APRIL 12th CHALLENGE

psychic anniversary

by PearlAnn SnowStar

The young girl woke up and looked around. She was still in this old dusty place. It was dimly lit by a small hole in the roof. She turned to look at her mother, who was in the bed next to hers.

“Go back to sleep, Narcissa.”

“Mother, I had a dream.”

Sighing, her mother quietly spoke, “Not now, please. Tomorrow we are going to a new place. Hopefully, it will be better.”

Narcissa lay down. Better, when is better?

* * *

Narcissa woke up. She looked around. She sensed things around her. She was almost blind, but she still could see with other senses.

“Da dream. Must be that time of the month.” Carefully she crawled out of bed and slowly made her way to the table. On it was an electric object Vincent’s Catherine had given her. She felt around the item for the button way on the left.

“June 18th, 2005,” the device said.

“Yes, yes,” she chuckled. “Da dream. Happy Anniversary, old woman.”

“Narcissa?” A young man stood at the entrance to her chamber. He had a backpack on his back.

“Jacob! Come in, child, come in,“ she said, motioning with her hands.

“Dad sent me to check on you. I heard the audible date clock going off.” He walked in. “You said ‘Anniversary’?”

Narcissa nodded. “At this time of the year, this date, I have da dream. To remind me.”

Jacob helped her sit down in a chair. Then he looked around. Finding another chair, he brought it to the table next to hers. He took off his backpack, placed it on the side of the chair, and sat down.

“Remind you?”

Narcissa found his hand and gave it a pat. “I was just a young girl. Always had the gift, but never really knew until da dream. Mother and I were in an old run-down building.”

“And?” He had a curious tone to his voice.

She smiled. “You have time to hear tales from me?”

“I like to hear stories about the past now and then.” Jacob gave her a gentle hug.

“Now and then?”

“Well, right now is fine, because I’m interested. The stories from my parents, from others here, it’s just amazing.”

“Of course, of course.” She sighed. “Must take care of myself first, I will be back.

“Need help?” They both stood up.

“No, I am fine. Remember, this old woman moves slowly.”

“Oh, I brought some breakfast snacks. Just in case.” He reached for his backpack.

Narcissa walked over to a far corner, chuckling.

Taking small cakes out of his backpack, he looked around. “Keep forgetting there is no microwave here.”

By the time he got done setting up the food on the table, with two bottles of water, Narcissa had walked back to the table.

“I see you brought breakfast.”

He just looked at her. “I’m just amazed, with your eyesight…”

“That I can still see things. I see with the heart mostly. Have other senses.” She grinned. “Ah, chocolate cakes. Small, like I like. Your mother gave you these from the bakery.”

He nodded. “Yes.”

“Vincent’s Catherine. Always kind and thoughtful.” She pointed at him. “Your Catherine, too.”

“Right. Mom is like Dad, they both are worried that you still want to be alone so far from the others.”

“And I am so old.” Narcissa reached for the chair. Jacob moved quickly and helped her sit down.

“Let’s eat first. Then tell me about this special day.”

Narcissa smiled as she reached for the cake. He started to reach over to help her, but she quickly shooed him away. Slowly, carefully, she picked up the small cake. She sniffed, then took a bite. “Ah, yes, good food for a special day.”

* * *

After they had a bite of the cakes and a drink of water, Narcissa leaned back in her chair. “That was a good anniversary treat. Usually, I celebrate this day alone.” She motioned toward a corner. “If you would, please bring me the waters.”

“Waters?” Jacob looked around and saw the bin. “Oh, yes, of course.”

He got up and went to get the bin. It was empty, but he brought it back to the table. “There’s no water in it.”

“Not yet.” Narcissa got up. She walked over to a corner where a jug was.

“I’ll get that for you.” Jacob ran over and retrieved the jug from her. It was full of water.

“Now, I must get the sage powder.” She went to a dresser drawer and pulled out the first drawer and took out a satchel.

They walked back to the table. He poured the water into the bin and watched as she mumbled some prayers over the bin, then lightly spread some of the powder in the water.

She sat down. “So…you have time to hear my tale? And time to do your chores?”

He sighed. “Can’t really hide anything from you. I’ll get to the chores later. I’m interested. Besides, I like celebrations.”

