Dream: The Third Way to Make Popcorn
My night was shortened by lengthy chili-preparation, my sleep heavy and dreamless. At least, I thought it was, until I realized the last things I remembered didn't make much sense.
Evening's light faded as our ship steamed into the bay. The vessel slowed to maneuver to the docks at the edge of town. We stretched our legs on the deck, stiff and worn from the long trip. Flattened rows of glowing hotel windows beckoned from across the harbor. Sharon and one of the strangers on board wrestled their luggage to the side ramp. They'd planned ahead and called for water taxis. Two pairs of red and green lights slid closer across the lake.
Once the taxis left, we trundled past the docks and into the canal system. It'd be nearly an hour until we'd cleared customs and got to the hotel.
Something else happened that I can't remember.
Back on the ship, Alyssa was making popcorn. She'd swallowed a bag of raw corn and popped it internally, then coughed it up again; the bowl in her hands was mostly full. Her face soured and she spit a smoking kernel into her hand. I didn't see how she could've burned it, but then I realized stomach acids were dissolving it in her hand.
Evening's light faded as our ship steamed into the bay. The vessel slowed to maneuver to the docks at the edge of town. We stretched our legs on the deck, stiff and worn from the long trip. Flattened rows of glowing hotel windows beckoned from across the harbor. Sharon and one of the strangers on board wrestled their luggage to the side ramp. They'd planned ahead and called for water taxis. Two pairs of red and green lights slid closer across the lake.
Once the taxis left, we trundled past the docks and into the canal system. It'd be nearly an hour until we'd cleared customs and got to the hotel.
Something else happened that I can't remember.
Back on the ship, Alyssa was making popcorn. She'd swallowed a bag of raw corn and popped it internally, then coughed it up again; the bowl in her hands was mostly full. Her face soured and she spit a smoking kernel into her hand. I didn't see how she could've burned it, but then I realized stomach acids were dissolving it in her hand.