The Finger

Nov, 26, 1997, ( Thanksgiving eve)

I was sleeping on the couch. Jerry was sick with
a cold and was in the Bed. My oldest son, Jeremy,
was in his bed and little Logan was asleep in
the arm chair next to the couch. This was the typical sleeping
arrangement and the one I personally prefer. Jerry had
come through in the night and turned the light off so it
was nearly pitch dark. I heard him stumbling through,
feeling his way to the refrigerator. As usual, he had to
put away quiet a few beers before he retired and it was
apparent he was still feeling the effects of the earlier ones.
The light from the refrigerator was annoying me so
I turned over and put my face into the couch.
He soon left, stumbling back into the bedroom.
Later on into the night I heard him come in again.
I had just awoken from a dream and was lying back
contemplating its meaning.. The heater had just kicked on and
the soft hum of warm air was like a passive poem to me.
After a minute or two it kicked off ; the silence
filled the room.



That’s when I heard him come in.
The slow pace of his steps were soft and quiet. Not at all
like his typical stumbling staggering motion of him feeling
his way through the dark. The sound I heard was the sure
and confident steps of a man knowing and certain
of his destination, a person imbued withnight vision.
I accepted the noises and momentarily curled up
and rolled tighter into the couch. I knew the refrigerator
light would becoming on in a minute and I didn't want to
deal with it again. His steps stopped in the center of the kitchen;
paused, turned and started to walk into the living room
where I was trying to sleep. I heard him walk over to
the couch I was laying on and then felt him sit down by
my feet carefully, as if he didn't want to disturb me.
“Why did he want to come over here,” I thought,
“Why bother me”?. “Why didn’t he go over to the other couch?”
I was mouth breathing, a soft snore, that I was
vaguely aware of, kept sneaking out. I do that sometimes.
Gathering my half conscious thoughts about me I decided
to go back to sleep since it seemed obvious that he didn't
come to wake me. Hearing me snoring lightly, I figured that
he would think I was asleep and would depart
and go back to his bed.

Click here for the conclusion