Dream: Cockroach, School bus

I was back in Brooklyn, New York, in my childhood home, in one of my favorite places- the living room. I had a corner where I kept my wrestlers, He-Man toys, and GI JOE action figures.

I tried to turn the light off, but the switch was stuck. I looked closely and saw a cockroach's (more like a palmetto bug) leg twitching around behind the switch. To me, that meant that this sucker was big.

I was so scared. I jumped back, and saw another one burrowing in my sack of toys.

FEAR.

I ran away, grabbed some insect spray and attacked them. The bugs charged me, but I was fast and sprayed them directly. After some time, they began to shrink, and died. They didn't look big anymore. I guess I shouldn't have been that fearful.

My grandparents came out to see the commotion, so I told them the story, but described it as a dream.

Transition: It was around 6:00 AM and looked dark. It was time to go to high school. There was a delay, and I think a lot of students missed their regular bus, and some routes had to be combined, although this was not implicitly said in the dream.

Anyway, an officer directed us on the bus. I felt odd because the bus was usually filled when I boarded. But now I had a choice to sit wherever I wanted. I didn't know if each class had assigned seats, and I was afraid to sit in the wrong spot. I also felt rushed since everyone was boarding.

I actually sat in the back seat in the right-hand side corner, even though it was forbidden for a white boy to sit there on any other day; I was surrounded by older seniors, who has already claimed their spots- African American guys.

FEAR.

I nonchalantly sat down, tried my best to look out the window and avoid eye-contact. They looked at me, but didn't say anything. I was happily surprised. As more and more seats up front were being taken, I was praying that none of "them" would forcibly remove me.

FEAR.

Some weird white chick sat next to me...she was in "special-ed", I think. She was blabbering away about going to camp. I was being polite and nodding on cue.

Then this taller white teenager, who looked like he failed 12th grade, tried to sit in the back, and the black teens were yelling at him. This loser pointed his finger at me and said, "No FRESHMEN are supposed to be sitting here anyway!"

The retarded girl shouted and I both shouted at him: "F____ you! F____you!"

I called him a "traitor", too.

Slight Transition:

We were going to camp. It was still dark out, my face glued to the window. I saw the dew drops, the sky, trees, and the asphalt streets. Was I in New York or Florida?

Queens. I was in Queens, NY..going to day camp, based on the highways and landmarks.

The bus pulled in behind a large office building. The bus transformed into a type of futuristic ferris wheel. I felt like a potato chips bag in an advanced robotic vending machine.

All of the seats of the bus were in open air. We were moving around the windows. I saw a corporate park and water fountain, with benches. I saw inside the windows- mostly women, shampoo, lingerie, lotions, feminine accessories everywhere. Some windows were opened.

I looked at some girls on the other flying seats; they were smiled. I could have reached in and stolen shampoo. The seat/ferris wheel was a little dizzy, I was swinging everywhere, and saw some women changing clothes. They looked at us, but didn't really care and didn't protect their items.

I was surprised by a voice.

FEAR.

A French waitress asked me what I wanted for my order. My order? She asked me if I wanted "pickle or pretzel".

"Pickle."

"I'm sorry? I didn't say pickle. I said hook rug or (mumble)."

"Ah! Hook rug, then."

"Hook rug? Are you a little boy?"

It's for my mother, I thought, but I won't tell you that.

I smiled.

Broad Channel Day Camp

Homecoming

I returned to the grand reopening of Broad Channel Day Camp in Queens, New York as a 31-year old man. My wife also signed up. (I went to Broad Channel from 1984-1990 as a kid).

The camp was completely redone, and everyone was grown up. There was a new petting zoo, and many unusual animals were there, such as the Luck Dragon from The Never Ending Story.

The counselors were running the ship now, as the Old Guard has died, I guess. Neil, who was running a Help Desk, had no idea what "class" I had to go to or what my schedule was. I was very nervous and afraid to be late.

Everything was NOT organized. Many campers were frustrated, although my wife was fine, and took pictures of the fantastic creatures.

Neil started to SHOUT and YELL at the campers (now in their 30's). I was aghast how poor the customer service was, and wanted my money back.