With grandma in bed and nothing but a pile of broken crab legs and lobster tails left behind, the party was over. Everyone, besides myself, my uncle, and Dad, left for the night. I was quick to get in my PJs so I could curl up on the couch with a bedtime snack and watch more re-runs of Ridiculousness. Meanwhile, the guys stayed up in the kitchen, once again talking about life. And, grandma was sound asleep in her bedroom next door to the living room, comfortable as could be.
However, it was very cold that night. For whatever reason, nobody wanted to heat the house up using the cast iron stove in the main room. Instead, we kept the candles lit and a single space heater in the living room on full-blast. My aunt had also brought over sleeping bags that could keep us warm even if it got below freezing in the house, but I did everything I could to not sleep in them. They seriously smelled like a dairy farm.
As the night progressed and it only got colder, I finally figured it was better to smell like a feedlot than freeze to death. Thankfully, I was simply exhausted and fell asleep quickly. However, it wasn't long before I was woken up by the sound of heavy footsteps walking around upstairs again, with nobody actually up there. Dad heard them too, and he groggily got up to check on grandma and make sure no rabid raccoons were running around up there.
"Oh shit!" I heard him gasp as he entered grandma's room.
Instantly, I felt my heart drop into my stomach, fearing the worst. I didn't breathe until I heard my grandma's muffled voice. She was still alive. But, why was my dad shocked when he walked into her room?
Well, to spare details, my grandma had been up for some time, but couldn't wake either of us up using a little bell we had her keep on her night-stand. She wasn't feeling too good and needed another dose of medication, which my dad immediately provided for her when he knew what she needed. Since everyone was safe and okay, I felt comfortable to fall back asleep. Just in time for the morning sun to rise and shine directly in my face.
For the first part of the early morning, I remained half-asleep on the couch. I was conscious of my surroundings, but kept my eyes shut and arm over my face to block out the sun. But, then I started to get a strange feeling, like something or someone was invading my space. For awhile longer, I simply ignored the feeling thinking it was just my dad moving around in the living room (I could hear what sounded like him moving around in the room). However, I began to feel a little warm, so I opened my eyes. A pair of wide, humans eyes were staring right back at me, inches from my face, and fight-or-flight kicked in.
"Oh my Jesus-" I wheezed as I sat up and balled up my fists in front of me.
My aunt stepped back, clapping her hands and laughing, "That's what you get for sleeping in!"
"Wha- Where- What time is it?" I frantically panted as my eyes darted around looking for the clock.
"It's just after 7:30 AM." my aunt replied, "Breakfast is ready! We got eggs, bacon, hashbrowns, the like!"
"Oh, ok." I sighed, holding my hand against my racing heart, "I'll be ready in a moment. Just gotta get my bearings straight."
"Did I scare ya?" Aunt Stacy finally asked, an ornery grin stretching across her face.
"Damn right, you did!" I huffed, finally able to chuckle a little.
