The Dreamer
by
DATo
Francis was aware that she was dreaming. Her dreams had recently achieved a level of realism that she had not experienced since her childhood many years in the past. She was also aware that she would soon wake and as always she would be hard pressed to remember the events of her dream. When those first moments of cognition occurred, when the tapestry of her dream would begin to fade and the realization that the harsh world of reality was beginning to impress itself upon her senses she often longed desperately to return to that magical land where the colors were so vibrant, the sounds so articulated and the emotions so fervently felt.
In her dreams Francis was not burdened with slipping dentures, the irksome routine of timing her medications, or concern regarding whether or not Robert, her favorite, would be the Meals-On-Wheels delivery person that day. Francis knew that Meals-On-Wheels was an organization which provided and delivered meals to the elderly and infirm who could not get out to do their own shopping or cook for themselves, but Francis could never quite recall when she began receiving these visits. Robert was attentive and would spend time conversing with her. Sometimes Robert brought little gifts such as the time be brought a coloring book and crayons. Oh, how he made her laugh as he explained his logic in coloring palm trees blue and horses green! Another time he brought travel brochures and they discussed the beauty of Paris, the beaches of Australia and the mysteries of Machu Picchu. Esther, on the other hand, was strictly business. After making her appearance Esther would soon make some excuse to leave and then skip to her car smiling, and saying something undoubtably pleasant over her shoulder which Francis could never seem to hear properly. Sometimes Robert would appear in Francis’ dreams, but Esther never did.
Francis had lately been having a recurring dream. The setting was often different but Francis knew it was the same dream. The one constant in her recent dreams was Mary. Mary was Francis’ dear and imaginary dream-friend. Francis knew Mary very well but her dreams had offered no explanation as to how the two of them originally met. Mary was young, and beautiful, and competent. Mary was the one fixed point of safety and refuge to whom Francis could turn if her dream became confused or frightening as dreams are sometimes wont to do. Francis did not even know how she had determined that her dream-friend’s name was Mary, but she was absolutely sure that this was so. Sometimes she would call her name aloud and Mary would appear in her dream, and together they would experience grand things. Francis thought it odd that in her dreams Mary always wore the same clothes - black slacks and aqua blouse - and she often thought of teasing her about this but when she dreamed of her she could never remember to do so. Francis was never aware of what she herself wore and upon reflection it occurred to her that in her entire life she couldn’t remember having ever taken note of what clothing she had been wearing in any of her dreams.
Tonight Francis dreamed that she was in a large theatre. The play had not yet begun and everyone was milling about in the lobby. Sometimes this recurring dream would take place in a large supermarket, mall, museum or airport. It was always an enclosure with windows and doors and many people milling about in expectation of some event which was about to begin. In the distance Francis saw Mary standing alone. Francis hailed her excitedly and soon Mary was hastening toward her with outstretched arms and smiling broadly. They embraced as they always did when they met in her dreams. As they released each other and Francis opened her eyes she was aware that they were no longer in the theatre lobby but walking arm-in-arm in a garden with warm sunshine caressing them and beautiful flowers of every color and description surrounding them. The dream had now taken a lovely turn for the flowers had morphed into small children and they were singing gaily of spring. Francis looked around and noticed that in her dream the theatre patrons were all seated outdoors now in the garden listening to the children’s performance. Francis was so overcome by the beauty of the singing, and the garden, and the children that she never wanted this dream to end. She turned to Mary and instead Robert had now taken Mary’s place in her dream. He was standing there with his arm in hers. “They sing beautifully don’t they mom?” Robert had called her “mom”. In her dream Robert had become her son. Francis began to weep with joy as she pulled Robert to her breast and repeated his name over and over again. “You are the best son. You are the best son a mother could ever wish for.” Without knowing how it happened Francis was aware that the dream now placed her, Robert and Mary in a restaurant. The restaurant must be part of the theatre complex because she recognized some of the patrons from the theatre lobby and the garden seated there awaiting their dinners. Robert had apparently brought Meals-On-Wheels for everyone. It was so like him to be this thoughtful.
And then came the moment Francis dreaded. She opened her eyes to find herself seated in her room. She must have dozed off while sitting in her recliner, but this was not her house. Above her bed was a crucifix which she recognized and on the table next to the bed was a foldable metal frame enclosing two pictures; one appeared to be Robert, and the other Esther. Had Robert and Esther married? Francis was despondent. Could she still be dreaming? And had the dream taken on nightmarish proportions? Francis did not want Robert to be married to Esther. She wanted him to be with Mary. Francis then noted that she was wearing a pink robe and maroon slippers. “Where did these come from?”, she wondered.
“I don’t know what I’d do without you. She really loves you, you know? It broke my heart to have to place her in here but my sister, Esther, isn’t the type to take care of anyone. She’s such a ditz. She has enough on her plate just taking care of herself. She and mom never really got along well anyway.”
“Hey, your mom is doing really well for someone her age Bob. I think she enjoyed the kids from the school down the street visiting today. They bring them by every other month or so. Gives the residents a lift. And she has you. I could tell you stories of residents here who get no visits at all from their families. Listen, if it’s any consolation, I think you did the right thing, I honestly do. See you again next week?”
“Sure thing, see you then.”
Mary waved goodbye to Robert while adjusting the name tag on her aqua-blue uniform top. She then turned to smile and embrace Miss Clarissa who was distraught because she could not find Mario, her canary. Miss Clarissa was absolutely certain that Mr. Reichmann from the room across the hall had stolen him and cooked him.
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Originally Posted by 108 fountains
