The Dream Maker

By Arnaldo Ricciulli

In 2013, Dan and Malou Politano decide to take a trip back into their past in the hope of changing the events that followed Dans skiing accident thirteen years earlier. During their incredible voyage through their imagination, they relive their past under Damianoss guidance.

The Dream Maker is a fantasy based on intrinsic truth. It is a book that will take the reader beyond the realm of imagination and onto a road where they will rediscover the essence of virtues and opposing evil. With their guardian angels at their sides, Dan and Malou will perform twelve Herculean tasks that should solidify their strength in the future. Will they be able to return to the present and to their family? A question that will have the reader turn the pages of this book in search of an answer.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jul 11, 2013
• ISBN: 9781481758710

Arnaldo Ricciulli

At the end of World War II, Arnaldo Ricciulli’s parents decided to leave the torments and sequels of war behind and move to Venezuela. Arnaldo was very young when his parents left South America for the warmth and tranquility of Florida where he grew up in Boca Raton. After graduating from high school, he attended college. Obtaining a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering, Arnaldo, thirsting for adventure, thought of joining the US Navy where he was readily accepted as an officer. Yet, destiny had other plans for the young man. Instead, Arnaldo went to work for Seagate Technology, SyDos and IBM. But Corporate America wasn’t for him – Arnaldo wanted to be his own boss, and manage his own business. It was then that he opened a restaurateur chain, which, eight years later, counted no less than seven restaurants and 2 gas station. Following the sale of his business, he founded the Millenium Limo in December 2001, in the wake of nine-eleven. Somewhat to his surprise, the business took off and rapidly became the top exotic limo service, not only in the State of Florida, but across the country. The devoted father of three children, Arnaldo remained true to his adventurous spirit until one day a skiing accident locked him down. Beaten in his purpose, but undefeated, he decided to put “his dream” on paper and The Dream Maker was born.

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CONTENTS

Preamble

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Chapter Thirty

Chapter Thirty-One

Chapter Thirty-Two

Chapter Thirty-Three

Chapter Thirty-Four

PREAMBLE

In Pennsylvania, 1 3 years ago, Dan Politano owned and operated seven pizzerias, and had over 1 70 employees. His employees were a great bunch, a mix of Hispanics and Americans. The day to day operations was a unique experience filled with new drama, yet fun. Rafael, Dan’s older brother was always there to see to the operation of all the stores. Malou was a home stay mom, taking care of their three children, cooking for them and keeping the home immaculate. She loved to entertain and enjoy the company of her local friends and her family that would visit regularly from Miami. Dan was not only a great dad, but a hardworking man, whose dedication and ambition made him successful. Yet, it took a toll on his family. As a young man he suffered his father’s loss of fortune, seeing him go from rich to rags overnight, and this changed him forever. His pain and bad experience made him the man he was, all work and no play and that went on throughout his entire life until the day, fate decided to intercede….

CHAPTER ONE

It seemed as if the road was stretching ahead of them endlessly. The air was heavy with the humidity of summer, and the relentless sun rays pounding onto the windshield didn’t prevent Dan and Malou from enjoying their drive back to their home in Davie. They were returning from visiting their son, Stefano, who was a junior at the University of Florida in Gainesville.

Parting from him again was difficult, but after seeing how happy he was and acknowledging the fact that their son was becoming his own man now, Malou and Dan were delighted with the two days they had spent with him. At twenty-two, Stefano not only looked like his father, but had his determined character trait and his hard work at school mirrored Dan’s attitude toward life perfectly. Stefano, in his third year of university, had already made the dean’s list, to the pride of his parents. Mind you, his stubbornness accounted for a lot of his progress or success in everything he did – just like his dad.

As for Malou, a very alluring woman in her late forties, she was a fantastic mother; her whole world revolving around her home, her children and her husband. Although known for being disorganized, she managed to keep the family home immaculate and its surroundings pleasant to the eye.

How about we take highway 27 down to Okeechobee Lake instead of the other way? Dan asked Malou as soon as they passed the turn-off near Orlando.

She turned her lovely face to him. Feeling adventurous, are you? Her black, silky hair seemed to be dancing on the curls cascading down to her shoulders.

Something like that, yes, Dan replied, throwing her a smile full of mischief. Nearly fifty by then, Dan had kept his adolescent face and muscular stature in check. There was no denying the fact that Dan was a handsome man. His piercing and intelligent gaze complemented the gentle but square jaw line without highlighting the decisiveness that lied just below the surface of his manners. Besides, we have time – nothing waiting for us at home – and I’d like to see if we could find a nice little place to have dinner…

Wow, where does that come from? Don’t you like my cooking anymore? Malou asked, all tease.

