Miss O'Reilly, the woman who lived in the apartment next to Matthews, was standing outside her apartment with two other women. They were all dressed in huge, felt skirts of different colors, white poodles sewn on the front of each one. White blouses, with crisp, peter pan collars, topped the outfits, saddle shoes and bobby sox shod their feet. Their hair was worn up in tight ponytails. It looked odd, that style, on their salt and pepper hair. The neighbor stopped him from entering his apartment by calling out to him, by stepping forward. She held out a small box.
"Mr. Matthews, " she said, a little breathlessly, and then smiled hugely. "We want to thank you. You're the only one that hasn't complained to the super about our singing. This is our way of acknowledging your being so nice."
"There's no need, " Matthews said quickly, not reaching for the gift.
"Oh, do take it, please. It's a magic medallion..." She waited but when he did not take it, she gushed, "It's from the gypsies! It's a iltgard...a sandman..."
Sandman.... He thought if he ever heard that word again, he'd upchuck. "There's no need, Miss O'Reilly."
She hurriedly argued, "But it'll show you your secret dream and then give it to you."
"Oh, but really..." Honestly! Magic?
"It brought us three together, and we're going to win the contest tonight. We were promised."
"Were you?" Matthews inquired gently.
"Yes! We went to the gypsies and they sold it to us. Now, we don't need it and the rules say we must pass it on to a nice person or the magic it gave to us will vanish...so we're passing it on to you."
"That's a very nice gesture but..." Matthews began.
"This is real and we want to share it with you." A hurt look appeared when Matthews's hand remained by his side. Taking pity on her, he accepted it. Her smile of gladness and gratitude was his reward. "You put it under your pillow..."
"And wish, " the woman on the end added quickly.
"Oh, my yes, don't forget that, " the third woman agreed, blushing when Matthews turned his eyes toward her.
"What do I wish?" Matthews asked.
"You ask it to show you your heart's desire..."
Napoleon, he thought, a far away look in his eyes.
"And then put it under your pillow..." the third woman butted in once more in eager tones.
"Yes, Yolanda. She's right, Mr. Matthews, you put it under your pillow and that night, you'll dream a special dream. If you accept it, you must say it out loud. It'll come true."
Matthews didn't believe it but he didn't want to hurt her feelings. He simply smiled and promised her he'd give it a try.
"Do let us celebrate your wish with you when it comes true, " the one called Yolanda pleaded, batting her eyes at him.
Matthews was kept from answering by the appearance of the cab driver. He watched them running off, giggling, talking in excited tones. Later, ready for bed, he held the strange pendant in his hand. It was gold, and quite old, the figure carved into it had nearly been rubbed away. `Q Lirium gyv opom' was etched on the back. It did not sound Latin or Greek. Matthews wondered what language it was. He dropped it back in the box and went to bed. The moonlight shone brightly into the room. It hit the medallion. slowly, an eerie light flooded the area around it. Matthews sat up. An icy shivering washed over him. Something felt alive, waiting in the room. Shaking his head, he watched the glow turn pale blue and then fade away. Telling himself, he was being foolish, he rose and went to the bright piece of gold, took it into his hands. It began to glow once again, and it felt warm, alive. He berated himself, but he brought it back to his bed, whispered to it, "Show me my true love, " and placed it beneath his bed. He felt like an idiot, but he left it there.
He dreamed that night. It was semi-dark in his room. He was lying nude on his bed, and he could feel his beginning erection. A man left the bathroom, naked except for a towel wrapped around his waist. He looked like Napoleon, but taller, firmer, and a lot more beautiful. The man stopped, looked at Matthews and smiled seductively. He dropped his towel and moved forward. Matthews's throat closed. His whole being responded to that body, to the look in the blue eyes. Napoleon bent down, kissed him. Matthews moaned as tongue touched tongue. Hot, knowing hands soothed an erotic path over the slim, shivering body as the dream figure made love to him.
