When Falls the Coliseum

Key

Posted on March 3rd, 2010 by Fred Siegel

February 20, 2010
I dream I am a youngish version of myself attending a summer theater program at NYU. We have our belongings arranged for inspection in an orientation room and it is clear people brought too much stuff. The head of the program has us pack up and head towards the dorms. I walk with one other student and we run into the head of the program who is chatting with Meryl Streep. Meryl seems interested in me, which feels wonderful and bizarre. I ask the head of the program where we go to pick up our room keys. He gives me a funny look. Suddenly, someone picks me up from behind and holds me aloft while another man pours a very cold beverage onto my crotch.

December 26, 2009
I dream Gail and I have to attend a dress rehearsal at 5 pm and it is now 4. We are in a hospital in which a lion runs amok. Celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain, who is enjoying the fish entrée in the hospital cafeteria, assures us that it is a “watch lion,” who works security. I mention that we have a rehearsal in an hour, but Gail would very much like to go shopping. She thinks we have plenty of time. We get into the car and drive away, but Gail gets out at a stop light and wanders through the shopping district. Then, I see that the car I’m driving is not mine. When I stop the car in the middle of the street and get out, the other drivers are very angry. I tell them it’s not my car. I feel guilty and try to move the car, but it won’t start. I push it to the side and leave the keys for the police.

June 2, 1998
I dream I am on a peace-keeping mission at the compound of some right-wing nuts. I don’t expect violence, but I see a small missile coming in slow motion. A blue fragment hits my arm, but it doesn’t hurt. Then, a member of the compound unsheathes a knife to stab one of my friends. I yell out to warn him, but I’m too late; the slow motion hinders me. Another man approaches with a gun, so I reach into my pocket for my keys. I fumble with them, but I have no gun on my key chain. My keys fall into the sand.

“Fred’s Dreams” appears every Wednesday.