He threw her another brief smile. You know I love your cooking, but I think you deserve to be treated to a summer night at the terrace of a nice ristorante.

But, Hon, this isn’t Italy, you know – where are we going to find a ristorante around here, you think?

We’ll see…, maybe we’ll be surprised and if not, we’ll go home and have one of your wonderful lasagnas – how’s that?

Highway 27 afforded the travelers with gorgeous scenery of the everglades and sugar plantations, which reminded the couple of their lives in Pennsylvania where their home was up on a hill, and where their kids enjoyed sleigh rides during winter and hay rides during fall. The sugar plantations that stretched to the horizon were very similar to the corn plantations they remembered in the days they lived in Bethlehem.

The afternoon drive was nothing short of glorious. As soon as they veered off and took the road that skirted Okeechobee Lake, Dan slowed the car down to a speed that allowed them to take a peek at the lake stretching in the distance beside the highway. This piece of water, seemingly plopped in the middle of the everglades, was the host of numerous birds and all kinds of aquatic life. Its freshness provided a welcome relief to the searing heat of the day. Dan and Malou couldn’t stop smiling for some reason – the landscape was simply peaceful and inexplicably tranquil.

After driving for a while they arrived in Pahokee. Bordering the lake, this tiny town community featured many seemingly abandoned houses, a small marina, and a very old hotel called Chippewa Inn, standing along a dirt and gravel track-like road – its rusted sign swinging lazily above the door. In front of it, there were some locals drinking beer in the middle of the afternoon, children riding their bicycles, and a black cat with a white patch atop its head, was lying on the sill of a dirty window that seemed as if no one had cleaned it in decades. Above it, there was a sign in neon lights that read Vacancy.

They stopped in front of it and decided to take a stroll around the town, curious to visit St. Mary’s Church they had seen nestled among shrubbery and tall palms, going down Main Street.

Looking up at the hotel sign, Dan said, You know, Hon, I’ve read somewhere something about the Chippewa legend.

Oh yeah, and what did it say?

Well, the Indians around here believed that night was full of both good and bad dreams. When a dream catcher was hung above the place where you slept it would move freely in the night air and catch the dreams as they drifted by. They said that the good dreams, knowing their way, passed through the opening in the center of the web while the bad dreams, not knowing the way, were caught in it and destroyed at first light.

So you think they’ve got a woven web of some kind hanging over the beds in here? Malou asked, visibly horrified at the thought.

Dan laughed, imagining a gigantic web stretched over their bed. That would be scary, you’re right. He grimaced and his face suddenly contorting into a fierce, devilish mask, he growled, ‘Come to my parlor, said the spider to the fly’… and burst out in more laughter.

You’re impossible, Dan – and please don’t scare me like that. I’d be sure to dream of being caught in a spider web tonight.

Sorry, Hon, but it might be interesting to see if they’ve got some small webbing displayed in the hotel. Do you want to go in?

No, not really… Malou stopped talking suddenly, her gaze arrested on an old Seminole Indian, with sad-looking eyes, who sat quietly beside the hotel’s entrance, carving a figure with a small knife. A sign that read $5.00 per person swiveled on some sort of easel standing next to him. The sign appeared to be as old as the man – the lettering faded with age. It looked like the Indian charged the same price today for whatever service he was offering years ago. The wind moved the sign rhythmically, but Dan and Malou couldn’t stop staring at it, and at a group of scenery paintings from different parts of the US, leaning against the wall beside his chair.

Curious as ever, Malou and Dan approached the Indian, who was singing in his native language.

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Excuse me, sir, we could not stop admiring your display and would like to know what you are offering.

Smiling up at them, the old man explained in English laced of a strong American Indian accent, that he was offering a dream journey of their choice. You will select the scenery painting that best describes the time and location you lived at the time you want to go back, and I will help your imagination take you there.

Being a realistic man and college educated, it was hard for Dan to believe it would be possible, but he thought it might be an interesting experience, even if nothing of it came true. Besides, $5.00 could barely buy you a gallon of gas these days, he mused.

So he asked Malou, Do you want to try?

Very reluctant, since she felt such thing was a waste of money, and probably a scam, she only gave in to her sense of charity. For some reason, she wanted to help the old man.

The Indian fellow then proceeded to explain that once they selected a picture that best described the time and place where they wanted their imagination to take them, he would give them instructions on what to do next.

Now, once you’re ready, he went on, you both must hold each other’s hands and walk towards the painting together to allow the journey to begin, and once you are on the other side, you must do the same and since, on the other side, there is no painting, you must remember the spot where you both arrived, so you could reverse the journey.

