LESSONS FOR THE SOUL

Sitting here I am reminded that there was a time when I wasn't the wise old man I am now. Surrounded by the peacefulness of night, it's quiet eerie silence after the sun goes down and the world sleeps. This, my friend , is the time I have always cherished as far back as I can remember.Its the time when you can dream about all the things of tomorrow, contemplate all the things of today and like now, remember simpler days when my biggest fear was not getting that Daisy BB gun for Christmas. Yea, this is my night, in my world and at night while the world is asleep I can be me. When I was a kid of about seven, I used to make a game of sneaking out at night and then sneaking back in again. Oh, I don't know why. I think maybe just the thrill of getting away with it. Yea that's probably why.After a while that wasn't fun anymore and I would venture down the road to my elementary school and play around on the football field. Hut one, Hut two,Hike. Yea I was the quarterback and I just passed the touchdown pass.I didn't ever stay long. Just enough to say I did it and I would sneak back in to my house,then try and sleep a little before I had to get up for school. One night, I can remember it as if it was yesterday, my little brother woke up while I was sneaking out yet again. " Take me with you " he cried. " NO" I said. Of course you know what he said. The same thing all little brothers say to their older brothers world wide. I don't even have to tell you ,but I will. He came back with, " I'm tellin mom and dad if you don't take me with you!!!" Can you believe it! I told him to come on but be quiet. Slowly and carefully we made our way to freedom, hoping the kitchen door  wouldn't creak too loud and wake Dad. What seemed like forever, we were out in the night. Oh the beautiful night with its utter silence. Except for the crickets I believed we were the only ones alive at that moment. We began our journey to the school. I was going to show him how I found a way to get into the school's concession stand. I was too afraid to go in but I knew how if I wanted to. I just didn't want to. No telling what you might run into in a strange building. My little brother didn't want to mess around with that either. He was only five. We were there only maybe an hour when we decided to go home. Crossing the main street at just the time Murphy would want us to, we crossed. And as only Murphy would know, a cop passed us and made a U-turn at the next intersection. C'mon, run... Hurry up lets go!!! Here he comes !!! We gotta go!!! Now Run. I ran. I ran hard, as fast as I could. My little brother right behind me. Keep up, I yelled without even looking back. I ran faster than I ever have in my seven years . Slowing a bit I glanced over my shoulder at my little brother. Where's my brother? He wasn't behind me!!! Coming to a full halt, I turned around and saw him back where the cop had him. " oh no" I thought and I ran even faster than before. You see I knew they were going to call Mom and Dad any minute and I did not want to be a part of that. Almost passing out and barely able to breathe, I finally made it home. Slipping in the kitchen door as fast and as quiet as I could, I made my way back up the steps to our bedroom. Reaching the top step, sure enough, the phone downstairs began ringing. I moved faster, climbing into bed, not even getting undressed and began "snoring" feigning sleep. All of a sudden the lights came on and reaching the side of the bed Dad pulled my covers back and there I was.He was so mad at me. It seemed like I couldn't hardly sit for at least a couple of days. You have to remember that when I was young , being spanked meant something totally different. It was no fun, believe me. There were no"out times" in our room. We had just in times when I was young.  Like when Dad tried to hit me with that water hose that one time. You see I ducked " just in time". I learned  a couple of things that night. number one: Never, Ever  assume your little brother is right behind you. And number two; If you are going to take a chance, don't involve anyone but yourself. I think my coffee is finished brewing now so  I will close for now and enjoy this dark,quietness I find so comforting...............