My Short Short for the Day

The gentle click of the door jolted Sidney awake. She had stayed up late working and while the computer shut down she checked on her daughter, sprawled across the bed and sleeping soundly. Then she made her way down the hall to her bedroom where her husband was also sprawled across the bed sleeping soundly. Walking back down the hall she couldn't help but smile at her two bed hogs. She fluffed the throw pillow and unfolded the quilt then settled down on the couch. With a huge yawn she shut off the light and lay down. She thought she'd have trouble falling asleep, but the next thing she heard was the gentle click of the door. Her head was a bit fuzzy with sleep but instincts told her not to move. She looked toward the sound only moving her eyes. There were two shadows that moved down the hall. Fear choked her but she swallowed hard. Her daughter. Her thoughts raced as she silently slid off the couch. She was in motion and had to act without time for a lot of thought.

Grabbing the dumbbell tucked under the TV stand she rose to her feet. A quick breath for courage and she glided down the hall. The shadows had moved straight to the back room. Her husband. She could here him snoring. She ducked into her daughter's room. She covered her mouth and lifted her to a sitting position. Her daughter woke with a start and seeing her mother's eyes, quickly quieted.

“Under the bed, far back corner. Stay there.” Sidney whispered.

Her daughter nodded and immediately crawled down. Sidney paused at the doorway to check that she was hidden, then glided down the hall. She paused outside the partially closed door and heard whispers. She couldn't understand what was being said. What to do? No time to panic or hesitate. She had to act. People don't break into your house for good reasons.

She slipped through the door and lunged toward the nearest shadow swinging the dumbbell with all her might. Her arm shook with the tremor of making contact. The lights suddenly came on and she fell to the floor. She looked toward the light switch. Her husband was standing there looking down at her.

“What was that?” His eyes mirrored her shock.