In this dream, I had been banned from every setting foot at my former university. But I made my return 12 years later. Actually, I was alone and just wandering around. I wasn’t trying to get noticed. I think I was on campus out of necessity (like looking for something).
Anyway, the setting wasn’t like any real campus- I saw lush gardens, department stores, convention halls, Asian nail spas, and lots of restaurants.
As I was roaming I kinda felt like an outcast or a man without a country or a man out of his time. I saw all the students involved in their own realities- class schedules, jobs, activities…
I followed a few around, I saw my childhood friend/rival Jared K all grown up, so I followed him and his friend. They didn’t seem surprised and let me tag along for a while. I was walking behind buildings alone and made my own trail. When I came back into my loop, I saw two doctors put a sign on a small outside table as they were eating lunch; it said: “Surgeons Only”.
I avoided them since they were authority figures. Jared and his buddy, however, actually went over and chatted.
I was still outside, so I walked in the giant mall. I saw an Asian nail and hair spa on my way in. I barely made eye contact. Once inside the mall, I saw Toys R Us. I got excited, and was looking for video games even though I knew I didn’t have the money to buy anything. In a sense, I even felt guilty just for wanting to look. Maybe I wouldn’t be able to resist the temptation.
But I didn’t see any video games. Instead I saw the new toy trends. You know that feeling? You have no idea when these new toys became popular, and you have no idea why kids buy them. In this case, the shelves were packed with Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd Edition boxes: “Make your own AD&D videos”.
The store was sooo vast, just the campus: high, high ceilings with an untold number of shelves.
I left and found my way to a very bust outdoor cafe; it was not lunch time. I saw Fabien- a Haitian woman I went to college with. She was nice, but she told me Ana B. (from high school) was being abused as a waitress at the cafe. I told her I would try to do something to save her. We were using a wireless laptop or something. Mrs. Bush, my old Kindergarten teacher (she must be dead by now) was cleaning the tables; she had sneakers on, something she would never have worn. I can’t remember the details of what Fabien’s plan was, but I knew it wasn’t working since I was powerless as an outsider.
I eventually wandered off and went into a hallway with windows. I entered the museum. As with many museums there was construction. I felt pretty scared to be in this museum since the artifacts seemed expensive. I didn’t want any trouble with me accidentally colliding with one.
There were student workers there, and they asked me for my ID. I was scared but someone still have my old college card, which miraculously worked. [I think I used my dream altering powers to make it work.]
After walking around the museum, I exited and came across a giant cafeteria/conventional hall, similar to the Orlando Convention that Tony Vahl and I went to years ago. As soon as I walked in, the girl behind a cafe counter said, “Hi, sir what can I get you?” Then a male waiter rushed towards me and said, “We have a hamburger special today.” I felt as if the whole museum thing was a setup and that they were pressuring me to buy their food. (Similar to walking out of a Disney ride and being led right into the merchandising area.)
I replied, “Uhmmm…no, I just passing through”, but they cursed me, “I hate when guys f$@#% do that $hit.”
I recalled that was the 2nd time a college worked cursed me out today (I can’t currently recall when the 1st time was). I said to myself that I would blog a review about this university’s so-called good service.
Finally- here comes the dream climax.
Small open space area of eating. I sat alone in a table by the wall, window, and door in the corner- one of those diner tables that wobble. I was alone in my thoughts. Was I lost? What was I doing here? I have no friends or family here.
Three or four Muslim men sat at the open chairs. I’ve seen more of that in New York- strangers would sit at open chairs right next to you. I always thought that was weird when I was a kid, if not awkward. I tried to avoid eye contact, and they were talking amongst themselves. However, one started to speak to me, so I was polite and I was sometimes included in their discussions but still never felt part of the conversation.
One had a question about the baseball team of that city, and I answered him. I was proud of myself that I knew their score from last night, but I realized I said something that offended them or scared them, you know a faux pas. Then it hit me. I somehow revealed my identify to them. The secret is out. I was only inches from leaving the campus (the door was right there) but I blew it. These Muslims know who I am. I have a beard now, but I saw them studying my face- hard. Three of them excused themselves to use the rest room, but they took their bags. It was over. They will tell the MEDIA or the police or the college. I will get arrested for violating the rule. I will have to pay money.
I got up and left once I realized they would not be back. I walked out of the door clinging to a false hope they didn’t recognize me. The Muslim that remained ran after me. “Hey, what happened?” he asked. I told him my story. He didn’t believe me so I told him to use Google to find out. I tried to write the keywords down on my receipt, but my handwriting was so bad or I didn’t want him to get my debit card number. I felt I was wasting my time anyway, as he knew who I was, and I didn’t have to prove it.
So that’s that. I walked away like Bill Bixby, knowing that I would get into trouble for returning to campus.
