Warmth

One for the Poetry Corner

Warmth

I wake in the predawn

Peeking from under the comforter

The room is dark and cold

Breath steaming unseen in the chill stillness

Under these feathers is my nest

A fledgling still

I hug the pillow

Curl into a ball

And savor the pleasure

of

Simply being warm

Seeing Into Things...

Here's one The Fuzz has been working on for a writer's group he's been hanging with to keep off the streets these days.

Seeing Into Things...

"I'm just worried about him, Billy."

"Look, Daisy, I'm meeting him in a few minutes. Everything will be fine."

That wasn't her real name, but I have called her that ever since we were kids in grade school. At first it had just been a tease, but the name had stuck.

I hadn't recognized the number when she called. That was odd. I had just finished talking to Jeff and was getting into the car to go meet him. I almost didn't pick it up.

Daisy had sounded worried. And Jeff had been acting odd lately. As I started the car I recalled last Friday evening. They had invited me for dinner. That was not unusual. The three of us have been friends since middle school. I often join them for dinner and a movie at their home. I live alone, myself.

And Jeff had been acting strangely that night. He kept making excuses to leave the room, and would stay gone for an unusually long time. It was obvious that something was bothering him, and it made me uncomfortable. I was relieved when Jeff had finally called today. He asked me to meet him privately at our old swimming hole by the river. He wanted to talk.

But he had sounded desperate. "You're the only one that can help me," he had pleaded. I was glad to put on my cape and fly to the rescue.

Jeff's truck was already there when I arrived. This was a popular spot in the summer, but we would be sure to be alone at this time of year. Following the path, I recalled those lazy summer days when Jeff, Daisy and I would join our friends here to escape the summer's heat. I had thought I was in love with her then. But to Daisy, I was always "like a brother" as she put it. I realized that this was meant as a compliment, but still...

And in the end she had married Jeff.

When I saw him, Jeff was sitting in our old place, a log overlooking the river. He was holding a half empty bottle of Jack Daniel's - which accounted for the odd way his truck had been parked. I sat down beside him. Jeff passed the bottle and we didn't speak.

"Jeff... what's eating you?" I finally asked.

"Nothin', man," Jeff replied. "What are you talking about?"

"It's just that Daisy said..."

"Daisy said, huh?" Jeff said taking another long pull of the whiskey.

After a long pause and another drink Jeff spoke.

"I got a big problem," he began. "I need help bad."

"At work?"

I knew that Jeff had a high-stress job. Daisy had told me of her worries that Jeff would crack under the pressure. But I knew Jeff, he was tough. It had to be something else.

"You want to talk about it?" 

"No, dammit!"

"You called me..."

"You can't help."

Jeff suddenly stood up throwing the empty bottle into the river. He had a wild look in his eyes as he turned toward me.

"You are the problem!"

"What the hell are you talking about?" I demanded facing him. He shoved me back and I fell over the log we had been sitting on.

"I know all about you and Daisy," Jeff told me waving Daisy's cell phone.

The pieces began to fall into place as I lay looking up at him. This was why Daisy had called from her neighbor's phone. She had told me that she couldn't find her phone or car keys.

My phone began to ring in my pocket.

"Give it to me!" Jeff demanded. He was holding a pistol now. Reluctantly I handed the phone to him as it continued to ring. As Jeff took the call I prayed it was anyone but Daisy.

"Bitch," was all he said, tossing the phone into the river.

"You thought I was a fool," Jeff said now, as I struggled to my feet. "Well, now who is the fool?"

"Jeff, this is crazy. We never... Daisy loves you... she is only worried about you."

"Worried that I'd find about you two!" he replied in triumph. "It's too late now for your lies!"

"Jeff," I pleaded, "Think what you're saying!"

"I'm done thinking," he said coldly raising the gun now.

I was surprised at how far one can see into the barrel of a pistol when it is pointed at your face.

Just for fun of course!