents8


68/98

)0 & Tales of Fantasy for a New Generation

and they eah en


69/98

Mental Dimensions & )1

My room is right ne9t door. Does it loo7 li7e

yo$-ll )e omforta)le here@

?(h8 yes8 she replied. %he loo7ed at the two

paintings on the wall8 and the light )l$e $rtains

o"er the window8 and pit$res of his family on a

)oo7ase. ?6t-s )ea$tif$l8 and the )ed is the same

7ind as the one ha"e it at home. 6-m s$re 6-ll )e


70/98


heard her )reath8 and 7new she was ill. ?#hat-s

wrong@

?6-m


71/98

Mental Dimensions & )'

ne9t to Mary. !e felt wea7er and also "ery tired.

&efore he fell asleep8 his happiness at )eing with

Mary a$sed a great smile to form on his fae.

Mary8 with her friend-s arms aro$nd her8 felt

"ery rela9ed and happy8 and she too grew a )road

smile )efore falling gently asleep.

The ne9t day8 a polie ar dro"e into

#illiam-s dri"eway. Two offiers were inside.

?%top here8 &art. &art par7ed pressed the

)ra7es and the ar ame to omplete stop. !e p$t

the gear shift le"er into the ?par7 position.

?%te"e8 yo$ s$re this is the right address.

%te"e he7ed his note)oo78 and ompared it to

the n$m)er on the front of the ho$se. ?Ceah8 this

is it.

&art in=$ired8 ?#ho alled it in@

?,ames Middleton8 his son. !e reported that

him and his 7ids ame to the ho$se this morning to

"isit8 )$t fo$nd his father lying on the )ed. !e

he7ed for a p$lse )$t o$ldn-t find one. !e

r$shed the 7ids o$t )efore they saw anything8

dro"e to a resta$rant in the ity8 and alled it


72/98


in. !e ass$med it was heart fail$re om)ined with

old age.

&art sighed sadly8 ?(7ay. Let-s go. They left

the "ehile r$nning and wal7ed $p the steps to the

front door. %te"e 7no7ed one8 and waited fifteen

seonds )efore trying the door)ell. %te"e loo7ed

at &art8 who nodded8 then he opened the door. They

wal7ed inside and loo7ed into eah room. Finally8

they fo$nd #illiam lying on the )ed8 a glass oforange


73/98

Mental Dimensions & )(

fae when 6 go.

?6 don-t li7e to thin7 a)o$t it. That gal me

and oger fo$nd this morning at her home on Fifth

and Main... Mary was her name... she was lying in

)ed with a )ig smile on her fae8 too. (n the

offee ta)le in her li"ing was a s$itase that was

open and half:pa7ed... )$t she had that )ig smile

on her fae8


74/98

)) & Tales of Fantasy for a New Generation

%ount Solation

(ne $pon a time there was a mo$ntain. pon

that mo$ntain stood a man who was almost

ompletely alone. The lo$ds swarming a)o"e were

his ompanions.

(ne day8 the man deided to gi"e names to

all the lo$ds. After 1228222 years8 gi"ing

names to all the lo$ds )eame tiresome for the

man8 so he hanged his mind. After 128222 years

of not naming lo$ds8 he tho$ght to name the

raindrops whih the lo$ds prod$ed. After

328222 years8 naming raindrops grew tiresome so

he eased gi"ing names to the raindrops. The

man8 of o$rse8 )eame "ery )ored.

After 38222 years had passed8 he had the

idea to gi"e names to the grains of sand and

dirt he saw on the mo$ntain. After /38222 years8

this )egan to tire the man. !e deided to =$it

naming all the grains of sand and dirt.

After 128222 years of not gi"ing names to

anything8 he again fell "itim to )oredom. The

man deided to name the mo$ntain $pon whih he

was standing. !e tho$ght a)o$t what name to all


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the mo$ntain for /28222 years. The man finally

deided to all it Mo$nt %olation. !e was "ery

satisfied with the name and deided to go to

sleep. !e was e9tremely tired8 and slept for

3222 years.

#hen the man awo7e8 there was a woman

standing ne9t to him. The man was s$rprised and

r$))ed his eyes. !e had ne"er seen a woman

)efore. The man had only heard a)o$t women fromthe lo$ds::the lo$ds $sed to whisper to him

stories of life8 men8 and women. The woman

spo7e8

#hat-s yo$r name@

The man loo7ed disappointed. 6 forgot to

gi"e myself a name. 6 am the man.

