Is it real or just a dream? Life can be confusing.
Questions drift through your mind. Answers are hard to
find. You wonder if you can awaken from . . .
The Dream
I
stood at the stove in our home on Marvelous Lane, as Nancy entered the kitchen.
She looked at me and smirked.
“You
seem to have something on your mind,” she murmured.
“I
had a weird dream last night,” I said, as I poured a cup of morning tea. I
cherished the tea, as it was a cold autumn day and I was shivering.
“What
was it about, Tony?” she asked, with a lilt in her voice.
“I
don’t know if you can handle it if I tell you.”
“Try
me.”
I
hesitated before responding. “Are you sure you’re up to hearing this?”
“If
you keep stalling, I won’t be, because it’ll be bedtime.”
“Okay,
sit down.”
She
pulled out a chair at the kitchen table and collapsed into it. “All right, I’m
seated. Are you going to join me?” she asked, as she stared at me, wondering
what this was all about.
With
my cup of tea in hand, I shuffled over to the table and sat down across from
her. I remained speechless.
“Well,
are you going to say anything?” she requested.
“I’m
not sure how to start,” I muttered.
“I
presume from the beginning. Wouldn’t you?”
“But
there was no beginning.”
“What
does that mean?”
“I’m
not sure I can tell you. I’ve got to go.”
“No,
‘Mr. I’ve Got Something To Tell You,’ you’re not going anywhere.”
She
glared at me as if I’d committed a crime. I bowed my head in shame.
“I’m
waiting.”
“All
right, but don’t hate me.”
“Hate
you? I love you, or I wouldn’t put up with your bizarre antics.”
I got
up from the table and started walking out of the room. I looked back and . . .
“Where
are you going?” Nancy asked, confused.
“To
set the stage.”
“For
what?”
“The
dream.” I pulled the blinds down and shut off the lights, leaving us in total
darkness.
“This
is not making me comfortable. Can’t we have a little light.”
“No! Dreams
occur in the dark.”
“Are
you coming back?”
“All
in good time.” I wasn’t sure I knew what I was doing, but I had to do it.
“Are
you comfortable with this?” my soft inner voice whispered.
“I
don’t know. Do you have another suggestion?”
“Let
me think.”
“Think.
That’s how you always avoid facing the inevitable.”
“Well,
you can’t do it without me, so you’re just going to have to follow my lead.”
“What
lead? This is getting ridiculous.”
Do
I dare share my dream with Nancy? How will she react to what I have to say?
I thought. I can’t keep her waiting in the dark. I’ve got to go back.
“Are
you awake yet?” the inner me chimed.
“You
mean I’m still asleep?”
“That’s
exactly what I mean. And you know you’ve never been married.”
“But
she’s in the kitchen waiting for me. We’ve been together seventeen years.”
“Yeah,
since you were born.”
“But
I’m thirty-seven.”
“In
your dreams you are?”
“This
is not real. It’s all a dream.”
“Did
you ask her to the homecoming dance?”
“Homecoming
dance?”
“The
one in December. She is the girl of your dreams, after all.”
“Oh,
my! I’ve got to wake up! I screamed.
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