Life is Just a Dream
Mike knew he had to stop driving soon or fall asleep at the wheel. Every motel he passed was out of business and he hadn’t even seen a coffee shop that was open. He was wondering what strange impulse had brought him down a highway that had been bypassed ten years ago, when he saw a movement alongside the road.
He was almost past the hitchhiker before his headlights showed she was an attractive young woman, and obviously in distress from the way she was flagging him down. He had passed a beat up old car with the hood up a mile or so back, and figured it probably belonged to her.
His policy about hitchhikers was simple, never pick one up unless it’s a pretty woman, so he pulled over about a half of a block past her, and watched in the side mirror as she ran to where he was parked. The mirror and the moonlight made it plain that his first impression was inadequate. She was a lot more than just pretty, she was stunning in her cut-off jeans and halter-top, and for some reason she looked very familiar. He judged her age to be close to his own, mid to late twenties, as he pushed the passenger door open just before she got to it. She gave him a quick glance then climbed in and shut the door.
She pushed her long blonde hair from her eyes and smiled at him as she caught her breath. After a few seconds she said, "Thanks for stopping. My car broke down a ways back and I was worried I might have to walk all the way home. It’s kind of scary out there when it’s such a dark night. I really appreciate the ride."
He grinned at her and replied, "My pleasure, Ma’am. How far are you going?"
"The side-road to my house is up about five miles. I can walk from there. My name’s Lorelei by the way. Are you from around here? You look so familiar, I’m sure I’ve met you before."
"Lorelei, that’s a nice name. My name is Mike, and no, I’m not from around here. This is the first time I’ve ever been within a hundred miles of here. Is there a coffee shop or something along this road? I’ve been driving for seven hours straight and I’m getting a little bleary eyed, and I probably should find a motel too."
She looked at him sympathetically and said, "All of the restaurants are closed until morning. I’m afraid there’s nothing open at this time of night. This highway doesn’t get much use anymore since the new Interstate went through, and most of the motels went out of business."
They were quiet for a minute or two before she spoke again. "My turn is just ahead, and to the right. You can drop me off there."
He pulled his car over at the crossroad and stopped. "Thanks for breaking up the monotony, Lorelei. It’s been nice meeting you. Maybe I can stay awake until I get to a motel now."
She started to get out of the car, then stopped. "I just had a thought. If you don’t mind going a few blocks out of your way to my house, I can fix you up with a cup or two of coffee, and a sandwich to go with it. It’s the least I can do to repay you."
He thought about her offer. She seemed to sincerely want to repay him for his help. Maybe this could turn into more than just coffee and a snack. She wasn’t only attractive, he had a feeling she was a genuinely nice person.
"Thank you, Lorelei. That’s a very kind offer, and I’d feel better knowing you got home safely."
She shifted a little closer to him as she slid back into the car and said, "It’s sweet of you to think about my safety, Mike. I think it’ll be nice to get to know you better. We’ll have time to talk while you have your coffee. I’ll make sure it’s fresh and hot."
Mike looked at her face in the moonlight, and her smile told him the coffee wasn’t the only thing that might be fresh and hot. He followed her directions through the winding roads to her house and parked where she told him.
The house looked rundown, and there were no lights showing. He thought it odd he hadn’t seen any other houses on the long drive to her home, but put it out of his mind as he followed her to the front door.
She turned as she opened the door and said, "We’ll have to be quiet. My baby sister is sleeping, and I don’t want to wake her."
He followed her into the kitchen, and she shut the door behind them. "We can talk now; she can’t hear us. I’ll start the coffee while you make yourself comfortable at the table."
He watched Lorelei as she started the coffee and made roast beef sandwiches to go with it. The moonlight hadn’t done her justice. She was even more beautiful in the full light. He could see the sparkle in her emerald green eyes, and the small dimples in her cheeks when she smiled. He let his eyes roam over her body as she moved. The devil wouldn’t have to be much of a salesman to get most women to give up their souls for Lorelei’s body. Hers wasn’t the body of a tall, skinny lingerie model. Her figure was the epitome of female sexuality; designed by nature to attract men like a flower attracts bees for pollination.
