Seven of Swords

Our Rooming House—MIDNIGHT

Next, I am back home. I guess I had nowhere else to go.

As I amble up to the house, that I guess I had left that morning but things jumble together on the road, it is mostly dark. The door is locked at this late hour and I haven’t brought my key.

I cup my hands over my eyes and peer into the sidelight, hoping to see someone inside. I see Sailor Lou through the window. I’ve been avoiding him as he is embarrassed that I have a new job and he on the other hand has been laid off. Ugh. Perhaps I can help him out. Get him on my crew maybe.

I knock on the door softly. I can see Sailor Lou is sitting, sluggishly in an easy chair watching TV. I feel even worse, and decide that, if he seems to not have seen me, I will leave without knocking again.

The bedroom on the second floor is lit. From the stoop I watch the room and consider disturbing the family that lives up there by knocking louder. The figures silhouetted on the shades in the second floor bedroom seem to embrace, and I decide not to disturb them with my troubles. I’ve made enough noise searching my heavy satchel a second time for my key and sighing, however, and one of the lovers peeks out of the curtains.

“Sorry,” I wave. I guess it would be pointless to wake everyone, since I refuse to share a bed with Andrea now, and all the other beds are likely all taken anyway.

But as I look back at the door, it just swings open, so I must call out “Hello, are you there Lou?” And peek around the corner. He is now lying on the floor with a pillow. He is half asleep but mumbling sheepishly to himself.

I slouch off with a sad shrug. I’m not sharing the parlor with Sailor Lou either.

I head to the tool shed, which is unlocked, where I pull out a sleeping bag that I know the Sailor has stashed for just such occasions.

Behind the house there is side path down a bluff to the beach. I lay out the bag in the sand, shivering a little, and then lay down, head propped up on my satchel of books as a hard pillow. But I am exhausted.