Category Archives: Short Stories

The realisation that Alice had the power to make someone dream whatever she wanted them to had been a gradual awakening. Her first recollection was that it was a harmless quirk and coincided with her first burgeoning love affair with Tom, her then beau. Tom had laughed , his post-coital laugh after they had both fallen asleep in each others arms and woke up seemingly capable of talking about any subject under the Sun. When she shared her innermost thoughts, he had contradicted her and talked about coincidences and being so in-tune with each other, that it was perfectly natural and not really that unusual.

“Perhaps.” she thought. However she began to experiment.

She would lie awake beside Tom, with his gentle breath on her shoulder and his arm gently placed on her waist. At first she had placed pleasant dreams in his head, and asked him nonchalantly at some moment in their day if he could remember them.

” Funny you should say that, yes, I can remember my dream, I dreamt that you and I had gone hiking, it was amazing, we camped on a wonderful mountain top, we could see for miles and the weather was warm and we were very cosy. I woke feeling really refreshed. Which is odd, you know that I hate camping.”

She never discussed again with Tom her conviction that she had the power to make someone dream. His increasing dismissiveness in what seemed all areas of her life hurt her. Unbeknown to her there was a growing resentment from her side. However, she needed to find out more about the process of implanting dreams and began to experiment more and more with Tom and her power . She no longer asked him specifically about his dreams, but would wait patiently for him to raise the subject in the increasingly mundane moments they spent together.

” I had a nightmare last night, it was very scary. I was standing beside a lake and it was very calm and suddenly a giant wave appeared on the horizon, I couldn’t move and it was coming towards me and I was stuck to the ground. I didn’t wake you did I? In my dream I was screaming really loudly, in my dream at least .”

” No Tom, I didn’t hear anything” She moved her wine glass slightly, and gazed at him. “What happened next then?”

“The Wave just kept coming, it got bigger and bigger and I couldn’t get away. Then it hit me and I was in the lake and….then I woke up ,and thankfully you were beside me in bed. It was really scary.”

Alice smiled at him, it was exactly what she had imagined. Tom had criticised her brother for being loud and obnoxious at some family function, she felt he had been unfair. So she sent him a scary dream. It had worked. Gradually , as she fell out of love with Tom, she could no longer “influence” his dreams, she had discovered the connection with ” being in love” and her Power. Shortly after the realisation that her Power no longer worked, Tom and Alice split up.

Some years later Alice fell in love with Jeremy. It was very much a whirlwind romance, they had met on an organised activity holiday in Southern Spain. The holiday had been a lot of fun and being both quite musical had taken part in Spanish Guitar lessons together which they both really enjoyed and Alice had learned some Spanish Dancing , while Jeremy headed off to Scuba Dive. Nothing had happened on the holiday as they both enjoyed meeting new people and trying out the activities that they were interested in. Neither of them had contemplated a Romance. They did however exchange phone numbers and it seemed perfectly natural to meet up on their return as friends. Except, that “casual drink” turned very quickly into dinner, then a closeness that surprised both of them. Within three weeks Jeremy had asked Alice to Marry him and she had said “Yes”.

So there they were Alice and Jeremy, together, a mortgage and a baby on the way. A lovely family wedding and doting parents in-law. They were both very happy and looking forward to their new arrival. The only dark cloud on their horizon was Jeremy’s job, it was very pressurised. He ran a department in a very large Company, he was an accountant by training , but had been pushed into management. Alice knew that he found managing people very difficult , Jeremy loved numbers, but didn’t like the constant bickering and endless appraisals and reviews that “management” entailed. Jeremy was fine with spreadsheets, targets and presentations, he could analyse a business case , but analysing people well that was impossible for him. He would rather just agree than contradict.

Alice saw that it affected him quite badly. She encouraged him to talk it through with her, to see if they could figure out an approach, but Jeremy would hesitate and say “no, I couldn’t say that “. She knew not to push him, he was already quite stressed. So she listened and realised that perhaps if she could create a dream where he handled the situation successfully ,it might enable him to do so in real life. It was worth a try.

Jeremy had an office at home which meant he kept some work files at home. One afternoon, Alice went into his office and read through some of his personnel files. Jeremy had never been specific about what was going on, but the files contained the names of those involved in various conflicts. One particular man stood out, he had felt he had been passed over for promotion despite attending all the necessary training courses. His name was George Cromer.

