2008 Woodie Awards
A Bad Dream
Chapter 2: A sense of hope
Robert Dora
Issue date: 2/25/08 Section: Features
Josh met up with Danny in the hall, but he couldn't look him in the face.
"Look man," Danny pleaded, "I'm sorry. I know this probably wasn't…"
"It's not that," Josh interrupted, "just shut up, okay?"
The remainder of the day was spent in silence. After school the two boys set out for Josh's house in Danny's new truck. Josh's car had broken down, within the past month, of course.
"You gonna tell me what's wrong?" Danny asked.
"Just tired," Josh grumbled, "haven't been sleeping well."
The boys ended the games early, as Danny had to get ready for his date. Josh took the opportunity to try for some actual sleep.
A quick nap had turned into six hours. Several loud knocks roused him from his sleep. The next set of knocks convinced him to crawl out of bed. Danny was standing in the doorway with the biggest grin Josh had ever seen.
"It was amazing," Danny beamed, "everything just seemed to go perfectly."
Josh groaned.
"What time is it?" he asked groggily.
"It's only like ten man," Danny retorted, pushing past him, "were you really asleep?"
"I told ya," he snapped, "I haven't been sleeping well."
"Sorry, sorry," Danny surrendered, "I'm starving man."
Danny migrated to the kitchen. He opened up the ancient fridge and began to dig through its contents. The search became more intense, and soon Danny was knocking the food onto the floor.
"You never have anything good," Danny whined, "no wonder she left you."
"Shut up, just shut up," Josh yelled as he pulled a shiny, serrated blade from the drawer.
Josh lunged forward, covering himself in his best friend's blood.
Josh let out a primal scream. His body shot upright.
"No!" he yelled, before taking a look at surroundings.
"Dammit," he cried out in frustration.
As his heart slowed, he noticed that he was covered in a cold sweat. He took a quick look at his alarm clock before heading towards the shower. It was only 6:00 p.m..
"Look man," Danny pleaded, "I'm sorry. I know this probably wasn't…"
"It's not that," Josh interrupted, "just shut up, okay?"
The remainder of the day was spent in silence. After school the two boys set out for Josh's house in Danny's new truck. Josh's car had broken down, within the past month, of course.
"You gonna tell me what's wrong?" Danny asked.
"Just tired," Josh grumbled, "haven't been sleeping well."
The boys ended the games early, as Danny had to get ready for his date. Josh took the opportunity to try for some actual sleep.
A quick nap had turned into six hours. Several loud knocks roused him from his sleep. The next set of knocks convinced him to crawl out of bed. Danny was standing in the doorway with the biggest grin Josh had ever seen.
"It was amazing," Danny beamed, "everything just seemed to go perfectly."
Josh groaned.
"What time is it?" he asked groggily.
"It's only like ten man," Danny retorted, pushing past him, "were you really asleep?"
"I told ya," he snapped, "I haven't been sleeping well."
"Sorry, sorry," Danny surrendered, "I'm starving man."
Danny migrated to the kitchen. He opened up the ancient fridge and began to dig through its contents. The search became more intense, and soon Danny was knocking the food onto the floor.
"You never have anything good," Danny whined, "no wonder she left you."
"Shut up, just shut up," Josh yelled as he pulled a shiny, serrated blade from the drawer.
Josh lunged forward, covering himself in his best friend's blood.
Josh let out a primal scream. His body shot upright.
"No!" he yelled, before taking a look at surroundings.
"Dammit," he cried out in frustration.
As his heart slowed, he noticed that he was covered in a cold sweat. He took a quick look at his alarm clock before heading towards the shower. It was only 6:00 p.m..
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