by Lee Magnus
“Nice moves back there, Roberts,” Tucker said before running back to position.
Kenny shot Trey a surprised glance of which Trey responded with a shy smile.
After practice, Marcus ran to Trey, then said, “That was pretty sweet how you demolished those big dudes!”
“Yeah Trey! You were great out there,” said Sarah. She had an exuberant smile that hinted of holding back certain emotions which faded as Kenny put his arm around her.
“Good practice, Trey! See you tomorrow,” said Kenny giving him a high-five.
He and Sarah walked away. She turned and said, “Bye Trey! See you at school tomorrow!”
“Yeah. See ya….Sarah” he said as his voice diminished.
Marcus slapped Trey on the back and said, “Don’t worry about her. She’ll come around.”
“Thanks. How about that ice cream you wanted last week?” He gave Marcus a friendly smile.
“Yes! Chocolate fudge, here I come!”
They turned to leave the field when Trey heard someone call his name. He turned to find Lenny walking toward him.
“Hey Lenny –“
“I know. Take the video down, please.” He smiled then laughed causing Trey to become uncomfortable. “You were pretty amazing today. I’d love to have you on the team. I hope Coach agrees with me.”
“Thanks, Lenny. I appreciate it.”
“Do you think you can teach me that rainbow later this week?”
“Yeah. I guess so.” Trey wasn’t sure he wanted to help the boy that caused him so much trouble and brought Davis to quit soccer all together.
“Thanks. I look forward to it,” Lenny smiled. It was a nice smile. A friendly smile. One Trey didn’t think the boy possessed.
Trey slunk in his stance when Lenny turned to walk away. He regretted every second of niceness he showed the foul boy. His anger turned his face cherry red.
Just as Trey was about to speak his mind, Lenny turned and said, “Oh yeah, Trey,” Trey backed off his temper to hear the boy out, “I’ll take the video down.”
Trey’s eyes popped and he released a thankful sigh. “Thank you, Lenny! Thank you so much!”
Lenny smiled, turned and walked away without another word.
“I can’t believe he did that for you,” Marcus said excitedly.
“I know. I’ve been asking him all week. We have to tell Davis. Maybe he’ll get back on the team!”
“Hopefully so. But it can wait until tomorrow. Right now, is ice cream celebration time!”
Trey gathered his stuff and the two eager teenagers strolled to Danucci’s ice cream shoppe.
“What are you getting?” Marcus asked Trey at Danucci’s.
“Vanilla.”
“And what else?” he said smiling.
“Vanilla.”
“That’s all?” Marcus asked with a perplexed face.
“I like vanilla ice cream.”
“No gummy bears? No chocolate pieces? Not even sprinkles?”
“Nope.”
“Just vanilla.” Marcus stared.
“Yep.”
“Why am I even friends with you?”
“I don’t know, Marcus,” Trey replied snickering.
They sat outside the tiny shop in the cool fall day. Marcus unsuccessfully attempted to arrest a falling gummy worm before it reached the table. Trey nonchalantly tipped his head to the bald bearded guy sitting on a bench no more than thirty yards away – the same guy that drove him home the previous unpleasant night. Trey’s personal guard offered no response.
Trey took a huge bite of his treat just as Leslie stopped at the table.
“Hey Trey! Hey Marcus.”
“OOMMM. Goust a muinet,” Trey tried to say pointing to a full mouth with a drip of vanilla flowing down his chin. Leslie giggled.
“Hey Leslie! What’s up?” Trey said finally choking down the bite of frozen treat.
“Hey,” Marcus said as he continued to struggle with his gummy worms.
“I saw you two sitting here and wanted to say hey.”
“Go grab a cup and sit with us,” Trey said as he pulled out a chair next to him.
She hopped and said with a large smile, “I’d love to! Be right back!”
Trey watched her skip off into the store.
“You have a thing for Leslie?” Marcus asked.
“No. She’s just nice … and she plays soccer.”
“And she’s cute,” Marcus countered with raised eyebrows and a goofy smile.
