Hush Money (24 page)

My eyes focused in on a big blank screen on
the wall opposite the bed, a flat screen TV. Cool! I noticed two
doors on one wall. Could these be the
nightmare
doors that
had monsters on the other side? I slowly walked over to the first
door, opened it and peered inside. It was pitch black. I felt
around for a light hoping not to lose my arm to a beast. I found
the knob and turned it.

What a pleasant surprise. My own bathroom!
Hey, I’m beginning to love this dream! It was small but had a
shower, sink and toilet. Excellent, it was all clean and tidy; I
would soon change that. I opened the cabinet under the sink and
found sets of towels and extra toothpaste.

I walked over to the second door with more
confidence and opened it. I was overcome. Now I knew I was in a
dream–a walk in closet. It was huge; at least three times the size
of the bathroom. All the clothes were neatly hung; there were
drawers and even shoe stands. But I didn’t recognize the clothes. I
would have to inspect them later. First a shower, I stank.

I took off my muddy jeans and hoodie, threw
them into the laundry basket and stepped into the hot spray of
water. It felt so good, soothing my aching back. That ride must
have been long, my muscles hurt. I shampooed and conditioned my
hair and wrapped myself in the large,
pink
(I am not a pink
girl!) towel that hung on the railing outside the cubicle before I
stepped back into
my
room. I dried myself, located a comb on
a very prissy-looking dressing table and sat down on the bed to
untangle my hair.

I absentmindedly relived my last hockey
goal, my very favorite pastime. It had been my finest moment on ice
this season. I had broken loose and jammed the puck right through
the goalie’s legs. I could still feel the amazement of both my
teammates and the opponents–sweet!

As I idly glanced into the mirror at the far
end of the room, I was jolted back into the present. Who was that
staring back at me? I slowly walked over to the mirror and gazed
into it. My hand wandered up to my hair, I pulled it. Ouch! It was
attached to my head, but it couldn’t be mine! It was BLOND…platinum
blond! I looked ridiculous. Straight, blond hair. I looked like an
awful Barbie doll. I pulled at it again, harder this time, willing
myself to waken. It just hurt more as I pulled off a clump. I
stared at it in my palm, feeling the strands with my fingers
unbelievingly. I felt a sense of dread and lost control. I
screamed.

“MOM!”

I ran out of my room, still wrapped in my
towel and stumbled down the stairs nearly tripping. Half way down,
I stopped. I held my breath.

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