The Carpet King finds himself outside a tattoo parlor.  Was it just a coincidence?

The Carpet King

©2003 by E. Kitson Southward

 

 

Mark Broussard scanned the yellow pages of the Portsmouth phone directory until he came across the half page add, “Joyce Abrams, Clinical Psychologist, specializing in sleep disorders and dream interpretation.”

He dialed the number, and after the third ring a pleasant sounding voice said, “Doctor Abrams office, how may we help you?”

“Hello, this is Mark Broussard. I saw your add in the phone book, and I’m hoping you can help me.”

“What seems to be the problem, Mr. Broussard?”

“I’ve had this recurring dream for the past three months, only now it is getting more frequent and vivid.”

“I’m sure the doctor will be able to help you. Would you like to make an appointment?”

 

At two o’clock the next day, Mark entered the office of the Dream Therapist to find an attractive woman with dark hair streaked with gray sitting behind her modest desk.

She stood and came from behind the desk and walked toward him saying, “Good afternoon, Mr. Broussard.”

“Miss Abrams?” he inquired as he took her outstretched hand.

“Yes, Mark, and you may call me Joyce. Please come in and have a seat.”

After a brief handshake, Mark looked around the office and asked, “In a chair or on the couch?”

She smiled broadly showing a perfect set of teeth saying, “A chair will be fine.” She returned to her desk, picked up his file folder, and continued; “I understand you are troubled over a recurring dream for the past several months.”

“Wow,” He thought, “you’ve got some receptionist!”

“Yes,” Joyce said, “Nancy’s quite efficient at her job.”

Mark turned ashen and froze in his chair.

“Relax, Mark, mental telepathy is merely a tool I use to benefit my clients.”

“How?” he anxiously asked.

“Telepathy allows me to reach into places beyond your conscious awareness or recollection of the dream. That way I can better interpret and explain the underlying meanings.”

“This is all new to me – and….”

“I discern your reluctance. If you need some time to reconsider, I understand perfectly.”

Mark thought, “What the hell have I got to loose? I’ve tried for months to figure it out.” Then he said, “OK, Doc, what do I do first?”

“You can start by relaxing on the couch and telling me what you remember about the first time you had the dream.”

As Mark went and stretched out on the couch, she said, “Reoccurring dreams often turn into nightmares. Since that does not seem the be the case, I feel yours are more of a prophetic nature.”

“What’s that mean?”

Prophetic dreams, sometimes called precognitive dreams, are dreams that seemingly foretell the future. One theory to explain this phenomenon is that our subconscious mind knows what is coming before our conscious mind recognizes the situation.”

Mark looked at her inquisitively and asked, “Is there another theory?”

“That supernatural or paranormal forces guide us along our chosen path of destiny.”

“Woops, sorry I asked,” He said, “I think I’ll stick with the first theory.”

“Then let’s get started,” Joyce said as she picked up a note pad and pencil, “when did they first begin and how often did they occurred?”

“To the best of my recollection, I had the first dream soon after my twenty-first birthday. That was three months ago. I then had one about once a week for the first month, then twice a week until a week ago, now it’s every night – sometimes twice a night.”

“All right, now tell me about the dream.”

 “At first I thought it was cool to see all the swirling colors, reds, greens, and blues. Then black lines began to separate the colors into images and objects.”

“Are you, indoors or out?” she asked.

“I’m outdoors, but looking down a long green carpet that blends into blues and runs up onto a theater stage where the carpet turns pink. I see myself sitting in what appears to be a lifeguard stand in the center of the pink section, but I’m naked to the waist and overlooking a tennis court. I see what looks like tickets in my hand and there’s a bird flying around my head.”

“What kind of bird?” she asked as she continued to write on the note pad.

“I think it’s a Blue Jay, but as it flies around me it changes into two Crows that come and perch on the back of the chair. Their heads move in unison with the tennis match going on in front of us. Then I hear a telephone ringing but when I reach toward it, the phone moves away from me.”

When Mark paused, Joyce asked, “Is that the end of the dream?”

“All but the crickets, dozens of crickets running back and forth along the net. One of the players is dressed like a sailor and when the game suddenly ends, he strips off his uniform displaying his body covered with tattoos. His white sailor’s hat turns into a gold colored crown. The crickets scurry off the court and the tattooed man follows them. The last thing I remember is an image of a beautiful girl. I have no idea who she is and when I try to focus on her, the image fades and I wake up.”

Mark sat up and swung his legs over the edge of the couch, “Well Doc, what’s it all mean?”

Joyce consulted her notes for several minutes and began, “A carpet symbolizes luxury, comfort or richness. The fact that in your dream it is blue, may symbolize your increased sensitivity that allows your spiritual guide to speak to you. Turning green signifies a positive change, good health, growth, and vitality, along with peace, and serenity. The pink that you find yourself place upon, represents love, happiness, and affection.

Sitting high in the referee’s chair indicates that you want to be in a position to observe and oversee your surroundings.

To dream that you are in a theater signifies that you can derive much pleasure from new companionships and you could be taking on a new role. 

