The kitchen was a mess at the retreat facility but I didn’t really care. I was burned out and tired, and even the magic of the gorgeous Montana landscape couldn’t soothe my weary soul.

I stirred the large 10-gallon cooking pot, seeing the lobster and shrimp soup move delicately and deliciously in its cream base. Why these Paths of Glory people requested soup for their last meal of what I understood to be an amazing vacation confused me. But I was here attending some very valuable workshops for free and in accordance with my trade of cooking for classes, I followed their suggested menus accordingly.

“How’s that entrée coming?” asked Robert, stepping into the kitchen wearing what looked like a graduation robe.

I looked at him blankly, “You look like you’re in a church choir.” I continued to stir the giant pot, slightly bitter that he looked so handsome and I looked, well, like a chef who had been cooking all week.

“No singing until after the lunar shower,” he quipped, tasting the soup. “Oh my God, Drew. That’s delicious.”

“Lunar shower?”

“Just after eleven, in the northeast sky, a massive meteor shower will put on a show. You should join us.”

“I’ll have dishes to do.”

“Drew,” his voice changed. “I know you’ve done a lot of work for this retreat. And I want you to know Stella even commented on your commitment. It hasn’t gone unnoticed.” He tasted the soup one more time. “This is really good but have you thought of adding some cracked bamboo oil?”

“What?”

And from out of his pocket he pulled a little eyedropper of clear liquid, squeezing in a steady stream of what looked like oil.

“Hey!”

I went to grab his arm but he pulled away. “Bamboo oil is very rare and contains vitamins and minerals high in nutrients. It was part of the menu Stella requested.”

I glanced over at the stained menu I had taped to the wall at the beginning of the week, seeing on the last night “B. oil for entire retreat, prior to lunar shower.” I remembered seeing that on my first day, wondering if it was some kind of yoga position.

“Let me help you.” And with that Robert took out the trays of bowls into the dining room, asking over his shoulder, “Is the bread ready?” I quickly removed the baskets of warm bread as two other guests, both wearing graduation robes as well, stepped forward and with oven mitts took the soup into the dining room.

I looked into the dining room and saw the two dozen participants gathered along the outside deck, pointing to the sky, when, seeing the soup, converged back into the room in casual laughter and conversation.

I returned to the kitchen, wanting to pick up the phone and call Eric to let him know he was right--- these people WERE weird.

As I continued cleaning the kitchen, putting the bowls into the industrial dishwasher, suddenly I glanced up at the clock and realized it was 11:15pm. The lunar shower!

I immediately ran into the dining room and saw everyone gathered on the outside deck, all laying down in their blue robes across the wood planks, gazing up at the crystal clear sky of stars in the Montana night.

“Did I miss it?” I whispered to someone who stared blankly upwards. The man simply continued looking past me, clearly enthralled. I stepped forward and looked towards the northeast, but saw only stationary stars.

“Well, I don’t see anything,” I commented, wiping my dirty hands on my chef jacket. Still, no one responded, everyone lying perfectly still. I saw an empty soup bowl on the deck rail and picked it up, cursing the person who left it behind because all week I clearly instructed everyone to pick up after themselves.

Suddenly, I froze. The bowl was completely empty, almost as if it has been licked clean, and all I could hear was complete silence from the people below. I looked at the group, and realized that absolutely no one was moving in their blue robes. I glanced over at Stella who lay in the very front, and noticed her hands were curled upwards into the sleeves of her robe, looking very pale. In fact, everyone looked white as a sheet.

I dropped the bowl to the ground as I brought my hands to my face in horror. No one moved, even with the glass bowl shattering as it hit the ground.