Jack and Red: Part XX - And then..

This is the twentieth in a series of blogs chronicling an expedition into 'space' with Jack Pynesapp and his granddaughter Red. To read the entire story (with notes) please see the JackPynesapp web site: [ click here ]

And then...

"Is Grandpa dead?"; Red said - to herself, she thought - and then she woke up.

Jimmy grunted something, his head buried in the pillow.

"Yes, I know he is."; Red whispered to herself because she didn't want to wake Jimmy.

Too late.

"What's wrong?" Jimmy whispered sleepily; "Another dream?" He rolled over and gave her shoulder a squeeze.

"Yeah. " Red rolled over next to Jimmy and gave him a big hug. She needed a big, long hug. She needed to be held tightly in this world - in the present - in reality. Because where she had just been  had seemed so real when she was there that she couldn't tell the difference. That's why she had to remind herself that it wasn't real - why she asked the question (she knew the answer as soon as she'd asked it) and that brought her back. That awakened her.

"Was it Jack again?"; Jimmy asked after a while. He always called him 'Jack'. He could never get used to 'Grandpa' - it didn't sound right.

"It all seemed so real." Red sat up in the bed and pulled the covers around her. She stayed next to Jimmy.

"Where were you this time?" He scooted up next to her and pulled the pillow around and onto his lap.

"On the train."

"Wow. It's been a while since you've had one of those."

"Yeah." Red sighed.

"Was Billy there?"

"No, it was just Grandpa, and Grandma, and me."

"Marge was there, too? That's different."

"Yeah, for the dreams, anyway.  But she was there, you know, she did go with us a couple times near the end." 

"Before me?" Jimmy smiled.

"Yes, Jimmy dear, before you."; Red laughed; "Everyone was before you."

Red laid her head down on the pillow on Jimmy's lap. Jimmy brushed her hair back from her face and gently rubbed her temple and cheek.

"Do you want to talk about it?"; Jimmy asked quietly.

[I only have a short time today but I wanted to get this down while it was fresh. I had a dream - you know. That started this, but even I am surprised at where it seems to be going. Grandpa's dead? Jimmy and Red? WTF right? Is this really the future? (Or just one possible future?) Stay tuned.]