Damn You Chicken Little

{Author note: the childhood dreams in the first part of this story are true, and then to a great extent the technology in the second part actually exists, some of it personally experienced}

Oh! My heart is thumping so hard I’m afraid it may leap from my chest.

This is the very thing I dreamed about when I was little Katie Jo. What I had never imagined in the waking state was that some day it could actually exist.

From the time I was around five till probably nine, I had a recurring dream, always so vivid and still in full force upon waking, unlike so many that go into rapid retreat almost before your eyes are fully open. It would take place outside in an open area, like a park or field where I would be sitting on the ground with my back against a tree, gazing upward.

Why upward? Because of the most startling aspect of the dream. Up there, in the sky, large images were moving over the clouds, people, places, patterns, different every time. And it seemed to last a very long time.

It was exciting, but at the same time unsettling. There were pictures where they weren’t supposed to be. How could that happen? Who made it happen?

Even in the dream I knew this was unnatural, a frightening departure from reality. Sometimes I would sense danger and run home as fast as I could, then watch out the window.

In the morning I would pinch myself to make sure I was really awake and safe. Even so, I would still remain enveloped in the memory, reliving every detail. And the effect would stay with me for the rest of the day, sometimes longer.

I never told anyone about this. Despite it being scary, I didn’t want to hear it could never happen in real life because I kind of hoped someday it could. It was a tug of war between fear and hope.

As time went by the cloud dreams became less frequent. By the time I’d evolved to just Kate, my dreaming diminished overall and any overnight scenes were more likely related to marriage, kids, my job as a clerk at a big city law firm, then yeah divorce and relocation to this small California coastal town and my new job in a law office here.

It’s been a long time since I’ve even thought about those other dreams. But just moments ago, that all changed.

It started innocently enough. During the evening news the TV anchor on our local station introduced the commercial break by telling us to stay tuned because there’d be big news about a phenomenal event coming to our Oceanside Park.

Without even knowing what it would be, my immediate thought was that this could be a great opportunity to meet some new friends. In my two months here I’d had conversations only with service people and my next store neighbor Bonnie, assistant to the mayor and, like me, recently divorced, kids grown and on their own.

It was when the station came back from the break and made that announcement that time stood still. It was like a miracle unfolding, as if those dreams had almost been prophecy.

And now with my heart gone wild I’m wrapping my mind around what I just heard - that a high tech company would be conducting demos in small towns across the country featuring “images in the air and maybe all the way to the sky.” And one would be happening right here in our park.

The span between now and Saturday seems like an eternity and I decide to fill some of the waiting hours by looking into this technology that I didn’t even know really existed. Hello, Google.

Fascinating! I’m discovering a whole new world that’s actually creating more than one way to dazzle us with airborne images.

One uses nothing more than an inexpensive laser and – can you believe this – dust particles! These they say are quite small but can be moved around in a way that gives the impression of a solid form. Some folks believe this procedure could have application in such fields as medicine and aviation.

Another technology employs laser beams on a grander scale, using powerful devices to suspend realistic-looking objects from like eye level to high in the air, the latter sometimes reaching maybe 150 feet or more. They move, change shape, morph into other images which may be people, inanimate items, logos and even text. This same kind of effect can also be achieved by programming the movement and LED light patterns of a herd of drones.

And so there it is, the stuff of my dreams. And oddly, the research shows that it’s actually based on a development that goes back to 1879. Yikes, maybe I was channeling the past as much as glimpsing the future.

Yes! Projections onto the clouds! For real! So, of course, there has to be clouds but in our seaside town that’s pretty much a daily occurrence. I can hardly, hardly, hardly, wait.

And finally – finally! – the day is here. If it was agony getting through the time since the announcement, it’s triply so in the hours until the 6pm spectacle. I throw myself into a whirlwind of cooking, cleaning, organizing, emptying some remaining boxes.

And finally – finally! – the clock delivers the welcome news that it’s time to get ready to leave. Dressed in a smart new casual outfit I bought just for the occasion, I head for the door. A little yip. I look down into the sweet pug face of my Daisy, her big eyes asking as clearly as actual words, Me too?

I briefly consider it, but then think strangers and strangeness may be a bit much for her gentle soul. Instead I reassure her that when I get home we’ll have our nightly ritual of liver treats for her and a little snifter of cream sherry for me.

As I work my way through the throngs at the park, I wave to some of the folks who’d worked on my house. But soon realize I really want to do this alone, and instead of socializing I find a quiet place to, yes, sit on the grass with my back against a tree. Surprisingly, a tiny shiver of fear visits from the past.

Bouncy music begins playing, and here we go. The initial demos are not, I must say, as elaborate as I’d hoped. We all hoot and holler anyway as the objects continue to appear, and in fairness they are indeed hovering above the ground.

In short order it all disappears and the crowd noise does a gradual fade as if someone were slowly turning down the volume. We can only just imagine what’s coming next.

I can see the equipment operators, just feet away from me, working a keyboard, adjusting dials, sliding levers, and moving different equipment into position. And the clouds have cooperated in a big way, floating massive formations overhead.

Oh, the park lights just shut off, and now we sit in total darkness save for a few boats’ running lights and their reflection on the waves which seem to have grown louder but maybe it’s just because everything now is so quiet. Now here comes the music again, this time more dramatic.

The tune continues at a steady pace, and then suddenly bursts into a thundering blast that had to have come from like a zillion-pipe organ. And then there it is! We’re all brightly illuminated by a projection that completely covers the under surface of a sky-filling cloud directly above us. The music returns to a normal level, and we’re treated to a pastoral scene overhead.

