Guardian Angel

“Wake up, Justin. We have to go check the pool.” I straightened up and look over my shoulder. “He’s not waking up, Alex. You try.”

Alex flipped her long dark hair over her shoulder and picked up the bucket of ice at her feet. She selected a few pieces and hurled them at Justin’s head. They bounced off his head and slid down his chest.

“YEOW! That’s cold!”

“Get up. Mom wants us to go check the pool before Dad gets home. She thinks there’s frogs out there.”

Justin swung his legs out from beneath the covers. “This isn’t something you two can do on your own?”

I shrugged. “Evidently not.” I handed him a yellow raincoat from the chair in the corner.

He wiggled into it and waved us towards the bathroom.

“Are you all ready?” asked Dick. He was standing in the bathtub, his hand holding the drain stopper chain.

“Justin was having difficulty waking up,” Alex explained, climbing in behind him.

Dick offered me a hand and helped me step over the edge to stand in front of him.

“Where’s Max?” Justin asked still standing in the doorway.

“I think he went to get Mom.” Alex answered. “Just get in the tub.”

Justin shook his head. “I’m going to go find him. You guys go ahead.”

Alex gave an exasperated sigh, fear creeping into her voice. “We can’t do this alone. You have to come with us.”

Behind me, I felt Dick tightened his grip on the drain stopper chain. “Hurry up and we’ll meet you down there.”

Before Alex could lodge another complaint, he pulled up on the chain and the world dissolved around us. After a few moments of cold and wet, we stood at the edge of the large pool. I could see tadpoles swimming in the water, so thick it almost turned black. The lights from within the pool lit up Alex’s face and I could see the fear in her eyes.

“You go around that way,” I pointed to the right side of the pool. “I’ll go the other way. Just stay in sight of me, and we’ll be fine.”

We started making our way around the pool. The tadpoles followed us, as if attempting to escape the water. Around the edges of the pool’s concrete deck were overgrown bushes that shook in a wind I couldn’t feel. The backyard’s darkness stretched out in front of us unending. The only light came from the house behind us and the submerged pool lights. A snake slithered out next to my foot, and I gasped in terror. From behind me, Dick’s hands slid under my arms and lifted me straight up off the ground. The snake slid harmlessly under my dangling feet and I breathed a sigh of relief.

“What was that?” Alex called from across the pool.

“Nothing,” I replied as Dick gently set me down. “Keep looking.”

The house door creaked open and closed behind us. I heard Justin and Max making their way to the pool.

“Look at all the tadpoles!” Max exclaimed as they neared the edge.

“We’ve already noticed those, thank you.” Alex’s snide remark was laced with her fear.

“Mom said that the cat got out. She’s somewhere back here.” I turned to watch Max and Justin make their way to their sister. “And we have to find those frogs.”

“My cat is out here?” My breath caught in my throat.

Justin pointed toward a clump of bushes. “I’m going in there to look.”

“Wait for me, Justin!” Alex scrambled after her brother and they disappeared into the darkness.

“This is so awesome!” Laughing, Max leaned over at the edge of the pool, watching the tadpoles swarm toward his finger. “They like me.”

I turned back to the overgrowth in front of me. Peering into the darkness, I started to make out shapes. Suddenly, Dick’s hands were lifting me again. I looked down to see a vine creeping slowly across the concrete where my feet had been. Looking back up, I reached out and pushed the tangling branches out of the way. Dick moved forward, keeping me lifted in front of him. In this fashion, we pushed through the bushes and tree limbs deeper into the backyard. There was water dripping everywhere and I could hear animals moving just out of sight. The concrete ended and Dick’s footsteps softened on the wet leaves and dirt. We kept moving forward and the sounds and lights behind us faded away. It became easier to make out the shapes of the branches in front of us. Then it started to rain.

“I need to find my cat,” I said. “I don’t want something to happen to her out here.”

Dick set me down on the ground and pointed to the right of us, a little further ahead. “I think there’s something up ahead.”

I pushed through the branches and squinted in the direction he had pointed. An old woman with gray scraggly hair sat holding something in her arms. Her clothes were faded rags, blending into the woods around her. She didn’t seem to notice our approach at first. I heard a rustle to my left and turned in time to see a small furry creature running for my legs. I screamed, but just as the creature was about to reach my foot, Dick lifted me up by the arms. The creature scampered off out of sight. As I caught my breath, Dick set me back down, close to the old woman. I could see what she held in her arms and realized it was my cat, soaking wet and shivering from the cold.

I reached out and the old woman handed her to me, cackling quietly. “She’s a brave one, but all tired now. I’ve kept her safe until you came for her.” She patted my arm and seemed to vanish right in front of us.

My cat was shivering, but she snuggled into my chest and I hugged her in relief. A wave of exhaustion and joy washed over me and my knees began to buckle.

“We found her! We found her!” I tried to turn to Dick, but the cold and the rain were suddenly more than I could bear.

Dick caught me under my arms, and he slid his hands down under my thighs, making a chair out of his arms and chest. I felt his hands clasp each other under my behind and I leaned back against his chest, carrying my cat in my lap. As he carried me back to the house, I picked the burrs, twigs and leaves out of her wet hair.

It stopped raining when we got back to the house. Alex and Justin stood by the brick wall, smiling at our approach.

“You found the cat!” Alex exclaimed and came up to pet her wet head.

I smiled at her, too tired to answer.

“Did you take care of the frogs?” Dick asked, his chest vibrating against my back.

Justin nodded. “I think we got them all. Max isputting the tadpoles in the bathroom and we’ll send them back.”

“Mom called the Gardener and he’s coming tomorrow.” Alex said.

My cat mewed quietly from my arms.

Alex reached for her. “I’ll take the cat inside and get her some food.”

I leaned my head back against Dick’s shoulder and closed my eyes. I felt his chin come to gently rest on my cheek. There were more voices and Dick’s chest vibrated with his responses, but I couldn’t make any of them out. It felt as if someone was pulling my conscious away from my body. I struggled to open my eyes and managed to look back at Dick.

“Thank you.” I said, smiling.

He smiled back and leaned down, placing his lips on my temple. Then my cheek. I reached a hand up and pulled him down as he lifted me up. The kiss was gentle and soft.

And then he was gone.

This was a very odd and vivid dream from last night.  It makes me realize how long its been since I’ve been kissed.  Its been bugging me all day, so I’ve written it out in hopes of getting it out of my head.