As was our wont, we went as a family to visit my old Granny one weekend when I was a young 'un. I musta been about 9 or 10 maybe. In addition to mama and daddy, it was me, my brother Ray, my other brother Jack, and my sister Edna made the trip. We traveled the 200 or so miles in our poor old wagon up from the small town of Bassmouth, clear up to Jackdaw where Granny lived.
We pulled in late, after dark the day after we started out. Needless to say we was purty tired and wore out from the long trip. At bedtime, we all sorted out where we was a gonna be sleeping and it was decided I would sleep at the top of the stairs with my brother Ray. I never had much say in the matter as I was just a dumb little kid at the time. But, I was used to sleeping up there and to be honest, I was always skeered when sleeping the night at Granny's. Her old house was a big ol' mansion that had been there fer many a long year. I figgered there's been plenty of folks a dying in and around that old place. So the place always seemed a bit hainted to me. Course my brothers and sister always played up the idea purty heavy, making sure to relay horrible scary tales that they maintained was as true as scripture.
Well, anyhow, on that night I climbed in bed, completely wore out by the days events. I forgot to mention that we done a few chores when we first got to Granny's that used up whatever energy we had left. So by bed time I was finished. So I clumb into bed and fell asleep in Granny's store bought sheets. I don't know when it was, but at some point I felt my brother climb in bed over yonder on the other side of the bed. The bed creaked as he sat down. He sat there for a great long while and then finally laid down. I was barely awake enough to realize all this, but a feller knows when someone climbs into bed with him. I was aware that my brother didnt grab the covers er nothing. Just laid there. I was too tired to talk, or say anything other than a mumbled "nite" as I faded back asleep, noting momentarily there was no reply.
The following morning I woke up with the sun. Light filled the chamber through the window. I briefly thought about how silly Ray would look laying on top of the covers with his clothes on. Expecting to see that I looked over and seen that he warn't there. I could tell he'd been laying there as I noticed that the bed clothes was pressed down in the shape of a person sure enough.
I made my way downstairs and the scent of bacon and eggs cooking wafted into my nose. I was powerful hungry. When I got down to the breakfast table, I seen Mama, Daddy, Granny, and Edna sitting around the table. Eating.
"Come getcher plate!" said Granny. Which I did. There was plenty.
As we sat eating I heard the conversation, and absent-mindedly noted the fact that my brothers were not there. I larnt that it was best to listen well before askin' dumb questions, so I listened very well to try and figger out where they were, and why I wasn't invited. After a minute or two I got the gist. And it made the breakfast I was eating taste flat and strange as I contemplated the previous night's events.
It seems the boys had gone to camp out next to Mosstop river last night. And had not returned yet. But were expected any minute. Edna, I gathered, had slept in the little room near the sitting room. Daddy had asked her how she liked sleeping in there and she said it was very nice, as the window let in a perfect breeze. She claimed to have slept very well last night.
I couldn't help but wonder then who or what had crawled into bed with me? Made the food stick in my throat.
So I asked Daddy, figuring the answer would be yes, if he had bunked with me at any point last night.
"No." he said. "But I did have to look in on you at one point."
"Why?" I asked.
"I heard you laughing. What were you laughing about in the middle of the night, son?"
"Laughing?"
"It was either laughing or crying... I figured you warnt crying. Pass me the salt son."
The subject was never mentioned again.
