Dreamers Awake: Chapter 2.
Chapter 2
Jenny
He was sitting at her feet staring at her, head tipped to the side, eyes curious. Her legs were stretched out, ankles crossed, feet resting on the ottoman at the end of the seat. A book was open, her usual stance at night. The TV flickered pictures across the walls, the only sound in the small, one bedroom apartment. Brown eyes glanced up to watch the pictures, noting an Airedale with a big grin on its face flash by on the screen, then a cat cleaning its paws, then a goldfish swimming around in its bowl, looking bored.
Her eyes went back to her book, but her concentration was soon taken away as she noticed he was moving at her feet. Glancing away from the words on the page, she lifted an eyebrow and watched him carefully. Those big brown eyes were staring at her, black, jowly lips pulled down into that ever present frown. With a small smile she reached forward to scratch her pet Pug, Tock, on the head but stopped as those lips moved and he spoke.
“Ya know, the Butler did it.”
Blinking, she pulled her hand away and sat back, saying easily, “Do you find it fun to ruin every book I read?”
“Yes…”
Grinning at the Pug at her feet she shook her head and nudged him with her foot. He snorted and stretched as she picked up her book and continued to read, the room falling into the dim noise of the TV once more. After a few minutes she saw a flash of movement at her feet and lowered her book once more to see where Tock was going. But to her surprise a small gray cat was sitting there, watching her expectantly. Turning to glance at Tock she gestured towards the feline with her book and said distractedly, “Who’s that?”
“I’m Mittens…the neighbor’s cat.”
She watched as Tock’s lips spread into what could only be a Dog’s equivalent of a smile as he let out a bark of laughter and Jenny couldn’t help but join in. Mittens, it seemed like half the population of Cats in the world was named Mittens, how original. The Cat’s yellow eyes narrowed slightly as it gave a front paw a fleeting lick and let out a rumbling meow saying lightly, “My owner’s a 6 year old, give her a break.”
Holding back a bit of laughter again Jenny grinned and picked up her book once more, saying, “Sorry…” An easy silence drifted through the room as the three of them sat together, until Jenny glanced away from the page once more and spoke to the cat, asking lightly “So what are you doing here?”
“Isn’t it obvious?”
The voice that spoke now was different, neither Tock nor Mitten’s and her eyes flicked up to see a rather large crow perched on top of the TV. The image on the screen had stopped to be the four of them in the room, zeroing in on Jenny’s confused face. Her eyes moved away from the TV as she sighed with annoyance and said to the Crow, “Not really…no.”
The black bird gave a croak and flapped its wings noisily for a minute before taking flight to land on the arm of the chair. Jenny, for her part, tried hard not to flinch as the bird walked up the arm of the chair to stare at her with its beady black eyes. With another croak it settled its wings carefully and said in that same, sharp voice, “We’re here to help you.”
That got her attention and she put her book down, suddenly quite interesting in the conversation. Pursing her lips together she lifted a brow and leaned forward, towards the Crow, saying quietly “Oh…really?” Trying hard not to sound too intrigued she moved to rest a foot on her knee and put her hands on her leg, glancing at the three animals in the room, saying casually, “Help me with what?”
A new voice joined the crowd and Jenny looked up quickly to see a large but friendly German Shepard lying comfortably on the floor. Its pink tongue lolled from its long snout, big brown eyes staring right at her, Jenny surprised to find herself fighting back tears. It was Rhine, the family Dog when she was little. But he had been hit by a car all those years ago. He couldn’t be here. Though his words left her silent, confused as he stared right at her and said quietly but seriously, “With this…”
BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP.
An aggravated cry tore from her lips as she snapped awake. Big brown eyes opened to stare at the dark ceiling above her head. Fingers snapped out to slam her palm against the alarm clock, effectively hurling it to the floor. She waited for the comforting sound of cracking plastic but alas, none came. She was pretty sure the machine was made of titanium, since every time she tried to break it in her morning rage, it still persevered.
At least it had stopped beeping.
With a mumbled groan Jenny Denair sat up in bed and wiped fiercely at her eyes, ridding them of sleep and the tears that still stung them. That dream had been much more vivid than some of the others she had been having recently. And the sight of Rhine always upset her, even in sleep. Still, it had just been a dream. But now she was awake and it was already 5:30 AM, time to get up and head to work.
The alarm clock was kicked aside as covers were tossed away and soon the shower was running, warm water washing over her, helping to cleanse her body of any remaining grogginess. Minutes later she watched herself dress in the mirror, pulling on a simple black skirt, white button down and a tight blazer, quickly stepping in and fastening her black, strappy heels. A shake of her head sent blow dried brown curls tumbling across her shoulders and she gave her reflection a smile as she headed out of her small bedroom and into the next room where the kitchen and living room ran together.
Tock was sitting on the ottoman of the chair in her dream, watching her with tired but expectant eyes. She knew that look, sure, he had only been awake for about two seconds but his eyes still said, “What in the world took you so long, I’m hungry, feed me now.” But when wasn’t the Dog hungry?
With a sigh and a smile she walked over to the Dog and gave him a pat on the head. The Pug whined and sniffed at her hand as he hopped off the ottoman and followed her to the kitchen. Kibble tumbled into the bowl with little metallic clinks and Jenny crouched beside the Dog, petting his fur distractedly as she thought for a minute. She always had dreams like that, where he was talking to her. But what had been with the end of this one?
The Crow had said they were there to help her and then Rhine had said, “With this.” What did that even mean, with this? It was early and she was far too tired to really think about it since it made no comprehensible sense as far as she was concerned. With another sigh she gave Tock a loving scratch behind the ears and then kissed him goodbye saying quietly, “If ya figure out what “with this” means, make sure to tell me when I get home.”
The Dog snuffled sharply as it looked up from its food bowl and the look he gave her was so serious it was almost startling. Jenny stood there for a minute, half expecting the small Dog to talk, to tell her that he’d be sure to do that. But then the moment passed and she laughed it off, muttering, “Losin my mind” before kissing the dog once more and saying softly, “Bye baby” before grabbing her purse and rushing out the door.
