Guided To Another World

 I couldn’t focus. The phrase played over and over in my head. Work was a blur. I could not focus. I was excited. I couldn’t wait. I was in a fog. Seemingly on autopilot. It wasn’t until dinner that I was temporarily snapped out of my daze. My sons, Robert and Declan, grabbed my attention. Robert spoke first.

“Dad!” Robert exclaimed, “I am so happy for next week! The Zoo! The Zoo!”

He jumped up and down so excitedly, his glasses bounced off his face. At ten years old, he had been twice and loved the Lions. Declan loved the giraffes. Declan was jumping up and down too.

“And Daddy!” Declan shrieked, “The giraffes! Daddy!”

“Alright, calm down,” my wife said with a chuckle.

“Time for dinner,” I said with a smile, “We can watch a movie while we eat, okay?”

“Yeah! Yeah!” They both exclaimed.

“Go on,” my wife chimed in, “wash up. Let’s eat!”

We watched the movie and we enjoyed our dinner. For the few hours I had with my kids before they slept, I was free of the fog. Nearly forgetful of the phrase. Nearly. I put the boys to bed and came out to Dani doing the dishes. She smiled at me.

“Are they asleep?” She asked.

“Almost,” I said. “I am going to take a shower and go to bed. I’m still tired from last night.”

“You have done that twice in the last few months,” she said. “You okay babe?” 

“Yeah, I’m fine,” I said. “Just some weird dreams.”

“Probably stress.” she said.

“Probably,” I hugged her from behind. She turned around and kissed me, “Don’t worry babe. I am okay.”

“I’ll never stop worrying,” She kissed me again. 

I hurried through my shower, dried off and got dressed in my pajamas. When I came to bed, she was almost asleep. We curled together under the blankets and she drifted off. I wondered what she was dreaming as my eyes grew heavy. I whispered the words.  Omnes una manet nox. 

The scenery immediately changed. I was in front of a familiar house. A two story Victorian with blue window shutters and a yellow door. This was Dani’s childhood home. An electrical fire had taken it years ago. I looked into the window and caught my reflection. I was young. A teenager of about seventeen. The yellow door opened and there was Dani! Young as well. Just like when I met her. She motioned me to come to the porch. I cautiously walked up the steps to her. She kissed me on the cheek and took my hand. She led me to the porch swing. This was where we had our first kiss. 

“I can’t believe we are here,” I started.

“I know,” She said, “I thought dad would kill us for making out right here last week.”

“I was over the porch rail in a hurry,” I laughed. 

“Maybe one day,” She looked around, “we could catch our kids kissing right here too.”

“You think your parents would sell it to me?” I asked.

“Maybe if you married me,” She laughed.

“Then I will buy it,” I said.

“Don’t be silly!” She blushed.

We laughed with joy and I hugged her and said, “The first thing I will do is replace all the electrical, then set up a basketball hoop over the garage.”

With a flash of light, I woke up. My alarm was chiming, and she moaned as she woke. We kissed each other good morning and slipped into the shower together before the kids woke up. After getting dressed, I walked downstairs and began to make breakfast. The trash was full, so I took it outside. I walked out and took a glance back at the house and dropped the trash bag. A two story Victorian with blue shutters and a yellow door. I could hear the creak as the wind guided the porch swing back and forth. There was a basketball hoop over the garage.

I was hit with a thousand new memories of buying and fixing her childhood home. Getting married in the backyard. The kids first bikes. Barbeques and dinners. A family reunion. I was overwhelmed. I felt paralyzed in place. Then a slap on my shoulder snapped me out of it. I looked next to me and there was Grandpa.

“Pick up that bag son,” he said, smiling. “This place is too beautiful to have trash all over the yard.

At Sunrise

“There is a place in dreams where a select few can allow reality to change,” She said. “We can weave in between the seams. Here is where we dwell as Lamplighters.”

“That explains Grandpa,” I observed.

“Yes,” She smiled. “He was a test.”

“A test?” I asked.

“The ability to be a Lamplighter resides in the few,” She said, “It comes when a Lamplighter is ready.”

“I am ready?” 

“Yes,” She said. “Now, I already know you, William. It is time you knew who I am. I am Nyx.

