Dreams and Nightmares the story of Alexis

Chapter One

Daddy, Mummy, Me

My name is Alexis Canton and I am, well 13 years old 13 and a half actually, part Scottish, part Nigerian. I was born here in Nigeria and live in Abuja with mom and dad so I am pretty much acclimated to everything around here even the weather as unpredictable as it may seem to be. The weather here’s quite tricky though; I mean a times the sun is so scorching I feel my skin virtually frying (at these times mom and dad take precautions over me) and a times the rain just falls without giving any warnings, no dark clouds, no wind. Nothing.

Today is the day 3rd day of June 2012 I love this time of the year, it rains all through and I don’t feel so hot ;Overseas it’s called spring but we call it rainy season here; there’s also the dry season or as we call it the ‘harmattan’ the harshest of them all. It’s been over a month ever since I’ve had the nightmares, maybe this time they’re gone for good. I feel so happy, mummy doesn’t worry much again and daddy has a big gig in Lagos today. I wonder what’s for breakfast, I am guessing toast; French toast. Down the stairs I happily trot and head straight to the dining room. The dining room adjoins the sitting room just a few feet from the kitchen. The exquisite furniture and the colour combination all thanks to mom and her team. While dad is an engineer, mom is an interior decorator. She’s the one that decorated the whole house

“Good morning Daddy” I greet in excitement as he is about to take his place at the grand mahogany dining table.

“Good morning Munchkin” “how did you sleep?” He replies while taking a bite into his toast.”

“Well I would say I had the best sleep in weeks”. I reply pouring myself a cup of tea from the chinaware teapot

Daddy isn’t paying attention to me and seems to be in a hurry as he is busy trying to eat up and read the newspaper at the same time so I ask.

“Daddy where do you think you’re going to on a Saturday” I ask mischievously.

“Saturday? It can’t be, I was pretty sure ….” Stutters daddy as he tensely goes to check the calendar. “No its not, its Sunday, munchkin I have asked you to stop lying” with that he playfully picks me up and ruffles up my hair.

“Dad, I have told you I am not a puppy”. “You can do that to roscoe” I tell him while trying to straighten my hair. “Roscoe is the pet here not me remember?” “And I have told you to stop lying, remember?” he concurs almost choking on the water he is drinking

“We, it isn’t lying if no harm is done is it”? I ask him playfully. “Where is Roscoe by the way?”.

Roscoe is the canine member of the family. Such an appealing dog with lots of tricks up his sleeves or should I saw paws.

“It is still called lying honey”. He stares me in the eye. “And as for Roscoe, he might be at our neighbor’s house; you know how he loves to visit”

“He’s probably found a mistress there” I reply laughing at my humor

“I don’t know why I have to work on a Sunday too, this Job’s really taking a toll on me complains daddy drumming his fingers on the mahogany. “ I mean this field work is totally out of control”. He continues “Maybe I should quit and become a photographer, that way I can get the rest I want”

“And by the way, why do you look like you’re prepared for school today?” “Have you forgotten it’s a Sunday?” He asks.

“No dad, I haven’t, instead you’re the one that has forgotten what I told you earlier this week”, I reply swallowing the piece of toast in my mouth.

“What did you tell me?” he asks

“I said that due to the public holidays coming up next week, a few classes were rescheduled for later in the day, today”. I reply “I don’t know what they were thinking when they made that plan”.

Having finished his meal daddy hurriedly makes his way round the dinning section to hug me good bye.

“My Oh my, you sure are growing bigger, your old man can’t even hold you up for 3 minutes” he laughs and drops me down. “Bye honey”. “I need to get going now”.

“Hold on, Dad but you said you’ll drop me off at school today” I ask in disappointment “you promised”.

“I know munchkin, but you have to take the bus today, something came up in Lagos remember”? “I’ll see you when am back”.

He turns to leave and then returns “where’s your mom kiddo, almost forgot my goodbye”. He says with a boyish grin while calling my mom from across the hallway. “Regina I am off”. “Coming honey, in a minute” Mom calls back from the kitchen

Mummy enters the dinning section with the kitchen towel draped over her shoulder

“Goodbye honey”. “Safe travels”. With that she kisses daddy before he dashes out into the drive way.

Mom and dad are disgusting “Eew” “why must they always do that”. As if mummy heard my thoughts, she turns over to me and smiles “When you’re older you’ll understand”.

“Yeah, yeah, whatever” I reply playfully. “Need help in the kitchen mom?”

“Ehm, well am almost done, but if you wish to pass out time before your bus arrives no problem; I could use some extra hands”.

Well of course I need to pass out time; classes are not until two in the afternoon. Having finished my breakfast I clear up the dining table and take the dishes to the sink to start washing.

