The Emerald Clover

Synopsis: Vivianne Vicar's husband Michael is dying of bone cancer and she fears what will happen to their children, Genavive and Luke. One day, a man, balding, with round spectacles comes for a visit. He is dressed in an argle sweater, kahki pants and saddle oxfords. He calls himself Clement, like the Saint of old. He gives them a special trinket, an emerald clover. He tells them to hold on to it, keep it close to them wherever they go, and watch the miracles begin to occur. As mysteriously as Clement arrives, he vanishes, but more unusual happenings start once the clover does its work.

Chapter 1-Trials and Tribulations

Vivannne Vicar had been married to her high school sweetheart Michael for 25 years now. Their children, Genavive and Luke were on their own, married, with children of their own that would come and visit rather frequently. It wasn't just during the holidays they would pop in to say hello, but every weekend. They had a favorite bakery they loved to frequent called 'Sweetz', which they loved. It was their once-a-week indulgence. But life had taken a tour for the sour very recently. Michael had been experiencing the most excruitiating pain in his bones and as far as Vivi knew he was perfectly healthy and in the prime of his life. He had never had any sickness before so this sudden onset of pain was a glaring red flag and she had an instant sensation that something was horribly wrong. She knew Mike needed to see the doctor immediately and get a diagnosis soon.

The days that followed were trying for the Vicar family. Michael was diagnosed with bone cancer. What made this so unusual was Mike's family had no trace of this in their heredity and there was no real reason why Mike should be striken with the dread disease. One thing was certain, it was awfully painful and he did not wish to undergo chemotherapy treatment. It was too archaic even by modern-day standards. It didn't seem that there were many other options availible for treatment, but their faith wasn't shaken by this. They prayed harder than ever before and even asked faithful 'prayer warriors' to pray for Michael. They went online and did research for alternative therapies and found a doctor in Houston, TX that used healthy DNA from donors that he had synthesized to treat patients with no adverse side-effects. The only problem with this was Byrzynski's treatment (as it was known) was not covered by Medicare or supplimental insurance. Not even a donation from his congregation could've helped Vicar due to its expense. Michael, who was once fitter than a fiddle, was now feeling fatigued constantly and had become ashen in color. His typical pink, vibrant hue of skin was dull and dry. Even his natural black, wavy hair was flat and lifeless and his eyes had lost their spark. He spent a lot of his time in bed and could hardly stay away at work. His work began to suffer and he nearly lost his job. At this time, Vivianne, the kids and grandkids were all very concerned. Even though Vivianne could manage with her paycheck, the bills coming in for natural medications was through the roof. They were helping control his pain but they weren't contributing to the elimination of his cancer.

Chapter 2-The Strange Visitor

Vivanne began to lose hope. Seeing Michael in this much pain hurt her to her core. Even her children noticed a change in her attitude. Her faith had begun to waver and there were times she went outside to be alone to have 'discertations with her Maker'. She did her best to keep her voice low, but there were times were screaming had become extremely cathartic to her. She felt, in some unusual way that she was protecting her family from her outbursts. She knew she had no control over this situation but wondered if God heard her at all. She even began to ponder if there was a God. This wasn't the Source she had known from childhood who had fulfilled her every need in His perfect timing. It was as if He had stopped his ears or if He even cared. She was close to simply shutting her heart closed and giving in to reality. If Michael died that was it for her. Her world, her entire universe, would end. She would continue living somehow, but she didn't want to consider the possibility of life without her closest friend, lover and confidante.

She let out a primal scream and wept for a good while until a man took her by surprise. He was tall, balding, with white hair around his crome-dome head. His eyes were a beguiling chocolate shade, framed behind oval glasses. His sweater was argyle, which matched the khaki pants and saddle oxfords he was sporting. Had she known no better she would've thought this gentleman stepped directly out of the 1950's. Had there been a disruption in the time/space contiuum somewhere ? She didn't know, but this man, as weird as it was, was oddly familiar. It was as if she had known him all her life. The lanky man turned and grinned at her congenially. She still couldn't wrap her head around how he got in, due to the fact the house was locked but she waved that notion out of her head. He had a glow around him and warmth emenated from his smile. His mere presense was magnaimous and she knew she had nothing to fear with him. He came closer.