In spite of his fatigue, he felt himself responding to her silent call and fought back the urge to go to her, and take her in his arms. He was wishing he knew her well enough to do that when she brought the coffee and sandwiches to the table, and sat down next to him.
"Enjoy the coffee and sandwiches, Mike. If it wasn’t for you I’d be walking down a dark road right now probably scared half to death. I wish there were more I could do to repay you for your kindness."
He suppressed the thoughts that came to his mind and said, "Thank you, Lorelei. I’m just glad I came along and saw you walking. I don’t like to see anyone stranded on a lonely road at night, especially a woman. I needed a break from driving anyway. I think I was half-asleep when I saw you standing there, and I almost didn’t see you. You may have saved me from having an accident. I should be thanking you."
"I was pretty scared out on the road alone, and it must be what made me do something stupid. The reason you almost didn’t see me was because I was trying not to be seen unless it was someone I knew. I had no intention of accepting a ride from a strange man, but the next thing I knew I was flagging you down, then inviting you to my home besides. It was almost like I didn’t have a choice. You must think I’m crazy, Mike."
"I wondered why you trusted me so easily, but I don’t think you’re crazy. Strange things have been going through my mind too. I shouldn’t have been on that road at all. It’s over fifty miles further than if I had taken the Interstate, and I don’t even know anybody around here. I had the same feeling you mentioned, like I didn’t have a choice."
He paused for a second then continued. "There’s something else strange too. You said I looked familiar. That’s the same feeling I had when I saw you, like I’ve known you for a long time, but can’t quite remember from where."
"That’s my feeling exactly, Mike." She paused to think for a moment then said, "You’re too tired to drive anymore tonight. Unless you’re in a big hurry to leave, why don’t we sit and talk for awhile, then I’ll find a place for you to get some sleep. The sofa’s not too bad to sleep on, and it comes with breakfast."
Mike thought about her offer. He wasn’t in a real hurry to get where he was going, and he was tired. Maybe it would be smart to catch a few winks. Besides, it would mean he could spend more time with her, and he was curious to find out why she looked so familiar. He was almost certain he knew her from somewhere, and her smiles and the way she moved told him she was interested in him as a man. He was just about to accept her offer when she put her hand on his, looked into his eyes, and smiled.
"I’ll take your silence as a yes, Mike. I know what’s going through your mind, and I want you to know I’m not the least nervous about having you here. I feel like I’ve known you for years, and also you’re a very attractive man who helped me in my time of need. I’m still trying to return your kindness so I’ll make sure your stay with me is a very pleasant one. If there’s anything you want, feel free to help yourself, and I do mean anything. What’s mine is yours as long as you’re here."
He smiled as the meaning of her words sunk into his mind and said, "It would be impolite of me to refuse such a gracious offer, Lorelei. I’ll get my suitcase from the car."
"You won’t need that tonight. You can get it in the morning. Just sit and enjoy your sandwiches and coffee while I get things set up for you. I’ll be back in a few minutes, then we’ll talk."
She was as good as her word, and returned in just a few minutes, wearing a robe loosely tied. She crossed her legs as she sat down causing her robe to open; exposing her perfectly shaped thighs for a moment until she casually pulled the robe across her knees. He wondered if she had done it deliberately to let him know for sure that when she said anything he wanted was his, that’s what she meant.
Mike was the first to speak. "Tell me about yourself, Lorelei. How did you and your baby sister come to be living out here in the boonies? I’m assuming your sister isn’t really a baby."
She laughed lightly and said, "No, Leann’s not even close to being a baby. I should stop calling her that since she just turned twenty-two recently. I’m four years older than she is. You’ll meet her in the morning. I should warn you, she’s a kidder. I’m sure she’ll be teasing us a lot about you spending the night. As for this house, it’s been in our family for generations. My grandfather left it to Leann and I when he died last year. There are so many good memories here that neither of us can bear the thought of selling it. We’ve decided to spend the summer fixing it up, and then we plan to rent it out to some nice family. Now it’s your turn. Tell me about yourself."
"There isn’t anything exciting to tell. I was on my way to spend some time with a friend, and do some fishing during my vacation. I’m a self-employed computer-programming consultant, so I kind of set my own working hours, and I’m single with no commitments to anyone in particular. I’m twenty-eight years old, and grew up about two hundred miles from here near Kensington. How about you, I don’t see a ring on your finger?"
