Dream Catcher: Prologue

Prologue

Her green eyes carefully scanned around the entrance to the empty apartment. The empty walls were a creamy orange shade, the carpets a soft tan color. It was a nice apartment, bare with no furniture, but it was exactly what she was looking for. A place to start anew. Stepping inside she entered what would become her living room. It was a nice little place, a perfect size for her, the foreigner who just moved there. She decided it was just about time that she moved out, and went on her own way, started a new life, and this was her place. Her eyes scanned once over the apartment again, stopping on a small white box that was on the small island in the kitchen that she hasn't noticed. She stopped at the island, looking at the box, studying it carefully, reading the note on top.

“N-new ten . . . ten,” she paused, scanning over the words, trying to figure them out. “Ant . . . tenant. New tenant.” She was unsure if she had actually read it right or not, but she paused, unsure what that actually meant. She paused, turning to her purse, and pulling out a small book. She began to flip through the pages scanning through the words.

“Shin karinushi(New Tenant),” she read aloud. She looked back down at the note then at the words she had just said. She smiled to herself, taking the box into her hands, opening it slowly. She stared inside the box, a confused lost expression on her face as she pulled out the object, looking at it carefully. Holding it above her slightly she let it drop however gravity let it. It was a wooden circle, painted over in a deep teal color. Around it were many tiny strings, a magenta color. All of the strings tied together in a whirl like a pattern. A round circle left free in the center. A few beads of teal and magenta freely dropped along the sides, at the tips both had colored feathers of the same colors coming out. She had no idea what it was, but it was beautiful.

“Did you find the place all right dear?”

She turned her attention to an older woman who stood in the door way. She smiled at her as she entered the room. The woman's hair was a salt and pepper color, and was tied back in a pony tail that was long and trailed down her back. Her face was free from a lot of wrinkles, letting the world know that she was aging very well. Her clothing was pretty young too. Jeans, faded and worn, along with a nice powder blue tank top and a white blouse over top.

“Kazumi Nakamura, is it not?”

She thought for a moment, but nodded, replying, “Ah yes, I am Nakamura Kazumi. You m-must be Joshznee Martin, the lady land.”

Her land lady smiled. “Your English is coming along good. Just remember its Josephine. Joe-zeh-feen. And it is Land-Lady.”

Kazumi blushed hard, and bowed her head low. “Sumimasen.(I am sorry)”

Josephine smiled warmly at Kazumi, and placed a hand on her shoulder. “It is fine, you are only just learning. And one needs to make mistakes to learn.” Kazumi stood, smiling, thanking Josephine for her kindness that she has shown her. Josephine's gaze dropped to what it was that Kazumi was holding. She examined it closer, a smile grew on her lips as she pointed at it.

“I see that you got you got a dream catcher.”

“This?” Kazumi questioned, holding up the strange object to her land ladies' view. Josephine nodded, taking the dream catcher into her hands, showing it carefully to Kazumi to see at a better angle.

“It's a dream catcher. The aboriginal peoples believe that if you hang these over your bed at night it will capture bad dreams, and let you only have good dreams.” Kazumi took her small book out again, looking up a few words that Josephine had said and read them out loud.

“Yume soshite muma(Dreams and Nightmares,” she read to herself. “I see, good dreams and bad dreams. It stops bad dreams.”

Josephine smiled. “That's correct. You do learn quickly. Now, your truck is here. And your things are on the way up. Do you want me to stay and help?”

Kazumi nodded. “If it is not any trouble.”

The land lady smiled. “I am here to help. So why don't we go help those movers?”