Text, illustrations, and cover illustrations copyright © 2010 by Cricket Casey and Melle Mel.
Audio book and songs copyright © 2010 by Joseph Malloy, Cricket Casey, and Melle Mel
All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. Not to
be reproduced in any manner except a brief quotation when used in reviews.
More Books Press P.O. Box 1225, New York, New York 10008
Smashwords Edition
Audio Book unabridged edition ASIN: B0038RVVOG
Mobile App Book (animated) abridged for iPad
ISBN:
978-0-97864-882-4 release
11/11/2011
Kindle Mobi ISBN: 978-0-9786488-3-1 or EPub ISBN: 978-0-97864-881-7
Original Source: Print Edition 2010 (ISBN: 978-0-97864-880-0)
Library of Congress Cataloging-In-Publication Data Available
Cover art created by David Combs.
Cover and book designed by Yvonne Liao.
Music produced by Joey Mekkah; project recorded at Black Solaris Studios in NYC.
Edited by Cliff Carle; assistant editor: Rita Cody.
Illustrated by Allison Casey.
The Portal in the Park/Cricket Casey and Grandmaster Melle Mel.
(The Portal in the Park 1)
Sequel: The Biorhythm Academy.
Summary: A boy accidently falls through a portal and takes a scary journey into another dimension peopled by horrible creatures who attempt to destroy his spirit.
1. Creatures—Fiction. 2. Children—Fiction. 3. Relato—Fiction. 4. Mind/Bodybuilders—Fiction.
Smashwords Edition, License Notes
Thank you for downloading this free eBook. Although this is a free book, it remains the copyrighted property of the author, and may not be reproduced, copied and distributed for commercial or non-commercial purposes. If you enjoyed this book, please encourage your friends to download their own copy at Smashwords.com, where they can also discover other works by this author. Thank you for your support.
CONTENTS
10 Escape from Angroid and Graboid
SONGS
Produced by Joey Mekkah of Black Solaris Entertainment
Performed and written by Melle Mel
Performed and written by Melle Mel
Performed and written by Melle Mel
Performed and arranged by Lady Gaga, Featuring Melle Mel, Written by Melle Mel and Cricket Casey
Performed by Melle Mel and Joey Mekkah, Written by Melle Mel
Performed by Melle Mel/Featuring Lady Gaga, Outro by Brittany Beall
Performed by Melle Mel, Written by Melle Mel and Cricket Casey
For more information and to download audio book with songs, visit our website and check out video of teachers using the book in the classroom at theportalinthepark.com
Oprah Radio Show, Dr. Oz interviews Cricket M. Casey and Grandmaster Melle Mel on “The Portal in the Park.”
www.oprah.com/oprahradio/The-Portal-in-the-Park_1
“Grandmaster Melle Mel has done it again! Melle Mel and M. Casey have written and produced a read ’n’ rap fable with a new message for our youth through story and hip-hop songs, to help kids choose the right path of activity – not passivity. Read ’n’ rap with your kids and join Melle Mel and Lady Gaga as they give a Grammy-worthy performance. It’s “The Message” that counts and Melle and Casey are our kind of messengers for the future.”
–QUINCY JONES
“Scott’s journey will inspire young adults to be students of empathy, guardians of their own truth, thus citizens of our world!”--Nilaja Sun
Teaching artist in New York City public schools, and Star of off Broadway hit No Child.
“The combination of reading and music engages both hemispheres of the brain giving balance and ease to the learning process. Our kids developed a new attitude after reading The Portal in the Park. It is fun for them to read, dance, and sing to such inspirational songs.”
--Dr. Michael A. Singer and Mrs. Maggie Singer
Parents, San Antonio, Texas
“M. Casey creates this imaginative story with life learning lessons to inspire young adults to make the appropriate choices as they go through life. Grandmaster Melle Mel uses catchy raps and hip-hop music as a tool to motivate today’s youth about their future and the right path to get there. This book will spark the interest in everyone who reads and listens to it.”--Kathy Rogers
Elementary grade teacher Sacramento, California Public Schools.
“Thank you for this value-based message of health and hope for youngsters who need daily
biopsychosocial skills. May the significance of your work impact this generation ….one child at
a time….so that their dreams may be nurtured and they may realize the power and promise
within their grasp.”-- Sandee Westfall
Coordinator, Successful Aging Institute, St. Vincent Hospital, Indiana
Chapter 1. Movin’ On
“Ow! That’s mean!” cried Joey as his older brother, Scott, changed the channel on the TV set. It was in the middle of Joey’s favorite program, and Scott slapped him on the head as he did it.
“Scott! Go to your room until dinner,” his mother ordered. “And I want you to read one of your books about how to be a little nicer to people.” Scott’s mother was losing her patience with his nasty, angry moods.
Eleven-year-old Scott and six-year-old Joey had recently moved from a large house with a yard in the suburbs to an apartment in the city with no yard at all. Now they were cramped into a small apartment with two bedrooms and a living room, which also served as the dining area, TV room, and playroom. When you fit the contents of four rooms into one room, it can be quite cluttered. You really have to downsize when you’re living in New York City.
Scott was used to having his own bedroom complete with a computer, an XBox, and his own toys. Joey had a smaller room, but now they had to share a bedroom and everything in it. Scott was not happy with this situation. He resented having to share with Joey and had become selfish and mean. The next day, Joey was going to a birthday party and Scott was relieved that he would have a day to himself.
Chapter
2. The Adventure Begins
That morning, after taking Joey to the birthday party, Scott’s mother was in the kitchen preparing lunch when Scott walked in complaining. “I’m bored. There’s nothing to do in this stupid apartment. I wish we were back in our house. I hate it here!”
“This will give you something to do,” his mother said as she handed him a plate. “I’ve made your favorite sandwich, peanut butter and jelly – with the crust removed, just the way you like it.”
With Joey at the birthday party, Scott realized he didn’t know what to do with himself.
“After lunch,” Mother suggested, “why don’t you call those kids you met in school who live in the building, and I’ll take you to Central Park. You can find plenty to do there on a beautiful day like this.”
Angelina, who was in Scott’s class, and Eli (who was in a class behind them) were happy to be included on the excursion. They walked along the path past the lake and the rowboats to a bench in the shade where his mother could read her magazine while the kids played.
“Hey, Mom,” Scott asked, “want to play catch with us?”
“Later,” Mother said. “Let me finish reading this article.”
