Days Gone By

Day - 2

“Yes Daniel will be out for the day, he’s terribly sick with a fever.” Julia would be talking on her corded home phone while checking through her medicine cabinet for some aspirin. “Yes if you could, have one of his friends drop off homework to him after school if it isn’t too much trouble.” She would reply to the person on the phone as she made her way to the kitchen for a bottle of water. “Thank you very much, Mr. Nickels, given how he’s feeling he may be out for a couple of days. If he gets worse I’ll get him to the doctors. You know how it is having a summer bug. Miserable.” She would end her phone call with the principal with a simple thank you and goodbye.

Making her way up to her grandson’s room her mind raced with what he dreamed about last night, what happened to him? She would enter the room and give him the water and aspirin. Taking a seat beside him pulling from her robe pocket cigarettes and a small aluminum ashtray. She placed it on the stand next to her. She would light up and inhale deeply the smoke. “Here I am, now lay it on me kiddo.” Her eyes met with him and gave him a comforting relief.

“Grandma, do you know anything about dreaming but it’s real?” He would reveal his arm scrape to her and continue. “There was this big monster beast thing in my dream that cut me here and it’s the exact same cut that it did to me.” Retracing all the events that happened in his dream he would ask more questions before she had a chance to answer his first. “Do you know what unclean are, how about having an asylum? Why are there creatures in my dreams? They can talk to me, why are they there? My dream is like totally black the only light is candles?” saying the word candles made his eye twitch in phantom pain.

Shaking her head, Julia raised her hands up motioning him to calm down. “Slow down kid one question at a time.” Inhaling more smoke she found herself thinking on his first question. “Yes, to answer your question Danny, there is a world between our worlds. To simplify things, there is a world within dreams that most people don’t see. It’s like the grey area between our living world, the dead, it’s a limbo of sorts.” Clearing her throat her small speech would continue. “Some special people can actually reach the limbo from their dreams, things there are unpredictable and very dangerous to even the most seasoned dream walkers. People who go there have a gateway of sorts it’s like a safe haven where no one may enter unless allowed in.”

Nodding his head Danny would re-think back to the cabin, was that his safe haven? The beast wanted in and somehow I had forced him out once. He wanted to make a pact with me to prevent me from letting him out. His thoughts would be interrupted by her continuing her answers to his questions.

After swiftly ending her cigarette she would chain smoke into another one and begin to answer more of his questioning.

“In this world there are creatures, they go by many names, Demons, Devils, lost spirits, dream eaters, the list goes on and on depending on culture and beliefs.” Pointing at his arm she would state the obvious to her grandson. “They can inflict real damage to your body. Most commonly it’s in the form of cuts, scratches, fatigue, bruising in odd ways. To not keep any secrets about it, ultimately if they kill you in your dream. Your body has a heart attack, or something of that nature and dies.” She wasn’t certain if that was the best approach to the question but she was often a blunt woman in its time of need. “Now not all spirits in this realm are bad per se. Some can be helpful and very beneficial to people.” Getting up from her seat she would polish off her cigarette. “Come on kid lets go downstairs and I’ll make us something to eat.” Making her way out of the door. She would remind him to take the aspirin he still held in his hand.

Her footsteps slowly descending down the stairs, he sat in his bed mind swimming still. Obliging her request he did eventually get up and take the two pills she had brought him earlier. Heading down the stairs he would hear the sounds of pans and pots clattering in the kitchen and the smell of bacon filled the air as he entered. Taking his usual seat at the dining table, a few drinks of water down his throat. “Grandma, what if these creatures are smart and want to make pacts to stay in your safe haven?” Rubbing his hands together Julia seen his anxiety to get a straight answer for the particular question.

“Well Danny, these pacts are commonly not bad things, most spirits that are willing to make pacts are wanting to help you in some way shape or form. However, some of the more cunning spirits make deals. But for one to want to be in your safe haven? This spirit was it a beast?” Her request almost led her to forget she was making a hearty breakfast on the stove. The eggs, bacon, country gravy, biscuits, and sausage patty’s all made the kitchen a plethora of aromatic bliss for any home-cooked meal lover.

“Yeah he looked like a giant red-haired wolf-human, like a”

“Moon beast…” His grandmother would finish his statement. “Yes yes, these spirits are quite perplexing. So it’s the one that scratched you.” She would determine her assumption as correct given the facial expression he wore when she commented on the origin of the cut. “Don’t fret on it Danny you’ll be fine. Beast spirits are drawn towards certain people. They never mean any ill will, some though can be quite stubborn and brutish.” Hearing those words her grandson gave a nod of approval as if he already knew what she was talking about. “Let’s see you got anything else for me?” Finishing up cooking she would place a large meal before him and a tall glass of orange juice to wash it all down with. Helping herself to a seat with some food she would lightly pick at her food savoring her hot cooked meal.

