Rude Awakening

Someone was knocking at the door. No one had knocked on the door in a very long time and, as if that wasn't enough to send chills up Freda's spine, it was in the middle of the night. Maybe it was just a dream, she thought, and listened some more. All she heard was the ticking of the clock next to her bed. She sat for a few more minutes listening intently, just to be sure. Hearing nothing, she threw the covers back over her head and fell back into a deep sleep.

Knock, knock, knock!

There it was again! This time it was louder and Freda knew it was definitely not a dream and whoever it was, obviously, was not going to go away. The house was dark and quiet, and Freda struggled to get her bearings. She felt a little groggy and confused but attributed it to being awakened so suddenly. She started to recall bits and pieces of the pleasant dream she had been having that was so rudely interrupted:

She was in a bright and cheery house, and the sound of birds chirping could be heard through the open screen door in the kitchen. There she was, humming to herself, as she baked cookies and gingerbread for a church bazaar. Her husband, Bob, sat in the parlor going over the last details for his Sunday sermon. Suddenly, everything went dark.

Knock, knock, knock!!

The sound jolted Freda, causing her to sit straight up again. Maybe it was just the wind blowing branches against a window, she thought, but reluctantly got up. She started to creep down the dark stairs, waving away cobwebs as she went. Then she made her way through a maze of sheet-covered furniture, looming in the darkness like frightening ghosts. She felt a chill creep up her spine.

She paused to look at a dust-covered, framed photo standing all alone on the mantle. It was of herself and the dear, handsome husband from her dream. She was beginning to think the dream hadn't been a dream at all, but maybe some kind of forgotten memory of long ago. How could it have been a dream when here was a photo for proof?? She struggled to remember...

Knock, knock, knock!!!

This time the knocking was more urgent, causing Freda to shiver with fright. She was becoming more and more confused and the dark looming shapes surrounding her were becoming strangely familiar. Why couldn't she remember anything?? It was almost as if the knocking on the door had awakened her out of a century-long sleep. All she seemed to be able to remember clearly was the sudden darkness.

Suddenly, the room lit up and the cobwebs and sheet-covered furniture all disappeared! The room was bright and cheery, like it had been in her dream, and there stood her husband Bob. This time Freda clearly recognized him. Stunned, she stood frozen for a moment, and then she tried to cry out to him. She wanted to run to him and feel his arms around her once again, but when she tried to speak, nothing came out!

She tried to move towards him, but she was frozen to the spot she was in. She waved her arms frantically, but he didn't seem to see her. What was going on?? Freda was becoming more and more frightened. She couldn't figure out what in the world was going on!

Knock, knock, knock!

She couldn't move. She couldn't speak. She could only stand there and watch as Bob finally opened the door. He looked sad and his eyes were all red as if he had been crying. The sun was shining and the birds were chirping, and Freda watched as people streamed inside, each one carrying a covered dish of food. Some of them were crying, too.

"Poor Freda," she heard one of them say. "She was so young; it's so awful. We are so very sorry for your loss."