“Well, there’s that too….but I wasn’t noticing,” Trey said, hoping to ward off Marcus’ friendly assault.
“Sure, you weren’t. You know her dad’s into all that bizarre psycho mumbo jumbo stuff, right?”
“What do you mean?”
“He talks to spirits and does that freaky meditation stuff where he runs around everywhere. My mom went to one of his meditation sessions because she thought it would be relaxing. She was pretty wierded out.”
“No. I don’t know her family. She seems pretty cool though. I’m not worried about what her parents do.”
“Just watch out. I don’t want him stealing your soul or anything.”
“Stop goofing. Here she comes.”
“Strawberry and banana? Looks yummy,” Trey said.
“Want a bite?”
“Sure.”
She heaped out a scoop, then placed it softly into his mouth.
“Mmmm. Very good,” he said looking into her eyes.
“You guys are making me sick with all this mushy stuff. I’m getting out’a here,” Marcus said.
“Wait, Marcus! We just got here,” Trey said.
“No. Really. You guys finish. I have to get to my homework anyway.”
“Ok, dude. See you later.”
“Bye Marcus!” she said sweetly.
Trey turned back to Leslie and said with a huge expression, “You’ll never guess what happened today?”
“What?” She replied as if it were her birthday and someone brought her the biggest gift to open.
“The kid with video of me and Davis is taking it off the internet!”
“Oh gosh! That’s great! You think he’ll get back on the team?”
“I don’t know. He was pretty mad about the whole ordeal. It’ll most likely take more than just removing the video.”
“You’re probably right. But it’s good that he did it.”
“It’s not down yet. We’ll just have to see if he stays true to his word.”
She replied with a full mouth of ice cream and an affirmative head nod.
“How’s soccer going?” He asked.
“Really good. I love the team. I’ve also made a few new friends. Tina Lopez and I have become pretty close.”
“Tina’s very good. We played many seasons together in the rec league.”
“How’s it going with the high schoolers?”
“They’re pretty tough. It’s been really hard moving the ball. They’re just so big and fast. I have to be really smart or they’ll splat me.”
“Sounds scary.”
“It is scary. Some of those guys are twice my size.”
“I heard about that Senior that was picking on you.”
“Who Tucker? He’s just making sure his team is sound. He didn’t want some middle schooler messing up their progress this year. Hey!” Trey said abruptly.
“Hey,” Leslie instantly replied with an open smile before Trey could finish.
They both laughed.
“Hey,” he said again with a big smile. “You want to finish up here, then go kick the ball around a little?”
“I’d love to, but it’s getting dark and there’s a full moon tonight. Plus, I’m still aching from last time,” she bumped him in the shoulder with hers.
“Ha! That didn’t go so well did it?”
“Nope,” she said while spooning a dripping piece of banana.
”So, what’s special about a full moon?”
“My father and I sit in
every full moon.”
“Why?”
“It’s a great time to moon bathe. We breathe in allowing the moon to warm our hearts and expand the beauty of the present moment. We breathe out to release all that needs to go away in our lives. It also seems to give me delightful dreams.”
“Dreams you say? I’ve been having some strange ones lately.”
“Maybe my dad can help. He’s very good at dream interpretation.”
“Uh. Sure.”
“Great! Let’s go!”
“You mean now?”
“Yeah, silly. No time like the present!”
She jumped up, tossed her cup into the trash then turned around and said playfully, “Well? Come on.”
Her smile was inviting like a warm cup of hot chocolate on a frosty winter day. Trey followed her unquestioningly – just like he would many times after.
Along the walk from the ice cream shop, they talked about school and soccer and missing old friends. They turned off of the sidewalk next to a multi-colored mailbox painted with small peace signs, a larger black and white yin yang and smiley faces. The driveway was long and edged with trees and robust bushes draped in colorful Clematis. They arrived at a front door decorated in markings along the frame, colorful stones at the base and were greeted by a small statue of a closed eye smiling man. Leslie removed her shoes, then entered the house. Trey followed her example.
