Timing

By Perry McDaid

Bladder speaks. Nose numb; body cosy: inert; happy…lazy. Bladder again.

“All right, all right,” Kevin grumbles.

Feet dismayed at coldness of carpet. Slippers, slippers, where are slippers? Ah. One on, two on, quick.

Chilly journey across landing; hasty fumble with door handle; watch only warm thing in toilet arc…falter…stop.

Tap water ice, but for a degree. Hands flinch.

Disinfect flush handle; tap. Rush to bed…shiver…drift to comfort.

Voice quantum leap from her snore. “Did you put the heat on?”

Push blanket, mutter down stairs to tundra kitchen, switch on boiler. Click! Thrum!

Scamper back to ALARM.