January 19, 2005

• The Dream

  
  

   

  
  

  Part II

  
  

   

  
  

  Another thing that’s just occurred to me is, when Wayne dipped down for the fish, did I know that was the Siletz River outside his kitchen?  ‘Cause I don’t think I did.  Not at that point.

  
  

   

  
  

  It wasn’t until that summer, when I was camping with my dog, that I went back to the river.  It was just about time to leave, and I didn’t want to.  I’d packed up the car and loaded the dog, and I was just going to wander out towards the road that dead-ended at the campground, to see where the sound of building was coming from.  I found the trail and had just climbed over this huge log when I smelled smoke.  From out of nowhere comes this young guy, maybe 20.  He looks like trouble but he’s acting like he’s not.  He’s smoking a cigarette and says in a kind of depressed way, that he’s visiting his parents.  He motions toward the river and as I come closer, I can see the road.  He says he had to get out of the house and as I get a closer look at what must be his parent’s trailer, I can imagine why.   I move past him explaining that I am looking for property and ask where they are building.  He points to the hillside and I think it’s at that moment — Well, once I get out of his range and into safety – that I remember the dream. 

  
  

   

  
  

  YES, now it’s coming back to me.  I followed the sounds of sawing and pounding and came to the last house on the road.  With relief I noticed the raised beds which looked like they’d been well-tended over the years.  Somebody was remodeling, and it might be Wayne.  The hillside looked a little different, too close, and I suspected the river was a little too wide up this far, but I decided to try and get a closer look.  If the kitchen was where I thought it was, with a deck over the river, this was it.   UNBELIEVABLE.

  
  

   

  
  

  A man came out of the garage but it wasn’t him.  I asked if the owner was around.  He said, “No, but he should be back any minute.”

  
  

   

  
  

  I could see through the garage, out to the river.  I got my nerve up and said, “Would it be all right if I took a look around?  It looks like you’re doing a great job.”

  
  

   

  
  

  I could see that he wasn’t at all curious about who I was.  He said, “Sure,” barely noticing as I made my way around back.  I look up and sure enough, there’s the same deck, with the same back door.  The house it too new, though, too modern.  But maybe they just redid the siding and windows.  

  
  

   

  
  

  This just seems crazy.  There’s no way to get up there and find out if that door leads from the kitchen.  I go back out front.

  
  

   

  
  

  “Excuse me, is that the kitchen, overlooking the river, by the door?”

  
  

   

  
  

  “Yeah, we just redid the whole thing.” 

  
  

   

  
  

  My heart is racing, thinking Wayne is going to drive up any second.  Except the Wayne I dreamt about would never remodel his kitchen.

  
  

   

  
  

  “So, can I ask:  This is where Wayne lives, right?”

  
  

   

  
  

  Now I’ve got his full attention.  No car, nosing around, not a friend of the family.

  
  

   

  
  

  “What did you say your name was?” he asks. 

  
  

   

  
  

  I tell him my name but not why I’m there. 

  
  

   

  
  

  He says, a little suspiciously, “Well, Mike should have been here by now, but I guess he’s not coming.”

  
  

   

  
  

  I don’t know whether to be disappointed or relieved.  I quickly get out of there and drive back home, not sure what to think.

  
  

   

  
  

   

  
  

  To be continued…….

  
  

   

  
  

   

  • 1:40 am
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