The week went well and Ian fixed the ox cart and moved it to a permanent place where he started sanding it down to paint it. He decided he would use it again rather than get rid of the oxen. As I walked past the ox cart to drop the recyclable trash, I saw how he had gotten the wooden foot and used it to fix the ox cart wheel. It was like a perfectly fit jigsaw puzzle piece. The ankle went in as the end piece of the spoke and the foot fit the missing chunk with lots of wood plaster to fill in the gaps. Ian was glad to have the ox cart ready for use, but decided to devise a brake for it and to paint it. He asked me my opinion on a color for the ox cart.

I decided to take the car into the factory so I could drive a large order of rainbow, leftovers and remnant-looking quilts to the Samsara Hospital as a donation for sick children. When I was there I saw my doctor and left a urine sample with some very worrisome suspicions. I had a terrible day waiting on the results. When the phone rang all the ladies stopped sewing as I did. I said, “Oh, uh-huh, yes, okay, thanks.” I was pregnant. The girls were so happy, they clapped and hugged me. I was cautiously joyous and nervous to tell Ian as we were not planning on having children.

I drove home to find Ian, he was not there. I drove around the few streets near our house to no avail. I parked the car at home changed into walking clothes, grabbed a heavy jacket and started looking for Ian. I finally found him right where I hoped he might be. He was standing at the doors of the monastery speaking with Charlie and giving him the buckets of milk from the pole. Then a funny thing happened. Charlie opened the door and waved Ian in. No one has ever been in the monastery that has not taken the seven vows, no one. Ian walked in sheepishly and it seemed he was saying no to Charlie’s generous invitation, but Charlie was insistent.

Ian entered the beautiful gardens surrounding the majestic ashram. He was not to go into the ashram but four of the monks showed him through the lavish labyrinth gardens quietly pointing out the lavender, ponds with fish and brick laden walkway leading to an enormously beautiful stone statue of Buddha sitting in meditation. I myself was standing at the door watching with only a few inches to peek from, but was awestruck at how Ian fit in. Since his accident, he’s taken on a sort of calmness. He’s been a lot less obsessive.

I heard Charlie say, “Govinda you brought us the milk without using the ox today. You have been living the life and doing the work of your ox for several days now. I’ve seen you.”

Then he winked. I could see Ian realizing the simplicity of Charlie’s words come over his face, he said, “I thought I would have to pull the heavy weight of the ox cart, literally, by myself. But it wasn’t that literal was it?”

“Sometimes it is Govinda, You stand here ready to break the spell of ignorance. I think you’re not so unfamiliar with this,” Charlie said.