Milo woke up at 4am from a gentle shake. Yawning he opened his eyes and sat up.

"Ok Juan de Dios, I'm awake." Milo said using the 'true name' for his principal spirit guide Negro Jaunito.

Nombres Verdaderos or true names were important in Espiritismo. Spirit guides came in three distinct classes. The Ancestors or relatives who stayed close to a cherished love one like Abuela Mireya. The Angel Guardians who came with you at birth and stayed with you throughout your incarnation on the earthly plane. And finally the muertos, those spirits who became attached to you because they found something within you that resonated with them.

These last group of spirits would come and go as you went through life. Some would stay for a period of time helping their charges and receiving spiritual enlightenment for the tasks they undertook. Others stayed longer even a whole lifetime only leaving when the person's life ended and they went back onto the great cosmic wheel of reincarnation. True names were important because they gave the spiritualist a personal connection to the spirit that only they knew. This connection bound the spirit in love to their charge and that connection could not be severed by someone seeking to 'steal the spirit'. A unscrupulous spiritualist would have to know the guide's True name before they could trap or steal the guide from their charge. True names were never spoken when someone could overhear them. They were only used in privacy and prayer.

You have to feed the animals and milk the cows before you go to the learning place caballito. The deep rich voice resonated in Milo's head.

"Thank you Old man, you always keep me on my toes." Milo smiled as he put on his work clothes and went to the kitchen to grab a quick cup of coffee, he poured 2 cups and took them as he headed out the door to the barn. Entering the barn he went to the back and entered his consultation room. Stepping up to his altar he placed the 2nd cup of coffee on it and knocked three times.

"Bendiciones, aquí está tu hijo Milo, pidiendo tu protección, progreso espiritual, salud y prosperidad. Aquí tienes una pequeña ofrenda de café para empezar la mañana."

(Blessings, here is your son Milo, asking for your protection, spiritual progress, health and prosperity. Here is a small offering of coffee to start your morning.)

He bowed to the altar and left. As he did he heard a chorus of thank you in his head.

Milo was nothing in not efficient, he had been taking care of the animals on the farm since he was eleven. Now at 17, the work was routine and he was a pro at getting things done before he went to school.

After feeding the animals he returned to the barn and went to the back stalls were his family's three cows were standing ready to be milked.

Stepping into the first stall he gently patted the side of the cow greeting her in a warm voice.

"Hola Cachita, did you have a good night?" Milo said as he positioned the bucket and the milking bench so he could get to business.

By 6, Milo had finished everything, put down fresh hay for the cows and opened the barn doors so they could go out into the pasture to graze. Returning to his room, he grabbed his towel and went to take a shower and get ready to go to school.

*****

Milo got off the bus at the gates of the school grounds. He waved at his friends Jose and Diego who had just been dropped off by their parents. Jose's mother was a doctor in the town's medical center and Diego's father ran the largest grocery chain in Puerto Rico. Nobody could understand why Jose and Diego were friends with Milo, since they obviously came from different social classes. They couldn't be more different, even in looks. Jose and Diego were light skinned and had the classic patrician look that came from their spaniard ancestry, while Milo was more carmel colored showing his Taino ancestry. Even with these differences, the three were inseparable.

"Hey Milo," Jose smiled as he clasped Milo's hand in greeting. Milo smiled back and winked as he looked over Jose's right shoulder. Jose caught the wink and narrowed his eyes a bit. Pulling Milo close he whispered in his ear.

"Did she follow me to school again?" Jose said a little exasperated. Milo nodded.

"Jose, you need to relax, she only wishes to make sure you are safe. Your gitana will go where she feels she is needed. Don't complain, she is the reason you are so popular at school dances. Do you think your dance moves are all you?" Milo said smiling.

"Ok, Ok, I know I owe her, but she has to behave, she gets me in so much trouble. Do you see how the guys on the footbal team look at me? She's going to break Santiago and me up if she keeps covering me in her flirtatious aura." Jose whispered frantically. Milo took a moment and nodded.

"She says she will behave, but Santiago must treat you better or else she will slap him with her fan." Milo gave Jose a serious look. Jose nodded sheepishly.

Diego who had been standing to one side slapped Milo on his shoulder.

"Hey, don't hog Milo all to yourself! Hey papa , how are you?" Diego said catching Milo's attention.

Milo nodded at Diego and pulled him close.

"The chief is wearing his full headress today, what is going on at home?" Milo said looking at Diego.

"Papa is dealing with issues at work, several new chains have been trying to take his business even though their products are inferior to ours and even more expensive. He is a bit worried but his lawyers are on it." Diego said quickly.

"Don't worry too much, the chief is getting ready to go to battle, I can hear the braves assembling." Milo smiled and patted Diego's shoulder.

"Thank you Milo, I will tell Dad not to worry." Diego said putting his arm around Milo as they continued to walk into the school.

Mi Caballo, the school is unusually crowded today stay at the door for a moment before entering.

Milo heard Juan De Dios' words echo in his head. He caught sight of the 7 foot African warrior enter the school and stand just within the door.