I have been a Lamplighter since the times of the Polytheistic reign of Zeus.”

“You are a God, then.” 

“An Immortal. God was just a way of explaining the unknown. My predecessor was Osiris,” She smiled,

“and He was alone in the night at first.Then I was discovered. Through the years, I was bestowed the

title of Night Goddess by the Greeks and Osiris passed on to the Kingdom along with the other Immortals

known to Egypt when Monotheistic belief began to take hold. I am one of few remaining with the advent of

monotheism in the last two millennia. Belief waned and the need for many Immortals to watch over the gift

of free will had become less of a burden.”

“So there is no God?” 

"There is one who is our leader. He has sent his two prophets and a son.” She answered, “Along with one

other, whom he cast out and replaced Hades with. Lucifer. Was supposed to be the Herald of peace. Almost

brought about the destruction of the kingdom.”

“This is a lot to unpack.”

“I apologize, but your sleep is nearly over,” She said. “I have to tell you so that you can unlock your dreams.

The darkness you have dreamt over the last six months is known as the empty time. The empty time can

last up to five years. By then, you will have forgotten.”

“Okay,” I said. “Go ahead.”

“I got off track.” She said, she paused to gather herself, “Since my time as a Lamplighter, I have known

nearly one hundred new Lamplighters. When I became one, we were known as Pixies or Fairies. Then came

the lore of the sandman. It wasn’t until after the war of eighteen twelve that we began using the name

Lamplighter.”

“I’ve never heard the name.” I said.

“We have kept it a secret since then,” She said, “Sandman became a fable, just like the pixies and fairies.”

“We,” I began, “there are others like me?”

“Yes,” She said. “Time is short.”

“What do I have to do?” I asked.

“Remember,” She said, touching my forehead, “Omnes una manet nox.” 

“Latin?”

“It means one night is awaiting us all,” She smiled. “Say it before you sleep again, then we can finish our

talk and you will learn how to slip between the seams.”

    A flash of white light and I was awake. I felt well rested and hot. I was also wet. I was covered in a

cold sweat. My ears were ringing and my eyes hadn’t adjusted to the white light. As my eyes refocused,

I saw a figure. My wife, Dani, was standing over me. She looked concerned.

“You okay?” Dani asked.

“Yeah,” I looked around, bewildered. “I’m fine. Weird dream.”

“You were talking in tongues,” Dani said. “Sounded like a catholic prayer or something.”

“No more tacos before bed, I guess,” I laughed a little and smiled. 

    She smiled too and called the kids for breakfast. She told me to get dressed and come eat. She said I

would feel better. I kissed her and smiled. As I got dressed, I began chanting under my breath.

                    Omnes una manet nox. Omnes una manet nox. Omnes una manet nox. 

    I would not forget.

Compass Welcomes You

                 It had been six months since Grandpa surprised me with breakfast. Six months and not even another dream. I had been the only one who remembered. This was astonishing. The new memories hit like a slap in the face. I walked out of my room. There he was cooking breakfast. I was puzzled. Then a flood of memories came back. Him watching movies with them, taking them for beach walks, and camping. It was at that moment that I chose to accept these newfound memories and enjoy the fact that he was back.

                Although, my mind had an itch. Why did I only sleep and wake up over the last six months. Darkness. Purgatory. I felt as if I was lost in a world, all my own. It had to be, right? My own creation. I am still dreaming. I think. Well if i was dreaming, I could have anything I want. I want a horse! Hmm. No horse. I want a hyper car! No hyper car. 

                Ah, who am I kidding? If I could have anything in the world, I guess I would be like anyone. I would bring back a loved one. We all preach about wanting riches and fame or being fit and good looking with hair. Not I. I just wanted my Grandpa back and somehow, there he was. I had to accept my reality after about the last six months of puzzling. Grandpa is alive and I don't dream anymore because my dreams have come true. Well one dream. 

                Now another six months had passed. I invited Grandpa for a beach walk on the one year anniversary of him being alive again. I was sure he didn't know the significance of the date that I asked him to go for a private walk with me. Without sounding like a I had lost my mind, I wanted to tell him. We drove to the beach and he had asked if we could stop to get a special breakfast. I knew what that meant. Cola and a pack of coconut chocolates with almonds on top. Breakfast of champions, he would say. 

