chapter five

ROOTS

he was born in a small town, where they think small thoughts and use small words.

But not his kin. They were forward thinkers.

he was summoned to a parental conference. Must have been 15 going on 16 years young.
(he knew the drill, 2 had come before)

"Time to start thinking about your future kiddo"
(time has come, the chambers brothers-he thought)

"Options"

"graduate from high school and go to work"
better get a job soon. you are going to need transportation and pay room and board.
Or- you can commute to one of the local colleges.
start saving for a car. you can live here free.
Or
you can go away to school. not too far-it costs money to get back and forth for holidays and semester breaks.
we'll do all we can,but money does not grow on trees.
and Florida is off limits-you are not spending college lying on the beach"

his first lesson in options...

(tho' this was a no-brainer)

"can i sleep on it ? "

and that's about the time the dream began.

he had been schooled in psychology that everyone dreams; yet never remembered any of his own.

"try a pad and pencil, bedside. first thing when you awake write down what you think"

1st try. he wrote.

"i want to roll over and go back to sleep"

and then one night...




he is sitting in the classroom. it is his final, final exam. pass this test and you graduate from university with a degree.

and as the students filed in and the room began to swell, so did his chest-fore he recognized no one.

and when the teacher walked in- a man he had never seen before-he asked, gasping for breath-

"isn't this the Art's final"

"no, no, that was yesterday"

and that's when he sat up in a cold sweat and realized,
terrified, he was at home in bed.


and from that night forth

time and again

that dream would rear it's ugly head

over and over again...