To a Different Drummer

 

What was more startling was that the place was absolutely quiet this morning.  The television next door wasn’t blaring.  Doors in the hallways weren’t slamming.  Even the constant stream of jibber-jabber out at the nurse’s station wasn’t taking place.

My first thought was that the place had emptied out.  Had there been a fire drill I slept through?  Why didn’t anyone come and get me? It was down-right eerie.  This place has never been quiet, not like this.

If there is a fire, I don’t think I should be opening my door and stepping out into the hallway.  But where were the sirens on the fire trucks?  I haven’t heard any sirens or commotion. Maybe I’ll call down at the office and just ask what’s going on.

I sat up in bed and looked for my cell phone on the nightstand.  It was lit up and jumping about like it was vibrating and ringing but I heard nothing at all.  Was it me?  Had I lost all hearing during the night?  Is that why this place is so quiet?  I reached over and pushed my little lamp to the floor.  It fell to the floor without a sound.  The lamp shade twisted, and the light bulb broke in complete silence.

As I looked down at the broken lamp, I felt immediately stupid.  I could have just clapped my hands together or said something aloud.  How dumb am I?  This was going to be an entirely different existence.  I wonder if it is permanent.  Will I be completely deaf from now on?

I tried to think of all the things I use hearing for but just take for granted.  Like if there is anyone behind me, I know it because I hear them.  Crossing the street, I’m sure is not just a visual thing.  If suddenly there are tires squealing that’s an alarm, a danger warning that someone is trying to stop, and I might want to jump out of the way.

Maybe my senses are working and that is what woke me up.  I’ll just go to the window and look to see if there are fire trucks out there.  That’s when the ceiling light snapped on and Lucy said, “Time to get up sleepy head.”

Startled, I blinked and sat up.  “I thought I was awake.”  I looked at the night table, my lamp was still there where it had always been, my cell phone sat quietly next to it.  The television next door was running some hearing aid commercial.

“I had the strangest dream.”

“Yeah, well lets get to breakfast, I’m starved.”

“Did I ever tell you how much I love hearing your voice?”

“Come on weirdo, let’s go eat.”