He would begin eating rather rapidly as if he hadn’t eaten in days. His questions were held at bay while he indulged in the vast array of food. His grandmother was prone to overcooking for the two of them but today was an exception to this. Within moments he devoured the first plate, got up, and got himself a second helping. Before even sitting down at the table he had eaten half of it. Realizing what he was doing he slowed down. Almost as if coming to his senses he would take a big drink of juice. A huge sigh of relief would end this feeding frenzy. “Ahh, that was great!” He would exclaim as if feeling much better than he did earlier. “Yeah, I still have more questions but I just don’t know how to ask them, this is all so weird to me. I mean I know I was raised with these kinds of beliefs and stuff. But to be actually experiencing it is kinda scary for me.” Admitting this he would feel a huge weight off of his shoulders.

“Thanks for the talk grandma, why is that limbo world so dark? All I had for a light was a candle which isn’t very good in absolute darkness.” A possum would run over his grave thinking of the horrid abomination that attacked him.

“The dreamland is unformed, it’s chaotic and ever-changing.” Julia would respond sounding familiar to the moon beast.

“The moon beast called me Stormcrow…” he would admit to her in hopes she could answer how.

“He knows your spirit name? That means the spirit has been following you for some time now. Perhaps been with you since birth.” It seemed to Danny she answered that question all too easy, he didn’t pursue it though.

“So do you dream walk grandma? Can you meet other people in that world?” Finishing up that second plate he made for himself he would put his dishes in the sink.

“Yes, but it is a difficult challenge, unlike the world we live on the dreamland is all but infinite from what I understand.” Seeing he was done eating she would join him in placing her dishes in the sink but she would wash them up and put them away.

While she was washing up the dishes Danny would make his way out of the kitchen. “I’m going to take a shower and get changed up grandma. I’ll be back in a few moments.”

“Alright honey, you’ll know where to find me when you get out.” Her reply was over her shoulder as she kept on cleaning up the morning dishes from breakfast.

Gathering himself up a clean set of clothes and a towel he would make his way to the bathroom to take a shower. Turning on the water he preferred his showers very warm he found it relaxing. Savoring the refreshing aqua cleansing him of sweat and renewing him. The steam clouded the room in a heavy fog as he got out to dry himself off. Rapidly rubbing the towel over his head to dry his shoulder-length hair he would look up to the medicine cabinet mirror. To his surprise, a strange note was scribbled on the mirror. Looking at it he couldn’t figure it out. “THGINOT OUY EES” he attempted to say aloud what it said. Puzzled by this he would get dressed and yell for his grandmother.

Julia would come shortly after his request. “What is it, Danny?” Opening the door for her he would point out the message on the mirror. “Oh…” Analyzing it for a moment she would look to him and say “You got a date tonight with someone honey. It says see you tonight look at the lettering it’s backward. A common form of spiritual communication in our world.” Danny couldn’t help but notice a look on her face, it was heavily concerned by the writing. “This is a powerful spirit of magic, Danny. Did you see anything else in your dream?”

Thinking back he would inform her of the abyssal creature. In which she responded was a forsaken spirit and many of those inhabit the dream realm. The creature she sought was something far more powerful than a forsaken spirit and the moon beast. He told her of the red eyes he had seen that he believed threw a rock through the window of the cabin. That all he saw was red eyes in the darkness and it only said a couple of things to him. It didn’t seem hostile to him but to her, this was a very dangerous situation. Danny could see the heavy look of disdain on Julia’s face and he couldn’t help himself.

“I’m in a lot of trouble aren’t I?” Wide-eyed he had felt as though he were punched in the gut, his breath gave out at the gravity of the situation gripping him.

“No Danny you’ll be fine, let me go look some stuff up and work on some things right fast. You just go relax and don’t think too much about all of this alright?” She would gently pat him on the cheek with her soft palm. Her attitude quickly grew to a more positive note when she realized his reaction to her concern. She would take her leave of the restroom and go to the living room pilfering through old notebooks from ages past. Muttering things to herself that were inaudible to Danny. Starring at the note on the mirror still, his throat felt it had a hard lump in it that he simply could not swallow. Taking her advice he would go up to his room and relax on his bed. Pulling a notebook from his nightstand drawer he would begin writing notes and small story plots for his campaign with his friends this coming weekend. Keeping his mind busy with something he greatly enjoyed was his means to an end for the strange events happening in his life. Its Thursday he thought to himself while he jotted down side notes and other miscellaneous things. Might as well make good use of time from school to do something epic for my buddies. Becoming enamored with his work hours would swiftly pass by, his nose deep in writing and being creative.

