Junkie
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The Dream
I woke from a dream all covered in sweat. I pulled my boots onto my bare feet and sat up. Today was the day and I was full of anticipation. I wondered if they were going to like me, if I was going to be the one they chose. I had been going to the temp place for months now looking for work. Odd jobs here and there, enough for a beer and a sandwich most times. But today was different, they were coming and I knew it. Problem was, everyone else did too.
I walked down to the Mini-Mart and waited until some guy was done using the bathroom. I grabbed the door before it slammed shut and went inside. I turned on the sink and started my morning bath. I wetted my head and used my finger comb to get my hair in place. I took a long drink and sat for a while. Then the sound of the door banging brought me around. What are you doing in there, I heard someone holler. It was time for me to go. I threw my stuff and my new roll of paper in my bag and opened the door. Out side was the manager looking a little pissed. Don't come back here no more, he said as I walked off.
The temp place was only a couple of miles from my hidey-ho, and I would be getting there just about the time it opened. I knew they wouldn't be getting there for a while so I didn't hurry any this morning. I walked along the side of the road as the cars drove around me. Everything was in place and it was my time. The ranch was my calling and I hoped to make it there. If only they picked me.
When I got to the temp place, everyone was there but Jeb and Micky. Sam, Mike and Ralph were standing over by the door. They would be the first ones in. Me and Andy and Bill sat by the curb and talked. I knew today it didn't matter who got in first, the rancher's were going to pick who they wanted. It was my dream job, living up in the mountains riding a horse and having my own little trailer to live in for six months. All I had to do was watch the sheep and cook my dinner and play guitar. What a life.
As they opened the door, Most of the guys rushed in to get the first jobs. I hung back to wait for the ranchers. I was going to the mountains today, I could just feel it. When they got there, I stood up when they asked if anyone had had any experience. There were five others standing with me. The ranchers picked Andy, then they pointed at me. We need two this time , the tall cowboy said. I'm ready, I let out a smile and we were on our way.
Me and Andy grabbed our bedrolls and got in the back seat of their cowboy Cadillac. My names Hank, and his names Roy, the tall one said. How original I thought. Our family's been in the sheep business forever it seems, and we need some good hands. You guys up to the task? I said yes sir, and Andy nodded his head. There'll be no sir here, he said to me. Ok sir, I said and we both laughed.
As we drove up the canyon, I couldn't wait to get to my trailer and campsite. I had done this once before, seemed like a lifetime ago. The beauty of the mountains alone with the stars, I wished I could stay there forever. As we hit the dirt road, I knew it wouldn't be much longer. The sweet sound of nothing was calling my name. I wondered if these folks were the kind that left a little beer in the camp...
We pulled up to the campsite and Roy turned to me, this is your camp. We will be leaving you here until tomorrow and then we will be back to start moving the sheep. We unloaded my roll and Roy showed me around while hank and Andy waited in the truck. Roy gave me a can of tobacco and some papers and told me he'd see me in the morning. I thanked him and sat down to roll me a few.
As I built my first fire in my new luxury camp, I looked at the wood starting to burn. I stood and decided to go look at the supplies. I rooted around for a bit, till I finally realized there was no beer for me. I got me some hard candy and went to sit by the fire. The fire was making a weird noise that night crackling and popping, almost sounded like a train on the tracks.
I sat for a while and thought of the times in the city. I had tried to make it again and again and it was no use. Even my family didn't want me around any more, and I couldn't hold a job anywhere. I wondered about my kids, I hadn't seen them for 4 years now. Last time I saw them was when they were hauling me off in that police car. I wondered if they ever thought about me. I decided it was time to get some sleep so I lit my last cig for the night and started to put out the fire. The strange noise kept up even after the fire was going out. I thought there must be some hot embers down there. I threw my smoke in the fire and climbed in my trailer.
I laid there in bed and tried to sleep. The train crackling was getting louder, And I tried to cover my head so it would go away, but it kept getting louder still. I looked opened the door and looked out. The noise quieted down a bit so I grabbed some more water and threw it on the fire. I went back to the trailer and laid down. Sleep came quickly this time.
All of a sudden I sat straight up. The noise of a train on the tracks was so loud It sounded like it was right behind me. I jumped up to open the door and the trailer lurched forward. It felt like a train had hit me from behind. I fell to the floor as the trailer started moving really fast. I got up and crawled to the back of the trailer and looked out the small window. Oh my god I said, this cant be happening.
