Nick Graaf was recently graduated from college when his uncle offered him a job. His uncle, Helbert Graaf, was one of the country's best neurologists and about to start a very unorthodox project: Sweet Dreams.
Sweet Dreams was an ultimate matchmaker. A system based on matching people upon their dreams; their subconsciouses, in other words. There were 3 steps for this digital matchmaking process:
1- Identification:
A customer who comes to the Sweet Dreams Hub would be handed out a specific form, which contains all the customer's significant information. They’d then be asked to portray their significant other; preferences they seek on their partner, in their words or drawings, including a short survey. The company guarantees that all the data on this process is confidential. This process often regards as the most valuable data the company has.
2- Dreaming:
After the Identification, the customer would lay on a dental chair. They’d be given acetylcholine to accelerate the REM sleep; then, they’d be observed and noted for all the brain motions during the sleep.
3- Describing:
When the brain motions start to decrease, and REM sleep leaves its place to NREM sleep, the customer would be awakened by a scribe. Who notes everything the customer tells; the concept, the persons, objects, places, every little detail you can think of.
The motto of the initiative was, “Find the love of your dreams!”. The Sweet Dreams project had a huge impact on the market. While some communities promoted the project as a revolution, a new era of technology, some strongly suggested that it was total bullshit and claimed that it is wrong to be matched upon something a person can’t control. Helbert Graaf, who was already a rich man by being one of the country's top neurologists, now became a very famous man as well.
Rick Graaf was one of the first scribes of the project. He was a hardworking, kind, easy going young man, beloved amongst his coworkers. Recently promoted as Senior Scribe. When Helbert offered him the job, he didn’t think of it as something permanent in the first place, “just to keep me busy for a couple months, until i find an appropriate engineering job“ he thought; the job of the scribe was just putting words into the paper carefully, and he wanted to do something more qualified than that, but it was going pretty good. The salary was good, the work environment was good, the benefits were good, it was a walking distance to his house... He liked his job more and more everyday. He was an emotional man, so witnessing people's dreams and subconsciouses; watching their desperate search for true love and seeing their excitement when they started to tell their dreams was very satisfying to him... After a couple months, he admitted to himself that he had a pretty decent future here... And he had a pretty good relationship with his uncle, Helbert. Helbert was candid and fair with him. He was having lunch with Nick often, consulting him on delicate matters, always checking if there was any room to improve, on and off work. So it was all good, he was happy; until he had this dream one night...
He had a dream that affected him severely. He was working in his dream; he checked his phone and saw that it was Friday. He was expecting a customer, having a small talk with his coworker Tomas when the customer came to the room. She was a charming young lady; smooth face lines, long blonde hair; “She is gorgeous”, he thought. She was in a rush, thinking that she was late but she actually wasn’t. He prepared the dentail chair for her. She laid down. He injected her the acetylcholine and left the room. He couldn’t remember what happens in between, his next memory was her, telling him her dream.
“I was in the woods; i tried to remember how i get there but couldn’t. I saw two adorable little girls. They were around 5-6 years old. I tried to talk with them but they we’re not seeing, hearing me. I remember that i thought this is pointless, then saw a house that wasn’t there before. It was a little wooden house, you know the ones with chimney, it was the cliche image. I said, “Hello?” and then an old man opened the door; he said “Hello” back, and checked if i was alone or not. And when he couldn’t see anybody, he invited me inside, said “Are you lost? Come on in, you can wait inside”. I remember that i thought if there was any danger for a couple seconds, but then somehow i trusted him. As soon as i stepped inside, i was on a beach... A seaport but with a beach. There was a big red ship, it was the first thing that draws attention. It was some kind of cruise ship. I thought, “who would paint their ship a fucking red?”.Pardon my french... I was very curious about the ship. I walked to the portal, to the ship. There was a music, a kind of funk music coming from the ship. I thought that this was some sort of happy place. I saw the oldman again in the ship, he said “Come in!”, and as soon as i stepped inside the ship, i was awakened.”
That was it; his dream. He was awakened at the same moment she said “i was awakened”.
