Johnny woke to the sound of music playing – his alarm clock. Through the dim light he saw the numbers “6:00” illuminated in large red type. He closed his eyes and rolled over. If it weren’t for the fact that he had to use the bathroom, he probably wouldn’t have gotten up for another 45 minutes. He turned off his white-noise machine before making his way down the hall.
He slipped back under the sheets and turned a cautious eye toward the clock before closing his eyes again. He let out a deep sigh. He thought about the day ahead and any personal errands he needed to accomplish. He drifted in and out of consciousness for the next hour.
Once again, he looked up at the clock but this time it told him it was time to get up and start the day. He turned off the radio and walked toward the shower, taking off the t-shirt and underwear he was wearing. He turned on the shower so that the water could warm up while he picked out a selection of music. There was a small boom box located right outside the bathroom door, which played an assortment of CD’s he had made. Johnny struggled to read the small print of the labels, his eyes still foggy from sleep.
He finally found a CD to listen to and climbed into the warm shower. After showering, shaving, brushing his teeth and dressing he made himself a couple of sandwiches for lunch. He grabbed all the things necessary these days -- cell phone, keys, wallet and watch – and headed for the car. There was some condensation on his car so he had to squeegee that off. Johnny was funny about having clear windows when driving.
He made the 15-minute drive to work and pulled into the parking lot. There was always something to do when he first hit the door. There was a report to run. There was a process to check from the night before. There was paperwork that would not fill itself out.
Around 11:30 Johnny watched some others head out for lunch. They filed past his desk like there was a parade. He glanced over to see the lunch he had packed just a few hours before. He wondered about going out to lunch but talked himself out of it.
Before he knew it, the day had ended so he packed himself to go. He dug his keys out of his pocket and loaded himself back in his car. He wore a coat called ‘numb’ and had a glazed-over look as he drove the freeway home. A blur of humanity. “What’s in the freezer for dinner?” he thought. He found out soon enough.
With dinner over, he sat in a stupor in front of the TV. There was no energy for Johnny. He sat on the couch and thought what else could be done but had no energy for it. Another channel, another TV show.
He could stand it no longer. Johnny could not keep his eyes open anymore. There was nothing worthwhile on TV so he decided to turn in for the night. He took off everything he didn’t want to wear to bed and set his watch by the alarm clock. He yawned and stretched before turning on the white-noise machine. He set the alarm, turned off the ligh and began the business of sleep.
The next morning, Johnny woke to the sound of music playing – his alarm clock...
He slipped back under the sheets and turned a cautious eye toward the clock before closing his eyes again. He let out a deep sigh. He thought about the day ahead and any personal errands he needed to accomplish. He drifted in and out of consciousness for the next hour.
Once again, he looked up at the clock but this time it told him it was time to get up and start the day. He turned off the radio and walked toward the shower, taking off the t-shirt and underwear he was wearing. He turned on the shower so that the water could warm up while he picked out a selection of music. There was a small boom box located right outside the bathroom door, which played an assortment of CD’s he had made. Johnny struggled to read the small print of the labels, his eyes still foggy from sleep.
He finally found a CD to listen to and climbed into the warm shower. After showering, shaving, brushing his teeth and dressing he made himself a couple of sandwiches for lunch. He grabbed all the things necessary these days -- cell phone, keys, wallet and watch – and headed for the car. There was some condensation on his car so he had to squeegee that off. Johnny was funny about having clear windows when driving.
He made the 15-minute drive to work and pulled into the parking lot. There was always something to do when he first hit the door. There was a report to run. There was a process to check from the night before. There was paperwork that would not fill itself out.
Around 11:30 Johnny watched some others head out for lunch. They filed past his desk like there was a parade. He glanced over to see the lunch he had packed just a few hours before. He wondered about going out to lunch but talked himself out of it.
Before he knew it, the day had ended so he packed himself to go. He dug his keys out of his pocket and loaded himself back in his car. He wore a coat called ‘numb’ and had a glazed-over look as he drove the freeway home. A blur of humanity. “What’s in the freezer for dinner?” he thought. He found out soon enough.
With dinner over, he sat in a stupor in front of the TV. There was no energy for Johnny. He sat on the couch and thought what else could be done but had no energy for it. Another channel, another TV show.
He could stand it no longer. Johnny could not keep his eyes open anymore. There was nothing worthwhile on TV so he decided to turn in for the night. He took off everything he didn’t want to wear to bed and set his watch by the alarm clock. He yawned and stretched before turning on the white-noise machine. He set the alarm, turned off the ligh and began the business of sleep.
The next morning, Johnny woke to the sound of music playing – his alarm clock...