Blackout

At least it was not too late in the day…

Mr. Tabby was staring out of the dirty screen door on the balcony to see if the other houses were also in the dark. It was already grey and cold and he could see the park across the street was full of kids and their parents trying to enjoy what little they could of the rest of the Sunday. He wanted the day to be over, anyway, and sitting in the dark was actually quite easy with his comforter, beer and crackers. It would be over soon…

But how soon?

He had been watching football when everything shut down. Damn Jets were eating dirt on the field again and he was glad he no longer gambled on the games. It was the reason why his wife got fed up with him. Well, it was one of many reasons. Last time he saw her was when she finally got in that cab and did not even look back at him in front of their home. Over twenty years now…

When was the power coming back?

He knew that he could find out about the hydro if he went on the computer. He would have needed “wi-fi”, he was told. That was a gift from his grandkids. Martha and Mike even tried to show him how it all worked. It was not like his own son would be in touch. Too many sticky fingers at his company and he was the one who had to take the blame when the hammer fell. Not even a peep from him when it was visiting day. Who does that to their dad? Was it my fault? Did I make him so soft?

It was only thirty seconds in and he was already fed up with his memories.

He sighed, hearing the laughter and shouting growing louder.

Strange to have all this in my head…

Maybe that nurse is right.

Ms. Hoetchlitz – he would think of her as “Hot Shit” and once made the mistake of sharing that out loud – was a kind one. She came by about twice a week – always on a weekday – and brought the “Frankenstein equipment” (his word for all the junk in her medical bag). At least they talked about things while his blood pressure was being measured. That was why he liked her. She was an attractive woman – he saw the wedding ring with the small set of stones embedded as a cross – but also kind enough to not just look at him as a meal ticket.

“Maybe it’s time for you to move into…”

“Just stop there. Don’t need anything there I cannot get here.”

And she never mentioned it again.

And the light returned.

*

A few days later, when he discovered his body, the landlord found that he had cleaned the entire apartment from top to bottom, even in the bathroom where the grout was almost a lost cause. The grandkids were the first ones called and they promised to be there someday. His son was told in prison, listened to the phone call, and then returned to his cell. The real surprise was the wife’s response. After her last marriage ended in death, she was still able to find tears and sob into the phone. The landlord wondered about the old man smiling in his chair. There was a story there that he never knew. And he did not want to be kept in the dark.

*

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You can find more poems, stories, and articles by Kendall Defoe on my Vocal profile. I complain, argue, provoke and create...just like everybody else.

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