She grinned at his last words and answered, "I’m flattered you took the time to look, Mike. I don’t have any commitments to anyone either. I’ve had my share of offers, but none of them has been what I’m looking for in a man."
"What is it you’re looking for, Lorelei? I think I might like applying for the position."
"I think I might like that. Let me think about it overnight, and we’ll talk some more in the morning. Finish your coffee, and I’ll show you where you’ll be sleeping, but be quiet so we don’t wake up my sister."
She took his hand when his cup was empty and led him to the living room where she had fixed up the couch for him. He didn’t release her hand but pulled her closer instead. She didn’t resist when he kissed her, but the tears in her eyes when he released her took him by surprise. He started to speak until she put her fingers to his lips to quiet him.
"Please don’t say anything, just listen. Whatever it was that made me flag you down and bring you to my house is working on me again. Every part of me wants to take you to my bed. If I let it happen I’ll be doing something that’s totally against my nature. Please don’t tempt me because I won’t be able to resist. Let me get to know you better first."
Mike saw how serious she was and replied, "I understand, Lorelei. Good night."
"Good Night, Mike," she answered as she turned to leave, "Sleep well."
***
The sun coming through the car windows, along with the cold, woke Mike from his sleep. His body was stiff from sleeping in the cramped back seat after he had gotten too tired to drive anymore. He crawled out of the car and stretched to loosen up his muscles, and smiled to himself as he remembered the dream he had that night, and the girl. He’d dreamt about her before and sometimes liked to think about her even when he was awake. She was his dream girl, and last night he finally learned her name. He started the car, and continued on his journey.
The sight of the old car alongside the road, with its hood up, brought the entire dream back into his memory. It was the same car, as impossible as it seemed. There was no mistaking it or the location it was in. He pulled over in front of the car, and walked back towards it. There was a note under the wiper blade that said, ‘Transmission out. Will return with wrecker in the morning. Please don’t tow’. The note was signed, ‘George’.
He was confused as he started driving again, but finally decided it was just a strange coincidence. He drove for a ways further then stopped abruptly and made a U-turn back to the crossroad he had just passed. The more he looked at the crossroad, the more he was sure it was the one he had dreamt about. The big cottonwood tree on the corner was unmistakably the same as the one in his dream. His mind was in a whirl of thought as he tried to explain everything away, but he couldn’t do it. He did the only reasonable thing he could think of, and turned down the road.
He searched his memory for the correct turns, as he followed the narrow gravel road he had traveled in his dream. If he had done everything right her house would be around the next bend. His heart began to pound as the old rundown house came into view, and he stopped the car to regain control of his emotions. There had to be a logical explanation for all that was happening. Once he was sure he was under control, he turned the car down the driveway, and walked to the house.
He looked closely at the young girl who answered his knock. The resemblance was strong, but she definitely wasn’t the girl from his dreams. He tried to stay calm as he said, "Hello, I’m looking for a girl named Lorelei. Have I got the right house?"
She grinned up at him and said, "She’s my older sister, and I have to say her taste in men friends is improving. Come on in, and I’ll get the lazy thing out of bed. You’re just in time for breakfast."
The house was exactly as he remembered it. She took him to the kitchen, told him to sit down, then said, "My name's Leann, what’s yours?"
"Mike," he answered as his mind fought against the possibility that he was back in his dream.
"Well, Mike, I’ll go tell her you’re here, but you can expect to wait awhile. I know my sister well enough to know she’ll want to fix herself up a bit. Especially when I tell her how good looking you are. I’ll be right back."
Leann came back in a few minutes. "She says she doesn’t know you, but to give you breakfast anyway if you haven’t eaten. I’m giving you breakfast even if you have eaten just to keep you here, so don’t argue about it. You look real nervous for some reason, and I don’t want you running off."
He smiled at her and tried to stay calm as she busied herself setting food in front of him. "Start eating, Mike, and relax a little. I’ve never known my sister to bite anyone, unless she was just playing, and I never bite."
