My alarm clock announced the arrival of Monday morning. I dragged myself out of bed and into reality. I had to focus on school and my everyday existence, but the dream was always at the back of my mind now. In the space of only a few days, it had become very important to me. I didn't stop to think that there was something strange about this.
It seemed like everyone in our house was always in a rush on Mondays, so we had milk and cereal for breakfast. Scott came by to walk Alex to the bus stop as usual. They had time to watch TV, but I had to leave since high school classes began earlier in the day than elementary school. My school was close enough to walk to, so I had no bus service. It was already warm outside. The summer was shaping up to be a scorcher.
Jenny and I had both decided that this would be our last summer to goof off. We were planning to get after school jobs in the fall and to work next summer. We wanted to have our own wheels instead of having to borrow our parents' cars. Jenny met me by my locker. Andrew was now driving her to school, and she looked fresh and cool while I was sweating from my walk. We talked while I put my things away and took out the books I needed.
"See you later," she said with a wink.
She knew that Josh was in my first period math class. He was already there when I walked into the room, and he smiled when he saw me. I smiled back, thinking that he really was a good-looking guy. I would be willing to bet that I hadn't been the only girl in school with a crush on him.
We talked for a few minutes until the teacher arrived. Then we all had to hurry back to our own desks. As I handed in my homework, I was thinking about when I would have time to finish my new painting. The rest of the day passed in lectures and only a few homework assignments. Our teachers stressed the importance of studying for finals. Math was the only class that Josh and I had together, but we sat at the same table with Jenny and Andrew during lunch.
The whole week took on the same pattern. I had to admit that it was fun being part of a couple. Josh and I complained about our homework and teachers we didn't like. We talked about everyday things and got to know each other a little better with each passing day. We had exchanged phone numbers, but neither one of us had called the other one yet. I guess we were waiting until after our date, when it would be more official that we were a couple.
I was beginning to feel like I was two people. There was the daytime me who went to school and had a family, friends, and a new boyfriend. Then there was the dream me who was beautiful and consumed with passion for her love, whom she met every night for moonlight kisses.
Every day after school, Alex and I would prepare dinner and put it in the oven. Then she would go outside to play, and I would go straight up to my room to paint for awhile. When my parents got home from work, they made the salad and we had dinner. If it wasn't my turn to clear the table, I would go back up to my room and dutifully do my homework. Jenny and I talked on the phone every day. Mostly it was about guys, the weekend, and summer. Sometimes I watched a little TV with my family.
Always, though, a part of me was waiting for the night. My parents no longer had to remind me when it was time to go to bed. Sleeping was now my favorite pastime, or more accurately, dreaming. My daily life, as pleasant at it was, had started to pale in comparison to my dream world.
Time began to slip away from me, and Friday arrived before I knew it. Josh met me by my locker after school and walked outside with me. We talked for awhile while he waited for his bus.
"Well, there's my bus." Josh smiled at me. "I can't wait for tomorrow."
"Me, too," I said, but I was already thinking about tonight.
When I got home, I immediately went upstairs to paint. Our parents always took us out to eat on Friday evenings, so Alex and I didn't have to cook dinner tonight. I always seemed to leave my homework for Sundays, no matter how many times I told myself I'd do it on Friday. Anyway, all I had left to do was study for my finals.
It seemed that I had just started painting when my parents arrived home. Dinner and the rest of the evening sped by for me. On the way home, we dropped Alex off at Scott's house. His parents had rented Dracula for them to watch, and they were going to have popcorn, she told us. Scott's parents were going to drive her home after the movie.
My parents, also, sat down in front of the TV to watch a movie after we got home. I decided to take a bath. I poured bubble bath into the tub and let the water run as I undressed. After the water was the right temperature, I stepped in and slowly sank down into the tub. I was going on a date with Josh tomorrow, but I wasn't thinking about him. The only thing on my mind was the dream as I closed my eyes. I didn't fall asleep, but I could picture the dream and see the face of the young man who always appeared in the moonlight. After awhile, it seemed to me that another image of him flitted through my mind, one that I hadn't seen in the dream. I couldn't hold onto it, but with it came a terrible feeling of sadness.
I don't know how long I was in the tub, but when I opened my eyes again the water was beginning to cool. I let it drain out and stood up to rinse myself off in the shower. Then I toweled myself dry and put on my robe. All the while, I felt oddly off balance. When I got to my room, I put on my nightgown and went to bed even though it was still early. I was soon swept up in the dream, in those endless kisses.
I awoke at one o'clock in the morning. Just great, I thought, I got up and walked over to my window, hoping that I would get sleepy again soon. At this time of night the street was deserted, so there wasn't much to see. Yet I thought I had detected a movement in the yard across the street.
A shape darted out from among the bushes. As it ran out onto the sidewalk beneath the streetlights, I could see that it was Stephanie Brown's big black dog. The same dog that slept by the foot of her bed every night. The same dog that begged to come back in nearly as soon as it was let out of the house. The same dog that, in the summer, could lie in the shade for what seemed like hours without moving a muscle.
I didn't ever before remember seeing that dog leave the Brown's yard without Stephanie coaxing him to go for a walk. Now I was watching him race down the sidewalk and out of sight. I stared after him in astonishment. Though I waited for a long time, nothing else happened after that. Finally, I gave up and went back to bed.
