The Fire

My dog Rexy woke me up in the night. The house was on fire. Rexy guided me through the flames. At one point a burning beam fell from the ceiling and narrowly missed us.

We got outside and watched the fire. The flames were gleefully devouring our homestead. With each bite, the inferno got brighter.

We both turned at the same time and began walking away. We walked along dark streets. Pretty soon there were no more homes, only trees.

We walked off the road and into the forest. It got so dark that we couldn’t see the trees and the space between. We had to feel our way through.

Eventually we got to the water. I got down on my knees and Rexy and I both drank from the lake.

We lay down and looked up at the bright night stared sky.

Rexy said, “It’s like everything’s on fire.”

I said, “If it’s not on fire, it’s only waiting for the spark.”

I don’t know.

I walked through the desert until I came to the canyon. It was vast and beautiful. I jumped in.

As I was falling I asked the canyon what was its favorite color. The canyon said, “I like the color of water because it reflects everything.”

I said, “I like blue. I don’t know why.”

I was about to hit the ground when the canyon said, “If you did know why, why do you think it is that you like it?”

It’s hard to do anything right

I couldn’t sleep. It was the middle of the night. I rode my time machine to my bedroom two nights in the future. I found my two-days-from-now-self sleeping. I shook and woke that me up.

That me said, “What the hell?!?”

I said, “It’s okay, it’s me, Brooks.”

That me said, “Oh, okay. What’s going on? Why are you here?”

I said, “I was feeling lonely and was hoping we could talk.”

That me said, “I guess. What do you want to talk about?”

I said, “Gee, I don’t know, what do you want to talk about?”

That me said, “You sound tired. Why don’t you join me and catch some sleep?”

I nodded and spooned that me.

I whispered in his ear, “You know me so well.”

That me whispered back, “Shut up before I lose it.”

I whispered back, “Sorry, goodnight.”

That me whispered, “Night.”

The puddle

I sat in the puddle.

The puddle said, “What the matter?”

I said, “I don’t want to talk about it.”

We sat in silence for a while.

Eventually the sun evaporated the water and I got up.

I walked for a while till I got to downtown.

McCreedy was sitting in a rocking chair on the porch of Bechner’s Hair Stylists. He said, “What’s with the caked mud on your butt?”

I said, “It says what needs to be said.”

The rock in my backyard, next to the birch tree

 

I have a rock I like to hide under when I’m feeling overwhelmed. It’s in my backyard, next to the birch tree. For instance this morning I woke up, thought about all the things I needed to do, and said, “Nope.” I got out of bed, went out to the rock, lifted it and got underneath. I felt peaceful again and had a nice conversation with a worm. We talked about how when there’s no light, things are much simpler.

The Pie

 

 

I was being pestered by memories of all the dumb, embarrassing and ridiculous things I’d ever done. I had enough and put them in a crusted pie dish, and baked it in the oven for 45 minutes at 350 degrees. I took it out and let it cool. I just had a slice. It was delicious!