Flash Meridian awoke one day, and watched the rippling light that trickled in around the drapes. His mind wandered back to Earth. He rarely thought about his former life there. The details were hazy and insignificant, like a dream. He didn’t feel any sense of loss or sadness. He just lived in the eternal now with no fear of the future and no regret or attachment to the past. They didn’t exist. The light that lapped against the walls and ceiling held all he needed to know. A new morning had broken, full of wonder and promise.

I almost forgot to tell you about Ololian wine. With so many fruits available, it’s only natural that they would make fermented beverages. Some of them made you happy. Euphoric! Some made you feel relaxed. Sleepy. Their flavors would bring out subtle notes in the fruit, and most people made their own, imbued with their own personality. It wouldn’t make you drunk, no matter how much you drank. It never caused hangovers, and even the children drank it without causing concern.
You could drink as much as you wished with no negative effects. In much the way the jewels weren’t precious, the wine wasn’t forbidden. Nobody cared, any more than if someone on Earth drank the most delicious fresh mountain spring water.
By drinking wine made by a friend, you were welcomed into that friend’s dreams. If your friend was gone, you could meet them in those dreams, and run, hand in hand together through sunny fields. You could sit and talk together under a starry sky. You could ride a whale together to the edge of the Giddings Phenomenon, or anywhere your heart desired. This was further proof that nothing is ever lost. Loved ones live on within us even after they transform, much the way Olo had. They are still there, close by, embedded in the layers of us. An occasional relic might reveal them. Finding the artifact, or digging below the surface only brings the reality to our consciousness. You don’t have to find it, or go. The truth is still the truth, regardless.

Flash stayed in the cave, and looked at the other drawings and paintings that adorned the walls. One panel featured cats in grass skirts, dancing on stage.
“I remember this one,” he said to the child inside him.
“Miss Kitty Islands. It was a beauty pageant.”
The child grew excited at having an interested audience… an adult… that remembered and took an interest in his work.
“This one is the Minnie Mansion,” the little boy said, pointing out a drawing of a stone castle.
Cats and horses were recurring themes throughout the cave, and Minnie herself made several appearances. Flash looked at her black and white fur, drawn by his own hand, long ago. The white blaze that ran from her black nose, up her forehead, looked just like Lem’s. He felt the loss of both of them with a freshness and suddenness that he hadn’t anticipated. They seemed connected, the way he was connected to the artist child. He grieved the loss of all of them. They still traveled with him in his heart, and he felt sure that they would all be reunited again soon in another dimension.
Big Flash and Little Flash both remembered how long it took to meticulously draw all the stones in the mansion wall, and Big Flash thought of Buffy and Skip’s castle with its intricate placement of gems.
This little boy had been nearly forgotten, with nothing but time to create all this. He had slipped away so gradually. So imperceptibly. He was never really gone, it’s just that Big Flash had lost sight of him, and promised him that he would never leave him.
“There is nothing wrong with you,” he reassured.
“I love you. I love you exactly as you are. It is ok to explore. It is ok to ask questions. It is ok if you are angry or afraid. You can make mistakes, and you can have doubts. I will always love you, and I will always be here for you. I will take care of you. You don’t have to take care of me.”
At the same time, he knew that this child had a lot to teach him.
Here in this grand space, was the greatest art gallery Flash had ever seen. Like the Ololian book, it was tailored to him.
Mad’s apartment in the mountains looked a lot like Jewely’s. Her spire was pale blue. Each apartment in the spires took up an entire level, or floor, so her view stretched in every direction. The light inside was bright, but cool. The walls were so transparent that you didn’t notice the color from inside, and details, even far away, were crisp. The floor and ceiling were translucent with opaque veins running through them, and the walls could be darkened.
Whales could be summoned for transportation, but most of the inhabitants took the stairs.
I don’t recall anyone ever being in a hurry on Olo! You see, they lived in the present, and didn’t really worry much. I think I told you about the time Flash dropped from the sky. He felt a thrill, yes, but he wasn’t afraid. Lem often felt concerned, but she took control of her activities. Rather than worry, she just made comfortable decisions for herself, and no one judged her for it, or coaxed her to do anything she didn’t want to do. As the king said, you can go or not go. Going or not going doesn’t change anything but your understanding. You can talk or not talk. No pressure.
All this to say, Mad almost always took the stairs.