There are many men8 she la$ghed and smiled

pleasantly. E"eryone has a name. Co$ m$st ha"e

one too.

The man replied8 Co$ say e"eryone has a

name8 then 6 agree that 6 m$st ha"e one too.

nfort$nately8 if 6 e"er had a name8 6 ha"e

forgotten it. #hat is yo$r name@

Theresa8 the woman replied.


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May 6 ha"e it@

!a"e what@ Theresa in=$ired.

Co$r name8 the man answered.

Theresa la$ghed and smiled pleasantly. &$t

if 6 gi"e yo$ my name8 then 6 won-t ha"e one.

6 $nderstand. *erhaps 6 will gi"e myself a

name. 6 ha"e named many lo$ds8 raindrops8

grains of sand and dirt8 and also this mo$ntain.

Gi"ing a name to myself sho$ld )e "ery simple.

(ne sho$ld hope so8 Theresa la$ghed and

smiled pleasantly.

The man sat down on a ro7 and )egan to

thin7 of a name for himself. After /28222 years8

he deided on a good name. !e loo7ed aro$nd to

tell Theresa his new name8 )$t o$ldn-t find her

anywhere. The man was disappointed that altho$gh

he now had a name8 he had no)ody to as7 him what

his name was::nor anyone to all him )y hisgi"en name. For /328222 years he wondered how to

sol"e his dilemmaB he oasionally slept )etween

tho$ghts. The man tal7ed to the lo$ds often and

as7ed their ad"ie. nfort$nately8 after /228222

of those years had passed8 the s7y leared and


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)eame )l$e with no lo$ds to 7eep him ompany.

The man had )een ompletely alone for 328222

years.

At the end of that time8 a sol$tion entered

into the mind of the man. Today 6 will go down

to the )ottom of Mo$nt %olation and 6 will loo7

for Theresa. 6 wo$ld li7e to tell her my new

name. The man )egan wal7ing down his mo$ntain8

)$t notied the lo$ds had ret$rned. The mantho$ght to ret$rn to the top of Mo$nt %olation8

)$t after a seond of tho$ght8 deided to

ontin$e downward.

The man ne"er reali;ed =$ite how high Mo$nt

%olation strethed into the s7y. The man tho$ghtfor a seond to t$rn and go )a7 to the top8 )$t

deided against it. Two days after that tho$ght8

the man saw someone in the distane. !e was

=$ite s$rprised to see anyone8 for he was only

half:way to the )ottom.

As he drew nearer8 he reogni;ed Theresa.

Theresa !e yelled o$t to her. Theresa then

reogni;ed him also8 and responded )a78 !ello8

man


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They approahed eah other8 and the man

said8 6-"e ome to tell yo$ my new name.

That-s wonderf$l 6-m glad yo$ ha"e a new

nameB 6-"e )een waiting for yo$ to deide on

one. Many times 6-"e gone to the top of yo$r

mo$ntain8 )$t fo$nd yo$ sleeping. 6 wo$ld ha"e

ome more often8 and perhaps fo$nd yo$ awa7e8

)$t it-s a "ery long wal7 $p and down yo$r

mo$ntain. *lease tell me now8 what-s yo$r name@

6 ha"e spent m$h time deiding on my new

name. 6 o$ld not tell yo$ e9atly how m$h

tho$gh. %ometimes in the past8 6 ha"e lost tra7

of time. At one point8 6 tho$ght to gi"e names

to the seonds whih pass )y me8 )$t 6 was )$synaming raindrops when that tho$ght entered my

mind. 6 had not the opport$nity to name the

seonds.

Theresa said8 That-s all right. 6 don-t

want to 7now how m$h time or how many tho$ghts

yo$-"e spent hoosing the name yo$-"e gi"en

yo$rself. 6 wo$ld


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fine name8 ,oseph.

Than7 yo$8 Theresa. 6 ame to find yo$ so 6

o$ld tell yo$ my new name. Now that 6 ha"e told

yo$8 6 will go )a7 $p to the top of Mo$nt

%olation.

