The Truth of Time

By Madeleine Kirsh

It all begins innocently on a trip to New York. When Madeleine Kirsh walks into a Tibetan antique store and meets the proprietor, Tenzin Choden, she senses something that seems quite familiar, yet very far away.

After a lengthy conversation, Tenzin shocks her visitor by claiming their relationship started hundreds of years earlier when she served as a servant and confidant to Madeleine, who was a Tibetan princess descended from royalty. It is then that Tenzin explains that they were given a special gift to promote goodness and kindness in the world. Their task was to safeguard this treasure by passing it back and forth to each other as they are reincarnated through the ages.

To confirm this truth of time, Madeleine recounts her personal stories about the world in which she presently lives as Tenzin explains how those experiences also reflect her past lives.

With many twists and turns along the way, the surprise ending finally allows the woman to fulfill their task and pass the gift between them for the good of humanity.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Nov 28, 2011
• ISBN: 9781462053483

Madeleine Kirsh

C.Madeleine Kirsh is renowned in the world of fashion as a leading expert on vintage clothing and accessories and appears often on television, radio and in print. Her opinion is highly coveted by famous designers, A-List celebrities, socialites and discriminating shoppers. Madeleine lives in South Florida with her husband, Richard.

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The Truth of Time

Copyright © 2011 Madeleine Kirsh

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any Web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

ISBN: 978-1-4620-5347-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4620-5349-0 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4620-5348-3 (e)

iUniverse rev. date: 10/17/2011

Contents

Prologue: I Am Madeleine

CHAPTER 1 Leadership: The Prayer Wheel

CHAPTER 2 Love: The Gift

CHAPTER 3 Hope: A Time for Mourning

CHAPTER 4 Faith: Hurricane Zoe

CHAPTER 5 Honesty: Proof of Purchase

CHAPTER 6 Integrity: Rejecting Royalty

CHAPTER 7 Devotion: The Sense

CHAPTER 8 Commitment: The Voice

CHAPTER 9 Perseverance: Rudolph

CHAPTER 10 Family: A Sister in Distress

CHAPTER 11 Friendship: The Search for a Princess

Epilogue: I Am Tenzin

DEDICATION

To my mother, Florence, who taught me to follow my dreams.

SPECIAL THANKS

To my husband, Richard, and our friend Richard Warren Rappaport, for their countless hours of guidance

Prologue:

I Am Madeleine

I am Madeleine. And these are my stories.

I find it interesting that many people think they really know someone.

This could be a member of your family, a celebrity you often see in the movies or on television but have never met, or people you work with every day whom you think you truly know.

The truth is, one can probably figure out some facets of another’s personality, but to have the whole story is nearly impossible.

All people have some part of themselves they are just too afraid or too private to divulge.

My personality is complex. I always try to do better and challenge myself, and as a result, I am always changing. I truly believe I am like next season’s new arrivals. Four times a year, the fashion industry previews their collections, and many are based on designs from the past. I am like the fashions I sell. Every season I am different.

This parallels my belief that the past can be the key to understanding today and tomorrow. That is why I am so in love with vintage fashion. And that is why my stories are so important. Because like those stories, each chapter is based on the past and will bring something new.

Now we come to the reason I opened my vintage clothing store, C. Madeleine’s.

It was my desire to help others discover another part of their lives. It is my theory that Madison Avenue tells most of us how to live our lives. My store was created to be the alternative to that. It was created for the individual who wants to reinvent the way she looks.

We have clients we help style and who visit our store on a regular basis. Their pleasure is my pleasure and makes all the hard work worthwhile.

I have also become an advisor, confidante, and counselor to many of my clients.

Although you might not think this has anything to do with fashion, my role as a mentor has become critical. You see, it is not just about the vintage clothing that each client brings into the store. It is really a tale of two stories. The first is the story behind the clothing—that is, who wore it in the past, and what her life was about. The second is the story about the client, and why she has chosen to visit me with her item.

And when I make a decision to accept an item for consignment at C. Madeleine’s, I make that decision one item at a time. Before I arrive at my decision, I convey my immediate thoughts but sometimes have to think about it for several days to reach a conclusive decision.

