My favorite piece of writing this semester was my dream analog. Since I had already kept somewhat of a record of my most memorable dreams, the writing allowed me to revisit my dreams (and nightmares) and fabricate it into a wonderful short story. Writing my dreams down also allowed me to analyze them in a psychological way: what did they mean and why did they occur.  In my dream analog, I wrote about a dream I had about my future titled “The Dramatic Future”. I enjoyed writing about it because the clock has been ingrained in my head since I had that dream. The clock had to be the most beautiful clock I’ve ever seen, and I wanted to find a reason as to why I saw it and why my mind concocted such a thing. I think writing in fragmented sentences was a nice way to write about my dreams because my dreams were fragmented. Plus, writing in fragmented sentences usually never happened because fragmented sentences were one of the many things to avoid when writing. The challenge of also writing based on memory was also a favorite of mine because after living in New York City for almost a month (at the time), I experienced things I would’ve never done back home, like wait in line for a limited edition sauce that was featured in a popular television show. Fictional style writing in general was one of my strengths and one of my passions, and I was thrilled to truly write creatively.

The Dramatic Future

Ten years from now.

I have a husband and a baby boy.

We–i.e, my husband, baby and I– are sitting at the bar in a dimly lit restaurant.

My husband gets accused of… something by a group of people (terrorists) carrying rifle guns.

I am running up a flight of stairs, clutching my baby boy in my arms.

A massive, sea-green clock– the numbers are backwards– in the large window of the penthouse.

(The most breathtaking clock I’ve ever seen).

Piles and piles of boxes and papers lay around the penthouse.

The 19-Year Old Sauce

In order to promote their new “Buttermilk Crispy Tenders”, McDonald’s had promised an exclusive one day opportunity to bring back its infamous szechuan sauce with an exclusive poster starting at 2:00 p.m at participating McDonald’s locations.

(Szechuan sauce was an old promotion tactic for Disney’s “Mulan” back in 1998).

It was 1:30, and I was at my destination. I waited patiently on a small line outside of the McDonald’s. Then I wondered, How am I going to get the szechuan sauce without purchasing the chicken tenders? I don’t like McDonald’s food, and I don’t eat meat.

Then someone interrupted my thoughts and announced, “They don’t have the sauce. They gave tickets to people who came earlier.”

Still determined to try the limited edition sauce, I searched for the nearest McDonald’s location and ran (sped walk) as fast as I could. I dodged the obstacles (tourists that stopped in the middle of the sidewalk to take photos) and leaped from one corner of the street to the other when the crosswalk timer ran down to one. I felt the wind pushing me back slightly, warning me that my thirteen block journey was fruitless.

It was 2:00 p.m, and I was at the second McDonald’s.

The line stretched from Fifth Ave to Park Ave, yet I was adamant (dumb) to get that sauce. I strutted to the back of the line, hoping that I could finally get the szechuan sauce.

Every five minutes or so, someone walking past would ask the same question: “Excuse me, can I ask what this line is for?” It’s for a limited edition sauce that was used in 1998 for a movie promotion. “Really? What restaurant?” McDonald’s. “Seriously?”.

Thirty minutes had passed by and the restaurant had not let anyone inside. It was humid, and I was perspiring.

What were they waiting for? I wanted the $0.40 limited McDonald’s szechuan sauce!

Just as I was getting impatient, a man (who also was waiting for the sauce) announced, “Waiting on this line is pointless if you don’t have a wristband. McDonald’s had given out wristbands at noon and failed to notify the public that they were going to do this.”

I swore to never eat at McDonald’s.

Image source: Artist unknown. Title unknown. Date unknown, medium unknown. https://rizzoroberto.com/category/sogno/.