Chronicles of the Living

Chapter 4

     I laid in bed all night. I can't fall asleep again. Not with that damn whistling. I'ts in my head. People are gonna think I'm crazy if I keep going on about whistling. I have to figure out what it means and I have to do it in a way that won't get me sent to the nut house. I need to talk to Sophie.

      Once I could hear the birds chirping outside I sprung to my feet waking Pete up in the recliner.

      "What the fuck man" he groans sleepily.

      "C'mon I gotta go" Sophie gets to the antique store at six a.m every morning, but I'm terrified of leaving the house alone. Besides with Pete with me I'll be safer, he always carries a loaded Glock 17 with him. His wife calls him crazy, carrying a gun in this quiet town. I think the other night proved him right. "We gotta go" I corrected myself.

      "We? What do you mean we gotta go?" He asks finally sitting up.

      "I have to go to the antique store and I need a ride, my car is still parked there." I made the best excuse I could, but how will I make him stay with me. "Ittle only be an hour or so, come with me and I'll come back to your place with you." His eyes light up when I say this.

      "Oh the kids will love that, and ittle be good for you to get out of here." He says surveying my ever growing mess.

      "Alright let's go then c'mon!" I let my anticipation get the better of me and I can see Pete's concerned.

      "Dude after the other night I'm sure Sophia will understand if your a little late." He seems confused at my eagerness to go back to work.

      "I don't have to work I just have to do something." I'm digging myself into a hole. Hopefully he doesn't question it much more. I don't want to explain that I'm trying to translate a fucking whistle.

      "Alright alright, what do you need to do so bad anyway" I don't have an excuse for this one, I consider just telling him the truth.

      "Just trust me please?" I can't bring myself to try to explain it. I just need his help.

      "Alright whatever man. Listen if you need to..." I cut him off.
   
      "Less talkie more drivie." I say slipping on my shoes and opening the apartment door. As soon as I do the whistle comes back and I slam the door shut.

     "What the hell dude, what's going on?" Now he's gonna need answers.

     "I'm sorry, listen I've been paranoid since the other day and. I just have to take care of things to make myself feel better. Please Pete just come with me." Honesty seems like it's my only out.

      "Alright man I'll help but listen, if this gets worse you need to take that offer Tanya gave you." He reminds me of his wife's offer to send me to a colleague of hers. She says I need help between my alcoholism and frequent nightmares.

       "I don't need a shrink." I spit at him.

       "Let's just go." He says defeated.

       "Oh shit one more thing." I reach into a junk drawer in the kitchen and pull out a paper and pen. Pete gives me a weird look. "Alright let's go" Pete just sighs and grabs his keys. When we got out the door the whistling started again, terrified I did my best to ignore the tune. I knocked on Mrs Ambrose' s door as we pass by.

      "Go start the car I'll be right there" I turn to Pete, as much as I want him to stay I don't need him asking about the song. He heads down the hallway and Mrs Ambrose opens up the door.

     "Hey Mrs Ambrose, I'm sorry did I wake you?"

     "Last night or just now?" She chuckles as if she's joking. I know she's not but she's too sweet to say anything else. "No honey I'm making breakfast don't worry."