Open Your Eyes(Shirley Smothers) I had been feeling sad and lonely. I decided to go back into the past and visit one my childhood homes, which was a small town a few miles outside of a small rural town.

My Sister, Mother and Brother were sitting at the kitchen table enjoying a meal. I walked in and said, "Hello!"

They welcomed me warmly and asked, "How have you been?" I felt secure and comfortable being welcomed home.

Soon my Father made an appearance and asked, "Why are you here?" I answered, "I was feeling sad and lonely and needed to see my Family again?"

My Father said, "You need to open your eyes and see the truth. For what you see is not reality." He motioned for me to open the front door.

I opened the door and peered out. What used to be lush green grass, plentiful trees and crystal blue skies were no more. There was a vast wasteland. There were no grass, sparse dead trees, and the sky was dark with pollution.

When I turned back my home was no longer a comforting beautiful home. It had transformed into a rundown shabby old barn.

I asked, "Daddy what does this mean?"

His answer was, "The Keepers! They breed us. They maintain us. They keep us around for food."
His parting words were, "Open Your Eyes!"

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