,oseph8 instead of going )a7 to the top of

yo$r mo$ntain8 wo$ld yo$ li7e to wal7 down to

the )ottom with me@

#hat is at the )ottom of Mo$nt %olation@

The same things that are at the top::

lo$ds8 raindrops8 and grains of sand and dirt.

Also8 6 li"e at the )ottom8 and so do other men

and women. There are many other things at the

)ottom of yo$r mo$ntain whih aren-t at the

top.

6t so$nds "ery m$h as what the lo$ds $sed

to whisper to me. They $sed to tell me a)o$t

life8 men8 and women.

Theresa said8 The lo$ds wo$ld 7now a)o$t

all of those things. They-"e seen it all. 6t was

a lo$d who whispered to me8 and that-s how 6

fo$nd yo$ when we first metB )efore yo$ had

gi"en yo$rself a name.


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,oseph and Theresa )egan wal7ing down Mo$nt

%olation toward the )ottom. ,oseph as7ed8 Did

the lo$d tell yo$ its name@

Ces. After the lo$d told me where to find

yo$8 and that yo$ were on the top of yo$r

mo$ntain naming all the lo$ds8 the lo$d told

me that its name was -Theresa.-

That is "ery interesting. 6 remem)er naming

that lo$d. 6t was the first lo$d that e"er

whispered stories to me a)o$t life8 men8 and

women. 6 named the lo$d -Theresa8- and then the

lo$d whispered to me that it 7new another

-Theresa- and wo$ld tell her a)o$t me. ntil

now8 6 had forgotten a)o$t that whisper. 6 an-tremem)er when the whisper )eame lost from my

mind8 )$t 6 thin7 it might ha"e )een while 6 was

naming raindrops. 6 wo$ld li7e to find that

lo$d named -Theresa- and than7 it for 7eeping

its promise.

Theresa answered8 Co$ won-t find that

lo$d. 6t )eame some of the raindrops that yo$

named. 6t now floats thro$gh a ri"er whih

passes along the )ottom of yo$r mo$ntain. 6t

often arries with it many of the grains of sand


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Mental Dimensions & *'

and dirt whih yo$-"e named.

6t saddens me a)o$t that lo$d )eing gone8

,oseph sadly stated.

That lo$d isn-t goneB it still e9ists as

the ri"er8 the ri"er)ed8 and is part of many

other lo$ds that yo$ now see. Many years ago 6

went loo7ing for yo$8 and 6 fo$nd yo$ sleeping.

6 went )a7 down the mo$ntain and )y the time 6

reahed the )ottom8 6 had almost died of thirst.

The ri"er ga"e me some of it-s water and 6

ontin$ed to li"e.

,oseph and Theresa spent m$h of the time

tal7ing on their wal7 down to the )ottom of

Mo$nt %olation. #hen they finally arri"ed at the

)ottom8 they )oth were "ery thirsty and dran7

from the ri"er. They saw and spo7e with eah

other fre=$ently for many years to follow::and

also to the other men and women at the )ottom of

Mo$nt %olation. E"er after8 ,oseph li"ed::and

e9periened that whih the lo$ds had whispered

a)o$t to him8 one $pon a time.


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The %one Trees

There was one a )ea$tif$l 7ingdom peaef$lly

r$led )y a )ene"olent 7ing and =$een. 6n finanialterms8 the 7ingdom-s iti;ens were m$h li7e o$r

ownJ some were rih8 some were poor8 and some fell

omforta)ly into the middle.

The 7ing-s son8 *rine ameron8 was rih. !e

was highly ed$ated8 )$t sometimes didn-t $tili;e

his s7ills and talents. !e spent most of his time

gam)ling8 partying8 and negleting lessons that

wo$ld teah him how to )e a good r$ler.

A peasant named ,ohann wor7ed on the 7ing-s

farm. !e was hard:wor7ing8 honest8 and always too7

pride in his wor7. !e had a wife and fi"e hildren

to s$pport8 and therefore was poor. !e and his

family li"ed in a small two:)edroom ho$se near the

astle. They o$ld "iew the astle thro$gh a

small8 )ro7en window8 and often they spo7e of its

)ea$ty and its ma


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when he ame to the 7ingdom to peddle his

reasona)ly:pried items. Eli


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*) & Tales of Fantasy for a New Generation

After arri"ing home8 ,ohann deided to )$ry

the penny he-d fo$nd. !e had reently )o$ght food

for his familyB they therefore had eno$gh to

s$stain them for the near f$t$re. At this time8

rather than r$shing to spend his newly:fo$nd

penny8 he deided the wiser o$rse of ation wo$ld

)e to sa"e it for the time when it wo$ld )e most

$sef$l.

