You're Late

“You’re late”

I blink my eyes in shock. “I’m sorry, what?”

The stuffed rabbit looks at me sternly. “You’re late.” He repeats. “As in, not on time.”

            “I, I know what late means, but I don’t know what I’m late for.” I try to explain. “You wouldn’t mind telling me, would you?”

            “Yes, yes we would mind.” A different voice replies. “You’re being very rude.” The voice turns out to belong to a small green frog with a French accent.

            “Oh, don’t be so harsh on the child.” an old woman says. She is very beautiful, with has laugh lines on her face and very long, shimmering white hair in which she wears in a golden circlet like a tiara.

            “I’ll do what I want,” a raggedy white stuffed dog says indignantly, “she forgot all about us!”

            “I’m sorry, who are you, um, people?” At the annoyed looks from the animals, I add, “Sorry, animals.”

            The dog gives me the smallest of smiles. “S’all right.” she says. “Let us get reacquainted, then.” She nods to the rabbit, which sighs.

            “All right, then. The name’s Rabbit. Bunny Rabbit.” He gestures to the frog to speak.

            “I should not have to introduce myself!” He yelps. “I am a prince!”

            I start to laugh. “I remember you! Jean Bob, right? From that show I used to watch as a kid? Um, Swan Princess, right?”

            Jean Bob nods gratefully. “See, see? She remembers me because I am important!”

            I start to reply, but don’t. If I recall correctly, nothing can get through that thick skull of his.

            The old woman smiles fondly at me. “I am Princess Irene.” She says regally. Oh. That explains the crown, then.

            The dog looks at me. “I’m Oddball. You named me after the white Dalmatian puppy from the movie.”

            I frown in concentration. “I named you… OH! Now I remember you guys!” I point to Oddball and Rabbit. “You two were my favorite stuffed animals as a kid, and you two-“ here I point to Jean Bob and Irene “-were from the two movies I watched the most. You’re my childhood memories!”

            They all nod, but now I can feel myself being pulled away from then. I’m about to call out, but suddenly-

            I open my eyes with a jolt. Stretching, I get out of bed and head downstairs where my mom was making breakfast.

            “How’d you sleep?” She asks me.

            I yawn. “I had the weirdest dream last night.” I tell her.

            “Hmm? What about?”

            I scrunch up my face in thought. “I have absolutely no idea.”