Sleeping Dream Short Stories by Thomas Harrison

The Tunnel

1992

Florish, Texas

(A small town

below San Antonio)

      It hasn't easy for Clark Andrews...well at least for a year. Things were fine until his Mother was taken away by a horrible thing called cancer. Nothing can really rip the happiness away from a family than a disease that is more horrifying than anything Stephen King or Wes Craven can create. Speaking of, for a September that can usually be a bit hot, it was a cold, post rainy day. The rain has stopped, at least for now, but Clark couldn't help but stay inside and read a book. He was reading Something Wicked this way Comes by Ray Bradbury, a story about two boys around Clark's age, venturing out into an autumn carnival, uncovering a very sinister man known as Mr. Dark who runs the carnival, and offers happiness to those who needs, yet in returns, takes something of great value from them such as adulthood or sight.

     "Clark?" Joseph, his father had knocked on his door that was left ajar.

     "Hey Dad, what's going on?" Clark asked.

     "You've been spending a lot of time in this room. You're either playing on your Intendo (He meant Nintendo, but he has always pronounced it as an Intendo instead) or reading...in which I really don't mind, however, you've spent the whole summer in here." Joseph stated.

     "Yeah...I know. I've just been trying to get my mind off things." Clark replied.

     "I think you should go out. Do something, but you can't just stay in here all of the time. I know Mom not being here hasn't been easy. It's hard to move on, especially for me, but we have to at least move forward."

     "Yeah...I know Dad."

     "Also...you're pretty much a teenager. Have you ever thought of kind of letting go of some of these things? I mean...you have a STAR WARS poster, Ninja Turtles, and more Intendo games in your room than you have clothes. (Joseph was exaggerating on the Intendo Comment however, Clark knew what point his father was making.)

     "Dad, being 13 is no different than being 12, but anyways, I understand."

     "Good, here's some money, go out, buy a soda, have an adventure, or whatever, and be outside." Joseph continued.

     "Dad, it might rain again."

     "Well, when it rains again, come back, but right now, you need to be outside." Joseph replied.

     "Um...okay." Clark replied.

     "Good, see you in a couple hours." Joseph said, seeing his son slip on his jacket.

     Clark's relationship with his father wasn't terrible. Even before the loss of his Mother, Clark and his father Joseph has always been a bit friction. Joseph has always pushed for his son to be more of an outdoors person, while his mother Abigail has encouraged his imagination. Clark enjoyed writing. His hobby outside of reading and video games were drawing. He loved them both, however, his mother passing has not helped fix the friction between them. Clark also wasn't angry with his father. He knew who he was, respected it, yet would wish for the same action. Then again, he was his father, simply doing the best he can in their situation.

     Clark had continued to walk. He stopped by at a convenient store, bought some Beemans chewing gum, and a TAB cola. Down the road, there was a small overpass over a creek, leading to an area that most people would call the Boonies. As Clark began to take a walk pass there, he had noticed a small trail heading off road. For the most part, Clark had never really ventured in this area. He eventually found himself in trees surrounding, however, he was still good with keeping to the trail. The surrounding area kind of reminded him of an adventure game that he's been playing throughout the summer. He even picked up a stick, and attacked a shrub, pretending that he was fighting off a goblin. Moments later, he sat on a log, and began to drink his soda.