“This one is both sad and happy. It was the last day in that apartment many years ago. My dream came. It was unusual. Dreaming of the past and then perhaps the future. I remember the dream. After that time, no matter what place I was in, the dream repeated every year on that night. Some of the possibilities faded away. Most came true. Became memories. But the first one, the first one…”

* * *

Narcissa kept looking up at the ceiling. Her mother always told her to keep her feelings to herself. That her ability to sense things was not going to help her with the real world. But she knew better.

I can sense things before they happen. Now I see spirits. Especially when I look into a cup of water. Or look at a puddle.

She looked at her mother. She wanted to tell her she loved her. She made a mental note to tell her tomorrow.

* * *

The next day her mother woke her up.

“Get up. It’s late. You must have stayed up most of the night. We have things to do.”

Her mother started to pack a small bag of clothes and some food. Narcissa went over to her and hugged her.

“What?”

“I wanted to say I love you, Mother.”

“Girl, we have to leave early. Take what you can carry, leave the rest.”

“We’ll come back for the rest, right?”

Her mother looked at her. “No, no, I can’t explain. But we still have to show up at the laundry place.  No work. No pay.” She looked her over. “Why do you look like you are going to cry? Is it those dreams again?”

Narcissa nodded her head. “A spirit…”

Her mother put up a hand. “We live in the real world. We have no time for spirits and such.”

“Mother, you got to be careful, please. Something bad is going to happen.”

Her mother got angry. “Nothing is going to happen except hard work for both of us. And you have to study after work, that’s all. Now quit such nonsense, we have a busy day ahead.”

Narcissa looked over at her mother, tears coming down her cheeks.

* * *

Jacob was enthralled. He waited patiently, watching her, saying nothing.

“I wanted to tell her that she was going to walk with the spirits that day,” she whispered. “That I was going to be orphaned at 1twelve and left alone to fend for myself. The spirits told me that I will find a place after many years laboring at various places. After a time when I couldn’t find work, I made my way down here. Met the Father and the others, but like my mother, they not understand.”

“I sort of understand. We have some guy named Kristopher who comes by. Dad says he’s a ghost. Mom says it’s just Kristopher.”

She shook a finger at him. “He is a spirit who thinks he is a guide for your parents and family. Should go toward the light. Not linger.” She shrugged. “But who is to say? Many times, with the hard life ahead of me, I tried to forget that world beyond the veil. But this day always brings me back.”

“And you celebrated it all these years alone?”

She shook her head no. “Had spirits and guides with me.”

“Of course. But why this chamber?”

“First dream showed me this chamber. Found it after being down here a few times. Anna and then Mary helped me set it up. Father was not pleased. It was dangerous. Especially with the Evil One around.”

“But now.” He leaned close to her. “You are so old, Narcissa. What if you fell? Who would know?”

She laughed. “Child, that won’t work. My first dream showed future. Future, however, not set in stone. Can change. Some visions did. Others…” She sighed.

“So, every June 18 you’ve had the same dream?”

“Same, but not the same. Lately, more visions of past visions that came to pass. Few new ones.” She gave him a look of concern. “You must not be so adventurous as the other.”

He grinned. “You mean like Uncle Dev.”

She just shook her head. “Young ones. Filled with excitement.”

He noticed a faraway look in her eyes. “What is it?”

“Soon, I be going home. Saw last night.”

“That’s it.” He stood up. “Dad and Mom are right. You just can’t be alone now.”

“Child. Are we not alone even with others?”

“Well then, I am going to have to come down and check on you more often.”

She looked into the waters. “There may be times you forget.”

“Not me. Never!”

She reached over and took his hand. “Sometimes we do forget. Other times not. Look forward to seeing you for a few moments more.”

“So, right now, you are going to be all right?”

She grinned. “Always all right. Always around.” She placed her finger on his chest. “Always in heart.”

He gave her a great big hug. “Auntie Narcissa, you are the most fun aunt ever.”

“Fun! Bah! You think this is not serious?”

“OK, OK, sorry, but look, I better run.”

“No need, someone will come for you. They did not forget what they assigned you.”

As those words were spoken, he looked up and saw Vincent at the entrance to the chamber.

