From Chapter One, Page 11
Oh my gosh, what was happening in this trailer park tonight? I thought I would just hear tales of what the Air Force Academy was like from Michelle’s brother, and instead I was about to start drinking and give a college thesis on why the incestuous horror novels of VC Andrews were some of the most important literary works this country had ever known. All in the company of Todd Christopher. A name that was the best name in the history of names.
“Don’t be embarrassed to have a dream, Joseph.” Todd said when he returned with drinks for everyone.
“Here, here! I’ll drink to that!” Betty lifted her glass.
Todd toasted his glass with mine. “I have a dream, too.”
“Really?” I winced after sipping the drink – it was strong! But I wanted to look cool so I quickly swallowed and did everything in my power not to cough.
Todd stared at me – amused. He seemed as curious with me as I was with him. (Or was that just me hoping he was?)
“So what’s your dream, Todd?” I asked.
Todd winked and reached into the leather bag at his feet. He pulled out a tape player and a very sophisticated-looking set of headphones. He took the glass out of my hands and suddenly moved behind me. I could feel his breath on the back of my neck as he slowly slid the headphones over my ears.
I was distracted by the awareness that one of his hands was still on the headphones. A hand that was five inches away from my lips. A hand that was seventeen inches away from my chest. Twenty seven inches away from my belly button. Thirty inches away from my…
Todd whispered: “Close your eyes, Joseph. And listen to my dream.”
The music started… and I suddenly knew then that God was cool. How else could you explain this music – this dance-infected, heart-lifting, joy-riding music – that was being pumped into my ears? It made me feel alive – the music was in synch with the beat of my heart. Surely God had used this music for inspiration during the six days it took to create the world.
Six days. I wondered what Todd and I could do if we had six days to do whatever we wanted. Just him and me…and his music.
“Don’t be embarrassed to have a dream, Joseph.” Todd said when he returned with drinks for everyone.
“Here, here! I’ll drink to that!” Betty lifted her glass.
Todd toasted his glass with mine. “I have a dream, too.”
“Really?” I winced after sipping the drink – it was strong! But I wanted to look cool so I quickly swallowed and did everything in my power not to cough.
Todd stared at me – amused. He seemed as curious with me as I was with him. (Or was that just me hoping he was?)
“So what’s your dream, Todd?” I asked.
Todd winked and reached into the leather bag at his feet. He pulled out a tape player and a very sophisticated-looking set of headphones. He took the glass out of my hands and suddenly moved behind me. I could feel his breath on the back of my neck as he slowly slid the headphones over my ears.
I was distracted by the awareness that one of his hands was still on the headphones. A hand that was five inches away from my lips. A hand that was seventeen inches away from my chest. Twenty seven inches away from my belly button. Thirty inches away from my…
Todd whispered: “Close your eyes, Joseph. And listen to my dream.”
The music started… and I suddenly knew then that God was cool. How else could you explain this music – this dance-infected, heart-lifting, joy-riding music – that was being pumped into my ears? It made me feel alive – the music was in synch with the beat of my heart. Surely God had used this music for inspiration during the six days it took to create the world.
Six days. I wondered what Todd and I could do if we had six days to do whatever we wanted. Just him and me…and his music.
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