âYou didnât really invite us over here to hear about your stupid dream did you?â Jamal started looking up from over his Gameboy for a moment. âI mean who cares if you had a nightmare and got . . .taken advantage of. It was a dream.â
âYeah, I donât see what the big deal is Christy.â Rachel added, running her hand slowly over Jamalâs baldhead. Her soft ivory skin contrasted sharply to his mocha complexion.
âYou donât get it.â Christine hung her head down for a moment. âMaybe you are right. Iâm just being stupid.â She closed her eyes, only for a second before snapping her head up and opening her eyes. Every time she closed her eyes she could see that manâs horrible burnt face.
âStill dreams mean something.â Ray said sipping at his drink. âLike when you dream about being stuck in quick sand it means that you are unhappy in your relationship. And like if you dream that you are falling it means that you think you are in a hopeless situation.â
âAnd when a burnt man with a claw for a hand named Freddy Kruger rapes you with your own teddy bears?! What the fuck does that mean Ray?â He shrugged slightly then pushed his glassed up onto his nose. âRight you donât know.â
âHey listen, weâre sorry.â Gabrielle slipped an arm around her friend. Straight fiery tresses cascaded over her shoulder to tickle Christineâs shoulder. âHey I know lets have a sleep over tonight. Just us girls.â
âWhoa whoa whoa. Why am I being discriminated against because of sex?â Ray shot. His ear length black hair nearly concealed a pair of golden hoops in his left ear.
âCus you donât get no sex.â Jamal taunted without looking up from his game. âNow me on the other hand. He leaned back nuzzling his head against Rachelâs flat stomach pausing at the base of her D cup breasts.
âEwww quit it.â She squealed pushing him away from her. âDonât talk about that with other people around!â Slapped him on the shoulder before turning back to Christine.
âReally, you donât have to.â She was visibly disturbed, her mind almost visually working through the situation while they watched.
âGotta go. Sittin the squib tonight.â Ray started to leave then stopped in the doorway. âWho did you say the man from your dream was?â
âKrueger, Freddy Krueger.â Christine said with a shudder. Ray reached his hand up stroking his goatee for a moment. He didnât say anything else before walking out.
He mounted his red mountain bike riding straight across her lawn and onto Elm Street. He lived three blocks away but somehow that put him in a better part of the neighborhood. It was like there was a line drawn by 73rd Street where the mediocre stopped and high society began. He only rode his bike to keep them from making fun of him; his parents had bought him a 98 Mustang for his 17th birthday. He sped up his driveway, around the coy pond and up to the garage. He still had his clicker and opened the garage, parking his bike up against one of the walls.
âKrueger? Why is that name familiar?â He whispered taking his shoes off before stepping socked feet on snow white carpet.
âThat you Ray baby?â His mother called from the kitchen. He winced slightly; glad she couldnât see the face he made at being called âbabyâ.
âYes mother.â He leaned his head around the doorway, just far enough to get a glimpse of the table. His mother liked to think they were wealthier than they were. What silverware was out could almost tell you what the meal was going to be. Like tonight there were salad forks out. Meant there wouldnât be any soup, steak knives and dinner forks. Probably steak and the butter knife meant there would be rolls. His mother would be drinking wine tonight that meant either sparkling cider or red Kool-Aid. Ray tried to get a sniff of what the meal was but he couldnât smell it around all the steam. Damn that meant vegetables too. âHurry up and put your things away, Iâm already behind schedule.â
âYes mother.â He droned and disappeared around the corner up to his room. A moment later he stepped into the kitchen, his little brother following at his ankles. He took his seat across from his brother and waited for his mother serve them both.
Dinner went by quickly and his mother left him and his brother alone for the night. âYou know the deal Squib, keep an ear out for mom, you can watch whatever you want, especially Skinemax, I think Bikini Bimbo Basketball Squad 2 is on tonight.â He smiled and pushed his plate toward his brother and rose from the table. âHandle it.â His brother stuck out his tongue and gathered the dishes heading towards the sink.
âKrueger. Dreams.â Ray muttered as he walked up the stairs. On the way to his room he paused at his brother Michaelâs old room. Four years ago his brother had left to live in a home. Ray remembered him screaming, warning him not to sleep; that the bogeyman was real. They had come and taken him away later that week. It hit him so hard it nearly doubled his legs.