Transedic Dreamers

By J. M. Campbell Harmon

Imagine going to sleep and dreaming about people you have never met, now imagine those dreams are real. This is the case for Jada when she is awakened from daunting dreams about people, only to find that her dreams where happening in real life. Through her adventures she meets a young man named Ben and discovers there are other dreamers like herself. Ben takes her to a dome where she discovers the extent of what dreamers are capable of doing, and the true intent behind the dome.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trafford Publishing
• Release date: Oct 27, 2020
• ISBN: 9781698702988

J. M. Campbell Harmon

J. M. Campbell Harmon is a book writer, poet, and songwriter from a large family of 6 children, a mother from Trinidad and Tobago, and father from Jamaica. Growing up in the US, she was always encouraged to think outside the box and expand her vocabular. This way of thinking is present in her literature. Her writings encourage the reader to think beyond the limitations of everyday life and into the world of the limitless mind. She often explores the conscious and unconscious thought and its relation to sleep states and dreams. J. M. Campbell Harmon currently resides in Maryland with her supportive husband, also a published author, and children.

Book preview

1

At First Sight

It always starts out the same. I wake up in a cold sweat, perspiration flowing from my pores like a broken faucet. My pillowcase, sheets, and night clothes are completely soaked. I can’t tell if I’m awake or still asleep. It seems as though reality and the perception of it are hard to differentiate. Are my dreams a reality or is what I think is reality really a dream. As I gaze around the room trying to focus my thought, I noticed the clock and became frozen. It’s 4:15. It’s always 4:15.

I take a few minutes to gather my thoughts. Well, it’s not going to get any easier. Reality or dream, I still had to get my day started. I’ve been late for school way too often and Mrs. Edwards is not going to tolerate what she considers disrespect much longer.

I’m up, I might as well get out of bed and start my day. With a huge yawn, I stretched and willed myself out of my bed. Still a little dazed, I made my way to the bathroom, stood in front of the mirror over the sink and gazed into it, trying to find a sense of consciousness. I splashed cold water on my face and finally regained my focus, jumped into the shower and groomed myself for class. I had to make sure everything was perfect.

Most of my classmates just graduated from high school and still functioned with the mentality of a teenager. Most of them were on scholarship, had parents who could afford to pay for their tuition, or had some other form of tuition and boarding assistance, or had some other sort of free ride. I, on the other hand, wasn’t as fortunate. I was never much of an athlete, and all I had was my poor old grandmother who supported me for most my life.

I had to produce outstanding grades in high school while shuffling between two jobs to save for my tuition. I saved every penny that I could because I was intent on covering my first year’s tuition to try and avoid the burden of student loans. By rights, many of my classmates and I were all very close in age; but my experiences made me more vigilant, accountable, and responsible than most of them.

I thought about my life and where I wanted to be as I combed through my naturally mink, slightly curly light-brown hair. I decided to wear it down today. I applied my makeup and made sure it matched up with my outfit. I chose a green polo shirt that curved with the shape of my slender upper body and complimented my bosom. The green in the shirt brought out the shades of green in my hazel colored eyes. I wore dark-blue jeans that hugged my waist and contoured my curvy hips. I took one final look at myself, and I was pleased with the results. I glanced at the clock and realized I was running late. Wow, where did the time go? I snatched my book bag off the couch, grabbed my keys and cell phone off the kitchen counter and ran out the door.

I made my way to school barely escaping the tardy bell. I quick-stepped through the halls, practically running to make it to class. I always seem to be late to this class, and I was determined to make it there on time. I finally made it to my classroom door. Before entering the classroom, I took a deep breath and released it to calm myself. As I turned the knob and opened the door it squeaked like an old witch’s laugh. Everyone in the classroom looked in my direction. I hated that old door. The hinges were old and rusted. The door felt like it weighed 100 lbs. The only thing that seemed to hold that old door together was the gray paint that was chipped on every corner of the door, exposing its rusted natural tan color. Okay, so I am really hating this door.

