DISCLAIMER: I wrote this around 12:30 this morning. It started as a dream, then I woke up, realized how bizarre it was, & decided I needed to write it down. So, I spent an hour in the middle of the night writing this odd story. *It's also not finished*
Someone is in the house. Someone who doesn't live here. I'm in bed. I was asleep. My parents are asleep - my brother, too. Who's here? They need to leave. They don't belong here!
They're on the stairs. I can hear them ascending. Shit. What do I do? Do I stay in bed? Do I rush to my parents? What if they get to my parents first? What if they've already gotten to my brother? Oh God! What do I do?!
They're coming toward my door. They're whispering...counting...I hear a creak...
I'm awake again. How did I fall asleep?! There were intruders in our house! I heard them! How did I fall asleep knowing there was someone in the house?!
I open my eyes. Oh my God!! This can't be real. I must be dreaming.
No way! Impossible!
There's a lion on my bed! How did I fall asleep with a lion on my bed?! How can I still be alive? Unharmed? Unscathed?
He senses me - my anxiety. He looks at me. I'm frightened. Terrified. He's staring at me. What is he thinking? Am I breakfast? Should I try to run? Scream?
No. Stay calm. Breathe. He'll feed on my fear. Be calm & he won't hurt me.
[Easier said than done, of course.]
My heart is racing. Sweat breaks over my brow. What do I do?
Oh no. He's moving. He's standing up on my bed! Oh God! He's towering over me. So tall, so strong.
He sits. Still staring at me. Finally...he yawns & goes to sleep. There's a lion asleep in my bed.
I slowly - painstakingly slow, so as not to wake the lion - creep out of my bed. I crawl toward the door. Tiptoe down the hall to my parents' bedroom. Sound asleep. Do they even know someone broke in last night? I go to Mom's side of the bed. I quietly try to wake her. She starts - immediately wondering what's wrong - why I am waking her.
I say nothing, but motion for her to follow me. We tiptoe back down the hall toward my door. I signal for her to remain quiet. Slowly, I push open the door. There lies the lion - asleep in my bed. Mom gasps & instantly my hands are on her to keep her quiet - not knowing what the lion will do when he wakes.
Mom & I are downstairs in the kitchen. We're looking to see what food we have to offer the lion. There's some raw chicken in the fridge - but not enough to satisfy a hungry lion. Our only other option is dog food. We quickly decide to get more food for the lion & to re-stock our dog food supply. Then comes the realization that the dog is still in the house. When she wakes up, she'll bark in an effort to make sure everyone else is up. That will surely wake up the lion, whom Mom & I have dubbed "Mufasa" & "Aslan."
We climb the stairs. Mom will wake Dad to explain our new resident & to send him out for food. My job is to check on "Aslan" momentarily & then get the dog outside before all hell breaks loose. Today is not the day for a battle between cats & dogs.
On my way outside with our dog, Zoe, I stop to wake up my brother, Michael. I quickly tell him about "Mufasa" & he laughs in disbelief. I let the dog out & take Michael to my room.
One look at the sleeping beast & Michael is hooked! He wants to touch him, see him up close. Of course, I usher him downstairs & outside with the dog in order to get some quiet in the house. Mom & I need to brainstorm.
Do we call the police? The zoo? Animal control?
Is there even a protocol for something like this? I can see the headlines now: "Lion Found in Girl's Bed," "Small Dog Lives in Peace with Lion King," "Family Adopts Lion."
Before a decision can be made, I hear a thump & a soft, low growl from my room. He's awake. Mom rushes to get the raw chicken & dog food in a bowl before he comes downstairs. Then she pauses to debate whether the food should go in a bowl, on a plate, or just on the floor. I panic, "Just put it on the floor!"
He's on the stairs! I try not to react; try to stay as calm as possible.
I see him - in the living room. He turns, catches my eye. What is he thinking?! Is he going to eat us? Eat all of our food? Leave?
He approaches me. Sits down at my feet. He's nearly eye-level with me. He yawns again, looks at me - "Hello," he says. The lion said "hello" to me! He spoke!
He walks into the kitchen, greets my mother [who is beside herself with shock] & consumes the meal she has prepared for him. Moments later, he thanks my mother for his breakfast, looks out the door & tells me to bring in Michael & Zoe. ["Tell Michael to come inside, & to bring Zoe with him."] He knows their names! How?!
I obey the lion, wondering at the same time how odd it is to be taking orders from a lion!
Meanwhile, Dad has just come home with an assortment of food for the lion. Naturally, he doesn't believe us when we tell him the lion spoke to us.
The lion summons us into the living room, where he has taken over the couch. We sit on the floor in front of him, curious if he'll pounce on us.
Silence.
The lion takes a few moments to look at each of us, but doesn't speak. I break the silence, "What were you doing in my bed this morning?" The lion laughs [&shakes the house with his thunderous laugh]. He says, "Bridget, I am here to protect you & your family. Someone came into your home last night. Their intention was to hurt you & I came to chase them away. You were so scared when you heard them, your heart was racing - I could sense it from the hall - you must have fainted before I came in. Even in sleep you were terrified. So I stayed to watch over you. I didn't sleep until you were awake this morning."
Silence.
