Tock…Tick…Tock…Tick…
The dream returned but different. The dream where Momma doesn’t care if I look into the sun anymore. Momma is but a distant memory. She blew her mind out in a crash; didn’t wake up to avoid the collision.
I walked into a car and fell into a dream and looked at the hazy sky. I walked along a cloud that rained upon the people below. They melted.
Why do you suppose that is? I asked myself as I drove to my sister’s place in Oregon, far, far away from here. But where is it here? Does anybody know? Does anybody care? I looked into the rain. The sun took a day off.
I saw my sister visiting Mother. They were having tea and scones gossiping about me and Dad. They pretended not to notice me. “Oh, I know all too well about his games,” she told her. They laughed. “Oh, there you are,” My sister said. “It’s time to go camping. Do you have your license?”
I looked at her and then I looked at Mother. She appeared young like she was in her thirties. I’m in my sixties. My sister is in her fifties. Dad isn’t in the room yet. Maybe he already left. “I left my license at my trailer,” I replied feeling foolish.
“See what I mean,” she told Mother. “He’s always forgetful just like you used to be before that day when you weren’t with us. Now, you’re here!”
“I’ll be back,” I promised her.
Ding…Ding…Ding…
Jerry Schellhammer 