2008 Woodie Awards
A Bad Dream
Chapter 1: A downward spiral
Robert Dora
Issue date: 2/18/08 Section: Features
Josh Sturkin was a man of no particular talent. He floated through high school with grades that were above average, but nothing too exemplary. He played no sports and belonged to no clubs. The latter is not entirely true: he founded the video game club the previous year. The club met every day after school, but consisted of only two members.
"Hey man." The voice jerked Josh from his daze.
Daniel Letts was the co-founder of the club, and Josh's best friend. They'd grown up together and adopted most of the same hobbies as a result. The major difference between the two came in the way of height and weight.
"How's it going Danny?" Josh responded automatically.
Danny stood nearly six feet tall and towards the chunky side, weighing in at nearly 250 pounds. Josh was almost half a foot shorter and of a more average build.
"Same old," Danny responded energetically, "you still moping around?"
This week began their last month of high school. Neither Josh nor Danny were particularly popular when it came to girls, but the past couple of months hadn't helped. Josh's girlfriend, Jennifer, had broken up with him, leaving him painfully single.
"It's nine a.m. dude," Josh groaned, "I'm always like this."
"Besides," he continued, "why are you so perky?"
It was hard for Danny, in good faith, to bring this up given his friend's condition, but he could barely contain himself.
"Well it's nothing really," he began, "just… you know and I."
"Class starts in two minutes, speed it up," Josh urged.
"Okay okay, Alice and I, we, well..." he stumbled, "She finally said yes."
"Wow," Josh was taken aback, "congratulations man."
Danny had been in love with Alice as far back as Josh could remember. She'd always written him off, though. Getting her to go out with him had been his new year's resolution eight times, and his solemn vow since September. Still, Josh couldn't help but feel even more stranded now.
"Hey man." The voice jerked Josh from his daze.
Daniel Letts was the co-founder of the club, and Josh's best friend. They'd grown up together and adopted most of the same hobbies as a result. The major difference between the two came in the way of height and weight.
"How's it going Danny?" Josh responded automatically.
Danny stood nearly six feet tall and towards the chunky side, weighing in at nearly 250 pounds. Josh was almost half a foot shorter and of a more average build.
"Same old," Danny responded energetically, "you still moping around?"
This week began their last month of high school. Neither Josh nor Danny were particularly popular when it came to girls, but the past couple of months hadn't helped. Josh's girlfriend, Jennifer, had broken up with him, leaving him painfully single.
"It's nine a.m. dude," Josh groaned, "I'm always like this."
"Besides," he continued, "why are you so perky?"
It was hard for Danny, in good faith, to bring this up given his friend's condition, but he could barely contain himself.
"Well it's nothing really," he began, "just… you know and I."
"Class starts in two minutes, speed it up," Josh urged.
"Okay okay, Alice and I, we, well..." he stumbled, "She finally said yes."
"Wow," Josh was taken aback, "congratulations man."
Danny had been in love with Alice as far back as Josh could remember. She'd always written him off, though. Getting her to go out with him had been his new year's resolution eight times, and his solemn vow since September. Still, Josh couldn't help but feel even more stranded now.
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