Jeremy’s hands were tied, George ,had passed all the necessary training courses, but was not actually performing very well and Jeremy had been receiving complaints from other areas within the business of a lack of detail and accuracy in George’s work. Jeremy had been asked by the personnel department to detail this to George in his appraisal, but instead Jeremy had sat down with George and George had insisted on being put forward for the next Promotion Board and Jeremy agreed .Personnel were not best pleased, as they knew George was not up to that and it would waste everybody’s time.

“Oh Jer, no you shouldn’t have done that !” She said out loud to herself while reading the documents.

This was exactly the kind of situation that Jeremy would rather not confront. That night in bed and feeling the baby kick inside; and with Jeremy fast asleep by her side, Alice began to place a dream scenario into Jeremy’s head that she felt would perhaps make him deal with the situation differently.

That morning at breakfast, Jeremy seemed more relaxed. They chatted about the baby and an up and coming pre-natal evening class that they would both attend. Alice was on maternity leave, and had a busy day planned. Jeremy headed off to work.

The following weekend after having Sunday dinner with the in-laws , they returned home and as it was a warm dusky evening they decided to sit in the garden and relax. They had a two seater pergola at the end of the garden and they sat together and looked at the sky as it gradually got darker and the stars and planets began to appear.

” You know , I had a really strange dream a few nights ago. It was really cathartic though.” Jeremy said.

” Really, a dream, but you’re not a dreamer really , you seem to sleep so soundly.”

” Yes, but I suppose something was bothering me , but I dreamt about it and it was really funny but it gave me a solution. I managed a win, win negotiation, you know the nonsense they talk about on those silly management courses.”

” Really, how?”

” Well, there was this guy in work, very pushy, very full of himself. Very confident, too confident. I had to tell him some bad news, that I changed my mind about putting him forward for a promotion.”

” Wowser, was he upset?”

” Initially yes, but I couldn’t tell him the real reason, that I was getting it in the neck from Personnel, that they simply didn’t want him, that his work wasn’t good enough.”

” Oh my , you were caught between a rock and a hard place then?”

” Yes, but it suddenly came to me in a dream , that George, that’s his name, just wasn’t happy at all where he was and in my heart of hearts I knew he never would be . I rang Personnel and said that perhaps we were trying to put a round peg in a square hole and they agreed. Funny enough, they suggested a transfer, a transfer with more money. I mean it was a dream scenario. I mean in reality , Personnel wouldn’t ever be that helpful, but it did give me an idea.”

“Hhhmmnn what?” Alice asked sleeply.

” The transfer, I rang my old mate Marcus in the Bahamas and told him about George.”

” The Bahamas?”

” Yes, they needed someone! , and it was right up George’s street. I told George it would be a good move for him and he was delighted. A Win, Win. Everyone’s happy.”

” Wow that’s good!” She smiled. ” It’s getting cold , shall we go indoors. I think I’m just about ready for bed.” Alice was secretly very pleased with herself as she wrapped her arm around Jeremy as they walked back to the house.

Alice and Jeremy had three children whom they raised to be happy well rounded adults. Alice was able to use her Power on them and she watched as they used their “dreams” to approach the many trials and tribulations of school, friendships, losses and basically growing up. Jeremy’s career had gone from strength to strength and they both looked forward to his forthcoming retirement and a chance to do some of the things that they both had dreamed about once the Children and grown up and moved on.

At least that had been the plan.It was Jeremy’s fifty fifth Birthday and the whole family had gone out in the family car to celebrate.Alice remembered thinking it was probably the last time that they would do this as a family,but she didn’t mind ,as Jeremy and her had plans for him to retire early and for both of them to travel around the World.

It was indeed the last time they would all be together.On the way back from the pub they had celebrated in with a delicious meal.A drunk driver,named Edward Smith had collided head on with them.Alice survived along with her daughter who had serious head injuries.Alice recovered and was in hospital for a few weeks,but she had “lost”her family ,her life would never be the same. The pain of dealing with the aftermath of the accident was insurmountable.

Turning off her daughters’ life support was the tipping point for Alice. Nothing could console her ,she was set on getting revenge against the man who had done this to her.

She didn’t attend when the case came to Court,she excused herself by saying that it was too harrowing.Edward Smith was sentenced to eight years in jail.He was out of prison in four. His life had been ruined,he had no job, his wife had divorced him , he was living in a house for people who were leaving the prison system.