“How the…” He looked at her. “That was in your dream, right?”

“Dream?” Vincent walked in, looking at his son. “Narcissa has ways to see things.”

“And Vinzent, you have too much worries now.”

“It’s her anniversary of the first time she realized she had a gift.” Jacob smiled at Narcissa.

“A special celebration. Happy Anniversary, Narcissa.” Vincent walked up to the table.

“Now you two let me be. I wish to study the world beyond the veil.”

Vincent placed a hand gently on her shoulder. “Catherine wanted me to make sure that Jacob brought the cakes over to you.”

“That he did, child, that he did. She remembered to make it chocolate. But whatever Jacob must do, there is an urgency to it.”

Vincent nodded, looking at his son. “And it needed to be done as soon as possible.”

“Well, I didn’t want to drop off the treats and run.” Jacob looked back at him. “But I guess it can’t wait.” He got up.

“Happy Anniversary, Narcissa, my psychic Auntie. Catch you later?”

“Of course. And Vinzent, I look forward to seeing you sometime later. Just be careful about ice.”

“Ice? Narcissa, it is summer.”

“Now is summer, then will be winter.”

“Better listen to her, Dad, she has the gift.” Jacob picked up his backpack. “Ready to go? Or do you want to stay a bit?”

“Narcissa, I would like to stay but…”

Narcissa shook her hand. “Go, do, but remember to rest now and then.”

Vincent nodded and followed Jacob out of the chamber.

“Special day. Dream showed. Soon, I will leave this old body. Dream always shows the way. Especially on this day.”

With that Narcissa closed her eyes. She was tired and a nap would be good.

* * *

Jacob was walking with his father through the tunnels, puzzled about what Narcissa was talking about.

“Jacob?”

“Sorry, Dad, just thinking about Narcissa and her warnings.”

Vincent hugged him. “Sometimes her words come to pass, sometimes they do not.”

Jacob looked at him. “You have a strange look on your face.”

“I remembered one Winterfest, where she warned us about the poison rose.”

“Yes, I remember that story. Turned out to be the chess set.”

Vincent nodded yes.

They turned down a passageway, they heard what sounded like running water. They looked at each other and raced down the passageway.

They saw a frantic Mouse with some others, fixing a broken pipe.

“Fun, fun,” Jacob said as he raced toward them.

“Jacob, don’t be so quick…”

Jacob stopped just in time before he tripped over some tools that were strewn all over the passageway.

He looked at Vincent. “Don’t be so adventurous.”

“Are you guys going to help us or just stand there?” It was William’s son, Aaron, who spoke.

Vincent and Jacob went to help.

* * *

The pipe was repaired. Jacob walked into his parent’s chamber. Vincent was putting on his cloak.

“Dad, Narcissa was right. If I would have checked the pipes as you told me, that one pipe would have been caught before it busted. Now, we have to re-route the water away from it.”

“The pipe would still have had a leak.”

“Yeah, but,” Jacob sighed, “it would have needed simple repairs and lasted a bit longer. We’re going to need to re-pipe that whole section with new pipes.”

“At least, you do understand that what seems like just the usual chore…”

“…Has a sense of urgency to it. And I was going to enjoy splashing around with the water and making work fun…”

“…not noticing the tools.”

“Could have really hurt myself.”

Vincent smiled. “Guess I have to wait until winter and beware of any ice.”

* * *

Narcissa was walking slowly up the stairs, holding onto the railing.

“Good thing the Mouse had installed this.”

She stopped half-way. Someone was coming down. A memory came to her.

“Narcissa, it is I.”

“Vinzent, for a moment…”

Vincent stood before her. “I am Vincent.”

“Of course.”

Vincent reached out his hand and she took it. He helped her up the stairs.

“Wanted to say something?” Narcissa looked at him.

He laughed. “Beware of ice in summer.” Looking at her, he continued, “Catherine was planning for Christmas in our apartment. She wanted to be ahead of the game, as she put it. She had things scattered around, including an ice bucket filled with ice.”

“Looking at her, nearly missed the bucket.”

He just looked at her. “I would have kicked it and ice would have spilled all over. And I would have slipped.”

She smiled as he looked at her.