“Will you be riding the bus alone today?” asks mum

“Well. I guess so, Mimi lives farther and her parents prefer dropping her off personally so I guess so”. I reply her while finishing up the last one of the dishes.

“Awwww, that’s just sad, I would’ve dropped you off but I have to finish up with lunch before Daddy returns and then print out a few catalogues. “Now that I think about it I have less time than I expected”. “Am sure you understand”

I place the dish in the dish rack and turn to face her ever so beautiful face “Of course I do Mum”

“Thanks sweetheart, I knew you’d understand”. “Now make sure you moisturize your hands when you’re done with the dishes” says mum while bringing the chicken out from the freezer.

“Okay mom, are we marinating the chicken? “I ask in excitement

“Yes and making salad too”. “I‘ll just leave the chicken to thaw out” She replies “wash up some lettuce for me will you, thanks”

Mom is preparing lunch early today and i am glad to help. It’s always fun working with mum.

In about 30 minutes all ingredients for the vegetable salad have been chopped, diced, and torn where necessary; the chicken has been seasoned and put back in the fridge. At this point the remaining work is Mom’s.

“Oh thank you Alexis, you’ve really helped me a great deal in here, what would I do without you” commends mom.

“You’re welcome mom” I reply. While turning the veggies in the salad bowl, she begins tossing

“Now go wash up and make your final preparations for school I am sure the bus will arrive soon”. She says

“Okay mom, I didn’t realize how much time I spent”.

Rushing up to the room, i take a quick shower and change my clothes. I put on a pair of baggy jeans, a NEXT crop top and some sneakers. I look in the mirror, no time to do anything serious on my hair so I just brush it up and hold it in a bun.

“Alexis, your bus is here, hurry down will you” calls mum from down the stairs

“Coming mom, already done” I reply racing down the stairs

“Bye mom”. “See you soon” with that I bolt out of the door straight to the bus

“Bye love, don’t forget Daddy will be picking you up from school today.

****************************************************************************

I walk into my classroom; it seems dusty and very empty. The chalk board doesn’t even seem touched

Where did every one go? Why hasn’t anyone arrived?, I wonder.

I wander into the hall way and it’s also empty. Where is everyone? I am so sure today is Sunday and I remember vividly the announcement being made for classes to be shifted to later this day.

“Hello?” I call out into the hallway. No answer.

I walk all the way to the extreme end of the hall way where the principal’s office is and hesitate when I get to the glass door written PRINCIPAL in bold letters right in front of it. Students only came to principal’s office when they were in trouble of any sort, which is the expo we get whenever anyone is summoned to the principal’s office. And here I am standing right in front of this office.

I grab the bronze knob and gently twisting it I push open the door.

No one here too. What is going on? Did I misunderstand the information passed? I shut the door and go back to the hallway “Hello” “anybody here?”

I hear the screaking sound of old hinges on a door. Which door is it? I don’t know which one there should be at least 10 doors in this hallway. The screaking sound again, this time louder and longer.

“Wh-Who’s there?” I call out a bit scared and shaken up. No reply only the howling sound of the wind

Just then I hear his voice and I jump at the sound of it

“Remember munchkin, if you’re not speaking the truth you’re lying to yourself and everyone around you, speak the truth to set you free”.

“Who is there?” I ask again “Daddy?”

“Where are you?” “Daddy where are you?”

I am so confused and frightened at this point. How is daddy in school at this time and where is everyone else. I can hear daddy’s voice but where is he, so I call out again

“Daddy”. “Dad”? “Is that you?” I am running frantically now and i am in my classroom again on the board is written today’s date boldly in miss Hannigan’s calligraphy, 3-06-2012. How is this now written on the board? How long was I at the principal’s office? And why is the class still without students. Something’s not right. If i rode the bus to school, so where did all the students go?

I am feeling uneasy and even more frightened, when suddenly

“Bang!”

My eyes fly open and I can hear great laughter; in my drowsiness I try to make out where I am and how I got here.

It so happens that I am in my classroom and fell asleep throughout Miss Hannigan’s period.

“Alexis Canton” yells Miss Hannigan “why are you sleeping in my class?” “Stand up and remain standing”. She continues.

“While you’re trying to get yourself can you explain the effects of colonialism and neo-colonialism on the African continent as a whole?”

She stops pacing and directs her angry gaze at me like hot lava about to spew from an angry volcano.