However ,coincidently ,he met a wonderful woman called Alice, whom he began dating.His life seemed to be getting better,Alice was quite well off and was devoted to him and it wasn’t long before she suggested they move away to the Coast and make a fresh start together and put the past behind them.

Edward was so happy he could not believe his luck.Shortly after Alice and him set up home together,the dreams began….the dreams turned to nightmares and for Edward there was no escape from them.

The End

Alicja had felt a foreboding feeling when they had been woken up that morning. There had been no meagre breakfast. Just a round up of all the women and children in the two or three huts that were close to the chimney’s. Ewa was sick, she was only 3 years old and could barely walk when roughly prodded by one of the guards. Alicja had immediately picked her up in order to protect her. The guard did not mind as long as everyone kept moving.

And they all kept moving, they wanted to avoid the butts of the rifles on their backs and knees. The pain was unbearable when you were so thin that your bones were practically coming through your skin. The Guard’s did not care, they had become immune to looking at these women and children , who to them now were no more than shadows. They were in such a poor state, they no longer were human. Their fate , well it was the best thing for them. They were living ghosts. They smelt like ghosts too, it was a musty smell which never left the Guard’s nostrils. Even when they drank their beer in the mess, it smelled of dust.

Alicja knew as they made their way, there was about forty of them now, that what was happening was not good and that this would be the end. She soothed Ewa, who had managed to fall asleep on her shoulder. Alicja wanted to make this as easy for Ewa as she could. Alicja had long stopped being frightened of Death, it was ever present, but her little sister, who had suffered so much , well she didn’t want her to be scared at the final moment, she would find a way to make it happen quickly, she would block out the noise. The rumours in the camp, the hearsay about what went on in the so called shower blocks. Alicja knew about the panic at the End, when people rushed away from the smoke bombs that came from above their heads. She knew about the shame of being told to strip and being pushed and prodded into the building, with some trying to cover their private parts and others accepting of their degrading treatment.

Alicja had already undressed after being told by a guard to hurry up She had placed her clothes on the bench for Ewa to lie on while she undressed her .Ewa stirred as Alicja took off the few rags of clothes that she had on, she was still asleep It was sad , the child did not want to get up off the make shift bed . However, Alicja had to keep moving and picked Ewa up. They were both naked , and felt the chill air. Alicja held Ewa close in order to give her whatever warmth she could manage. Ewa put her hand on Alicja’s breast and Alicja was relieved. Ewa made a noise, it wasn’t a whimper of pain .Ewa was remembering suckling her mother. It was maybe a year since they had seen their mother and Alicja did not know what had happened to her , but Alicja felt happy that Ewa still remembered her. Ewa reached for the breast and began to suckle. Alicja walked slowly, her arms wrapped around the suckling child.

Alicja walked into the “Shower Room”, there were maybe thirty people already in there. From what she had heard, she wanted to find a place where her and her sister would not be crushed when the “Gas Bombs” came through the roof. Ewa continued to suckle , even though Alicja had no milk. There was a small bench in the middle, she supposed it was for people to sit down and change after their shower. She moved towards it and sat down. It was a relief to sit and just hold Ewa who was relaxed and content in her arms.

Suddenly , Alicja heard the clank of the metal door. They were locked in. There was no water to have a shower, the women began to panic, there were screams and protests.

“Please let us out!”

Alicja, held Ewa even closer and covered her ears, she held her face close to the child’s small head with it’s fine brown hair. She could feel the child’s teeth on her nipple. The child continued to suckle .Alicja was going to do everything in her power to ensure Ewa would not be frightened at the end. Alicja began to sing a lullaby to Ewa, one her mother had taught them.

Alicja knew what was going to happen next, and wasn’t surprised when the cyanide bombs came through the roof and landed on the floor. Those closest to them died almost immediately, they lost consciousness within a minute or so, those further away panicked and ran towards the door and against the walls trying to escape the gas.

Alicia waited for a few moments and held her breath until the very last moment and quickly removed Ewa from her breast and raised her onto her shoulder as if to wind the child,she gently tapped her back and the minute she felt Ewa go limp she took a deep breath herself.At least she thought as her lungs filled with cyanide gas Ewa had died in her arms thinking of the love of her mother,it was all she could do for her.