by: Essy Jane

As we got home, I kept hearing Uncle Jesse telling me to wake up. I
could hear him crying. Vance was in the background too. I thought that he
left already. “You have just got to make it Bo,” He cried. I
didn’t understand. Make it? What did he mean? I was right here.

“Wake up Bo, please wake up. For me,” Coy commented. I was awake
and I really didn’t know what he was talking about. My family had
suddenly vanished and I couldn’t see anything but darkness. It rolled over
me like nothing I’d ever experienced before. There was a haze in the
distance and I walked towards it.

A beautiful young blonde stood there smiling at me. She had curly hair
just like me. I wondered who she was at first but soon, I figured it
out. I looked at her and cried out, “Mom.” She couldn’t help but
laugh.

“You have made quite the dream world for yourself these past couple
of months,” She commented.

“Dream world, what do you mean dream world?”

“Since you couldn’t be with Luke, you joined the dream and jumped
into where he was. You were a war hero inside your own head. You did
what you always wanted to do. You wanted to be where your cousin was, feel
his pain but Bo, you can’t keep this up. You have got to go home.”

“Mom…what do you mean?”

“Honey, if you stay any longer in your dream, you’ll have to come
with me and you can’t do that Bo.”

“Why not?”

“You’re too young.”

“Too young for what Mom, what am I too young for?”

“It is not your time son. One day you will come up here and we’ll
be together again.” I didn’t understand until I opened my eyes. I
was in a big white room with yellow curtains in it. I looked at the IV in
my hand and watched as my Uncle Jesse slept beside me. I was in the
hospital. The whole war thing was a dream…but how could it be?

Riding to get the mail from Miss Tizdale. She told me she was proud of
me for beating up the guy picking on Coy. Then again, Miss Tizdale
wouldn’t say that…would she? It seemed so real, Cookie and the boys.

I stared down at my other arm. It had a cast on it. I felt my head, it
was bandaged. What had happened to me? I couldn’t understand this.
Vance walked into the room and looked at me. His eyes widened.

“Hey cousin,” He whispered.

“How did I get here?” I asked him.

“Were we ever worried about you, Bo Duke. You gave us quite the
scare. When you went to go and get the mail, you were in a horrible
accident. Cooter heard someone laying on the horn and a crash. When he came
out, you were laying on the ground with a dump truck two feet behind you.
Cooter was so scared. He called an ambulance and here you are.”

“How long have I been out?”

“About six months. The doctors were sure you were gonna kick the
bucket last night. Uncle Jesse sat up with you. Coy keeps blamin’ himself
saying it was his fault you went out there. Something about his turn to
get the mail.”

“You ain’t been drafted have you?”

“Shoot no, I ain’t been drafted.” I sighed in relief. He laughed
at me for a second. “Why would you think I have been drafted?”

“Oh, it seemed so weird. I dreamt that I went into the army in your
place.”

“Say what?”

“No, really, I went into the army and I came out a major. I told
everyone I had moved to California. Luke was mad at me, you were mad at me.
Uncle Jesse didn’t ever find out about it. Luke came home and he gave
me a graduation present. I can’t believe it has only been six months.
I swear it felt like three years.”

“Well dreams always seem to be longer than they are.”

“Luke did go to the marines’ right?”

“Yeah, that happened.”

“How is he holding up?”

“Luke wants to come home but Uncle Jesse told him not to. He’s so
worried about you.”

“So was I,” Uncle Jesse mumbled.

“Hey, I was wondering when you would wake up,” Vance said, a little
bit louder.

“How are you doing boy?” Uncle Jesse asked.

“Sore all over,” I answered.

“Well you were hit by a dump truck Bo,” Coy said as he walked in.
He sat on the edge of the bed. “Are you okay?”

“I am just fine. You know what though? All this time I wanted to
prove I was someone in this family. I felt like everyone was ignoring me.
When I was in that dream, I felt like I was king of the world but the
whole time, I didn’t have you guys. I’m home and I have never been
happier to be here.”

“We love ya too Bo.”

A few weeks later, I was back at home. That day, I was on the phone
with Luke. The noise was amazing in the background. “You have no idea
how glad I am to hear your voice,” Luke announced. I laughed.
“Honestly, it has been horrible over here. All the people dying. Heck, there
was this one kid who reminded me of you. They call him Little Duke. His
name is really Earl Thompson but he reminded me so much of you
that…”

“That’s weird.”

“What?”

“In my dream, that was my nickname.” Luke laughed.

“You have got to be kidding.”

“Nope.”

“Anyway, my time is almost up on the phone. You take care of yourself
ya hear? No more dump trucks.”

“I promise.”

“Okay.”

“Bye.” I hung up the phone and smiled. I was proud of my cousin and
I couldn’t wait for him to come home. I wondered why joining the
dream made me realize what I have. I do love my family and lately, they
have all been spending more time with me. I want to do as much as I can
with Vance before he and Coy moved up to Connecticut. They want to go up
there and start a new.

Uncle Jesse is happier than he has ever been. Daisy and I have become
closer. Our family, though different than most has seemed to overcome
every tragedy and if we continue to stick together, we will become better
than anyone could ever think possible.

THE END