A Dream Chronicle

4

☪

ⓣhe walk to the village went by quicker than I thought. The village came closer by the minute. It only took about forty five minutes walk, but Dad said when we got there we'd rent bikes for the rest of the trip, and then we'd call a cab to come pick us at the end of the holiday.

I decided to bring my raincoat again, as it looked miserable outside. The sky was grey, the trees were gently swaying, and the air soon became misty, giving it a great chill.

Dad shuddered. "You know, it's supposed to rain for the next few days. Maybe we could take up a pottery class, or go swimming in the huge, expensive hotel?" I nodded. "Yeah, I'd also love a day in doors, maybe play some of those old board games we found in the cupboards?"

Dad looked surprised, but also a bit pleased. "You hate board games and puzzles. When you were little, we'd play them and you'd just scream!" Dad laughed. I laughed, too. They were pretty fond memories, with Mum.

"I know, but we came here, I'd like to try things that I normally wouldn't." I shrugged my shoulders and looked down at my wellies. "Well, good on you." Dad nudged me.

Silence quickly fell down into the forest and the misty air seemed to sharpen, creating a great tense on the situation.

"What's that around you're neck?" Dad pointed to the dreamcatcher that Hartburrow left for me, as I had turned it into a necklace, tying a long, thin, leather strap onto the top, since then it was around my neck, always.

"I don't know. Just a catcher thingy I found. I thought it was kind of pretty, so I picked it up from the old junk pile we passed." I questioned my little white lie. I did find it, but not the reason I kept it. No even close.

"Well, I never noticed it this morning. It's a dreamcatcher?" He inquired. I nodded shyly. "Yeah...?" My suspicions rose to a high level.

"Can you not sleep?" Dad finally asked. The air seemed lighter now. I thought he would have said something more deep.

"Yeah, well, kind of. It's probably just 'cause it was the first few nights. But don't worry, I have a feeling that I won't have anymore bad dreams for a while..."

Nothing more said.

☪

In the village, the first shop I ran to was Azafar Books and Magic. Dad, on the other hand wanted to go to a music store, old and run down, so we compromised.

"Here's twenty pounds, go spend it on whatever you like, and then I'll come find you in half an hour." I smiled in agreement. I already had twenty pounds left over from my birthday after I spent most of it, so I had quite enough to spend at a little book store.

I quietly walked into the store. The bell at the top of the door rang through my head. The store was filled with wonders I had never seen.

Books, figures, clothes, comics, and more books and figures!

"Mornin' young lass!" A bloke wearing a fine, small cloke with a rather big moustache, and grey, fluffy hair poking out on either side of his head cheered out. I smiled as I walked over to the man's counter where he was stood.

"Looking for anything in particular?" His Scottish accent shone quite bold.

"No, I'm new here." "Oh, I see. Well, we've got books on legends over that way, books on the history of Azafar Village that way, and back through here we have hundreds of books on enchantments, mystical things, and dreams." The man pointed all over the shop, confusing me.

"Dreams?"☪

I wanted to be in that place. "Ooh, sounds as if you, young lady are interested in dreams?" I nodded a childish nod, excited to see things.

The man took my hand and put me behind the counter. He put his hand on my shoulder and slowly took me the "dream" room, showing me everything on the way.

When we finally got to the room, the man stood in the doorway, looking smug at his shop.

"The name's Creeton McFinally, and if there's anything you need, just shout." And as he winked, as was gone.

☪

I saw hundreds of dreamcatchers, and decided to buy four, as they were only five pounds for the four. I also picked up many books;

The Enchanters of Azafar

The History Of Azafar-Darkest Hours

A Story of a Tallawink

And one that's intrigued me the most,

Dreams.

I bought them all for fifteen pounds, leaving me with a solid twenty left. And then I found something I loved the most; a solid figurine of a dreamcatcher. It was about the size of my forearm, and everything was solid china. The feathers, the strings, everything. All painted beautifully to make it realistic. And a Hartburrow was plastered and gently painted on top, making it amazing. I bought it for five pounds, as Creeton said everything was on sale, as no one comes in anymore. Well, if I got anymore money in my bag, I'd be in here all the time.

Dad met up with me inside the shop, where he and Creeton talked for ages about the forest and Azafar Village, while Dad sent me away to go buy some chips from the chip shop he saw as he went into the music store and the old fashioned book store.

When I came back, we all said our good-byes, ate our chips in the centre of the town, sitting by the huge fountain, then rode our newly rented bikes home.

And that wasn't even the end of our day.

☪

"If you hear a voice within you say, 'You cannot paint,' then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced."☪

-Vincent Van Gogh