The Dream Thief: Summer Closes Its Eyes
"The Dream Thief" written by Charles Beers and illustrated by Max Tunney. Credit: Max Tunney
As the sun came down on another steamy summer day, Tim F. Header stared out at the breaking surf of the Atlantic. For the past month and a half, Tim was just like any other 12-year-old, enjoying the freedom of summer vacation and simply hanging out with friends. As an aspiring writer, Tim frequently crafted stories from his summer adventures by writing ideas down in his journal. Even his dreams -- which he recorded in his journal the following morning -- became ideas for possible stories. However, as summer wound down, Tim found that it was becoming harder and harder for him to create new adventures while he dozed off. Tim realized he hadn't had a solid dream in over a week. On the last day of summer, Tim was determined to get to the bottom of the mystery.
Tim spent the day with his friends at the beach, sharing his plan to dream again. "All I have to do is fall asleep and figure out what's keeping me from dreaming! It's simple," Tim said confidently. "As simple as the time you said you could kick a football across the entire field?" Tim's pal Justin replied. "It would have worked if the principal's head hadn't gotten in the way!" Tim said with a smile. Brimming with determination, Tim was making the most of his last day of vacation -- until Butch, the school bully, walked over to Tim with a threatening glare.
"Can't wait for tomorrow," Butch said with a sarcastic snarl. "It's gonna be a fun year . . . "
With a laugh, Butch strutted away and Tim rushed home. The minute he shut his door, he felt a rush of panic. That fear stuck with Tim throughout dinner. He tried to take his mind off things by looking through a book of puzzles his mother had given him for his birthday. Tim had just finished figuring out how to make cool anagrams for his own name when he decided it was time to go back to his notebook to chronicle his daily experiences. This day had taken an especially dark twist, and hours passed while Tim wrote down the doubts and fears that built
up in his heart.
It was very late when Tim's mom yelled for him to put his journal away and go to bed -- but he was too absorbed in thought. "I wish this summer would never end . . ."
He continued to write. Page by page, Tim's vision grew blurrier, and fatigue overwhelmed him. As he drifted off, his head resting on the journal, some of his recent writings flooded into his mind. There was the laughter of children riding down a roller coaster and the soft breeze of the forest.
But then a cold, maniacal voice hissed, "Welcome to the nightmare! You're in MY world now
Chapter 2: The Nightmare Begins (check back tomorrow)
