Kenji Nobu was listening intently to the message being relayed by Preacher Bob on the radio he was holding, waving his hand to Rosa Jardine to come over and listen with him. Rosa’s son was dabbing the turned-out sleeve of her yellow hoodie on the cut on her forehead, adding a splotch of red to the yellow fabric with each dab. Rosa was still glaring angrily at Kenji until Arfie started licking at her face and she had to turn away. “Listen, Rosa! Something terrible has happened outside of Ojai!”

Rosa grimaced, partly because of Arfie’s enthusiastic face licking and partly from Theo’s dabbing at her cut. She firmly pushed both of them away and took the hoodie from Theo, saying, “It doesn’t look so bad, just a scratch… but boy does it hurt!” She scowled at Kenji, who had now come over to her and was grabbing her arm to pull her close to the radio. 

Kenji shushed at everyone and turned up the volume on the radio to as high as would go. “Preacher Bob is doing his sermons in poetry again and ending with rhymes… he’s sending out a message to us!”

“- rows of roses hidden here,
The blossoms fragrant spreading peace for all,
But now consumed by wild oregano,
The hearts of thousands wander far and wide.
A darkness floating dangerously near
Attacked our home and holds our Princess now.
Our children from that garden long ago,
Must listen carefully to what I say:
The bird of fire descended from great height,
Our Paradise on Earth now burning bright!”

“And what is that supposed to mean?” Rosa demanded from Kenji, as he turned down the radio. “It doesn’t make any sense to me. I have no idea what this ‘Paradise on Earth’ is all about and what it has to do with Ojai,” Rosa said, no longer holding the bloodied hoodie sleeve to her forehead.

“Come with me,” Kenji said, gesturing towards the spring-fed pond nearby, guarded by tall grasses and towering palm trees. “It is time you saw the hidden garden and I tell you about ‘Paraiso en la Tierra’.” He guided them along a sandy path between bushes and boulders, leading to a open area next to the tranquil waters of the pond. Above them the sun shone brightly in the endless blue sky, and they were surround on all sides by the palm trees, their dead fronds hanging like armour around their trunks. Looking around, they were surrounded by low hills and purple mountain ranges in the distance.

“It’s almost like a fortress in here,” Theo said in awe. The boy looked into the still water of the pond and delighted in seeing small fish darting around in it and insects dancing on its surface. “Look! There’s a salamander on that rock over there! And birds in the trees!”

“Life flourishes here, in all its forms,” Kenji laughed, sharing in Theo’s delight. “But here we are, my hidden garden.” The old man turned to the clearing next to them, revealing rows of carefully tended plants. His face had an expression of pride and pain as he looked over the neat rows of flowers, his eyes showing sorrow and happiness. “I’ve managed to grow these roses out here in the harsh desert, but only in this special place I found, this oasis. I thought this might be the rose garden Preacher Bob was referring to, but I can see in the light of recent events, that is not the case at all.” 

Kenji cradled gently in his hand a blooming yellow rose, letting Theo and Arfie sniff at it. He looked at Rosa, who was clearly bewildered. “‘Paradise on Earth’ is the ranch, ‘Paraiso en la Tierra’! It’s the Cooperative! At least it used to be, a long time ago…,” Kenji replied excitedly. “You must know where it is in Ojai. You grew up there!”

Rosa looked doubtfully at the short old man in the brown robe and square wooden sandals, and thought for a bit. “The only ranch I can think of is where my aunt and uncle lived on the outskirts of Ojai. They raised horses, but the ranch didn’t have a name. I do recall, come to think of it, that a section of the ranch had a large flower and vegetable garden.” Rosa closed her eyes, and mumbled softly, “There was an old sign there, in a pile of scrap wood… Leanna and I used to play on the pile and pull out pieces of wood. We used to get in so much trouble from Auntie!” Rosa smiled to herself, and then froze. “The wooden sign… we used to spell it out and Auntie would never tell us what it meant! ‘Paraiso en la Tierra’!”

Kenji nodded sadly and asked, “Were your Aunt and Uncle still living there?”

“Yes, but oh-no! What’s happened to them?” Rosa demanded from the white-haired old man. “We have to go back to Ojai, now!”

“It’s no use, Rosa. You can’t save them now,” Kenji said quietly and then shouted as Rosa pulled away from him and headed back into the dark tunnel, “Rosa! Wait! You’re safer here!”

“I have to know that my Auntie and Uncle are OK!” Rosa shouted back, heading back into the mouth of the tunnel, putting her hands ahead of her to feel her way back again to the other side.

“We’re coming with you, Rosa!” Kenji said, and then turned to Theo and Arfie saying, “Remember, one at a time!” He shook his head seeing that no one was paying him any heed, as everyone scrambled back into the darkness. He followed soon after them, putting the radio back into the folds of his white shirt under the robe.

*** This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. ***