>This Saturday was filled with promise. I had just 'finished mowing the lawn and
the smell of fresh cut grass filled the cool spring air, joining the scent of orange blossoms
from the back-yard.
Entering the kitchen from the garage, I found Nancy
at the sink, cleaning as usual. I sneaked up behind her and was -just about to grab her ribs
when a wet dish-towel struck me squarely in the face. She turned to see the towel stuck
to my face and broke into laughter. I tried to contain my own laughter, but was
unsuccessful.
"So much for that," I said, embarrassed as I removed the dripping cloth from my
face. "You caught me this time, but you just wait. Next time I'll ------
"You'll what?" she said, handing me a dry towel while continuing to laugh. "Never know
what you'll get hit with next time."
I grabbed her around the waist, lifting her slender form off the floor in a gentle
bear-hug. Her arms locked around my neck and for a time, we just enjoyed the moment.
I nuzzled her soft auburn hair aside, then kissed her gently on the neck.
"I cleaned the Bar-B-Que," I said. "I can almost taste those hamburgers already. I got the
lawn mowed and trimmed and the yard looks great. It smells so fresh and clean outside.
We ought to open the windows and let some of that spring air inside."
"That's a great idea. You get the one in the living-room and I'll get this one," Nancy said.
I slowly backed out of the kitchen, admiring the view as Nancy leaned over the sink to
open the kitchen window. Her blue-jeans fit her very well, hugging all the curves like a
great sports car. Even the old plaid blouse she was wearing, clung to her shape in a way
that gave me ideas for other afternoon activities. I stopped at the arch between the
living-room and kitchen.
She turned, noting that silly grin on my face and said, "Get out of here! I’ve got too much
to do to fool around with you." She grabbed a wet sponge, drawing her arm back as if to
throw it, but her cute little smile said something different.
I ducked, laughing, and headed for the living-room window.
"I guess I'd better get on down to Gene's before I get into trouble," I said.
Nancy met me at the front door, snuggled up to me and said, "Hurry back, if you know
what's good for ya."
I said, "I do, or, I will, or and I headed out the door.
The few minutes it took to get to Gene's Barber shop were filled with delightful thoughts,
but as I parked my pickup, I noticed the
ominous looking clouds overhead. They had quietly rolled in, stealing away the sunshine
from a beautiful day. As I walked through the parking lot, a few sprinkles began to fall.
Gene's was located on Main Street, about halfway down the business district of our rural
farming community. The shop front had a large window with "Gene's Barber Shop"
painted in the middle. It was a plain, white, stucco building, with a splash of Spanish
architecture.
Entering the shop, I saw Ricky Barns to my right, sitting in a chair against the wall. Paul
Rodriquez was all lathered up, waiting for Gene, who looked the same as ever in his white
smock, slapping a straight razor on a leather strap.
"How are ya doin’ Gene?" I asked as I headed for a chair beside Ricky.
"Just fine Dave," Gene answered. "How are you and the wife?"
"Oh, things are goin’ pretty well. I finally got that raise at work, so Nancy and I are
talking about starting Our family," I Said.
As I sat, Ricky Said, "Looks like we're in for some weather don't it?"
I looked out the window. The rain was falling steadily, but not too hard.
"Yah ---- and I was going to Bar-B-Que this afternoon. Maybe it won't last long," I said.
I picked up a magazine and started flipping through the pages. Nothing caught my eye so
I traded it for another, then another. The hands on the large clock indicated the time was
a few minutes after three. My eyelids were getting heavy and thoughts of a Saturday
afternoon nap played through my mind.
Then it was my turn. As I stepped to the barber chair, the sound of the rain intensified. It
was so sudden, all of us turned to the window. I had never seen it come down this hard.
Within a few minutes, the street was covered as the gray mass of moisture splashed on the
pavement. We stood in amazement, edging toward the window, with few words passing
between us. The wind was blowing in gusts, slamming the rivulets of water against the
window with great force.
