The King Of Dreams

There once was a man who was the King of Dreams. He lived in a castle with no windows that contained within every thing, every where, every when, and every how. He and his people were happy and content, their every wish a reality. The King of Dreams knew everything and everyone within his castle. Although his realm was forever changing, it was forever the same.

Years and years went by and the King of Dreams began to wonder what lay outside his sight, outside his castle. Finally, one day, he decided to have an adventure and go forth outside his castle. His wisest advisers counseled against this, but the King of Dreams was adamant and his word was law.

So the drawbridge came down and the King of Dreams walked out. Turning on the path, he cheerfully waved to his people in the castle as the drawbridge went up. Once he could no longer see the inside of his beloved realm, he continued on.

On and on and on, the King of Dreams walked. After what seemed ages, the King of Dreams came upon a little girl, kneeling down and picking flowers near the path. The little girl was someone new! Someone the King of Dreams had never met! The joy!
The King of Dreams stopped to greet the little girl.

“Hello, little girl,” he said pleasantly. “I am the King of Dreams.”
“Oh? I am a little girl,” said the little girl, not looking up from her flowers. “If you are a king, where is your castle?”
The King of Dreams turned to gesture towards his realm but realized he could not recall which direction he had come from.
“It is around somewhere,” he said dismissively. “Somewhere far off.”
“Do you have faeries there,” the little girl asked.
“Yes! Yes, we do,” said the King of Dreams.
“And elves and unicorns and dragons with wings and all the great creatures of imagining?”
“Why, some of my best friends are elves,” proclaimed the King of Dreams.
“Fields of singing flowers and houses of candy and rainbows ending in pots of gold,” she inquired.
“At many times and in many places- yes.”
“I know the place,” said the little girl, still picking flowers.
“Oh,” was all the King of Dreams could think of as a response. He opened his mouth to ask a question but….
“Why did you leave your realm when it sounds so grand,” asked the little girl.
“It is grand,” he replied. And the King of Dreams went on to describe all the wonders and beauty within his castle walls.
“Then why? Why leave it all,” she asked, still kneeling.
The King of Dreams thought for a moment. “I wanted to see what else there was,” he stated.
“But your castle- your people- all you could ever want or need or wish for. And you left them. Tsk,” said the little girl, her head still down, looking at her flowers.
The King of Dreams was perplexed and his brow furloughed. Could the little girl not understand his desire for more? His urning for new adventures? And why did the little girl not look upon the King of Dreams?
“Little girl,” said the King of Dreams, “why do you not look upon me?”
Standing up with her bouquet of flowers, she stated matter-of-factly, “you are the King of Dreams and I- a little girl. How can a dream be real?”
At this, the little girl walked away, leaving the King of Dreams all alone.

Why I Like Dogs (the 4-legged Kind) (9/3/8)

Despite her name, Fred is a typical dog- playful (overly), cute, and affectionate. And like most dogs, her 2 favorite places in the house are 1) wherever I am, and 2) in front of her food bowl. Usually, the only exception is in the morning if she goes back to bed after her breakfast.
Yesterday afternoon as I was finishing up some work at my computer, I reached down to scratch Fred. She wasn’t there. I sat for a moment listening for the crunchcrunch of her eating. Nothing. I ambled around, coming into the living room.
Fred was at the picture window, looking out. She turned to acknowledge me then resumed her gazing. I plonked myself down on the floor next to her and hugged her. Then we both turned to the picture window. Soon, she shifted a bit- leaning against me, resting her head on my shoulder. And we stared out, viewing the world.