Free Jack in the Box by Michael Shaw Page B

sticking out. My gaze went back to the screen. "Definitely."
    "I could tell you were serious about this. I'm with you all the way."
    "Oh my goodness," I wiped my forehead. "Thank you so much, Dad."
    "I'm really proud of you, son. I love you."
    I looked down. "I love you too, Dad. Is Mom there?"
    "Yeah! Hang on, I'll put her on."
     
    →
     
    I was in a room. At some sort of meeting. Long wooden table. A screen was behind me. I had a pointer in hand. Apparently I was presenting something.
    All the people in front of me were older than I. I was presenting to a group of adults in suits. Was this one of the companies I’d talked about in my other dream? Was this my dad’s company?
    A man put his hand up. He had brown hair, combed over, and glasses. “Your expected results sound great, Jack. But this just looks like an experiment you could do on a mouse. The principal doesn’t seem new.”
    “Yes, but if we do it on a mouse the implications aren’t the same. Results would be interesting, but it would lead to nothing.” I pointed at a diagram on the screen. “You pair this with humans and the results will be staggering.”
    The man shook his head. “This seems like less of a scientific improvement, and more of a. . . I don’t know. . .”
    “A mental improvement.”
    He tilted his head. “What?”
    “The science of this is one thing. But the results on the brain’s potential are the point.”
    He took his glasses off. “Listen, Jack, I’m going to be honest about what I’m thinking. Considering the danger of using this on humans, I’d have to say that this project is just too. . .” he paused and took a breath.
    I put my hands on my hips.
    “. . . draconian, for us to fund.”
    I shook my head. “Well, I’d have to disagree, sir, but thank you for your time.”
    “The science of it is what you should be focusing on,” he said, pointing at the screen. “That stuff is revolutionary. Personally that’s wha tI would go with.”
    The group gathered their things. Briefcases, folders. Eventually they all filed out. It was odd. It had all just ended so abruptly.
    I put a loose fist in my hand. Rubbed it with my palm. I was getting better at telling what my dream self was feeling. Disappointed, but not crushed.
    I took my flash drive out of the computer and walked out the door. A man was standing next to the door, waiting for me.
    “Ah, Jack.” He held his hand out. It was a different guy from the meeting. He had a slightly raspy voice.
    We shook hands. Seemed like we both had a firm grip, but his hands were a little wrinkled. "Yes, sir, what can I do for you?"
    He put his hands in his pockets and leaned toward me. "You can let me fund your project, that's what you can do," he said quietly.
    I opened my mouth in surprise. "Really? But I thought-"
    "-To be honest, Jack I'm not a part of this department."
    I raised my eyebrow.
    "I wasn't supposed to be in that meeting. My building is next to this one."
    I squinted a little. "How did you know about this?"
    "I happen to know your dad, and when I heard about what you had, I couldn't stay away."
    I couldn't believe it. "This is. . . awesome, sir."
    "I'll tell you what's awesome: this project when we bring it to life. These guys don't understand the point." he shifted his eyes around. "It's not just the mechanics, it's the process they aid in."
    I put my hands on my head. "Exactly!" My dream self was really liking this guy. I looked around the room. "Now what do we do?"
    He bumped me with his elbow. "How's about we walk over to my department and look at those prints?"
    We shook hands again. "Yes sir!"
     
    →
     
    My dreamed changed again. At first I thought I was waking up, but when I saw where I was, I knew I couldn't be. my eyes were hardly opened. My head lay on top of the table.
    "Jack."
    My eyelids fluttered.
    "Jack!"
    I jerked my head up. My nose made a loud snorting sound.
    A few people snickered next to me. I was in class.
    "Long night?" my professor loomed