Soft, cool droplets of water misted against my skin. The car window was wide open. As we sped down our determined road, I gazed out at a grey-blue fog weaving between ancient trees of a forest I did not know. Yet it was familiar, like the house you know as a child.
“You didn’t wait for Mike.” I said. “They won’t know where we’re going.”
Travis kept his eyes on the road ahead. “Mike will be just fine.”
I glanced behind us and wondered after the friends who followed. Will they find the way? Vision lifted into the mists and looked down upon two little cars driving a road that wove around land and water like a pinball track straight into heaven.
Bending right, looping left, our cars climbed around tiny islands and fell back onto the mainland. Gray cliff sides faded slowly into forest, and the road was finally swallowed by a canopy of green, soft silence.
We got out and walked with our friends towards the entrance of a great woodland lodge. All around us was the sound of rushing water and the breath of watchful trees. Green, dark, powerful life reached out from every direction, silently speaking of memories just beyond.
Entering the house, I was immediately lost. Wandering alone, I sensed my companions just ahead, or just behind each new room. Winding staircases, old white doors, a small library with a cozy fireplace. Full of people I did not know and empty of those I sought. Finally, I found a door that didn’t lead to more rooms. It opened out to the river. And to the rocks.
Massive woodland guardians, jagged rock spines jutted out of the river. Walls rising steep and hard, their edges crumbled violently into the water. And the world swam in the water at my feet. Around my ankles, the dress began to tug. It tangled around my thighs. Pulled at my waist.
My fingertips danced upon the surface. A breeze swirled around me. Turning slowly, I watched the rock and water washing themselves away, and felt at ease.
Then, suddenly…
BAP!
A large fuzzy paw hit me square in the nose.
I blinked. And instead of standing in my misty dream world, I began to recognize the shadows of my bedroom at 5am.
As well as the 17-pound purr machine lying on my chest.
Shadows fluttered across the light leaking through the bathroom door. I could hear Trav shuffling with his shirt and shaving for work. My eyes were just barely open. But my cat, Algie, would have been able to give a thorough report on the condition of my optical nerve, because this giant, eager feline was closer to my face than he’s ever been in his life.
Al: “Mrrrr-ow!” Morning, mom. Get up.
I considered him for half a second. Then closed my eyes.
Most of the time, I can’t get back ‘in’ to a dream once my eyes open. But somehow, I was still sleepy enough to slip back this time. My mystical, misty skies were only barely faded. Hello, broken rocks! Nice to see you again, peaceful river. Trees, you are so lovely. Laa la laaa le laaa …
BAP!
The. Hell.
Me: “Kitty. No.”
Al: “Moowroww!” Come ON. I’m hungry! Feed me now, and then we’ll come back to bed and snuggle till nine.
Me: “Leave mommy alone.”
Turn over. He’ll have to get off me if I turn over. Come on. Turn over. Unh. Caught. In. Dream. Cat. Too. Heavy.
Al: “PRRRRRRRRRR…” I looooove you…
My cat is eight and a half years old. He’s never gone more than a few hours hungry and isn’t about to start fading away now. He’s always flirted and cajoled and annoyed me for food, but he has never, EVER hit me in the face.
I wonder if he’ll hit me harder.
BAP!
Al: “MROW!” Bitch. I am not playin’ wit you. Feed. Me. NOW.
Chuckling, I tossed the covers over Al and rolled slowly out of bed. The large black & white cat dashed across room and stopped for me at the top of the stairs.
Me (rubbing my eye): “Are you going?”
He dashed away into the darkness below as I began a sluggish decent. Al’s insistent meow called out from the kitchen.
Me: ”All RIGHT, Al! I’m comi- WAUGH!”
THUD!
© 2005, jules.maas. All rights reserved.