Leann kept chattering away in her friendly manner, as he ate the food she put in front of him, and he decided he liked her. He couldn’t help but laugh at some of the things she said, and felt comfortable for the first time since he came through the door. He heard the kitchen door open, and stood up quickly as Lorelei walked through the door. There was no question in his mind; she was the same girl he had been dreaming about, as impossible as it was. Her face turned pale when she saw him standing there.
She stared for a moment then said, "It can’t be you. I must be going out of my mind. It’s not possible, so I must still be dreaming… Oh, God, I feel dizzy."
He moved quickly to catch her as she went into a faint, and carried her to the couch in the next room. Leann ran to get some cold water to put on her face, and eventually Lorelei regained consciousness. Her eyes were opened wide as she stared at him without speaking. He felt himself begin to panic when she didn’t say anything, and fought to keep calm for her sake.
His own hand was shaking when he took her hand and said, "Please, Lorelei, listen to me. You’re not asleep and you haven’t gone mad. I can’t explain what’s happened, but it’s real. Try to get control of yourself then we’ll discuss it. Close your eyes and rest a minute."
She lay with her eyes closed for several minutes before looking back at him. She sat up carefully, and stared at him. "I’m okay now. Give me a few minutes to think."
Leann had been watching quietly, and finally turned to Mike for an answer. "Okay, I give up trying to figure out what’s going on here. This doesn’t make any sense. You come to the house acting like a nervous wreck, then she comes down, takes one look at you, and passes out. What the hell is this all about?"
"I’m not sure myself, Leann, but I’m beginning to think Lorelei and I may be sharing the same dreams. She seemed to recognize me just as I did her. I won’t know for sure until we get a chance to talk."
"What are you, Mike? Some kind of whacko, that’s the silliest thing I’ve ever heard anyone say with a straight face."
Lorelei sat up and said, "No, Leann, it’s not so silly. It’s the only answer that makes any sense. Mike has been in my dreams for several years or more. Lately he’s been in them more frequently, and last night was the first time I found out his name."
Mike said, "She’s right. We’ve been sharing dreams for years, and never knew each other’s names until last night."
Leann laughed and turned to her sister. "Okay, Sis, you got me. The jokes over now. Who is this guy really, and does he have a younger brother? If he does, fix me up with him."
Lorelei looked her sister in the eye and said, "Look at me, Leann. I’m not smiling, and this is not a joke. You know I wouldn’t lie to you. What he said is really happening."
Leann looked at her sister then at Mike. "You realize that what you’re saying is impossible. Okay, I’ll go along with this because you both seem serious, but it had better not turn out to be a joke on me. How did you find her, Mike?"
"I had driven Lorelei home last night in my dream, and I remembered the way here after I woke up."
She had an impish grin on her face when she asked, "Did you spend the night with her?"
Mike laughed and Lorelei scowled at her sister and said, "That’s none of your business, Leann."
Leann laughed and said, "That explains why you were so restless last night. I heard you tossing and turning until almost morning."
Lorelei changed the subject by saying, "I’m starved, has everyone else eaten breakfast?"
Leann said, "Mike was eating when you came down, but didn’t finish. I waited for you. Let’s go into the kitchen and have breakfast, and after that we’ll work together to find out what’s really happening with you two."
…
Lorelei came up with an idea to prove whether they actually shared the same dream, or if it all was just one very unlikely coincidence. Mike waited outside in the gazebo while she had Leann write down all of the events in her dream. When she was finished, Leann folded up the paper so it couldn’t be read, and called Mike in to join them.
She handed him the paper when he sat down, and said, "Put this in your pocket without looking at it. This is Lorelei’s version of her dream. After you finish telling me your version, we’ll compare it with the one you’re keeping."
Mike read Lorelei’s version after he finished telling his. "Her dream is exactly the same as mine."
Leann turned and said to both of them, "Either you two have staged an elaborate hoax, or there’s a lot we don’t understand about dreams. I can’t accept the hoax theory, because I know my sister well enough to know she would never do such a thing to me. I better leave you two alone. You have a lot to talk about."
…
Lorelei and Mike spent a lot of time comparing dreams, and discovered they had known each other a long time. The biggest mystery to them was why their last shared dream seemed to be designed to bring them together. What mysterious force intervened to let the dreamers actually meet, and discover that their dream lover wasn’t a dream at all?
