Penzance

Chapter 5

I get up, get changed, and strip the bed before anyone wakes up. How in the world am I going to explain why the bed is wet to my mom? More importantly, what is happening to me? Am I sleepwalking?

Early morning came, and since I wasn't able to fall back to sleep I got up and left for a run. The streets are still empty, except for the occasional runner or walker with whom I give a friendly nod as we fly past each other. I let the rhythm of my feet hitting the pavement calm me while breathing in the cool ocean air. My thoughts are still on what happened during the night though.

I ran down and past Pebble Beach. I take a right and continue running down the road past a small empty security checkpoint house. The houses in this part of Penzance Harbor are larger than the ones in town and spread further apart. I keep running past private beaches, a man walking a dog, past beautifully landscaped blue hydrangea-filled yards, and shelled driveways that lead to houses right on the water.

Last night's dream had almost all but disappeared from my mind until I came around a bend in the road. The paved road ended and was met by a driveway that circled around in front of the most beautiful house I have ever seen. I stop to catch my breath when I catch a quick glimpse of something white and shimmering on the water through the thin line of scrub pine trees. I look around to see if anyone is watching.

It can't hurt to just take a quick peek, right?

I walk down the worn path through the trees which open up to a wooden shingled boathouse. I check behind me again just to make sure but see no one at all around. I walk along the side of the boathouse and as I get closer to the front there in front of me is a long wooden ramp that leads to a dock. Tied to that dock is a pure white yacht that looks a little like the one from my dream.

Everyone must have huge white yachts in this neighborhood.

I begin to get anxious about being caught at any moment, but at the same time, I feel the need to get just a little closer. It's so strange that I dream of a white yacht and now here I am standing in front of one. I look back towards the pine trees to make sure I haven't been seen, and look around the other side of the boathouse which has steps leading up a hill to the massive house.

This isn't me! I have never in my life snuck around someone's yard like this, let alone a private mansion on the ocean. I should just head back to the road and if I get stopped just lie and say I got lost on my run.

Like a moth to a flame, my eyes found the yacht again, and I knew it was going to bother me if I didn't go down and take a quick peek at the name.

I inch my way down the wooden angled ramp towards the yacht. I can hear the water lapping against the wood dock, just like in my dream. I look back again toward the house, but I still appear to be all alone at this early hour.

Just a few more steps. Just a few more steps.

I put my hand out to steady my footing and look up. There two stories up is a white sign with ruby red lettering and the name Ambrosia. My knees suddenly feel weak as the name registers. It is the same name from my dream. This is the yacht. I take my hands from the white vessel and stumble over my feet towards the ramp.

I needed to get away from here. What is happening right now?

Once back on solid ground, I take one look back at the yacht hoping that there is a chance I just imagined it, but it's still there. I turn around and trip on a tree root sticking up in the path. I land hard on my right knee first, but luckily my hands hit the ground before my face can. I quickly pull myself up and brush off the ground still stuck to my torn knee cap. I sprint out onto the road again where the coast is still clear. In a daze I jog all the way home, looking behind me every so often thinking I am probably being followed, but I'm not.