Morning all, I hope you are primed for a fantastic Wednesday. Mine is shaping up to be a busy one, but it is all good stuff so it should be an okay day. Or at least an interesting one. And as I actually managed to get enough sleep last night I feel ready to face it. I don’t know what it is but I always sleep better in the rain. Sure there is a river running through the street, but I slept well. So well rested, let’s move into the morning writing prompt? Ready? Then we are off.
This one I enjoyed. No clue what I’ll so with it but I feel sure it is something.
Wednesday, May 5th: His attention was completely focused.
His attention was completely focused. I was certain I could strike up a brass band behind him and he would never hear it. Still I tiptoed, moving towards the door like a stage villain. If noticed questions would be asked. Questions I didn’t want to answer. Questions I wasn’t certain I could answer.
He never looked up. He barely twitched so absorbed he was in his game. I moved past, the hard bit over as I slunk to the back door. I eased it open. Not all the way though. If I tried opening it fully the rusty springs of the back door would squawk like a chicken running from a fox. I opened it part way and heard the early trembling notes. I stopped moving it and judged the space wide enough for me to slip through. It was. Barely. I stepped out onto the step outside the back door and slowly eased the door closed again, making certain it didn’t bang into the wooden frame.
The sun was starting to go down and shadows stretched long fingers across the yard. The air had gone soft, the heat of the day mellowing without the sun beating down from overhead. It wasn’t cool. At this time of year nothing outside was cool. But it was bearable. Deep in the shadows clouds of midges gathered. They were easy to spot and easy to avoid. While the shadows would have kept anyone at the windows from noticing my departure, there were also dry sticks waiting to snap under there as well.
Besides no one was looking out of the window.
The safest course was to get away before anyone thought to look for me. I knew looking would involve nothing more than a cursory glance out of the back door to see if I was in the yard. I didn’t run, but I hustled wanting to get out of that yard before anything caused anyone to look.
Soon the back of the house was lost behind the trees. I stepped into the road and walked in the center for speed, certain I would hear any car coming well before I was in danger of being run over. Not that there were many cars that came out this way anymore.
I kept moving fast, allowing myself no relief until I made it around the corner. There I paused and wiped the beads of sweat forming at my hairline away with the tail of my shirt. I let out a breath and tried to relax. I was out of sight now. Good and gone. I started to walk again, my pace more ambling now. I had plenty of time to get where I was going. Now that I knew no one would stop me, I found I was in no rush. In all fairness I wasn’t really certain I wanted to go. I wasn’t sure why I felt the need to go, especially after all this time. Still it was the 18th of July and I had given my word.
Ten til Midnight 