As Scott and his friends wandered down the path toward a graceful little bridge that arched over a stream, his mother called after him, “Scott, don’t go too far away.”
“We just want to see the bridge.” They strolled onto the bridge, and out of curiosity Scott leaned over the railing. “Did you see that?” he shouted.
“What?” said Eli.
“There,” Angelina said, pointing. “I see it. It’s moving. Scott leaned farther out. Suddenly, he lost his balance and flipped head over heels into the green water, howling as he dropped, “Ah-h-h-o-o-o-oh! Help!”
Eli and Angelina could only watch helplessly as Scott fell.
As he hit the water, everything went hazy, and Scott closed his eyes. He suddenly felt small, paw-like hands grabbing his arms and legs and dragging him deep into a stream that began to swirl like a whirlpool, sucking him down through a dark tunnel. It was really a portal into another dimension, a unique point in space and time peopled by strange creatures.
When Scott opened his eyes, he found himself in a dark room, stretched out on a table like the one he had seen in Dr. Gandy’s office. His hands and feet were bound with sticky string, and strange creatures were jumping up and down around the table chattering about what they were planning to do to him.
Angroid, the big red ugly one shaped like a flame with warts, horns, pointy ears, and piercing lime-green eyes, said, “Where shall we zap the anger ray, Fearoid? In his chest or in his brain?”
Fearoid, a small purple creature with wide, frightened eyes, was holding tightly to Scott because he feared the boy might break free.
“Let me at him, Fearoid!” Angroid growled, aiming a zapper at Scott.
Scott began to panic and struggled to free himself.
Fearoid leaned over and stuttered, “H-h-here, A-a-angroid, I th-th-think his h-h-head is the b-b-best p-p-place for t-t-the a-a-anger z-z-zap.”
“Get away from me!” Scott screamed.
“H-h-he’s g-g-getting l-l-loose!” Fearoid yelled. “U-u-use your z-z-zapper N-N-NOW, A-A-Angroid!”
Scott was squirming and turning his head from side to side. Angroid pushed Fearoid aside and shouted, “Get out of the way, you stuttering fool!” He proceeded to zap Scott in the chest. Scott screamed and writhed as he tugged at the ropes that bound his hands.
Angroid, smiling his wicked smile and laughing his evil laugh, rasped, “Once we get control of him, he’ll be ours forever! Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! And if we gain control of the children, we will eventually control the world! One bad apple can spoil the whole bunch. If we plant a few seeds of anger, we can get a chain reaction of anger going from kid to kid… from household to household… from school to school… from state to state… country to country… and then all the children in the world will be under our control. The media will help by spreading the worrisome word of social tensions everywhere. They are like parrots; they repeat information over and over. There will be no stopping us; soon everyone will be under our control – which means out of control! Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!”
“W-w-what ab-b-bout the ad-d-dults?” Fearoid interjected.
Angroid shrieked furiously and shoved Fearoid, “You dimwit, just who do you think the future adults are?” He was losing his patience with Fearoid’s lack of comprehension.
“A-a-all th-th-these k-k-kids?” Fearoid spit out.
“Yes, you simpleton, I don’t know how I put up with you.” Angroid growled, as he turned to acknowledge his name being called by a two-headed, green, spiderlike creature, with four legs, four arms, and an enormous potbelly who had crept up to Scott. He was the one who had tied Scott up with the sticky string that dripped from his fingers. “Got your zapper, Graboid?” Angroid inquired.
“Sure do,” chortled Graboid, “This will make him gross and greedy!” And with a sinister laugh, he zapped Scott in the belly.
As Scott shrieked again, Angroid jumped around gleefully shouting. “Yes, yes, total control! If we can control kids’ emotions, we can dominate the world!”
Seeing Angroid’s excitement, Fearoid became more courageous. “I c-c-can r-r-radiate a f-f-fear virus. I c-c-can z-z-zap him with f-f-fear. F-f-fear c-c-combined with a-a-anger and g-g-greed! He w-w-will s-s-spread them l-l-like the f-fflu.”
The three creatures joined hands and danced around Scott screeching and bellowing, “If we control the children, we can control the world, control the world, c-c-control the w-w-world. We can spread fear everywhere, spread fear everywhere, s-s-spread f-f-fear e-e-every wh-wh-where!”
“Get away from me!” Scott yelled, “Help! Somebody help me! PLEASE!”
Scott’s anguished “PLEASE!” a magic word in any language, brought forth a flash of light. Suddenly a small, smiling, turtle-like being with a shimmering silvery shell as buoyant as a bubble appeared on Scott’s shoulder. As the turtle appeared, the Viroids backed off into a corner. Scott could feel that positive energy radiating from the turtle’s shining shell dissolving the negativity of the weird creatures. Viroids are loathsome creatures that love the dark and cannot stand intense brightness. It caused them to immediately scatter and disappear as quickly as you can change your mind.
“Who are you?” Scott asked in amazement.
“I’m Taki, your soulman,” the turtle proclaimed in a loud, clear voice as he proceeded to set Scott free. “I’m your alter ego, your inner friend. You called for help, so here I am.
Scott was near tears with relief. “Those creatures were trying to kill me!” he wailed.
Taki ejected from his shell and, skipping around to Scott’s chest, he said, “They’re Viroids, which are negative emotions. They were trying to ruin your life – not take it.”
“What are emotions? I’ve never heard of them.”
“They are that part of you that involves your feelings – happiness and sadness; love and hate; joy and sorrow.”
Scott groaned, “Well, now I feel awful.”
“Exactly! They were trying to control your emotions – to aggravate you and make you feel bad and mean.”
“What can I do to feel better, Taki?” Scott asked in desperation.“
You have an important life to live,” Taki explained cheerfully as he sat on his shell and crossed his legs. Pointing his index finger at Scott, he said, “The world needs you. There is a job that only you can do, but you must conquer the Viroids, and master your emotions. Where’s your courage, kid? You’re not dying, kid. Quit all that crying. Are you listening? Are you hearing? Brace up, smarten up, and listen to my song.” Suddenly, Taki jumped up on top of his shell and started to sing boisterously…
Destiny Song
Performed by Grandmaster Melle Mel
(Visit www.theportalinthepark.com for audio)
Be what you wanna. Do what you really wanna.
Learn what you
wanna. Live where you really wanna.
Have what you want to. Give
what you really wanna.
