Book of Dreams Read Online Free PDF Page B

the lead story.’
    ‘Yeah. What are the chances, eh?’ Matt couldn’t wipe the smile off his face; even he couldn’t believe his luck in this instance. ‘What’s the time?’ He noted the hour on the video player. ‘My story should be on soon.’ He switched on the television and searched for the right channel.
    ‘You really shit me, you know that?’ Kyle wandered into the kitchenette to make coffee.
    ‘Yeah, I know,’ Matt retorted, unfazed by Kyle’s mood. ‘I work really hard at it, too.’
    As Kyle poured the coffee, he remembered the book that Matt had left on his doorstep and decided that he really couldn’t continue in this disgruntled state. ‘Thanks for the present, by the way. I gather I’m supposed to use it for sketching?’
    ‘What present?’ came Matt’s reply. ‘I haven’t bought you anything. I’ve been saving all my spare funds to buy my own camera.’
    Coffees in hand, Kyle returned to the lounge and handed a mug to Matt. ‘You didn’t send me that book?’ Kyle pointed at the floor, where the gift had dropped from his lap the night before.
    ‘What book?’ Matt replied, as clearly there was nothing there.
    ‘Where the hell is it?’ Placing his mug on the table, Kyle got down on all fours to hunt up the missing article, tossing aside rubbish, scraps of paper and articles of clothing in his search. ‘It was right here! I’m sure it was.’
    ‘Forget it.’ Matt directed Kyle to the news report on the television screen. ‘Check this out.’ He pumped up the volume to hear the newsman at the desk saying, ‘The siege lasted most of last night, with five people injured, including one of our own cameramen. The gunman attempted to shoot his way out of the building at around twelve-thirty at night.’
    The broadcast ran Matt’s footage. A little shaky at first, the camera steadied to show a gunman running from the building with a hostage, shooting at police in his attempt to flee. The camera zoomed in on the gunman as police officers overpowered him and the hostage escaped unharmed.
    ‘This footage was shot by a brave young passerby,’ the voice-over continued, ‘who pulled the camera out of the firing line and filmed these events as they unfolded around him.’
    A shot of an exhilarated Matt being interviewed after the event came to the screen. ‘I’ve wanted to shoot news for a long time,’ he explained.
    ‘A long time!’ Kyle scoffed at the lie.
    ‘I didn’t have time to think about what was happening really. It just seemed like the natural thing to do.’
    ‘You look like a total dork,’ commented Kyle, inwardly green with jealousy, as he took a roach from the ashtray and lit it up.
    ‘Now there’s a young man with a big future ahead of him,’ commented the newsman before moving on to the next story of the day.
    Matt hadn’t even heard Kyle’s dig. He punched his mate on the shoulder, impressed with himself. ‘Hear that?’
    ‘Yeah, I heard.’ Kyle offered the half a joint to Matt, who screwed up his face. ‘I can’t … gotta stay alert. Some of the guys offered to show me round the station this morning.’
    ‘Your loss.’ Kyle dragged hard on the roach to hide his envy.
    Matt shrugged rather than voice disagreement, and didn’t comment on Kyle’s obvious lack of excitement. ‘Well, I gotta motor. I want to grab a shower and get cleaned up before I head down to the station.’ He rose, while Kyle wreathed himself in a cloud of smoke. ‘Wish me luck.’ Matt fished his car keys from his back pocket and made for the door.
    ‘Why?’ Kyle retorted, raising himself from the lounge to see Matt out. ‘You obviously don’t need any. It’s you who should be wishing me luck … I’m the one who’s got to face the dole office today.’
    ‘Oh, yeah.’ Matt recalled Kyle had been fired the day before. ‘Well, good luck.’ He attempted a little good cheer.
    As soon as he closed the door, Kyle regretted putting a downer on his friend’s good news. ‘Why