Chapter 3-Maybe An Angel

'I'm Clement. You're Vivianne, right ? Is it permissible for me to enter your domain ?', he asked. Somehow, she sensed this man, if he were a man, was another entity. Perhaps an angel ?

He was named after one of her favorite Saints whose monquier was Clement. He walked in and filled the room with light. The kids and grandkids didn't seem the least bit frightened of him, but they had millions of questions to ask, which he immediately answered.

'I have come to give you something. Each of you may carry it in your pocket a day and watch what happens in the time that follows.', Clement said.

'How do you know us, and how did you know dad was sick ?', Luke questioned, inquisitive as usual. He had been the one quering him from the moment he strode into the Vicar's abode.

'I was sent here by my Boss. I thought I would come in and visit and leave this trinket with you. It's an emerald clover. The Boss made it during his spare time. To be clear, I have never seen an object so rare or so sensational.', Clement said as he fished the emerald clover out of his khaki pants' pocket. The verdancy of the stone nearly overshadowed the room in a glorious hue of green. It seemed to have a frequency that couldn't be heard but could be felt as a light electrical tickle to the skin. They trusted the man with the golden aura and gleaming smile as soon as he had delivered them this priceless gift. Then, as soon as he stepped outside, he seemed to twinkle out of existence.

'Did you witness that ? You're all observers of what just happened, right ?', Vivienne said, absolutely flabberghasted at what she had seen. The kids and grandkids stood, dumbstruck, while Michael stirred a bit at the gentle energy in the room.

'It's pleasant, Vivi. What's that music I hear ?', he inquired. They all thought that they were going mad and maybe felt a trip to the local asylum would help clear their heads, but the angelic harmonies Michael was hearing were clear as day. The song was familiar and sweepingly gorgeous, one that they all knew by heart...

Oh, may the Son of God enfold you

With His Spirit and His love

May He fill your heart and satisfy your soul

Oh, let Him have the things that hold you

And His Spirit, like a dove

Will descend upon your life and make you whole...

Chapter 4-Healing Miracles

In a number of days, Michael began to feel better and walk around more freely. The pain in his joints and bones had nearly left him. Fairly soon he was taken to the doctor for his yearly follow up. The doctor's mouth nearly fell to the lanoleium floor when he saw Michael's progress. He hadn't said anything about before. He knew that Michael was in the final stages of cancer and to have a turnabout much like this one could only be described as phenomenal, otherwordly, or in his exact words, 'an outright miracle'. Genavive and Luke had no doubt it was the clover that had caused these things to happen since it had been blessed with healing attributes. They thought it was a smidgen greedy to hold on to the clover a wee bit longer due to the fact that Michael was not in total remission but he was close. The CAT scans showed no trace of any black spots in his body at all. The trinket had indeed caused incredible miracles, and none of them denied it.

'What should we do with the clover now ? Dad's nearly better. Why, yesterday, he was dancing with mom in the kitchen and I saw her dip her without any trouble.', Genavive stated, guilelessly.

'It is marvelous, truly. I can move around like a teenager and I haven't felt this alive in years. Last I can remember this much joy is marrying your mum and the birth of you two.', Michael confessed as the tousled the children's hair gently under his scruffy but tender hand as he would have when they were much younger. Neither of them minded being subjected to their parent's affection since they were all such a close-knit family.

'Lauren was talking about the clover recently. After dad's well, wouldn't it be charitable to give it to the church and use it for their benefit ?', Luke asked.

'I think that is a perfect plan.', Michael said, in an upbeat fashion. He felt rather celebratory, so as a treat, the family went on their usual weekend outing to Sweetz just as they had many times before, and Lauren, Logan and Colin were invited.

Chapter 5-Word of the Clover Spreads like Wildfire

Not too many days later, Michael had felt even better, if that were possible. His range of movement had improved and he had no aches or pains whatsoever. He played soccer in the yard with his grandchildren and often times outran them. It was that Sunday following the epic game he had played (and won) against his own grandkids that the Vicar family decided to give the emerald clover to the Holy Church.