PSYCHIC ANNIVERSARY

by PearlAnn SnowStar

The young girl woke up and looked around. She was still in this old dusty place. It was dimly lit by a small hole in the roof. She turned to look at her mother, who was in the bed next to hers.

“Go back to sleep, Narcissa.”

“Mother, I had a dream.”

Sighing, her mother quietly spoke, “Not now, please. Tomorrow we are going to a new place. Hopefully, it will be better.”

Narcissa lay down. Better, when is better?

* * *

Narcissa woke up. She looked around. She sensed things around her. She was almost blind, but she still could see with other senses.

“Da dream. Must be that time of the month.” Carefully she crawled out of bed and slowly made her way to the table. On it was an electric object Vincent’s Catherine had given her. She felt around the item for the button way on the left.

“June 18th, 2005,” the device said.

“Yes, yes,” she chuckled. “Da dream. Happy Anniversary, old woman.”

“Narcissa?” A young man stood at the entrance to her chamber. He had a backpack on his back.

“Jacob! Come in, child, come in,“ she said, motioning with her hands.

“Dad sent me to check on you. I heard the audible date clock going off.” He walked in. “You said ‘Anniversary’?”

Narcissa nodded. “At this time of the year, this date, I have da dream. To remind me.”

Jacob helped her sit down in a chair. Then he looked around. Finding another chair, he brought it to the table next to hers. He took off his backpack, placed it on the side of the chair, and sat down.

“Remind you?”

Narcissa found his hand and gave it a pat. “I was just a young girl. Always had the gift, but never really knew until da dream. Mother and I were in an old run-down building.”

“And?” He had a curious tone to his voice.

She smiled. “You have time to hear tales from me?”

“I like to hear stories about the past now and then.” Jacob gave her a gentle hug.

“Now and then?”

“Well, right now is fine, because I’m interested. The stories from my parents, from others here, it’s just amazing.”

“Of course, of course.” She sighed. “Must take care of myself first, I will be back.

“Need help?” They both stood up.

“No, I am fine. Remember, this old woman moves slowly.”

“Oh, I brought some breakfast snacks. Just in case.” He reached for his backpack.

Narcissa walked over to a far corner, chuckling.

Taking small cakes out of his backpack, he looked around. “Keep forgetting there is no microwave here.”

By the time he got done setting up the food on the table, with two bottles of water, Narcissa had walked back to the table.

“I see you brought breakfast.”

He just looked at her. “I’m just amazed, with your eyesight…”

“That I can still see things. I see with the heart mostly. Have other senses.” She grinned. “Ah, chocolate cakes. Small, like I like. Your mother gave you these from the bakery.”

He nodded. “Yes.”

“Vincent’s Catherine. Always kind and thoughtful.” She pointed at him. “Your Catherine, too.”

“Right. Mom is like Dad, they both are worried that you still want to be alone so far from the others.”

“And I am so old.” Narcissa reached for the chair. Jacob moved quickly and helped her sit down.

“Let’s eat first. Then tell me about this special day.”

Narcissa smiled as she reached for the cake. He started to reach over to help her, but she quickly shooed him away. Slowly, carefully, she picked up the small cake. She sniffed, then took a bite. “Ah, yes, good food for a special day.”

* * *

After they had a bite of the cakes and a drink of water, Narcissa leaned back in her chair. “That was a good anniversary treat. Usually, I celebrate this day alone.” She motioned toward a corner. “If you would, please bring me the waters.”

“Waters?” Jacob looked around and saw the bin. “Oh, yes, of course.”

He got up and went to get the bin. It was empty, but he brought it back to the table. “There’s no water in it.”

“Not yet.” Narcissa got up. She walked over to a corner where a jug was.

“I’ll get that for you.” Jacob ran over and retrieved the jug from her. It was full of water.

“Now, I must get the sage powder.” She went to a dresser drawer and pulled out the first drawer and took out a satchel.

They walked back to the table. He poured the water into the bin and watched as she mumbled some prayers over the bin, then lightly spread some of the powder in the water.

She sat down. “So…you have time to hear my tale? And time to do your chores?”

He sighed. “Can’t really hide anything from you. I’ll get to the chores later. I’m interested. Besides, I like celebrations.”

