Where Are We Going?

By

Alan L. Bryant

     An infinite number of spirits gathered together to see if they would be called to live life.  Some had waited for an eternity, while others had just arrived and were on their way again.  Shapeless and lifeless forms of light, the spirits didn’t know from where they came from or where they were going; their fates decided by unknown forces.  As they waited to hear where they would be sent, the spirits conversed with other spirits nearby. 

     All spirits were given assigned numbers and this was what they were known by.  One small group consisted of three spirits named 279, 426 and 832.  By chance, they had met together to learn of their destiny.  Not knowing anything about anything, the spirits didn’t care where they were sent as long as it was somewhere.  Loud speakers surrounded them, constantly calling out streams of numbers in long succession without much of a break.  Keenly aware of the voice from the speakers, the spirits chatted in a hushed tone amongst themselves so to not miss the time when their number would be called.

832  “Hey 279, do you know where you’re going yet?”

279  “I heard through the grapevine it might be somewhere in Asia.  What about you?”

832  “Who knows, but I heard something about the Sub-Saharan Grasslands.  Did you

         hear anything 426?”

426  “Most of what we hear around here is bull pucky, but someone said something

        about Siberia.”

832  “Who decides where we will go anyways?”

279  “I heard from a friend of a friend that it was based on the spinning of a wheel or a

        lottery.”

832  “I can’t believe they would make such an important decision relying on luck

        alone.”

426  “I can believe it.  Nobody knows what they’re doing around here.”

832  “There must be some complicated scientific method employed.  Surely, they will

         take into account who we were and who we are now; our very essence.

279  “Does it matter where we are sent?  One place is probably no different than