               We stopped at the Circle V Market on Highway 20. His favorite spot to stop since we moved from our hometown of Compass. He said it was the only place that reminded him of the Compass, California Quick Stop. He went inside and I stepped out to fill up. I looked at the price sign and was taken aback. It was Purple and White. No longer the trade mark red and black that Circle V had been known for. The header no longer read "Circle V" either. It read "Compass Welcomes You."

                I looked around. For what? I wasn't sure. Something familiar. 

"Welcome back," An angelic voice behind me said.

                I turned around and there she was. The beautiful figure. I am dreaming again! 

"You, your, your back," I stammered 

"Yes. I apologize for  my tardiness," she began. "How is your grandpa?

"Alive," I replied.

"So it worked," she smiled. "You are worthy."

"What do you mean?" 

"I must tell the others. A person like you only arrives once every thousand years," She began pacing as she spoke.  She then turned to me, "William, you are very special."

"What am I?"

"You are the keeper of dreams with the power to bless those souls that are lost," She smiled.

"What does that mean?"

"You are a Lamplighter!" She exclaimed. 

The Dreams Begin

             I was home. The smells brought back childhood. The clickety-clack of the old Sante Fe was the steady heartbeat of misguided dares. Standing there to feel alive and the old engine rattled towards us. I stepped out of my sun spotted Malibu and smiled at the old purple and white adorned sign that read, "Compass Welcomes You!" After filling up, I asked my oldest son to come inside with me. He smiled and followed. We gathered our wares and food, then set off outside. I had to use the restroom, so I rounded the corner to the restroom on the side of the building. After I finished, I stepped out and the scenery had changed.

            My car was gone. The Cars around were different. Older. More nineties in appearance. Confused, I headed up main street towards my Grandpa's house. A known safe haven. Maybe my wife was there? The confusion put me in a cloud. I felt fatigued. Grandpa's house was a half mile from the gas station, I felt like the walk took a half hour. As I approached, I heard laughter. Familiar laughter. I looked and saw my mom and dad. Weird, they were on vacation in Yosemite. I saw two little boys. My sons! The little one looked at me. Not my kid. In fact, he bore a striking resemblance to my brother. Then came a voice I hadn't heard in nine years. The voice snapped me to attention. 

"William! Dinner's ready," The voice called out.

            It can't be. He has been gone, a long time. I look for the voice's owner and see a you dark hair boy running up.

"Coming grandpa!" He called.

            That's my young voice. Wait a minute. My eyes then found him. My grandpa! There he was. I began to start towards him. So much left unsaid, I had to at least see if he was real.

"First time?" Another voice appeared behind me. Startled, I spun around. 

"What?" 

"Is this your first time?" A beautiful figure stood before me. Her skin glowed and her eyes were blue. Her eye level met mine.

"First time?" 

"Yes, sweetie," she smiled. "Your dream has taken you where you needed to be. You needed him alive again."

"I need my grandpa?" 

"Every boy does," She smiled.

"William! Let's go! Time to eat," he called again.

            I looked back to where he was and he was waving me in. He was smiling. I missed his smile. I began to walk to him and stopped to look back at the beautiful figure. She mouthed the word go and I ran to him. He handed me a plate and we began to eat. I looked at him and couldn't help but feel taken aback. He was just as he was before the cancer. Strong, a smile on his face, a beer in his hand, and a contagious laugh. I finally knew what I needed to hear and I asked him.

"Grandpa, do you ever feel sick?"

He smiled and said, "Sometimes."

"Will you see a doctor?"

"Sure son," he said, "I can do that." He took a drink.

"Maybe you shouldn't do that."

"What drink?" he smiled.

"Yeah." 

"Tell you what," he slapped my knee in reassurance, "I will go and if the doc says I should quit, I will."

"I'm serious,"

"Why do you bring this up?" he asked.

"I want you to see my kids grow up."

            He paused. Taken aback. A tear swelled up in his eye. He shook his head yes and then a white flash of light. An alarm clock began beeping. I woke up. My wife kissed me and we got dressed. I heard clanging in the kitchen. I called to my kids to not make a mess of the kitchen. Then I heard a familiar voice. 

"William! Time to eat!"