150 Stupid o’clock
Body awoke at 3 am. This was getting to be an annoying habit and try as she might it was not always possible to get back to sleep, even after meditation and prayer. Sometimes she just had to get up and make a cup of tea.
Sometimes Body watched information on her phone about meditation and how to do it differently in an effort to improve the result.
Sometimes Body watched collective Tarot readings in an effort to find out what was going on because something was! She vigilantly weeded out the collective messages that did not appear to be for her without a date, a time, a colour, a phrase that was familiar just to her in her current situation. Some were really very specific and accurate.
“If you say so” scoffed Brain.
“I know so” replied Body being used to Brains cynicism. “Don’t ask me how, but they have been helpful. I have some clarity.”
“Really? that would stand up in court?” questioned Brain.
“No but we are to wait, Big voice told us so, and some Tarot readings have confirmed this. We must leave it to the powers that be, leave it to God , the universe, and continue to move forward not just with our creative ideas but in life itself. Change our mindset. Please note that Brain.”
“I’m trying” admitted Brain.
“Very ‘trying’ ” laughed Spirit “We all are.”
Body got up from the kitchen chair and moved to the enclosed balcony and slid the window wide open. Spirit needed to get some air as she looked up at the stars and sipped her tea. Body felt the air in the new flat was a little stagnant and although she had only been in it a few days she had hoped that this feeling of ‘stagnation’ would have changed by now. Like this waking up at 3am, like feeling watched and stuff going missing. Moving to a new flat had not changed these things as she had hoped it might. Body still felt somehow trapped and blocked from any progress and although inspiration to Spirit and Soul was coming back slowly, Heart, Brain and Body felt stuck.
“Speak for yourself Body” Brain said. “We have made progress. We are in a new flat that investment wise, is a good purchase. It will hold its value. We are secure financially now our pension has come in. We know it will cover our bills, not much to spare but we will manage.”
“We are fortunate” sighed Soul “and must be grateful. We could not ask for more even if it’s only a temporary move.”
“Those that ask don’t get” the child joined in “is what Mummy always says.”
“That’s a bit harsh” cried Heart.
“And feels like a dead end too” sighed Soul. “We should ditch that path and we are now learning to ask for what we want. It’s what prayers and meditation are for amongst other things.”
“And in the absence of any proof of what has been happening to us for the court case against the builder or anything else regarding Noswad and the family for that matter, is all we can do” Brain surmised.
“What’s that noise? It sounds like a hissing snake?” the child asked as the ducks in the park below suddenly swarmed (for want of a better word) in one direction and started quacking in alarm. “Something has scared them as she looked out the bottom of the window.”
Body saw a shimmering path of water moving across the pond towards the ducks who were now all standing facing towards it like a group of toy soldiers defending themselves. They were now quiet and watchful. “I don’t know what has disturbed them” Body replied “but something is moving in the water leaving a long trail. Can you see it shimmering in the park lamps?”
“Where?”
“Look across the water surface, see, there it is again.”
“Oooh maybe it’s a snake in the water?”
“Possible” said Brain. “We know there are fish and turtles.”
The hissing was loud or maybe it wasn’t, everywhere else was so quiet it was hard to tell by the lack of comparison, and the ducks stood like statues watching the trail in the water.
“They can see it too” the child was frightened for them. “Where are the ducklings?”
“Probably safe in bed which is where we should be” Body stated.
“We must watch and make sure they are safe” the child insisted and Body raised her tired eyes to the heavens. “Ok Ok. We will stay and watch” as Body settled in the chair by the window. It was a long night. Body noticed as she was now seated that the air nearer the bottom of the window smelt different. What was it? She really must get used to the different humidity levels created living so close to the sea, it made freshly washed clothes smell fusty in the wardrobe and leather shoes started to go white with a type of mould is all she could describe it as.
“It smells fresh” the child answered “like when Grandad mows the grass when it is too wet. Nana tells him off coz it leaves bare patches.”
Wet grass! That was the smell. Fresh and sweet wet grass. Body stood up again and relooked out of the window. What was she not seeing as the hissing continued? It wasn’t raining. The ducks were still stationary in there group and on vigil. The shimmering path in the water came and went, still moving on or under the water. Body scrutinised its surface for signs of a body or shape within it or upon it but could see none.
“There is arches in the sky”
“Where child? It’s dark.”
“What do you mean?” Heart cried.
“Like rainbows but without the colour” the child tried to describe.
“There are no clouds making pictures child. and anyway the moon is not bright enough to show them” called Spirit.
“Perhaps look out the window from her height, from her direction” Soul suggested. “maybe you will see what she sees.”
Body obeyed and sat in the chair again so her height was comparable to the child’s. Anything to get this child assured of the safety of the ducklings and they could then return to bed.
“Can you see the dark rainbows?” the child pointed. Body’s eyes adjusted and sure enough, there were several of them.
“A sprinkler system!” Brain announced “It must be on a timer at night to keep the grass from dying in the heat of the day.”
Spirit laughed till it hit the ceiling and they all joined in. No monster snake, just a watering system the ducks obviously didn’t like.
“But they live and stay in water all day” the child giggled “Why wouldn’t they like it? Water is water.”
“They obviously don’t understand where it comes from” stated Brain “but they should adapt. It must be a timed regular occurrence.”
“Sometimes things aren’t always as they appear” sighed Soul.
“Look!” the child giggled and Body watched as the sprinklers switched off and the ducks moved in single file to their favourite patch of rest on the grass. The patch that had become worn and bare and especially shaped for them. As they moved, the sheltered ducklings appeared from under them. They had grouped together to shelter the ducklings from the sprinkler water.
The child sighed with relief. “Why? aren’t ducklings supposed to be used to the wet? the water?”
“Probably not at night when it’s cooler” Brain suggested “they haven’t grown their full feathers. They are not protected enough and would get cold at nightime maybe” Brain wasn’t sure.
“Good parents they are then. They kept them warm” the child was happy.
“Can we go back to bed now then?” asked Body.
“A good plan” sighed Soul.
“Switch the alarm off” stated Brain.
“I’m pleased they are safe” cried Heart. “We can relax.”
“And sleep please” implored Body “Can you switch off please Brain?”
“I can try”
“I will stand vigil” called Spirit. “Nothing can touch us, we are safe. It’s part of my routine now, and as for spititual attacks? Water off a ducks back!”
“Very droll” Brain assessed, whilst Body rolled her eyes to the heavens, Heart was pleased and Soul took the deepest of sighs.
“You’re welcome” the heavens answered.
© 2025 Jennifer Harris. Free And Alive 555
