flows in an ocean of dark thunderheads. They are ripped upwards into the dark looming clouds. I watch in detached horror until the suction envelops me and fills me with that empty terror of swift ascension as I gaze downward, seeing the forest shrinking beneath my pale feet and muddy soles.

Then the terror so paralyzes me that I awake.

I am lying in tangled sheets, the walls of my room sliding toward my bed from all sides. The clutch of my dream still claims my equilibrium: I can feel myself move circularly in isolation. Slowly, I regain my conscious body. I register myself stationary, lying twisted in bedclothes. Hesitant about this new familiarity, I will my left leg to move. To my amazement, it does.



Demetrious

Greenwood Index, December 23, 2003: From Staff Reports

Investigators are still piecing together the chain of events that led to the shooting death of a Greenwood man early Monday morning.

Demetrious Monteewee Dansby Sr., 27, of 314-C New Market St., died about 1 a.m. Monday at Self Regional Hospital. An autopsy conducted later that day in Newberry showed Dansby suffered a single gunshot wound to his neck.

"The wound penetrated a major artery," said Greenwood County Coroner Jim Coursey.

Dansby had already been shot when residents of East Laurel Road found him wandering from door to door.

"He was knocking on doors looking for help," Coursey said, "It was at random."

Dansby was coherent during his final minutes, and was able to offer help to investigators, he said.

"At this point we're still investigating and contacting witnesses and suspects."



Granny

"You know I was Pentecostal. My family was all Pentecostal. All my sisters and brothers... They all got to speaking tongues. I never could do it. My Momma got them dreams they call it... The prophesying dreams. Came true. And we listened to her real serious when she told us a dream... She didn't do it often and she did it real quiet. Like it was a secret message meant only for us from the good Lord. I did get the dreams: Momma said she knew soon as I was born on account of the veil covering my face. That's what the midwife told her too. Them days they never heard of having a hospital for a baby.