Nightmare!

Trapped in the front room of my grandparents house in Nashville, I’m aware people are getting ready to leave.  The family gathering is almost over and I’m tense.  I told my family what I really think and can’t communicate with them anymore.  There’s still love in the house but not warm feelings.  When I try to speak the only phrases I can say are leave me alone, go to hell, fuck off and I hate you.  A clear scale of the same feeling.

I hear a scritching sound coming from underneath the couch.  Searching it out I discover a giant black rat.  He bites me and I don’t flinch so he settles calmly into my possession.  My mother tells me I have to kill the rat.  I know why she says that but I don’t agree.  Killing is wrong.  I offer the rat to a snake and they find a way to mutually exist.  That’s when I find the smaller brown female rate.  Her bites are smaller and don’t hurt as much but she gnaws persistently until I flinch.  The female rat is never fully comfortable with my presence.

It’s time to leave and there are only two cars.  I insist I won’t survive the trip if I have to be in the same car as my family.  My mother refuses to leave me alone and my father dislikes the impracticality of a 4 to 1 division of the group.  I admit that my sisters are welcome to ride with me but I’m driving.  No one is happy with that.  I haven’t told anyone about the rats I plan to stow away with me.  Doesn’t matter that much because they keep escaping every container I try to keep them in.  The rats have no interest in a car ride at all.

When I finally go to pack my things I discover a baby rosy boa near the kitchen.  The tiny thing bites me but I can’t feel it.  Snakes don’t care if you flinch.  Putting the reptile in a large clear bag, I bring it with me to the car.  Now that there’s a snake riding with me the only person willing to get in the car is my younger sister.  Checking Facebook before we leave I see that my friend posted a picture of his father.  I read that his dad died the night before and I start bawling.  I can’t hide the pain I feel and my family asks why I care so much.

Then I woke up.

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