God stopped by for a visit the other day

From our funky dreams department.

Early afternoon, the doorbell rang. The cats were hanging out in the living room and didn't react as they would when a stranger was at the door. These are guard cats. If a stranger came by, from the postman to the meter reader, the chimney sweep or a beggar, or a friend who had not been here often enough to pass their friendship test, they'd jump up and make their way up the stairs. Fast, too, before she managed to get the door.

This time, they lifted their heads, listened for a second, and went back to grooming and intently scrutinizing the sun on the old rug.

Friend or family, she'd find out who, she was not expecting anybody.

She opened the door. A slender, older man, wearing blue jeans and a plain shirt stood there. Yes, he did have a beard and was bald on the top of his head.

She had never seen him, yet knew exactly who he was, and - as she recalled later - was completely calm.

Hi.

Hi, come in please. Can I offer you a coffee?

Sure.

As she prepared coffee in the kitchen, she heard low, rolled "r" cat greetings in the living room, then silence. Why is this so utterly normal, without excitement and ooohs and aaahs, of course no trumpets, no angels, she was wondering, counting out the coffee scoops.

Returning to the living room with coffee, noticing she did not have to ask 'milk, sugar', she found the cats sitting in a circle, quietly looking at the visitor.

They talked about the cats a bit, she explained how cool they were and how Ms. Princess was a little crazy. Yes, he nodded, she just came out like that. Would you like me to fix it, not a problem.

No, she replied, as whacky as she can be, she's perfect in her own way.

God smiled and sipped more coffee.

And you did not ask him the big questions? friends would quiz later when she told them  of God's visit. They'd roll their eyes, signalling disbelief in this exaggerated manner, as if trying to make their expression match the gravity of the event.

There was some exchange between him and the cats, she'd explain. No words were exchanged, she would say, unsure how to phrase what happened.

The coffee finished, God left with a thank you and a good bye.

And that was that, a pretty cool dream.