shower dream

staying in Jane English’s home with several other houseguests
in town for a class – important and interesting, maybe photography

everyone had to shower before class on the second day
I had a bad feeling about this – too many people, not enough time

I was in charge of a small boy, maybe my nephew, maybe just a friend
he was very small for his age and dark and had dreadlocks

we were second in line for the shower
it was in an open tiled pit, beige tile, very blocky, several levels

I wasn’t sure how to use it, where to stand, what to do
I disrobed in front of other people, very nonchalant, very natural

the boy was a handful
he couldn’t focus on showering but ran off in many directions

I persisted in chasing him and bringing him back to the task at hand
I stood him on a ledge and washed his body

I noticed it was getting dark out
it had taken us all day to shower

other people were still waiting
we missed the class

I realized I hadn’t shampooed his hair yet
I didn’t know how to shampoo dreadlocks

I let it go
I assessed him

he was clean and dressed in a nice navy blue outfit
batik-like print shirt, solid shorts

but his head looked too fuzzy