Flash often returned to the rainbow arch and cave. He enjoyed looking at the pictures in the cool air and gentle light of glowing crystals. Sometimes, he napped on the cave floor, and the paintings came to life in his dreams.
Something else also drew him back to this place. It was the crystal arch where he had sat with his grandson. Standing under the arch gave Flash a good feeling. Colored light beamed down on him blending not only the hues, but the temperatures. Standing in the intensely colored light, he felt that he were standing in a painting. He thought of the dream where he was swallowed up in his grandfather’s artwork. It was a comfortable place, but there was more to it. Something he couldn’t explain. Not everything needed an explanation, and who would he explain it to anyway?
As he thought this, he saw something move on the ground near his feet. Startled, he looked down. It was just the shifting colorful shapes. No, it moved again. The stones and soil were shifting. A jewel toppled as the ground beneath it pushed up.
Flash took a step back and watched. Perhaps this was something like a mole or groundhog, though Flash had seen other, far more unexpected animals, break out of Olo’s surface.
It dawned upon Flash that he had emerged in this very spot to reunite with his grandson after meeting his child-self in the cave.
A hand appeared, and then another, and soon a person climbed up and crawled out into the light next to Flash. He stood, and dusted himself off. Clouds of dust were illuminated in rainbow colors as they settled back to the ground.
Hello, Flash greeted the man.
There was something oddly familiar about him, and the two men stood looking at each other for several moments, allowing the silence to hang with promise in the dazzling air.
A chill ran up Flash’s spine. Can you know a person you have never met before?
He stared into the young man’s eyes, and the man nodded his head slowly. He smiled, and Flash’s eyes welled up with tears. He didn’t know why.
The man looked down at his rumbled, dusty suit, and said I’m all dirty.
That’s ok, Flash said.
The man chuckled, and hugged Flash. His embrace was comfortable. Flash hugged him, too.
I am Archy, the man said, I come from under the arch. My fingerprints are all over you!
It was true. Dusty handprints covered Flash’s clothes.
Thank you for taking me with you to the stars. He chuckled again. You have carried us all with you on your adventures. You’ve taken us to places we never could have dreamed were possible.
Something else was moving, and caught Flash’s attention. They were flying in and out, over and under the arch. Dark against the sky and the crystal bridge, birds flew. Flash had not seen a bird since leaving Earth. They chased each other in a playful way, and Flash watched them in astonishment. They eventually lighted upon Archy’s shoulders, and Flash could clearly see their bright red breasts.
Archy! Robins! He blurted out.
Archy just chuckled again and said Yes.

For my great-grandfather, Archie Robbins Miner, 1876-1942, and all of my ancestors.