Note: Twilight Zone was closest TV show to 'Playhouse 90'
Just a Dream Life?
The man had a pleasant dream, yet again...
It was of a pine forest... with the sharp morning
sunlight coming in diamond strewn dapples onto the
ferns below... in a golden-pink tint, from the clouds.
And in the boughs of the trees... a pink... Fairy?
She had sparkling, pinkish-blonde long hair... A crown
of bright Glory! He only saw Her face and hair. The rest
was hidden by the evergreen curtain... But, Her face
was of an Angel. The loveliest angel ever imagined.
And next to the Angel, on one pine tree, perched
a big golden eagle. And it was looking at him...
#
The man had loved a few women, in his earlier days.
One he even married... Later, it ended not so
Happy-Ever-After. But at least... He Loved!
#
He knew he had a daughter, somewhere out in the
wide-wide World. But he never saw the girl...
She did some crayon sketches, as a child.
The mother, a one-time Love Affair, had
mailed him these simple but precious
art works. More sacred to him than
the greatest artworks in the Louvre
or any museum on all the Earth.
He sadly never ever met the girl.
The mother would not allow it.
He never was given any photo.
No likeness of this love-child.
For over 30 years now...
#
This man tried... to Love again.
But in the fast world of Social Media,
and online 'chat-room' meet-ups, he
never found the Soul he sought... Many
animals he befriended (cats, a few dogs,
many rabbits... a silly raccoon once),
had the purest souls he ever had known.
He often found himself wishing he were
also an animal... Maybe a cat... or a
dolphin (Yes!) Or, a majestic eagle!
Maybe... One far-off day. He knew the
real wine was in the bottle... not the outer
bottle itself, or any pretty labels. Yup. Pfui!
He had learned too late, that a Lovely Heart
(as in cards?) beats a Lovely Face/Body. And,
to find both in one person... was a near miracle.
#
The man contemplated 'ending it all' a few times.
Once, back in high school... Then again, in college.
Soon after, at a very unfulfilling and boring job. But he
kept going... and going. He knew a Love was out there
somewhere... Even if it was just a loyal pet. Maybe?
He owned a dog once... But when it had died, he was
utterly heartbroken. He never had a pet after that...
#
One day, with so much sadness built up, for years & years,
he had had enough... He drove out to a lonely place, far
from the madding crowds (during the Covid-19, few now),
and had his old Smith & Wesson service revolver. For this
man had also been a cop - now retired. He'd seen too many
terrible things, awful & horrible... Not just seen, but heard
and smelt... and most, a gut-wrenching living nightmare!
Finally, it was simply all too overwhelming to live with...
He could never ever forget any of it. Though he had tried.
And added to this, the deep loneliness, at another 'blue'
Christmas time! It was just too much to bear, for another day.
#
Just after he parked his car... in a hidden ravine, near some
pine trees... He opened the case, and caressed the pistol.
"Well... It was an interesting life, but I need a change"
He said... Just as he lifted the blue-steeled firearm, his
cell phone beeped. A text message: ' Father - this is your
long lost Daughter... Found you thru the Internet. Please,
oh please... Call me... Soon... OK? I Love You - more than
You will ever know! :-) ' The man quickly put down the gun.
A stored-up well of emotions cracked, and gushed out like
a damn bursting... He wept for ten long minutes.
Then, he called.
#
After making a time-and-place to meet this real Angel,
He closed his flip phone... then noticed an eagle in a tree.
It was watching him, and bobbed its head up and down,
as if saying: 'The Dream... Finally has come True!'
(THE END)
Wishing you a Merry Christmas... and a Blessed New Year! (2021)