Theatre of Dreams

Staggering from the kitchen with a glass beaker a ghostly white pool at the bottom, tripping over slippers, the feet falling out before sitting on the bed, lurching three times before falling backwards he lays panting. He fumbles to switch off the light as the long nightshirt twined around his feet, his ankles. Tighter it seems to pull, then slackens off and slithers, a tentacle, back into the water of the sun-dazzled pond. The water is calm now, then with a roar the awesome great red face emerges, coughing up high into the air a yapping staring, startled jack Russell. Caught again between yellow banana-long fangs, and thrashed onto the shore, the dog escapes, runs up and down the shore barking and snarling as the water calms, stands growling as the water swallows bubbles then stills. The dazzling glare of the sun diminishes as the man and his luminous companion, the lady in the golden frock-coat and top hat retreat from the water’s edge. Backing between trees the sunlight beams dwindle into shifting shafts, that disappear behind curtains. All is dark in the midnight theatre of dreams. Between the rows of seats the man fumbles, his companion lost. The backs of seats broaden, their worn velvet grows thick, then shaggy. He is walking between sheep, his anxious fingers knot themselves into their wooly backs, as they jostle and squeeze his legs with careless intimacy. The Shepherd tall as trees, white-robed, white-bearded is walking back with them, his eyes on some invisible horizon. On the horizon a silent flash, a rocket trips upward, somersaults then backflips. A red and white pencil, it descends on a cushion of flame, settles on its base. Ignition. Vehicles gather. 1, 2, 3. Multitudes cautiously approach. 4, 5, 6. Counting sheep. Try. Become restive. The bed sheets are crumpled, armpits and thighs are damp. Sit up, eye’s closed. Slowly open them. Turn on the light.
Fill the glass with milk, lurching from the throat, creamy and cold. Swing the legs over the side into scattered slippers, wrap the gown that flies from the floor. Walk the full glass into the kitchen.