dream from this morning:
we had moved into a cramped, dingy apartment somewhere. we weren't getting along. my wife took offense when i didn't understand why her odd wooden crate contraption was on top of the bunk bed. we decided we needed to get out and do something. we'd been cooped up for months during the pandemic. so we took our sweepstakes win and headed to a colts game.
it felt like we were in indianapolis, but our walk to the bus took us down 19th street, past callaway park toward the high school in elwood. we got on a bus packed full of people. no one was wearing a mask. neither of us were wearing one. it occurred to me that none of these people took the virus seriously. for no reason, i had a book with me. a copy of a robert heinlein sci-fi novel. probably "stranger in a strange land." everyone on the bus was talking at full volume. finally the bus was unloading and we stepped out on the crowded sidewalk. suddenly i remembered i left the book behind. without thinking, i jumped back on the bus and ran back toward my seat. the book wasn't there. the bus started up and pulled away as i searched around and under the seat.
at this point i realize my wife probably didn't even see me get back on the bus. and of course i also left my cellphone at home. once the bus stops again, i jump out. i see a grey van pull up and stop. i jump in the back. there is a guy driving and another guy in the passenger seat. i get him to take me to the last bus stop. i jump out and the driver finally figures out that i'm NOT his uber passenger. he gets upset and tells me it's $70. we only went a few blocks so i keep walking. no one was wearing a mask.
i pass through the entrance of an office building, hoping to make a phone call. sitting behind a desk is george conway, political pundit and husband of kellyanne conway. i explain to him that i need to call my wife. he wants to help, but he can't allow me to use his phone. it occurs to me that i don't even know if i remember my wife's cellphone number, as she just changed it recently. mr. conway offers to give me an old flip phone. i try to send a few texts with it, using what i think is her number. none of them go through. kellyanne enters the room and puts her arm around me. she's saying it's going to be ok and she'll walk with me. as we pass through some neighborhoods, she never stops talking. i blocked out every single thing she said. i'm pretty sure i'm going to get the virus at this point. somehow i ditch her and end up under some building. it's a loading dock with dumpsters and men in hard hats. there's a lift that pushes the dumpster contents up to the next floor. i jump in and get hoisted up to a stairwell. i'm in this maze of stairs and doors for a while.
eventually i'm on a different bus like the first one. my friend jason treadway is sitting in the back, and i ask him to call my wife so i can let her know what's going on. instead he does a facetime, thinking it will be funny. he holds the phone up and ducks below the seat. on the screen is a view of the alley cat bar with a game of space invaders layered over the top. apparently she is using her phone to play the game while sitting at the bar. and of course she can't hear me when i say hello. i ask if i can try to text her and he hands me his phone. it's some other weird brand and i can't quite figure it out. i type up this long text message but the app won't let my text go through. he sees me struggling and yanks the phone out of my hand, afraid i'll see his 'boobie pics'. i give up and get off the bus and start walking again.
after some time, a black pickup truck rolls up. there are four guys in the cab and more guys in the bed. they offer me a ride and i slide into the packed cab. while i try to explain my predicament to these strangers, we stop at a stop light. out of nowhere two giant cats jump on the hood and start attacking the windshield wipers. the guys roll their windows up as more cats surround the truck. one guy on the passenger side decides to roll his window back down and a black cat jumps in his lap. the cat starts purring as he pets it. now all the cats are being friendly. someone mentions a kitten and i contemplate taking it.
meanwhile, we end up at a party. people are standing around and drinking. someone tells me we are way out on the west side off of 10th street. one guy who i almost recognize is talking to me. he acts like we've known each other a long time. he has bushy eyebrows and horn-rimmed glasses but has short hair with a goatee. he's wearing a black baseball cap and black hoodie. i think his name is jason molina but i'm pretty sure i'm wrong so i never say it out loud. i finally ask him to give me a ride to fountain square. he says he'll do it for $190. i check my wallet and only have $62 on me. i really don't want to walk all the way home so i think i'll offer him the $62.
then i woke up.
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