He was shocked. He had a breakfast, went to the work but couldn’t think of something else for a couple hours. All he was thinking was how he can match with the woman. He was sure that she’ll come on Friday. Or was he? Can this be a reality on Friday? He knew that it seems crazy but he felt sure somehow... There was no way he could be sure but he wasn’t too worried about that, because he wanted to be sure. He didn’t even want to think other possibilities. What would he do when she came to tell? He couldn’t just claim it, saying that he had the same dream as well. It was Tuesday, he thought about it one more day went to see his uncle, Helbert on Wednesday.
Helbert was on his desk, he seemed a little occupied. He stood up when he saw Nick.
-Hi, how are you?
-Good, good. How are you?
-I’m fine. I’m confused, actually. That’s what i wanted to talk about you.
-Sure. But first, i have a dilemma about the new motto. You need to help with that as well. “One last dream before it all came true!” or “Stop dreaming; make it real!”?
-Stop dreaming; make it real!
-Thank you. Go on.
He told Helbert about his dream. He didn’t miss a single detail. Then he said that he will resign and apply the Sweet Dreams as a customer; to have a chance to match with her. Helbert, didn’t like his offer. Argued, but couldn’t convince him.
So, he was free! He got an appointment for Thursday. He went back home and did nothing except
thinking about Tuesday and Friday!
Thursday; he went to the Sweet Dreams. He saw Tomas, waiting for him in the Dreaming Room. He was surprised when he heard his decision. But said that he was supporting him, all the way. “Thanks”, Nick said, he had a favor to ask him tomorrow. Nick laid down, injected acetylcholine and went to sleep.
He was on a farm. He saw a donkey and a chicken standing in front of him. He thought, “what the fuck”? He wandered through the farm, then he was on a mountainside, then he was on some neighborhood and some other bullshit he didn’t even want to focus. He woke up. Tomas was asking his dream, ready to take notes. He started to tell:
I was in the woods; i tried to remember how i get there but couldn’t. I saw two adorable little girls. They were around 5-6 years old...
It was Friday afternoon, Nick went back to the Sweet Dreams. He visited Tomas. And while he’s there, he wanted to have a look at today’s dreams. He saw a file, a woman called “ Zoey Zort”, was telling dream:
I was on a farm. I saw a donkey and a chicken standing in front of me. I thought, “what the fuck”? Pardon my french...
He felt like crying at first, but after a couple seconds, he remembered the motto he chose with his uncle: Stop dreaming; make it real! He then remembered a beach; a beach that being used as a seaport, but still a beach. He had no idea how he remembered a knowledge he didn’t had before, he was sure he neither see nor heard the place. but he didn’t care. He smiled, thanked Tomas, and left there. He was in a rush. He got in his car, started to drive a small seaport called Yodel. It was an hour of drive; he felt tired, exhausted from what he went through for 3 days; but immediately felt alive again, when he saw the red ship from miles away.
Hello @defolumal,
I just read your story and was very impressed by its originality. Since you ask for feedback I will offer some of my impressions.
You have a wonderful story arc, and you flesh out the character, Rick Graaf, very well. You explain:
The story is sort of mixed genre...science fiction and the fantastic. It works very well and reminds me of something Philip K. Dick might write. Except, you have a very light touch and there is no suggestion of the sinister here.
The end is satisfying and follows logically from what came before.
My one suggestion is that you edit more carefully. For example, you use "i" instead of "I" often. Writing Tip #21: Editing Your Work with Fresh Eyes, offers some good advice on how to go about editing.
It's a pleasure to read something that holds a surprise for me. Your story did. I wish you success in your future efforts and hope to read more of your work.
Regards,
AG
Hello,
Thank you so much! That feedback means a lot to me. I'm kind of a newbie, so it's great to have some tips.
Will definitely check that out!
I love Philip K. Dick! Thank you for the comparison/complement :)
Hope to hear more of you.
🌟🌟
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STOPI nice story of a dream made a reality. Thanks for sharing.
Take care, and see you in the new year writing stories again.