Asleep in New York

Charlie knew all about dreams. His mom had explained how, when you close your eyes and fall asleep, your imagination runs riot. Pictures flash in front of your tightly shut eyes, and you might be swimming in the sea one minute, baking cakes, covered in flour the next. 


At school, Charlie had talked to his friends about their dreams. He knew that sometimes, no matter how hard you tried, you couldn't quite remember the details of your dream, despite how vivid and real they felt at the time. 


Charlie knew all this. And that's why he also knew that his dreams were different to anybody else's. His dreams weren't dreams at all. His dreams were real.