Go where you wanna. See what you really
wanna.
Whenever you feel the art of the deal,
Reinvent the wheel and
be relentless at whatever is real.
Nothing is signed and sealed or
prearranged.
Everything is subject to change.
Anything can be
rearranged.
Things readjust, can be realigned, can be
calibrated,
Moved, distorted, it could be shortened or
elevated,
Manipulated, but one thing’s true’
Do what you
do, ’cause Destiny means that you were meant to be you.
Be what you wanna. Do what you really wanna.
Learn what you
wanna. Live where you really wanna.
Have what you want to. Give
what you really wanna.
Go where you wanna. See what you really
wanna.
The power is yours, the hours and the minutes,
And the days
and the weeks, in the peak of the tower is yours.
The truth and
the light source, the brightness,
The heights of righteous as far
as it gets, it’s infinite,
It’s eternity, farther than the
mind can see.
It’s reality, visions even the blind can
see.
Sounds that even the deaf can hear.
Destiny, it’s meant
to be, please don’t have no fear!
Be what you wanna. Do
what you really wanna.
Learn what you wanna. Live where you really
wanna.
Have what you want to. Give what you really wanna.
Go
where you wanna. See what you really wanna.
Be a tutor, teacher, preacher, pastor, be a governor,
president,
a judge, or grandmaster, doctor, lawyer, a senator,
A general,
town council, city, state, or federal,
A lieutenant, an
entrepreneur, the inspector, a movie star, the producer,
Or the
director, a songwriter, a singer, a chef.
Destiny, whatever you
do, make sure you do it your best.
Be what you wanna. Do what you really wanna.
Learn what you
wanna. Live where you really wanna.
Have what you want to. Give
what you really wanna.
Go where you wanna. See what you really
wanna.
With great effort, Scott tried to get up. “I’m so weak,” he gasped. “Taki, I can hardly sit up.”
Taki looked him over and exclaimed as he donned his shell, “Scott, this is a critical time. You’ll need all your inner strength to understand and control your emotions. Don’t crumble on me, boy! We have to make it to the Battle Meadow before the Viroids come back with reinforcements!”
Taki pushed a button on the front of his carapace and a tortoiseshell cell phone popped up. He flipped it open and made an urgent call uttering a secret password, “Bonabakula!” Then he said, “The Viroids are trying to take over another child! Send the Cortex Rescue Team to the Battle Meadow, immediately!”
Snapping the phone shut, he attempted to rouse the fainting boy by singing more of the “Destiny Song”…
Be what you wanna. Do what you wanna.
Learn what you wanna.
Live where you really wanna.
Have what you want to. Give what you
really wanna.
Go where you really wanna. See what you really
wanna.
Scott felt drained of every last bit of energy. As he closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep, an owl, whom Taki called Gamba, swooped down and whisked the slumbering boy away.
Chapter 4. Battle of the Viroids
Gamba deposited Scott in a huge nest high up in a tree overlooking the Battle Meadow. Its trunk was the size of a small house, with branches the width of a room. The nest was constructed of flexible twigs lined with soft moss. The owl looked over Scott like a mother bird guarding her young.
As Scott slept, Taki hovered above the nest like a flying saucer, then zoomed off outstripping the wind, and landed in the meadow in time to greet the Cortex Rescue Team of Mind/Bodybuilders approaching from the south. The grass spread across this vast field like a lush green velvet carpet. There were beautiful, colorful flowers and bushes along the southern border wafting a strong sweet fragrance across the field. On the northern ridge, however, was a dark forest of sinister-looking trees where the unknown lurked.
Suddenly, loud sirens blared and a host of Viroids swarmed out of the perimeter of the woods. Taki materialized at Scott’s side just as he awakened. Together they peered out of the nest and gazed upon the ghastly creatures, shooting their lasers and zappers everywhere, screaming and screeching their horrible battle song …
Viroid Battle Song
Performed by Grandmaster Melle Mel
(Visit www.theportalinthepark.com for audio)
In your mind we are strong, and we are wrong,
And this is our
Battle Song.
We make you want to fight and fuss,
And we’re so
mean that we’re even scared of us.
In your mind we are strong,
and we are wrong,
And this is our Battle Song.
We make you want
to fight and fuss,
And we’re so mean that we’re even scared of
us.
We made you angry, we made you scream,
Late at night we made
you have bad dreams.
We play tricks with your head.
In the
morning, we get you up on the wrong side of the bed.
We make you
wanna disrespect,
Fill your mind with strife, until your whole
life is a wreck,
Even then you won’t have a clue,
’Cause
what we do, is take total control of you.
In your mind we are strong, and we are wrong,
And this is our
Battle Song.
We make you want to fight and fuss,
And we’re so
mean that we’re even scared of us.
We invade your brain with fear and paranoia.
Hit you with a
soul destroyer.
Shoot you with the angry laser,
And when we
daze ya,
We’ll zap you with the mind eraser.
Blow after blow
we’ll slow your motion,
Till you can’t feel your feelings or
control your emotions.
To us, fear is great,
And we won’t
stop until the only thing you know is hate!
In your mind we are strong, and we are wrong,
And this is our
Battle Song.
We make you want to fight and fuss,
And we’re
so mean that we’re even scared of us.
United we stand. With our hands we poke and punch,
Keep in
mind; we eat humankind for lunch,
Keep in mind; we’re
psychopathic and deranged,
And do everything to make you act
strange.
Make you wanna act a fool.
We make you wanna get up,
and never come back to school.
We make you wanna waste your
day.
You waste so many days that you throw your whole life away.
In your mind we are strong, and we are wrong.
And this is our
Battle Song.
We make you want to fight and fuss,
And we’re so
mean that we’re even scared of us.
We are the Viroids; we will release a virus of emotion.
We have
Angroids, Graboids, and Fearoids.
We are calling them to harm.
The
Viroids will rule.
The Viroids will crush.
Ultimately the
Viroids will destroy.
From their bird’s – eye view in the tree, Scott and Taki watched in awe as the opposing forces clashed amid clouds of smoke, with shrieks and howls and the crash of weaponry. The Cortex Mind/Bodybuilders challenged the grotesque army of Viroids, including Angroid, Fearoid, Graboid, Vainoid, Lazyoid, Bullyoid, Boredoid, Snoboid, Wimpoid, Tearoid, Craboid and Paranoid.