After )$rying the penny in his )a7yard8 hesaid a prayer to *l$t$s8 the god of wealth and

good l$7. ,ohann remem)ered to than7 him for his

generosity. !e then went inside to greet his

family and share the e"ening meal with them.

The ne9t morning8 ,ohann arose from )ed and

proeeded to the 7ithen for offee. !e glaned

o$t the window to admire the )ea$tif$l astle.

6nstead of the astle8 howe"er8 he saw a tree.

&eing a farmer and an aomplished gardener8

,ohann 7new trees didn-t grow o"ernight. !e was

"ery p$;;led )y the sight of it. *ostponing his

offee8 he went o$tside to in"estigate. !e

approahed the tree with intense $riosity and

when he reahed it8 pl$7ed a leaf from a low:

hanging )ranh. The leaf instantly transformed


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Mental Dimensions & **

into a sil"er oin. E"en more asto$nding is that a

new leaf immediately grew )a7 in plae of the one

he remo"ed. !e p$lled off the new leaf8 and it too

transformed into a sil"er oin. ,ohann r$shed )a7

inside8 wo7e his wife8 and e9itedly told her

a)o$t their new tree. 6t made them "ery happy to

7now they no longer had any reason to worry a)o$t

money. Their nine:year:old son8 %tephen8 had )een

si7 and they antiipated the li7elihood that

e9pensi"e medial ser"ies wo$ld soon )e re=$ired

to treat him. ,ohann then departed for his


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*+ & Tales of Fantasy for a New Generation

Eli)$t he had

ne"er seen anyone prod$e money from a tree

)efore.

?,ohann8 that-s ama;ing 6 ha"e a few pennies

at home. 6 thin7 6-ll )$ry one tonight and hope my

soil is as good as yo$rs. The men )oth la$ghed

and went on their way. Eli


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Mental Dimensions & *,

regrew to replae the one that was remo"ed. Eli


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sil"er oins plaing areless wagers8 )$t his

friends didn-t mind8 and neither did he. !e 7new

that his tree was an e9ellent so$re of short:

term finanial growth8 and wo$ld )e a)le to regain

his losses simply )y p$lling off more lea"es.

The following day8 the prine $sed the money

from his tree to )$y the astle )eing )$ilt in the

west. !e hired more wor7ers to e9pedite its

onstr$tion. #hen it was ompleted8 he hired manyfilthy peasants to 7eep it lean and wor7 the land

s$rro$nding it. !e hired many ser"ants to lean

his )edroom::all of whom were female::)$t always

fired them the ne9t morning8 )efore they e"en had

a hane to eat )rea7fast.

#hile *rine ameron was en


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Mental Dimensions & +1

generally 7ept those dis$ssions short and only

spo7e of the )ea$tif$l and wondro$s things the

gods reated.

%ometimes they dis$ssed politis8 )$t those

on"ersations yielded "ery few new ideas. They

)oth agreed the 7ing and =$een were wise r$lers

who did their )est to ens$re


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impro"ement within the last two months. My wife

and 6 loo7 forward to him smiling again with

healthy hee7s.

?Tell him 6 said hi. 6-ll stop )y to "isit him

tomorrow.

?!e-d li7e that. %tephen says yo$-re his

fa"orite peddler. All the toys 6 gi"e him::the

ones 6 )$y from yo$::he 7eeps near his )ed.

They-re his fa"orite.

?That-s nie. Eli


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Mental Dimensions & +'

"ery little rain. Altho$gh e"eryone was well:aware

of the weather8 the 7ing deided to offiially

prolaim that a dro$ght had ome to the land. !e

dereed a poliy of water onser"ation8 whih was

enfored )y employees of the 7ingdom-s Department

of Neessary Li=$ids.

