The Dream that Saved My Job
Hilarious poem(at least I mean it to be hilarious, not too sure if that gets across, XD) based on a true story. Or rather, a dream I really had. Are those two the same thing? 😛
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The Dream that Saved My Job
I dreamed a dream the other night
It caused me to jump awake in fright.
It wasn’t scary, really: but I’m here
To tell you that the dream was awfully clear.
I work as a waitress here and there:
To be on time is a great hassle and care.
Because, you see, I work at random hours:
Sometimes seven, four, eleven–but never “regular”.
On this particular night to myself I said
To wake up extra early, and leave my bed
In time to get ready for my morning shift.
My tired mind, as I lay down, began to drift…
But before I could solidify tomorrow’s to-do list,
My eyelids closed: I fell asleep and saw the mist
That always preluded night-time dreams of mine
Except this dream was different: it was a sign.
I dreamt that it was tomorrow morning,
And I was awake, busy and bustling
Preparing my take-out lunch, combing my hair
When—alas! I looked for my uniform and it was not there.
As I frantically searched for the t-shirt
I heard my sister call, her voice cold and curt.
“Your food is burning up real bad:
You better come down and deal with that.”
I hollered back something intelligible—
My toothbrush was stuck in my mouth just so
I could not say another word–and hopped downstairs,
With toothbrush in mouth, my comb in my hair.
I managed to salvage half of my meal:
But when I looked at the counter, I could not help but squeal.
There lay my once-white uniform, in all its glory
Soaked with tea and who-knows-what—the scene was gory.
So next to the laundry room I rushed–
I dropped, in my haste, my foaming toothbrush.
And heard my hair comb clatter to the ground behind me
And my sisters, now all awakened, giggling with glee.
“The situation is critical,” I gnashed my teeth:
But as my shirt washed, I could only sit and seethe.
Then—oh horrors!—my sister called again:
“Your water bottle has become a water fountain.”
“Dang it.” Was all I could say or think
As I rushed back to the kitchen sink.
And what I saw sent terror to my bones:
And I jumped up awake in bed with a moan.
Still befuddled, lost in the netherworld,
I sprang out of bed and whirled–
To the kitchen, to the bathroom, to the front door,
Where I looked at the clock—it was only four.
Thank goodness—the dream was not real:
I’d feared my fate was sealed.
Now I had an extra hour—I was redeemed,
And could still be at work on time–because of a dream.
So thank you, nightmare, for saving my job
Though you didn’t have to wake me up with a ‘pop’.
I will, here on after, believe in my dreams–
But please, don’t ever again, make me jump and scream.
~~ Odelia Chan
Nov 1, 2019