Awakening of a Nightmare

“Moo. Moo.” cried a boy only five years old topped his wooden toy cow on the nose of a real cow.

Ms. Moo, as he called her, laid down on the barn floor, her legs spread out. The boy’s big green eyes studied the cow’s white face.

“Moo.” The cow moaned.

His bare feet pushed again into the hay as he stood. He ran to the corner of the cow’s stable towards a bucket of water. The boy pulled the handle, but he couldn’t get it off the ground. He then scooped the water into the palm of his hands.

“Conrad!”

At the entries of the barn. A strand of her brown hair peeked from under her bonnet and her black eyes enraged. In the olive green apron dress was his mother, Emma.

“I told you not to come in here!” She grabbed his arm.

Conrad pointed to Miss Moo.

“Let it die in peace!” She turned away from him. “I know, father but I can’t have him getting sick too.”

Conrad followed Emma’s gaze but saw no one.

“Yes, I know, mother. I’ll wash him by the river. It hasn’t started raining yet.”

She pulled Conrad outside.

In Germany, the sun hid behind the clouds. The farm’s field burned in black with small patches of grass. The ash grey of rubble by the river was once Emma’s house, where her family lived and died.

Emma folded Conrad’s blue overall placed them aside. “Closed your eyes.” She demanded.

Coldwater poured down on Conrad. His body trembled, but he didn’t mind. Emma scrubbed away the dirt and smell of the cow. Then dried him off with an old rag.

She stroked Conrad’s head. “You have your father's blonde hair.” She had a faraway look of longing thinking about him. “It’s a shame it's curly like mine.”

Across the river, a horse of white smoke watched them.

“Mama, It’s there again.”

“Stop moving! There’s nothing there.”

Emma often talked to her mother, father, and brother. People Conrad could not see, but she never noticed the horse.

“I know we are running out of food,” she shouted. “I can’t go into town. If they find me, they’ll take me back.”

When Conrad was three, she picked him up from the orphanage. Late into the night, Emma wore a white gown stained in red. Since then, the farm shack was their home. They lived off the two caws that remained. Eating one and drinking the other’s milk. To wait for his father to come home.

Conrad’s father was handsome, kind, and strong. He would make the farm better than it was before. Then, they would live in a big, beautiful house. Emma said this almost every day for two years.

“If only this river had fish,” she mumbled. “It’s all right. He’ll come for us. I know he will.” She spoke with confidence, but her voice shook.

THUNDER BOOMED. Drops of rain poured while Emma buttoned Conrad’s overalls. They ran toward the shack.

A figure stood by the rubble of Emma’s old home. In a black-tailed coat, white breeches, and long shoes. The flat part of his hat hid a part of his face.

She took Conrad’s hand. “Who are you!?”

The man took off his hat and met her eyes.

“Bruno!” She let go of Conrad’s hand and ran to embrace him.

“Emma?” His arms shuttered, but with a gentle touch, he pushed her away

“I waited for you.” She sobbed.

“No. Emma. You should be in the hospital.”

“I was but then I had Conrad. And you said to come back here to the farm.”

“You... You have a child?”

“Yes.” She waved for the boy to come closer.

The man stared at Conrad, confused.

“What do you think?” She asked. “He looks just like you, dear.”

“I-I can see that. Why don’t you both come with me?”

Emma’s smile faded. “I can’t leave. This is my home. And my family. Will worry.”

“Then I’ll take the boy.” The man offered Conrad his hand. “He looks like he needs new clothes.”

“Thats right. Maybe you can pick out something better for him.”

She couldn’t see it. The worried look on the man’s face. Or was it fear? It seemed to say; come with me! Hurry! Conrad turned to his mother, glowing in the man’s presence.

“I like my clothes.”

“Don’t be rude! Her hand squeezed Conrad’s shoulders. I’m sorry for his poor manners. Why don’t you come inside? I’ll make you something to eat.”

“No. I. I still have things I need to do.”

“You’re going?”She grabbed his hand.

“I’ll be back tonight.” He put his hand on her “I promise.”

She stared into the man’s eyes and smiled. “Tonight then.”

The rain beat against the root of the shack. Outside the window, a light flashed. Conrad loved to watch the glow in the night.

In the distance, a horse-pulled along a black box-shaped carriage. He remembered on the side of it read police.

“Mama.”

she cleaned their small dining table. “What is it?”

He pointed out the window.

“Is he back?!” When she saw the carriage, her face turned pale. She backed away. “No. No. Not now.”

Emma picked Conrad up in her arms and ran out into the rain. The gray cloud made way for the full moon at her back. And in front of them the river’s water thrashing downstream.

“It won’t happen! She screamed.

Conrad couldn’t move in his mother’s arm. The river whipped them from above and below. She tumbled, and the water took them.

At that moment Conrad saw the horse of white spoke dived in.

The golden dining room shined. A long table, twenty seats, plates of cow meat, pies, and more. Conrade didn’t want to eat any of it. His mother and the man in the tailed coat sat at the far end of the table with wide smiles talking. Beside them were a two-man and a woman. They were likely her mother, father, and brother.

Bruno glanced at Conrad. The room turned black, and they were alone.

Without moving his mouth, Conrad spoke. “Oh. You noticed me. Can you see my horse's feet and eyes?” He wiggled his hairy three-fingers. He stroked the gray blond fur on his tummy. “It’s different but I like it.”

Bruno's grin didn’t fad.” What is happening?”

“Conrad!” Emma yelled.” Eat something!”

The two of them were back in the dining room, but things were unstable. Some of the food hovered off the table. Emma's parents and brother’s disembodied hands were attached to their shoulders, heads where their stomachs should be, and other places.

“Mommy. I’m full.”

“A little more!”

Conrad picked up a piece of a pie. He breathed in and mist came out of the pie, flowed into his nose. The room went back to what it was before. Emme turned away and continued her conversation.

“What are you?” Bruno asked.

The boy stared. “This is a dream. And I am the nightmare.”