Gretchen wakes with a shudder. The eerie morning light paints unusual colors on the walls. Like fluid spilling from an opening can, her world changes back to real.
The room fills with echoes of her slowing breath. Her eyes search for a query to explain what happened again. She rubs then with open hands as if to wipe the scene permanently from her vision.
Her right hand rummages the table top of her nightstand. Fast fingers find the smooth surface of her phone. Its harsh blue light4hw telling of a number dialed.
“Hello? Hello! It happened again!” Gretchen yells in bursts. “I can’t take these dreams. Are you revenue?”
“Yeah . . .. I’m here. … It’s like 540AM.” Joel works feverishly to put who and what together.
“It happened again! I’m… I’m leaving my room through the window.” Gretchen draws lines in the air with her hand “I heard voices. Then footsteps…. My heart is exploding in beats. I can’t breath. My throat is choked up. Are you listening to me?!”
“Yeah.. Yeah. The footsteps draw closer and you go out.” Joel thinks of why his crazy sister calls him alone.
“But this time on a unicorn… Wait, I mean unicycle. There’s a cord running down to the beach. The ocean is turning muddy. And blackbirds… They call out to these people in the house where I am.” She loses her breath taking in a rush.
“Gretchen. Calm down. You decided to go to Clown school.” Joel looks back at the clock “You and that Therapist of yours decided it was the only way to get over your clown phobia. I’m going back to bed. Put your clown attire in the closet where you can’t see it!”