It is interesting and significant that the Blue Jay was the first moving object to form. The Blue Jay often symbolizes calling attention to something that you have overlooked. Then to have it change into two Crows is very significant. To see a crow in a dream, serves as messengers from your subconscious. To have two of them indicates a duality as in male and female, yin and yang.

Your being topless signifies your way of showing and exhibiting love. Something or someone is inviting you in that direction.

To dream of holding a ticket, most often signifies the of opening doors to a new endeavor.” Then Joyce asked, “What line of work are you in?”

“I’m presently working with my father. He owns a large carpet-manufacturing firm.”

“In that case, the ticket indicates to me that it’s time for you to decide on your goals in life. Then having heard a telephone ring in your dream, tells me that you are either receiving a message from your subconscious or from some sort of external telepathic communication. It’s telling you to wake up and pay attention. The fact that the phone moves away as you reach for it could indicate that you are reluctant in getting the message by using telekinesis.

Telea-ka what?”

Telekinesis is the ability to move object with your mind. To dream that you are telekinetic represents a higher level of awareness and consciousness. Your dream may be implying that you need to put your thoughts into action. For some people, dreams of telekinetic powers may indicate their latent paranormal abilities.”

“You mean I’m psychic?”

“Not right now, but you may have latent or undeveloped abilities.”

 “That’s cool,” Mark said, “I can live with that.”

Joyce continued, “Now, as for the tennis match, since one of the score in tennis is denoted as "love", then the game of tennis may be a metaphor for a romantic relationship or future courtship.

The sailor in your dream could be foretelling that you may be ready to venture into deeper waters, particularly in personal relationships. Being tattooed may also signify a new stage in your life.”

“That’s cool too, and the sailor’s right – I’m ready for love.”

Lastly, the proliferation of crickets signifies introspection. You’re seeking guidance and that’s why you came to me.”

“That’s great Doc – but what the hell does it all mean?”

“What I have just described to you, are the significant esoteric aspects of each item in your dream. The interpretation of those aspects is why you came to me and what you will be paying me for.” Joyce continued, “Like it or not, I suspect the second theory.”

“You mean the one with supernatural or paranormal forces?”

“Yes, something or someone is invading and influencing your dream state.”

“That’s fantastic, I’m possessed!”

“Not at all, I do not believe you are under any demonic assault. Someone is merely trying to get your attention and that someone may be the person whose image fades away.”

“Well she’s succeeded in getting my attention, now what do I do about it?”

“I feel that if you follow the tattooed sailor, you may find her.”

“How can I do that? There must be hundreds of tattoo parlors in Portsmouth and Norfolk.”

“Find the one whose logo is a golden crown.”

“Then what?”

“Pay them a visit.”

“Is that it then?”

“That’s it. Just pay Nancy $25 on your way out and I will have a written report of this consultation by noon tomorrow.”

They shook hands as Joyce said, “Good fortune in your search for your path. Let me know if you find her.” 

“Thanks Joyce, I’ll do that.”

 

***

 

Back home that night, Mark again search the yellow pages until he found the Golden Crown of Exotic Design sandwiched within the six pages of tattoo parlors.

At ten o’clock the next morning Mark walked into the Golden Crown tattoo parlor. There was a sailor sitting on a stool with the tattoo artist diligently inscribing crossed anchors on the man’s over sized bicep. When the tattooist stopped long enough to blot the blood running down the man’s arm, he looked up and saw Mark standing wide-eyed at the counter with his mouth open, and he said, “Hi, Mate, take a seat and have a gander at our books of art work. I’ll be with you just as soon as I finish up here.”

Mark continued to stare at the man until he said, “What’s the matter, Mate – never seen a tattoo bein’ put on before?”

“No, it’s not that.”

“Then what’s your problem?”

“I’ve seen you before.”

“Lots of people see me.”

“No, I mean I’ve seen you in my dreams.”

With that, the hulk on the stool spun around and guffawed, “Well now, ain’t he a sweetie?”

Just then someone else entered the establishment and all eyes turned to see the beautiful young woman silhouetted in the doorway. “Hi Carpet King,” she said.

“You must have me confused with my father.”

“I don’t think so.”

“Who are you?”

“I’m the person who’s been sending you messages the past three months.”

“Then it’s no coincidence that you’re here.”

“There’s no such thing as coincidence.”

“Then tell me why this is happening.”

“All in due time, but first let me introduce my brother, Frank.”

The tattoo artist asked, “This the bloke you been fixated on, Sis? He don’t look like much to me.”

“Finish your work,” she said, “we’ll talk later.” Then she said to Mark, “Come with me to the back room where we can talk.”

They went through the parlor and into a small dining area with a kitchen.

“What’s going on?” Mark asked.

“You honestly don’t remember a thing – do you?”

“Remember what?”

“Remember our promise to each other.”

“You’ve got to be kidding, I’ve never seen you before – except in a dream.”

“That’s because we made the promise before we were born.”

“You’re talking about reincarnation.”

“Now you’re beginning to get the picture.”

 

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