John's Cravings by Nathan Jay

Author:Nathan Jay
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: JNJ Publishing LLC
Published: 2023-07-30T00:00:00+00:00

Transitions

“Arlo! Get up!”

Jaime walked into the room and slapped his son on the head.

“What’s going on? This room is a goddamned mess!”

Arlo rubbed his head and sat up to look around.

“What? Dad?”

Jaime walked over to the window and kicked the pile of blankets.

“Did you have a nightmare or something? Why are the blankets in the middle of the floor?”

Arlo remembered last night and immediately reached for his side; his waist felt normal. He looked down to inspect his side more closely; everything seemed normal, and the opening in his side was gone. Arlo looked at his dad, confused. Had he imagined it all? Was it just a bad nightmare?

“Well?” asked Jaime.

“Well, what?” asked Arlo, confused.

Jaime shook his head and walked out the door.

“Get up and clean this room before coming downstairs. If your mom sees this, she’ll put you on punishment forever.”

Arlo climbed out of bed and walked to the mirror on his dresser. He inspected his midsection more closely. He couldn’t believe last night had been a dream.

“It seemed so real,” he mumbled as he pinched his skin and saw it snap back into place. Could he have just imagined it all?

“Arlo!” his mother yelled from downstairs. “Get up!”

“I’m up!” Arlo responded.

He walked to the pile of blankets and picked them up. He was about to carry them to the bed when he paused to look at the blinds. He yanked the string on the center window and lifted the blind to inspect the glass—there was no sign of insects. Satisfied, Arlo let the blinds fall.

“I guess it was a dream,” he whispered.

Arlo began making his bed when he heard a tiny knock on his bedroom door.

“I’m awake. Come in!” yelled Arlo as he walked into his bathroom.

His mother walked into the bedroom and stood at the entrance.

“Just making sure you’re awake.”

“Yeah, I’m about to shower.”

Claire covered her nose and began backing out of the room.

“Jesus, Arlo. Close the door the next time you use the bathroom.”

Arlo looked confused.

“What do you mean?”

“I know you want to take a dump with the bathroom door open, but that smell stays in your bedroom. Make sure you open all the windows before you come down.”

“I didn’t take a dump.”

“No? Did you pass gas?”

“No.”

“Really?”

“I didn’t, Mom.”

“Something stinks to high hell in here. Give me your linen, and I’ll take it down for a wash.”

“But . . .”

Arlo paused, remembering the awful smell he’d encountered last night.

“What is it?” asked Claire.

Arlo walked over to his bed and grabbed the linen. He placed the linen against his face and breathed deeply. Almost immediately, the nauseous feeling returned.

“Here, Mom. Take it,” he said, pushing the pile of bed coverings into her hands.

Claire took the sheets and quickly exited the room. Arlo closed his bedroom door and flopped down on his bed as soon as she was gone. Slowly the sick feeling in his stomach went away. Arlo laid back on his sheetless bed and closed his eyes. He didn’t know what to believe. As he laid there trying to make sense of what happened, he slowly drifted off to sleep for the second time.

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