A VERY NICE DREAM
As she walked towards her brother’s home, she pondered on a way to get Elsie to have other type of dreams. Perhaps she could recount her own dream, without letting out what was really happening.
“Maybe, if I give my dream some little twist, a bit of a change here and there, it could improve Morpheus intent.”
When she was finally in her niece’s room, Ondine checked on her and asked about the last night’s dream. It seemed to have been as terrifying as the previous ones. Ondine sat by her side.
“I want to tell you my dream of last night. “ She said.
“Was it a nice dream?”
“An incredibly nice one. Listen”
She told her how everything had started, and explained about the flying island and the flying flowers, and how they talked.
“That’s so pretty, aunty! I wish I could have those dreams!”
“But it doesn’t end there, my dear. There are even more great things to say!”
“Tell me then.”
“When the little island finally landed, it landed near a beautiful beach. The water looked so inviting that I went in and started swimming. Soon I had reached the shore. The sand was rosy colored, and very, very soft. For a while I walked on the shore and suddenly came to a stop when I saw a young man sitting there under a palm tree.”
“Was he a nice man?”
“He was perfect. He was very attractive, you know.” She responded with a wink.
“Aunty!”
“Whaat? And he spoke to me and offered some coconut water. At first I didn’t want to sit. But he seemed quite nice so I finally went and sat beside him.”
“And?”
“You like it, eh?”
“Yes, please continue.”
“Well, we started talking and he called me by my name. I was astonished and asked him how he knew. He said we had met before but I denied it. He then told me he was Morpheus.”
“Who’s that?”
“Morpheus? I haven’t told you about him?”
“Never.”
“I thought I had. Morpheus is the god of dreams.”
“Oh!” whispered Elsie, bringing her hands to her lips. Ondine understood she was getting some ideas. Perhaps this would work.
“Yes, the god of dreams. I really wouldn’t have known him from Adam, but there he was. He offered coconut water again and I drank some, then he invited me to walk along the beach. He then told me where we were. It was so incredible Elsie that it has to be the most incredible dream I have ever had.”
“What, what, tell me!”
“Well he said that I was in another world. That I was in a world where all fantastic beings lived. Not only the flying flowers or the islands, he told me all the beings that live there, the fairies, just as the ones on your box, and mermaids and mermen; Sylphs and undines.”
“Like your name?”
“Yes, but spelled with a “u”.”
“What are they?”
“I think they are something like water fairies.”
“Ah, please continue.”
“I saw so many beautiful things, Elsie dear. And the air was so fresh, and the sun light was even better than here. So he told me he wanted to help you. And I was very happy.”
“He knows about me? How?”
“I imagine he saw it in my dreams.”
“He wants to help me? Can he?”
“I don’t know, darling. This is what he said. He said to tell you my dream, he even told me to write it down as soon as I woke up.”
“Did you?”
“No, but I couldn’t forget it, ever.”
“I know.”
“So he said that if I told you my dream, and you trusted him, he would start sending you nice dreams instead of the ones you have being dreaming.”
“Did he send the bad dreams?”
“I don’t think so.”
“And how did they come to me?”
“That’s something we will need to ask him if we see him again.”
“OK, so how do I trust him? “
“Why don’t you try to think about my dream, and see if you can imagine it well?”
“I can try. Can you show him to me?”
“How?”
“Aren’t there pictures of him?”
“Yes, now that I think about it, many painters have painted him. Let me start the computer and I will do a quick search.”
Soon Ondine had several images of Morpheus. She showed them to Elsie.
“He’s really a beautiful man, aunty.”
“Yes he is.”
“You liked him?”
“Naturally.”
“Very much?”
“Now, Elsie, what are you driving at, you little devil!”
The little girl smiled at her aunt. She was now merrier than she had been in many days.
“Perhaps you want to marry him?”
“Elsie!”
A while later, and at the request of her aunt, Elsie was recounting the dream to her mother and father. Ondine also asked the little girl to write it down, and to keep it under her pillow. So the good things would drift into her mind when she slept. After some more chat and jokes, Ondine returned to her home, leaving a happier family behind her.
She was woken up suddenly next day at a very early hour.
“Hello!”
“Ondine, it is John. Sister, something horrible has happened!”
“Elsie, is she worst?”
“Not worst, she has disappeared!”