Whatever the reason, they decided to take advantage of the opportunity fate had provided, and eventually married. They never did share a dream after that, probably because there was no need to. Their dreams had already come true.
The End
He was almost past the hitchhiker before his headlights showed she was an attractive young woman, and obviously in distress from the way she was flagging him down. He had passed a beat up old car with the hood up a mile or so back, and figured it probably belonged to her.
His policy about hitchhikers was simple, never pick one up unless it’s a pretty woman, so he pulled over about a half of a block past her, and watched in the side mirror as she ran to where he was parked. The mirror and the moonlight made it plain that his first impression was inadequate. She was a lot more than just pretty, she was stunning in her cut-off jeans and halter-top, and for some reason she looked very familiar. He judged her age to be close to his own, mid to late twenties, as he pushed the passenger door open just before she got to it. She gave him a quick glance then climbed in and shut the door.
She pushed her long blonde hair from her eyes and smiled at him as she caught her breath. After a few seconds she said, "Thanks for stopping. My car broke down a ways back and I was worried I might have to walk all the way home. It’s kind of scary out there when it’s such a dark night. I really appreciate the ride."
He grinned at her and replied, "My pleasure, Ma’am. How far are you going?"
"The side-road to my house is up about five miles. I can walk from there. My name’s Lorelei by the way. Are you from around here? You look so familiar, I’m sure I’ve met you before."
"Lorelei, that’s a nice name. My name is Mike, and no, I’m not from around here. This is the first time I’ve ever been within a hundred miles of here. Is there a coffee shop or something along this road? I’ve been driving for seven hours straight and I’m getting a little bleary eyed, and I probably should find a motel too."
She looked at him sympathetically and said, "All of the restaurants are closed until morning. I’m afraid there’s nothing open at this time of night. This highway doesn’t get much use anymore since the new Interstate went through, and most of the motels went out of business."
They were quiet for a minute or two before she spoke again. "My turn is just ahead, and to the right. You can drop me off there."
He pulled his car over at the crossroad and stopped. "Thanks for breaking up the monotony, Lorelei. It’s been nice meeting you. Maybe I can stay awake until I get to a motel now."
She started to get out of the car, then stopped. "I just had a thought. If you don’t mind going a few blocks out of your way to my house, I can fix you up with a cup or two of coffee, and a sandwich to go with it. It’s the least I can do to repay you."
He thought about her offer. She seemed to sincerely want to repay him for his help. Maybe this could turn into more than just coffee and a snack. She wasn’t only attractive, he had a feeling she was a genuinely nice person.
"Thank you, Lorelei. That’s a very kind offer, and I’d feel better knowing you got home safely."
She shifted a little closer to him as she slid back into the car and said, "It’s sweet of you to think about my safety, Mike. I think it’ll be nice to get to know you better. We’ll have time to talk while you have your coffee. I’ll make sure it’s fresh and hot."
Mike looked at her face in the moonlight, and her smile told him the coffee wasn’t the only thing that might be fresh and hot. He followed her directions through the winding roads to her house and parked where she told him.
The house looked rundown, and there were no lights showing. He thought it odd he hadn’t seen any other houses on the long drive to her home, but put it out of his mind as he followed her to the front door.
She turned as she opened the door and said, "We’ll have to be quiet. My baby sister is sleeping, and I don’t want to wake her."
He followed her into the kitchen, and she shut the door behind them. "We can talk now; she can’t hear us. I’ll start the coffee while you make yourself comfortable at the table."
He watched Lorelei as she started the coffee and made roast beef sandwiches to go with it. The moonlight hadn’t done her justice. She was even more beautiful in the full light. He could see the sparkle in her emerald green eyes, and the small dimples in her cheeks when she smiled. He let his eyes roam over her body as she moved. The devil wouldn’t have to be much of a salesman to get most women to give up their souls for Lorelei’s body. Hers wasn’t the body of a tall, skinny lingerie model. Her figure was the epitome of female sexuality; designed by nature to attract men like a flower attracts bees for pollination.
In spite of his fatigue, he felt himself responding to her silent call and fought back the urge to go to her, and take her in his arms. He was wishing he knew her well enough to do that when she brought the coffee and sandwiches to the table, and sat down next to him.
