kaleidoscopic

     Electric fairy lights danced on darkened streets while the world slept. I, in the meanwhile could not sleep, insomnia pulled at my heart and sleeve 'til i was compelled to rise an' take a peek.

     Yeah, I'll testify, there they were dancin', playin' in the streets. Laughing, toying, chasin' each other an' the lights they lit. Mostly greens, they looked like leprechauns, I imagined if I'd catch one, boy what a fit. Probably, in its squeaky little toy voice, would reprimand me good, but then gave me a great big bit of good.

     I gave in. Jumped through my window and caught one between my thumb and index finger. Being extra gentle, I asked it its name. It said. "Let me go, oh, crazy human man. You're not supposed to be here, be asleep like everybody else. How come you're awake? Let me go before I tell on you."

     "Who ya gonna tell, cute little one?"

     She squirmed and wriggled and shouted, "Lord, Lord of Light. Help me. Help me!"

     "Okay, okay, don't get crazy. I'm just curious. What's this all about?"

     "Well, while humans sleep, I will tell, 'though I may get into trouble, . . . we come out and dance and play and bring peace on the streets assigned to us by the Lord of Light. We sing and praise the Lord of Creation. This helps people sleep. It keeps some of them, the ones who you call haters, it keeps them from doing bad or worse things to other people."

     "Well then, go on, go sing. Go play, make music and dance."

     With that she sped away on wings like a Tinkerbell. She looked like a neon flash of light, leaving a fluorescent glowing trail in the night air. I wondered if other humans heard or saw them as I did. Maybe, I thought, their activity is at this moment inspiring dreams. "I wonder if it's true, keeping violence or bad deeds happening on this or any given night."

     Their music was melodious, rapturous and sweet. "Enough to qualm the nervousness or mean streak out of any human predator or stalker," I thought.

     There were thousands of them. The whole thing resembled a grand parade, like the Festival of Roses. Some were elegantly dressed. Some appeared to be officials in charge of the whole thing. There were children and families and groups that played special instruments like harps and electric organs in tune with kaleidoscopic lights.

     I don't remember falling asleep. But when I woke it was just another ordinary morning. I made myself breakfast and wondered about the whole affair. I didn't question whether it might of not happened. I resolved to have an open mind and welcomed the prospect of it happening again.