I saw it in a dream

7 minutes in heaven

I wake up to my alarm clock that sounds like my house is on fire and the firemen have just arrived. It caused me trouble at first since when I first chose it my mum and I would both wake up with it and it would give us both and absolutely horrible mood for the rest of the day and my mum and I already don't have the greatest relationship so both of us in a mood was not great. After two weeks my mum forced Grammy to swap rooms since hers was further from mine. I would have changed my alarm if it wasn't the only one that has proven effective enough to wake me up in less than 10 minutes. Once I got used to it I actually started to like the little loud thing. It wakes me up. Anything that can do that quickly is good in my book. That doesn't, however, mean that I like getting out of bed. If I could just lay in bed and stay in that in-between state when you're not awake but you're not asleep. You're not dreaming, but you are sleeping. But you can't stay in that heaven forever. It lasts about 7 minutes and then you either wake up or fall into a deeper sleep. When you're in a deep sleep you dream and I don't like dreaming, so I just make sure to open my eyes before those sweet 7 minutes are up. 

Once I've had my two 7 minute sets I force myself out of bed and grab my dream notebook from my bookshelf. I write down what I remember from the dreams from last night and head to the bathroom. Grammy says we have to write them all down. She says that sometimes we don't notice things the first time but when we write things down, especially dreams, you can get past the obvious, and then you can get to the important bits. I honestly would rather forget about them altogether but Grammy won't let me. It's our heritage and responsibility she says. I wish my responsibility would sometimes benefit me instead of just screwing with my head.

Once I'm back in my room I put on my school uniform, grab my bags and head downstairs. Mum and Grammy are already there. Grammy is making a tea while mum is eating a bowl of cereal. Neither of them looks up when they say their respective 'Good morning' but I don't take it personally. It's always been like this. Mum eats her breakfast while Grammy makes her tea and I decide whos lead I want to follow that morning. Even before, when mum and dad were still together, mum and Grammy would always be in their own little bubble in the mornings and it drove my dad crazy since he is a morning person and was fully awake and ready to have a full conversation by breakfast. I used to be like that too, but then as I grew up and started to realize things I started understanding mum and Grammy more each day and started building my own bubble. I didn't notice at first, but looking back I can see myself every morning building my little bubble piece by piece through the years. Today I decided I would follow mum's lead and have something solid. I'm going to need the strength on my first day back.

After 10 minutes, Grammy was halfway done with her tea and mum was already finished with her dishes and was sat right across from me. She looked at me as I finished my sandwich as if she was expecting me to say something. I didn't. Mum and I don't have the best relationship. We don't hate each other or anything, but it is a complicated relationship. Grammy and dad had always served as buffers. When dad moved out it was only Grammy. Mum opened her mouth to speak but Grammy beat her to it

"Beatrice, leave her alone. If she has anything to tell us she will tell us and if not I'll just have a look in her journal" I could tell she was smiling as she said that last part

"Grammy you will do no such thing. That is private!" I said with the same playful tone

Grammy turned around grinning with her tea in hand and looked at my mum. She gave her a stern look that meant 'Stay out of her business or I will get into yours' and mum just sighed and headed towards the fridge

"Juice?" She asked without looking back

"Orange?"

"Apple"

I hate apple juice. She knows this.

"I'll take water thanks"

She headed back to the table where Grammy was now also seated and handed me a glass of water with a look of concern still on her face

"Thanks" I took a couple of sips "Mum?"

"Yes, baby?"

"Why are you so worried?"

She took a long and deep breath

"Are you sure you want to go back?"

"Well the holidays are over, it's time to go back to the academy"

"But do you want to?"

Before I could even think of an answer Grammy places her cup on the table harshly and stares at my mother

"Beatrice I told you to leave it alone"

"Mother I don't have a good feeling"

This caught my attention. Most children would think their mother was just paranoid, and they would most likely be right, but with my family, in this context, feelings are never just feelings

"Mum what do you mean?"

"See what you've done now Bea" Grammy was angry but why? She's the one always telling us to trust our instincts and say when something doesn't feel right.

"What did you want me to do mother? I have a bad feeling, something doesn't feel right"

"What doesn't-"

But again before I could finish Grammy interrupted

"Have you seen it? Have you seen anything bad?"

"No" mum was short with her answer

"Then she is going back to her school with her friends because I on the other hand have a good feeling."

"Grammy maybe I should-"

"Nonsense child. You are going to have a great year" There was no use. Grammy had already decided, which was weird, she's never bossy or even pushy, she must have actually seen me having a good year which is actually fine by me. I could use a good year.

"Ok"

I ate in silence while my mum stared at us and Grammy finished drinking her tea. It was awkward. We were never a chatty bunch when we ate but it had never been complete silence either and the air felt thick. I just hope this is not how the rest of my year is going to be. I want to be able to relax this year and not get involved in any drama, the last month of the school year was enough of that for me and I'm really not looking for a repeat of that.