Alone At Last

9

Waking up to a shrill screech is never something you want to happen to you.

Trust me.

"What in the hell?" I mumbled, head whipping up from being smashed into my pillow. The curtains weren't drawn. I must've fallen asleep the second my feet touched my bedroom floor.

Good thing the bed was only an inch away from the doorway, or I might not have made it last night.

"Gabriel Jacobs? You in there? It's nearly eleven in the morning! Don't you tell me you're in there hibernating or whatever. I won't believe you for a second time."

"It's before noon?" I groaned, scratching my head as I blearily stumbled to the door. "I need to sleep at least past two on the weekends. Why does no one believe me?"

In the process of trying to figure out what century I had just woken up in, I stubbed my toe on the base of the kitchen counter and almost tripped over Yanks.

Swearing, I slammed a hand into the front door to catch my fall.

"Calm yerself in there! It's just me. Your neighbor. Jillian!"

Oh please, no.

I whipped the door open, scowl already in place. "How can I be of service?"

She stuck her hands on her hips, hair curlers swaying as she eyed me up and down. "Late night?"

I glanced down at myself.

I was wearing the collared shirt and dress pants from last night. One of my feet was covered with a shoe while the other had only a sock, sporting a rather large hole where my toe was making an appearance.

"No, early morning," I grumbled. At her look of surprise, I sighed and added, "What do you need, Jillian?"

This was the fifth time this lady has woken me up. I bet she timed when I went to sleep, just to bang on my front door and wake the dead, only to ask me to assist her in some menial task.

Suddenly, her eyes widened so wide, I thought she had either seen a ghost, or Yanks was hacking up a hairball behind me.

"Oh dear! I nearly forgot! There is a giant spider by my front door. I couldn't kill it! It was blocking my only exit. Could you believe that?" Jillian shuddered dramatically. "Would you be so kind as to get rid of that pesky monster for me?"

Blinking at her, I asked, "How did you get to my door if the spider was blocking your only exit?"

"Well, it ran away! And then I escaped the second it was safe and—"

"I apologize for the stress this has caused you. Ask Mr. Biggins if he can help you with your...predicament. I'm sure he won't mind."

Yeah, he'd blow a fuse if Jillian stepped within a ten foot radius of his door. Mr. Biggins enjoyed his quiet. And I respected that. That's why we were such great neighbors. I had talked to the guy a total of one time. He was a nice fellow.

"Gabriel Jacobs, don't you shut this door on—"

I stuck my head back out and said, "Have a lovely rest of your day, Miss Jillian" before closing the door in her face.