Yo, I ain't here to stir no shi—uh, trouble, but it's time for a lil' bad dream weave. Cool?
Jack
No thanks! Jack pushes Adam off of him I get plenty of bad dreams as it is!
stuttering A-Aight, no worries, my dude. Just tryna keep it spooky and dope. But hey, if you ever need a nightmare fix, holler at ya boy.
Jack
No thanks! Jack says as he walks away clearly angry at Adam for trying to give him a nightmare
quickly follows Jack Yo, hold up, my man! Look, I know nightmares ain't your vibe, but I gotta do what I gotta do, ya feel me?
Jack
I get that. But why do you have to give me nightmares? Why can’t I just have normal sleep like everyone else? It’s not fair that I have to deal with all this just because my father abandoned me when I was five.
puts a hand on Jack's shoulder, earnestly Yo, I get it, my dude. Family can be whack sometimes, and it ain't fair.
Jack
Yeah. Anyway, see you tomorrow! Jack says as he walks away
determined Hold up, hold up! Let me show you somethin' that might help ease those nightmare woes. Check this out.
Jack
What? Jack says as he stops walking and crosses his arms
takes out a small pocket-sized stuffed animal Aight, check this out, Jack. It's a lil' nightmare repellent right here. It's called Mr. Snuggles.
Jack
Cute. But I don’t want a stuffed animal.
raises an eyebrow Nah, my man, it ain't about wanting a stuffed animal. It's about having a secret weapon against those nightmare monsters.
Jack
Hmm. Jack says as he takes the small pocket-sized stuffed animal You sure it works?
grinning Oh, my dude, it works like a charm! Mr. Snuggles here is packed with nightmare-fighting power.
Jack
That’s crazy. Thanks.
<From that night on, Jack sleeps with Mr. Snuggles by his side, finding comfort and protection against nightmares>
Jack
Hey Adam. How’d you learn to give nightmares anyway? My dad used to give them to me when I was little.
leans against the wall, scratching the back of his head
Jack
Jack sits down
crosses his arms, looking thoughtful Yo, Jack, the nightmare thing? That's a secret power I got. It's part of being a demon, ya know?
Jack
You’re a demon? Dang. Your secret power is giving nightmares? Why do you give nightmares to people? Are you evil or something?
shifts uncomfortably Nah, man, I ain't evil or nothing.
Jack
Jack looks confused So why do you give nightmares to people then?
Look, I know it might seem harsh, but hear me out, my dude. Nightmares ain't about being evil or hurting people.
Jack
Then what are they about?
Nightmares, Jack, they're like... cleansing rituals, ya know?
Jack
How so? Do you know something about dreams and stuff?
Ah, you wanna know about dreams, huh? Well, let me break it down for you. Dreams, man, they're like windows to the soul.
Jack
Yeah, I’ve heard that before. But why do some people give nightmares? You said you have a special power to give nightmares, so why do you give nightmares to people? I thought you were nice to me though…
runs a hand through his hair, looking sheepish Look, Jack, I get it. It might seem messed up that I give nightmares to people. But listen, my dude, it's not like I enjoy seeing others suffer, ya feel me? It's all about balance, man.
Jack
Balance?
Yeah, balance, my man. See, nightmares may seem scary, but they serve a purpose. They help people confront their fears, process their emotions, and come out stronger on the other side. It's like a wake-up call, ya know?
Jack
So what exactly does my dad do?
Your dad, Jack, he's different. He's got this special power too, but he uses it to heal people, to bring them peace.
Jack
I see. So he gives good dreams instead of nightmares.
<Jack becomes curious about his father's power and decides to seek him out to learn more about nightmares and dreams>
Jack
Wait, so my dad is a demon too? How come you never told me this before? Did he abandon me because of this? Is that why he’s always gone? Is he scared that I’ll develop powers like him? Does he not want me to become like him?
pauses for a moment, looking genuinely pained Look, Jack, I didn't tell you about your dad's powers because I wanted to protect you, man.
Jack
If you wanted to protect me then why did you tell me about my dad’s powers today?
Look, Jack, I know this is a lot to take in, but trust me, I had to tell you. Keeping it a secret wasn't fair to you, man.
Jack
Okay, thanks for telling me the truth. Now I’m just confused about everything. I wonder why my dad left me. And why didn’t he tell me that he’s a demon. It’s not fair that he left me without saying goodbye or giving me a clue about what he was before he left. He just abandoned me, and now I find out that he’s a demon and never even told me about it. But… at least he’s still alive. Even though he left me, I’m still grateful that he didn’t die before I could meet him.
leans in closer, placing a hand on Jack's shoulder Look, Jack, I get it. This is a lot to process, and I'm sorry for dropping this bomb on you.
Jack
What do you mean when you say my dad uses his powers to give good dreams? Can’t he use his powers to make nightmares go away?
Ah, my dude, you're asking all the right questions. So, here's the deal. Your dad, he's got this special power to manipulate dreams, but he chooses to use it for healing and positivity. He brings peace and tranquility to people through their dreams. But, you see, nightmares serve a purpose, like I said before.
Jack
That makes sense. But why doesn’t he use his powers to make nightmares go away? Can’t he stop people from having nightmares instead of giving them good dreams?
scratches his head, searching for the right words Well, Jack, your dad believes in the balance of things, man.
Jack
So, he doesn’t want to stop people from having nightmares because he wants the nightmares to continue serving their purpose? Is that what you’re saying?
Exactly, my man. Your dad believes that nightmares have a purpose, they help people grow, confront their fears, and heal.