Dream

The Dream

Clare was upstairs on the landing studying a map which hung on the
wall. She was walking the hills in her mind and blocking the sounds of
family life which floated up the stairs in waves of laughter and banter
amidst grandmother's good-natured but slightly exasperated
admonishment. Clare was dreaming of the forthcoming holiday: a foreign
land with almost permanent sunshine; lazy days swimming in the pool,
reading her books and exploring the new country. "If only tomorrow
would come," she sighed as she began to walk slowly downstairs.

Clare entered the living room, back in reality, and began to walk
towards the kitchen. "Why has it gone so quiet?" she thought. The
living room was empty until suddenly grandmother's head was floating
across it. Clare started. Her stomach lurched. Her heart pounded. She
blinked and the head was gone. She shivered as the heat of terror
slowly receded, leaving her frozen and staring mindlessly towards the
french window at the end of the room. Slowly the heavy net curtain at
the window penetrated her consciousness. The sky seemed different, but
it was difficult to see much through the nets. Perhaps it was going to
rain. Why was everyone so quiet? Clare took a tentative step towards
the kitchen and then almost ran with relief as she heard grandmother's
voice.

They were all standing at the back door looking up. Grandmother turned
briefly as Clare joined them. "Oh", she exclaimed. "The sky has
changed." It had turned orange with flecks of grey and bands of red
around the horizon. Her mind battled to make sense of what was
happening. She heard "death of the sun" in grandpa's voice; "alien
invasion", from her older brother; "nuclear explosion", in
grandmother's soft tones. Clare could feel their panic and terror:
hysteria would soon follow. "What can we do?" she thought desperately.
"Will we die - how can we fight?"

She put her arm around her younger sister and led her back to the
living room. They stood together, three feet away from the net
curtains, staring outside. Clare's brother followed and stood behind
them. Grandmother's head watched from the kitchen doorway with
grandpa's chin resting on the top of it.