Fast Fiction: Dream Section
Is there a welcome in the Dream Section?
Richard Mallinson tells a mysterious story.
Dream Section it said on the sign. 'What does it mean?' I asked.
'It means what it says,' said the attendant.
'How much is it to go in?'
'If you're over 30 and under 60 it's free.'
'Why is that?'
'Don't ask me.'
‘Well,' I said, 'I'm 61.'
‘That'll be £61 then.'
‘A bit steep, isn't it?' I asked.
‘No,' said the attendant, 'it's perfectly flat.'
I went in. There were lots of green and orange lights hanging from the ceiling. On the walls were paintings of weird animals and people with mad expressions on their faces.
‘You're supposed to take your shoes off,' a voice said.
‘I'm wearing boots,' I said.
‘That's all right, then,' said the voice.
'What happens next?' I asked.
‘You're supposed to say hello to Manica . . . over there.'
'Hullo Manica,' I said to a young woman in the far corner. She had long black hair and was wearing a white dress. ‘Push off,' she said.