“This one is both sad and happy. It was the last day in that apartment many years ago. My dream came. It was unusual. Dreaming of the past and then perhaps the future. I remember the dream. After that time, no matter what place I was in, the dream repeated every year on that night. Some of the possibilities faded away. Most came true. Became memories. But the first one, the first one…”

* * *

Narcissa kept looking up at the ceiling. Her mother always told her to keep her feelings to herself. That her ability to sense things was not going to help her with the real world. But she knew better.

I can sense things before they happen. Now I see spirits. Especially when I look into a cup of water. Or look at a puddle.

She looked at her mother. She wanted to tell her she loved her. She made a mental note to tell her tomorrow.

* * *

The next day her mother woke her up.

“Get up. It’s late. You must have stayed up most of the night. We have things to do.”

Her mother started to pack a small bag of clothes and some food. Narcissa went over to her and hugged her.

“What?”

“I wanted to say I love you, Mother.”

“Girl, we have to leave early. Take what you can carry, leave the rest.”

“We’ll come back for the rest, right?”

Her mother looked at her. “No, no, I can’t explain. But we still have to show up at the laundry place.  No work. No pay.” She looked her over. “Why do you look like you are going to cry? Is it those dreams again?”

Narcissa nodded her head. “A spirit…”

Her mother put up a hand. “We live in the real world. We have no time for spirits and such.”

“Mother, you got to be careful, please. Something bad is going to happen.”

Her mother got angry. “Nothing is going to happen except hard work for both of us. And you have to study after work, that’s all. Now quit such nonsense, we have a busy day ahead.”

Narcissa looked over at her mother, tears coming down her cheeks.

* * *

Jacob was enthralled. He waited patiently, watching her, saying nothing.

“I wanted to tell her that she was going to walk with the spirits that day,” she whispered. “That I was going to be orphaned at 1twelve and left alone to fend for myself. The spirits told me that I will find a place after many years laboring at various places. After a time when I couldn’t find work, I made my way down here. Met the Father and the others, but like my mother, they not understand.”

“I sort of understand. We have some guy named Kristopher who comes by. Dad says he’s a ghost. Mom says it’s just Kristopher.”

She shook a finger at him. “He is a spirit who thinks he is a guide for your parents and family. Should go toward the light. Not linger.” She shrugged. “But who is to say? Many times, with the hard life ahead of me, I tried to forget that world beyond the veil. But this day always brings me back.”

“And you celebrated it all these years alone?”

She shook her head no. “Had spirits and guides with me.”

“Of course. But why this chamber?”

“First dream showed me this chamber. Found it after being down here a few times. Anna and then Mary helped me set it up. Father was not pleased. It was dangerous. Especially with the Evil One around.”

“But now.” He leaned close to her. “You are so old, Narcissa. What if you fell? Who would know?”

She laughed. “Child, that won’t work. My first dream showed future. Future, however, not set in stone. Can change. Some visions did. Others…” She sighed.

“So, every June 18 you’ve had the same dream?”

“Same, but not the same. Lately, more visions of past visions that came to pass. Few new ones.” She gave him a look of concern. “You must not be so adventurous as the other.”

He grinned. “You mean like Uncle Dev.”

She just shook her head. “Young ones. Filled with excitement.”

He noticed a faraway look in her eyes. “What is it?”

“Soon, I be going home. Saw last night.”

“That’s it.” He stood up. “Dad and Mom are right. You just can’t be alone now.”

“Child. Are we not alone even with others?”

“Well then, I am going to have to come down and check on you more often.”

She looked into the waters. “There may be times you forget.”

“Not me. Never!”

She reached over and took his hand. “Sometimes we do forget. Other times not. Look forward to seeing you for a few moments more.”

“So, right now, you are going to be all right?”

She grinned. “Always all right. Always around.” She placed her finger on his chest. “Always in heart.”

He gave her a great big hug. “Auntie Narcissa, you are the most fun aunt ever.”

“Fun! Bah! You think this is not serious?”

“OK, OK, sorry, but look, I better run.”

“No need, someone will come for you. They did not forget what they assigned you.”

As those words were spoken, he looked up and saw Vincent at the entrance to the chamber.