"Enjoy the coffee and sandwiches, Mike. If it wasn’t for you I’d be walking down a dark road right now probably scared half to death. I wish there were more I could do to repay you for your kindness."
He suppressed the thoughts that came to his mind and said, "Thank you, Lorelei. I’m just glad I came along and saw you walking. I don’t like to see anyone stranded on a lonely road at night, especially a woman. I needed a break from driving anyway. I think I was half-asleep when I saw you standing there, and I almost didn’t see you. You may have saved me from having an accident. I should be thanking you."
"I was pretty scared out on the road alone, and it must be what made me do something stupid. The reason you almost didn’t see me was because I was trying not to be seen unless it was someone I knew. I had no intention of accepting a ride from a strange man, but the next thing I knew I was flagging you down, then inviting you to my home besides. It was almost like I didn’t have a choice. You must think I’m crazy, Mike."
"I wondered why you trusted me so easily, but I don’t think you’re crazy. Strange things have been going through my mind too. I shouldn’t have been on that road at all. It’s over fifty miles further than if I had taken the Interstate, and I don’t even know anybody around here. I had the same feeling you mentioned, like I didn’t have a choice."
He paused for a second then continued. "There’s something else strange too. You said I looked familiar. That’s the same feeling I had when I saw you, like I’ve known you for a long time, but can’t quite remember from where."
"That’s my feeling exactly, Mike." She paused to think for a moment then said, "You’re too tired to drive anymore tonight. Unless you’re in a big hurry to leave, why don’t we sit and talk for awhile, then I’ll find a place for you to get some sleep. The sofa’s not too bad to sleep on, and it comes with breakfast."
Mike thought about her offer. He wasn’t in a real hurry to get where he was going, and he was tired. Maybe it would be smart to catch a few winks. Besides, it would mean he could spend more time with her, and he was curious to find out why she looked so familiar. He was almost certain he knew her from somewhere, and her smiles and the way she moved told him she was interested in him as a man. He was just about to accept her offer when she put her hand on his, looked into his eyes, and smiled.
"I’ll take your silence as a yes, Mike. I know what’s going through your mind, and I want you to know I’m not the least nervous about having you here. I feel like I’ve known you for years, and also you’re a very attractive man who helped me in my time of need. I’m still trying to return your kindness so I’ll make sure your stay with me is a very pleasant one. If there’s anything you want, feel free to help yourself, and I do mean anything. What’s mine is yours as long as you’re here."
He smiled as the meaning of her words sunk into his mind and said, "It would be impolite of me to refuse such a gracious offer, Lorelei. I’ll get my suitcase from the car."
"You won’t need that tonight. You can get it in the morning. Just sit and enjoy your sandwiches and coffee while I get things set up for you. I’ll be back in a few minutes, then we’ll talk."
She was as good as her word, and returned in just a few minutes, wearing a robe loosely tied. She crossed her legs as she sat down causing her robe to open; exposing her perfectly shaped thighs for a moment until she casually pulled the robe across her knees. He wondered if she had done it deliberately to let him know for sure that when she said anything he wanted was his, that’s what she meant.
Mike was the first to speak. "Tell me about yourself, Lorelei. How did you and your baby sister come to be living out here in the boonies? I’m assuming your sister isn’t really a baby."
She laughed lightly and said, "No, Leann’s not even close to being a baby. I should stop calling her that since she just turned twenty-two recently. I’m four years older than she is. You’ll meet her in the morning. I should warn you, she’s a kidder. I’m sure she’ll be teasing us a lot about you spending the night. As for this house, it’s been in our family for generations. My grandfather left it to Leann and I when he died last year. There are so many good memories here that neither of us can bear the thought of selling it. We’ve decided to spend the summer fixing it up, and then we plan to rent it out to some nice family. Now it’s your turn. Tell me about yourself."
"There isn’t anything exciting to tell. I was on my way to spend some time with a friend, and do some fishing during my vacation. I’m a self-employed computer-programming consultant, so I kind of set my own working hours, and I’m single with no commitments to anyone in particular. I’m twenty-eight years old, and grew up about two hundred miles from here near Kensington. How about you, I don’t see a ring on your finger?"
