I was sitting at the table with Mom playing with the baby when a man came to the table with a box for Mom. Mom thanked the man and looked at the package. It was from China. All kind of terrible things went through my head. Mom took off the paper. Scott saw her and came to see what was going on. It was a cardboard box which Mom opened. Inside was a beautiful hand carved box which she took out. Scott and I were watching intensely to what was in the box. Inside was a letter to Mom, me, Serena and Scott. It said, Matthew and Jean had graduated. Scott with Hunter sitting at the table waved at Serena in the pool to come here. It said we did so well we were invited by the Highest Monk in the land for private lessons. We have sent you our diplomas and necklaces for safe keeping. We should be another 2 to 3 weeks. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for us and couldn’t pass it up. Love you and hope to be home soon. Mom handed me Matthew’s scroll with a necklace and note attached. There was another one for Serena. My note said, love and miss you and the kids very much. Couldn’t pass this opportunity up. Be home soon. Love Matthew. I opened the scroll and it had gold writing with a picture drawing of the High Monk. The writings were in Chinese but I believed it said he passed The gold necklace was very nice. I looked at Serena’s and they were different. There was another scroll and necklace in the box. Scott look at it and said to Mom, don’t know who this one belongs to. Mom said, maybe they are bringing someone back with them. Scott said, that could be it. I turned to Serena and said, darn we have to wait another two weeks. Serena said, I know. I miss Jean very much. Mom said to me, you should be ashamed. Your husband has a lot of stress and responsibilities working to keep you and his family feed and safe. And you complain about him taking a couple of weeks to do what he wants to do. I said to Mom, your are right. I should be trying to be a good wife and take care of the kids until he gets back. I want to keep his scroll and necklace in the box until he gets back so nothing happens to it. I put them in the box. Serena said, I want to do the same. She put Jean’s back in the box. Mom said, I will put the box on my dresser in case you want them. She went to the house. Scott gave me that Mom told you look. I just ignored him. Serena, myself and the baby went in the pool. The rest of the day was great and I felt great. When I went to bed I thought I still miss my husband sleeping next to me.
At the Monastery in the cloud. Matthew woke up. He wondered what time it was. The room had no windows and the only light was their lantern which also helped keep to room warm. Matthew said, Jean are you awake? Jean said, I am now. Matthew said, my legs are so sore. Matthew took some salve and started rubbing his calf. Matt went on, what a work out. I have run several miles with a back pack or climbed hills but have not had a good climb like that one. Jean sat up said, hand me some salve. He then started rubbing his calves. A Monk came into the room. He said, your awake. I am here to show you around. The Monk looked Chinese but spoke very good English. If he had turned his back to you you would have thought there was an English man under the robe. Matthew said, you know English. The Monk said, I grew up here but went to high school and college in England. Then came back here. Matthew said, why did you come back here. The Monk said, the world out there is too full of greed and sin. Matthew shook his head yes. Matthew said, that hike up here was a great test of limits. Have you done it? The Monk said, many many times. Matthew said, how long did it take you to get use to? The Monk said, maybe the third time. After that it’s a breeze. Matthew said, I have got to pee. The Monk said, grab your dirty clothes and let’s go. Matthew and Jean were excited. They had made it to place on earth they had thought they would never get to go. First they took them to the laundry room. He showed them where to put their dirty clothes and how to get them back. Then he took them to what would be call the bathroom. A room with holes in the floor. Then they were off to breakfast. A room with tables and benches. They had the standard breakfast with porridge, bread, and goats milk. The monk said, today and tomorrow are going to seem nice. But once training starts life is going to be really hard. These worrier monks are tougher that any you have come across. Don’t let them kill you. That is why I didn’t try to become a Shaolin warrior monk. I wanted to live and completing the program can kill you. So if you desire to quit just say so. After breakfast he took them to the top of the temple. Up what seemed like thousands of stairs, where you can see all around. On one side was the mountain the temple was sitting on. It had snow on it and a water fall that came out of the mountain and ran down beneath the clouds. On the other side not far from the temple was a little valley with some farms and buildings. The monk pointed to a building and said, I live there. The High Monk ask me to come help with his guests. They went and looked at the water fall. The monk said, I come up here to meditate. The monk set down on the cold stone and started meditating. Matthew and Jean wrapped their robes around there legs and sat down. They joined him in the meditation. After a long period of time Matthew opened one eye to see what the monk was doing. The monk seemed to be hovering just above the floor. Matthew thought the air is so thin up here I am hallucinating and shut his eyes. After another long time Matthew started to wonder when they could go in because it was so cold. Soon the monk got up and Matthew and Jean followed. The monk said, the High Monk has assigned 2 of his best trainers to you. They want to meet you and test you because they don’t want to waste their time.
Once down stairs they went into a room and there sat the High Monk. Matthew and Jean went up to him. Got down on there knees and bowed their heads. Matthew said, thankyou for inviting us into your home. It is such an honor to be here. Jean said the same thing. The High Monk said something and the English speaking monk. The monk said, The High Monk has assigned these two warrior monks to you. These monks want to test you. One of the warrior monks came up to Matthew and pointed to the floor away from everyone. The warrior monk took a stance in front of Matthew. Matthew knew what was going to happen. The warrior monk came at Matthew. Matthew blocked him. He turned walking around Matthew and Matthew followed. He came at Matthew harder and Matthew blocked him. Matthew could tell he was faster and stronger than he was 2 weeks ago. The monk came at him several more times and then went to the other warrior monk. This monk was faster and stronger. He knocked Matthew down a couple of times but Matthew got up before he could keep him down. Then the two monks came and stood a couple of feet apart in front of Matthew. Matthew put his hand up and they just looked. Matthew took his robe off. Then he took a stance. He felt really good about this. Blocking the hands and feet. One came flying though the air to kick him in the chest. Matthew turned sideways just in time. They knocked Matthew down a couple of times but he kept coming back. Then they stopped. They went over to the High Monk. The High Monk said to the English monk something. Then the English Monk said, they said they can work with you. You are not what they were expecting. Matthew bowed to the High Monk and the warrior monks. He then took his robe and sat down. Matthew sat and watched Jean go through the same thing and thought damn he’s good. The warrior monks then said they excepted Jean also. Everyone was every happy and went off to lunch.
At bed time Jean all warm in his bed said to Matthew. You know today when we were meditating. Matthew said, yes. Jean said, well I opened my eyes for a few seconds and could have swore the monk was hovering above the floor. Matthew said, I know I peaked at him and saw the same thing. I think it was just the thin air. Jean said, ya that is what I thought.