Destiny

After the kitchen was clean, I went to feed the pigs and chickens. As I was feeding them, grandma came outside for her daily dose of fresh air.

“Grandma, I thought you’d be napping?” I asked.

“Nap? Why would I nap on such a lovely day? My nap can wait ‘til later,” she declared.

I laughed a bit, then returned to feeding the animals. The pigs were oinking with glee when they saw me bring over their food. I made sure they all got their fair share since pigs are pretty greedy.

My hands were covered in dirt, so I pulled some water up from the well to wash my hands. My daily routine kept me occupied, but my mind couldn’t help wondering. The wandering continued until my mind was on my dream. Or should I say nightmare? It just felt so real. I was so lost in thought that I didn’t notice grandma standing next to me. I jumped when I saw her.

“What are you jumping for?” she asked looking at me from head to toe.

“You came out of nowhere!” I yelped holding my heart.

“I walked over here while you were daydreaming.”

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s to never underestimate your elders, especially my grandmother. She may be old, but she sure can move.

“I wasn’t daydreaming, I was thinking,” I said defensively.

“Thinking about what?”

“Oh, just stuff.”

“You mean like that nightmare you had that caused you to wake up crying in your brother’s arms?”

I looked at her with shock. How did she know that? Was I talking to myself out loud by accident?

“How did you know?”

“Sweetie, I’m your grandmother. I know everything, plus I heard you crying and Axel telling you ‘it was just a nightmare’.”

I mentally kicked myself, for forgetting how small this house is. Seriously, there is no privacy around here. The walls actually have ears!

“So why don’t you tell your old grandma about it, hm?”

I smiled. My grandma was always one to come in my time of need, so it was only fair for me to tell her about my bad dream. “I had a dream that my room was on fire, then when I went to go get you guys, I saw the house was on fire, too. I went into Axel’s room and saw him on the floor; he wasn’t breathing. I started crying, then the flames gathered together to form a dragon. He was about to leap at me and Axel, and that’s when I woke up,” I explained.

Grandma was silent for a while, which bothered me a lot. “That it?”

“What do you mean?” I asked confused.

“Nothing else happened?” She pursued.

“No, not that I know of. Is that bad?”

She gave me a warm smile and shook her head. “No, of course not dear. Go inside, eat, and rest up. You’ve had a long day, and I know you didn’t eat breakfast.”

Again, I was caught red-handed!

“Darn it.”