Joanne
Where am I? It’s warm. I can smell pine but not too much.
I looked around. Pine trees were everywhere, the sky was clear, and I’m sitting at a table outside drinking tea.
I’m at the Pierre Café! Spring time in Monta Mount, California!
I took a sip of the tea. A robust black tea with cream. I took a bite of the cheesecake in front of me as well.
I’ve been here before. Am I dreaming?
I took another look around. Not a lot of people. No servers, no guests, no animals. The sun warmed me.
This has to be a dream. I haven’t been here since college.
I finished my snacks and leaned back in the chair.
This has to be a dream. Well, let’s see what-
A woman appeared in front of me, her eyes wide and looking around.
“You?” I tried to ask her. “Ya-uh…,” I tried again. I went for the tea but it wasn’t there. “You…can’t be here,” Somehow, I managed to get that out, as my right-hand shook.
“You’re right,” she said, “Yet, here I am.”
“How?” I asked.
“I don’t know either,” she said. “But you know I always kept my collection of newspaper clippings.” I took a deep breath.
“Newspaper clippings? Who does that?” She turned away and shrugged.
“I just do. Did. Always,” she said.
She seems familiar. My throat isn’t dry anymore.
“Okay, let’s take a look.” She nodded.
“My house is right over there.”
I glanced forward and saw a small tan cabin on top of a small hill.
Her house is right there? Now I know I’m dreaming.
We walked inside and I sat down. The woman left but came back with a small wooden box and opened the lid.
“Let’s see,” I said politely.
I know her. But, from where?
I rifled through the newspaper clippings. I didn’t read them just, moved them around. Some were from newspapers and some were printed out online articles.
“Joanne?” I asked. She smiled lightly.
“Yes, that’s my name.”
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I have to do this.
I picked up a clipping and read it in detail.
“Local Town Dog Declared Hero,” I read aloud.
“I remember that,” said Jo Anne, “The whole town cheered after a Maltese pup woke up its owner during a fire.”
I picked up a few more, all of them were about the latest celebrity gossip. I set those aside.
“There’s something in here we need,” said Jo Anne. “I, just know, that we need it.”
Why did I feel that she shouldn’t be here? And why was I dreaming?
“Heatwave coming,” I read again, “Is it really news that the weather is hot in the summer?”
“Nope!” said Joanne with a short laugh, “But they have to sell news somehow.”
I ignored the sports reports and kept looking.
What’s going on here? Why am I doing this?
I continued.
“Local Mayor considers running for governor”
“He lost,” said Joanne.
“Explosion at peppermint factory”
“Things don’t always go well during Christmas time,” said Jo Anne once more.
I picked up another clipping and read it silently.
No! That can’t be right!
My jaw hung there open again. I looked for some water but, there was none.
“What is it?” Joanne asked. “Surely, it can’t be that bad, right? Tell me!”
I looked away and tucked the clipping in closer.
“What does it say?”
I lowered my head, eyes shut, and closed the wooden box.
“What does it say?!”
I have to tell her…
I handed Joanne the clipping which read as follows:
Local Woman Burned Alive In Vehicle Following Car Accident
BEEEEEEEP!!!
My alarm clock went off as I woke up.
