Congratulations to Karen Thompson for wowing a judge who doesn’t like most dream sequences. Ali loved how Karen’s dream so realistically jumped from scene to scene and kept a sense of urgency.
Prompts:
Character: A sultan
Action: Running
Setting: A shadowy room
Prop: A book about Africa
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Untitled
By Karen Thompson
The fire added so much comfort to the hugh room. The wet wood crackled with audible levels contributing to complete relaxation.
I could smell the alder as I drifted in and out of a deep, but still semi-conscious sleep. The fire cast shadows against the bare walls. In my semi-conscious sleep I was running through wooded trails at dusk or twilight. So warm, so comfortable, the sounds awakened childhood memories. It must be summer.
Vaguely I was recognizing a room through a haze; I sensed within my being the need to find something missing? I was late, for what? I continued with this inner sense of missing something. I remembered always having books in a specific place and I could not reach this area.
Within an instant I was running in the wooded trail with shadows in front of me, behind me and sounds of someone with me, or following? I could hear tree limbs snapping as someone stepped on them. THe smell of alder smoke never left.
A hugh building, again the sense and urgency of being late and finding something. Maybe I would find what I was looking for in this hugh building. THe shadows danced around me as I approached…a castle?
Immediately I was in a dim lit room, feeling a familiarity. I smelt smoke and the room was hot, was this because of my running? I could feel sweat on my body, uncomfortable heat but crackling sounds gave me an assurance. I needed to find my book storage.
The shadows were vivid and dancing on the walls. I now saw someone with their back to me. Dressed in beautiful satins that changed as the light from the flames glowed at different degrees. A turbaned sultan? SLowly the person turned and as the eyes came straight forward into mine. His mouth distorted for speech while his eyes pierced through my very being… a loud sound jolted me awake. It was my book on Africa falling.
My dream, was I looking for this book? How did a sultan fit into my dreams? The warmth of the fire, dancing shadows were now dimming.
© 2013 Karen Thompson
Filed under: Mini Sledgehammers | Tagged: free, Karen Thomspon, Metlakatla, Mini Sledgehammer, prizes, writing contest |
Sledgehammer Writing Contest 
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