Nightmares

April 9th

   A group of Swahili tribesmen encircled the stage, glaring at my sweat-soaked face behind the podium. My mind was completely bland, yet my mouth just started moving.

   “Ladies and gentlemen. Uh, If somebody told me that I would wake up this morning and find myself in front of a large group of um…of African peoples…wait, people…giving a speech on something for which I was completely unprepared, I probably wouldn’t have believed them.”

I awake. Just another nightmare.

   My life is a complete paradox. During the day, my mind is at peace; but at night, my sleep becomes plagued with nightmares. I first started having nightmares when I was only several years of age. Medical science can only speculate where nightmares come from, but it is believed that nightmares stem from a…terrifying part of the brain.

1:45 P.M.

Phone call to psychologist

Receptionist: West hills Medical Group, how may I help you?

Myself: Oh, uh, sorry. I wasn’t expecting a receptionist. Listen, I need to speak to a psychologist.

Receptionist: Would you like to make an appointment?

Myself: You know, I’m a little tied up right now for appointments. Is there any way you can just do this over the phone?

Receptionist: We don’t do that actually.

Myself: Well that’s really too bad, because this kind of an emergency.

Receptionist: Can you give me your last name? Are you a patient here?

Myself: Of course I’m a patient here. I mean, Jesus, what do you think I’m trying to do?

Receptionist: Last name?

Myself: My last name. Hmm…uh…man! I’m sorry. What did you just ask me?

Receptionist: Can I please have your last name?

Myself: Do you even know what a nightmare is?

An abrupt end to an abrupt conversation.

April 10th

   The nightmares are getting stranger. Last night I dreamed that a movie I owned had been modified to fit my screen. When I woke up, it was true. Perhaps there is some purpose to these nightmares. For example, in 1997 I dreamed that the Jolly Green Giant fell down; and this was more than five years before the 9/11 disaster. How many lives could be spared if I learned to listen to my nightmares? Obviously the real nightmare is the one we live in today.

Children who don’t know how to read.

Vehicles with over-polluting exhaust fumes.

Babies…who don’t know how to crawl.

   Am I being selfish? I envy those who sleep peacefully, dreaming of healthy things like fruits and vegetables. Is it a curse? Is it a blessing? Is it both? No, it’s just a curse. My curse. My…nightmares.