Disnia (collaboration)

Chapter Two

"It's pretty neat that Professor Kirke liked your drawings Lacey!"

We had just finished having dinner and was washing, drying, and putting away our dishes from the day. Each day, we had a few daily chores, between studying and reading, and the rest of the day is left to our imagination. Lacey was hand washing the dishes, and I waited patiently to dry and put them away. Normally, I am off in another world and Lacey is left to splash an amount of water my way, just enough to grab my attention and pull me away from my thoughts. Tonight however, Lacey is the one with a far off look. She's been quiet since our meeting with the Professor. I wondered if the Professor said something that didn't sit right with her, was it about my far away lands? Or the new children that arriving in a few days time? Lacey handed me a plate, the object warming my chilled fingers and water running down my wrist into the towel that I had tossed across it. She gave a very delayed hum in agreement to my comment I had spoken several moments ago. She was completely unbothered at the long silence that sat between responses and the one that followed shortly after.

"Do you really believe in that world?" Lacey's voice came off loud in the silence despite the fact she barely spoke up.

"I know it sounds silly Lacey,  but I dream of it so often. It's not like other dreams I've dreamt of in the past. These feel more real. They feel like they're there with me in my mind. I almost feel a sense of nostalgia to the place even though I've only visited when I sleep." I didn't realize until today that Lacey didn't know how attached I had been to this fairytale like place. In fairness I am not sure if I realized myself.

"But a talking mouse? Why I just don't think that's very realistic wouldn't you-"

"Why of course it's not realistic, but isn't that what makes it so intriguing?" She handed me a small tea cup, and I am reminded of the night I had tea with Mickey Mouse. I walked across the dining room to collect the last of the bowls from dinner and started scraping the plates into the trash. Lacey wiped her hands off on her dress,

"Well I suppose,  but Jo why do you think they choose you."

"What do you mean?" I asked, my feelings a bit more hurt then I think she intended for them to be.

"Well you said they needed help from the evil witch-"

"Elsa, she's the white witch." I corrected.

"Elsa. Jo, why do you think Mickey is trying to get help from you? I mean you are just a child." She grabbed the bowls from my hand and turned away before she could get a reaction. I paused for a moment not following her like I normally would. Of course I've questioned why me. She is right I am just a girl after all. There is still so many unanswered questions I had for Mickey and his world. I try to ask questions when I dream and meet with him, but he's always reluctant. As if if he says one wrong thing, the entire mood of the environment while shift. I'm not sure what would follow if he steps out of line,  but when he reserves himself and his knowledge I feel a chill down my spine. My skin raises and I find myself grateful when he changes the topic without me asking him too. If the opportunity arises would I even be brave enough to face what I fear in the dark?

"Maybe there is nobody else to help him?" I told her with a slight shrug of my shoulders, I wasn't sure myself therefore I had an uncertain answer for her thoughts as well.

"Do you think he doesn't want my help?" Lacey asked while putting away the final bowl of the night. We had finished our chores.

Lacey is older than me, and I always saw her in a more mature light than me. Often envying the way she carried herself, and how all the adults seem to trust her judgement more than mine. She's also taller than me, so I often look up to her metaphorically and literally. However, now as we stand opposite sides of the room. The orange candles on the counters giving an illusion of her shrinking. I thought my eyes were playing a trick, but then I realized that Lacey almost appeared bothered by the fact that she had not seen this land I dreamt of so often.