Keep Dreaming up Ways to Survive by Mitch Mueller (the reading strategies book .TXT) 📕

“Come on Felix, we can’t go to my house. My family's home, we need to go to yours.” Dawson tapped Felix's face slightly, when he saw Felix open his eyes he handed him the phone to put his address in Google Maps.

Felix woke up on the way to his house, when they got there he got his keys out and opened the door. Dawson and Felix walked into his room, they sat on the bed and said nothing to each other. The awkward tension that had disappeared, had returned. 

“Um… I’m about to pass out again, so I'm going to take a little nap, If that’s ok you?” Felix asked nervously.

“I don’t care, it’s your house. Go ahead and take your baby nap, I’m not going to leave you if that’s what you're scared of.” Dawson smirked.

“I’m not scared… nevermind, too tired to fight.” Felix’s head fell back on his pillow, he immediately started letting out quiet snores. Dawson sat on the floor with his back against the bed, he had no idea what to do. He had never been in someone else's house when they were sleeping, especially when they met just yesterday.   

Dawson spent the next hour and a half thinking of Felix’s power, he had realized a similarity with every time Felix’s power was activated. As Felix started to yawn and rub the sleep out of his eyes, Dawson gently placed his hand on Felix’s shoulder and stated all the compliments his brain could think of.  By the end of it, Felix was a bumbling mess, flushed and muttering nonsense. Dawson had opened a window, thinking he knew what was going to happen next. Being correct, he saw something bob up Felix’s throat, he quickly pointed to the window.

“I knew it,” Dawson muttered.

 Felix spit up the goo, turned to Dawson, and yelled, “What the hell! If you knew what was going to happen, why would you do that! If you can’t get it through your thick skull, it burns to have that in my throat!”

“Calm down! I’ve needed to make sure of my theory! So stop yelling, I know how your power is activated.” Dawson barked.

“Oh really? Can you tell me please!” Felix begged excitedly.

“Do you have mood swings or something!?” Dawson hissed loudly.

“Yes,” Felix replied bluntly.

“Whatever, I think your power is caused by being happy… maybe not because you were just excited and nothing happened. It’s more likely someone being nice to you, like when I complimented you.”

Wow, you must have thought about this a long time. Wait! So I can’t be happy!?” Felix began to panic slightly, “You know what, it doesn’t seem too hard.”

“No, I think you can still be happy. Just can’t get happy when people talk good about you. To me this seems pretty easy, you never talk!” Dawson reminded Felix.

“Your right, until you realize all my classes are full of slackers! I’m practically the only one who even does the work and turns it in.” Felix bragged unconsciously. 

“You like bragging about yourself, don’t you?” Glared Dawson.

“What, no! I didn’t mean-” Felix fumbled over his words as he heard the front door open. He froze as she started yelling, “Felix! Get your dead as-”

“Mom! I have a friend over!” Felix shuddered at the sound of his mom’s hoarse voice.

“What!? Why didn’t you tell me?” His mother slightly changed her tone of voice.

“Mom, please! I’m coming downstairs!” Felix shook heavily. He whispered to Dawson to wait. Dawson waited until Felix was downstairs to eavesdrop, only hearing parts of their conversation.

“Who’s car….my….not yours…” Dawson guessed that was the mom.

“...Project….I didn’t know…please...won’t do...again…” Dawson knew that was Felix, from his distinctive timid voice. Dawson heard the voices get closer and quickly walked back to the bed. Felix dashed up the stairs and gulped out, “You need to leave, like now.”

Dawson knew he shouldn’t ask any questions, like why are his eyes red. He just picked up his bag, slipped his shoes on, and walked down the stairs coolly. Just before he left the house he looked at the mom, at the same time the mom looked at him and said, taking a drink of some cheap beer, “Sorry! Rough day at work! Do you need anything, honey?”

“Nope, nothing…” Dawson snapped quietly.

Text: Mitch Mueller
Editing: Mitch Mueller
Proofreading: Mitch Mueller
Publication Date: 02-25-2021

All Rights Reserved