David suggested they discuss sleeping arrangements. He wanted more than anything to have his shrunken friend in bed next to him, but that didn't seem an option.
"Well, I can't take your bed," Bryan said.
"We need to keep you safe, too," David added. "I've got an idea."
He went to the bathroom and retrieved a towel. He busied himself at his chest of drawers for a moment. "This should make you comfortable."
Bryan could only stare at the tall drawer far above him.
"I'll have to give you a lift," David said, sounding awkward about it.
"All right." Bryan held up his arms and David picked up his friend. He missed the feel of bare skin now that Bryan had dressed in the GI Joe uniform.
David placed Bryan inside a drawer that held David's socks and underwear. He had moved those items aside and placed the folded towel in the bottom of the drawer. "That should make you comfortable," David said. "If you need anything, just give me a shout."
"Sure," Bryan said. "Good night."
----------
The next morning David awoke, instantly remembering his small friend asleep in the drawer. He hurried to greet Bryan.
The drawer held socks, underwear and the folded towel. Bryan was gone.
"Bryan!" David exclaimed. "Where are you?"
Bryan was frightened when he awoke and heard the thunderous voice calling his name. He stared into a sky that was overwhelmed by his colossal friend. He found himself lost on a blue landscape littered with large mounds.
David was looking down into the drawer, right at him, but still calling his name. "I'm here!" Bryan shouted.
But, he realized that he had grown smaller during the night. Much, much smaller.
The blue landscape was the towel; the mounds dotting the landscape were tiny knots in the fabric. He was smaller than those tiny knots!
Suddenly, David's enormous hand invaded the drawer, grabbing the towel that Bryan was standing on. Bryan lurched and was caught up in a blue blur as David removed the towel and tossed it on his bed.
During the toss, however, Bryan flew loose and felt himself falling. The odd surprise was how gently he fell. He was so tiny he drifted like a speck of dust. But, he did eventually reach the floor.
From his lowly position, he watched David continue to search the drawer. "David!" Bryan yelled. "Help me. I'm down here."
Suddenly, David turned toward his bed.
"He's heard me!" Bryan said.
Indeed, David took steps toward the bed. In a couple of strides, his enormous bare feet thundered toward Bryan.
Bryan realized, too late, he hadn't been seen or heard.
"No!" Bryan shouted, throwing up his arms to ward off a foot the size of a luxury cruise ship.
The foot came down right on top of his miniscule body.
Bryan screamed...and woke up from the nightmare.
The room was still dark. He realized he had been dreaming.
And, during that night, he wasn't the only one to dream.