She grinned at his last words and answered, "I’m flattered you took the time to look, Mike. I don’t have any commitments to anyone either. I’ve had my share of offers, but none of them has been what I’m looking for in a man."
"What is it you’re looking for, Lorelei? I think I might like applying for the position."
"I think I might like that. Let me think about it overnight, and we’ll talk some more in the morning. Finish your coffee, and I’ll show you where you’ll be sleeping, but be quiet so we don’t wake up my sister."
She took his hand when his cup was empty and led him to the living room where she had fixed up the couch for him. He didn’t release her hand but pulled her closer instead. She didn’t resist when he kissed her, but the tears in her eyes when he released her took him by surprise. He started to speak until she put her fingers to his lips to quiet him.
"Please don’t say anything, just listen. Whatever it was that made me flag you down and bring you to my house is working on me again. Every part of me wants to take you to my bed. If I let it happen I’ll be doing something that’s totally against my nature. Please don’t tempt me because I won’t be able to resist. Let me get to know you better first."
Mike saw how serious she was and replied, "I understand, Lorelei. Good night."
"Good Night, Mike," she answered as she turned to leave, "Sleep well."
***
The sun coming through the car windows, along with the cold, woke Mike from his sleep. His body was stiff from sleeping in the cramped back seat after he had gotten too tired to drive anymore. He crawled out of the car and stretched to loosen up his muscles, and smiled to himself as he remembered the dream he had that night, and the girl. He’d dreamt about her before and sometimes liked to think about her even when he was awake. She was his dream girl, and last night he finally learned her name. He started the car, and continued on his journey.
The sight of the old car alongside the road, with its hood up, brought the entire dream back into his memory. It was the same car, as impossible as it seemed. There was no mistaking it or the location it was in. He pulled over in front of the car, and walked back towards it. There was a note under the wiper blade that said, ‘Transmission out. Will return with wrecker in the morning. Please don’t tow’. The note was signed, ‘George’.
He was confused as he started driving again, but finally decided it was just a strange coincidence. He drove for a ways further then stopped abruptly and made a U-turn back to the crossroad he had just passed. The more he looked at the crossroad, the more he was sure it was the one he had dreamt about. The big cottonwood tree on the corner was unmistakably the same as the one in his dream. His mind was in a whirl of thought as he tried to explain everything away, but he couldn’t do it. He did the only reasonable thing he could think of, and turned down the road.
He searched his memory for the correct turns, as he followed the narrow gravel road he had traveled in his dream. If he had done everything right her house would be around the next bend. His heart began to pound as the old rundown house came into view, and he stopped the car to regain control of his emotions. There had to be a logical explanation for all that was happening. Once he was sure he was under control, he turned the car down the driveway, and walked to the house.
He looked closely at the young girl who answered his knock. The resemblance was strong, but she definitely wasn’t the girl from his dreams. He tried to stay calm as he said, "Hello, I’m looking for a girl named Lorelei. Have I got the right house?"
She grinned up at him and said, "She’s my older sister, and I have to say her taste in men friends is improving. Come on in, and I’ll get the lazy thing out of bed. You’re just in time for breakfast."
The house was exactly as he remembered it. She took him to the kitchen, told him to sit down, then said, "My name's Leann, what’s yours?"
"Mike," he answered as his mind fought against the possibility that he was back in his dream.
"Well, Mike, I’ll go tell her you’re here, but you can expect to wait awhile. I know my sister well enough to know she’ll want to fix herself up a bit. Especially when I tell her how good looking you are. I’ll be right back."
Leann came back in a few minutes. "She says she doesn’t know you, but to give you breakfast anyway if you haven’t eaten. I’m giving you breakfast even if you have eaten just to keep you here, so don’t argue about it. You look real nervous for some reason, and I don’t want you running off."
He smiled at her and tried to stay calm as she busied herself setting food in front of him. "Start eating, Mike, and relax a little. I’ve never known my sister to bite anyone, unless she was just playing, and I never bite."
Leann kept chattering away in her friendly manner, as he ate the food she put in front of him, and he decided he liked her. He couldn’t help but laugh at some of the things she said, and felt comfortable for the first time since he came through the door. He heard the kitchen door open, and stood up quickly as Lorelei walked through the door. There was no question in his mind; she was the same girl he had been dreaming about, as impossible as it was. Her face turned pale when she saw him standing there.