With shields clanging, and zappers zapping, dozens of giant Mind/Bodybuilders were led onto the field by four powerful beings bearing freeze guns and laser beams for weaponry – Mikala, Zocko, Sitara, and Tia. The Mind/Bodybuilders were the martial guards of Cortex. Every member of the Cortex team was proportionally trim and muscular; all were highly educated in mind, body and spirit.
Scott wondered who these Mind/Bodybuilders were. He knew the Viroids were the negative evil tempters. Taki explained that the Mind/Bodybuilders represented the positive forces for good in his life.
Zocko, the brawny, wheelchair-bound Mind/Bodybuilder with four sinewy arms and spiked blond hair, immobilized the trembling Fearoid with a freeze gun, stopping him cold. Zocko’s corps, each with four muscular arms swinging freeze guns, turned the Viroids into motionless statues. Scott could see the angry and bitter expressions on their frozen faces. Other Cortex Mind/Bodybuilders used laser beams in battle that shocked the enemies into paralysis.
“Why is Zocko in a wheelchair?” Scott asked.
“Zocko injured his spinal cord in an accident leaving him paralyzed from the waist down,” explained Taki. “His arms are strong and he sure can move in that chair,” Scott noted. “That’s just it! He’s completely functional because he makes the most out of what he has.”
Scott had to agree. He was seeing Zocko in battle using two arms for freeze guns and two arms to spin his turbo-blaster wheelchair around on a dime.
Mikala, a husky, bronze warrior with a shaved head, sporting diamond-stud earrings and a weight belt, was the leader of the Positive Force in the brigade. He was expertly melting Viroids and their legion of demons with his ray gun.
Sitara, the elegantly plumed Queen of Self-Esteem, zoomed gracefully down on the Viroids, defeating them with her magical golden water ring. Angroid dashed madly toward her with his zapper aimed to strike.
Soaring up over him, she pinched her water ring ejecting a stream of rainbow water which dissolved the rays of the zapper instantly, and swirled Angroid into a puddle on the ground. All around, the forces clashed, and gradually the Viroids were driven from the Battle Meadow.
Beautiful Tia, tawny and muscular, the powerful Princess of Tough Love, dressed in a toga with a glowing heart emblem buckling her belt, flew onto the Battle Meadow riding Zamir, her multicolored parrot, as the fighting subsided. Shooting barrages of love arrows with heart tips, she imbued those remaining with love.
As the smoke cleared and the sun began to shine brightly on the picturesque, peaceful, green meadow, Taki turned to Scott and said, “I’ll always be here when you need me,” then disappeared in a flash of light.
In the distance the Cortex Team was performing body-shaping movements in synchronized patterns. Watching them, Scott understood why the Mind/Bodybuilders were in such excellent physical condition, and so mentally sharp in comparison to the nervous, miserable, twitching Viroids.
He jumped as he felt a tap on his shoulder. “Hi Scott, I’m Tia. That was a hardfought victory,” Tia commented as she surveyed the scene.
“What type of workout are they doing over there, Tia?” Scott inquired, holding up his arm to check his muscles. He wanted to develop muscles like theirs.
“Oh, they are performing the biofitness shapes. They are fun to do once you master them. Zocko and his group are doing push-ups. Mikala is leading his group through the bird-dog position, the cat stretch, the bow, the swimmer, and the stomach crunch. They strengthen, stretch, and relax you at the same time. We like to work from the core out.”
Scott looked puzzled. “What’s the core?”
“Core muscles are the muscles that keep your body centered. They are important for posture, coordination, and balance,” Tia explained.
“Wow, I like the names of those exercises,” Scott exclaimed as he lay down on his back and proceeded to do a stomach crunch. He was thrilled when he discovered that he could feel his core. “I wish my school had a class in biofitness! Maybe then all the kids wouldn’t be so obsessed and negative about their appearance.”
“Schools here in Cortex are set up totally different from those on Earth. Your schools concentrate mainly on intellectual energy, measuring your intelligence quotient, or IQ. We train both mind and body from the beginning. We start our children at a very young age at the Biorhythm Academy.”
“What is a biorhythm?” asked Scott in wonderment.
“A biorhythm is composed of the three cycles of energy levels we all experience daily. Everyone possesses physical energy, emotional or spiritual energy, and intellectual energy. We measure all – physical quotient, PQ; emotional quotient, EQ; as well as intelligence quotient, IQ.
“Our goal on Cortex is to maintain our biorhythms at an optimal level to keep all three energy levels in harmony. Earthlings tend to direct almost all of their education in schools to the intellectual cycle, ignoring the emotional and the physical. This throws off your biorhythms leaving you wide open for stress. Viroids love to attack tired, out-of-shape bodies and flagging spirits.”
“My school is boring,” Scott griped. “We have gym twice a week and music and art only once a week.” The rest of the time we have to sit and listen to long, dull lessons, and we aren’t allowed to get out of our seats. They must not know about biorhythms.”
“Humans tend to have a very lopsided spirit,” Tia responded with sympathy as she shook her head.
“Music is an extremely important vibratory energy source needed in any culture to holistically connect all the kinetic forces and provide an intellectual and stress-free society. You see Scott, by combining language, which is left brained, with music, which is right brained, you become in tune with yourself and your environment.
“For example, people sing and animals howl, while trees and plants sway and dance to the wind’s whistle. Like a fine instrument, we like to keep in tune and harmony with ourselves and nature. I think you know what can happen if we are out of tune.”
Scott jumped in with unexpected confidence, “Oh yeah, like an out-of-tune instrument producing bad sounds and bad vibrations – like thunder, earthquakes, hurricanes, and the Viroid’s Battle song. That was really eerie.”
“You catch on quickly, Scott,” Tia praised. “Here on Cortex we combine speaking and singing to communicate. As the famous poet Percy Bysshe Shelley once wrote, ‘Music, when soft voices die, vibrates in the memory.’”
Scott blurted out, “Oh, is that why sometimes I hear a song and I can’t get it out of my head?”
Tia laughed, “Yes, I think that happens to all of us.”
“Boy, that would be awesome if I went to school and we sang conversations with all my friends and teachers,” Scott chuckled gleefully. “Singing makes me feel good.”
Tia smiled knowingly. “The subjects of mathematics, science, English and history are all very important to learn, but your life will be unbalanced and difficult if you ignore your emotional and physical training, EQ and PQ. Tell me what exercise is, Scott.”
