The Dream Machine

Twenty-Six

SANDLER

You know those times when you have to go somewhere but you really don't wanna go? That was exactly how I was feeling Saturday night. For First Date, we were having this party to celebrate the beginning of the production. Not only did I have to see Lloyd and Lizzie at the same place (Lloyd got a job backstage), but the party, itself, would be at a roller-rink. Now, I am not a very good skater. I've only ever skated at a rink twice in my life, each one ending in many bad falls to the wooden floor. Gosh, this wasn't gonna be fun at all.

My mom pulled up to the big neon sign that read "Skate-Town" written on it in big green letters. This is the only skating rink in our deadbeat town for miles. It was the only place where I had actually skated before. All the falls to my butt, hip, and knees happened in this holy sanctuary.

Once I reached the door, a cheery chaperone came to meet us, "Well, hello there. Are you here for the middle school First Date production party?"

Mom looked over at me expectantly. I just pretended not to notice how extremely embarrassed I was, "Yes," I bellowed.

"Awesome! My name is Sharon and I will be checking your son in!" the blonde lady cheered, shaking my mother's hand, "Follow me."

I got out of Mom's car and headed inside behind this short, happy woman. She looked like she was about to hit fifty, but still trying to seem hip and relatable. Skate-Town's wall were lined with small tiny rocks, making it look more like an upholstery shop than a skating rink.

The chaperone leaded me to the front desk, "We've already paid for everything, we just need you to sign a waiver."

I recognized the guy in the booth. I believe his name was Gary. Yeah, that's right. When we went to middle school, after school, he'd always light up a cigarette (possibly pot) without the teachers' knowledge. He had brown hair that came up in several spikes with the tips a neon-orange. He was a stoner without a doubt, "It's basically stating that if you fall down and die, we won't be sued," he said with a smile. That statement didn't do anything for my self-esteem. I smelled weed on his breath. Yeah, it wasn't cigarettes.

Gary buzzed us in and we opened a door that led to the entire rest of the building. We walked inside and automatically, I saw a million little kids running around, screaming, jumping, laughing, it looked horrifying. Honestly, I was intensely scared to skate tonight. I didn't wanna fall and die (but if I did, I would wanna sue, thanks Gary). I was just afraid that I would fall and pathetically have to crawl over to the side to sit down like I did last time. No offense, but I don't want five thousand skaters skating by asking if I'm okay while I scoot my fat body over to the sideline.

Luckily, when I went in I saw Lizzie and saw my opportunity. She was skating, but I didn't see an alternative. So, without even bothering to trade in my shoes, I jumped onto the rink. I tripped a little, but I regained my balance without falling. I ran over to her, oblivious to the staff starting to blow whistles on me.

"I just wanna let you know that I'm totally okay with you wanting to find your dad." I said, running to keep up with Ms. Gallagher.

She acknowledged my presence and continued, "Oh, hey Sandler. I don't remember asking for your approval, but sure thanks."

"Are we in a fight?" I muttered.

Lizzie skated to the middle of the rink and stopped, "No. It's just...my life just got super complicated."

"I get it, dreamscaping is still pretty new to me too."

"And like, now I have this brother and biological dad and it's just TOO MUCH!" she yelled, her voice rising. We had the whole rink's attention now. Even the little kids had put down their ice cream cones to stare at us.

"Maybe we should take this to the sideline."

"Okay," we left the rink and sat at a bench laid with fabric attached to the wall, "I mean with middle school now ending and high school approaching, I'm just not ready for this stuff."

"I, I totally understand. Life wasn't meant to have all these weird things with it. I mean, can you believe it? We practically have superpowers!"

She seemed excited now, "Yeah, that part actually sounds really cool."

"Yeah, I mean in between these shades of gray we still have some light."

"Yeah, I mean, I need something good other than the fact that my entire life is a lie."

I said, "You've actually been handling all this stuff pretty well."

Lizzie seemed to think about something, "You know what? I just realized something. Me, Harry, and Bob are seemingly all related, and there's only four dreamscapers in existence. So, does that mean?"

"Wait you think I'm...?"

I was cut off by the sound of the door to the rink loudly opening, only to find Frederick, worn and beat-up terribly, walk in. It looked like he had a story to tell.