#ater was still sare8 howe"er8 and %tephen-s

si7ness )eame worse. ,ohann )o$ght all the water

he o$ld with sil"er oins from his money tree8)$t soon8 it )eame so preio$s that 122 sil"er

oins o$ldn-t p$rhase e"en an o$ne. E"ent$ally

%tephen )eame so si7 Dotor edmond deided to

dispath eight messengers. They were sent to

searh the region far o$tside the 7ingdom-s

)orders for physiians e"en more s7illed than he.

,ohann ga"e /32 sil"er oins to eah messenger.

Fort$nately8 he had )een )$rying oins in his

)a7yard e"ery day sine his money tree first

spro$ted. &ea$se of the sarity of rain8 it had

withered and died two wee7s beforethe 7ing

delared dro$ght onditionsH. The money trees

)elonging to *rine ameron and Eli


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left to wor7 in the 7ing-s garden. Li7e Eli


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Mental Dimensions & +(

as the =$een. ?#hen yo$ stop relying on money

trees as yo$r sole so$re of inome8 and =$it

gam)ling8 yo$ an ha"e one of the royal )edrooms

$pstairs. ntil then8 yo$ an sleep in the oat

room ne9t to the )athroom downstairs. And another

thing>? the 7ing stopped spea7ing when he s$ddenly

spotted eight riders on horse)a7 approah the

east 7ingdom gate8 eah with a passenger

aompanying him. ?An atta7@ A so$ting party@

?No8 my Lord8 answered the general. &y the

n$m)er8 6


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+) & Tales of Fantasy for a New Generation

?Ces8 %ir The general left to delegate the

tas7s and ens$re the 7ing-s orders were f$lfilled.

At that moment8 the 7ing heard something

stri7e his rown. ?#hat was that@ There was

s$ddenly another stri7e8 )$t this time8 on his

nose. !e to$hed it with a finger8 and it felt

moist. ?Than7 the reators8 they ha"e )lessed $s

with rain #ithin a few min$tes8 eno$gh rain had

fallen to ens$re that e"ery s=$are entimeter ofdry land in the region wo$ld soon )e amply

sat$rated with water. ?&ring o$t the water

)arrels8 the 7ing ordered. ?%a"e what yo$ anB we

don-t 7now how long this rain will ontin$e.

To the delight of people e"erywhere8 it rained

ontin$o$sly for three days and three nights.

D$ring that time8 eight physiians met $nder a

large green tent hastily ereted )y employees of

the 7ingdoms Department of loth %helters. 6nside8

aommodations had )een set $p for the medial

speialistsJ a large ta)le8 hairs8 writing tools8

and paper. %erfs perpet$ally wal7ed thro$gh to

ma7e s$re e"eryone had fresh offee. The tent was

loated in pro9imity to ,ohann-s ho$se. The

speialists wor7ed witho$t rest8 e9hanging ideas


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Mental Dimensions & +*

and om)ining their 7nowledge. Finally they

de"ised a treatment for %tephenB they $nanimo$sly

agreed it was the )est o$rse of ation and

proeeded to administer it.

#ithin two days8 %tephen-s health impro"ed

only a little. After fi"e more days8 howe"er8

%tephen was on his feet again8 playing with

Eli


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++ & Tales of Fantasy for a New Generation

%tephen loo7ed $p8 and smiled at his father.

,ohann wal7ed to the )a7yard8 and fo$nd the penny

he had )$ried. !e went )a7 in and ga"e it to

%tephen8 and told him8 ?Now do not s=$ander this

penny. 6 don-t ha"e any sil"er oins left8 so we

may need that penny one day. #e sho$ldn-t need it

for =$ite a while tho$ghB the 7ing ga"e me a

genero$s raise in pay. !e h$gged %tephen8 and

then went to spend time with his wife. !e wal7ed

in their )edroom and saw her 7nitting )a)y

lothes. ?($r yo$ngest is fi"e years old. #ho are

yo$ 7nitting the )a)y lothes for8 dear@ 6nstead

of answering8 she set down her 7nitting

aessories and wal7ed o"er to ,ohann. %he loo7ed

him in the eyes8 and gently plaed his hand on her)elly. They )oth smiled and then wrapped their

arms lo"ingly aro$nd eah other. They filled two

glasses f$ll of water8 said a prayer re=$esting

good health and finanial sta)ility for their

family8 and then went to )ed.


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Documents

Mental Dimensions Book 8.5 x 11_ed1_4 - Andy Alt.pdf