Dreams are from our subconscious minds and sometimes they may forewarn us of the impending dangers that we may, or about to, encounter.

The Sinners
Chapter 2

It is not known how long Harold had been sitting there
by the window but when he came to
he found himself had actually taken a nap.
He had a terrible dream during that short nap.

In the dream, he was down in his garden tending to some flowers
when suddenly, Beth and Simon came over and suggested
that he go with them up the mountain, since it was a lovely day.
Harold did not really want to go, but they seemed to be insisting.

Harold looked up to a blue sky with a few clouds.
He thought he would rather tend to
the flowers in his own garden.
Being in the landscaping business his yard must look good to others.

“Ummm... why don't you two run along?
I still have some work here that needs finishing,”
Harold informed them.
He really didn't want to go along.

“Oh, Harold! Why must you always be a party pooper?” Beth said. “It's a nice day, just come along! Simon has already brought along the picnic basket, and Tommy isn't due to come home from school for another few hours. Now, you leave that work for Rick. He's the gardener, not you! He's getting paid to do the work.”

Christ! I have no idea why I married her! I can do NOTHING around here! Harold thought.

It's of no use to get upset or argue with Beth.
She would win every time anyway,
or else she would give Harold one of those “authoritative” looks,
and Harold would be reduced to feeling like a disobedient child.

Not one person at his work really knows the real Beth.
She acts like an angel to him whenever she is in front of anyone.
She would pretend to be so caring towards him that
it would make everyone believe he is a lucky man.

Simon sat Harold next to him
on the passenger seat like a good friend would do,
and he took the driver's seat
while Beth sat in the back of the car.

They drove to the mountain top,
and spread out the picnic blanket.
Beth proceeded to take out Harold's wheelchair
and helped him into it.

They sat down and began to have lunch.
First, it was the sandwich and juice for Harold.
Then Simon opened a bottle of wine,
poured himself and Beth a glass each.

The rest of the food was laid out on the picnic blanket.
Harold could not drink wine
because of the medications he has been taking.
Simon poured him a glass of apple juice instead.

After lunch, they made some small talks when
suddenly, both Simon and Beth got up and danced
around Harold and his wheelchair.
"Are you guys friggin' drunk, huh?" Harold asked.

They answered nothing!
Instead, they continued on dancing, circling around him,
laughing and teasing.
Then they talked the crazy talk:

They told Harold they were going to push him down the cliff.
They took Harold to the edge and let him look down.
The depth of the height made Harold feel dizzy.
There was a vast ocean with angry tides beating up the rocks.

“Hey, Harold!” Simon jokingly called out to him,
“What would you do
if we were to push you down this cliff?
Do you think you could survive the fall?”

“Why would you want to do that? If I died, you will get nothing!
You haven't got anything from me yet.” Harold responded.
His heart was now racing, fearing for his life.
Does Simon really mean that?

“Oh!!! Now, now! Simon, you don't tell him that.
If you were going to do it, then just do it!
And I'll take a video of it on my phone,”
Beth said, smiling at Simon.

Wicked woman! Harold thought, looking at Beth disgustingly.
He wondered if she had really meant that, or was she just joking.
Either way, he resented coming along.
He should have stayed back to work in his garden!

He felt his heart was beating up faster and faster,
and he needed his medication to slow it down.
It was then that he realized that his medication was at home!
He had not taken it along with him!

At this time, he heard the familiar giggling
and that boisterous laughter.
They were both standing behind his back,
making cruel jokes. Mocking him! Taunting him!

Harold felt a tightness in his chest, followed by a sharp pain.
He clutched his chest with his right hand and waved to them both -
a sign that would be familiar to Simon and Beth
that he needed his heart medication.

But in his dream, neither of them responded,
nor did they ever come forward to help him.
Instead, Harold felt he was being pushed down.
He felt himself free falling, down the cliff to the ocean below.

In the blink of an eye, the next thing he felt was this freezing coldness.
Suddenly, he realized he was swimming in the freezing cold water.
He knew that if he didn't die of a heart attack,
he would likely be dead from drowning.

He looked around for his wheelchair
and it was nowhere in sight.
It must have gone under.
He thought.

He knew he must begin to swim,
no matter how cold the water.
He must now swim for his life.
He can no longer trust his wife and his best friend.

The water was still angry with high tides that slapped against his face.
He swallowed a few gulps of salty seawater.
The current was strong, he felt he was being pulled under.
He must not let that happen, he must stay afloat!

He must use all his strength to move his legs
in order to navigate himself within this icy cold water.
He looked yonder and found a sandy shore
which didn't seem too far a distance from where he was.

He must now use all his strength to move his legs!
He must, or else he would sink!
It was either now or never!
Harold knew he must use all his mighty strength!

Suddenly, as if God was there to watch over him.
He felt his legs begin to move back and forth.
He felt them move once.
He tried again! And they moved again!

