Lost Dreams

By W. P. Ferguson

Step into a whimsical world with Kevin, a curious boy who finds himself in a fantastical realm far from home. Joined by Ben, an extraordinary talking dog, and Pete, a brave young adventurer, Kevin sets out on a quest to reach the enigmatic House of Dreams, the key to returning to their own worlds. Along the way, the trio encounter a colourful tapestry of characters and face trials that test their friendship, courage, and ingenuity. Dive into a story filled with wonder, magic, and unforgettable adventures as Kevin, Ben, and Pete journey toward the ultimate destination that promises a way back home.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Jan 5, 2024
• ISBN: 9781035806546

W. P. Ferguson

It’s an amazing feat that this is Pete’s third book… It’s not been an easy journey as he’s dyslexic, and has only ever read one book himself. After having a serious accident during the first covid lockdown, he has amazed himself and everyone around him with his writing skills. He always had the imagination but could never put it into words – they say miracles do happen, so maybe this is his miracle.

Book preview

About the Author

It’s an amazing feat that this is Pete’s third book… It’s not been an easy journey as he’s dyslexic, and has only ever read one book himself.

After having a serious accident during the first covid lockdown, he has amazed himself and everyone around him with his writing skills. He always had the imagination but could never put it into words – they say miracles do happen, so maybe this is his miracle.

Copyright Information ©

W. P. Ferguson 2024

The right of W. P. Ferguson to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by the author in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

Any person who commits any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.

ISBN 9781035806522 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781035806539 (Hardback)

ISBN 9781035806546 (ePub e-book)

www.austinmacauley.co.uk

First Published 2024

Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd®

1 Canada Square

Canary Wharf

London

E14 5AA

Acknowledgement

Thanks to my grandson, Bailey, for his amazing imagination, which helped me write this book through the eyes of a child.

Remember Bailey – there’s no tigers at the bottom of the bed, or sharks in the carpet – they actually all live in your imagination.

Thank you to my wife, Angie, always there for me.

Part 1

Cornwall

Well, where do I begin?

You’re told as a child to always start at the beginning, but for me to start my story there, would be a mistake. For me to tell you my story, I need to forget the rules and start near the end so you can understand what it’s all about, because from this story comes a very special friendship between a boy and his dog, a story about the love and trust that can be earned and shared between two friends.

Yes, it is a magical journey they go on… but the bond that comes from their adventures is the real magic.

So here we go, my name’s Kevin (Kev for short). I’m twenty-nine years old, married to a wonderful lady name Angie, and I have a beautiful three-year-old daughter called Sue (her name wasn’t my first choice, she got her name as my wife loves the fifties music era, mainly Elvis, but she also loves Buddy Holly, and the song Peggy-Sue is one of her favourites, hence where Sue got her name).

Okay, so here we are on a beautiful caravan site in Cornwall, and I was sitting at the breakfast table looking out of the window while drinking my first cup of tea of the day.

Good morning, Ben, I said to our dog as I bent down to rub behind his ears (he loved having his ears rubbed), well today’s the day, and it looks like it’s going to be a lovely sunny one too.

I turned around as I heard a bedroom door open and there stood my little princess, Sue, in the doorway.

Morning, sweetheart, would you like Daddy to get you some breakfast?

She didn’t answer and just stood staring at me for a few seconds while rubbing her eyes, and then she jumped into life.

Coco-pops, Daddy, coco-pops, she said, holding out her arms so I could pick her up.

Okay, I said as I sat her at the breakfast table, now don’t you move while I get your breakfast.

Okay, Daddy, she replied.

What happened next made me smile, I watched old Ben get up and walk over to where Sue was sitting and just lay down next to her chair as if to say, I’ll keep an eye on her and make sure she’s safe.

That’s my boy, I thought, as I turned back to sorting out Sues breakfast.

I got out her favourite bowl which she had insisted we bring on holiday and tipped in some cereal and a little milk.

Here you are, princess, I said as I put the bowl on the table, eat them all up and they’ll make you big and strong, they’ll put hairs on your chest.

This made Sue giggle. Daddy you’re silly… I don’t want hairs on my chest.

I stopped and smiled to myself as I remembered that’s what my mum used to say to me when I was around Sues’ age. How time flies, I thought.

I was soon brought out of my daydream by Sue talking, she had got off her chair and was standing looking at me, waiting for me to pay attention to her. Our next conversation was one of the funniest I’ve ever had, and this is how it went.

Sue… Daddy, where’s Mummy?

Me… She’s in bed, darling.

Sue… Why?

Me… She’s sleeping, she’s tired.

Sue… But it’s morning… I’m going to wake her up, I’m going to scare her with my dinosaur (she was pointing to a dinosaur on her pyjama top).

Me… That looks very scary, is it real?

Sue… Yes.

Me… It is real?

Sue… No.

Me… It’s not real?

Sue… Yes, it is real.

Me… (laughing) You’ll make your mind up in a minute.

Sue… I’m going to wake Mummy up.

Me… Wait for me then.

Before either of us could make a move, the bedroom door opened and in walked my wife Angie, she stood in the doorway smiling, and held out her arms to Sue.

I watched Sue’s eyes light up like a Christmas tree as she ran to her. Mummy, it’s morning you know, she said as she jumped into her mum’s arms.

I know, darling, said Angie as she hugged Sue tightly, I see that Daddy has already made your breakfast.