And again he repeated his warning that Malou and Dan needed to pick the same spot to return, since it was the only way back. The duration of your dream will only last seven days, but your present time will start where you left off, so you will still be able to come back here at the same time you left. Then he also mentioned that once they came back, they could never go back to that time and location, ever. And finally he warned them, if you stay longer, you will never be able to return again and both your past and present lives will forever vanish.

Everything sounded a bit Sci-fi to Dan, and extremely weird to Malou. Yet, they had plenty of time and it wasn’t like they were in a rush to get home.

Okay, let’s do this, Malou, Dan said, pulling his wallet out of his front pocket.

Well—Malou was still hesitant—if you’re sure…, I guess I’ll go along with it.

They paid the old man his fee, which he pocketed before standing up and opening a box that he pulled out from under his chair.

Under Malou and Dan’s puzzled faces, the old Indian then took out two necklaces out of the metal box and put the leather strap around each of their necks on which hung an amulet carved in wood that he called a dream catcher.

Looks much nicer than your spider web, Malou remarked, giggling at Dan.

Obviously handmade, with gorgeous detailed work, the amulet was so intricate and even delicate to the touch that Dan couldn’t stop admiring it.

Did you see how much details it’s got? he asked, turning to Malou but still peering down to the amulet.

Very nice, isn’t it? Malou agreed, passing her fingers over her own pendant. If nothing else, five bucks for this was well worth the price. She raised her eyes to her husband.

He took her face in his hands and kissed her lightly on the lips. I love you, Malou, he said, before releasing her and turning to the old Indian once again.

Smiling at the both of them, he gave them one last warning advice. Do not lose the amulets and wear them always in order to deter evil. Without them, he said, you can never come back.

Since Dan had seen these amulets before, but had no clue what they were for, he asked, Can you tell us what they do – I mean do they have power over evil then?

The old man looked up at Dan and frowned. Yes. They catch bad dreams while good dreams are allowed to pass through, but this is not your ordinary dream catcher, since you will be wearing it, and you are not to ever lose it if you want your soul to remain pure of bad evil. You must not lose it, and if you come back without it, very bad things will happen to you and your family.

Dan looked at Malou with a grin on his face. He really wanted to laugh – this was worse than envisioning the spider web over their bed – but by respect for the old man, he maintained his composure and went along with him.

At this point, Malou and Dan were ready; hand in hand, they walked towards the painting that best depicted their lives 13 years ago.

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CHAPTER TWO

Dan had to admit the whole experience promised to be unique, however ridiculous it sounded at the outset. He was convinced it would never work.

As they started walking towards the painting, hand in hand, they focused on the scenery depicted in the picture – the house resembled theirs in Bethlehem, almost in every detail. The front yard was punctuated with pine trees that partly hid the driveway up the hill, and the façade of their home looked very much the same, too. It was strange; the nearer they came to the painting, the nearer they felt to their house, as if literally crossing the street in front of it.

Their bodies pressed against the painting now, they began to feel lighter and lighter, and lights began to flash back and forth, along with fog and winds blowing from different directions. Then, all of a sudden, everything stopped.

They were on the other side. Instinctively, they turned around, but there was nothing else to see – only the street they had just crossed.

Malou and Dan, still holding hands, looked at each other, very surprised since they were both confused as to where they were. They started looking around. Although they were not standing in front of their house, as they first expected, the place looked very familiar.

Malou said to Dan, Is this real? Are we really back in time? Are you in my dream or am I in your dream?

So many questions, but then it hit them; they were actually living a true dream. Not sure if people could see them or not, they decided to go to the closest store they found and, to their astonishment, yes, they were really here, they were as alive as they were back in Pahokee minutes ago, but in what appeared to be their old town of Bethlehem in Pennsylvania. The sidewalk, the shops, the grocery store, the coffee shop – everything was the same as it had been thirteen years ago. They went into the nearby drugstore, curiosity gnawing at their minds, and began looking around the shelves, aisles and counters. Dan walked past a mirror and, to his amazement, he saw his reflection exactly the way he looked thirteen years back – same clothes, same haircut and everything. He soon realized that he was not only back in time, but inside the body he had then. And Malou also looked the same as she did then.

The dream catcher was still around their necks, intact, the way it looked when the old man gave it to them, but that was the only thing that remained the same.

How strange this whole thing is, Dan said to Malou, We are back in time in our own selves, so that means we can actually go home and live our old lives. I just wonder how our kids will see us, and if they will notice anything different. Or wait…, are we going to meet our selves or did we enter our bodies 13 years ago?

Since they were back in time, their children, Stefano was only 9, Daniel 7 and Gaby 4.

Wow, how beautiful to see them so young again, being able to hug them and kiss them and being able to make up for the time, the time I was always away from them, Dan thought.

