The Spirit of the Dream

Chapter Three

The Post Office

Ali could not help but wonder what completely horrid jobs would be waiting for her when she got back home where Aunt Georgina would be patiently waiting. Would it be watering the garden in a horrific storm without a warm jacket on or gloves? Or would it be washing the frying pan till you could see you reflection in it when she had burnt something that morning and she had lost the scrubbing brush so that Ali had to go to the beach and use sand to scour them?

While Ali was thinking these horrid thoughts, she could not shake the feeling that there were a pair of eyes following her. Every now and then she would scan the area around her, her eyes taking in every detail. At one point she thought she saw a bush move or a stick break. At one point she was so certain that she saw a shadow that she cycled as fast as if her life was at stake for about a hundred meters before calming down and carrying on slower to the post office. Not much slower, but

Phew! At last. Ali thought when she saw the tiny post office come into view. Not that I was worried. Just that I was starting to get tired. She tried to convinced herself and actually the more she said it to herself the more she believed it. Even though she did this at least four times a week without so much as a sweat.

Once Ali had wheeled her bike up to the bike stands outside the post office, she walked up to the old, wooden door that held the public entrance to the post office.

Almost the second Ali opened the door, she heard booming voice fill the room.

"Goodmorning Ali! What a nice surprise to see you here." This was an old joke between them which Ali welcomed greatly each time she came in. It was nice to have someone who would give you a bit of their time every time she opened his door.

"Goodmorning Mr Williams. How goes the renovations for the post office?" She said with a cheeky smile. This was a reply which she had said since the first time she had come in here. When she first walked into the post office, she went up to the counter and asked for her mums packages. Mr Williams had been on his work computer looking at paints and she had curiously ask why. He had replied saying that the place needed some renovating. But he never actually got around to it so it had become an old habit for Ali to tease him about it every chance she got.

"Ah, well. You know, little Miss cheeky!"

"Have my mothers parcels arrived yet?"

"In fact they have. Sign here please. Actually I probably don't need to tell you the drill, do I?"

"No indeed Mr Williams. After all I am in here at least four times a week. Anyway, better get going. Aunt Georgina is around and you know how much I love to see her." Ali made put her finger in her mouth to emphasize her point. Mr Williams had heard many tales of her horrendous Aunt.

He smiled. "Well can't wait to see again next monday." He said waving.

"Just hope I'm still alive by then." Said Ali with a smile. And with that she left the shop with the three parcels she was delivering to her mum back home.

When Ali had just about cycled a third of the way home she heard a rustling sound. She suddenly remembered what happened on the way here.

"Who ever is in there, come out now!"

No reply.

"Please. I don't want any trouble."

Still no reply.

Ali stopped her bike and looked at the giant, bushy trees surrounding her. She thought that she saw a glimmer of white.

"I'm not going to hurt you." She said her voice faltering slightly. She was now getting scared.

When she heard no reply again, she flicked up the stand on her bike and put her bag down with the parcels in it. She walked towards trees. When she lifted her hands up to push the branches away so that she could get through, Ali realized that her hands were shaking uncontrollably.

"Well. If your trying to scare me, you have succeeded."

With no answering reply or even giggle, she continued through to the other side of the trees and stood there, taking in her surroundings.

She was standing in a small meadow in long spring grass. There were trees of a small variety that surrounded it parting where a small creek ran through at the back. The water in the creek was as clear as could be as it flowed along the back of the meadow, rippling when it went over the rocks that encased it. Long dandelions and wishing flowers swayed in the slight breeze. All around her, the robins and sparrows filled the green meadow with their cheerful chirping. A lone heron was delicately searching the creek for small fish. The seen took Alis breath away. Then she heard the sound of hoofbeats.

She spun around just in time to see a gorgeous dapple grey mare come galloping into the clearing.