Right after breakfast the next morning, I went across the street to see Stephanie Brown. We had played together as kids, but as we grew older we had somehow drifted apart even though we were neighbors. We said hi when we saw each other, but we no longer had a real friendship. I hadn't even invited her to my birthday party.
Stephanie's mom answered the door. "Why hello, Allison."
"Hi," I said awkwardly. "Uh, is Stephanie home?"
"Yes, come in." She stepped back so I could enter.
So many memories surfaced as I walked into the house. I still knew my way around, though it had been years since the last time I had visited. Where had the time gone, I wondered.
"I'm afraid she's a bit under the weather today," said Mrs. Brown as we walked into the kitchen.
I was taken aback when I saw Stephanie, although there really wasn't anything shocking about her appearance. It was just that she had always been the most energetic person I knew. She was a cheerleader and in the choir and a member of the student council. The girl was always busy and always in a good mood. Now she looked tired and pale, but there was sure nothing wrong with her appetite.
"Hi," she said when she saw me. "Want some?" She gestured to the array of food on the table before her.
"Uh, no thanks. I already ate."
"Have a seat, Allison." Mr. Brown nodded toward the chair next to Stephanie.
"You must think I'm a pig," Stephanie said between mouthfuls of food.
"No—"
Mrs. Brown interrupted my denial. "Nonsense. You need your strength, especially when you're sick."
"I'm just so hungry today." Stephanie took a bite of bacon. "What I really have a taste for is steak."
Mr. Brown smiled indulgently at his daughter. "I'll grill some for lunch."
"How long have you been sick?" I asked.
"I'm not really sick. I just feel kind of, drained, I guess is the word. But it's only since I woke up. I was fine yesterday. Anyway, it's nothing. A few of the other kids at school have had it, too, and they're completely fine in a day or two. It must be some kind of a mild bug going around."
"Really," I said in surprise. "I didn't know that."
"Yeah," Stephanie said. "I heard it from a few people in choir. Anyway, how have you been?"
I suddenly remembered the reason for my visit. That's when I noticed Stephanie's dog lying on the floor under the table and staring mournfully up at her. She reached down and fed him a piece of bacon.
"Good. I see that Oscar is back. What got into him last night?"
Stephanie turned to me in surprise. "You saw him last night?"
"Yeah. I was looking out the window and saw him running down the sidewalk."
"Oscar was running?" Stephanie looked at him as if she was expecting him to confirm it.
"I know. I couldn't believe it either."
"I found him on the porch this morning when I stepped outside to get the paper," said Mrs. Brown.
"Stephanie must have forgotten to let him back in last night after he did his business," said Mr. Brown
"I did not. I clearly remember letting him back in, because I had to stand outside and wait for him. He wouldn't go out without me for some reason. I had to practically drag him outside."
"Well, then," Mr. Brown said. "You must have been sleepwalking when you let him out the second time."
"He doesn't ever go out a second time."
"It's odd," agreed Mrs. Brown. "I'm surprised that Oscar didn't wake up the whole neighborhood by barking to be let back in the house."
"I wonder where he went," Stephanie said thoughtfully.
"Maybe he had a secret rendezvous," I joked.
For an instant, something flashed in Stephanie's eyes, but then she looked confused. She shook her head and joined in. "All these years Oscar has been living a double life, and I never knew."
I laughed. "Anyway, I wanted to make sure that he was okay. I should get going. I hope you feel better."
"I'm beginning to feel better already, except I'm so stuffed that I can hardly move."
She walked me to the door. "Thanks for stopping by. It was good to see you. I know we're both busy, but we should make plans to get together after school lets out for the summer."
"That would be great," I said sincerely.
Stephanie smiled. "I heard that you're going out with Josh Connors. He's such a nice guy, and you make a really good couple."
I heard a giggle behind me and turned quickly. "Alex, stop spying on people!"
Alex and Scott ran out from behind the bushes. They were already filthy. "We've blown our cover," Alex said before they sprinted across the street and disappeared into our backyard.
I turned back to Stephanie. "Sorry. She thinks she's Nancy Drew."
She smiled. "They are so adorable. Oh—" She grabbed hold of the doorjamb.
I rushed forward. "What's wrong?"
She motioned me away. "Just a dizzy spell. I'm fine now."
I was still concerned. "Are you sure?"
"Yeah, it's nothing."
"Okay," I said. "We'll make plans soon. You better go sit down."
I went home to pick out what I was going to wear on my date. When Jenny called, I told her the whole strange story about Oscar, but she just put it down to Stephanie forgetting that she had let him out a second time. All she really wanted to talk about was my date with Josh.
With no other plans for the rest of the day, I worked on my painting. At lunch, I told the story about Oscar to my family. Alex, who had changed clothes since I'd last seen her, listened without interrupting.
She waited until I had finished talking. "What time was it when you saw Oscar running away?"
"Around one. I woke up and couldn't go back to sleep right away."
"I woke up at one, too," she said somberly.
Before I could say a word about that, Alex launched into a wide-eyed description of the movie she had watched at Scott's house the night before—Dracula.