Have you ever noticed that a door can open and close for years, and never needs to be replaced? His old creaky frame sat in that old doorway for hundreds, maybe thousands of years. This door has seen and felt more than you could ever imagine. Each person that turned his rusty knob, had a different personality. A different disposition, psyche, and individuality. He met singers, dancers, accountants, lumberjacks, and maybe even a president. Each person invites a few friends over, giving him more personalities for him to feel, to see. Doors do not have eyes, for they are not living creatures, but one does not need eyes to see.

You twist you turn,

She waits in line.

You fry you burn,

You're looking fine.

The butter glazed your golden skin,

"Now comes the salt,"

She says with a grin.

Then the sky turns to dark,

The puddles fill.

The man closes the park,

The girls' tears spill.

"At least you got your treat,"

Her mother replied,

But as soon as the young girl starts to eat,

The pretzel falls to the side.

It soaks up the water from the ground,

And the girl frowns longingly,

Without a sound.

Fly away beautiful.

You make the world envy you.

The sky is jealous, it's true.

Your colors are surreal

Yellow, orange, and gorgeous teal.

Please fly, fly away

Everyone already loves you anyway.

Being young isn't an excuse. It's a reason.

Can you be forgiving of a treason?

If it was me,

I would be,

But would you be of me?

Is that the answer?

Eternal hate?

An abiding check mate?

Even though anger will rise,

Must you chastise?

"Whatever" is not the same as "you are forgiven."

Or is that a given?

If I apologize to you,

That's all I can do.

People say if you say crazy things that means you're insane. Now, that's not necessarily true, Gwen Peterson a seven year old Girl has to realize this by herself during a hard time. The Great Depression. During this time people would do practically anything for money or supplies, meaning there are few things one would turn down in order to gain things in this time period. Well little Gwen found something her parents had to say no to. I am about to tell you a story of trust and stupidity, when this small child ventures far from home for a better life for her and her family.

Everyone's dream is to go on an adventure. To come back a hero, but this girl didn't even know what an adventure was. She was about as ordinary as it gets. But one day she was trying to find some mushrooms for her family to eat, when she slipped upon an old dead tree. The tree spoke to her softly as most trees did, but there was something about his dying voice that made her mourn for the old cedar. The tree said "follow what is real."she thought this was a strange thing to say for she is well awake and she knows every thing around her is real. But she took into account what the dying tree said and called it a night. As she was walking back she saw a big patch of delicious mushrooms. This had never happened to her before so she bent over to make sure they weren't poisonous. Well they weren't poisonous that's for sure, they were actually quite friendly. They spoke to her in a cheerful voice like all mushrooms did. They said "watch out for your fantasies. They will not hurt you unless you find them reality." She gladly picked the mushrooms and started back for her cottage. But then she turned the corner and there was a large dragon much larger than she had ever dreamed of. She thought about what the mushrooms said but the dragon seemed so real she just had to run. She ran until she reached her cottage and explained in tears about all of the creatures she talked to. Her parents, who weren't in a very good mood, told her that what happened was impossible and sent her off to bed for her silly behavior. Her bedroom was nothing but a small blanket covering the ground and another blanket to go over her. She had to use her clothes as a pillow and some of her sweaters that were too small as a pillow case. That night she dreamed of the old tree and the friendly mushrooms pleasantly as she slept, until she had a horrible nightmare that to old tree came to life and the dragon burnt him so badly that he started falling apart. The tree spoke the same words over and over again "follow what is real." Then the mushrooms came and repeated their words over and over again. "Watch out for your fantasies. They will not hurt you unless you find them reality." But then a new figure rose in shadows he spoke loudly but his voice was calm. "If you follow what is real you will find your fantasy." Gwen woke up to the sound of her parents whispering. They were talking about their food supply and that they need more mushrooms. Gwen wished she had enough supplies so her parents would be happier and then fantasized about what it would be like if they did have enough food. That's when it hit her. Her fantasy. Follow what is real and you will find your fantasy. She knows her fantasy, now what is real? She told her parents she was going to find some mushrooms and set out for her fantasies. As soon as she stepped out the door she was amazed that everything around her was so beautifully unreal. Then she saw a small path of the dead grass that is usually covering the whole forest. This path was real. But ugly. Then she saw a beautiful path full of butterflies and bright green grass. She wanted very badly to follow the beautiful path but she knew she would never find her parents fantasy. She couldn't resist. She skipped through the grass and found a huge meadow. She gasped suddenly over whelmed with terror. The dragon was back. It roared loudly. She shrieked and started running out of the beautiful landscape. As soon as she got out of the path she realized the real path was her only hope to find her fantasy. She shut her eyes then stepped into the dark forest. She opened her eyes to see the old tree. Then the mushrooms. They spoke the words they spoke in her dream. She continued walking until she saw an old meadow. Standing in the middle of the meadow was the figure in her dream he spoke his words softer than in the dream, but he had the same calm voice. She thought about the situation and how stupid it all is. But she decided to trust the figure and keep walking. She found a door and turned the nob. She stood wide eyed for a second until she started running home. "Mom! Dad! You won't believe what I found!" She stumbled through the door. "C'mon! Follow me!" She stared at them with pleading eyes. "No. We are not part of you silly fantasies." Gwen was frustrated. "Fine I'll bring it here then." She then grabbed her mothers large basket and ran through the path until she made it to the door she walked in and grabbed every thing she could fit in the basket. They were going to have a feast. Breads and fruits were every where. There was even Gwen's favorite. Croissants. She sprinted home where her family stood frozen at the door. "Where did you get that?" Her mother asked quietly. "The real path. It was free!" That night her and her family celebrated by inviting everyone they knew over for a feast. Every day from then on Gwen ran to the real path and gathered food carefully avoiding the beautifully unreal path.

To wake up empty handed,

To leave a room reprimanded.

For nothing or everything.

Was what you did good?

Did you do what you should,

If all you leave with is a feeling?

If I say thank you, believe it,

If I mention love I mean it,

But is it meaningless?