Often I will dream about my work and the clothing, just as we all dream about our everyday lives. These vivid dreams can be helpful in leading me to make my decisions when I help my clients.

Now let me personally welcome you to my world.

To do this, I want to bring you some stories of my clients, stories that will take you into the past, back to the present, and into the future.

And there are many more to be written. As you are reading this book, they are happening.

You have received your invitation. So I would like you to enter the world of C. Madeleine’s and experience stories like no others, which may change your life.

Now when have you ever received an invitation like that?

CHAPTER 1

Leadership: The Prayer Wheel

Tenzin grew tired as she carried the prayer wheel up the steep path of the hillside toward the princess’s summer home. It was early summer, and the sun was already high in the sky. Her sandals were not made for this type of walk, being more suited for the flat grounds of the valley below.

Tenzin stopped for a moment as the slight wind blowing off of the hill pushed her long black hair back over her shoulders. She put the prayer wheel down and took a drink from the leather water bag she carried over her shoulder. Although she was a young woman in her late teens, and an athlete, the fatigue was beginning to show in her stride. The princess needs me and I must do this, she thought.

Tenzin turned to look down toward the villages at the foot of the hill. It was a bit cooler up here, and her soft leather blouse was not quite warm enough. She shivered and folded her arms. On the other side of the narrow valley was the castle where the princess lived with her father and mother, the king and queen. And the Tibetan countryside was in full bloom, waiting for the heat of summer to begin to turn everything a light brown.

Suddenly she felt something. Not good. Evil. A sense that she was being watched or followed. A chill ran through her body. She caught her breath, picked up the wheel, and ran up the path for about 150 feet, where she entered the cottage and slammed the door. She tried to calm down and catch her breath. Her hand instinctively felt for the handcrafted gold charm necklace her mother had given her for inner strength. Right now she needed that.

It was just my imagination, she thought. Then she heard a loud thud as someone pounded a fist against the door. She gasped, frightened and all alone.

But today would not be her day to die. While she was not the strongest woman in the valley, she was an excellent markswoman, trained by the Mongolian royal guard. She grabbed her bow from its pouch on her back. Tenzin was proud of this weapon because it was a personal gift from the princess.

She gathered herself, squatted in a military defensive position with one knee on the ground, drew the bow, and waited. The seconds seemed like forever. As she held that position, she began to feel a stream of perspiration running down her neck, onto her chest, and between her breasts, dampening her clothing. Her heart beat loudly and quickly, but her training had been excellent, and she was focused and calm. The pounding on the door stopped, but she could still hear the pounding of her heart. Calm yourself, she thought. There is only one person, I know it. She continued to wait in her stance. Nothing. She still waited, sensing something was about to happen. And it did.

Tenzin knew he was about to break the door down. It was her otherworldly sense warning her. The princess would joke about it, as would her father. But her otherworldly sense never failed her. Tenzin pulled the bow back. She knew her own strength and was sure she could hold it for ten seconds at most. She began counting. One … two … three …

At the end of the fifth second there was a tremendous thud. The door flew off its hinges. Just as it fell, she released the arrow. The large man never expected it. He was hit directly in the chest, and his last look was one of great surprise and pain before he fell straight forward and on top of the door, dead. In his limp hand was an ax, meant for her. He would make it look like a robber’s attack and no one would suspect it was the work of a conspirator.

As he fell, Tenzin had already drawn the second arrow and pulled it back, waiting for a second attacker. But there was no one else.

She waited several minutes in attack position and then slowly got up, her bow still slightly drawn, and walked outside. She was convinced the attacker was alone and may have represented a rival group pitted against the king. Or was he there for the prayer wheel? She thought no one knew she had it or that she was in the cottage, except for the princess, her father, King Nyatri Tsenpo, and his closest advisor, Kunchen Chrodron.

Her heart pounded. She felt this was not a good place for her to be. She practically ran down the hillside where her horse was still waiting, and they galloped to the castle. In the saddlebag, tucked inside an old blanket, was the prayer wheel, safe for the moment. She wanted to cry but could not. Her back ached from the ride, but she would not stop. She knew that the princess and her father might be in grave danger. She had to reach them soon. For on this day, her family would be safe. No one she loved would die on this day.