“Hey broseph!” Would break Danny’s concrete concentration on writing. Pausing his works he would look up at a familiar face. One of his few close friends, that mild nasally voice suited Kyle well. Dark skinned and curly short black hair quickly gave away who it was to Danny. Dropping homework on the edge of his bed, Kyle would give a small chuckle. “Here is your school work man, hope you’re feeling better! Better not cop out on us this weekend.” A pointed finger directed at the young man in the bed followed by that sly smile almost constantly adorned on Kyle's face.

Irritated for a moment at the interruption. In the end, Danny would give a chuckle at his friend’s comments. “Yeah, we should be golden for this weekend.” Gathering up the paperwork at the end of his bed he would read through some of it and find it to be rudiment at best. “Alright, I’ll get to work on this stuff for tomorrow. Thanks, Kyle for dropping this by and razing on me.”

“You know your day got better the moment I walked in the door.” Sarcasm surrounded Kyle’s words. “Well anyway, I gotta get going Dan. I can’t wait for tomorrow man!” His joy would be met with pointing at Danny’s notepads. “Those notes are either going to destroy us! Or make for an epic story!” Pointing at the backpack on his back. “Well, I’m heading out man hope to see you in school tomorrow I gotta git home.” With a wave, he headed back down the stairs and momentarily out the front door. Leaving Danny there to do some of his homework. Just a couple pages of math and English, the simple stuff.

As her grandson did his homework upstairs, she found herself pulling together some notes on physical world manipulations and dreamscape. Her notebook handwritten on the power and usage of spirit medicine was where she found her answer. Well, it wasn’t the answer she truly sought to help Danny but it would give her time to find out more about his situation. Withdrawing some cedar root from her medicine bag she gave herself a nod of approval. “This should do the trick,” she told herself as she made her way up into his room. “Danny, I know this may be unusual but here is some cedar root. When you go to bed tonight place it between your cheek and gum.” She would look at him finishing up his homework as she stepped to his side placing the small root on his nightstand. “The spirit world is a dangerous place, and until I can find out what put that note on the mirror I need to keep you safe from the possible bad spirits.” Her words spoken in a somewhat stern manner, her hand upon his shoulder made the seriousness of her tone amplify.

“A…Alright grandma…” His words stuttered in reply as he eyed the cedar on the stand. The gravity of the cedar being used filled him with a pit of fear. He knew sacred plants were not used often for that would be considered a***e. Her smoking commercial tobacco was her grey area with medicine, as she grew her own small portions of true tobacco for rituals and rites.

“i-ga-tse-li u-li-si e-lo-hi tsa-da-nv-ti-ye-s-di a-da-do-li-s-di.” (Our grandmother earth be kind enough to bless us, in the language of The People). Her eyes shut as she said her small prayer to the spirits. Patting Danny on the shoulder with a reassuring soft smile. “The spirits have never steered me wrong before, keep the faith kid.”

His large brown eyes seemed to be starring through everything in front of him. His focus wasn’t on anything in particular. Hearing the native tongue always gave him a deep sense of pride. The words she spoke were like magic to him and filled him with something he was swiftly losing… Hope. A small smile crept upon his face to meet his grandmother's. “Thanks, grandma, for everything you’re doing for me.” He would bring his hand up to bring her in for a hug. “Glad you understand what I am going through.”

The warming moment they shared left Julia feeling accomplished on her helping him keep his chin up in this uncertain time during his life. She knew from experience that he was in for a heavy mountain climb to make it through the trials that laid before him. After the hug, she would give him a kiss on the forehead. “I’m going to head back downstairs and get to make us lunch. Anything sound good to you honey?” She asked her question at the frame of the door looking back at him.

“I can’t think of anything off the top of my head.” His eyes looking up to his brows as if the answers were there. His mind couldn’t come up with anything lunch like. His mind wandered into dinner foods, large racks of ribs, roasted pig, rump roast, and so many other cuts of meat. “Anything you make will be awesome grandma. All I can think of is dinner foods like Ribs and steaks.” A small laugh would follow his words, his pencil would press back into the school work before him. “I’ll finish this up and head downstairs.”

