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!"