The sudden slowing sound of the engines and drop in altitude awakened me. I was somewhat startled. Yet the first thing that came to mind was the dream I’d just had. Very strange. A woman with a bow and arrow. A faraway land. A different time. I smiled, yet I felt ill at ease.

What did it mean?

I liked to try to interpret my dreams but could not do that with this one.

I looked out the window and stared at the billowy clouds that dotted the horizon thousands of feet below. The blue sky seemed to envelop everything above me, making them appear as if they were just wisps of white beneath me. Even from twenty thousand feet, the beaches along the Jersey shore looked inviting as the surf swept in. Although they were empty this time of year, I wanted to swoop down, leave the plane, and walk toward the water, just to breathe in the salt air.

I adjusted my seatbelt and thought of the dream.

The Boeing 747 touched down at JFK at exactly 11:30 a.m., on time from Miami. I felt the slight bump as the wheels touched the runway and the jet slowed. On the ground, the sky was a mix of sun and clouds, and it looked like a beautiful day to be in the city.

I left the first-class cabin and walked onto the concourse with my overnight bags on my portable trolley. Today marked the beginning of the largest and most important vintage clothing trade show in the country being held at the M, where we were staying, New York’s newest convention hotel in Times Square.

As I left the concourse, a chauffeur lifted a sign with my name on it: Madeleine Kirsh. I waved and smiled. He took my bags and ushered me into the waiting car for the drive to Manhattan. Ahead of me was a day of purchasing for my store and networking to be done. My husband, Richard, would be joining me for dinner at the hotel later in the evening when he arrived from Miami.

I was greeted by the valet at the hotel and quickly found myself in an elegant suite with a view of Times Square. Although I was tired from my trip, I was now suddenly energized and ready to hit the convention. A glimpse in the mirror brought on a confident smile. I knew the 1980s Thierry Mugler dress would make a hit, and I enjoyed wearing it. I quickly freshened up and headed downstairs.

The lobby looked as if I had wandered into a Paris runway show. All around me were people from across the globe who understood contemporary and vintage fashion and haute couture.

Considering that this was a national fashion show, most of the men and women were wearing everything from Bermuda shorts to jeans. Nonetheless, I was thrilled to be there.

Before I could even make my way to the check-in table, I heard a familiar voice. It was Margot, one of my fellow vintage buyers.

She trundled up to me, arms wide open. Madeleine!

Reluctantly, I hugged her as she charged into me. Hi, Margot.

It’s so wonderful to see you.

Great to see you too. How’s business? We would always make small talk to keep up appearances, but we often had heated bidding wars over vintage items and tried to out hunt the other when it came to unique vintage clothing and accessories.

Business is booming. Margot finished her comment with a hearty laugh. Good luck shopping this time, Madeleine, she said snidely. Before I could respond, she was distracted by someone else arriving. Oh, look who it is!

With that, Margot was off to greet another buyer. I turned to the check-in table and received my security tag with my name and other information.

Last year’s vintage trade show had been a great success. Most of the items I bought were sold to very satisfied customers, and my goal this year was to focus on vintage accessories. Since vintage had become so vogue, I needed more purses, shoes, watches, and jewelry to go with my already stunning collection of men’s and women’s clothing.

As the exhibition hall staff gathered to open the doors, the electricity in the air felt like the moments before the horses come out of the gates at a race. I was surrounded by many other buyers who had the same ideas in mind. Search, negotiate, and buy before anyone else has a chance! That was the name of the game. Quickly we were off, down the backstretch as we rushed in through the doors and began our day’s work.

The huge hall was set up into four rows of vendors. Each company had a booth that was decked out in decorations, changing rooms, and excellent showroom lighting permitting buyers to examine the items. Every buyer fanned out to try to be the first to arrive at a vendor that seemed particularly promising. I went straight for the booth that looked stocked with great accessories. Their placards featured names like Chanel, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and Emilio Pucci.

For nearly two hours I gathered exquisite purses, belts, and leather accessories.