Scott shrugged his shoulders. “Isn’t it when you go to the gym and lift weights and work on those funny-looking machines? They’d never put them in my school,” he added discouragingly.
“That is only a small part of it,” Tia explained. “For example, did you know that exercise is different in every culture? When we study history, we could spend months just on the history of the development of exercise and physical fitness.”
Scott looked surprised. “I never thought of exercise as a part of history.”
“The art of exercise has many forms. We have the Japanese and Chinese martial arts; yoga from India; Pilates originating in Germany; and tribal dance forms from both American Indians and from Africa – many focusing on discipline and balance. This all has to do with your biorhythms and also New Physics. Exercise should be fun, and the right attitude and training are important as for any task.”
“What is New Physics?” Scott inquired eagerly as he executed a bear stance biofitness position, mimicking the Mind/Bodybuilders.
“It’s the study of all of life’s forces, energies, and vibrations,” Tia explained, “but you will hear about that later.”
“I feel like I don’t know anything,” Scott sighed. “I wish I could go to the Biorhythm Academy.”
Tia leaned over and whispered into Scott’s ear. “Maybe I can work something out with Relato.”
“Who?” Scott asked, perplexed.
“Relato, the Master of Reality, the Magnificent Magician of the Mind. Listen, we have a lot to do,” she interjected as Sitara flew over, leaving the Mind/Bodybuilders in the distance to continue their routine. “You will meet him later; now I want you to meet Sitara. She is an important member of our team.”
“How are you doing, Scott?” Sitara asked as she put her arm around his shoulder comfortingly.
“I’m feeling better,” he told her, rubbing his forehead. It was all very strange. His body felt exhausted from this ordeal, yet his mind was running in overdrive attempting to absorb all these new ideas and experiences.
“Hop on, Scott!” Tia invited. Her parrot, Zamir, equipped with bucket seats like an airplane, had alighted and was awaiting her orders.
Scott’s eyes widened with surprise! This was the biggest bird with the brightest colors that he had ever seen, and he had certainly never ridden on a giant parrot before! Enthralled, he climbed aboard and asked, “Where are we going?”
“We’re going to see Relato,” Tia explained, as they took off with a flap of the parrot’s wings. They were carried through the air, gliding up and down like the most magnificent noiseless roller coaster soaring over, under, and around clouds that looked like pink cotton candy in the back-glow of the setting sun.
This is a long day, thought Scott, as he looked back at the fading green meadow.
“Look ahead, my friend,” Tia urged as she pointed to the building with a tall geyser-like fountain and wonderful dancing waters.
“Hey, Tia, I see a rainbow!” Scott whooped excitedly.
The distant images became larger as they approached. When the parrot landed, Scott was mesmerized. They were in front of a beautiful fountain of artistically carved stone. Myriad streams of multicolored water were shooting high into the air, forming infinite rainbows.
It was the most fantastic fountain display Scott had ever seen. The word “VERITAS” was carved into the rim of the fountain. Behind the fountain was an enormous building with huge pillars.
Stone figures graced the triangular pediment above the grand entry, and chiseled over the doors were the words, “Inner National Bank of Worth.” It looked like a Grecian temple.
Scott pointed at the fountain in wonder and asked, “What is that?”
“That, Scott,” Tia responded with pride, “is the Fountain of Truth. The waters are magical and rich in minerals. The rainbow spray exudes a positive energy that is healing and relaxing. We drink from it, bathe in it, splash in it, play in it, swim in it, sing in it, and most of all, learn from it.”
She escorted him up the many steps leading to the gigantic building.
“Is this where Relato, the Master of Reality, the Magnificent Magician of the Mind lives?” Scott asked, thinking to himself, whatever that means!
“No, he lives in the castle beyond,” Tia smiled. “You will be in good hands. Now, I must go to teach at the Academy. I’ll catch up with you later.”
As Scott approached, the immense doors swung open.
Chapter
5. The Magician of the Mind
Hesitantly, Scott walked into a wide, elegant foyer with murals painted on the walls depicting the Mind/Bodybuilders in their various activities. A crystal chandelier with at least fifty sparkling lights illuminated the hall.
A tall, handsome man with shiny straight white hair, dressed in rich, colorful robes was walking toward him. The room reminded Scott of a castle he had seen in a movie. In one hand, the man held a scepter glowing with a radiating light that was more like a luminous energy source.
When he smiled, his white teeth gleamed against his coppertoned skin and lit up his perceptive sea-green eyes. He was a giant; but his aura was gentle, and Scott wasn’t frightened.
“Where am I?” Scott inquired.
The man smiled and spoke in a deep vibrant voice that enveloped Scott with calm. “You are in Cortex, the Inner Dimension.”
Scott looked puzzled.
“I am Relato, the Lord of Cortex, Master of Reality, Magician of the Mind. This is the throne room in the Hall of Truth and Beauty. I appear along the Path.”
Scott looked in all directions. “I don’t see a path.” Indeed, this place was not like a path at all. I’m here, Scott thought, but “here” seemed like nowhere he had ever known before.
Relato read Scott’s mind and without moving his lips said, Can you hear my voice?
“Yes,” Scott said, surprised that he was having a conversation, but he was the only one talking.
But I’m not speaking, declared the man.
“Then how do I know what you are saying?”
Scott was dumbfounded and rubbed his eyes to make sure that he was really not seeing Relato’s lips move. He was amazed to realize that Relato was transferring thoughts without speaking.
Relato stroked his chin, watching Scott trying to figure out what was happening. Then he raised his finger and said out loud, “When you’re alone in your room and you think of a bicycle, what do you see in your mind?”
“A bicycle,” Scott blurted out. His eyes grew wider with excitement because he surmised the answer.
“But is it there?”
“No, but I see it in my thoughts.”
“Aha! In your thoughts! And can you imagine peddling down the road, so you have the pleasure of riding it even though it isn’t there?”
“I guess so,” Scott admitted, scratching his head and marveling at that thought.
“Here in Cortex, what we think can be heard; what we imagine can be seen and touched. You are in the place of beginnings and endings, of comings and goings.”
“How did I get here?”
“You were on the Path.”
“But, I don’t remember seeing a path.”
Scott looked around again in bewilderment.
“It’s not something you can see, that’s why.”
“Then how can I be on it?” Scott retorted with a noticeable inflection of frustration emerging in his voice.
