The Kiss
Dream Lover
Pepper was filled with conflicting emotions. The dowdy,
forty-seven-year-old nurse’s aide had been dismayed to learn that one of her longtime
heroes, blues-rock guitarist Gerry Clifford, had been placed in a care home in
London’s storied Crouch End borough. At just sixty-two years old, Gerry had
been diagnosed with dementia.
Pepper always thought that Gerry was sweet and smart, and
she felt that what was happening to him was terribly unfair. She wondered if he
was frightened. She knew that she would be. So, she sent a wish into the
Universe, inviting Gerry to come to visit her if he felt lonely or afraid. On one
hand, she thought this was a foolish thing to do. On the other hand, she was an
adept oneiromancer, although she had been trying to avoid the Dreamlands
lately.
While working the night shift at Trinity Gardens Retirement
Community, Pepper slipped into the employee lounge and dozed. To her delight,
Gerry came to visit her. To her surprise, he expressed romantic feelings for
her.
“Surely he’s mistaking gratitude for desire,” Pepper told
herself. “I’ll have to straighten him out, gently. I can’t let myself fall for
him. No more dream lovers—not ever.”
Pepper sat on the dilapidated bed in her cold, squalid
bedroom. She found a relaxation video on the computer, lay down, and pulled the
covers up around her. Her quintet of cats joined her, curling up beside her. As
Pepper began to drift off, she sensed Gerry’s gentle presence.
“What are their names?” Gerry inquired.
“Who?” Pepper asked.
“The cats, silly bird. What are they called?”
“They’re called cats,” Pepper responded puckishly. “You said
it yourself.”
Gerry smiled and caressed Pepper’s face.
“Blimey smart-arse,” he teased. “I know you wonder why I
like you, but you oughtn’t. You make me smile.”
“I’m a fat, ugly lump.”
“I bloody well beg to differ.”
“Are you going to tell me you don’t think I’m fat?”
“I’m telling you that you ain’t an ugly lump. Anyways, ain’t
nobody ever mistook me fer beautiful. Why fret about it? If some arsehole can’t
see the good in you, they don’t deserve to know you. Why don’t you forget this
nonsense and come dancing with me in the Dreamlands? C’mon, take my hand. We’ll
be there in a flash.”
All Dressed Up for the Dance
Pepper left her tired body and followed Gerry through the
gate that he conjured. They emerged in a modest room at a motel in the
Dreamland city of Falona.
“This is one of me permanent residences in the Dreamlands,”
Gerry explained. “Take a look in the wardrobe, Darlin’. It don’t lead to
Narnia, but you can imagine something lovely to wear and you’ll find it there. C’mon,
hop to! I wanna get dancin’.”
“Gerry, I don’t know how to dance,” Pepper protested.
“I really don’t either. That’s the nice thing about bein’ astral.
Your thoughts take the lead. You’ve never been dancin’ in your dreams?”
Pepper shook her head.
“Then allow me to be your first partner.”
“My only partner,” Pepper corrected. “Once I’ve danced with
you, I won’t ever want to dance with anyone else.”
“Well, maybe not a slow dance, but I’m sure that you’ll want
to dance other styles with others. Take Paul and David, for instance. Me
brothers like to cut a rug. I’d not get jealous if you wanted to do a little
tango with Paul or Davy. Each one of ‘em has his own unique style.”
“I just hope I don’t end up making a fool of myself.”
“You won’t. Do you fancy my look?”
Gerry spun around in front of the mirror and his casual
clothes transformed into a sharp tuxedo.
“I have to say, I never imagined you in a tux,” Pepper
admitted.
“’Ey, I was capable of bein’ elegant when I wanted to. It
didn’t happen often, but sometimes I liked to play fancy.”
“You look very fetching, my sweet fetch.”
“Now it’s your turn. I wanna see what you choose.”
Pepper closed her eyes and imagined herself in a ball gown.
She spun around as Gerry had. When she looked in the mirror, she was dressed in
an orchid chiffon gown with a full, frilly skirt.
“You look luscious, my comely clairvoyant,” Gerry praised.
“Are you sure I don’t look like a giant dish of sorbet? I
like the color of this gown, but I’m not sure it’s right for someone with my
build.”
“Well, I like sorbet, and sherbet, and ice cream, and very
recently I’ve discovered that I have quite the craving for Pepper. It’s my very
favorite spice. Now, let’s have a little vertical expression of a horizontal
desire, shall we?”
Come Dancing
Gerry and Pepper walked from the hotel to the grand
ballroom. The revelers spun and twirled with ease, and Pepper feared that she
was going to wind up as a laughingstock. Sensing her unease, Gerry approached
the bandstand and spoke to the orchestra leader. The handsome, olive-skinned
man with the slick black hair seemed happy to see Gerry and the pair embraced.