She stared for a moment then said, "It can’t be you. I must be going out of my mind. It’s not possible, so I must still be dreaming… Oh, God, I feel dizzy."
He moved quickly to catch her as she went into a faint, and carried her to the couch in the next room. Leann ran to get some cold water to put on her face, and eventually Lorelei regained consciousness. Her eyes were opened wide as she stared at him without speaking. He felt himself begin to panic when she didn’t say anything, and fought to keep calm for her sake.
His own hand was shaking when he took her hand and said, "Please, Lorelei, listen to me. You’re not asleep and you haven’t gone mad. I can’t explain what’s happened, but it’s real. Try to get control of yourself then we’ll discuss it. Close your eyes and rest a minute."
She lay with her eyes closed for several minutes before looking back at him. She sat up carefully, and stared at him. "I’m okay now. Give me a few minutes to think."
Leann had been watching quietly, and finally turned to Mike for an answer. "Okay, I give up trying to figure out what’s going on here. This doesn’t make any sense. You come to the house acting like a nervous wreck, then she comes down, takes one look at you, and passes out. What the hell is this all about?"
"I’m not sure myself, Leann, but I’m beginning to think Lorelei and I may be sharing the same dreams. She seemed to recognize me just as I did her. I won’t know for sure until we get a chance to talk."
"What are you, Mike? Some kind of whacko, that’s the silliest thing I’ve ever heard anyone say with a straight face."
Lorelei sat up and said, "No, Leann, it’s not so silly. It’s the only answer that makes any sense. Mike has been in my dreams for several years or more. Lately he’s been in them more frequently, and last night was the first time I found out his name."
Mike said, "She’s right. We’ve been sharing dreams for years, and never knew each other’s names until last night."
Leann laughed and turned to her sister. "Okay, Sis, you got me. The jokes over now. Who is this guy really, and does he have a younger brother? If he does, fix me up with him."
Lorelei looked her sister in the eye and said, "Look at me, Leann. I’m not smiling, and this is not a joke. You know I wouldn’t lie to you. What he said is really happening."
Leann looked at her sister then at Mike. "You realize that what you’re saying is impossible. Okay, I’ll go along with this because you both seem serious, but it had better not turn out to be a joke on me. How did you find her, Mike?"
"I had driven Lorelei home last night in my dream, and I remembered the way here after I woke up."
She had an impish grin on her face when she asked, "Did you spend the night with her?"
Mike laughed and Lorelei scowled at her sister and said, "That’s none of your business, Leann."
Leann laughed and said, "That explains why you were so restless last night. I heard you tossing and turning until almost morning."
Lorelei changed the subject by saying, "I’m starved, has everyone else eaten breakfast?"
Leann said, "Mike was eating when you came down, but didn’t finish. I waited for you. Let’s go into the kitchen and have breakfast, and after that we’ll work together to find out what’s really happening with you two."
…
Lorelei came up with an idea to prove whether they actually shared the same dream, or if it all was just one very unlikely coincidence. Mike waited outside in the gazebo while she had Leann write down all of the events in her dream. When she was finished, Leann folded up the paper so it couldn’t be read, and called Mike in to join them.
She handed him the paper when he sat down, and said, "Put this in your pocket without looking at it. This is Lorelei’s version of her dream. After you finish telling me your version, we’ll compare it with the one you’re keeping."
Mike read Lorelei’s version after he finished telling his. "Her dream is exactly the same as mine."
Leann turned and said to both of them, "Either you two have staged an elaborate hoax, or there’s a lot we don’t understand about dreams. I can’t accept the hoax theory, because I know my sister well enough to know she would never do such a thing to me. I better leave you two alone. You have a lot to talk about."
…
Lorelei and Mike spent a lot of time comparing dreams, and discovered they had known each other a long time. The biggest mystery to them was why their last shared dream seemed to be designed to bring them together. What mysterious force intervened to let the dreamers actually meet, and discover that their dream lover wasn’t a dream at all?
Whatever the reason, they decided to take advantage of the opportunity fate had provided, and eventually married. They never did share a dream after that, probably because there was no need to. Their dreams had already come true.
The End
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