When they began walking toward their beautiful home, they soon saw it the same way as it looked thirteen years previously. Dan’s best friend, Dante, and Heath, his cousin, were there in the front yard, talking.

Heath and Dante both lived with Dan and Malou in their house and for Dan, it was such a great pleasure seeing them – they looked also so young.

When Dan and Malou came up the steps, Dante and Heath said, Hi, as if they had just seen the couple earlier in the day. It was pretty obvious they had noticed nothing, as if the two were never gone, or were they? None of these things made any sense to him, but Dan was actually happy that they were there. Malou looked like a child with a new toy, running around the house, fixing things and preparing a feast for everyone.

Daniel, Gaby and Stefano must have been still at school since it was early afternoon when Dan and Malou arrived. The school bus would bring them around 3:00 pm and drop them off in front of the house, so it gave Malou time to do her thing without having to stop what she was doing to go pick them up.

While looking around the house, Malou and Dan realized that it was October 31, 2000 – Halloween Night – and just six days before Dan’s skiing accident.

As if reading each other’s mind, Only six days before it happened, Malou remarked.

Yeah, I wonder if we could prevent it from happening, Dan said pensively.

Maybe, since you’re well aware of how it happened, you could avoid going down that slope and take another one.

Dan shrugged and looked down at his feet. I don’t think it’s a matter of choosing another slope…—he raised his eyes to Malou—I think it was my destiny to have that accident. Even if I had stayed in town that day, I believe that I would have had an accident of some kind.

Maybe you’re right, but in any case, we should have asked the old man about that – I mean about changing what happened – maybe he could have told us what to do.

I don’t know, Malou, Dan replied, taking his wife in a tender embrace. Changing anything in our past may affect our future, but if there was any way I could avoid that accident, without changing our entire future, I would, believe me.

There was too much pain, Dan, and it did change our lives, Malou whispered in his ear. I don’t think I’d want to live through that again.

Releasing his embrace, Dan said, Yes, I know, Hon, but today and for the next six days we’ve got to enjoy this gift and live that past fully and as best we can, okay?

A smile appeared on Malou’s face. Yes, you’re right. This is Halloween Night and when the kids get home, I think we need to get ready to take them down trick-or-treating before the next snow storm – what do you think?

Yeah, let’s make it a fantastic night! Dan agreed all smiles now.

Stefano, Gaby and Daniel arrived from school an hour later. How adorable they look, Dan thought. He and Malou couldn’t get over the fact that they were seeing their three children exactly as they were thirteen years ago. All three of them still infants really – laughing, screaming, running up the driveway and chasing each other until they burst through the front door.

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Malou and Dan ran towards them and hugged them tightly – one of those hugs that seemed to last forever.

Dan asked them how their day went, and got only one answer from his son, Stefano. What’s that, Dad? he asked, pointing to the dream catcher.

Yeah, Dad, what is that thing? I have never seen you wear it, Daniel rejoined, looking up at their father inquiringly.

That’s something your mom and I picked up at the store today—he turned to point at Malou’s necklace—See, mom’s got the same.

Gaby, as curious as ever, swung on her heels and looked at her mother, who had knelt beside her daughter by then. Do you like it? Malou asked.

It’s beautiful, Mommy. Can I have one like that too?

I’m sure you can, honey, but you’ll have to wait until you grow up.

Why’s that, Mom? Daniel asked. Has it got to do with lovey-dovey things?

Don’t ask dumb question, unless you want dumb answers, Stefano retorted, elbowing Daniel in the ribs teasingly.

Okay, okay, kids, Malou said, enough of that for now; why don’t we get ready for our trick-or-treat night, before we have dinner?

Yeah, all three children yelled in unison.

What’s for dinner, Mom? Stefano, the forever hungry one asked.

Malou shot a quick glance in Dan’s direction before she replied, The lasagnas are in the oven – how’s that?

Dan smiled, recalling their conversation on their way to Pahokee. That sounds great, Hon, he said, turning and walking to the front door.

Where are you going, Dad? Stefano asked, rushing after him.

Just to talk to Dante and Heath – I’ll be right back, he answered, pushing the door open. Aren’t you supposed to get dressed for Halloween though?

Yeah, but it won’t take me no time at all to get a sheet over my head…

You’re gonna be the scary ghost again, are you?

Oh yeah! Stefano growled suddenly, extending both his arms up as if he were about to devour his father in one mouthful.

Alright, alright, you silly, Dan said, feigning fright and ducking under his son’s arms to run outside where Dante and Heath were still talking, but laughing as soon as they saw Stefano attack his dad.

Incredible, Dan mused later that afternoon, the only thing different to them was the necklace, but nothing else, as if they had never left, nothing about them was different. Their lives had not changed