From our perspective we’re looking across a sun-lit, crystal clear pond, home to shimmering goldfish and swaying neon green underwater plants. It’s encircled by trees with rainbow leaves where song birds carry their concert from branch to branch, while bunnies scamper here and there. Colorful flowers line a pathway that meanders through the landscape. And a brilliantly blue sky arches over all. I imagine like me most are transfixed, trying to take it all in.

Next we’re, in effect, moving along that path, away from the pond and into the woods. There are fewer flowers along the way and then none at all. The trees are different too, dark and dense, and little sunlight can come through.

Now the image has us approaching a weather-beaten cabin, continuing right up to a door barely hanging onto its hinges. It opens onto a sparse room lit only by a dim, broken bulb. Two shadowy figures sit next to two very large canisters. Ooooo, this is a bit scary.

The figures pick up the canisters and then start moving downward a bit. Wait, my dreams didn’t have this component at all. Is it intentional, an equipment failure, operator error? I look at the workers and they are calmly going about their business. In that case, kudos for achieving an even greater effect.

The figures continue their descent, a little quicker now, and I see people looking around and at each other as murmurs ripple through the crowd. That negligible bit of fear I’d felt rises a few notches. That’s silly though, right, they’re just images.

But now, oh this isn’t right. The cloud is coming down too.

The music rises to the level of the first blast, but now stays there, pounding, pounding, pounding. Unbelievably even above that assault on the ears we can hear the waves now crashing hard into the shore. The wind picks up and picnic things start blowing around. And the cloud and figures continue coming closer and closer. Suddenly words appear above their heads, “Good-bye.” Does that mean it’s the end of the program?

I again look over at the operators and for whatever reason they look back at me. And it's jolting because something seems very wrong about them. I’ve no sooner registered that turn of events when the figures in the image snap the lids off their canisters and fill the air with what looks like multi-colored glitter.

The lowering cloud, even brighter now, begins overtaking the figures, the canisters, the message, and the glitter, some of the latter suspended, some settling upon us. And now we too are completely inside this mysterious fog.

If this is their finale it’s actually pretty darn impressive. But wait. People are coughing. And now I am too, my throat, my nose, my eyes, my very skin starting to burn. And I am as terrified as I’ve ever been in my entire life.

Right here, right now, the mayhem I feared in my dreams is happening. Somehow my childhood instincts knew there would be danger if this technology ever came to pass. Why didn’t I heed those warnings?

But who is it that’s manipulating the technology? Are these figures demon robots? Is this a terrorist attack? It’s all so bizarre, the thought of aliens even crosses my mind.

I reach for my cellphone to call the police, but now there are sirens, and with the station so close I soon hear officers confronting the operators, though I can’t see anything through the cloud. Then, awful groans and their voices are no more.

Is this why they chose small towns, to see what it takes to overpower law enforcement. Are we tragic small scale test cases?

Now I do grab the phone, though with no immediate idea of who could provide help or even answers. Doesn’t matter, no signal. I stop trying to figure anything out and turn all my attention to pure survival.

I wonder if I can even find my way out of here since the blinding, glitter-infused cloud has now reduced visibility to zero. I’m going to try anyway – but – no. My legs are trembly, useless, won’t support my weight, and I slide down the tree back to the ground.

I hurt everywhere and it’s getting harder and harder to breathe. So grateful that I didn’t bring my beloved Daisy, and take comfort knowing any one of the kids will be happy to take her in. Because clearly there’s no good ending here.

Will I be a captive? A hostage? Dead? Despair washes over me as I collapse to the ground, cover my whole face with my hands, and as best I can just shut down.

But then . . .

Am I sensing a slight change taking place? My breathing may be improving. My hands are at my sides though I don’t remember moving them. Legs feel calm. And no pain. Without any clue what I’m about to see, slowly, slowly, open my eyes. And . . .

I’m looking at my living room ceiling, clearly on my own couch. I’m wearing a t-shirt and cutoffs. Not a trace of glitter. The clock on the opposite wall shows 4:30.

Out of decades ago habit I pinch myself. Yep, a damn dream! Wore myself out with all that housework and laid down to “rest my eyes,” but obviously fell asleep. And of course this would be the dream that would time travel to prank my brain.

Still a little shaken, I ease off the couch, wondering if I even want to go to the event now. What? Miss the very experience that so long ago fired up my fears at night and my hopes in daytime.

Nope!

So, a shower it is and into that new outfit. A glance out the window reveals clouds galore. Hooray, we’re going to see the full show, all the way to the sky!

Feeling pretty much back to normal now, but even so I decide to call Bonnie to ask if she’s going and if maybe we can head over together. She says, Oh yes Kate! I’m dying to see this! I gulp, recover, tell her, Meet you out front.

As we walk to the park I casually suggest that she ask the mayor about increasing funding for our police force. At the park we settle down against adjacent trees.

And it begins! These prelims are breathtaking! Lively recorded music accompanies fun images as they kick gravity to the curb, dancing in midair, competing for best in show.

We see a couple stepping to a tango, an adorable puppy chasing a ball {Daisy’d love that}, a racecar doing donuts, a giant pizza that pulls apart into slices that perform a syncopated routine, canned goods that arrange themselves into a succession of landmarks, and more.

Now the cloud projections! And it’s everything I’d hoped for - dreamt about actually - immersing us in fabulous scenes from around the world. All complete with splashy colors. 3-D images, festive music. Everyone is caught up in the enchantment. All’s well that ends well.

And then, wait, no, no, no it can’t be.

That cloud . . . is coming down.

I pinch myself.

Nothing.

- end -