Desert 5

The alarm clock was screaming at me to wake up. I rolled over and hit the snooze button, once, maybe twice. Finally, with regrets that I hadn’t gone to bed sooner than I did, I sat up. I rubbed my chin, and felt a beard. This is weird, I thought. I remember shaving yesterday. I went into the bathroom, and looked in the mirror. Wow! A full beard. When did I grow that? This couldn’t have happened overnight? I jumped in the shower, took care of the facial growth and got ready for work.

As I was making my lunch, the phone rang. 9:45 at night, who could be calling me now? I looked at the caller ID, it was my boss calling from his cell phone. I answered. “Hey, could you do me a favor? “ he asked. “Sure John, what do you need?” He replied “Can you stop by my office before you start your shift? I have a few things I need to discuss with you.” Uh oh, I thought. I knew the beard was against policy, which confused me even more as to why I grew it. “Sure, Ill be leaving here in a few minutes. Is it about the beard?” I asked. “Beard? Um,no.” He sounded confused. “Ok, Ill see you when I get in.”

On my way, all kinds of things were going through my head as to the reason for this meeting. Yet, my mind kept coming back to Najeeb and the tribe I was with. Now, I hadn’t thought anything about this “dream” if you will, tonight, until now. I switched thoughts again to my tasks at work. As I got closer to the factory, I got this sinking feeling in my gut. Something wasn’t right.

John was sitting in his office, his back to the door and he was holding up a file, reading. “You wanted to see me?” I said after a light rap on the door frame. “Please, have a seat.” He said, standing up and motioning to a chair across from his desk. I plopped down in the leather cushioned chair. “Steve, I have been looking at your time off requests, and I am a little concerned”. Funny, I thought, I don’t remember requesting any time off. “OK, what’s wrong?” I asked. “It seems that your vacations you have been putting in for have been requested a week apart. Are there any problems you’re having at home?” Boy, was he reading my mind? “Well, I have been under a lot of stress lately, and not sleeping well lately, but other than that, no, not really. Why is this a concern to you?” He leaned in closer to me and looked me in the eye. “Look, you are the best employee we have had here in a long time. We want to keep you healthy and happy. Now, are you sure there isn’t anything else that is bothering you?” He looked at me as if I was holding something back. Little did he know!

‘Well, John, actually there is something that has been bothering me.” I paused, resettled in my chair, looked at my watch. Five minutes before shift change. “But I don’t have time to get into this right now. Can we talk later?” He nodded. “Sure Steve, no problem.” He said leaning back in his chair. “ Just remember that my door is open when you are ready.”

Desert 4

I dreamed I was standing in front of a huge crowd of these native people. A tall man stood next to me. He carried a staff that looked like a piece of thin driftwood. There was talking, whispering pointing, mainly at me. Who was this stranger standing in their midst? He raised his hand and the crowd grew silent. With a thunderous voice that seemed to echo through the desert he bellowed " Quiet. All you who come to hear, this is what I say. Standing before you is the One who will rescue us from the wrath of the Evil one." Me? Why am I chosen for this, I thought. He continued: " He is to guide us from this place, which was once a refuge, and now has become a target. He will lead us to safety forever more!" I scratched my head. Again, I still couldnt believe what I was doing here. It felt as though I knew I was going to do this, but what was I going to do? I still had no clue.

I was awoken by the little lady who poured my water for me. "Rise. Rise, for you are to see the elders once again. They request you." she said softly as she shook my shoulder. Still foggy from the dream, I struggled to make sense of where I was. I got up out of bed and made my way to the elders tent. I walked in, and they all stood up to greet me. "Please, come sit".

They asked me how my rest was. "It was fine, other than this strange dream I had." I replied. The head elder asked me to tell them more. As I was telling them of my dream they all nodded and hummed in agreement. As if they knew what I had dreamed. "Do you know of this dream's meaning?" I asked? One of the elders, who seemed more of like the tribe's "medicine man" if you will, spoke: "It is of things to come." So, wait a minute, I thought. "Am I now dreaming of future events?" I asked. "Yes. It is the way of the Chosen One." he said, nodding. "So, does this mean I am the One who will lead you to a place of safety?" I asked. The elders looked at me blankly. "He still does not believe" the medicine man said to the others. "No, it's not that I dont believe," I said, "I am just confused, thats all." They all nodded. "It will all make sense soon." he continued. "The Chosen One has come from another time, and this confuses him. He is to understand when it is time."

I walked out of the tent. I just dont understand. Other than the fact that I am to lead this group of people to a safe place, which I have no clue where, I still dont know why. Why me? Why am I the one who has been through all this? Maybe someone with a little more faith? But what faith? What god do they believe in? Are they even Christian? So many questions. I need more sleep. I will ask more questions when I wake up.