Minty's Dumpster

Minty Danook is a resident of Alpigne. Or, she was. Or, maybe she still is, but in any case, she's not here now, hasn't been for a couple of weeks, and no one knows where she went. This wouldn't be a problem--Alpigners stay out of each others' business, after all--but the old green DUMP-O bin behind her shack is doing some mighty strange things. It makes weird noises all night long: thumps and giggles and wails and sometimes you can hear a harmonica. It smells a little funny, too, like old corn.   Oh, we've tried opening it up and checking out the inside, but it's the damndest thing: it's empty, except for an old blanket. And don't think we haven't poked a stick around in that just in case. It's just a blanket.   There was a Dreamer wandering around back there right before Minty disappeared. You can always tell the Dreamers from the Masses, on account of the fact that Dreamers actually seem to be paying attention. They notice the little things. Really taking it all in, if you know what I mean. The Masses either don't notice, or they don't bother, or maybe they just can't. Either way. This Dreamer, she was stumbling around back there in the alley by the DUMP-O, looking for something. You could hear her mumbling a little, too, something about a rat, I think, and a tea cozy.   It's not so unusual to get Dreamers around here. I only mention it, see, because Minty's been known to gallivant around as a big ol' rat now and then. She likes to play around with her shapes. So we know someone saw her.   Now, we'd be happy to let well enough alone and just hope the ruckus stops, or that Minty comes back from wherever and makes it stop or at least tells us what the hell is going on in there. But it's keeping Ben & Trudy's kid up all night. The dogs won't even go past it, they just turn tail and scuttle back down the alley.   We'd also kinda like to know what happened to Minty. She's a nice enough gal. Owes me a bushel of potatoes which I still hope to see some day, too.   * * *   Dream Journal, Monday, October 12   I dreamed I was making tea but I had Nana Pearl's old tea cozy, the one with the ugly corn-on-the-cob pattern and I was trying to fit it over my big electric pot. It wouldn't go on but I knew I had an older tea pot in the backyard so I went out to find that one. When I walked out the back door I fell off the stoop and landed in a dumpster. Someone was shuffling around right next to it. I thought at first they were trying to help me get out but when I reached over the rim to take their hand this furry claw grabbed my arm. I screamed but they kept pulling and yanked me out and I fell on some kind of dirt road next to the dumpster just as they climbed into it. I saw a long pink tail disappear into the dumpster. I wanted to get away, but I also felt like I just had to get a look at them but when I leaned into the dumpster again they were gone. All I could see was my blanket.   Somehow I knew, like we just know things in dreams, that whatever-it-was went through a secret panel in the dumpster that lead into my house. I slammed the dumpster lid closed and turned the latch and then I locked the back door so they couldn't get out. I was worried that now they would be mad about being trapped in the house and they'd do something to Nana Pearl's tea cozy. I started to run to over to Linda's to ask her what to do but then I woke up and had to pee.   I think I must have woke John up when I screamed in my dream. Oops. This morning there were potatoes all over the kitchen and he’s hidden my blanket somewhere. I guess that’s what happens when he’s got extra time in the morning. He thinks he’s so funny.   I miss Nana Pearl so much. Maybe I should dig out her old harmonica and finally learn to play it. She always tried to teach me, but I wasn’t interested then. That would make her happy, I think, wherever she is.   * * *   "I want to go home, Pearl."   "Well, you certainly can't hide in this closet much longer. She'll find you while she’s awake, and I don't know how we could explain that."   "Is the portal still blocked?"   "Yes, but I'll keep trying to get your neighbors’ attention. We'll get you back, dear, one way or the other. Wipe your eyes, now. Would you like some more tea?"