Before long, Harold was swimming!
He felt himself moving forward to that sandy beach!
The pain around his chest was now gone,
and he was able to keep his head above the water.

He looked up the cliff and saw
Simon and Beth were still standing there, looking down.
They seemed surprised to find him still alive and floating.
His heart began to race once again, afraid they would come after him.

He moved his legs faster, back and forth,
kicking up a storm under the water.
With each movement, he found his body
sprung forward towards the shore.

Oh, but the water was so cold!
He was freezing! He felt cold! Very cold!
And what's that swimming beside him?
A big FISH!

In his dream, he could not make out
what kind of fish it was.
Only knew it was a big fish.
He prayed to God that it wasn't a shark!

His heart was now pounding again, and he was exhausted!
Fear had consumed his whole being,
he felt he was about to pass out before he could reach the shore.
He must now fight for his life!

Suddenly, he found himself standing on top of this big fish,
like it was a large surfboard, carrying Harold towards the shore.
The tide was strong, and the wind was blowing behind him.
Harold felt so cold he was shivering and shaking all over.

Suddenly, he opened his eyes!

Now, he found himself back in his room,
still sitting in his wheelchair by the window.
The coldness he felt in his dream was from the wind
gusting in through the opened window.

Beth and Simon must have been long gone.
But all the windows had been left open.
Bitch! She wished me dead, didn't she?
Harold thought.

He looked around, and there, beside him was little Tommy.
Thank God! He must have wakened him from his nightmare!
Tommy poked his little head forward and gave his daddy a kiss on the cheek.
“Daddy, are you alright? You were screaming.”

“Huh?” Harold smiled.
He was still in a daze from the nightmarish dream.
He was so relieved to realize that's all it was – a dream!
So, he must have been dream-talking.

“Yes, I'm fine, Tommy! How is my little guy doing today?”
He tickled the little fellow.
Tommy giggled.
He held up a picture, drawn with crayons.

“Look, Daddy!” Tommy held up a piece of paper.
I've drawn a picture for you. It's our family!
And Mrs. Fletcher gave me a gold star
because she says it is a beautiful picture and a beautiful family!”

Harold looked at the picture.
There were five people in it, and on top of each was the names:
Mommy, Daddy, Uncle Simon, Me (meaning Tommy himself),
and his Nanny Florence.

Mommy wore a stylish, modern dress
and a pair of high-heeled shoes.
She clutched a purse in one hand
and held onto Uncle Simon's hand with the other.
Daddy was there too, sitting in his wheelchair,
with Nanny Flor holding Tommy's hand.

Harold wished he was dead!
Children don't lie!
What Tommy sees, Tommy draws.
He has drawn Mommy holding Uncle Simon's hands!

“Yes, Tommy! What a beautiful picture you have drawn!” Harold said, “and you have included Uncle Simon in the picture too! But Uncle Simon is not our family.”

“No?” Tommy looked confused. “Mommy says Uncle Simon is my uncle.”

“He may be, but he is not blood-related.”
Ah, what's the use? No sense of explaining it to Tommy!
He's just 5 years old, starting kindergarten.
He won't understand all of this anyway. Harold thought.

“Tell me, Tommy,” Harold asked, holding little Tommy by the hand, “Do mommy and Uncle Simon always hold hands?”

“Not all the time. Sometimes they kiss,” Tommy answered matter-of-factly. “Uncle Simon always gives mommy hugs and kisses.”

“He does?”
Harold's heart felt like it was on pins and needles,
hurting all over.
He was now deep in thoughts.

“Listen, Tommy! I am so happy you have done so well with drawing this beautiful family, and I want to see more pictures, especially pictures of mommy and Uncle Simon, okay?” Harold pretended to be so excited. “Will you draw them for me?”

“Sure, daddy!” Tommy smiled. “I will draw more for you, daddy.”

“Now, the pictures you will draw about mommy and Uncle Simon are only for me. So, you mustn't let anyone see them while you draw. I will buy some more crayons and papers for you and you can come up here to draw them for me after you've finished your schoolwork, okay? Deal?”

“Deal!” Tommy says, extending his little pinky finger to Harold to seal the deal.

“You watch what mommy and Uncle Simon do, and then you draw them for me. I will later have these pictures framed and give to mommy as a gift. It will be our little secret, a surprise for mommy. You mustn't tell anyone. 'kay?”

“Okay, daddy!” Tommy's blue eyes lit up with pride. Harold combed his curly blond hair with his fingers.

What a handsome little fellow! I'm so glad he's my boy!
Harold thought to himself,
taking full credit
for Tommy's good genes.

Harold gave little Tommy hugs and kisses,
and squeezed his chubby little cheeks.
He treated him to some cookies and candy.
Tommy ate heartily until Nanny Flor arrived to get him to take a bath.

End of Chapter 2

Copyright (c) Sandie May Joyce,2020
All Rights Reserved

Chapter 1

Chapter 3 (in the stories section)