Relato spread his arms with a confident grin and asked, “Don’t you know what the Path is?” Relato seemed to hold many secrets but would tell none of them. Scott realized he would have to figure things out for himself.
“Let me ask you something.” Relato leaned down placing one hand on Scott’s shoulder and looking him in the eye. “Why do you get angry at your mother?”
Scott was surprised that Relato knew this about him. “She’s always saying, ‘watch out,’ ‘be careful,’ ‘don’t go there,’ ‘don’t do that,’ ‘stay away from this,’ ‘get away from that.’ She makes me feel like a baby.”
Tia had returned and was suddenly present beside them, as though she had appeared from thin air. She smiled and said, “May I tell him, Relato?”
Relato nodded, and Tia put her hand gently on Scott’s arm. “Fearoid had you in his power. He sucked your strength by turning your fear into anger, and anger was ruining your ability to make sensible decisions.”
“Mom is always too busy to play with me,” Scott tried to explain. “She says, ‘not now’ or ‘later,’ and ‘later’ never comes!”
Relato smiled. “Oh, I see, so it’s your mother’s fault?”
“I’m sick and tired of being told what to do,” Scott ranted and stamped his foot. “I don’t have to listen to anybody. I’m tired of being ordered around. I hate all adults!”
Relato laughed, “Listen to that, Tia! My, oh my, listen to all that negativity! Somebody has to be de-Viroided! What do you think, Taki?”
Taki had materialized on Scott’s shoulder and had quickly pulled his head into his shell at Scott’s outburst. Now he poked it out again and admonished Scott. “Pick up little fellow, why so green and yellow? Have you been infected? Are you feeling dejected? Got anger inside; self-pity besides? Get a life, man. End all that strife, man,” and Taki began to merrily sing…
Get a Life
Performed by Grandmaster Melle Mel
(Visit www.theportalinthepark.com for audio)
Life ‒ do the right thing, have a nice day.
Life ‒ not the
wrong way, do it the right way.
Life ‒ have a good time, come on
and celebrate.
Life ‒ no need to hesitate before you
graduate.
Life ‒ get a good job and a nice house.
Life ‒
and a nice car and a nice spouse.
Life ‒ you have it in you, now
bring it out of you.
Life ‒ keep it positive, and make me proud
of you.
Keep your eyes on your prize, and follow your dreams.
The road
is long, but it ain’t as hard as it seems,
And find yourself a
guiding light.
Stay strong and everything will be alright.
Live
right, work hard for the money you earn.
Learn to teach and to
strive, to teach and learn.
Live in peace free from strife,
And
before you do anything, you gotta GET A LIFE!
Do the right thing, have a nice day.
Life ‒ not the wrong
way, do it the right way.
Life ‒ have a good time, come on and
celebrate.
Life ‒ no need to hesitate before you graduate.
Life
‒ get a good job and a nice house.
Life ‒ and a nice car and a
nice spouse.
Life ‒ you have it in you, now bring it out of
you.
Life ‒ keep it positive, and make me proud of you.
Some kids go to school to steal and lie,
Thinkin’ that high
school is a place to get high.
Playin’ hooky and stayin’ at
home,
Thinkin’ they all grown while they’re runnin’ up a
bill on the phone.
Actin’ fresh and talkin’ loud,
Smokin’
weed, stayin’ out, now they’re hangin’ with the wrong
crowd,
Walkin’ ’round with a gun and a knife.
I think
before you go and get shot, you better GET A LIFE!
Do the right thing. Have a nice day.
Life ‒ not the wrong
way, do it the right way.
Life ‒ have a good time, come on and
celebrate.
Life ‒ no need to hesitate before you graduate.
Life
‒ get a good job, and a nice house.
Life ‒ and a nice car, and
a nice spouse.
Life ‒ you have it in you, now bring it out of
you.
Life ‒ keep it positive, and make me proud of you.
You
can still learn while doing your thing.
Get a degree, get rap, and
play, or sing.
Write your rhymes, explore your art.
See you can
get a PhD and still be street smart.
You could be the head of the
class; you got it made,
And you could be the one to find a cure
for AIDS,
Within you is all the answers.
See, you could be a
dancer and still find the cure for cancer.
Life
‒ do the right thing, have a nice day.
Life ‒ not the wrong
way, do it the right way.
Life ‒ have a good time, come on and
celebrate.
Life ‒ no need to hesitate before you graduate.
Life
‒ get a good job, and a nice house.
Life ‒ and a nice car, and
a nice spouse.
Life ‒ you have it in you, now bring it out of
you.
Life ‒ keep it positive and make me proud of you.
GET A LIFE!
Chapter 6. Viroid Extraction
Relato called Mikala and Sitara to come and take Scott to the Viroid extraction chamber. “He needs a thorough Attitude Reversal and Emotional Immunity Enhancement Program.”
“Wait a minute! Where are you taking me? Taki! Help! Help me! PLEASE! I don’t want to go anywhere!” Scott cried. “No more adventures! PLEASE! I’m sorry. I’m … so sorreeee …”
At that entreaty, Taki swirled in his silvery shell. Smiling, he said in a soothing voice, “Don’t worry, Scott. We are all here to help you, but you have to get rid of your fear and hostility. This is for your own good and I promise you’ll feel better afterwards. You will learn from the Mind/Body Team how to build your energy shields against the Viroids.”
Mikala, leader of Positive Force in the battle brigade, and Sitara, Queen of Self-Esteem, led Scott into a room that had all four walls and ceiling painted a pale blue like the sky. It contained a small garden of plants with a waterfall and stream cultivating its own ecosystem. Four reclining chairs resembling spaceship bucket seats floated in midair defying gravity. Scott was carefully settled into one, and soon, as he was surrounded by faint music, soft lights, and changing colors, he slowly relaxed and closed his eyes.
He could hear a fading conversation between Relato and Taki, who had followed. Relato waved his scepter over Scott’s head and a warm blanket of luminous light encompassed his body.
“It’s a tough job watching over all the children, Taki,” Relato declared with a confident smile. “Youngsters must be taught to use their cortexes instead of their reflexes. They must be active instead of reactive. They must be taught to realize that their lives are up to them, and that their choices become deposits or withdrawals in their Inner National Bank of Worth.”
“Exactly!” said Taki, who was perched on Relato’s forearm like a falcon. “I’m teaching all who will listen,” he assured Relato, “but they must give consent! That means they are ready to learn. Grownups call it an open mind. With Scott, all I can do is stick to his shoulder and be there for him when he needs my help.”
