Harley’s Vortex 

Students sat eagerly anticipating her words.

Harley stood in front of her class. Her presentation… 

Well, she thought, I can wing it, right?

She started, almost whispering, “The vortex contains everything that is good. Could it be this simple?”

“The vortex is like a container, a location, where all that we dream up is held… just waiting for us to say… I’m ready, let me have it.”

“Everything we want to create, everything we dream… is there.

Could it be this simple?”

Her cousin, Emily, two seats from the front, smiled.

“God is the creator of ‘all that is’,” she said. 

She paused as she noticed classmates squirming in their seats.

She spoke louder, her confidence grew, “We can co-create with God, with Source, when we grow in faith… faith in God, faith in His Universe, faith in our dreams and ‘all that is'”.

“If we have faith that our dreams can come true, they do, because they already exist in the vortex. We just need to access them by believing that they are already in existence; with the universe waiting for us to believe, waiting for us to stop blocking the process with negative thoughts or actions.”

“So when you pray for something, say thank you, knowing that it exists and it is already yours.”

Again, her audience struggled to listen. She noticed Billie nodding off.

Think quick, Harley. Think.

“Ever notice that something comes to you at just the right time?

Coincidence, not at all… manifestation.

Billie looked up.

Yes, she thought. 

Emily nodded.

Harley took a breath and continued. “I’m finding that when my search online for something is blocked; and this has happened more than once; later, I find that the Universe provides the answer from a different source.”

“Just as this is obvious, subtle signs show themselves, as well.”

“If I stub a toe or a pain that has been healed reoccurs, I’m able to assess that my thoughts were not in line, in line with what my inner self knows.”

“Get out,” said Terry from his desk at the back of the room.

Harley looked Terry in the eye, “Complaining…,”

Terry squinted a disgruntled look.

She continued, “Complain less and believe. Do so without following up with negative thoughts; thoughts like, but what if… “

“Our wishes are more bound to become reality with positive suggestions attached.”

Let those thoughts go and replace them with…

Thank you for… and list all that you desire… and experience the results of your manifestations.”

“It is that simple.”

“I’m getting there. Things are appearing as my faith grows.”

“Right,” Terry uttered sarcastically. 

“But breaking away from the programming of negative comments that we are used to, takes discipline and time. This is the part that is not so simple.”

Mr. Dobbs chuckled. “As we are witnessing with Terry at this moment.”

Everyone laughed. Terry looked down.

“Be patient with yourself,” Harley suggested. “Believing is the first step.”

Everyone applauded as she sat.

Terry was looking away. 

Next day, the car prepped with inflatable beach balls and floaties, towels, and mum’s beach bag, Harley watched her father load the cooler into the back.

Terry walked up.

“What’s this, Thomas? Why is he here?” Harley whispered to her brother. 

He’s our neighbour,” Thomas said. “Why shouldn’t he be here? His folks are gonna come join us later. Besides, you two like each other. You should be happy.”

“I don’t think so.” Harley frowned. 

“Well, he likes you.”

What? thought Harley. 

She really didn’t understand why such a grumpy kid had to join. Likes me, she thought. If he liked me, he wouldn’t have wrecked my presentation. 

Thomas waved to the open car door. Terry jumped in and sat super close to Harley. Thomas sat and closed the door behind him. All three sat snug as sardines in a can.

Great, Harley thought. Now I have to make small talk with him. 

But, the whole ride, her brother and Terry talked to each other.

Harley didn’t know if it was worse sitting beside Terry or being ignored by him.

As they settled on the beach, Terry’s parents arrived.

“Board’s in the back,” Terry’s father said. “Hello, Harley.”

“Hi Mr. Santiago.”

“Thanks, Dad,” Terry kicked up sand, teasing Thomas, but before retrieving his surfboard, he said, “Should have heard Harley’s speech today, Dad. She was great! She talked all about that vortex thing you told me about.”

Harley nearly choked. What? He hated it.

“I should like to hear your speech, Harley,” said Terry’s father. “Terry’s been skeptical, but maybe with someone his own age, I’m guessing he might find a way to have success manifesting.”

Terry was all smiles as he headed for their truck.

Harley mused. Mum said that boys who like a girl pick at them when they’re not mature enough to talk to them like an adult.

The heaviness in Harley’s chest lightened.

So Mr. Santiago knew about the vortex. How cool is he?

Harley watched Terry flip the end of his board back and forth through the crashing whitecaps.

She stepped on the untouched, unprinted sand and walked up to the next level. Perched on the cliff above the beach, she had the perfect view.

She quivered with excitement. 

How could she not have known that the salt in her hot chocolate last winter, planted by Terry, was him reaching out to her. Or her shoelaces tied to her chair in class… was him.

She focused her energies on the boy she had unwittingly manifested.

He skillfully rode the waves. Every lean of his torso brought him closer to shore.

She closed her eyes, thinking about him, in a fresh light. When she opened them, his father was at his side on the sand. Terry was heaped on his board. 

What? She rushed to the beach.

Her mother reached to her. She held her arm, holding Harley back.

“Mum, what?”

“Let his father take care of him,” she told her daughter.

By the time the ambulance arrived, Terry sat on his board. He smiled at Harley.

Harley rushed to his side.

“I’m fine, my Harley. I’m fine.”

On her knees, she rested her head on his shoulder. His arm, he wrapped round her back.

My Harley, she thought. He called me, ‘My Harley’.