The Dream Elf Connection: When Mr. Woody showed Lily the Answers Inside

Mr. Woody is a dream elf and the creation of Lily, an AB Girl with a vivid imagination. As she dreamt more and more, Mr. Woody became her counselor, her friend and her creation.

This is the story of the night they met in a hospital and dreamed the answers she sought.

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The nighttime atmosphere at the hospital seemed quieter than usual, or at least quieter than when Lily had been a patient there.

Nestled into the makeshift bed, Lily curled up under the blanket, shielding herself from the chilly hospital air. She opened her eyes and looked up at the nighttime sky through the window.

“Dat’s a mighty big moon out der t’nite,” a familiar Irish voice said.

Lily sat up and looked to the other end of the blanket to see Mr. Woody sitting there, covering himself up with the blanket as well.

“It’s de perfect moon fer dreamin’, LilyGirl,” Mr. Woody said.

“Mr. Woody! I haven’t seen you in such a long time!” Lily exclaimed as she tugged at the blanket in excitement, accidentally yanking it away from him and flipping him in a circle. “Oooo. You okay?”

“I’m fine an’ ye mean ye hevn’t dreamed me in such a long time,” he responded as he sat himself up straight again. “But dere’s been a reason why ye hevn’t dreamed me in a while, I gather?”

“Yes,” Lily replied, sadly. “I keep having nightmares and then the things that happen in my nightmares come true sometimes. Can you tell me why?”

“Oh, we’ll get te dat,” Mr. Woody said, grabbing at the blanket and re-covering himself. “It sure is cold in dese medicine houses ye people go to.”

“Yeah,” Lily agreed, drawing the blanket up to her neck to keep the warm air underneath it.

“I hev an idea!” he said, snapping his fingers suddenly. “Follow me!”

Mr. Woody pulled the blanket over his head and began walking around underneath the blanket. Lily covered her mouth as she laughed at the tiny little lump moving around.

“Would ye care to join me, LilyGirl or do ye wish te keep belly-cacklin’ at me?” Mr. Woody asked with a jocular tone from under the blanket.

Still laughing, Lily joined him, pulling the blanket over her head as well. As usual, Mr. Woody helped to her forget the trouble of the moment, even if just for that moment before he helped her deal with it by talking about it.

“So, ye wish to learn why ye’re hevin’ nightmares,” Mr. Woody began, situating himself under the blanket. “It all seems pretty simple. By de sounds of what dat nurse said, ye’re hevin’ nightmares because of yer new treatment.”

“So I shouldn’t pay any attention to what I dream about?” Lily inquired.

“Oh, I don’t know about dat, LilyGirl. Yer dreams always tell ye a little somethin’ about who ye are inside, don’t they?” he asked as she nodded. “Everythin’ happens fer a reason. I tink yer dreams are trying to tell ye somethin’ again, and ye tink dat too, don’t ye?”

“Yes, but I don’t know what they’re trying to tell me. I have nightmares about bad things happening to the people I care about,” Lily replied. “I don’t know what to think and I almost don’t want to know.”

“All it took was dat treatment to get ye dreamin’,” Mr. Woody began. “And all it will take to discover de meaning of yer nightmares is to tink about it a little more…Tell me what concerns ye have on yer mind dese days.”

“Well …” Lily said, taking in a deep breath and thinking for a moment. “I may not be able to have children. I’m still sick with this stupid illness. Daddy and Billy my new brother-in-law really don’t like my father. I’m ready to get married and don’t wanna wait anymore…”

“Okay, Okay…” Mr. Woody said, cutting her off.

“Well, all the nightmares include someone I care about getting hurt,” Lily said, pounding her fists on her thighs as her eyes welled up and she began to babble through her tears. “An’ I can’t seem to stop dreaming about bad things!”

“LilyGirl, bein’ fussy won’t help us now an’ ye know dat,” Mr. Woody said with a firm but understanding tone.

“I know,” she said as she wiped her eyes with the hem of her nightie. “But all my life I’ve come so close to being happy. And right when I start believing it’s finally going to happen, something always shows up and ruins it for me.”

Mr. Woody stood up and held up his hand up with the palm facing her.

“Den let’s go find yer answers,” he said. “Focus on my hand an’ tink about what’s troublin’ ye.”

