Mind Reading
“Okay, so what if cats can read minds and that’s why they’re upset all the time? We think mean stuff about them and they know it. I feel kinda bad about that now.”
I shift in my seat on the edge of the bed and wonder if this constant stream of noise will ever end. “Yeah, that’s what happens. That’s why you always think nice things about people. They might hear you.”
James looks at me in horror. “People can hear my thoughts too? Whoa. So that means you can hear what I’m thinking right now. I have a lot of thoughts in my head and I can’t see because there are too many.” He lies down for a second, then starts to laugh for no apparent reason. “I’m thinking about chickens now. So now you have to see chickens!” He laughs like it’s the best joke in the world.
I sit there, simultaneously baffled and amused by the sheer amount of nonsense that’s been coming from his mouth for the last twenty minutes. I am way too sober to comprehend this right now. “Yeah, I see those chickens, all right. How about you think about sleeping now? You’ve had a long night. That party was crazy.”
“Yeah, man, that party was so great! That was the best ever. I’m not tired at all, so I’m never going to sleep, ever.”
I take a deep breath as I try to find a way to get him to sleep. I close my eyes for a couple seconds, and when I open them again he’s passed out. Well, that was easy. “Goodnight, kid. I hope you feel better in the morning.”
