Sweet Dreams by William W. Johnstone

“That’s just three blocks from my house.”
    Marc looked at her in horror. “You mean we gotta go back that way?”
    â€œWe’ll take the long way around. Down side streets. Maybe we can lose the light.”
    â€œHey!” a man’s voice called to them. “What are you two doin’ out here in the middle of the night in your bedclothes?”
    â€œMister,” Heather said, “please help us.”
    The glowing ball of light appeared out of the darkness, hovering several blocks away.
    â€œHelp you do what?”
    Marc pointed down the long street. “See that light down there, mister?”
    The man looked. “Naw. I don’t see no light nowhere. What light?”
    â€œThat bobbing ball of light right down there!” Heather said, pointing.
    The man again peered into the darkness. “Ya’ll funnin’ me, ain’t you, kids? There ain’t no lights down there ’ceptin’ street lights.”
    â€œHe can’t see it,” Marc whispered. “I don’t know why he can’t, but he can’t see it. Heather, we got to get out of here.”
    â€œMister?” Heather asked. “Can you tell us a shortcut to Doctor Baldwin’s house?”
    The light slowly approached them, but it was still two blocks away.
    The man giggled and the kids knew then the man was not quite right in the head. “Oh, I could tell you. But he ain’t there. He works fast, that Doc. Wife ain’t even planted yet and Doc’s got hisself another honey to play with. He’s over to that head shrinker’s house. Doc Benning.” He looked at the kids. “Ya’ll on dope, ain’t ya?”
    â€œNo, sir,” Heather said.
    â€œGimme some dope.”
    The light moved closer.
    â€œWe don’t take dope, sir,” Marc said.
    â€œYa’ll gotta be. Both of you seein’ lights and shit like that in your heads. Gimme some dope!”
    â€œMister,” Heather said. “We’re not taking any dope. Can you please tell us how to get to Doctor Benning’s house?”
    The light was now a block away. It paused in its movement. It waited, hovering just above the ground.
    The man giggled. “I will if you gimme something in return.”
    â€œAll right,” Heather said. “We’ll give you the secret of eternal life.”
    â€œ Naw! Ya’ll can’t do that. Can you?”
    â€œYes. But first you have to tell us the way to Doctor Benning’s house.”
    â€œHow do I know you won’t try to hook me if’n I do tell you?”
    â€œWe won’t. Tell us. Please?”
    â€œGo two blocks, thataway,” he said, pointing. “Take a right, and you’re there.”
    The kids pushed off, pedaling hard.
    â€œHey!” the man shouted. “Ain’t you gonna tell me the secret of eternal life?”
    â€œDon’t die!” Heather shouted over her shoulder.
    â€œThat makes sense,” the man muttered. He shuffled off down the street.
    Marc and Heather did not turn around. Had they done so, they would have seen the light race toward the man and envelop him in its glow. The light suddenly recoiled from the man, its pulsing appearing angry.
    It glowed a deep red, and then followed Marc and Heather.

9
    Two long-denied, bruised, and wary libidos came together in a rush of emotion. They left a trail of clothing from the den to the bedroom.
    Jerry cupped one full breast and began tonguing the nipple, enjoying the taste, the swelling tautness, the feel of the woman as she arched her back and pressed her nakedness against his.
    She opened her legs and pulled him to her, one hand gripping his hot stiffness and guiding him into her hot softness.
    Their physical needs were quickly sated, and then the M.D. and the Ph.D experienced a few moments of hot embarrassment as they reached for rumpled clothing and began to dress, trying very hard to avoid eye contact and trying