The Exciting Morning

It was four in the morning and here was Scarlett, once again sitting down at her kitchen table. This was the third time that night, and what seemed like the one-hundredth time this week. All week she had been having vivid and wild dreams and they had only gotten worse. She couldn't remember any of them, but she did know that tonight whatever it was, it had come to a new level. She had woken herself up by yelling one word "No..." What was this? What was the matter?

Scarlett decided that she wouldn't go back to sleep, it would only result in more dreams and she didn't want that right now. She stood up and stumbled over to her tea kettle. She filled it and put it on the stove and prepared to make herself some pour-over coffee.

The luscious smell of coffee began to wake her up and she went and grabbed her trusty NASB Bible. She went back over and added all the good stuff to her precious coffee and sat back down. She held her cup for a long time, the heat radiating and warming up her hands (it's the little things in life), and then slowly sipped. Ah, what's better than coffee and the Bible so early in the morning? That reminded her, and she began to read out of Psalms 135, "Praise the Lord! Praise the name of the Lord; Praise Him, O servants of the Lord,"

Wow, that is a good perspective! Even though she wasn't sleeping all that well, she could still praise the Lord. He was worthy to be worshiped and she shouldn't do that just because she was tired. He would sustain her and she had nothing to worry about!

Invigorated, Scarlett began to read again, "You who stand in the house of the Lord, In the courts of the house of our God! Paise the Lord, for the Lord is good; sing praises to His name, for it is lovely..."

CRASH!! What was that? It sounded like it was on the other side of the wall...She hesitated, frozen. A million thoughts ran through her head. Should she investigate? Should she ignore it? Should she hide?

Finally deciding that she should go see what it was, she moved and grabbed a frying pan off the drying rack (Rapunzel would be proud). Heart beating rapidly, she cautiously tip-toed toward the next room. Scarlett knew that there was yet another corner that she would have to peek around and that wasn't an exciting prospect. If only she had a one-room apartment, then this wouldn't be so scary...or maybe it would be worse? She didn't know and decided not to ponder it any longer. She had this apartment and she needn't wish for things that she didn't have or need.

Scarlett paused against the wall right outside of her study. She half wondered why she was looking without backup, but also knew that if she didn’t, she would feel dumb for calling in the police or something.

Finally, she peered around the corner, there was a man sitting at her desk eating cookies and drinking milk.

"What are you doing here?"

The man jumped and the chair fell over, taking him with it. He let out a sound that she wasn't sure that she had ever heard.

"Who are you?" She asked a different question, trying to get something out of him. Her heart was beating hard and she was trying not to laugh at the sight of this man on the floor tangled up in her swirly chair.

The man looked up at her, his eyebrows pinched together menacingly. "Oww!! Why did you do that? Don't startle someone while they are sitting in the silence of a dark room," the man grumbled.

"What do you mean, why did I do that? You’re the one in my house. Now let me ask again, what are you doing here?" Scarlett blurted out.

"Well, I needed someplace to stay at night. I am a criminal after all. I can't just go out and stay at a hotel. If I did, I would be arrested."

"What? You're a criminal and you're staying at my house!" She nearly screamed at him.

"Yes, you don't seem to notice me in your closet, so I thought that this would be the perfect hideout until things cooled off. Besides, I am only assumed to be a criminal, they don't know the whole story," the man gave an amused smile, Scarlett assumed that was because she looked funny holding the frying pan, wearing a nightgown and slippers.

"That's no excuse for being in my house! But I am curious, what were you accused of that you say that you didn't do?" Scarlett was getting intrigued, despite her better judgment, which told her to just call the police and get this man off of her hands.

"Well, someone in my company was stealing money. A lot of money. I figured out who it was, only they got to the police first and accused me of the crimes and to top it off, planted evidence that pointed at me. Now I just have to figure out how to tell them the truth and show them the real proof without getting hurt in the process," the man looked down, well as down as he could since he still hadn't gotten off the floor, "I'm sorry that I dragged you into this, I should have just gone to the police station and explained. I was just scared. Scared that they wouldn't believe me or something."

"I'm sorry for what you've been through, but you need to go to the police. Not to mention that you should really get out of my house," she tried to stress that last part.

"You're right. I guess that I should do that right now. . . would you mind giving me a ride?"

"Yeah, I suppose so," she looked down at what she was wearing, "after I change... You stay here until I get back," she left, locking the door behind her.

Scarlett emerged from her bedroom, now clothed in more fitting clothes, and let the man out. Then she grabbed her car keys and they loaded up into her Subaru.

“What’s your name anyway?” Scarlett asked as they pulled out of the driveway.

“Daniel. Daniel Norton, at your service,” Daniel said, “and what’s yours?”

“Scarlett Albright,” she replied and then they both smiled at each other.