I’ve mentioned the rivers that flow like liquid silver. The water on Olo is very different than water on Earth. Certain rainstorms fell in rainbow colored drops. On earth, you could see a rainbow in airborne water, because of the prism effect. On Olo, sometimes individual drops had their own hue. They fell from the sky in intense color, and they didn’t mix with other colors. If a red drop made contact with a yellow drop, for example, they didn’t become a larger orange drop. They would fall as a half red, half yellow drop. The puddles that formed would be polka dotted in every color of the shower.
The water on Olo was less dense than water on earth, and you could breathe beneath its surface. You could spend a whole day deep down at the bottom of a lake without ever needing to surface for air. This was the opposite effect of the fish that swam in the air, finding shelter in the treetops, or the whales that had grown so accustomed to swimming through the soil.
When you emerged from the water, you wouldn’t stay wet for long! The slightest breeze would have you dry in minutes, yet the feeling of refreshment was long lasting.
If a rainstorm were to form while the Ololians were gathered on the plain, you wouldn’t see anyone running for cover. They just thanked the sky for the gift of water and carried on with whatever they were already doing.

The child sees everything in a state of newness; he is always drunk. Nothing more resembles what we call inspiration than the delight with which a small child absorbs form and colour. – Baudelaire

Meanwhile, Flash returned to the cave opening near the rainbow arch, not sure of what he would find there. The little boy version of him had been freed from the dark cavern, and lived in his heart. That child looked out through Flash’s eyes now. Flash could see him in his own reflection, the last one to be liberated from the dull gray-green dust.
Traveling by whaleback, Flash was deposited in a small clearing near the mouth of the cave. He walked a narrow path through dense woods, and then he saw a dancing glow between the branches. Light was hitting the arch, shooting a hologram into the silent air. In the gently shifting light, one whale after another emerged from the cave opening. They faded as they rose, dissipating into the sky beyond the treetops. White whales emerged like a train, happy to soar out from the darkness.
Flash got lost for a moment, in their joyful exit. He turned his back to the blue crystal at the base of the arch, and walked straight toward the opening.
The blackness no longer obliterated the entrance. No more than any cave would, anyway. He stepped inside. The air was cool. He picked up a glowing jewel and went further in. The walls were adorned with drawings that he could not see on his previous visit. He turned back, and could see everything clearly. The darkness had left, and in the light of the gem, he recognized the drawings as his own. The child inside him interpreted the art his tiny hand had made. They were beautiful. They were simple, uncomplicated images that just fell, without pretense, onto the rock face.
A swath of yellow enveloped one rock face. Looking closer at it, Flash could see the brushstrokes beneath dust and crystals forming on its surface. Next to it was a second rock, also painted yellow. Flash held the crystal lantern up to it, and he heard the child within him giggle.
What’s so funny? He asked aloud.
The childlike giggle became a full laugh, which echoed through the cave.
They are two different yellows! The innocent voice finally blurted out.
And Flash remembered.
Here was Flash’s past, inscribed on stone. It was preserved and protected in the shelter of the cave. He thought of his dream, where he saw the hologram still projected from the ruins of the castle.
The yellow panels shimmered in the light of the glowing jewel. They were two similar yet distinct shades of a happy hue. Something melancholy lurked within the color as Flash recalled that day when he was a little boy.
You’re doing it wrong! a little girl blamed, You’re supposed to use two different colors!
But they are diff… his voice trailed off, as the girl had run off to tattle. Her accusation confused him. Could she not see the variation?
Flash smiled, happy that he didn’t need her approval. He was happy that the simplest of paintings could hold so much meaning. He was satisfied that whatever hurt he had felt in Miss Barnes’ kindergarten class only added flavor to his creation. He was glad that most people would not see, or take time to understand, and that the only validation he needed came from himself.
There were more obvious pictures adorning the cave walls. Hundreds… no, thousands of them, fading into the darkness beyond the reach of the gem’s glow. There were pictures that told you what they were. They spelled it out for you. His mother’s blue skirt, depicted by a crude trapezoid below her white blouse. Her form stretched up the wall, with her face on the ceiling of the tunnel, looking down on him. These were easy.
The yellow fields were pure emotion. Defining them was unnecessary.
They reminded him that he didn’t need anyone else. A day was coming when he would leave everyone behind anyway, so this was good practice. He could love without needing. He could share without draining. He could be. After that, he could transition without fear.