I tried to squeeze into the classroom before anyone could say anything, but just as I made it through the threshold, the tardy bell rang. I hung my head down and walked into the classroom in shame. I was hoping no one would say anything to me, but that hope soon faded when I heard a voice speak out.

Nice to see you made it to class on time today, Ms. Jamison! It was Mrs. Edwards, my English teacher. She was such a prude. She was short and thinly built with fair skin and long dark hair. She wore thick black framed glasses that caged her naturally beautiful sky-blue eyes. She would actually be pretty if she got contacts and smiled a little more. Her voice seemed to drag as if she were tired all the time.

The corners of her mouth drooped down as she frowned at me; she always seemed to be frowning. I wondered if she ever had a moment of happiness in her life. She was such a miserable woman. Her eyes reminded me of a Cheshire cat’s eyes as they followed me through the classroom. I felt as though I were prey to some beastly predator that was looking to pounce on its next victim and had its sights set on me. The hairs on the back of my neck raised as I cringed at the thought of her staring at me.

I made my way to my seat, which was midrow to the left of the classroom. It felt like everyone was still staring at me. I felt sharp sighs beaming at my face and whispers piercing my eardrums. I wanted to crawl into myself and hide. Just as I was getting ready to sit at my desk, the door swung open. The loud squeak from the old door commanded everyone’s attention, which thankfully took the heat off me.

Standing there was a face I had never seen before. He seemed to be intriguing and mysterious. I wondered what his story was. He must be new to the school because a face like that I would have remembered. He was about six feet tall with perfectly even caramelized, chocolate-brown skin. He was built, like he might have played sports in high school or at least worked out. His hair was waved and faded with a fresh lineup. He had deep gray eyes with sparkles of brown throughout that seemed to lure me in and trap me inside them.

He was wearing denim-blue Polo jeans and a dark-blue Polo shirt. His Polo shirt was perfectly fitted, groping the curves of his nicely built pecs. My eyes made its way up his well-worked shoulders then down to his chiseled rock-shaped biceps. So many thoughts were going through my mind as Mrs. Edwards directed him to the front of the class. She introduced him as a transfer student named Benjamin Corbin. She told him to have a seat at any empty desk he could find.

He began to walk in my direction. I looked over to my right and realized no one was sitting in the seat next to me. As if it were fate, he sat right in that seat and glared at me out of the corner of his eyes. I was so nervous I wasn’t sure what to do. I wanted to introduce myself to him, say hi or something, but I just sat there quietly and stared at my desk.

The rest of the class was like a blur. I couldn’t focus on any of my material. All I could think about was the handsome, mysterious guy sitting next to me. I nervously took notes while I glanced at Ben every chance I could without being obvious. My heartbeat increased every time I cut my eye in his direction. Each time he caught me looking, I quickly shifted my glance to the front of the classroom. Every thought of him made goose bumps permeate throughout my body. It sent chills up my spine and adrenaline thumping through my veins. I tried to concentrate on Mrs. Edwards’s lecture, but I was too distracted. I even made a number of uncharacteristic mistakes. Yeah, Ben sitting next to me was getting the better of me. His magnetic charm seemed to play tricks on me, like some sort of high-powered form of ancient witchery. I was so entranced by Ben’s allure that time ceased to exist in my world.

It seemed like a blink and class was over. Mrs. Edwards’s class never went by this quickly before. Usually it dragged on like an old wagon riding a country mile. Well, there’s incentive to be on time for the next class. I got up from my seat and walked to the door without saying a word. As I walked down the hallway I started to feel as though someone was staring at me. As I looked around, there was Ben. He was standing in the doorway of the classroom looking directly at me. As I glanced at him; it seemed that our eyes exchanged conversation for a brief moment.

As I walked to my next class, thoughts raced through my head like a marathon. The eye exchange was brief, but it felt like I had known him for a lifetime. Even though we never spoke a word to each other, our eyes seemed to do all the talking. Curiosity flowed in every corner of my mind. I had to find out more about this mystery man. I was so beguiled by him that I almost forgot I was in school and still had another class. I think someone is calling me, seems so far away, somewhat surreal. Finally, I realize that someone really is yelling my name.

