SPACERThey liked it that way.

SPACERI usually stay to myself, keeping away from the whole thing. Most of us do. We just go about our business and They go about Theirs. It's not unusual for someone to have a complaint and say they're definitely going to take it up with Them, but we never do. It's just not worth it.

SPACERBut I had a problem. A real, honest to--

SPACERWell, let's just say I had a problem. I had take it up with Them.

SPACERI didn't expect the blackness to still be around. I just thought that was the way there and that was it; the scary journey to limit the number of visitors. I thought the blackness would be gone or end once I got there. I expected more, somehow. I don't know; golden pillars or crystalline fountains...

SPACERNope. Just that same old boring blackness. They were weird, though: They probably thought it made Them look more intimidating or omnipotent or something.

SPACERSo I make it in to see Them. I knew what They were, each of them, and I knew what to expect when I arrived. What I did not expect, however, was Their presence.

SPACER It's like I knew what they were going to look like, but I didn't expect Them to be so real.

SPACER As I approached, the youngest spoke first. (If you could call it speech.) He was wrapped in swaddling clothes--I think its called a diaper now-- all curly hair and dimples.

SPACER He floated up and seemed to be happy to receive a visitor. His mouth didn't move, but I could hear the words in my mind.

SPACER Hi. What's your name?

SPACER It tickled.

SPACER "Peter," I said.

SPACER Oooh! Hi, Peter! What brings you here?

SPACER "Well, you see, Sir, I have a problem..."

SPACER So large is this problem that you bring it to Us? the winged one stirred. It's huge feathers ruffled a bit. I hoped it wasn't annoyance. The grim look on His luminescent face told me nothing.

SPACER "Yes, Sirs," I gulped.

SPACER The old man sighed at me. The old man was sitting on a chair a bit above the other two. A place of respect, I suppose. He did not speak.

SPACER Oooh! I love problem solving! Is it a riddle?

SPACER I was unsure how to react.

SPACER "No, Sir," I said, "it's not a riddle."

SPACER The child looked disappointed.

SPACER "It's about our side of the void..." My palms were sweaty and I felt my knee shaking with nerves.

SPACER Is it too cold over there? It's been very cold over here. Don't you think it's cold?

SPACER "No, Sir. It's not the temperature at all. You see, it's--"

SPACER You're having some sort of...'problem'?

SPACER "Not a problem, so much as a question," I said. I thought better and added, "Sir."

SPACER Oooh! I love to play 20 billion questions! Go ahead!

SPACER Stern looks from the other two silenced the child.

SPACER I was beginning to see why things were the way they were.

SPACER "Well, Sirs, it's like this," I began. "We're supposed to be in paradise, right? But all I've been doing since I've been here is go to work."

SPACER They stared at him, bewildered. The shimmering grey image leaned its great feathery body toward the child. They whispered a few things and nodded Their flawless heads.

SPACER You are a sweeper, are you not?

SPACER "Yes, Sir," I smiled. "I am."

SPACER And you do not like this job?

SPACER "It's not that I don't like the job, Sir. It's just that I expected I wouldn't have to work once I got--"

SPACER Not work?! Do you think Paradise can just run itself?!

SPACER Silly Peter! Even the child seemed to know--

SPACER Ahh, but why shouldn't He?

SPACER Just exactly what did you expect would be going on up here?

SPACER "I don't know," I thought for a moment. "Fun?"

SPACER Fun?! Did you think it was going to be an eternity of fun and games? No responsibilities? No consequences? He paused and narrowed his eyes at me. No work?

SPACER "Well, honestly, Sirs..." I weighed my answer carefully before giving it.

SPACER "Yes."

SPACER They scoffed at me.

SPACER Well, honestly...
Silly, silly Peter!

SPACER "Well, don't you wish you could have some fun once in a while, Sirs?" I knew I was crossing more than a few lines here. "Especially you, Sir," I said nodding toward the curly-haired child floating above the spectre's head.

SPACER I think I flustered Them.

SPACER Well... that is to say that... um...

SPACER Sure! I love to have fun!

I smiled, knowing I had gained ground.

SPACER The old man looked in my direction once more. He seemed agitated. He looked at the glowing angel and the smiling child with His old eyes and tired grimace. They shrugged at Him. His eyes widened and narrowed a few times as the other two nodded and shook Their heads.

SPACER Whatever He was saying was for Their ears (minds?) only.

SPACER After several seconds of nervous silence, the old man turned away from me again. The winged spirit smiled. The child spoke to me first.

SPACER Fun! Fun! Fun!

SPACER He has decided that you shall have your fun, Peter.

SPACER "Really?! That's great!" I was absolutely thrilled! I was finally going to have some fun. Now we were talking! These guys weren't so bad afterall.

SPACER "That's just great! I have a few suggestions: maybe we could bring in some beer and install some surround-sound stereo equipment. Oh, and then I was hoping for a hockey rink between C128-Alpha and C129, but that's just a suggestion. Maybe something for the future, and--"

SPACER The smiles on their faces melted away and the looks on their faces told me I was way off base.

SPACER He had a different 'suggestion', Peter...

SPACER Silly Peter!

SPACER My throat choked up.

SPACER He thought you'd have more fun if you were promoted to Head Cloud Sweeper.

SPACER "What?! Head sweeper?" I turned to face the old man. I couldn't believe my ears! "Is that what you call 'fun'?!" I was crossing every line I could find, but I didn't care. I was outraged. "You can't expect us to live this way! You can't just advertise how great and wonderful Heaven is and then run it like this! You can't just do that! You can't just--"

SPACER -

SPACERIt is done.

-

SPACERThat was it. I shut up.

SPACER Sorry, Peter. Have a safe trip back.

SPACER Silly Peter!