I awaken in a garden. I’m surrounded by sunflowers seven feet tall. There must be hundreds of them. I’m in a pink velvet wingback chair. Did i fly here to wherever i am?

I look up. The sky is clear blue, not a wisp of white. It’s cool like mid autumn. I bend my head back to feel the warmth of the sun on my face for a minute. I’m sleepy. Maybe i’m still asleep?

I hear music. I think it’s something by Liszt. It’s coming from my left. I look in that direction, and see a path through the garden. It’s so long i can’t see where it starts, but it ends where i sit; in the center of a sunflowerless circle, about ten feet around. It’s like a crop circle.

I look straight ahead. I stand, but feel dizzy. I stretch then feel better, but i’m tired. I notice how beautiful it is here. Maybe if i rest awhile, and relax, i’ll wake from this dream and be in my own bed.

The sun is shining, but it’s not too hot. The chair is comfortable, and i adore sunflowers. They appear in my dreams often. Yes, that’s it. I’ll sit down again and drift away. If only i had a cocktail. A dirty martini with three olives would be perfect.

I sit in the soft chair and close my eyes. I hear Liszt again, but i can’t name the piece.

Is the music coming from the sunflowers themselves? It’s a little louder this time.

I close my eyes and prepare to dream, but before a minute passes, i hear a voice on my left..

I hope i’m not disturbing you, Miss Eugenia. But here is the martini you asked for to drink before your flight.

I play along, because why not?

It’s the dirty martini i just thought of. I say, thank you. And you are?

Why, you know me, Miss Eugenia. I’m the Inn’s night bartender, Forrest Crowne.

It’s only now that i notice that Forrest is a Jaguar.

I smile and say, thank you again, Forrest. This is my favorite as you know. I take the drink from the tray and realize an end table has appeared next to my chair. I think what next?

But of course. I look straight ahead and see, five feet across from me, another wingback chair, but this one is purple velvet, and in it sits a gorgeous and regal tuxedo cat.

I laugh out loud. I can’t help myself.

Kitty says, with perfect grammar, Eugenia, at what do you laugh?

Oh, i’m not laughing at you. I’m laughing and intrigued because this is the most bizarre dream i’ve had in ages. I’m enjoying it.

Ah, you think this is a dream?

Well, isn’t it? Maybe i should know this already, but what is your name and how long have we known each other?

Kitty looks puzzled and says, my name is Annette, and you and i have known each other since i was three hundred and you were five.

I don’t laugh this time. This is only a dream. I’ll wake up soon. This is just like that whole season of Dallas, the TV show. Pam has a dream. That crappy season is just a dream. She wakes up and finds Bobby in the shower or whatever. Yeah. That’s it. Maybe i’ll wake up in my own shower, or in my own bed or on my couch.

Annette watches me.

What are you thinking, Eugenia? If you don’t remember, you must have questions.

Forrest clears his throat. I’d forgotten he was there.

He says, if neither of you would like anything else, i should get back behind the bar.

I say, nope nothing for me. Annette purrs, showing she’s content and wants nothing else. Forrest heads back down the sunflower path.

I should have requested another martini. I have the urge to check my texts. I look around for my purse.

Annette says, it’s stowed under your chair, Eugenia, just like it is when you fly on a regular plane.

I want to laugh again, but i’m too freaked out. Where’s Forrest? I need a second martini.

Then i think, wait. I don’t have to sit here. I can get up and walk away. I can walk down the path like Forrest!

Annette says, it’s too late now, Eugenia. We leave in three minutes. You must stay.

I say, what? You can read minds, Annette?

No, but i can tell you’re afraid. You have no reason to be.

I sit back again and try to relax. What can happen? I’m sure i’ll wake up soon, hopefully within the next three minutes.

I gulp the rest of my martini. I’m not calm. Annette watches me with her sharp, cagey feline eyes.

Then, of all things, the sunflowers start to hum. I reach under my chair for my purse and pull out my phone.

Annette says, Eugenia, type fast. Only a minute and a half.

I text my friend, Camille. When the flowers started to sing, it dawned on me where i am. A year ago, Cam made a trip to this same place. It’s called Six Rubies. The innkeeper here recruited her to find Time. She found him with the help of a private investigator. Now i’m here, but how i got here and why i’m here, but about to fly off somewhere, i’ve no idea.

I text,

Camille. I’m in Six Rubies but about to leave. Come if you can. No idea how i got here. What the hell?

Okay, Eugenia. It’s time, says Annette. Your chair is in the upright position. Turn off your phone, and stow your bag under your chair.

I think, god, why didn’t i have another drink or three?

Annette says, close your eyes, and listen to the sunflowers. Focus on the flowers.

