The little shop of dreams

Have you every felt like Alice in Wonderland?

The little shop of dreams

 

The rain did not stop that day, big fat lumps of British weather at its finest. A stranger in a bar had said “at least it is proper rain”. She likes that thought, it made her smile. Behind her eyes she wonders to herself if umbrellas in large numbers are considered weapons of mass distruction? no doubt if she aired her distracted mind her companion would definitely agree.

 

It was on this day, when the streets were awash with weapons, that hope shone its light in the most unexpected way. 

 

Wandering but not lost, the troubled soul and her companion, the perennial traveller, ploughed the cobbled streets, ignored the pink table cloths and stepped inside.

 

It was a moment.

 

One of those moments of prickling senses. Her eyes widened and curiosity sparked, she saw the Tardis. Not the small on the outside, large on the inside comparison but one of comparable surprise, the outside was so misleading….. those damn pink table cloths. Here inside four walls they walked amongst kings. 

 

To a vacant table they were graciously lead, bubbles of excitement contained inside for there were others sharing this tiny corner of heaven. Her eyes darted from the walls to the menu and back to the walls again, who could focus on something as dreary as a menu when the walls radiated inspiration. 

 

The world around them roared with sensations.  Touch, taste, sight, smell ….. boom boom boom boom roar! ….. must….. sit …..  still….. too much to see, too much to explore, wonderfully too much. She smiles even now.

 

It is said that buildings can hold the residue of people past but can a building bring a person back to life?  Warm the dead? Warm the living? Warm her. Faces of past present and future adorn its belly, its brick and mortar arms forever ready to embrace you, memories shared without bounds, never to be thy judge and always to give generously without exclusion.  

 

Eyes sated and bellies full, no rest for the wicked, off into the umbrella sea they returned.

 

 

 

Reviews

[Celtic Cat]

OH....a little piece of heaven. How wonderful to stumble upon such a pleasing place. It's the off the way joints that make for the best atmosphere, not those big chain places that all attempt nostalgia but fail under the wailing of the sports channels and shouting drunkards. I love the pink table cloths and the kings....and the wonderings of the warming of the dead, above and under ground.
Rock on sister....keep pumping out the tales and we'll all follow you down the rabbit hole!!!!!
Great piece!

[Fabian G. Franklin]

Back into the sea of umbrellas from safety and warmth, but at least it's a proper rain. I like the comparison to the ship of Dr. Who. The good Dr. and I have been on many an alien adventure together throughout the cosmos. A wonderful warming write.

[Bear]

Oh a charming tale!! The little details that you notice and reveal within the write are the little things I would most likely notice since I do enjoy the details of things. The Umbrellas of Mass Destruction... what a unique and awesome thought and observation!! I never often use an umbrella I've always enjoyed walking in the rain to much to ward off their soaking gift with an umbrella shield.

And I believe that places do contain spirits of the past... empty quiet churches I've entered on occasion seem to have a welcoming aura and seem to speak to me... and in the times past when I did technical theatre work... in those quiet times as I checked my props and check list for the next nights performance I sometimes sensed a presence of a kind spirit lingering in the wings as if they knew I was a kindred spirit that enjoyed being in the theatre and making "dreams come true". Perhaps I was just hoping for such dreams to come true? ;~) Hope your day goes well. You brightened mine while I read your words. Thanks, Sallie Bear

[R J Askew]

Well, you know I like the title. And it is great to read something with an English feel. I was disappointed it was not a poem, but read on as it is short. Love the pink table-cloths. Could see pink cloths flapping around surreally. Hmm, like the last three graphs especially as it feels like there is a poem or poems trying to burst out there...and the wording of the penultimate graph feels very alive. Like the way it captures the idea of rooms absorbing and sweating previous lives. My head won't let me believe it but my imagination is on msg. Rain on! I wonder if there really is a poem in this?

[Jim W White]

When you discover a place that's yours, the recognition is instant and somehow mutual.. it's a great feeling when the inanimate fixtures of a place seem to communicate just as much as the frantically living bits 'n' bobbles. The opening stanza is really cool: "big fat lumps of British weather"... and the next hook "streets awash with weapons".. quality!

[These Haunted Hallways]

I liked this so much because I, too, have felt this feeling before when I stepped into a nostalgic old place that held so much history. I sat at the tables wondering what it was like in this very same spot so many years ago. U get to wonder...flashbacks of what u thought went on, and pretended that u were in the same era with those sitting around you hehe. This was really awesome the way u put everything, and for me... well, I guess you could say 'it brought me back' lol.

[Emily B]

Heaven on Earth lurks in the most out of the way places. Sometimes we find them when we need them most. Sometimes they sneak up on us when we aren't looking. This is such a lovely story that I think I'll bookmark it for some future rainy day.