“Daddy! Are you home?”
“Hey Leslie Bean! I missed you today,” said a skinny middle-aged man with straight brown hair that draped past his ears. He spoke in a soft voice that Trey thought was intentionally acquired through time rather than natural.
“I missed you too daddy,” she said as she hugged him tightly.
“Who’s your friend?”
“Trey Roberts, Sir,” he said holding out a hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Taylor.”
“Yes. Yes, it’s nice to meet you too. Please call me Paul,” he said displaying hands covered in dark muck. He gave an apologetic smile, then said excitedly, “Come look at what I’m making!” Trey noticed he felt instantly comfortable in Paul’s presence.
Paul took them out back revealing a statue about the height of a fifth grader in the shape of a partially naked woman.
“I’ve made it completely out of stuff I found in the yard. It’s shaped up nicely.”
“That’s putting it mildly. I don’t see any tools. Did you make it by hand?” Trey asked.
“Yeah. Only my hands and the dirt, sticks and rocks I could find.”
“It’s amazing. Look at the detail on her face. Eyelashes and all. How did you ever get them to stick?”
“Those are pine needles. I thinned them with rocks. They turned out well.”
“She’s beautiful, daddy. Looks just like mom,” she said shedding a single tear.
“I know sweetie. I also miss her tremendously.”
They shared another heartfelt hug. Trey felt somewhat uncomfortable during their moment.
They turned to Trey and Paul said, “I’ll go get washed up, then we’ll sit for a chat.”
Back in the house, Trey took a seat on the couch. Leslie sat comfortably next to him, shoulder to shoulder, touching her leg to his. She kicked her legs happily causing her to bounce a little as they waited on her father. He liked sitting next to her. She smelled of lavender and cucumber. Her smile was contagious. Mint green eyes mused of wonder and happiness. He felt at home in her presence.
Paul came in, taking a seat in a chair next to the couch.
“Tell me Trey, what brings you here today, besides my daughter of course?” he said with a small laugh.
“Trey’s had some interesting dreams lately?” Leslie offered with a reverent smile.
“Dreams huh? Has it been the same dream?”
Trey started uncomfortably. He was nervous about sharing. He replied, “Sort of. It’s in the same place but slightly different each time,” Trey said.
“Honey. Please go fix us some tea.”
“Yes. Daddy.”
She gave Trey a sweet look, pushed on his leg to help herself off the couch, then trotted into the kitchen.
“Repeating dreams are typically the universe trying to tell us something. First off, how do you feel in the dream? Are you scared, happy, sad? What emotions do you feel?”
“I’m confused most of the time … and anxious. I feel like I should be doing something, but I don’t know what to do. I don’t remember being scared. It feels more purposeful and I don’t have time to feel much. I know it doesn’t make any sense.”
“No. It does make sense. It seems as if you have a mission. Have there been any animals in the dreams?”
“Yes, but only in one. There was an eagle and a wolf. Oh yeah, there was a tiny bird in the first one,”
“I’m not sure about the tiny bird,” he said in a thoughtful manner. “In the dream were you the eagle or did you just see the eagle?”
“I was the eagle at one point then I saw it in a tree.”
“Interesting.” Paul sat back in his chair pondering Trey’s response. “That could symbolize your awakening to a hidden strength. It may also represent a spiritual renewal. And the wolf?”
“The eagle turned into the wolf, then led me to various people in an old looking desert city.”
“The wolf may be a spirit guide. It may also represent instructions to act using greater instinct. Wolves are also protectors. Was there any danger in the dream?”
“Yes. I think everyone died and the wolf was trying to warn me.”
“Old city you say?”
“Yeah. Like an ancient civilization city or something. Everything looked really primitive. No cars or anything modern.”
“That’s very interesting. Not to freak you out or anything but dreams of events that occurred in the past are sometimes memories of past lives. Or,” he mused, “they can be people living in their time, attempting to communicate with you in your time. This is a very rarely documented occurrence. However, the times it has been told, the people of old were reaching out for purposes of survival. If what you say are the events that took place, then it would seem that this city is in grave danger and whoever is reaching out has identified you as someone that can help.”
