Dream

Part 1 - Chapter 2

She was in the nurse’s office now, the bright light stung her eyes and she squinted as she saw the nurse washing her hands in the basin. “Ah, good, you’re awake. Shouldn’t have been asleep mind you, but at least you’re awake. Yer chest sore?” It was and Janie simply nodded in reply. “You got a headache?” Yes, and it seemed to be eating it’s way through Janie’s brain. “Ya breathin’ alright?” Janie nodded, her throat was saw and she was feeling aches from her shoulders upward, but she was fine. “Good. The head wants to see you.” Janie replied with a monotonous “Yes miss,” and lifted her upper body up.

 

She could feel her head throbbing and it seemed like the nurse’s coarse, scratchy but somehow high pitched voice had penetrated her ear and now she was in need of some rest. She stood up and immediately sat down again, her legs were stiff and wobbly, like she had just run a marathon. Well, I have haven’t I? But it was in a dream… After a minute or so to pull herself back together, she pushed herself up and made her way to the headmaster’s office. Three times she knocked on the door, tap, tap, tap before a kind and yet stern voiced replied, “Enter Miss Sylvester.” and she opened the door. Alongside her headmaster she found the young doctor and her mother, both eating biscuits. To be honest, Janie wasn’t surprised, she’d fallen asleep in class and then had another asthma attack, there was certainly room for many concerns here.

 

“Janie, you fell asleep in class, can you explain why?” asked the headmaster, frowning but at the same time trying to look kind, act like her friend. Janie replied, “Yes sir, I haven’t been sleeping lately.” To which both mother and doctor called out in unison,

“But you take sleeping pills?” They then apologised sincerely to each other whilst the head looked them as if he was thinking, ‘these stereotypical Brits… Too polite.’ And Janie had to work hard to smother a giggle. “Yes, I take them, but they’re not working,” she said once she recovered from her state of giggle. “And Janie, do you know why you had an asthma attack whilst sleeping?” asked the headmaster, making notes.

“Well, I mean… Um, no sir,” replied Janie, wondering whether she should tell him or not. She was teetering, wavering.. No, she wouldn’t say anything, she didn’t want to concern her mother, or get the doctor to send her off to a mental asylum, having asthma while she slept was one thing, but it being caused by a dram? That was ridiculous, nobody would believe her, she would just have to remain silent. Meanwhile, the headmaster nodded. “Ok then Janie, I’m going to let you go home early, and tomorrow you will miss school and go for a doctor’s appointment. I’ll see you on Monday, and you won’t fall asleep.”

 

Altogether, Janie felt slightly embarrassed about all this, hopefully my sleep was silent… I didn’t snore did I? How long was I asleep for? she wondered as she left the building with her mother, who wore both a concerned and an angry look on her face. “Janie, I was at work, I was busy and then I was called in and you panicked me Janie, you panicked me!” Janie was silent, a slight tear rolling down her eye, “I’m so sorry mum, I’m sorry…” Her mother went quiet also and they were silent for the remainder of the journey, all that could be heard were Janie’s soft breaths.

 

It was half an hour later and Lissie had headed off back to work, leaving Janie alone with time to think about the dream. She took out a notepad and scribble down her immediate thoughts.

Thoughts on my latest dream:

There were people there, a boy and a girl. Both dressed in the same shorts and t-shirts that I was wearing