Jada … Jada Jamison! Hold up! I turned around to see who was calling me. It was my best friend, Shawn. Shawn was 5’4" with a slender build. Although she identified as Hispanic; you can see the family lineage of Native American in some of her facial features. She had high cheekbones and a straight slender nose. Her eyes were deep brown. She had thick eyebrows that would certainly be bushy if she didn’t keep them groomed. The thick curly hair on her head stretched all the way down her back. As I watched Shawn running through the hallway, I noticed her curls jumping from shoulder to shoulder as she darted between people in the hallway racing to catch up to me. We usually meet up after my English class and walk to biology class together. With the rushed morning that was capped off with my beguiling encounter with Ben, I completely forgot about her. When she finally caught up to me, she gave me a dirty look.

Shawn new things about me that no one else in the world knew. She held so many of my secrets in her head. She knew about all my puppy love relationships, and of course I knew about hers’ which was a very short list. She hooked up with Josh our sophomore year in high school and they have been together ever since. They have a true love story. Unlike me, I have never really been in love.

I looked at Shawn with forgive me eyes as she shook her head at me. She stood looking at me for a moment breathing in and out trying to regain her breathe from the race through the hallway.

I’m sorry, Shawn, I had a crazy morning. I have to tell you about what happened in class today, I said to her, hoping that the juicy gossip would abate her frustration with me. It worked.

What happened? she asked with an enticed look on her face.

Well, for starters, I was running late to Mrs. Edwards’s class and barely made it in there before the bell rang. That old door squeaked so loud that the whole class started staring at me, and you know Mrs. Edwards had something to say, I told her.

Shawn looked at me and sighed. That is so embarrassing. They really need to fix that door, she replied. But that’s almost every day for you. There has to be more. She giggled.

Yeah, smartie, they do need to fix that door though, but on another note, right after all of that happened, the door swung open again, and there was a new guy standing there. He looked good. Real good. His name is Benjamin Corbin, and guess where he ended up sitting? I asked Shawn, barely able to hold back my giddiness. Shawn just looked at me and shrugged her shoulders, waiting for me to finish my story.

In the seat right next to me. I was so nervous I couldn’t say anything the entire class period. As soon as the bell rang, I got out of that classroom, but then I felt someone staring at me, so I turned to look, and it was him. As I caught his eyes, we stared at each other for a couple more seconds and then went on our separate ways. I don’t even know what to make of that.

Sounds like you might have a new boyfriend, Shawn said teasingly. I just looked at her and smiled.

Jada and Ben sound like a match made in heaven to me, girl, she said tauntingly as we walked from the B wing to Calvert Hall where our classroom was located. I couldn’t help but to blush at her taunts.

Would you stop? Okay, enough! I cried out as I sighed at her. She finally stopped taunting me when we got to the biology classroom.

Okay, but I’m just saying that sounds like you may be interested in him, and based on that eye contact, he may be interested in you too. Maybe you should explore that a little further, she said to me with a nudge as we walked into our biology class.

We walked into the room and sat down next to each other. We noticed that the entire classroom was engaging in normal catch up conversation that normally occurs before class. I could see what was going on around me. Jason, the class clown, was cracking jokes as usual. Monica, the stuck-up cheerleader, was making fun of the geeks. Simon and Richard were sitting at the jock table where a group of meatheads gathered and talked about sports. Even Shawn was talking to Jerry, another one of our close friends, but all I could do is think about what Shawn said.

I found myself daydreaming about Ben and our eye contact. There seemed to be a deep connection between the two of us, and I wasn’t sure why. I had never felt so drawn to anyone like that before. Maybe Shawn was right. Maybe there is something about this mysterious man that needs further investigation. I couldn’t figure out why I was so intrigued by him or why it felt like we knew each other from before. Flashes of his face kept me locked in a trance until my consciousness had removed itself completely from the classroom. I felt my mind drift like a feather riding a thin wind. I could see clouds begin to form around me. I was mystified by my surroundings. Just as my mind began to drift further, I was awakened by Shawn’s voice.