The words of “Destiny Song” swirled like visions in Scott’s heart and mind, and when he finally opened his eyes Relato was smiling at him. “Better now?”
“Yes,” Scott said, “I think so. But why won’t the Viroids leave me alone?”
“Viroids are horrid creatures. Erupting emotions from within, they corrupt everyone. Not just you; even your mother and father.”
Scott started to jump up from the chair shouting in disbelief, “Not my mother and father!”
“Relax,” said Relato placing his hand on Scott’s shoulder urging him to sit back. “It is like getting a flu or a cold in your thoughts and feelings instead of your body. They saturate your energy field with negativity and throw you out of control. Feelings are easily spread to other people. They generate reactions of anger, self-pity, jealousy, greed, boredom, and hatred. It becomes difficult to think. But they can’t take over unless you let them.”
“But I don’t want them,” Scott insisted.
“Then you must think more of others,” Relato expounded. He looked at Taki who nodded in agreement. “That will build up your immunity. Viroids attack when all you think of is yourself. As I said, you are on a Path.”
“What path?” Scott was beginning to feel annoyed and frustrated again. “I still don’t get what you mean. I can’t see any path.”
“The Path is your experience and is always behind you, that’s why you can’t see it.” Relato gestured with a turn of his head. “Its stepping stones are the choices you have made in the past. You can choose the path of honesty, kindness, and love, or the path of deceit, anger, greed, and cruelty. The world you leave behind will impel you toward your future. Making the right choices on your Path in life is the key.”
“Can’t I just take a pill or something, like when I get sick?” Scott replied, throwing out his palms in dismay.
“Maybe for a cold infection, but not for an emotional infection such as anger or greed. There are, however, tools that will help. Did you notice how Zocko used his shield on the battlefield? Let me have Zocko explain.”
Relato waved his scepter and Zocko in his turbo-blaster wheelchair instantly materialized from the back garden area.
“Scott wants to know about your shield.” Relato patted Zocko on his shoulder as Zocko steered confidently over to Scott.
“Proud to be asked to help the lad,” Zocko said, “A shield is based on the importance of prevention. It’s like immunization. Sometimes it’s too late if anger and fear have penetrated your energy field. There is an invisible energy field around everyone. It’s called an aura, and it’s chock full of all our ideas, opinions, and feelings, both positive and negative. If Angroid zaps into your field with anger, all the colors and vibrations of the field change. The shield can hold off those attacks if we build it up good and strong.”
Scott was growing more interested, “What is immunization? Can I build a strong shield like yours?”
“Of course you can. Immunization is a resistance. If you are immune to something, it will not affect you.” Zocko held up his shield in front of him.
“Remember the importance of your choices. The shield is made of honesty and kindness, as Relato said. Each time you control your temper, the shield gets stronger, tougher, and more resistant to attack from Viroids, or anyone else for that matter.
Everyone gets angry, sad, jealous, greedy, or hateful at times. For example, your brother, your friends, and sometimes even your parents have those feelings. We all need mental fitness training as well as bodily fitness training.”
“Do I have an energy field?” Scott inquired as he copied Zocko’s martial arts moves with an imaginary shield.
“Everyone has an energy field. We call this study the New Physics.”
Scott’s face lit up. He remembered that Tia had mentioned New Physics. “What is that?”
“First off,” Zocko answered, pleased to be able to show off his knowledge, “Physics is the science that studies matter and energy, and the interactions between the two. This includes the study of gravity, magnetic forces, electricity, and heat, as well as atoms and nuclear energy.”
Scott was impressed. “Wow! That sounds complicated!”
“Our New Physics studies the emotions, and positive and negative forces. We have discovered that some people have strong energy fields while other people have weak energy fields. We are learning how to make weak fields stronger. Don’t forget, it’s up to us to build up our bodies and our minds.”
“What does that have to do with your shield?” Scott interjected as he gestured with his imaginary shield.
“The shield is for psychological immunity.”
“What’s that?”
“Psychological immunity is when you are able to build up a resistance to emotional outbursts such as anger, fear, greed, and hatred. The shield holds off negative reactions.” Zocko spun his wheelchair around, holding his shield in a defensive position as if to ward off an attack.
“If, for example, you have been insulted, hurt, cheated, or bullied in school, the shield gives you a chance to stop and think. Time to stop – think – and make a choice, instead of just reacting.” He raised his hand as if he were a school guard directing traffic.
“Let’s say your brother breaks one of your toys, or calls you a bad name. But, instead of getting mad, you stop and think. Why did he do that? Is he mad at me? Does he want attention? Why did he call me that name? Maybe he is just reaching out for a friend in the only way he knows how.”
Scott grimaced. “Breaking toys, punching, and calling names doesn’t seem like a good way to make a friend.”
“If you understand what’s behind a person’s actions, you’ll have a better idea of how to handle the situation. Try it next time with your little brother, Joey, and the kids at school. Put yourself in their shoes,” Zocko said kindly.
“Ask yourself, ‘Would that action hurt me?’ If the answer is yes then you know it will hurt them. When you understand a person’s feelings, your emotions change and Angroid is pushed far out of your energy field, and you can take the Path of kindness. You can usually turn another’s nastiness away with humor, sympathy, or a friendly comment – you never know!” Zocko winked.
It sounded logical to Scott, but he had another question. “How am I supposed to find a path I can’t see because I’ve already walked on it?”
“The Path is your life, Scott. When you become aware of other people and your environment, you will have learned from the Path of experience and you will know truth, happiness, and fun.”
Sitara and Mikala who had been standing near the doorway, and Tia, who had approached by way of the back garden, gathered around Scott, and broke into a song as they gazed out the window toward the magical fountain …
Fountain of Truth
Performed
by Lady Gaga
Featuring Grandmaster Melle Mel
(Visit www.theportalinthepark.com for audio)
Everybody just clap your hands.
All the children just clap your
hands
and have a ball, y’all.
(Repeat 3 times.)
I’ve always been looking, been trying, been
yearning,
Continually seeking, and searching and
burning,
Exploring and hunting and everywhere turning,
For that
powerful fountain, that fountain of truth.
No answers at all, in the streets or the mall!
I sought in the
ocean; found raging emotion.
Nothing was stable; I’m really not
able
To find that powerful fountain, that fountain of truth.