“How the…” He looked at her. “That was in your dream, right?”

“Dream?” Vincent walked in, looking at his son. “Narcissa has ways to see things.”

“And Vinzent, you have too much worries now.”

“It’s her anniversary of the first time she realized she had a gift.” Jacob smiled at Narcissa.

“A special celebration. Happy Anniversary, Narcissa.” Vincent walked up to the table.

“Now you two let me be. I wish to study the world beyond the veil.”

Vincent placed a hand gently on her shoulder. “Catherine wanted me to make sure that Jacob brought the cakes over to you.”

“That he did, child, that he did. She remembered to make it chocolate. But whatever Jacob must do, there is an urgency to it.”

Vincent nodded, looking at his son. “And it needed to be done as soon as possible.”

“Well, I didn’t want to drop off the treats and run.” Jacob looked back at him. “But I guess it can’t wait.” He got up.

“Happy Anniversary, Narcissa, my psychic Auntie. Catch you later?”

“Of course. And Vinzent, I look forward to seeing you sometime later. Just be careful about ice.”

“Ice? Narcissa, it is summer.”

“Now is summer, then will be winter.”

“Better listen to her, Dad, she has the gift.” Jacob picked up his backpack. “Ready to go? Or do you want to stay a bit?”

“Narcissa, I would like to stay but…”

Narcissa shook her hand. “Go, do, but remember to rest now and then.”

Vincent nodded and followed Jacob out of the chamber.

“Special day. Dream showed. Soon, I will leave this old body. Dream always shows the way. Especially on this day.”

With that Narcissa closed her eyes. She was tired and a nap would be good.

* * *

Jacob was walking with his father through the tunnels, puzzled about what Narcissa was talking about.

“Jacob?”

“Sorry, Dad, just thinking about Narcissa and her warnings.”

Vincent hugged him. “Sometimes her words come to pass, sometimes they do not.”

Jacob looked at him. “You have a strange look on your face.”

“I remembered one Winterfest, where she warned us about the poison rose.”

“Yes, I remember that story. Turned out to be the chess set.”

Vincent nodded yes.

They turned down a passageway, they heard what sounded like running water. They looked at each other and raced down the passageway.

They saw a frantic Mouse with some others, fixing a broken pipe.

“Fun, fun,” Jacob said as he raced toward them.

“Jacob, don’t be so quick…”

Jacob stopped just in time before he tripped over some tools that were strewn all over the passageway.

He looked at Vincent. “Don’t be so adventurous.”

“Are you guys going to help us or just stand there?” It was William’s son, Aaron, who spoke.

Vincent and Jacob went to help.

* * *

The pipe was repaired. Jacob walked into his parent’s chamber. Vincent was putting on his cloak.

“Dad, Narcissa was right. If I would have checked the pipes as you told me, that one pipe would have been caught before it busted. Now, we have to re-route the water away from it.”

“The pipe would still have had a leak.”

“Yeah, but,” Jacob sighed, “it would have needed simple repairs and lasted a bit longer. We’re going to need to re-pipe that whole section with new pipes.”

“At least, you do understand that what seems like just the usual chore…”

“…Has a sense of urgency to it. And I was going to enjoy splashing around with the water and making work fun…”

“…not noticing the tools.”

“Could have really hurt myself.”

Vincent smiled. “Guess I have to wait until winter and beware of any ice.”

* * *

Narcissa was walking slowly up the stairs, holding onto the railing.

“Good thing the Mouse had installed this.”

She stopped half-way. Someone was coming down. A memory came to her.

“Narcissa, it is I.”

“Vinzent, for a moment…”

Vincent stood before her. “I am Vincent.”

“Of course.”

Vincent reached out his hand and she took it. He helped her up the stairs.

“Wanted to say something?” Narcissa looked at him.

He laughed. “Beware of ice in summer.” Looking at her, he continued, “Catherine was planning for Christmas in our apartment. She wanted to be ahead of the game, as she put it. She had things scattered around, including an ice bucket filled with ice.”

“Looking at her, nearly missed the bucket.”

He just looked at her. “I would have kicked it and ice would have spilled all over. And I would have slipped.”

She smiled as he looked at her.