[ WP ] You mysteriously die at the age of 25 , but your mind is mysteriously resurrected into a new born baby . You 're aware of this , but ca n't fully grasp the reality of the situation until your mind fully develops . You grow up , with your retained knowledge , and continually die at the age of 25 again .

“ You don ’ t really believe this, do you? ” 
 
 “ Of course. You weren ’ t around the last time, but it ’ s true. ” I got ready to knock on the woman ’ s door. The woman we tracked down through the mountains of soft journalism. Every mother thinks their child is special, but you ’ d be surprised how many moms manage to get their kids media coverage for it. This kid is our best shot. Born at around the right time. Within the variance for a full term pregnancy. The bag seemed lighter last time, but I haven ’ t done this in 25 years. 
 
 *Knock, knock. * 
 
 “ She ’ s probably not home. ” 
 
 “ That ’ s her car in the driveway. ” 
 
 “ She could have two. ” 
 
 “ Unlikely. She ’ s a single mother and doesn ’ t have much in terms of family. You knock this time. My fingers hurt. ” 
 
 My son knocks. I have to remind myself what this probably sounds like. Rebirth, every 25 years. Persistent knowledge. Doesn ’ t fit with how he was raised. It would have, if I had raised him. 
 
 “ She ’ s not home. You ’ re going to have to wait. ” I would have taught him patience, too. 
 
 My son taps me on the shoulder. I turn to see a pair of uniformed officers making their way up the driveway to where we ’ re standing. One looks the consummate professional, the other yawns. 
 
 “ Good afternoon, officers. ” I smile, but I ’ ve lost some teeth in my life and one of the policemen grimace to see it. 
 
 “ Is this your property, sir? ” The big one, the professional. Probably reading out of the situation defusal handbook. 
 
 “ No, I ’ m paying a visit to a young woman who lives here. ” 
 
 “ Do you have a preexisting relationship with this woman? ” His walkie chirps from the car. It ’ s still running at the end of the driveway. 
 
 “ No, but I might know her son. ” 
 
 He stops with his normal questioning. “ How would a ninety year old man know an infant without knowing the mother? ” 
 
 It stung a bit. I wasn ’ t even seventy five. “ It is a secret. ” 
 
 “ We should just go, dad. ” 
 
 “ The woman inside has requested that you leave her property. If you have no relationship to this woman, you should probably just go. ” The silent one struck a match and began to smoke. 
 
 “ I have business here. Her child is important. ” 
 
 “ Dad, we should go. It ’ s not worth it. ” 
 
 “ No, it ’ s important. We need to see her child. ” I clutch the bag closer to myself. 
 
 “ What ’ s in the bag, sir? ” The officer motions to the bag of items. 
 
 “ It ’ s a test. For the child. ” 
 
 “ Give me the bag. ” 
 
 “ Let ’ s just go, dad. ” 
 
 “ I don ’ t think I need to show you anything. ” 
 
 “ Sir, you are currently trespassing and I am sure that the woman inside would press charges if you do not vacate the premises. Let me see in the bag. ” 
 
 “ You have no right. ” 
 
 “ He seems agitated. ” The silent one spoke again. “ Doesn ’ t he seem agitated? ” 
 
 “ He seems like he is not in his right mind. Perhaps he ’ s on drugs. ” 
 
 “ Seems like. ” He put out the cigarette. 
 
 “ Dad, let ’ s just go. ” 
 
 I turn to my son and tell him no. This is important. 
 
 “ We are now going to search your bag for drugs. Failure to comply will be considered resistance. ” He grabs the bag from my hand. 
 
 “ There ’ s no drugs. It ’ s just a test. ” I plead. The officer turns the bag upside down onto the pavement. I hear the mirror break. “ You show the child the items and tell him to pick. It ’ s a test for reincarnation. ” 
 
 The silent one starts, “ Are you looking for the Buddha? I thought he was still alive. ” 
 
 “ No, I ’ m looking for my son. ” 

