Dream Hopper: By Emily Wright
Katy’s Christmas Dream
“Come on,” he said, tugging her hand.
Katy followed. It was not odd for her stuffed turtle to be speaking. Nor was it strange that he stood even to her height. Kids do not question these things, especially when dreaming. The toque upon Cutie’s green head and the matching scarf around his long neck did make the girl wonder about the awaiting adventure, until she saw it.
Snow piles glittered in the dim light as she plodded through in her sock feet. It would have been beautiful if it were not so cold and inside.
They were standing in Katy’s living room she realized. Snow topped the furniture and floor like a fluffy whip over dessert. A smattering of icy white crystal’s dusted the walls and tall drifts pushed up against the door. A layer of frost covered the windows like thick gauze, too.
There, in the corner of the room stood the saddest sight of all. The Christmas tree, snow-covered and dark, it didn’t look like Christmas at all.
A chill formed in Katy’s chest and the lump she swallowed away brought tears to her eyes.
“What happened to Christmas?” She sniffed.
“It was canceled.” Cutie said. “Don’t you remember? No one can go out or come visit. Everyone is stuck inside.”
She tried to turn and run back to her room but the snow was too heavy. It held her in place. Katy pulled Cutie in for a hug, but her fuzzy friend shrank back to his normal size. In her arms, she held a stuffed toy. With no expression nor words, Cutie was of little comfort. Katy felt all alone.
Clutching her plush turtle tight, she was afraid as she looked around the room. Beneath the tree, two mounds of snow sat where there had once been wrapped gifts, but Katy didn’t care. She wanted the indoor winter to go away, for the lights to come on, and for her family to appear.
Her bottom lip quivered and Cutie’s shell was soft against her wet face.
A glint of something caught her eye. At first, Katy thought her tears had blurred her vision. But then, it happened again. Glassy specks of snow on the window sill had turned to gold.
As if caught in a breeze, they lifted and swirled. The tiny wind funnel grew bigger, stringing the grains together. Once the shiny strands had threaded as one, Katy recognized it as the dream rope.
Stardust hissed as it sifted and spun into a golden cord. Then, it fanned out. Shimmering twine glowed yellow as it took the shape of her Sandman. Katy beamed at her dream superhero as he materialized before her.
When the boy emerged, Katy hugged her ten-year-old brother, Samson.
“You came.” She said.
With her arms around his middle, Samson took in the sight of their living room. “What is all of this?”
“I know.” She sobbed. “Can you fix it?”
“Katy, it is Christmas Eve. You don’t have bad dreams on Christmas Eve.”
“Looks like I do.”
Peering up at him through her wet lashes, Katy couldn’t wait for her big brother to do what he always did. Samson had the power to turn her bad dream into a good one with the touch of his magic hand. He didn’t move. In his plaid pajamas, special for Christmas, he seemed sad as he looked around the cold dark room.
“Katy, we need to figure this out.”
“Just fix it.” She pulled back from their embrace.
“I can’t.” He shrugged and her eyes welled up again. “Not without knowing why you are dreaming about this. See, all of your other bad dreams make sense. I understand them.”
“Monsters chase me in most of my dreams. You understand that?” She asked and he did not miss her note of sarcasm.
“I do. You were afraid of something.”
“Yeah, monsters-“
“No.” He chuckled. “Well yes. Obviously, but dreams are more like messages from yourself to yourself. The monsters are a symbol for something.” Katy wrinkled her nose. “Your chase dreams always happened the nights before something big. Like your piano recital last year.” He nodded trying to coax her memory, “or just before you had to do those terrible evaluation tests at school. And remember the night before I went in for my surgery? You were afraid of all of those things and they appeared in your dreams as big green lizards.”
“Dragons,” she corrected.
“Right, dragons,” Sam sighed and his breath clouded between them. “So what is this about?”
“I don’t know. You’re the dream know-it-all. You tell me.”
“Okay, let’s figure this out together. I think it’s important for us to understand why you are dreaming about this.” Samson looked around considering the snow and the dim room and the shadow of the Christmas tree. “What’s the worst part about this scene?”
“Um, it’s covered in snow.”
“Exactly, how does that make you feel?”
“Cold,” she huffed creating another burst of fog.
“But you don’t hate snow. You play in it all the time. We go sledding; you make snow angels, and build snowmen. As long as you are dressed for it, it’s fun, right? Snow days are your favorite after all. You like snow.”
Katy pondered. “It’s dark.”
“Right, so it’s cold and dark. What do you think that means? When you first saw it, how did you feel?”