Storms like this always made me nervous and this one was no exception. All at once, I
had a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. Nancy was home alone, and for some reason,
I felt a pressing need to be with her. At that moment the power went off, leaving the
barber-shop without lights.
"Well Gene, you can't cut my hair in the dark so I'm going home. I'll see ya later," I said.
From outside came a rumbling, roaring that was increasing in intensity. It was a terrifying
sound I had never heard before and it served to heighten my anticipation of dread.
"I think you're right Dave," Gene said.
"I've really got to go!" I said.
Just as I reached the door, the large window shattered inward, splattering heavy rain and
shards of broken glass into the front of the shop. Gene grabbed me, pulling me back away
from the danger. A second later, a bolt of lightning struck the barber-pole just outside the
door. It exploded, sending pieces spraying in all directions and the concussion sent us
both to the floor.
"Geeze, that was close," Gene said. "You might have been killed."
The lightning flash blinded me for a moment. I blinked several times but I still couldn't see
what was causing my shoulders to hurt. I suddenly felt nauseous and I felt as though I
were fading in and out of consciousness. I could hear someone calling my name but I was
having trouble focusing my attention.
"Dave--Dave"
Someone was shaking me. I opened my eyes and there, standing in-front of me, was
Gene. His hands were on my Shoulders, shaking me gently as he called my name.
"Dave --- wake up," Gene said. "It's your turn now."
As Genes face came into focus, I straightened up in the chair. Then I looking toward the
broken window, but, the window wasn't broken. I could also see the barber-pole outside,
standing untouched ----- I was confused.
"You must have been having a pretty intense dream cause you were hard to wake up. Do
you remember any of it?" Gene asked.
As Gene backed away, I looked around the shop to find everything in its place. I slowly
stood, unsteady at first, then realized I still had a magazine in my hand. It was opened to
an article about storms. I placed it on the table, then made my way to the barber-chair.
"It was so real!" I said. "I guess it was a dream, but, it was so real! --- You were in it, and
you had just saved my life, I think."
Gene flipped the apron, then placed it around my neck. He turned the chair toward the
mirror and said.
"Just your usual trim today?"
"Yah, Nancy wouldn't have it any other way."
"Nancy who? You been holding out on my?" Gene asked.
I looked at Gene in the mirror.
"You know--Nancy, my wife!" I said.
"Dave, I've known you for twenty-some years and to my knowledge, you're not married!"
Gene stated.
He pivoted the chair so I faced the front of the shop and started trimming. After a few
moments, Gene stepped in front of me and asked.
"Are you OK?"
I was still staring out the window, not knowing how to answer, trying to separate the
dream from reality. Then I saw her walking right in front of the shop.
"Nancy," I yelled.
She didn't stop. I pulled the apron from my neck and heading for the door.
I said, "Gene, I'm Sorry, I've got to catch that gal.
I paid no attention as Gene shouted after me, I just headed down the street after her.
"Nancy --- Nancy," I shouted.
She stopped and turned to face me, a puzzled look on her
face.
"You calling me?" she questioned.
In a few steps, I was in-front of her. "Yes." I said. "Don't you know me? It's me ---
Dave." I said as our eyes met.
"No. I don't recall meeting you before now," she said. "By the way, how did you know
my name?"
I was lost in those incredibly round, brown eyes of hers. It was her: from the dream; right
down to the fit of those jeans and the plaid blouse she was wearing. As I regained my grip
on reality, I was a little embarrassed.
"Well, that's an interesting story," I said. "I’d really like to tell you about it, if you have
some time."
She smiled and checked her watch.
"Why not," she said. "I've got a little while."
"There's a coffee shop at the end of the block. Could
I interest you in a piece of pie with that. story?" I asked.
"I think that would be nice," she said.
We ambled down the street and as I began to recite the
story, I couldn't help but think the dream could be a
premonition of things to come.
