The lights were hung by the chimney with care in hopes that the party guests soon would be there. Okay, corny I know. Especially since it was more like egg nog (no rum too many people driving home after this) was ready, the glade pine scented candle had give the room a faux pine smell, the stereo was softly playing Christmas music. Most importantly the clock, yes the clock. It kept ticking and tocking. Or perhaps it was more of a snicker-snack as I waited in uffish thought. I expected that some guests would be late, but that not one was early or had arrived at all was something of a surprise.
At half past the hour I was more than a little surprised, I was concerned. Nobody had called, nobody had buzzed, nothing. I set down the ginger beer I had opened a few minutes ago and went to the door. I peeked out into the hall and saw nobody. I opened the various locks and put my right foot out, put my right foot in, put my out and shook it all about. After doing the hokey-pokey I was in the hall. The silence was palpable.
How is it in an apartment complex that all 4 tenants on the same floor decide to have their Christmas parties on the same night? Should make for one frabjous day, calloo, callay! Instead, it is making for an eerie night. I wouldn't even mind some whiffling and burbling in the tulgey wood right now. ‘Twas then I noticed that each front door was open. Combine that with the silence and it was not just a shiver down my spine, it was outright dread. My breath caught in my throat as I inched my way toward my apartment with my back to the wall.
Once the door was shut and the locks secured, the sounds of “Silent Night” ironically breaking the silence that had filled me with such deep seated fear. “All is calm, all is bright/ Round yon virgin, mother and child” when I heard the voice behind me. “Fear not! I bring you good tidings of great joy!” The room began to fill with a white light brighter than noonday sun and I heard a new voice, the most peaceful and loving I have ever heard say, “Come to my arms, my beamish boy!”
And suddenly there was a multitude of friends, family, neighbors and more praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest. There is now peace on earth for 1000 years.”
Very intriguing and playful style I thought, one thing I did notice was a typo, I assume where the protagonist is doing the hokey pokey in the hall and "put my out and shook it all about" I sure should be put my right foot out...
ReplyDeleteI have to say I'm very intrigued to find out exactly what it was that was happening to make all the other doors be left wide open and then the sudden appearance of the guests, there are so many possibilities, it's wide open.
It is obvious to me by the final line that the unexpected event was what my pentecostal friends would call The Rapture. Which, by definition is a surprise. Now! question I was left with: were the neighbors and the expected guests "twinkled" or "burned"?
ReplyDeleteThe Rapture was my most likely guess, of course, but the question I had was not whether the neighbors and family were "twinkled" but the host!
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