The future is yours; the time is now.
The place is near, shout
loud, so every ear can hear,
So every woman and man in the land
can understand
The new world inherited by the children,
Free
from famine and war, disease and strife.
Free from the gun and the
knife, forever for life.
Free from all the mistakes that we made
in the past.
Throw your hands in the air and let the truth last.
I’ve always been looking, been trying, been
yearning,
Continually seeking, and searching, and
burning,
Exploring, and hunting, and everywhere turning,
For
that powerful fountain, that fountain of truth.
No answers at all, in the streets or the mall!
I sought in the
ocean; found raging emotion.
Nothing is stable; I’m really not
able
To find that powerful fountain, that fountain of truth.
You have the power to win in every hour,
To blossom like a
flower up under a rain shower,
To reach like the branch of the
trees in the sky.
So reach high and soar with the eagles as we
fly.
Flights with great heights, and fight the great
fights,
Strong to sing songs of wrongs that’s made right.
In
the never ending search for the fountain of truth.
In your youth
you’re bound to find the fountain of truth.
I’ve looked in the city, a place without pity.
Seen mountains
of wealth; no fountains of health.
Nothing is stable; I’m really
not able,
To find that powerful fountain, that fountain of truth.
Everybody just clap your hands.
All the children just clap your
hands
and have a ball, y’all.
(Repeat 3 times.)
Fountain
of Truth (Repeat 3 times.)
Chapter 7. “I Want Answers!”
Scott, reclining in the gravity-defying chair, was very relaxed in the Viroid extraction room with Relato and the Mind/Bodybuilders. He pushed a button and the chair moved to the upright position. All of a sudden, he felt completely overwhelmed by all that had happened to him and lamented, “I have so many questions that I want answers to!”
Relato smiled patiently. “The answers you want are inside of you. By making good choices you design your own destiny. I’m not saying this is easy. The right choices are often the hardest to make. But if you can make them, you will have control over your life, and you’ll realize what responsibility is all about. You will no longer blame your brother, your teachers, your friends, or your mother. You have been angry with your mother because she has had to make the choices you have been too weak and frightened to make. Viroids zapped you with fear, greed, and anger, remember? Love and kindness make us feel happy and good-natured, and people want to be around us. Fear, anger, and greed make us unhappy and hateful, and isolate us.”
Scott still looked bewildered, so Relato explained it in another way. “You see, Scott, you allowed Angroid into your energy field. What we throw at others bounces back at us! Which will it be, Scott, rage or joy?”
Scott wasn’t convinced. “I just want to have fun,” he whined, “and I want those Viroids to leave me alone.”
“Fun is what most people want.” Relato grinned. “Let me ask you something. Can angry people enjoy anything? Can they enjoy eating, or playing? Do they share? Are they fun to be with? Isn’t no the answer to all of these questions? Think about it, Scott, when we are overcome by anger, we are out of control. Anger and resentment lower our defense systems and leave us wide open to Viroid attacks. We burst out with words we wish we had never said and we do things that we later regret.”
“I guess you’re right about that,” Scott said begrudgingly. “Sometimes when I get mad at Joey, I lose it – I hit him and say horrible things that I don’t mean. Then I feel worse.”
Relato nodded in agreement saying, “That’s when you need your shield.” He extended his hand and motioned for Scott to follow him.
Chapter 8. Flashback
Relato led Scott to a room that was a huge theater-in-the-round with plush, red, comfortable-looking seats.
“Wow!” said Scott, awe-stricken.
Relato, noticing that Scott’s mood had changed, and that he was feeling remorseful and open to suggestions, said, “I have something I want to show you that may help answer some of your questions.”
“Really!” Scott said eagerly.
“Cause and effect, Scott,” Relato expounded as he walked to the center of the stage. “Often, people don’t think. They react automatically and end up regretting their actions later. Would you like to see a little replay of your past?”
“Yeah, I guess so.” Scott scurried into a front row seat wondering what was going to happen next in this place of surprises.
Relato raised his scepter, and suddenly a gigantic television screen appeared in front of them like a huge hologram. Scott saw himself sitting at the family computer in the living room with Joey sitting next to him watching enviously. Joey wanted to use the computer, but Scott roughly pushed him away. A fight ensued and they fell to the floor hitting and yelling. Their mother rushed in and sent them to their room to cool off. In the end, no one got to use the computer.
Relato looked quizzically at Scott and asked, “Can you explain what just happened?”
“Joey started it! He drives me crazy!” Scott yelled defensively.
Relato held up his hand. “Stop right there. Do you see that you had a choice? You could stay crazy or you could have handled it differently. You can stop your anger at any time. That’s what self-control is all about.”
Scott was not convinced. “It’s not that easy. Sometimes anger just takes over – the feeling is too strong!”
Relato comforted Scott by placing his arm around the boy’s shoulder. “Emotions may seem overpowering at times, but you must learn to convert your anger into friendliness, which is the exact opposite. Let’s say you are walking barefoot and you come upon broken glass. Would you continue walking?”
“Hmmm,
of course not!” Scott was beginning to understand. “I would stop,
think about it, then take a step back and walk around it.”
“Exactly!” Relato exclaimed. “You can take all this dynamic energy and put it to work for you instead of against you. Okay, we have seen a bit of your past; shall we look into your future?”
Scott’s eyes widened with curiosity as he eagerly leaned forward to see what the big screen would show him next.
Chapter 9. Future Flash
The holographic screen flickers off and back on again. The scene is the same, except that the two brothers are sitting at the computer together. This time when Joey wants a turn with the mouse, Scott invites him to sit in his chair, and he thinks of an easy computer game they can play together.
“Want to try this?” Scott says as he leans over and shows Joey the new game. Joey is surprised and happily agrees. Scott tells him to move over so he can show him how to play the game.
Clearly, Scott is in control of his feelings and the situation has changed. They are having fun, and Joey is thrilled that Scott is taking the time to play with him.
Scott is impressed by this look into the future. “That’s amazing! How did it happen?”
Relato, chuckling at Scott’s reaction, indicates the screen and says, “A great playwright named Eugene O’Neill once said, ‘The past is the present and the future too.’ What you do determines who you are and what will happen. When you call up friendliness instead of selfishness and share your knowledge with Joey that is what can happen. You make Joey happy with your generous offer to teach him the new game. This is called cooperation.” He smiles with approval when he sees understanding in Scott’s expression.
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