I clear my throat and start to speak “Uhm…well ma’am, the African continent due to colonialism has had positive and negative impacts from my stand point and I believe that……”

She walks up to my desk and unfolds her hands placing them on the desk “Now let me stop you there missy, the syllabus doesn’t say anything about the negative impacts…. So because you feel like you know it all you can sleep away while others are learning, is that right?” She continues scolding “This behavior is totally unacceptable, do you feel…”

Just as she’s about to speak further she is cut off by the ringing of the bell for the change of period. I let out a sigh of relief; that is my saving grace missed it by that much

“Alexis Canton, I’ll deal with you later” and just as she leaves the classroom I receive a nudge “Hey”, “what were you thinking”? Asks Mimi. “How can you be messing with Miss Hannigan, she’ll destroy you”

Mimi and I have been my friends for the past four years; she’s more like a fair weather friend. Whenever am in trouble you don’t see her till am out of it. At first I felt she was selfish and it was an issue between us both; but after several fights, I discovered that some people just don’t change and decided to roll with it.

“Well, you didn’t expect me to say nothing when she was going to do the same thing anyway” I reply defensively while packing up my books into my bag

“You would’ve just kept quiet”. “Anyway, that period bell was for English literature, remember we’re merging up with 9th grade today; we better get going so that we can be settled in before the teacher walks in”.

For some reason I have a phobia for this class. It’s like a portal that opens into another dimension of what school actually is as opposed to what it should be. They not only do have majority of the schools bullies, they also have the cheerleaders s***h beauty queens, the wannabes, the jocks the cute guys, the nerds, the weirdoes, and the likes of them; most importantly rumor has it that there’s this really handsome exchange student in this class too. Not that I care anyway, but for a teenager I sure am curious to see for myself.

As we walk in there is chit chattering everywhere and as usual Mimi blends in and is nowhere to be seen. She’s so good at that so I rummage through the now tight classroom and finally find a seat. I am still trying to find Mimi with my eyes when suddenly my eyes stop at the sound of his laughter sitting at my far right barely adjacent my row I sight him. I wonder who he is.

“Good day ladies and gentlemen”. “May I have your attention please?” the teacher calls to order the noisy class. Everywhere is now quiet and everyone is attentive. He continues

“For some reason we had to merge both grades so please bear with us”. “I’ll be your tutor today for the English literature class”.

“I am Mr. Bassey; now turn your texts to chapter 40”, “we’ll be treating Shakespeare’s work “Hamlet”. “So, let’s discuss the theme of the work shall we”

As I turn to chapter 40 of the text, my eyes wonder again to the far North East section of the class to make sure I wasn’t dreaming and actually saw what I thought i saw. This time not by chance but by my own accord. He looks so beautiful. He sounds beautiful. Who could he be?

That exchange student stands no chance when it comes to this guy whoever he might be because what i am looking at is far better than him, (whatever he looks like). He looks Latino but mixed, no am thinking Arabian, no American Latino. Well what do I know; he can be whatever he is. I haven’t really noticed boys in school but this one has caught my attention in a way I am not use to.

It’s not my first time of seeing international students in the school, my school actually is an international school with international standards, but there is something this one that makes me actually notice him and funny enough I am just looking at his side. I haven’t seen his whole appearance. What if he turns around and sees me staring?, oh my, that’ll be so embarrassing, I better face my work. Too late, he already turned and catches my eyes. His look is expressionless; I try to smile but it comes out wryly so I quickly turn back to face Mr Bassey who is being overly dramatic with explaining Hamlet.

Oh no! He caught me! Or probably not, He probably didn’t notice me staring. Phew! That was close.

I notice the head teacher in her ever elegant fashions gracefully walk in. today she is in a midi body flattering gown and stiletto heels. so graceful

“Miss Alexis Canton”. “Your attention is needed in the principal’s office”. The call alone was enough to bring me back from my thoughts.

“Yes, yes Ma’am” I stammer in response as I stand up. Just as I am about to exit the classroom she again says

“Get your bag, you’ll need it” And with that she leads the way out of the classroom while I tail behind

Different things are going through my mind, could I be in trouble? Is this what Miss Hannigan meant by “I’ll deal with you later”?

I take a deep breath as I try to keep up the pace with the head teacher on the way to the principal’s office. Just as we arrive at the office, I am ushered in by the head teacher and the principal dismisses her.

“Have a seat miss Canton” he says while adjusting his glasses to the bridge of his nose. He continues

“You’ll be leaving school earlier than the scheduled time; your mom is already on her way”

Wait that’s it? Why am I leaving earlier than usual? Could I be under suspension?

What am I going to explain to mummy and daddy?

“Miss Canton you seem to have some concerns from your facial expression?” says the principal

“Pardon me sir” I reply “Yes, I do have some concerns sir”, “I was just wondering why I’ll be leaving earlier than the scheduled time since you didn’t explain why”.

“Am I on suspension?” I courageously ask knowing him as a man of a few words and a short temper,

“Oh no dear, you’re not” he replies “your mom will explain everything when she’s here”

I am confused at this point. Why is mom picking me up early today, why isn’t daddy picking me today?