Flash had taken up residence in the castle. He looked into the mirror one day and saw that what had happened with his daughter, had also happened to him. An old man looked back at him, and he realized that he was not immune to the rapid passage of time. Naturally, his body grew older with each passing moment, it’s just that he thought it would take longer.
Well that’s interesting, he said, turning to Lem. And then he remembered that she was gone already. He knew he would join her soon, when he cast off these now necessary cells. He would rise like a bubble, free at last, to surface, unencumbered by flesh.
Soon, but probably not today. He headed out onto the crimson plain. There was still time for a few more adventures.

Morning came and Jewely still sat at the table. He watched the light peek over the cliffs, and then spill out across the plain down below. First, the cobalt plateau shimmered, and then the crimson plain was illuminated. The castle seemed to quiver in the intense light that not only poured out of the sky, but also reflected up again, like a mist.
The tables weren’t only used at night! The Ololians gathered together for most of their meals. There was always enough for everyone.
Jewely wasn’t sleepy, even though he had been awake for most of the night. He had big plans for the day, and wanted to eat a good breakfast before his ride came to pick him up.
The Ololian diet was plant based. Yes, there were plenty of fish like beings in the rivers, lakes, streams and treetops, but the Ololians didn’t eat each other. Flash Meridian had shown them how to make animal proteins by piecing molecules together, but it never really caught on, except in the museum cafe. Even there, it was a novelty. Anyway, plant life on Olo was so diverse, you could find pretty much any flavor or texture you would ever crave. Jewely’s breakfast was similar to one of earth’s milkshakes. It was refreshingly cold, naturally sweet and creamy, and full of nutrients. It tasted a bit like cloud berries.
His transportation glided silently up the hillside. It was a whale with golden skin, like his. Though rubbery, it gleamed like metal.
Jewely stroked the whale’s skin and said I should be ready to go in a minute. I have a friend coming to help.
Bucket flew down the hillside, and Jewely climbed up onto the whale’s back. It was a small whale, but even a small whale is big. They floated up, and the friends at the table waved to them as they ascended.
Jewely was moving into a new home in the mountains, and Bucket had offered to carry things up for him. It was a win-win. Bucket had dreamed of doing just this while he was aboard the mother ship. It was a big help to Jewely even though he didn’t have a lot of stuff. He didn’t need much.
Up the foothills they flew, and then up the glassy cliffs. They heard voices from the foliage below them, calling out Hello Bucket! Hi Jewely! Welcome home! Let us know if you need anything!
Still they rose, to where the mountains divided. They went up higher, past bridges where well wishers watched and waved.
We love you, they called out. Let us know if you need anything!
They scaled the heights of a red tower, and the golden whale parked itself parallel to a ledge with an opening into the mountain.
He stepped across the pectoral flipper, and Bucket followed him in through the cavelike entrance. The inside was roomy, and pink light flooded the room. The mountain, while translucent from the outside, was transparent from within. The furniture was carved from the living stone of the spire, and soft cushions adorned the bed and chairs. The walls were like windows looking out over Olo in every direction. A blue mountain stood to one side, and a bridge could be accessed out the doorway opposite to the one they entered through.
Jewely unpacked his few items from Bucket, mostly clothes and a few personal things.
Are you coming back down? Bucket asked.
No, I didn’t sleep much last night, so I’ll just settle in and maybe take a nap. Would you like to come back up later and watch the sunset with me?
I’ll bring dinner, Bucket said.

