All Hallows

In the dream, he is sitting with his back to me. We are in a café somewhere, and sunlight floods the place. The details of the cafe are in sharp focus, as often happens in these dreams of mine. The chair in which he sits has a wrought iron back in an arabesque pattern, like the ones seen on balcony railings of older apartments.

From where I am standing I see only the back of his head, the black hair slicked down with brilliantine, carefully combed to a duck tail. Across the table from him is a woman, who wears dark glasses against the glare of the sun. Their right hands meet on the table top, which is of rose-colored marble. Perhaps there are coffee cups or wine glasses near at hand, but this detail is not clear or important, for the scene is transformed when the woman smiles. Her smile lights up her face. Her lips are a deep scarlet.

I stand there as an observer, not approaching them, and for all that I know or care they may be completely unaware of my presence.

A child in rags appears. She looks about seven or eight years old. She stands there barefoot and dirty, with her hand held out to the woman.

The man tries to shoo child away, with a brusque gesture. The woman knits her brows, looking across at the man. She says, ‘Give her some money.’

The man reaches into the pocket of his trousers and pulls out a handkerchief. As he does this, a shower of gold coins falls down to the tiled floor, but noiselessly. The little girl starts to pick up the coins, and then suddenly there are scores of children all around, grabbing at the coins.

The man and woman get up from the table, pushing their way through the crowd of children. As they walk away, I see that the woman is wearing high heels, and nylon stockings with seams.

The children gather up the coins. There is no sound. Only light.

At this point, I awaken.