| C’eathlin Sioda
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| Baby Dreams give a little more adventure after the winter holidays. Katie took along a little pink doll's trunk, filled with necessities that only a seven_year_old knew the value. Following an afternoon of play and a late spaghetti supper, the children went grudgingly to bed. Somewhere around one in the morning Katie woke suddenly. She was a restless sleeper and it was not unusual for her to wake up in the night, even when she was at home. Katie lay awake next to her friend in the big double bed, listening to the night sounds. Somewhere far off a dog barked his discontent, while the furnace fan came on making a soft whoosh up through the floor vents. The smells of dinner still lingered making a strange mixture of scents in the sleep filled house; though she was not afraid, she felt unsettled. “I'm going home.” Katie thought. and searched for her robe and slippers. Finally locating them at the end of the bed, she carefully slipped into her pink quilted robe. Holding her breath, unmoving, Katie waited to see if her friend still slept. A soft nasal whistling answered her concern; hurriedly she put on her slippers. Even with the moon's help, it was too dark to find all her toys and clothes, but she picked up her little trunk, (she would not leave that)! Her slippers felt odd. “Probably the wrong feet,“ Katie thought, as she slowly walked through the house. The moon painted shadow designs on the walls like the charcoal pictures she made in school at Halloween. She opened the front door and stepped out into the snow. for her. There was no wind to rustle her fine blond curls, and the silence of the air was friendly. Her breath curled out in soft clouds from her rosy mouth. As she went along the sidewalk her slippers made crunching sounds forming inch deep patterns along the way. Under the street lights, the snow looked like school glue sprinkled with glitter. to look at the trail her foot prints made. It was such a magical secret to be here, in this quiet world of sparkling snow. Katie stood thinking of the day of fun spent with her friend, climbing the billboard signs by the road where they could see the entire subdivision from the very top. They'd found an old abandoned bird's nest and promised themselves to check it next spring for new tenants. neighborhood kids at the “hill." The sky was a cloudless cerulean, and the unchecked sun hurt Katie’s blue green eyes. Squinting, she had missed her step and fell down the steep slope knocking the wind out of herself. She was sure death was eminent, but her breathing soon became normal and she was sledding again. Everyone laughed, slid, and yelled all day. quiet. The only sound Katie heard was the drop forge press, beating like a giant kettle drum way off in the distance. She thought of the many nights lying awake, listening to that steady pulse seeming to her the heartbeat of the world. Its constant companionship always made her feel contented and safe. Katie gazed at the once vivid blue sky, now a carpet of winking stars. Most of the houses were dark except for an odd light here and there. She knew the door was unlocked. It was always unlocked day or night, except when her brother attempted to exact some revenge by blocking her way to the bathroom. She did not want to go in just yet and end her secret journey, so she stood on the sidewalk in front for a while. Katie imagined her pink bedroom, with the blue ABCs painted on the wall, and the spread covering her bed with pink and blue kittens. She thought about her toys scattered around the floor, and how she always hurt her toes when she stepped on them in the dark. She was glad she wore her slippers, even if they were cold now and slightly damp. Her bed would be cold at first, and Katie would curl up into a ball until her body heat warmed it. alone watching this world. Somehow she knew that when she went inside where her father, mother and brother lay sleeping, she would remain separated from them. She wished she could take something of this enchanted world inside with her. door, quietly opened it, and went into the kitchen. The house was as usual, with the same familiar smells and sounds. She could still smell the chicken her mother must have made for dinner. By the crunch under her slipper near the stove she guessed they made popcorn later. The furnace fan was making a soft whir, and Katie shivered a little still chilled from her walk home. Her cat appeared, the only greeter, rubbing against her legs. Katie picked up the old cat and buried her cold nose in its warm fur. “Hello my sweetest Pittypat!” She whispered, holding the cat's face to her own. This brought a kiss on the nose from the cat's rough tongue. watched the cat go and curl up by the furnace in the hall where she always slept in winter. Katie followed and pressed her cold little back up against the large wall vent of the furnace. She could feel the vibration from Pittypat’s loud purring on the linoleum floor. With the chill gone, she continued down the hall to her room. Moon shadow pictures hung along the wall, but these patterns were familiar friends. Katie put down the doll's trunk and sat on the bed, running her fingers over the kitten pattern on the spread. She took off her slippers and rubbed her still cold feet. Finally she got under the covers and pulled them up to her chin. The moon looked into her room too, painting odd shadows over the letters on the wall. “Silly old moon.” Katie thought, “No one knows I am here but Pittypat and you.” She blew the old sentinel a kiss, and listening to the far off rhythm of the world's heart, and drifted off to sleep. |
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Copyright © 2000 C’eathlin Sioda All Rights Reserved |
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