Nothing is Right

Dear Peregrin,

Last night I had a horrible set of dreams. I dreamt that I kept visiting this restaurant with mean people that worked there. There was a restroom located in the center of the room and it was open for all to see. I kept walking in and out of the restaurant. Then I was in my house when a woman who was my childhood babysitter came to visit. She walked in, said "hi" all cheerful, then walked right past me. The next time I saw her she was drunk. Her drunk boyfriend came over later with a bottle of alcohol and a gun. He didn't use the gun but he had it.

Can you make anything out of this mess?

Nick

Nothing To Give?

Dear Peregrin,

A group of people and I walk from one place to another. My husband and I walk together. I feel love and desire for him. We are seated around a large table and are being assigned various parts in a play, for we are a troupe of actors. It is a foregone conclusion that my husband will play the male lead. But I am ignored, and find myself seated farther and farther from him.

Another woman, who has also been overlooked in the casting snorts in exasperation, takes my hand, and leads me away. As we walk, I think about what a talented actress she is, and cannot understand why she was not given a part. As for myself, I think that if a part was something I could relate to in my actual life, I could probably read a line convincingly, but I know that I am not a good actress.

As I walk and think, I notice my pretty green dress and white shoes.

We arrive at a restaurant, and sit at a table outdoors. Before she sits, my companion goes to all the tables and gathers up all the people who are alone, and asks them to join us. I scoot my chair over to make room. There are several women, at least two men, and an older woman who at first objects to eating with us, saying "They are all Goyim." But she soon feels the warmth of the group, and settles happily, glad to be included.

To somebody who wonders why he or she was included, I say "Well, because you were dressed for it," because by seeming coincidence, we are all wearing clothing of a similar fabric, a delicate green, printed with small white flowers. The women are wearing pretty, summery dresses and the men have shirts in the same fabric.

We have a wonderful time, so when my companion says it is time we were getting back to the actor's group, somebody says "We should give each other something to remember this by." One of the people my friend has invited to the table wistfully says "Oh, you mean you want something from us." To reassure her, I say "Oh, no! We will give YOU something." but when I search my pockets, I have nothing to give. I feel sad that the connection with those people is now severed.

Pandora