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I wake to the sensation of pain—pain in my shoulders and elbows, in my ankles, a dull ache in the back of my head. I try to shift my weight, and that’s when I realize that I can barely move. It’s not that my limbs aren’t capable, but I have the dawning awareness that I’m held fast. I am bound in some way.
I’m in darkness, and as I attempt to drag myself toward consciousness, I feel the coarse fabric of the blindfold against my cheeks. Next, I am aware of the material in my mouth. Made of burlap or some kind of sackcloth, it tastes of mildew, dust, and blood. Something trickles across my forehead. …more
Tonight his comrades are patrolling up near the logging camp. They haven’t taken Klein along because it’s a dangerous assignment, and he’s still worth too much to them as a hostage, even though they—and he—have long since stopped thinking of him primarily as a hostage.
He stays in the camp and cooks a bland meal of corn cakes and red beans to keep himself busy, and so his captors will have something warm to eat when they return from their reconnaissance mission in the cold, damp hills. He warms the canned beans a little over a propane stove and cooks the corn barely long enough …more
Dear Bunny Rabbit,
What do you see when you look up from the leaves you’re nibbling and watch me passing? Why is it that on some nights, you dash for the woods? I never bring any dogs or children to frighten you, so I hope maybe we can be friends.
Tonight you looked pretty content as I walked by on the trail. I thought about a lot of things I’d like to say to you. But I know that you have a short attention span, so rather than go on and on, I wrote a tiny poem for you. I hope you like it:
Little rabbit friend,
munch without worry tonight.
Dine in grassy calm.
Note: A strange assignment: write a letter to an animal. I thought about writing to one of my late, lamented pets, but most of what I have to say to them is too private and personal to publish here. So I wrote a note to one of my casual animal acquaintances instead.
© 2008 Edward F. Gumnick
I have always wondered if people who are going insane know that they’re going insane. That’s a question that’s kept me up nights for a lot of years. Sometimes late at night I watch for signs of instability in myself, but I’m not sure if I’ll recognize them.
I have always wondered if I snore, so last weekend, I set up a video camera in my bedroom to see if I could catch myself in the act. When I woke up in the morning to review the tape, I discovered something much more interesting than whether I snore. I found out that while I sleep, my dog moves the books around on the bookshelves. I wouldn’t have believed it, except I’ve send the evidence on the videotape. There he is, standing on his hind legs, one paw braced against a shelf, …more
Marie was sure he never said a word about a motorcycle. He said, “I meet you at Piazza Bologna metro. We eat dinner, we drink a cup of coffee, we see what happens.”
Then her laptop battery died. She stuffed the computer back in her bag and left the Internet café. She walked the four blocks to her hotel wondering if she would be able to figure out how to make a telephone call. From the room, she dialed “0” for the reception desk.
“Can you help me make a local phone call, please?”
The voice on the other end …more
The other day, one of my young friends asked in a solemn tone, “Aren’t you bored after all these years?”
I changed the subject. I told her about a curious experience I’d had at the park.
“Last Thursday, I discovered a new shade of purple. I was walking past the driveway of the arboretum, and I noticed a flowerbed that had been freshly planted. The tiny clusters of blossoms were a purple that I’m sure I’ve never seen before in all my many years.” …more
The plan was to focus on his own dreams.
The plan was to learn to be happy alone.
The plan was to keep things light.
The plan was to have some fun with his friends.
The plan was not to let down his guard.
The plan was not to get sidetracked by a smile.
The plan was not to be the first to say “I love you.”
The plan was not to replace all his answers with fresh questions.
The plan was not foolproof.
Spring out of bed at the first squawk of the alarm.
Stumble to the shower.
Lean under the strong stream of hot water, the last good shower for a while, but only for the 10 minutes you have allotted.
Hurry to dress in the clothes you laid out last night.
Load up the car.
Pause in the doorway to review the checklist once more: passport, wallet, spare contact lenses.
Drive to the airport, exceeding the speed limit …more
“I would like to tell you about the Redeeming Knowledge,” began the man on the doorstep without so much as a word of introduction. “Maybe I come in and share with you for a moment?”
I had seen my mother turn away Jehovah’s Witnesses, Girl Scouts, and Fuller Brush men with a curt “No thank you,” so I was astonished when she stepped back from the open door to make way for the man. “Won’t you come in?” she asked.
The man wiped the soles of his patent-leather shoes on the doormat, …more
Wednesday, January 30: J. spent his bonus on a 67-inch flat-panel TV. He’s very excited about the Super Bowl.
Thursday, January 31: J. left work early to come meet the satellite-TV guy. If they stuck the dish up on the roof, why is my kitchen such a mess?
Friday, February 1: We stayed in tonight and watched DVDs on the new TV. What an amazing picture! After the first movie, I had a headache. We moved the bookcase over next to the patio door and pushed the leather loveseat back against the wall to get more distance from the TV. The front left leg is loose.
Saturday, February 2: We usually go for coffee at Mister Beans on Saturday morning, …more
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