I am the gate, approach Milo Santiago at your peril, if you seek to speak, you come to me first or face my wrath. His voice thundered through the halls, although the students went on as if nothing had occured, Milo could see the spirits of the dead, stop and cower before Jaun De Dios. As he nodded they cleared the corridor following their charges as they went to their classes. Juan De Dios looked back at Milo, smiled and beckoned him to enter.

I will watch and guard, go and learn. Juan de dios faded from Milo's sight but he could still feel him at his left shoulder.

Milo walked with Jose and Diego to his first class.

*****

As Milo went through his day he tried as best as he could to ignore the spirits that he saw walking in the school. Juan De Dios did his job, no spirit approached Milo without first speaking with Juan. Most of the time they were rebuffed and moved on with their charges as their complaints were trivial.

Milo was heading to his history class when he bumped into Karen, Gladys and Mirena. These girls were the queens of the popular crowd, daughters of wealthy Spanish American business men who had relocated to Puerto Rico to take advantage of the depressed economy to buy up land from poor farmers.

"Buenas, Milo." Karen said trying to perfect the art of looking down on him even though he stood 3 inches taller than her.

"Oh, hey Karen." Milo said trying to walk around her. Gladys and Mirena blocked his way which caused him to stop. Milo looked over their shoulders to see the spirits that followed them. Gladys had 2 little black children dressed in slave garb, which smiled and giggled at Milo. He couldn't help smiling back.

Mirena had a Spanish lady dressed in black lace, who tapped her fan impatiently on her wrist. For a moment it seemed she was about to approach Milo, her face showing annoyance at his presumption to stand so close to her charge. Milo smiled and waited, it only took a moment for Juan De Dios to appear over his left shoulder. The Dona's visage changed quickly as she looked at Milo's guide. She stepped back and hid her face behind her fan before fading from sight.

I thought so, will they never learn they are no longer in power. Juan said disgustedly.

Karen took notice of Milo's smile and showed her annoyance.

"Are you still seeing things? Eventually someone is going to lock you up!" Karen said annoyed.

Milo looked back at Karen and had to choke back a laugh as he watched her Madama brandish her broom as if she wanted to hit Karen with it. She looked at Milo apologetically.

"There are none so blind Karen as those who will not see. Have a good day." Milo said smiling at the Madama and pushing through Gladys and Mirena.

He continued to his history class with Mr Gutierrez who was one of his favorite teachers. Mr Gutierrez had promised that he would give a lecture on the history of Spiritualism in Puerto Rico. Milo was looking forward to it as he knew that Mr Gutierrez had an ancestor who was a teacher and a spiritualist and he knew that Mr Gutierrez had discovered her diaries and was using them as the foundation of his lecture. Dona Maria was a powerful spiritualist and she had stayed close to Mr Gutierrez's family even becoming one of Mr Guiterrez's spirit guides.

Milo entered the classroom and took his seat in the back. Mr Gutierrez entered the class and set down his briefcase.

"Good Afternoon Class." Mr Gutierrez said sitting behind his desk.

"Good afternoon Mr Gutierrez." everyone responded. Milo looked up and smiled. Right behind Mr Gutierrez over his left shoulder Dona Maria stood smiling. She looked at Milo and winked.

****

Milo left the classroom very excited. The lesson on Puerto Rican spiritualism was very enlightening and the fact that Dona Maria has participated, nodding when Mr Gutierrez made important points helped Milo understand even more. While Milo was walking down the hall to his locker, he thought about all that he had learned. He was so lost in thought that he didn't notice and bumped into a girl he had never seen before.

"Ow, hello... " She said looking up from her phone.

"Uhh, sorry, I was lost in thought." Milo said smiling.

"Hey, you're Milo right? I'm Adriana, Adriana Santana. I just moved here from the main land. My father is posted here." Adriana put out her hand to Milo. Milo smiled and shook it.

"You're father is posted here?" Milo said.

"Yea, he is in the military, posted at Fort Buchanan, but my mom and I wanted to live in the mountains so we got a place here in Jayuya." Adriana said walking with Milo.

"Wow, cool." Milo took a moment to look at her closely. she had a dark shadow that hovered near her right shoulder. She didn't seem to notice it. Milo called on Juan de Dios who appeared on his left side. Milo looked over at the shadow and Juan immediately went to investigate. Walking over to the right of Adriana, where the shadow seems to hover. Immediately the shadow lifted and seemed to vanish.

I don't like this mi Caballo, there is something not quite right here. Juan de Dios said as he faded out of sight.

"Adriana, would you like to get a coffee with me after school?" Milo said smiling.

"Sure, I really don't know anyone yet so I wouldn't mind having a chance to get the lay of the land." Adriana smiled back.

"Ok great, I will meet you in front after last bell." Milo said shaking her hand once again.

"Cool, well I better be getting to my next class." Adriana said waving goodbye.

Milo hated that he had to give her the wrong idea about him when he invited her out, but it was important that he investigated what he had seen, especially after the warning Juan had given. He would ask Diego and Jose to tag along, maybe Diego would help taking some of the attention off of him. Maybe they would hit it off and Milo wouldn't have to explain that Adriana really wasn't his type.