caterpillars and butterflies

River jumped in our bed this morning, eyes sparkling, smile wide.

he dreamt he had two caterpillars in a container
then a butterfly flew by, it had a handle and he caught it
he looked and there were butterflies sitting on the wall
maybe ten, maybe one hundred

He was so excited, not just by the dream, but how the dream wasn't like real life. "It wasn't a real butterfly. It had a handle and I caught it!" he observed.

What is real, what is not real isn't so blurry to his almost five year old mind. Last year he woke up in the middle of the night saying there was a deer in his room. "It was only a dream," I comforted. "No, it was here."

Maybe it was and maybe it wasn't. Does it become real if he believes it is? Yes, I think it does. There are laws created, wars fought, people killed all because someone believes.

Caterpillars and butterflies that have handles are very real to me. I hope my little boy will always find them to capture.

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