I was ill and that's probably the reason I saw the dragon. I had my window all the way down and was drowning in the slipstream when I looked up and saw it in silhouette form dancing in front of a sun that was melting onto Chamberlayne. I thought wow, and hit what is left of my brakes because it was dancing on the line between the two lanes. I say it because I wasn't close enough to see its eyelashes, which would be the only means I am aware of to determine the sex of a dragon. I mean, really, how is it done? So, I wheeled closer to the back lit creature just as it darted onto the gravel at the shoulder. And at that point it dwindled from something androgynous into the form of a wizened old man saddled in his HoverRound. Now, either it was a real dragon, and changed to avoid being discovered. Or I was much sicker than I thought I was.
I don't think I was completely in control of my faculties. I wasn't legally drunk on anesthetics the way that Cathy was, so theoretically I was capable of driving. I had problems at Kroger though. Believe it or not that store is bursting with food. Food was something I was trying to avoid at all costs. It was like trying to run a fifteen aisle gauntlet. The only thing I picked up that didn't make my guts do the twist was the recycled toilet paper, and that, by all means, doesn't have the best of connotations depending on point of view. But people survive, and they survive and so it goes. Even the ill can drive for the inebriated if need be. We all zoom around in these hunks of metal and mostly plastic as though it's the sanest thing in the world. Usually not even realizing the potential a vehicle has to be used as a weapon. I think of that often, cos I'm slightly off kilter by nature I guess. It just makes me more respectful of the responsibility.
Taking Cathy to get her car after she had sobered up is how I got my dinner. Brain Salad Surgery, and, "...And now in Zanzibar a shootin star was ridin in a side car hummin a lunar tune. Yes, and the avatar said blow the bar but first remove the cookie jar we're gonna teach those boys to laugh too soon.", and Crimson and Clover, of course. I know I'm not the only person to like ketchup on her greens. It was sustaining, and didn't make me barf so I felt better even though I froze all day long.
My kids were in the backyard that afternoon making bricks out of clay mud to make a clubhouse with. I don't know how they come up with this stuff. I mean, probably from the Pueblos, but still, I never thought to do it as a kid. We only had mud fights and mud slides. At any rate, I admire the idea so much that I don't mind the mud trailed into the back room as much as I probably should. Sebastian made a bridge of clay complete with roads and things but the other kids destroyed it before I could get a good picture. He built another one not nearly as good, and I tried to get a good picture of it but it didn't come out so great. My days are filled with photographing childhood inventions. It's a pleasurable occupation.
I also thought of other crazier things. Like wondering why Sebastian is my dark child, and if that has anything to do with the fact that we swam in Lake Anna when I was pregnant with him. My little hazel-eyed lisper doesn't seem to mind the differences. He's proud of his 'green' eyes and darker hair. And doubly proud that he has the longest name. He's mercurial, and his ears constantly drain earwax, and he is the least selfish of the lot. He is a wonderful being. But having Sean as a male role model has of late caused him to growl more than smile, and that sorta thing has got to be dissipated. I remember how he used to call Gatorade 'Harry Potter juice'. I wish he still did that. But even Sebastians have to grow up and not want to do 'baby things' anymore.
And then today I went to the library to stock up. The Old Curiosity Shop, and Bradbury's Farewell to Summer, From the Dust Returned,& The October Country. I had been reading Cathy's Anne Rice books, even though she isn't my favorite the way she is Cathy's. The Feast of All Saints by her is by far and large my favorite book that she has written and it has nothing whatsoever to do with vampires. Water for Elephants is good, and I borrowed Childhood's End from Ella last month and I've read it twice since I did. But I haven't read the ones I got from the library except The October Country, so I'll be going more new places soon. I don't like to start a book and not finish it so I had to finish Merrick, though I kinda didn't want to. And I've read Hamlet twice before so I won't feel too awful if I don't finish it a third.
And so, it wasn't really Manderley burning, just my fevered mind, the sunset, or the dragon's song and dance. Manderley only burns and smoulders within the pages of Rebecca, which is also a kickass read, and highly recommended. Now I need to make coffee and skip some more stones just to see the ripples.
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