Dream: Warning! You've been kidnapped!
You wake up in a house you don’t recognize.
You look up and down these stairs that wind
Into an never ending spiral pattern:
Numberless steps, infinite passage.
–
Down the hall, doors on each side.
Windows display a neighborhood outside.
You’re not familiar with these strange sights,
But the old lady’s familiar won’t let you out of its sight.
–
That’s right, you’re being watched by your captor, Julie.
She’s an old woman who likes to call you, “Cutie.”
She acts as though you’re her child, though she’s not your mom.
Your parents don’t live here; you want to go home.
–
Julie has whitish-gray hair that curls
About an inch or two past her ears.
She doesn’t wear glasses, though she clearly needs them.
She almost looks like she’s scowling cause she’s always squinting.
–
You: “Can I go home?”
Julie: “This is your home now.”
You: “Can I talk to mom?”
Julie: “Yes, I’m listening; don’t leave the house.”
–
Warning! Warning!
You’ve been kidnapped by an insane old lady.
Her old kids moved out, so she treats you as her baby.
You can’t hide and you can’t leave.
Get used to this new life, it’s your destiny.
–
Warning! Warning!
You’ve been opening doors
In the endless hallways, hoping to go
Outside to the street where you can run away.
But so far you’ve found nothing, looks like you’re here to stay.
–
Warning! Warning!
Julie’s following you.
Sometimes you lose her in this labyrinth of infinite rooms.
But she always catches up if you hesitate too long.
No time mapping your path, it’s time to move on.
–
Warning! Warning!
You’ve made it outside,
But this is the backyard with chain link fences on all sides.
They’re as tall as the house and on it is a sign.
The yellow metal board with black letters makes you cry.
–
Warning! Warning!
The fence is electric.
And though this is a dream, you’re not dyslexic.
The words stay the same despite your blinking tears.
Julie comes out on the other side, adding to your fears.
–
“Trying to escape, are ya?” She says.
You don’t say anything, just nod your head.
She clicks her tongue in disappointment.
She turns off the power so she can open the gate.
–
Warning! Warning!
Your mind is racing.
She opened the gate to retrieve you, her baby.
And your momma always told you not to hit a lady,
But you think this is an exception, even if it’s mean.
–
As she walks through the gate, you tackle her to the ground.
You fear she may have broken some bones when she fell,
But you don’t care, you just want out of this house.
So you flee into the night and steal a bike someone left out.
–
Warning! Warning!
What you did might have been wrong,
But you don’t care, you just want to go home.
And soon you do, outside of it is your mom.
You shout for joy, telling her why you were gone.
–
“Stay away from me!” Your momma says,
“I don’t know what you want, but here’s my wallet.”
“What? I don’t want your money.” You try to say,
“Why aren’t you happy? I’m home, finally!”
–
Warning! Warning!
Your parents don’t remember you,
Nor does anyone else even have a clue
That this family ever belonged to you.
They all think that you’re Julie’s Cutie, and you have no proof.
–
“Wait! Wait!” You say, “I can prove I’m your son!”
“You must still have my belongings, I wasn’t gone for too long.”
“Do you have two blue plastic shovels that each fit in your hand”
“And far too fragile to be used to dig sand?”
–
Your mom looks perplexed as she tries to remember
Why she has those items in the bedroom closet?
At last she can’t help but admit you’re a stalker,
For even she had forgotten she had it.
–
“No, I’m your son. Just check out my bedroom.”
“It’s got a bunk bed that nobody uses.”
“Don’t you think it’s strange to have an empty bed in your house?”
“It’s clearly where I sleep, isn’t that obvious?”
–
As she considers, she does find it strange
That she has an empty bed that nobody has claimed.
So she can only assume that you must be a squatter,
Sneaking into her home to sleep without her knowledge.
–
Warning! Warning!
Your mother is disturbed.
She takes out her phone and dials three numbers.
Soon you can hear sirens in the distance.
Whatever you do, you better think fast.