Last night he attacked my uncle with a knife.
Nobody was harmed.
They called the police and the police came and went.
They called the ambulance to give him something that will improve his disposition.
The ambulance came and took him away.
To the madhouse.
*
When he was a boy, my grandfather explored with two friends a warehouse that had belonged to Russian soldiers during WW2.
They found there bombs, and played with them.
A bomb exploded.
A boy died, another boy was badly injured – he lost that body-part that a man needs to procreate.
My grandfather’s body was unharmed, but he became weak in the head.
*
He’s an awfully nice fellow, though garrulous and somewhat impudent.
He has silvery hair and blue eyes, and he’s rather short.
From time to time he’s up to domestic mischief though.
A week ago he had a nightmare he could not explain. Since then he’s been seeing things.
He took to drinking.
Two days ago he hit his wife.
*
I am at a safe distance from his occasional misbehaviors.
My shadowy attic is stilly.
Schubert is playing “Sonata in E major”: V. Allegro patetico.
I am writing about Oliver Colors.
My locked door keeps mad grandfathers away.
All is well.
(Had some trouble publishing this post and now it appears thrice in the Reader. Sorry for that!)Are you afraid of nightmares?
boy with a hat 
There is much wrong with all this, it’s hard to even start somewhere. Great image. Stay strong.
I don’t live with him so it’s not so bad for me. It’s worse for grandmother. 😦
Experiences like yours is what makes great writers. Thanks for sharing. I like your style. Sorry for you and your grandfather and everyone concerned. Keep writing!
I tip my hat!
Anybody who says they’re not afraid of nightmares is either lying or has never really had them.
Do your children ever say they have nightmares?
They rarely talk about them, if they do. My oldest used to complain of them more, but when I asked him just now, the only example of a nightmare he shared with me was that he dreamed he had a car and someone was trying to steal it.
That’s curious. In most of my nightmares I am losing personal belongings, or body parts…
Very true, I was going to say something similar myself. The terrifying thing about nightmares is that literally anything can happen… the only limit is the imagination of your own unconscious, which is pretty unlimited.
You remind me of H.P. Lovecraft…
Oh really? I’m not familiar with Lovecraft actually, so this intrigues me! 🙂
legionwriter is totally correct. Nightmares are created by the part of us that knows our weaknesses and fears the best, our subconscious mind. Hang in there, my friend.
I tip my hat Kip!
I hope you are well. 🙂
[tips hat in return] Yes, doing well, relatively speaking 🙂 I hope the same for you.
And they didn’t even call it PTSD when this happened to him. Shell shocked? What a sad story. The walking sounded.
Actually, he did not went to war. What happened was that he ventured into a bunker that had belonged to soldiers.
You know how young people are, adventurous…
I hope that both your grandfather and uncle recover from the incident. The behaviour of your grandfather seems quite sudden, so maybe a major change in his life, or the stress or regret of some memory, has triggered these actions. Or perhaps it could be a neurological disease associated with old age. I really wish I could offer advice, but can only offer my support. I hope things get better soon.
Do frogs have nightmares?
I know some animals dream. Birds for example.
What about frogs?
I know that cats dream from seeing the way Lucy twitched in her sleep, but I’ve never seen a frog asleep. I imagine they do.
I am so sorry to hear all this is going on. I hope all ends well.
As to your question, I hate nightmares. I had a terrible one last night. I woke up screaming and I felt like my heart was going to beat out of my chest. I waited three hours until my husband came home from work to sleep again. I was so afraid to see those terrible images and people again.
I would recommend tea for peaceful sleep.
And to leave the light on.
And to get a fluffy thing to hug.
I am serious about it!
I have a stuffed baby-elephant.
I once had a panda but I gave it to a girl. 😦
It’s sweet you gave it to a girl. Why would you be sad about that?
Because I never saw the panda or the girl again… 😦
I’m sorry. I wish that hadn’t happened.
You must admit, having a crazy grandfather is good fodder for a writer. Too bad that this is actually happening to you. I hope for the best for you and your family.
No doubt about it!
Madness makes good art!
I think they are called nightmare because we fear of them…
I don’t always show my fear. Sometimes it stays between me and my pounding heart.
You surprise me and at the same time you don’t.
You’re a lioness, and that explains much! It’s all in the stars…
Haha…! 🙂 Not that much lioness.
Back in the days when I had a TV, there was this commercial with a family having breakfast. And when the little boy (or was it the father?) yawned, the sound that came out through the TV speakers was a lion’s roar. Not sure why I’ve mentioned this.
I hope things are better for you & yours soon. Does your grandfather know he’s crazy or is it intermittent? I care for my step-dad who is in his 90’s and we go from moment to moment cuz you never know what he is going to say or do, but it’s his disease. Makes it understandable, but not any easier to deal with. I’m glad your uncle is okay, but I’m sure even tho he probably understands… he will always remember. : (
I’m almost sure he knows something is wrong with him, but he is apt to blame those around him…
People can’t forget knife attacks. 🙂
Your step dad is in his 90s you say… that makes him physically weak, which I think makes things a little easier for you. But only a little.
My grandfather is 80 and apart from his head, he is in excellent health. He worked a lot with his hands, and he’s quite strong for his age. That means trouble…
That last section nearly made me cry. Great stuff!
Your invisible gift will be a white kerchief with red dots, just in case…
truly sad but elderly become violent for real reasons…not just arbitrary loss of character. He may have alzheimers or dementia.
It’s almost certain he has dementia. They will do a CT scan soon.
I am fortunate not to experience nightmares… but god that piece really moved me… you are so very talented – thank you for sharing this.
All favorable impressions should be attributed to the hat. 🙂
Heart breaking imagery. Real life can bring more to fear than dreams can yeald. My heart breaks for those living this kind of life pain.
Darkness can be a gift x
The voice in your writing is really amazing. I’m sorry you have to deal with this kind of darkness. I’m sorry your grandfather was so badly scarred by his childhood. Glad you can write through it. 🙂
I tip my hat! 😉
PS: Your hair is exceedingly red!
I leave a soft lamp on and I cuddle my cat when I sleep. Well, he cuddles me. Actually he lays on my head, but I’m not alone.
Sorry. That was supposed to go with my previous comment, but it glitched. I really hope everything gets better.
Your cat… on your head? I think it tries to kill you!
*Worried.*
He purrs and is happy. He hated my husband when we first got together. He’s very protective of me.
My father-in-law had dementia, and near the end of his life he stopped speaking English, reverting to his childhood tongue of Spanish. I sometimes wonder what went through his mind when my mother-in-law asked him why he wasn’t speaking English anymore.
Thinking peaceful thoughts for you and yours.
Such a story with your grandfather…So sad and painful…Stay safe
I used to have lots of nightmares as a child, I have to say though that it has been quite a lot time i did not have any 🙂
Beautiful avatar you have!
It is part of a graffiti painting I love, a beautiful lady she is…Thank you Vincent
Nightmares are awful! Not only because they’re scary, but because our own minds create them.
really deep and sad story, i got that emotion. great writing..
I like it if/when you speak the truth. This story (because I will respond as a writer) has energy and depth and possibility that made-up stories can never have. I hope you will use it, over and over. That’s what all great writers do– take truth and work it into fiction.
‘Tis true Anna!
I shall use it. 🙂
As truth sad, as fiction beautiful. Everything is somewhere in between, isn’t it? I’ve been lucky never to have a nightmare when I was asleep.
I’ve had the same nightmare for so many years now. In fact, its the only dream that I can remember. It has devoured my sleep…….
I find your blog absolutely charming… 🙂