The People Behind My Eyes

The assignment will be for me to write down the dream as it happened then re-write it so that it turns out the way I want it to turn out, so that I’m the victor and not the victim.

Ending One:

It’s late, the mall is closing so I rush to the bus stop but I see the bus pulling off. The driver sees me and pulls over to let me on. Out of the window I see my mother on all fours with skates on her hands and feet and a dog harness around her with the leash standing erect. She can’t stand on the skates and is about to crash into the grass. I watch as a police car pulls up to ask the odd woman if she’s okay. “Yes, I’m just getting exercise” she says. The officer gets out of the car and asks the odd woman to sit down. She needs help turning over to sit, the erect leash collapses beside her. After a brief talk the officer realizes the odd dog lady is in need of psychiatric attention and calls for an ambulance to take her to be euthanized evaluated. I arrive home to see her on the news being taken by the police in a straight jacket. She looks good in white.

Ending Two:

I’ve got plenty of time before the bus arrives but I decide to sit outside and enjoy the breeze. Just as I get comfortable I notice my mother on all fours with skates on her hands and feet. Irritated I go over to her and ask her what on earth she’s doing. She tells me she’s out for some exercise. “Mama, you’re a fat lady with skates on her hands and feet. This isn’t exercise this is insanity.” I take the leash and drag her into the grass. She falls over. On lookers gather and the police are called. I explain to Officer Nice that this woman is in need of help because her bazaar behavior has escalated to skating on all fours with a dog harness on. He asks if I would like to take her home and care for her. I was shocked and utterly appalled at the thought of her in my home but I didn’t let on. “No I said. She’s too far gone. You’re gonna need to take her in.” Just then the news cameras show up to see Mama (who looks good in her white straight jacket) being taken away in an ambulance to the nearest insane asylum. The news woman interviews me. “Was it hard growing up with her?” “Oh yes” I said. “I tried everything as a child to keep her from these odd behaviors but she just got worse and worse”. “Oh you poor thing.” I turn to the camera with my puppy dog brown eyes and nod in agreement. “So many times I stayed home from school and cared for her, hoping she’d regain her sanity but it never happened. I wished on stars, I threw pennies in wishing wells but it never happened…not until today when you fine people came and took her the hell out of my life to go get help.” The newswoman turns to the camera, “So there you have it. A dedicated daughter finally gets her wish.” I wave to Mama as she’s driven away. The bus pulls up, I get on and he refuses to accept my fare saying I’d just been refunded some of the pennies I threw in my wishing well.

**I can tell there are going to be times when I really like dream therapy but I’m sure there will be a time when it’s not this funny.**

Austin

Fragmented Not Destroyed Part 1 of 2 - original dream unaltered with shattered picture frame dream
Fragmented Not Destroyed Part 2 of 2 - Mama on skates re-written
Thursday, March 29, 2007