Once people realized how helpful Bucket was, he became busier than ever. He was not only willing to hold and carry stones, but he played music, too, and people started making requests.
Toward the end of the day, the light was fading and there was only an occasional bell like tone ringing out as crystals were still being pieced together.
A short time later, Bucket and Aino watched the sunset together before taking the path up the valley into the foothills. They could still see their way because the jewels on Olo’s surface absorbed the light, and glowed softly until nearly dawn.
Arriving back at home, Aino collapsed into her bed and dreamed of a happy memory… the day that had just ended.
The flowers were content on the windowsill, and sent delicate aromas into Aino’s cottage through the open window while she slept.
Not everyone on Olo slept at night. In fact, there were more parties, or gatherings that happened while most Ololians slumbered. Food was served on long tables, and everyone was welcome. Some were nocturnal, sleeping during the day. They socialized and ate beneath a star filled sky. If you ever had trouble sleeping for any reason, you could come to one of the tables. You could share what was on your mind, or simply be nourished without any pressure. When interesting events happened in the night sky, many more would gather in the softer light. This could be the visit of a comet, the alignment of various heavenly bodies, or the approach of a spaceship. Almost imperceptibly, dark patches moved across the sky, blotting out the light in the shapes of whale silhouettes.
A boy named Jewely found himself awake one night in the foothills of the reef like mountains. He picked at a fruit plate, and listened to the gentle conversations around him. He looked out across the crystal plains and saw the glow of the castle in the distance. Someone passed a serving plate down the table, and when it came to Jewely, he scooped a ladle-full onto his plate. It was whiteish, steaming and goopy like melted cheese. It went well with fruit and breads, and sometimes made people sleepy.
Some varieties of the fishlike creatures lit up in their tail sections. They liked to swim through the air in curling paths, drawing pictures above the tables. They could be used as messengers from one table to another, and were always happy to deliver these messages in visual form, no matter how silly the message might be. Often, the meaning would be cryptic. It was like charades, or similar to the way earthlings tried to figure out the meaning behind personalized license plates.

Bucket and Aino made their way through the crowd. There were many distractions, but then, the distractions were the event. A group was assembling a bridge out of gems, and they were trying to figure out how to lift the keystone into place. The structure would not hold their weight until it was placed, so they couldn’t climb it. The tallest of the Ololians could not quite reach high enough.
Bucket overheard their conversation and offered I can hold that.
They balanced the crystal on his rim, and he floated up with it. He had no difficulty maneuvering it into place. Nothing could have given Bucket more joy.
Afterwards, he buzzed off to see who else he could help.
Aino went into the museum. The TNI2 greeted everyone as they entered. Aino never got tired of looking at it. It conjured stories in her head, not only of the adventures Flash Meridian had had in it, but also the thought of an object that was made on Earth, a faraway planet that seemed fantastical. Yet here was the evidence that such a place actually existed. There were no schools on Olo. No churches either. People learned from each other, and from the holograms that depicted its history. They also learned from the planet itself. Do you want to know what else there wasn’t? Banks. There were no banks because there was no currency. The Ololians lived on mounds of gems. Oceans of jewels stretched out as far as you could see. When the whole world is paved with treasure, what do you value? I’ll tell you what they value on Olo. They value each other. Don’t get me wrong… the stones were pretty. Beautiful! But they weren’t precious.
The museum had been built on the spot where Flash Meridian had first touched down on Olo. This was the very location where Flash had met the king and queen. It had actually been built around the TNI2 right where it came to rest. It housed many historical artifacts connected not only with Flash, but with life on Olo after the whales broke out of the soil, dislodging the entire planet.
Another wing was being added on to the museum. It would house exhibits related to Olo’s natural world. It would include the jewels, of course, as well as the plants and various creatures that shared the planet.
Speaking of plants, I want to tell you about some of Olo’s fruits. They, like the gems, were available to everyone, every day, but on festival days like this one, they were arranged on tabletops and carts all over the plain.
Olo was home to one very juicy fruit called karkkia. The leaves were thick and rounded like earth’s succulents, and they came in a variety of colors and flavors. You would t know what you were getting until you opened it up. At its peak of ripeness, you could slice the leaves into what looked and tasted like gumdrops or Turkish delight. The trees were known as jokesters, because if you reached up to pick a squishy sweet leaf that wasn’t quite ripe, it would burst. You would be coated in the delicious sucus, the sap or juice. Your skin would then take on the surprise color. It was all in fun. The wearer need only rinse in a lake or river and ideally, under a waterfall.