Lily stopped sniffling and looked at his palm.

“Concentrate, LilyGirl,” he said. “Show me what’s been botherin’ yer heart.”

Lily’s eyes went glassy as she stared at his palm.

“Dat’s a good girl,” he said. “Let yer mind open up.”

He stepped towards her and touched her forehead. They were transported from the hospital room to a beach. Standing on a rock, they overlooked the midnight sky and waves crashing in.

“Where are we?” Lily asked, looking around.

“We are on dat beach you and yer fella guy walked while in de Bahamas,” Mr. Woody replied.

“I wasn’t troubled when I was here,” she said, confused.

“Ye had a secret ye were keepin’ from him about yer sickness. And …” Mr. Woody said as they turned around to see a vision of Zeke and Lily walking on the beach. “… den dis happened.”

They watched the vision of Lily collapse to the beach as Zeke knelt beside her, called 9-1-1 and began CPR.

“I don’t remember this,” Lily said while watching the vision.

“Of course, ye don’t,” Mr. Woody said, taking her hand and leading her down off the rocks. “Ye just collapsed. Ye were unconscious. Let’s go a bit closer an’ listen in.”

They walked up to the visions of Zeke and Lily. Zeke was balling his eyes out as he administered CPR on her with a force which was unlike him. He seemed desperate to revive her.

Suddenly, the vision of Lily coughed and heaved for air. Zeke cradled her in his arms, rocking her nearly lifeless body back and forth.

“I don’t wanna lose you, BabyGirl. I can’t lose you,” the vision of Zeke whispered through his grief. “If you die, I’ll die with you.”

The beach went black. Lily and Mr. Woody were transported to the stretch of Prince Street in front of Zeke’s apartment building.

“What are we doing here?” Lily asked.

“We’re followin’ yer thoughts, LilyGirl, but it appears dat yer fella guy needs ye just as much as ye need him,” Mr. Woody said. “He means de world to ye, but ye also mean de world to him. Are ye forgettin’ what ye’ ve seen with yer own eyes an’ felt with yer own heart?”

“I don’t understand what you mean,” Lily said, confused.

“Think back te who he was when ye met him,” Mr. Woody said. “And think about him now. Is he not happier? More driven in life? With a greater purpose den before? … It’s all because of ye.”

“I don’t see what this has to do with my nightmares,” Lily said.

“LilyGirl, ye hev de magic touch in yer fingers,” Mr. Woody responded. “Don’t ye see? Yer nightmares are tellin’ ye what to look out fer. Yer wastin’ yer time tryin’ to figure out why ye’ve been given de gift of seein’ de things dat heven’t happened yet.”

“Why does everything have to be so difficult?” Lily asked, pouting, but serious. “Why can’t life be simple and easy?”

“Life is simple an’ easy fer no one, LilyGirl,” Mr. Woody replied. “And dat includes ye.”

She settled herself when he said this, knowing she was being selfish and unrealistic.

“I think ye know what’s botherin’ ye,” Mr. Woody said.

Lily nodded.

“Now I do,” she said. “I want what everybody else has and I’m not thinking about what I have. All my friends are married, except for Erica, but she doesn’t count because she doesn’t want to be married. My sister is even pregnant. I’m being envious of them and I’m not counting my own blessings.”

“Dat’s my LilyGirl,” he said with a smile. “Ye hed de answer in ye all along. Ye just hed te tell someone. An’ now dat ye know what’s been buggin’ ye inside, ye’ve got te play de cards as dey lay.”

“I don’t understand,” Lily admitted.

“Once again, ye’re bein’ fussy an’ won’t tell yer fella guy what’s troublin’ ye,” Mr. Woody stated bluntly.

“I can’t tell him. He’ll be upset,” she defended.

“LilyGirl, how many times hev ye thought dat an’ how many times did he show dat he is more patient den ye give him credit fer?” Mr. Woody asked.

“I’m scared to tell him. I can’t do it,” Lily said.

“Soon ye won’t hev dat choice,” Mr. Woody said, touching her forehead. “Sleep, LilyGirl. T’will be all right.”

She closed her eyes and went back to sleep.

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This dream comes from:

Zeke and Lily: Dream Catching