Coincidentally enough, the church they attended was called St. Clements. So many auspicious, heavenly nudges had been felt since the advent of what seemed to have been a hopeless situation that had been turned around by a simple act of prayer and immense faith. Love hadn't been forgotten in this equation, since it was the catalyst that caused the reaction of healing to begin with. The clover had been placed by Michael himself in the middle of their votives. Being interdenominational, this practice didn't seem foreign to the Vicars at all, and perhaps the clover's effect could be amplified to those in the community who needed its healing attributes as well.

Unusual occurances began immediately after the trinket had been placed in the votary. Those who had experienced debilitating disease, crippling arthritis, and any number of maladies and ailments were beginning to be healed miraculously. People were beginning to spread the word about the 'emerald glow' and the transformations they were experiencing. The word was getting out among the populace about St. Clement and before long it was becoming a tourist destination. This hadn't been the course that Michael had wished the church to have, even though attendance was going through the roof.

After lunch, the family, including the grandchildren, decided to have a 'pow-wow'.

'We have to ship the clover elsewhere before the media gets knowledge of its whereabouts.', Luca, the youngest grandchild sugguested.

'If the media gets a hold of this kind of information, it could become a madhouse at St. Clements, and all for the wrong reasons. I never quite understood why some in the media want to make profit out of everything, even if it helps so many.', Luca's elder sister, Simone, chimed in. The grandchildren nodded sadly as they each tried to figure out a location the clover would travel to. It would have to be done covertly, under cloak of darkness. Children like themselves would be least suspect, they thought.

'This will be 'operation reoccupation.'', Melissa said after the trio had discussed their ultimate plan at length. They were old enough to carry this plot out without supervision and they had perfect detracting answers to the media should the media become involved. In this case, though, word hadn't gotten out to anyone outside of the community yet, so the 'Musketeers' as they were calling themselves, had to make their next moves quickly yet carefully.

Chapter 6-Traveling Clover

In the night when no one had come to the votary for healing, Luca, Melissa and Simone all took the clover and hustled themselves out of the church. Mounting their bicycles, they sped home as quickly as they could and met their loving parents, who praised them for excellent and swift work. The only issue now was where the clover would be traveling next, but they had another epiphany.

'Maybe we'll just sleep on it. The spirit will reveal Its true intentions as it usually does. Matters such as this are mysterious just like the Source behind them.', Luca said, wisely. Genavive and Luke were astonished at how sage their children were, as well as their resourcefulness.

That night, the entire family slept and reconviened at their favorite greasy spoon, Diana's Diner. Inexplicably, people were still reporting miracles occuring from St. Clement's though the clover wasn't in the church's possession. They deemed this their sign to continue with their altruistic mission to send the clover overseas and have whomever recieved it to use it however they saw fit.

After the open invitation was written, the clover was wrapped tightly in bubble wrap and sent first to Holland. None of the Vicar family knew where it would travel after that, and it really didn't matter. So long as it departed quietly from their little berg, they could return to their semi-quiet lives.

And so it went...

The gem trekked the entire globe until it came to rest at last in Ethiopia. After it had traveled the world with only underground websites following it as 'a hoax', it was soon reported that it had disappeared. Coincidentally it was Easter morning when the Vicar family had been apprised of this bit of news.

Epilogue

Other than it being a typical Easter day, a bit chilly and a smidgen of frost, the Vicar family felt that nothing 'unusual' had happened. The gem had done its work and had returned to its maker without causing too much of a ruckus. It was as they had predicted. Some people in this world are far too cynical and empirically minded to accept anything beyond the veil of 'applied science' and what can be reasoned intellectually. Clement never reappeared with any new 'signs' in any way shape or form, but the Vicar family's faith had grown so much in the time they had seen Michael improve and continue remission for 2 years and counting now. He was even outrunning the grandkids and his own children had difficulty keeping up with him. His newfound zest and lust for life was downright contageous. They came to the conclusion that it wasn't the gem that had done this deed, precisely. It had been faith, love, prayer and the accumulation of good deeds that lead to healing. It didn't matter whether someone was of a certain belief or creed when they were touched by the clover's power. It proved its point in that hope was what made the one hoping well. This sparked inspiration in the Vicars and fueled them to preach more on this boundry breaking fact. It was simply the mercy that the Source expended to all and on all, upon anyone open and receptive to unbounded love.

The End