Violet of Through Violet’s Lentz writes: This piece is written in 50-word increments. The literary quote I have chosen for this week is: “If you’re happy in a dream, does that count?” ― Arundhati Roy, The God of Small Things. If you are inspired by this line- and would like to use it in your own creation, please do and link back to this post. You can navigate the previous posts by clicking on the Literary Quotes tab in the Category drop down menu.

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Sharon had been working at the Sheriff’s Office since she was in her twenties as a secretary/receptionist and sometimes dispatcher. It was rewarding work, and she was very close to the men and women she worked with. They were her family, since she was in her fifties and had never married or started a family of her own.

Grant tapped the top of Sharon’s desk as he walked by. “Hey, you going to be at the Rusty Bucket after work?”

“You bet,” Sharon answered, “You guys are more entertaining than TV, that’s for sure.” She paused, then called out, “and that’s not saying much.” Maybe a couple of beers would help her sleep tonight, she thought. She had been having strange dreams lately and they left her unsettled.

At the Rusty Bucket, Sharon sat next to Toni, a young deputy with a big family. Toni remarked that Sharon looked tired, and she just nodded. They talked shop for awhile, then Toni talked about her kids, as she always eventually did. Toni was quiet for awhile, then said, “Sharon, you never married. You’re pretty, and I bet you had boyfriends. What happened?”

“None of my boyfriends were husband material. I’m pretty picky, ya know.”

“Yeah, nothing wrong with that. Sometimes I wonder if I did the right thing, having this giant family to take care of. I sure liked having sex with Henry,” they both giggled, “but I’ll be darned if I didn’t just turn around and bam – I’ve got all these kids. Its exhausting. I wonder what it would be like to have an evening just to myself. Sounds good. Are you happy, Sharon?”

Sharon thought a moment, and then the words just poured forth from her lips, “If you’re happy in a dream, does that count?” Toni looked surprised, and she shrugged. She finished her beer and left, apologizing for asking Sharon such a personal question.

Sharon closed her eyes. Why had she said that? It was the dreams she had been having, she thought, they’re really messing with my mind. She could see the girl in her mind, the girl from her dreams. She was about eleven and was tall, with light brown skin and wild, curly black hair. She had a smile that took over her face, her brown eyes crinkling and the teeth she revealed were just a little crooked. In Sharon’s dreams they were always together – in her small house or in a restaurant or park. They were close, she could feel that they needed each other. And they were happy, so happy.

Just then Sharon was startled out of her reverie with the sharp tone of her phone ringing, it was a call from an unfamiliar number. “Sharon here,” she answered.

“Oh, good. I was hoping you would answer. This is Eleanor from the Department of Child Services. I know you recently became licensed to be a foster parent, and I hope you are ready to jump in. I have a young girl in need of services. Her parents died in an automobile accident and she has no family that we can find. Would you be willing to foster her? We can bring her around to your house tonight. I’ll warn you, she is very fragile.”

“Yes, please bring her to me. I will be at my house in ten minutes.” Sharon started to hang up, then pressed the phone to her cheek. “By the way, what is her name?” Sharon listened, “Okay, I will be waiting for you,” she said, hanging up her phone and dashing out the door. She kept whispering the name over and over.

Hope.

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