The Guiding Lights - Day 2

Day 2

I have one great talent – just one really. I can go to sleep just about anywhere, anytime. But this night was a bit different. I threw an old blanket onto Johnny, grabbed a drink of water, and then hit the ol’ bed. But instead of my eyes closing and sleep grabbing me, I laid there.

“Flashlights?”

Now what was Johnny messing with. After the sleep, (as he calls it), he seemed to be okay. He did the college thing, and seem to have a solid job. He never got married, so he missed getting divorced, but he seemed normal in most areas – until now.

After a long three minutes -- which is very long for me -- I feel asleep.

And now the morning is here and I get to face my brother after ten years – a brother who has a history of psychotic episodes – a brother who showed up muttering about flashlights and then fell asleep on my couch.

“Joe?”

Ah, he’s awake. “In the kitchen, Johnny.”

“Hey Joe. Good to see you.”

“Good to see you too, Johnny. You okay?”

Johnny didn’t answer. He just sat down at the kitchen table and started pouring a bowl of cereal.

“You still like sugar cereal, eh Joe?”

“Its for the kids mainly, Johnny, but yeah, I still like it.” Johnny never ate sugar anything for as long as I can remember. He reached for the Corn Flakes this morning.

More silence.

“Well Johnny, I’ve got to get to work.”

“Okay Joe. See ya’”

“See ya’, Johnny”

I wonder if Johnny will be here when I get back.