Monday, September 19, 1910
Emily was awakened by a sun beam piercing through the tepee. She covered her eyes to adjust to the brightness. Lynn wasn't next to her. She walked outside and then stopped. She realized that they were no longer by the river but in Memorial Park in Eagle Creek. There were two sections of folding chairs about ten rows deep. Preacher Sam stood at the front of the rows, he was wearing a black suit. Lynn, Sarah, Jan, Audrey and Karen were wearing light purple dresses. Emily was wearing a long white dress.
In the spot where the groom would stand stood a tall man in a fancy tuxedo with a box over his head.
A disembodied hand came out of nowhere and gave her flowers.
A pipe organ began playing a tune she did not recognize.
She stood there, helplessly confused.
Janice Clementine popped her head up. She'd been hiding behind the bride's maids.
"Emily? We haven't got all day!"
Emily tried to analyze the situation as she look over the invited guests.
She waved at her brothers, James and David. Mr. and Mrs. Conrad were happy to see her as were practically everyone she knew back in Eagle Creek.
She continued to hesitate. "How did I get here?"
She stood there, motionless.
Sarah yelled frantically but Emily didn't understand what she was saying.
Emily tried to move but was unable to.
"Mom? Dad? I can't move."
Jean Clementine stood up and marched towards her in a huff.
When she slapped Emily, Jean disappeared.
Emily began to walk down the aisle.
Benny Clayton was lying in the middle of the aisle. He looked at Emily and motioned with his hand "Zoom!"
There was a brilliant flash behind her.
She felt someone push her as water sprayed the back of her head.
Emily brushed sand off of her dress.
Tommy put his hands on her shoulders. "What's stopping you?"
Emily couldn't think of a good answer.
She shook her head. "My apologies."
She whispered to her bridesmaids, "Sorry, I'm late."
Lynn stepped forward. She said, "I've got a secret."
Emily leaned in while Lynn whispered in her ear.
Emily shook her head. "No! No! No!"
"Dearly beloved…" Preacher Sam said, "we are gathered her today to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony. Who has the ring?"
Sarah put her left hand in Emily's face. "I had to do it Em, because it's our filth."
Emily shook her head. "Had to do what?"
Sarah pointed past Emily's shoulder.
When she turned around, she saw an endless sea of humanity, all different ages, sexes, races. They all were lying on the ground- dead.
In the distance, a man with frizzy, blonde hair jumped up. "Mike, they're all dead!"
The ground began rumbling. Folks began to get upset. The band shell started to fall apart. No one ran from the impending collapse. Emily stood there along with the rest.
When the dust had settled Emily asked, "Who am I going to marry?"
Her father pointed to the groom.
Emily took the box off of her groom. It was the turkey. Its bloodied head immediately fell to the ground. It opened its eyes and looked at her, "Boo."
Emily woke up startled. Her heart was racing.
She looked to her left; Lynn was out like a light.
***************
The dream of Lynn Watson of Camp Consternation.
Lynn woke up on a table in her classroom at Eagle Creek School.
Dennis sat next to her. He said, "I love you."
She smiled. "I love you too."
He kissed her on the lips.
"Oh Dennis."
Lynn heard a horrendous racket as someone attempted to play a clarinet.
She snapped to her left and yelled, "Quiet!"
A little girl with bright red hair and a light green face, wearing a purple robe shook her head. She held up her right hand. She made a two and then a four. She gave Lynn a warm smile.
She said confidently, "I trust you."
Suddenly a large spear flew past Lynn's right ear. It landed in the middle of the chalk board in the front of the classroom. The slate cracked in two and shattered into dust.
Lynn turned around.
It was her mother who had thrown the spear. She wore a frown and shook her head at Lynn: "No."
Lynn noticed the schoolhouse did not have a roof.
The sunny sky began to blacken. The clouds seemed ominous.
Lynn recognized the signs; a tornado was drawing near the schoolhouse.
The windows rattled. The trees began to twist.
All of her classmates just sat at their desks as if nothing was wrong.
Lynn wasn't afraid of the tornado as it approached. It tickled her feet.
She realized that the floor beneath her had vanished.
One by one, her classmates, the little girl, her mother, and all of the furniture in the classroom began falling into a deep chasm.
Lynn's desk fell.
She waved at an indefinable, murky form coming up from the chasm rising towards her at tremendous speed.
She reached down with her left hand towards the approaching nebulous blob.
Someone jerked her away by her right hand.
She looked up. "Dr. Westbrook?"
He sighed. "All better."
He put his hand over her eyes.
She pushed his hand away and when she did she nearly hit Emily in the face.
She paused. "Whew." She looked at Emily and grinned, "Sweet dreams."
She settled back in the sleeping bag.
Lights out.
Emily began snoring.
Lynn rolled her eyes. "At least I know what the tornado meant."
