Stolen Dreams

Carter: The Summer of Changes

That was weird he thought, as he woke up from that strange dream. Now he was really craving ice cream. He might be able to buy some from the ice cream truck that would go by his house later in the afternoon. His new house.

Earlier that summer his mom had announced that she had been promoted at work and had been "Assigned the supervision of the company's expansion into another city." or whatever that meant. In short, he, his mom, and his goldfish had to move. So now he lived in a new house in the middle of a new town.

He was used to it by now. Live in one place for a few years, let his mom have some job related event happen again, and move. He was happy for her, but he wished that she could spend more time at home than at work.

"So this is it, huh, Jake?" He said to his goldfish. He lay on his bed staring up at the ceiling of his new room, moving boxes scattered across the floor around him, and a table in the corner with his goldfish, Jake, in a small tank.

Carter wondered what this school year would be like. First year of high school, with nobody to count on to help him through the first day. With all the moving around, he had gotten used to doing everything himself, at a new school every few years. Sometimes less than that. So he didn't try making new friends, since he'd be gone in the blink of an eye again.

"Think we won't move again until I graduate?", he asked Jake. His little fish swished around the tank a bit, as if he we're saying, "Who knows?". Carter sighed. He knew it would all be the same. Get to meet a few good people, get through a bit of school, and then move again.

Little did he know this year would not be anywhere near ordinary at all.