A puzzled look would cross her face at his dinner comments. “Alright dear, I’ll see you downstairs in a little while.” Down the stairs she went, thinking of what she had at her disposal to make for them. Her thoughts leaned towards cooking the sliced breakfast hams she had for tomorrow morning. “Eh, what the heck, kid sounds like he’s pretty hungry I’ll make a big dinner lunch.” She told herself as she looked about her various foods. Gathering up the breakfast hams from the refrigerator, she thought to make with it a nice salad of lettuce, carrots, and radishes. Snagging a couple of eggs to boil before she shut the fridge her arms filled with a delightful lunch.

Danny’s ears would tune into the ham as it hit the buttered pan. That sizzle of meat on heated metal made his mouth water. After some time dealing with this his unsalable desire to eat quickly overwhelmed anything else on his mind. Giving in to the urge he made his way downstairs and the smell of pork cooking weakened him at the knees. His stomach felt as though it were caved inside out with emptiness. Mouth as though it were an endless waterfall of moisture attempting to breach his lips. He took his seat, “Smells amazing grandma.”

“Yeah, it’s going to be quite the lunch I’ve got going on here.” She spoke as she sliced up vegetables for the salad, her eyes kept locked on everything she was doing. Her attempts were to get everything done at the same time so it would all be fresh. “Hope your hungry kiddo.” Her hands all over the stove and countertops, having years of experience in the kitchen shown with ease as she did the finishing touches on lunch. Turning with two plates for her grandson she would present him with a large salad dressed with sliced boiled eggs, croutons, bacon bits, vinaigrette, and shredded cheese. Then the part he awaited so eagerly for. Two slices of ham, adorned with cracked pepper and other mild seasonings, glistening with a light butter coating. The aroma to Danny was like ecstasy. Julia would give him a puzzled look as he took little time devouring the ham. “You seem famished Daniel. You feeling alright, you’re tearing into that ham like you haven’t eaten in days.” Watching him pause she seen by the look on his face he didn’t realize what he was doing until it was pointed out.

“Sorry grandma, it’s just really good! All your food is out of this world.” Looking at a piece of ham he just cut with a knife. “And I do feel as though I could eat a whole pig.” After eating the bite he would save the other piece of ham for after the salad. Munching into the crisp cool leafy goodness it would keep a conscious choice of his not to get carried away and show some mannerisms.

Clearing her throat Julia would give a small nod to his compliment. “I guess a growing boy does eat a lot.”

“Did my dad eat a lot at my age?” his response was on queue to the end of her aimless statement.

Remembering back to his father Julia would aptly answer him with “Oh yeah your father could eat more than an army of men when he was a teenager and afterword’s.” A small smile would cross her lips, her eyes lit up as she spoke. “You remind me of him in so many ways.” Taking a small bite of salad she took the moment to really remember her deceased son. “It’s been going on thirteen years and I still can’t quite believe he’s gone,” she felt her words a touch sour so she quickly added. “He lives on in you, maybe not in looks so much because you took after your mother. It’s the attitude and the way you do things.” Reaching out to grasp her drink she would take a look towards Danny to see how he was taking her words.

The young man never knew his parents as they passed when he was but an infant. The classic tale of unknown reasons befell them, in his younger years he pondered often to what happened to them and what kind of people they were. As time moved on he didn’t think so much on how they were as people, but how he was like them. Pictures of them were scarce but available when he wanted to see them. Managing to find a sense of peace with the hand life had dealt him was no small feat, but he managed it somehow.

“You know,” He said after a long pause of being sunk into deep thoughts. “I’m glad I keep their memory living on even if it is just between us.”

“That’s good you feel that way dear, most kids your age would be tore up about the whole situation but you have taken what most would consider a burden and made it into a boon.” Words of wisdom from the old lady that sat across from him.

As the two sat in an idle conversation of the times in the past they shared laughs and fond memories of the yesteryears. Time ensued at what seemed to be a rapid rate, doing the typical daily chores and odds and ends. Nighttime would creep its way around to greeting them once again.

“Remember Daniel you put that cedar root in your cheek and gum before going to sleep and you won’t have anything to worry about.” Julia reminded her grandson before getting back to unwinding from the day and reading one of her books.

“I won’t forget grandma.” He almost seemed annoyed but shrugged it off as her just being a caring person and watching out for his well-being. In his domain, he began his usual works on a storyline for his fellow role players. He had his mindset of blowing their minds this coming weekend. A part of him clung to this out of desperation for normalcy. It helped keep his mind off of the unique things that had been going on in his life that he dare not even attempt to explain to anyone. They wouldn’t understand, couldn’t fathom the reality that some people faced on a daily basis. The young boy felt cursed to some degree by his disposition but a small part of him welcomed it. For it made him feel special, like some unforeseen powers that be gave him gifts. Only time would tell if his gifts would be good or bad for him to possess.