The Dream Factory

The Indigo Man

The Indigo Man 

I can see the Indigo man. 

I swing my feet and watch the flurries of snow tumble through the night air. They are like fairies, little white fairies chasing each other.  

The Indigo man can see me. 

'Why did we light candles for Granny and Pappi at home today?' 

Daddy pulls me close, 'Because it's a nice thing to do Pumpkin.' 

'Why not at the church?' 

'Because the churches are all full.' 

'Why?' 

He doesn't answer. He is looking at the sky. 'Because it's Christmas.'  

The Indigo man is watching me as the horses race past in a blur of red ribbons, their silver harnesses shine in the lights, their golden tails spin like kite streamers in the wind. 

'I like the snow.' 

The snow has started to melt, the ice is dripping from the trees. I can hear the little rain showers it makes, the pitter-patter on the soft leaves on the ground. I can smell warm candyfloss in the air.  

I look at the sky, the stars have gone and it's all red. It is like the red dawn sky and the red sunset have been sewn together. 

There is a big crowd around the horses, everyone's waiting for their children. 

The Indigo man wants me to go to him. 

The horses have stopped. Each one had a rider on it when they started. Now there are a number missing. 

The children step down the big steps and run to the parents, laughing or crying. Couples turn away and walk off down the path to the rest of the fair. They have forgotten their children. 

People are huddled in little groups, looking at the sky. 

'Can I have a go on a horse?' 

'Of course sweetie, you can have a go on the carousel, you can have whatever you want tonight.' 

The snow has melted, I splash though the big puddles with my boots and watch the red ripples running over my toes. 

'Which one?'  

'The white one with the red ribbons.'  

'Of course!' Daddy laughs, picks me up and puts me on the platform. Mummy leans over and kisses me on my head. Her eyes are red. 

'I'm hot.' I take off my coat and give it to them. 

The Indigo man is here. He smells of sweets and sadness. He lifts me up and puts me on my horse. It's high. Through the woods I can see the other rides. 

The Indigo man is going quickly, he is taking money and putting all the children on the horses.  

Mummy and daddy are looking at the sky. I look up, there is a giant red ball and it's glowing like the inside of the fire at home when daddy blows into it. 

The Indigo man has come around again. 'Ready?'  

'Have they forgotten me yet?' Daddy is holding mummy close to him. They keep waving at me. 

'They will never forget you, not in their hearts.' He has little woollen gloves with reindeer on them and no fingers. 'It's better this way.' 

'Why can't they come?' 

'Because we don't have the space, we can only take some.' 

'What will it be like?' 

He smiles and pushes the horse's reigns into my hands, 'It will be like Christmas every day.'