Andrew+Lee

The streets of New York were as crowded as ever with bright yellow taxis zooming around or parked along the sidewalks. I was between recruiting appointments and had an hour to kill in my old neighborhood. I decided to see how things had changed. I hadn’t been back for 20 years. University, swimming competitions, lifeguarding, and coaching had kept me busy. Now my feet crunched on the gravel as I came upon some familiar sights. I saw the rusty old traintrack in the middle of some bushes and trees. A warm breeze blew the autumn leaves from the trees as they rustled to the ground. I turned the corner and was amazed to see Norton’s coffeshop was still open for business. I decided to pop in and see if the old man was still running the shop.

I was greeted at the counter by a young lady who looking thoughtfully at me as I studied the menu. “Ken, is that you?” she asked with an unusually high pitched voice. “Do I know you”? I replied. “I’m not from here, I’m just visiting.” I was shocked that she knew my name. “You really look like a guy who used to babysit me when I was a little girl.” I paused and let my mind wander to a summer when I was sixteen. “Are you?” She smiled and answered my question. “Ib?” “Yes I am.” “Look at you! You’re so grown up. I can’t believe I have run into you!” Ib laughed out loud “You should order you know, you’re holding up the line.” I glanced over my shoulder and indeed there was long lineup behind me. “I’ll have a small coffee.” I said quickly. “Coming right up.” She said with a quick smile. After I ordered a small coffee and took a seat in the corner and waited for her. Ib hurried to serve the last three customers and kept looking over at me with a big smile on her face. I remembered her as a bright little girl with a great imagination. After a few minutes she joined me at my table. “How have you been? What do you do for a living?” The questions poured out. “Well,” I began. “I graduated from university, took part in swimming competitions, coached swim teams and did a few good years of lifeguarding, at a pool about five blocks west of the Empire State Building”. “How about you?” I asked. “What have you been doing all these years? Ib folded her arms and frowned.

“What’s wrong?” I asked. “All these years, I’ve been searching for a strange tunnel that kept appearing in my dreams.” “A tunnel!” I exclaimed.” Remember when I was babysitting you and you led me to a tunnel? “Yes, I do she said, “What’s wrong?” I sighed. “I thought I lost you that day.” Ib’s eyes lit up. “Can we go on another exploration mission? Please?” she begged. Elizabeth hasn’t changed one bit this whole time. “No, I’m not really a fantasy person.” “Can’t you just do this for me?” she said with a big frown. “No I feel I am too old for these kinds of games. I have an appointment to go to so I will catch you later.” “Fine, I’m going to go by myself” I quickly got up and speed walked across the poorly decorated room. I started to remember all the nightmares I had right after I pulled Ib from the tunnel. I decided not to be a part of it anymore, and it was best to just avoid it. I walked to the city and looked for the address I was supposed to go to.

A few minutes later, I saw a brightly painted house in front of me. I glanced at the number, then back at the paper. “Here it is.” I said quietly. I knocked three times and waiting for an answer. “Come in.” said an extremely familiar voice? Who could that be? I thought in my head, as I opened the door. At the far corner of the room was a purple ballerina like fairy. “Kenny, Kenny, what’s your name,  What’s your name to get in the game?”