Talking With Rainbows: May 2024

"The trouble with twilight," Clementine reflected, "is that it soon becomes too dark to read." She squinted, trying to force the images into focus, but the Egyptian feline deities she had been reading about refused to cooperate. She took off her glasses, closed her tired eyes, and began drifting off to the magical realm governed by the imagination.

When she awoke, she found herself transformed into some sort of magical creature. "I even have wings!" she exclaimed, delighted. The wings felt natural, so she fluttered around until she saw an owl who was perched on a pile of books. "I wonder what he likes to read," she thought. "I'm going to ask."

And so she did. "Hello friend Owl," she began. "My name is Clementine, and I'm taking a survey. Would you kindly tell me what your favorite books are?" It wasn't really anything as official as a survey, but saying it was sounded so professional that she couldn't resist.

"Of course," he replied, ruffling his feathers. "I like biographies, Who's Who, that sort of thing. Also, Horton Hears a Who, and I Heard the Owl Call My Name are old favorites."

Clementine wished the owl a good day. She continued fluttering, following the light from her lantern. A cow looked up from getting a drink, and the cat landed beside her.

"Hello friend Cow," she began. "My name is Clementine, and I'm taking a survey. Would you kindly tell me what your favorite books are?"

"Why certainly," said the cow. "I like plays, dearie. Under Milk Wood is my favorite."

Clementine thanked the cow, then continued on her way until she saw some bears.

"Hello friend Bears," she began. "My name is Clementine, and I'm taking a survey. Would you kindly tell me what your favorite books are?"

The larger bear smiled and said, "Of course, Faulkner's The Bear is a classic, and even better if you read it as part of Go Down, Moses. The larger bear looked at the smaller one and winked before he said, "And there's also The UnBEARable Lightness of Being," The little bear giggled. Clementine thanked them and continued on her way.

A colony of rabbits were gathering around some books. Clementine joined them. "Hello friendly Rabbits," she began. "My name is Clementine, and I'm taking a survey. Would you kindly tell me what your favorite books are?"

The rabbits began wiggling their noses and whispering to each other. Finally one of them spoke. "We like The Velveteen Rabbit and that other book about The White Rabbit who meets a little human." Clementine nodded and suggested "Alice in Wonderland?"

"You've read it?" the rabbits asked as one, ears erect.

"Yes, though I think it was about The Cheshire Cat. I do remember that rabbit."

Abruptly, Clementine woke up. "Oh dear, she thought. I must go home now." She smiled, remembering her dream. "They really thought the rabbit was the main character?" She smiled wider and disappeared.