I hear them. They hum and then begin a chant. Lost time – find the hidden gems. Lost time – find the hidden gems.

I want to open my eyes, but i don’t dare.

Annette says, keep your eyes closed. Focus only on the sound.

The sunflowers’ chant is hypnotic. I feel like i’m floating. Am i? Or am i flying? The chanting grows fainter. I strain to hear, but now it’s too far away. All is quiet.

Okay, Eugenia. Open your eyes, but sit still.

I open my eyes, and Annette and i are indeed floating in our chairs. It’s nighttime, and the stars are bright, but they glow lavender. I’m relaxed. My legs tingle a little.

Annette looks supremely pleased with herself.

She says, look around. Isn’t it beautiful? We’ve been up here for two hours, but it doesn’t feel like it does it?

I try to look in all directions at once. I see Leo. He winks at me and waves a paw. There’s Aquarius. He flashes me the peace sign, and i send one back. And there’s Venus in a pink negligee walking her little Scottie.

I want to order another cocktail, and just as i think it, Forrest appears to my left…

Mary Raynes

I lie in bed, and i listen and wait. I turned off the fans, and i have all three windows open wide. The moon is full, and it’s hot. The crickets must be too tired and hot to sing. There’s only the fitted sheet on the bed, and i lie on top. No sheet or blanket over me. I don’t want to melt into a sweat puddle. No distractions unless i count the humidity, which i will myself to ignore. I want to hear the story when it begins.

The Innkeeper says it happens at midnight Friday morning. That doesn’t seem like the appropriate time for an event like this, but i have no say in it. It seems like it should be a weekend thing. You know, a Saturday thing.

There are three hundred sunflowers in the Inn’s garden. They bloom in July and August, again in November and December, and again in March and April. During the months in between, they sleep. They need the rest after so many late nights telling tales tall and not. Innkeeper says they’re immortal. Slumber for them, but no death. Time and Fate made sure of that centuries ago. The golden and brown beauties have been here longer than the Inn. They drink in rain when it comes. Their nourishment is stories, mostly those they tell, but they also listen carefully to the guests and goddesses

I’m here to listen and learn. My grandmother told me about the sunflowers when i was seven. From then on, i couldn’t get enough. Every time i visited, i wanted more about them, and more and more. I think Gran worried about me for awhile. She worried i was obsessed. But she enjoyed talking about them as much as i loved hearing their stories. She said each flower has a name and her own personality. Even Eris, the Goddess of Discord, loves them, and would never cause trouble for one.

I asked Gran if they’re always as nice as they are beautiful, and she said they are, but sometimes they tell sad or scary stories.

I’m here at Madeleine Six Rubies Inn to see and hear for myself. It’s quarter to midnight Thursday night, August 15th 2058. I came through time, and checked in here yesterday. I’m in Room 42. It’s the same room my Gran stayed in when she was here in August of 1946. I tried to make it here in 2016, but i didn’t make it. My flight was cancelled. You only get one shot every five years, and that’s if you have the right connections, both in flights, and people you know. I have no say in that either. It’s Fate. I’ll get to that later.

It’s midnight, and i hear a raven’s call. No sunflower whispers yet. I close my eyes to concentrate better. Still so hot. I sit up to down a glass of cool water. I have a full glass pitcher on my nightstand. I could get up and sit in the rocker right next to the east window, but i’m so tired. My trip from Portland was long. Two plane rides, four hours on a train, then a boat trip up the Sebasticook River. So no, i’ll stay on the bed, and listen from here. I must stay awake.

Now, something. I feel a lovely breeze through the east window. What a relief. A whisper rides the coolness. I hear, Camille.. Camille..

It’s addressing me, personally? I wasn’t expecting that. This Inn is usually full during August, but Innkeeper said last night that there are only guests in six of the rooms out of fifty. But then day before yesterday, i was in 2020, so who knows how things are nowadays.

Camille.. Camille! It’s time for our mid August mystery tale. This one is just for you. We’ve waited thirty eight years for you to hear your story.

My story? I say.

Then i wonder if they can hear me.

I say, i tried to get here, but every time, something or someone got in my way. My grandmother came here years ago. Which flower are you? What is your name? Gran told me about so many of you..

Then i remember that guests aren’t allowed to ask questions. It’s our job to listen. I zip my lip, and let the one who says she’s Stella M. continue….

Mary Raynes

PS. This is to be a serial tale in, i think, twelve parts. Then again, i love neverending stories, so one never knows. This is my first post here. It has been hard for me to write this year, but think i finally have my groove back. I waited a long time to be sure, so i wouldn’t start something and then just disappear. 🙂