Gerry returned to Pepper as the band began to play Artie Shaw’s “Stardust.”
“That’s me brother-in-law, Cecil,” Gerry remarked as Pepper
stepped uncertainly into his open arms. “” E’s married to me eldest sister,
Nancy. C’mon, Darlin’, relax! Yer spine is stiff as a rod.”
“I’m afraid I’m going to squash your cute little feet with
my big, clumsy ones,” Pepper fretted.
“I ain’t sure me feet are that cute. Anyways, you oughtn’t
worry about it. Just let yourself move with the music. Before you know it,
we’ll be the smoothest couple on the floor. Close your eyes and move how you
feel.”
Pepper closed her eyes and allowed herself to move with
Gerry. As the song crescendoed, his lips pressed against hers, and she felt as
if the two of them were melting together, becoming one with the music and the
Universe.
992 Words
Acknowledgments
Dream Lover is a 1959 song written and initially performed
by Bobby Darin.
“All dressed up for the dance” is a line from the 1957 song “A
White Sport Coat,” written and initially performed by Marty Robbins.
Come Dancing is a 1982 song written by Ray Davies and
performed by The Kinks.
Prompts
Reedsy
https://blog.reedsy.com/creative-writing-prompts/
Write about a first date that surprises both people, but in
different ways.
Submitted on 15 February 2021—my 56th birthday.
WEP
https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2021/02/here-we-go-again-wep-2021-begins-with.html
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I really, really like this - and wish that all dreams could be so sweet.
ReplyDeleteIndeed. Trust me, mine aren't.
DeleteLoved it! Dreams hold so many possibilities. I always look forward to what my nights bring!
ReplyDeleteI can't say that I do, although I've certainly had dreams that inspired stories. My sleep tends to be fraught with nightmares, night terrors, and sleep paralysis. Even when I do have an encounter with a loved one who has passed, it serves to make me sad. So this bit is most assuredly fantasy, at least for me.
DeleteHappy Birthday!
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday! What a lovely fantastical story. So sweet. As Elephant's Child says, I wish all dreams were like this! And that kiss at the end really sealed it for the prompt.
ReplyDeleteSmooth like a dream.
ReplyDeleteWell done ... an interesting take on a dream, which can carry on ... and yes Happy Birthday for Monday ... all the best - Hilary
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the dance in dreamland - this line is my favourite... vertical expression of a horizontal desire! Love it!
A very pleasant visit to the dreamlands. I like how you captured the personalities of the characters.
ReplyDeleteDreaming your way to a kiss. I like that idea.
ReplyDeleteOh! Dancing in a dream with your long-time dream lover - so sweet.
ReplyDeleteA lovely dream! It's a sweet tale.
ReplyDeleteCute valentine flash. Great characterisation and imagery. Lovely take on the prompt.
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday!
Hi,
ReplyDeleteThis story is beautiful. It has so many messages in it and I loved reading the whole thing.
By the way, I remember Bobby Darin.
Great job.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat
That was fun. I'd feel out of place and ridiculous since I have a weight problem too. So, I got why Pepper hesitated. Can't even imagine meeting up with a musician childhood crush. For me, that would be Paul McCartney. Well written.
ReplyDeleteNancy
Thank you, Nancy. Being someone who will never be thin unless I become terminally ill (I have endocrine issues galore) I've learned not to say things like "weight problem." If someone has a problem with my weight, it's their problem. I do, however, have two left feet and possibly three, so I'd fear for the safety of anyone who tried to dance with me! ;-)
DeleteConversely, I recommend a visit to this site:
http://danceswithfat.wordpress.com
Ragen Chastain is a plus-size competitive dancer who speaks out against size shaming.
In truth, I would be highly unlikely to become romantically involved with a famous person. It seems to me that such a romance would be more fraught with potential pitfalls than being involved with a regular Joe, so to speak.
I love the idea of astral projection and sharing someone's dreams. This was fun and romantic and the musical allusions were clever. Great job.
ReplyDeleteDancing in a dreamworld seems like a good time! This story was fun and sweet and I thoroughly enjoyed it!
ReplyDeleteThat was great! I wonder which of my former idols would come to me for a Dream Girl dance :) - and belated happy birthday!
ReplyDeleteThis is a really fun post. I enjoyed the musical references. Dancing in a dream sounds magical. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteAstral travel?! Absolutely fabulous and highly imaginative. I loved it - specially the fact that the protagonists were older.
ReplyDelete