Come on, girl, class is over, she said as she stood over my seat and glared at me with a strange look. I didn’t respond, but wondered is class really over, I have no idea what transpired for the entire class period. This is so out of character for me.

Okay, I’m coming, I said as I lifted myself out of my seat and followed Shawn out of the classroom. In the hallway, I walked with Shawn to her last class, which was on the way to mine.

You know what, Shawn? I think you’re right about Ben, I told her. I just wish I wasn’t so nervous around him.

You will be fine. Trust me, okay? I just can’t wait to meet him, Shawn replied.

You act like we are getting married or something. He’s just a guy I’m interested in finding out more about, and that’s it, I responded, somewhat embarrassed by the giddiness that I felt over someone that I didn’t even know.

Whatever! See you after school, Shawn said in a playful voice, then I said my goodbye and headed to class. My last class of the day was algebra, which I knew like the back of my hand. I sat in the classroom, trying to stay focused. My mind kept wondering, thinking about any and everything but this class. The lecture seemed to go on forever. I kept looking at the clock, waiting for the teacher to say pack it up. I had been waiting for those words for so long that when they finally did come, I was startled by them. I quickly gathered my bearings and started putting my books in my backpack. I swung it over my shoulder and headed for the door. I knew it would be a journey to the parking lot, so I mentally prepared myself for it. As I walked past Hazel Hall, I could feel a chill creep up my spine. I brushed it off and continued past the library then through Gardner Hall. I made my way to the West Wing and into the parking lot where my car was parked.

As I walked toward the direction of my car, something willed me to look to my left. Standing there was Ben. He was talking to a couple of guys who seemed to be admiring his car. It was a cherry red Corvette with a back fin and chrome rims. It seemed like the same thing that willed me to look in his direction must have willed him to look in mine because when I made my way to his eyes, he was staring right at me. Time seemed to freeze just for us to have that one moment, and then it continued again. I looked away and continued walking to my car. Ben continued entertaining the school guys. Once again, we had an awkward conversation without having ever spoken a word to each other.

I finally made it to my car, and Shawn was standing there waiting for me. I clicked my key remote to unlock the car door. Shawn jumped in, then I opened the driver’s door and sat down. I adjusted my side mirrors. For some reason, they always needed adjusting even though I was the only one who drove the car. I glanced out my rearview mirror to be sure it was positioned correctly. In the mirror, I could see a man walking, then bending over his car. For some reason, it intrigued me, so I kept looking. Finally, the man stood up, and I could see his face clear as crystal. It was Ben. I watched through the mirror as Ben got into his car and drove off. I thought about pointing him out to Shawn, but it would have been too obvious. I decided not to even mention it at all. I started my engine and began to drive. Shawn needed a ride to her boyfriend Josh’s apartment, so I dropped her off there first. I’m really not sure why I decided not to tell Shawn about the second eye contact. I guess I thought it would be over-kill so kept it to myself.

Bye, Shawn … Call me! I called out to Shawn as she hopped out of the car and headed to the front door of her boyfriend’s apartment complex.

I will … See you later! she called back. I watched her as she walked through the complex doors. I watched until she eventually faded from my eyesight.

I drove off, and I made my way to my apartment complex. I walked in and stood in front of the elevator. I pushed the button to go up and waited for the doors to open so that I could enter. It seemed to take forever for the elevator to open. I lived on the third floor, so the last thing I wanted to do was climb up all those stairs to make it to my floor. Finally, a lady from the front desk came over. She had seen me standing there and wanted to warn me.

They are fixing this elevator, honey. It’s going to take another thirty to forty-five minutes, she said with a droopy voice. She was an elderly lady. Her body was thin and frail. It looked like it was willing itself to move. She had a lazy limp that seemed to drag her legs along. Her hair was silvery and thin. Her skin was pail. The bags under her eyes were so full they sagged down to her cheeks. Her