THEO OF GOLDEN BOOK CLUB - WEEK 12 - CHAPTERS 56 - 60
THEO OF GOLDEN by Allen Levi
Nooooooo! We knew it was coming, but still, it's such a shock when it happens.
CHAPTER 56 -
Simone's concert winds up and the applause is thunderous. He comes back with his encore. the most amazing gift that he offers up to Theo and the crowd, an original piece created by Simone entitled Fado for Theo. Fado means "fate" or "destiny," but literally as my eyes read across the title, the word "fade" jumped out at me - the fading of a life. But tonight, it is a joyous bestowal on the man that has bestowed so much on the small community of Golden. Could there be a more perfect or beautiful gift?! In fact, as Theo leaves to return to Ponder House, he thinks to himself that he has tasted heaven tonight.
I found myself thinking over and over as I read this chapter about the difference one person can make in the life of another or in this case, many lives. This doesn't have to be something that just happens in stories. We can each choose to stop and listen to people around us, to care, to see, to lend a helping hand. Despite the feeling of heavenliness this chapter provided, we still reside on the fallen Earth, and there was no way this moment of perfection could last.
CHAPTER 57 - 58
As soon as the words "bad dream" appeared in the first sentence of the chapter, we knew the moment of doom was upon us. I don't know about you, but dread slowly unfolded its cold fingers, reached in, and wrapped them around my heart.
The stupidity of fools that can never leave well enough alone. The endless pursuit of tormenting another for a moment of selfish pleasure, is it really worth it?
Innocent Ellen sits in front of the Feder basking in the glow of the perfect evening. For just a moment, the world probably feels right to her. Can you see her in your mind's eye? I can. It's as if I'm standing behind the park bench and can see her in front of me. The hat perched on her head, the frumpy silhouette, the Noble Invention parked close by, and then she is attacked. Leave her be, I mentally scream at the book. Simone rushes in from somewhere on the side of my mental movie screen. A leaping figure with his precious cello perched percariously, but he is no match. People that we hove come to love our beaten before our very eyes, and we can do nothing to save them. And the cello - the cello that sang its heart out only hours ago lays smashed to pieces. As if that wasn't horror enough, our gaze turns to a bundled heap on the ground. Theo. The thread that brought each of these wonderful people into our lives. The warm-hearted soul that set himself aside for the care of those around him, lays dead after falling off the balcony while witnessing the horrendous scene.
CHAPTER 59 -
The moment we have waited for the whole book finally arrives. We learn who Theo was, but this isn't how I wanted to find out.
He was an artist, and internally I say, Of course he was! Nothing else would have made sense. Zila, the world renowned, but reclusive artist whose paintings were highly sought after and prized. The pieces fall into place. Ahhh, of course, that's why the portraits were the perfect avenue for the plan, that's why he saw beauty all around him, that's why he brought more beauty into the world.
CHAPTER 60-
There is so much to love about this memorial service but first, a question. Which part of the man do you think made the most lasting impact on people - Zila, the gifted, the wealthy or Theo, the kind, the caring? Professor Gobelli plays Simone's Fado for Theo that is now a requiem, a musical composition written for someone who has died. Then Father Lundy speaks, and he creates this perfect segeway from Theo, the artist, to the Ultimate Artist, Christ. Theo isn't Christ, but he embodied some true, Christ-like characteristics. After all, isn't that what being a Christian is all about? He came not to be served but to serve. That was Theo.
But wait a minute! We still don't know what the plan was.