Surprise

I woke up in the dead stillness of pre-dawn, suddenly and completely awake. As if there was something in the air that shook me awake. I took a moment to adjust to the fading darkness. There was no-one in the room.

Was it the smell of gas that had subconsciously woken me? I sniffed carefully and long. Nope, not gas.

I stayed cocooned in the warmth of my quilt, ears stretched out towards the rest of the house. Nope, no noises, so presumably no intruder.

I thought a while about the risks of snuggling down in the quilt while an intruder robbed my little abode of the almost valueless valuables I had stocked it with.

Warmth won the day. I rubbed my face, pushed my nameless dread away and burrowed my face in the pillow.

Come morning and I was thankful. It promised to be a bright, happy day. And a weekend to boot. ’I’ll get the tea,” I grinned at my surprised better-half and ran down the stairs, two at a time.

Only to stop short, horrified, as I reached the kitchen.

My jaw dropped, I could feel my feet turning to race back to the safety of my bedroom.

The tea was boiling, the toaster was popping toast.

‘Want some? There was a small fire in my house. I’m going to have to stay here for a few weeks. Do you mind?’ my ma-in-law asked confidently.