“Sad and all by myself,” her little chin trembled.
“Why would you think that you would be alone for Christmas?”
“Because this year it is canceled, that’s what the man said on the television and what Mommy told nanna and papa.”
“Katy, we put up the tree and hung our stockings. Mom baked all of our favorites and we do our chocolate calendars every day. It is not canceled.”
“But we aren’t going to see anyone and no one’s coming to visit.”
“Is this about presents?” His question was slow and gentle.
Katy’s eyes dropped to the two lumps in the snow beneath the tree. Chewing on her bottom lip, she seemed to consider. Then, she shook her head.
“Are you sure? Because it’s okay if it is, it makes sense, your seven. Gifts are a big part of Christmas at you’re age.”
“No!” With that, she crossed her arms and pushed out her bottom lip in defiance. “I can prove it!”
Unconvinced, Samson shrugged.
“Look,” she said pointing. “All the snow is piled at the door and we cannot get out! We cannot even see out!” She pointed again, this time at the frosted window. “My feet were stuck in the snow too. I felt trapped.”
“Oh, that’s good, Katy. Okay, now I understand.” He lowered his face to her so he could meet her eyes. “This dream is about not being able to change what is going on right now. We all feel that way, and it’s alright to be scared, frustrated, or even sad.” Samson offered his baby sister a small smile. “But you know we can see everyone. We just have to do it virtually. Mom and dad can set that up. And, I know, we will talk and see everyone tomorrow.”
“Are you sure?” Katy’s eyebrows pulled together.
“I am. I heard mom say she would put the call on the TV. That way nana and papa, Grampa Joe, and everyone will seem live size, as if they are here.”
“Really?” Her small hands came together under her chin.
“How about, we fix this dream of yours now.”
Katy giggled and clapped with excitement. Snow crunched as the dream hopper stepped towards the window and reached out his hand. Then, the most amazing thing happened.
Beneath Samson’s palm, the frost encrusted glass began to clear. Outside, a winter wonderland appeared. Snow-covered rooftops and snowmen were all aglow by the strings of Christmas lights wound around porches, framing front doors, and lining shrubs and bushes. Katy’s eyes grew big as her mouth drew up into a grin.
The branches of the tall indoor evergreen sagged beneath patches of snow. Using his fingers, Samson brushed the needles of the tree. Then, in a burst of sparkling diamonds, the snow exploded, leaving the most beautiful holiday tree in its place. As the powder sprinkled down, Samson and Katy admired the magnificent twinkling lights, colorful shimmering ornaments, and the brilliant glow of the star at the very top.
Katy sucked in a breath of wonder as the warmth dappled her cheeks.
Before crouching, Samson eyed her as the enchanted sight held her attention. Then, he pressed his fingers into the snow at her feet. Like magic, a gust of wind lifted the blanket of snow. Sifting it into ice crystals they flashed into glittery specs before disappearing.
Beneath the tree stood two gifts, Samson watched his little sister as her interest still did not fall to the wrapped parcels. Instead, she was peering at the stairway. There, two sets of slippers emerged as their parents descended wearing their typical Christmas morning robes.
“Merry Christmas,” their mother said as she reached the living room. Not able to contain her joy, Katy leaped forward, wrapping her arms around her mother.
“Merry Christmas, mommy,” she said.
“Look,” her father said as he picked her up and moved closer to the tree. Pulling Samson into a hug, they all turned to see out the window. There, was the most wonderful sight of all. Katy and Samson’s grandparents were approaching the house. On their doorstep, they had left Nana’s Christmas cake and a bag of goodies. The couple stood waving and blowing them kisses. Framed by the window, the four waved back.
Their grandpa Joe arrived next and placed a poinsettia on their stoop. Bundled up against the winter, he too stepped back to wave and smile at them. Before long there were cousins, aunts, uncles, and close friends all dotting the most amazing winter morning view. The sight of family and friends they hadn’t seen in a very long time, warmed their hearts and lifted their spirits.
“Thanks, Sandman.” Katy, still in her father’s arms, looked at her brother and smiled. “This is the best Christmas dream ever. Thank you for doing this for me.”
“Merry Christmas, Katy,” He said squeezing his little sister’s hand.
With that, Samson faded back into sparkling grains of golden sand. They sifted and twisted into a thin strand. It was beautiful, the dream rope, how it brought her Sandman into her dreams to make them good. Spinning, the glittering yellow crystals burst over Katy’s head. Christmas flurries of every color filled the air before melting into the night.