“Me? How can I or anyone from my time help someone that is long gone?”
Paul leaned forward in the chair toward Trey and asked, “Why don’t you ask that question to someone in the dream? Is there anyone that stands out?”
“Yeah. There’s this old man that leads me to a cloudy image.”
“What’s the image of?” he asked curiously.
“It looks like a sun that is split into three pieces.”
“Ok. Nothing rings a bell with that description. I suggest you make the intention of asking the man why he has summoned you there.”
“Ok,” he said as he built a modest level of skepticism regarding Paul’s guidance. “And how do I do that?” he asked more out of politeness than actually desiring an answer.
“Before you lay down to sleep tonight sit on your bed, close your eyes, then say to yourself, I will awake in my dream. I will ask the man what I should do.”
“That’s it?”
“Yeah. I think that’s all you can do at this point. Hopefully it will help you understand the meaning of the dream.”
“Ok. Thanks, Mr…I mean Paul.”
“Your welcome.” Paul smiled and pushed a tuft of hair behind his ear.
Leslie came in with three cups of jasmine tea.
“Will you stay with us for the moonlight meditation?” Paul asked.
Thinking about what Marcus said Trey quickly responded, “Not tonight. I have to be getting home. Maybe next time.”
“Very well then. It has been a pleasure getting to know you, Trey. I’ll get back to my sculpture and leave you two alone.”
“Thank you again, Paul.”
“It’s been my pleasure, Trey.”
Paul left the room.
“So how did it
go?” Leslie said taking a sip of warm tea with both hands wrapped around the tiny cup.
“Your dad is an amazing person. I’m not sure if what he told me will help but it certainly did put some perspective into the situation. And that statue! Oh my gah. I didn’t know it was your mom. It’s astounding that he made it by hand in the back yard!”
“That’s wonderful about the talk. Thank you for your kind words about him. He really is the best dad ever. We lost my mom to cancer two years ago. I miss her terribly. Sometimes, I wish he wouldn’t make things that remind me of her.” A few tears streamed down her cheek. “But when I see the beauty of the creation and that it came from a tremendous place of love, I become so happy.”
She looked around the room reminiscing on her mother then said, “She was a wonderful person. She painted the pictures on the walls.”
“Really? She did those? They’re beautiful.”
“I know. Sometimes I sit here and cry looking at them.”
“I’m sorry for your loss. My parents are divorced. I haven’t seen my dad in over three years.”
She lightly took his hand, looked him in the eyes caringly and said, “I think that would be harder than him dying. To know you are capable of seeing him, but not able to make it happen on your own.”
“Yeah. I suppose I never thought of it that way.”
They sat in silence for a few minutes her hand in his, beholding the stunning display of vivid colors splashed in various patterns on blankets of canvas.
“I need to be going. It’s dark out. Thank you so much for bringing me to your father. I’ve really enjoyed this time with you,” he said rising from the couch and turning to face her.
Still holding her hand, he pulled her up close to him. They looked into each other’s eyes, then shared a soft innocent kiss.
She walked him to the front door, then he said, “I’ll see you at school tomorrow.”
“Yes, you will,” she softly replied in his ear as she kissed his cheek. Her warm breath of jasmine gave him a pleasant chill.
He slowly walked out the door holding her gaze, her hand still in his until the bond was broken by distance. He looked over his shoulder only once as he proceeded down the drive to find her still standing in the doorway. He gave her a wave goodbye, then disappeared into the night.
That night his thoughts drifted to what Paul said earlier, thinking about the past week’s craziness, thinking about soccer. He lay awake thinking about Leslie and the newfound flood of feelings he had for her. He rose, closed his eyes. He breathed in and breathed out slowly several times. A calmness settled upon him, then he said, “I will awake in my dreams tonight. I will ask the man what to do.” He fell asleep almost as soon as his head hit the pillow.