Thunder and Lightning

Dream 5/31/2018

A party is being held at my pastor's house. My cousin DJ and I attend, along with the rest of my family and hundreds of fellow classmates from my high school.

When we arrive, we greet and hug the pastors family in the front yard. I walk around the pastor's house. He has a beautifully landscaped yard. His home resides near a river. On the river is a twenty-foot waterfall. The image is so serene, I find myself in an almost trance-like state, admiring nature.

I walk around the front yard to look for my cousin. I see him playing soccer with several other kids. Suddenly I feel out of place. I'm no athlete. The ball gets kicked my direction. I softly kick it forward, setting up for a wows-er of a punt. Unfortunately, the first kick was a little too hard, and I have trouble catching up to the ball. By the time I do, it's already back where the boys are playing.

I walk inside the pastors home and lie down on the couch. I am alone in this room, which makes it peaceful.

DJ finally finishes up with his game of kick the ball, and we walk over to the basketball hoops. He asks if I want to play a game of pig. Suddenly, we are no longer outside, but rather in a gymnasium. Around thirty kids are lined up to play knockout (or as some people know it, thunder and lightning). DJ and I join the line. I look around and recognize students that I haven't seen for a decade, maybe even longer. It comes to my turn. I grab the basketball and try my best not to get eliminated. Swoosh! Nothing but net, well, maybe some rim, but it went in, and that's all that counts. I toss the ball to the next person in line.

Throughout this game, I lose contact with my cousin again. After sinking an almost half-court shot and receiving loud cheers from the line, I step out and look for DJ. I run into a friend, Derek. We catch up for a moment. Another friend, Sam, is standing in line. He is wearing a cheerleading outfit and screaming for us to notice. He dances embarrassingly. I point him out, but Derek doesn't see him. Dream ends.

I wake up

Fart Bottles

Dream 10/11/2017

I'm attending an internship in Texas called The Honor Academy. The director tells us that we have to get jobs. My friend informs me that there is an opening for an architects assistant. It's a job that everyone is going to want. The interns sit on the floor as the director speaks. He describes several jobs options that we can get, most notably, one that involves assisting in clearing mysterious wood chips that have appeared on Lakeland Avenue. Everyone wants this job.

The meeting ends. Those interested in the mysterious wood chip job, need to follow the director of that job. We walk through winding hallways with obstacles. Those who finish the obstacle course will be considered for the job. Many follow, few arrive. I stand at the end of the course with one other follower, my friend Sam. The director tells us that he will now choose. He tells me to go sit in a small open room next to the hallway. "The person that will be working with me is..." the director walks toward me and then quickly turns around, "...Sam!" What a bummer. I give Sam an unenthusiastic slow clap. Why would the director trick me like that? This is a major letdown. I feel sick in my stomach. All my life, I've never gotten the coveted prize. This is no exception.

The director walks with me. He tells me it was a hard decision but my resume was too good for the job. "What?" I interrupt, "my resume isn't good. I'm a college dropout who has mainly worked in fast food."

I walk to the lunchroom where a hundred interns are eating. I sit down at a busy table. The others ask what happened. I tell them that it came down to two of us and Sam was chosen. I walk out of the lunchroom for a second. On the way, I pass Wayne Knight carrying a pizza. I am a big fan of Seinfeld so I try to think of a line from the show to impress Wayne with. "Farkus!" I say. Wayne gives me a smile. Wait. In Seinfeld, Waynes name was Newman not Farkus. I try to think of something else to say. Ah! I will say "That is one magic loogie." He will love this line. Standing in the hallway outside of the cafeteria, I hear the voice of a boy say, "that is one magic loogie." What the heck. He stole my line.

I return to my table. Sam is now sitting here as well. Sam goes on talking about "Fart bottles." The table has become quiet. I turn to Sam and say, "what the hell are you talking about?" People look at me with disgust but Sam is the one talking about Fart bottles. I look at my wallet and find that my debit card and gift cards have been torn in two. I only have a few dollars. I will need to send for more money from my parents. Dream ends.

I wake up.