After about fifteen minutes of awkward silence he managed to say

“Your mom will be here any minute now, take care kiddo” that being said he dismisses me and I find myself strolling down the empty hallways.

Just as I am trying to gather my thoughts I see a familiar hue approaching me. It turns out its mom so I run to hug her

“Mom”

“What are you doing here by this hour?” I ask, “Is everything okay?” “Is this about the travel Visa?” I ask frantically.

“No Alex we’re going home” says mom while brushing something from her face as she turns around and walks briskly towards the exit

“Why are we going home?” I ask drunk with curiosity trying to keep up with her

Mom brushes something from her face again and I notice she’s been sniffing. I finally notice her bloodshot eyes and I realize she’s been crying. I stop midway to the exit

“Mom?”

“Mom are you okay?” I worriedly ask “Why are you crying?” “What’s going on?”

“Nothing Baby Lets go home”. She replies sniffing.

I am not at all convinced and I keep silent in confusion as I follow her pace out of the school, to the driveway and then into the car. She avoids my eyes at all cost, but I need answers. Just as she is about to start the ignition I touch her slightly

“Mom”, “Talk to me” “what’s going on?” I ask again not minding if I am asking for the 100th time now.

“Are you okay?”. “Why am I leaving school when it’s not yet closing hours?” I continue

“You said daddy was to pick me up today”, “where’s daddy?” “Did he miss his flight?” I meet her bewildered eyes, they’re full of tears and she bursts out crying. I am practically scared right now. My heart is beating so fast.

She stops crying yet again and between sniffs manages to say “Daddy didn’t miss his flight”. “Infect he boarded the plane”. “But the plane…”

She cries again that I almost start crying

“What about the plane?” I ask but she doesn’t respond and is crying so hard I begin to sob

“The plane crashed Alexis”. “It’s all over the news”.

“Am afraid he’s gone” she bursts out in tears “But we’re going to be fine kiddo, Daddy loved you so much; he would’ve wanted you to be ok”.

I can’t believe what I am hearing. It is like a bad dream that I can seem to wake up from.

It seems like everything around me just stopped

“No”, “No Mom, it’s not true”, “this can’t be happening”. “We don’t know for sure he was on that flight”. I say bewildered “We don’t know”.

“That was his flight Alexis”. “I checked”. “I am sorry”

“But he promised to be home early today”. I say between tears “He promised”

I turn to my mom. And she clutches me under her bosom. “We have to be strong dear, now wipe you tears” she says reassuringly as she pulls out of the pavement. “We’re going to be fine”

Back home everything looks pretty much the same, the T.V is on and the news channel is still broadcasting the events of the crash. I look keenly at the screen and my heart shatters when the news reporter says there were no survivors. My hopes that Dad would at least be alive somewhere around the site of the plane crash just went down the drain. I wipe my teary eyes with the back of my hand and I slowly stare into the house as though hoping that something might have changed or more so be a warning sign or indication that this dreadful day was going to come. I can’t believe Dad is gone.

Taking one final look around, I run up to my bedroom while mom makes series of calls

In my room, I pick up daddy’s picture from the wooden dresser; looking at it, I hug it and it feels so cold so i put it back. How could today turn out to be so gloomy. Just when I thought it seemed so perfect. Just then in the moment of my thoughts I am drawn to the digital calendar by my bedside lamp, it reads 3-06-2012. Why does it feel like I have seen this somewhere? Not the digital calendar, the date of course, in the same format written…

I search my thoughts but to no avail so I grab my school bag and tumble its contents on the floor and begin flipping through one book after another hoping something will cause me to remember. I finally give up because all efforts to recall seem to end in futility.

I rush downstairs again to check the calendar and memories from this morning of how I pulled a prank on daddy and he checked this calendar for today’s date flashes through my mind. I mean he was here some moments ago. What could’ve gone wrong? I can still feel his aura and I begin to sob.

Back in my room i fall on my bed with my face staring up the ceiling and just then in the moment of time

I remember!

In The dream!

Yes! The dreams… that’s where I saw it. Could it be that the dreams have been trying all this while to pass a message? Have they been meaning something all this while? I am so confused and terrified. No, it can’t be. It can’t.

In my confusion I rush downstairs again and think I should let mom know, but then I hesitate; now’s not a good time, she’s not emotionally stable and won’t understand. So I back away slowly from the door frame of her room and I go back upstairs shutting the door to my bedroom.

Like the saying goes “everything happens for a reason”. The events of 3rd June 2012 happened for a reason and really took a toll on me. It’s almost impossible to forget. The door to a different dimension was probably open from that day on: because from that moment on everything began to change.