THE CHINA SHOP

Awareness and his companions climb several courses of stairs until they come to a door that reads “Open” on it. As they walk through it they come to a row of shops in an alley. Over the storefront above the display windows is a giant sign with the name CHINA SHOP on it. The three enter.

The China Shop is full of beautiful delicate handcrafted pieces of china. There are platters of hopes, vases of dreams and teacups of possibilities chattered throughout the store. Tiny figurines of precious promises are displayed in glass cases of guarded friendships, lined along the walls of beloved relationships. And in the center of the store is an enormous grand heart shaped centerpiece with delicate hand crafted design carefully and purposefully fashioned by the hand of Origin Himself. Awareness greets the proprietor of the China shop.

The proprietor bows politely and takes each hand, very careful not to squeeze the hands of each of them too tightly. Your servants seem very delightful. My name is Mr. Fragile. My wife, over at the register, is Oversensitive (she nods) and my three boys, scattered throughout the store are Easily Hurt, Easily Offended and Way Too Touchy ”

(Each wave as they are introduced).

Now as Mr. Fragile is speaking with the three a gang of small neighborhood kids come into terrorize the proprietor. Their names are Disrespectful, Inconsiderate, Insensitive and Selfishness. As they run through the shop they pick up pieces of the precious china and throw it to one another.

“HERE, CATCH,” Disrespectful, shouts to Inconsiderate as he rudely tosses him a lovely teacup.

Inconsiderate makes a dive for it and catches it just before it hits the ground. Mr. Fragile pleads with the boys not to handle the merchandise.

Insensitive picks up one of the ornamental plates of tender trust and throws it like a Frisbee towards one of the walls behind the frantic shopkeeper. He is completely irresponsible to the owners pleads.

Mr. Fragile jumps up as high as he can and catches the plate just before it smashes against the wall.

Easily Hurt sits immobilized in his distress. Easily Offended is wounded by the offenses of the gang and Way Too Touchy is overreacting to the whole situation.

Mr. Fragile runs nervously about throughout the shop. He desperately appeals to the children to stop before they break any of the precious china. Lacking physical and emotional strength he grows more and more nervous. As he does he begins to transform into a raging bull kicking and bucking his legs wildly in a circle. The precious china flies everywhere. Lovely teacups and delicate dinner plates flies into the air, smashing against the wall, destroying every piece of china before he finally kicks he heart shaped centerpiece into millions of broken pieces.

Seeing what Mr. Fragile has done the children laugh and run out of the shop, down the street leaving him kicking and bucking, spinning and pulverizing every fragment of expensive china in the shop.

Awareness walks over to the bull to try and calm him down but he is obviously too upset to console so the three leave the shop.

The three walk silently down the alley reflecting on what they had just seen.

Enlightenment is the first to speak “I do believe that Mr. Fragile made too much of the whole situation.”

Awareness astonished at Enlightenment’s comment replies, “Whatever do you mean? Those boys came in to break up the place. Didn’t you see that?”

Enlightenment responses calmly, “Yes, that is true but did you notice that the boys didn’t break one piece of china. It was Mr. Fragile that destroyed his own shop all by himself. His overreaction to the situation is what caused the destruction of the China Shop.”

“Awareness,” Illumination asks. “Have you given it any thought as to where we might find this Wounded Child?”

“You know, Illumination,” Awareness replies. “I have been so fascinated with Castle Glade I really haven’t given it any thought. I kind of thought…”

“Well you know.” Enlightenment interrupts Awareness. “It really is the core of your mission. Origin was very clear.”

“Yes that is the problem with not really knowing your purpose”. Awareness replies in frustration. “One can so easily become sidetracked.”

Following not far behind unbeknown to the three is Hardly Noticeable disguised as an inhabitant shopping in the alley, listening to them as they speak. He observes their dress, demeanor and overall appearance and recognizes that they are not citizens of Castle Glade but are indeed unwelcome intruders.