I'm Awake

I'm awake...  I'm awake!!! I'm awake, but have yet to open my eyes. I'm kind of awake, coming up out of a sound, deep, restful sleep. Something startled me awake, I feel it was something in the noise of the day out side. It is shady in here, wherever this is, but the sun is up. 

I feel the sun hitting me, not everywhere, mostly my legs. I smell dust in the dry air, and feel dust on my skin. It's getting warm, I will sweat today. The sounds of daily activity are outside this room. The noise of many people, a town, that keeps to a regular schedule of a certain level of busy. The many sounds are distorted a bit, not far away, but not close either. People are moving about, on foot, in cars, on motorcycles... 

There is a guttural bleat from an animal.

People are also moving about...  with camels! I can even smell the camels! 

I open an eye with a level of curiosity. 

 

I'm in a one room shanty. It has very flimsy bamboo walls, thatched together years ago. The roof, is corrugated metal, radiating the sunshine's warmth into this little room. The sun hitting my legs, is from a window in the door. A door which really is more of a way of making shade, than creating a sense security that a sturdier door might offer. A breeze moves ever so slowly through the shanty, rustling the door on it's latch.

I sit up, and open both eyes. Putting my feet to the floor, moving the sand that is there, under my shoes, I see that I am fully clothed. 

Huh. 

Though not particularly dirty, it looks like I've slept in these clothes before. They are well worn. On my feet, are lightweight hiking boots, some tan pants with side pockets, cargo I think. A tank top with some pop art type design, and a cream canvas button up with a floral pattern woven into it. In all, rather comfy. 

On the end of the old, dingy brass, metal frame bed, an olive green satchel, on a brown, leather strap, hangs. The strap on the satchel is also worn, from lots of use, to be sure. Over the satchel's strap on the end of the bed frame also hangs some tinted glass, shiny metal, goggles. Upon the top of the frame post, is an embroidered Fez. 

I stand, walk over to the door, pushing it open wide. 

Frick!

It's REALLY bright out there!

I turn, grabbing the Fez, put it on. I quickly slide the goggles over my aching eyes. Grabbing the strap of the satchel, I step outside.

There it is. A city. Technically, as there are lots of structures, and probably many people. The tinted goggles make it much easier to see all of it.

I'm standing on a rooftop! I now know why the noises sounded odd, they were echoing up from between the buildings, as well as the street below. I stand on a two story building, of which there are a few around, lining thoroughfares I think. Mostly single level, white plaster on stone homes by the look of things. Some palm trees spurt out from among the many rooftops, trying to lend some green, to an otherwise bright cityscape. Shantys, like the one I was in, dot the tops of many of the buildings. 

A loud bell tolls behind me. Turing around, I see a large, intricately adorned building with a tower, just a few paces away.  

Huh. 

As I look around, taking all this in, I have to start wondering...

What the bloody hell happened? And HOW did I get here? 

FezPunk©  and all of its related creative materials, is copyright 2013 & 2014 Brian "Buckaroo" Ballinger, not to be used or disseminated without prior written permission. Please be responsible. Thank you.