Behind me was the biggest train I had ever seen. It was pushing me down the hill faster than I thought trains could go. I knew if I jumped out I would be dead, so I held on and enjoyed the ride. Not much else I could do at this point. All of I sudden the noise was gone. I looked out the window and so was the train. The trailer was still moving pretty fast, so I was hoping it would slow down soon and this crazy ride would be over. Little did I know it had just begun.
Splash! The trailer hit water, and I thought to myself, if this don't take the cake. I couldn't even recollect there being any water around here. I went to open the door and it wouldn't budge. I felt the trailer swaying and sinking. The water was coming in all around the door and the small window I had left open. I climbed up to shut the window, and the door burst open. Water was pouring in from all sides. I was down pretty low in this lake or river or whatever it was.
I tried to swim to the door and I was almost out when the door swung back and hit me in the head. I saw stars and it felt like I was floating and then I saw black. That's all I remember about being in the trailer.
I woke up and I was laying on a bed in the most beautiful room I had ever seen. The sheets were all gold and the walls had beautiful paintings on them. It felt really weird, like I was still wet, but I was a little groggy and couldn't see real straight. The door to my room opened, and the most beautiful mermaid came swimming through.What the.. I started to say, and she said shhh, I'm here to take care of you.My name is Annalynn. Are you hungry, she asked. Where am I , I said. Don't worry about that right now she said, lets get you felling better and I will tell you everything. Ok, but please, just one thing, I asked. Am I underwater? Yes, she said. But, I started to say, but, that was one question ,she said.
Ok, I said, I wont complain. She fed me and bandaged my head and I laid there for a while. I was starting to feel better and I told her I was ok. Can we talk, I asked. Sure, she said. How did I get here? I don't know, she said, every once in a while, someone from your world comes here and stays for a little while and then leaves. You are just one of the few. How am I breathing underwater? She looked at me and said, the same way we mermaids breathe when we go visit the upper world. Thanks, I said, as I thought, that tells me a lot.
Now, she said it's time for us to take a walk. It's time for me to ask you some questions. Okay, I said, and wondered what was going to happen next. We got up and walked out of the room, and into a lovely courtyard. fish were swimming by, and other mermaids and mermen were swimming about, not paying us much heed. I looked acroos the way and sway a huge castle, and a rainbow above it. I couldnt belive a underwater rainbow. It was the coolest thing I had ever saw. I said out loud, I wish my kids were here to see this. Annalynn looked at me and said, your daughter has.
I had had a beautiful marrige, with two lovely kids and a great wife. I had worked at the plant for ten years before I met Sally. My son was born a year after we were married, we named him John after my dad. Loralee came a year after. Everything was great, and when Loralee turned three, Sally and John went to the store to get Loralee's birthday cake, and I was in charge. I was giving her a bath and I went in the kitchen to get a beer. I was only gone 30 seconds...I grabbed Loralee and she wasnt breathing. I called 911 and they helped me to get her breathing again, and then right when the ambulance arrived so did Sally and John. Loralee was fine, but it was the beginning of the end for our marrige.
What has this got to do with me, I asked. Like I told you before, Annalee said, somtimes people come here for a short while. Your daughter was drowning, and we helped her back. Now it is you that needs a little help. You are drowning Micheal, And if you dont get some help soon you will be dead. Your kids need you, they want you. There is a way. Stop with the guilt. There was nothing you could have done to have stopped your daughter form going under. She swallowed some water and some went down the wrong way. If you wouldnt have done what you did, we wouldnt have been able to have helped her get back. Take care of yourself, so that you can take care of others. We are going to be sending you back soon, and please do what you need to do. We walked for a while longer, and then she said it's time.We went back to the room and I layed down. Boy I was sure tired.
I woke up In the trailer and I was all covered in sweat. I looked around and everything was dry. I sat up and went to open the door, and there I was , still on the mountainside. The light from the sun was just peeking it's head over the crest of the mountain, and The beauty of it gave me a new found hope. I smiled and thought ,what a strange dream. I walked over to the fire and started to clean it out. I knew what I had to do, and today was my new start. I grabbed hold of a piece of grass that looked an awful lot like seaweed, and thought, naaaaa
The end
__________________
And as she plays,
her sweet song of laughter
floats through the air
and warms my heart
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