I stood there looking at them both, thinking what a lucky man I was, and what a lovely hello to get when you first wake up. It was lovely to see how two people can brighten up each other’s day before it even starts.

Angie looked over to me. Morning, love, is the kettle still hot?

I knew what she meant. Yes, dear… one coffee coming up, would you like any toast with that? I asked, leaning over to give both my girls a kiss on the cheek.

No, thank you, just the coffee will be fine, she said, sitting down with Sue still holding on to her.

I turned around and carried on making Angie’s coffee, I felt a nudge as Ben came and sat by my side.

Hi, Ben, did I forget you? Sorry, boy, here you go, would you like anything else, sir? I said, putting down his food and water. Ben just gave me a look and then started to eat his food.

As we sat together at the breakfast table, I told Angie all about the conversation I’d had with Sue earlier, she laughed so much she had tears streaming down her cheeks.

Well, I think it’s time I made a move, I said, and with that I got up and went to get washed and dressed. Once I was ready, I came back into the main living area where Sue and Angie were sitting watching kids cartoons on TV.

I looked at Angie and said, Are you sure you’re okay with this?

She looked at me with a smile and said, You and Ben go do your thing and have your day, me and Sue will be fine, we have lots of plans for a full day of our own.

Thanks, love, I replied, I really don’t know what to expect but you’re right, I need to do this.

With that, I got up and put on Ben’s lead. Come on, boy, it’s time we went.

We walked out of the caravan door, down the single step and onto the grass, saying bye as we left. As me and Ben walked towards where the car was parked, I turned around to see Angie and Sue standing in the doorway, just smiling and watching us go.

I smiled back at them and put my hand to my lips and blew them both a kiss, shouting to them both that we’d see them later, and telling them to have a good day together.

They waved back and Angie shouted, Be careful, you two, have a good time and I really hope you find what you’re looking for, Kev.

I was so grateful for Angie letting me and Ben take this trip together while we were on a family holiday.

As me and Ben got to the car, I took the key from my pocket to open the doors and took Ben’s lead off him. I opened the back door for him and told him to jump in.

Good boy, I said as I shut the door.

I walked around to the driver’s side and got in, I put the key in the ignition but didn’t start the car right away. I could feel my hands shaking so I just sat for a short while holding the steering wheel.

Hey come on, Kev, you’ve been wanting to do this for such a long time, I thought to myself, and with that I started the car.

The 2.2 litre engine made a loud roar as I pressed down on the accelerator and I thought how I’d love to put it in gear, put my foot down, and drive away like a madman so I could get there before I changed my mind. Instead, I just reached over to the back seat and put my hand on Ben and started to rub him behind his ear. For some strange reason, it always calmed me down. It had helped me so many times over the years.

Okay, Ben, are you ready for a trip down memory lane? I looked into his dark brown eyes as I spoke, and I’m sure as sure can be that he could understand me and knew exactly what I meant.

Then I took one last look in the mirror at my wife and daughter who were still standing in the doorway waiting for us to go. I put my window down and stuck my hand out, waving to them both as I drove away.

I drove very carefully through the campsite, heading towards the main entrance and then out onto the main road. I indicated right to head towards the beach and as I turned the steering wheel I said, Well, Ben, this is where it all started, just thirty miles away.

Yes, I know the caravan site we were on has a lovely beach right next to it, and believe me once I’ve done this, I’ll spend many hours on it with my family, however today we were going to a special place just for Ben and me.

As I drove along, I kept checking my rear-view mirror to look at Ben on the back seat. I couldn’t help wondering if he knew what was going on. My mind drifted back to when Ben first came into my life, and just how everything changed.

It all began on a sunny day in front of a rocky cliff-face, on a beautiful sandy Cornwall beach. If I told you where it was you would agree how beautiful the beach is, but this was mine and Ben’s magical place, and I wanted to keep it a secret.

I’d say sorry for keeping it a secret, but then again everywhere in Cornwall has a magical place for someone, so please don’t think I’m selfish.

I’m not quite sure how old Ben was when I first met him, but he’s been with me for seventeen years to the day, and I know for a dog that’s a very good age. He was getting a little tired these days and he wasn’t so fast on his feet (although he was still young Ben to me).

He still loves a walk but doesn’t like to go as far as he used to, so I knew I needed to do this now.

I wondered if dogs could remember like humans do, and I wondered if I would still remember how things were back then, and if I would recognise any changes.

I heard a ‘blip’… Oh no, I’d forgotten to fill the car up, what a fool I was! Then I remembered that my dad would always fill up at a gas station around here somewhere, I knew it was on this road but how far away was it? I could see it in my head as plain as day, my dad would pull into the station and before he got out of the car my little sister Pam would be asking for sweets and Mum would say, We’ll see, just let your dad put petrol in first.

There it was, just up ahead! I pulled onto the forecourt and got out to fill the car up, I couldn’t believe it.

Everything still looked exactly the same as it used to except it had probably had a new coat of paint at some time, but it was even the same colour as it used to be.

As I looked across the road, I realised I had a big smile on my face, and I thought if people were looking at me they’d probably think I was crazy, but I couldn’t help myself… I couldn’t believe what I was seeing!

The swings and the slide were still there, and it made me smile, because once my sister Pam got on them you could never get her off.

Everything looked just as I remembered it thirteen years ago, so, if the park and the petrol station were still the same, would everything else be as well? I do hope so.

Once I’d finished filling up