The king and queen waved to the crowd, which parted as they approached. What a grand entrance they made, descending onto the runway lined by adoring subjects. The whale stopped at the entrance of the museum, and slowly lowered its head toward the ground while raising its tail into the air. As it gradually became more and more vertical, the monarchs slid down its body and were deposited onto a platform where they addressed the crowd.
The king recounted the events that transformed their planet from dull gray to the vibrant paradise they now enjoyed. He told of the sounds that used to come from deep under the planet’s outer crust, and their ascent on the backs of whales, out beyond the atmosphere. As he told of the cataclysmic destruction of Olo, holograms projected scenes into the air above him. Though the Ololians knew the story well, they watched with a thrill as whales emerged from under ground, turning their world to a dust cloud. When it settled again, the pulsing sound had ceased, and everything was transformed. When they saw Flash Meridian’s spaceship land in the very spot where the king and queen stood, everyone cheered louder than ever. This was the beginning of a new age on Olo, and everyone… the king and queen, everyone present, the whales and even Flash Meridian himself were liberated. Aino’s eyes filled with tears, and she glanced at Bucket, who had been freed in another part of the universe, to eventually find his home on Olo.
The king finished his address, and the whales came low to the ground, allowing the people to climb up onto them. They rose like hot air balloons, and their riders could look down on the images that covered the surface of Olo. These geoglyphs now had names, and people identified their neighborhoods in terms of the pictures.
I live in the purple rabbit, one might say, to which another might answer, I come from the flowered dress. Occasions like this let them see what was not visible from the surface.

Aino and Bucket made their way out of the yard. Aino passed through a garden gate, and Bucket floated over it. They headed down a path which ran along the bottom of the valley, toward the crystal plain that spilled out like a sparkling lake at the bottom. The light on the plain below them hung like a fog or mist in the air, because of the intense light that reflected up from gemstones that coated the flat surface. Even here in the foothills, the path was littered with diamonds and jewels of every color you could imagine. Enormous crystals jutted out of the soil, interspersed with similarly colored plants. Earthling rock hounds would have a hay day, stuffing the smaller minerals into their packs, or breaking off shards of the larger crystals with their rock picks. The Ololians loved the stones, but were content to leave them in place, or rearrange them into structures for everyone to enjoy. Olo was the only place Aino knew. While she enjoyed seeing the geologic wonders that surrounded her, she knew that leaving them in place was their highest and best use. Even Bucket respected them, though he yearned for a reason to hold them.
A shadow passed over the pair, and they looked up to see a whale flying over them as big as a jetliner, but silent in its flight. It also followed the winding valley down the steep grade.
Today was a festival day, so throngs would gather together to celebrate the rearrangement of the planet.
The party started long before they reached the colorful plains. Friends joined the pilgrimage, and everyone’s anticipation grew along the way. Before long, they could make out the sight of whales hovering in the intense light. Their colors were made even more intense, bathed, as they were in the rainbow beams. Gradually, the travelers began to pick up the sound. It was a gentle approach that would culminate in happy commotion. Joyous voices mixed with laughter and music. There were also tones ringing out from jewels being built into forms, a favorite Ololian pass time. Children participated in the activity as well as adults. You see, there were no wrong answers. It was never a competition. The shapes were determined by how the stones fit together. Beyond the transparent edifices themselves, the light passing through them shot holographic scenes into the air, chronicling Olo’s history.
Once in the midst of it all, wonderful aromas wafted everywhere. There were soups and stews, salads and sandwiches, meals of just about anything you could imagine. Everything was delicious and free.
A cheer rose up as a great white whale appeared, floating over the ridge at the top of the cliff. The queen’s gown billowed like a banner in the updraft, and all eyes turned toward the royal couple who rode on the back of the animal.