beep
The sound. Every 30 seconds the sound. Always there, It permeates everything I do. No matter where I go in the house, the shrill cry of an electronic buzzer. I can't even escape it in sleep, it follows me into my dreams.
beep
It is one of the three smoke detectors in my house. It beeps because it needs a new battery. I have no new 9 volts. I had no new batteries when the one upstairs started beeping months ago, and I still have none.
beep
The one upstairs hangs with it's cover open, as it has for months. The beeping is getting annoying. I have endured it for three days now. I cling to the idea the smoke detector is somehow protecting me from a horrible death, yet I am unable to prevent it from dying.
beep
Today I finally confronted it. I stood there, at the top of the staircase, looking at it. I had to make a decision. I couldn't keep living like this. I yanked open the cover and tore out it's guts. It felt like I had killed a faithful dog who had been guarding me for years. But at least it was over.
beep
Fuck. It wasn't the right one. It must be the one in the basement. I can hear the sound echoing off the walls. I hate the basement. It's where the spiders live. I hate spiders. I weigh the options in my head: Do nothing, and the beeps will haunt me for days to come. Venture into the basement, and a spider might land on my head. But at least the buzzing will stop.
beep
It taunts me. It seems to call out to me. You know you don't have the strength to stop me William. Your fear makes you weak. Powerless. Impotent. That's what you are, impotent. Turn around and walk away. I will rule, with a loud buzz and a blinking light over my kingdom of spiders. This is my house.
beep
This beep is different from the rest. It is like the buzzer that signals the opening of the gates at a horse race. I dash down the stairs flipping the light on as I go, in my mind's eye seeing the smoke detector hanging at the base of the stairs. Imagining the blinking red light in the center of a mass of clear webbing, giant mutant spiders with gleaming red eyes, wrapping up whole rats and mice in gooey clots of spinning thread. My heart thumping in my ears I reach the bottom of the steps, shifting my weight I reach for the detector, seeing no webs of course, no spiders, I strech my arms out and pull, pull, PULL-
bee...
I yank it so hard it pulls one side out of the ceiling. A small trickle of plaster floats to the floor. The casing of the detector hangs open, the battery lies on the floor, empty, useless, like a discarded snakeskin.
It's over. No more beeps. Ever. I know I will never buy a new 9 volt battery. It is the end. I stand there alone in the basement. The spiders are silent, hiding in the shadows, waiting... for their new king to lead them. I smile. It's only then I realize I have an erection. My teeth shine by the light of the bare lightbulb.
Even the smallest victory must be savored. For tomorrow may be your last day on earth. And for this night, at least, I am a God.
End.
The sound. Every 30 seconds the sound. Always there, It permeates everything I do. No matter where I go in the house, the shrill cry of an electronic buzzer. I can't even escape it in sleep, it follows me into my dreams.
beep
It is one of the three smoke detectors in my house. It beeps because it needs a new battery. I have no new 9 volts. I had no new batteries when the one upstairs started beeping months ago, and I still have none.
beep
The one upstairs hangs with it's cover open, as it has for months. The beeping is getting annoying. I have endured it for three days now. I cling to the idea the smoke detector is somehow protecting me from a horrible death, yet I am unable to prevent it from dying.
beep
Today I finally confronted it. I stood there, at the top of the staircase, looking at it. I had to make a decision. I couldn't keep living like this. I yanked open the cover and tore out it's guts. It felt like I had killed a faithful dog who had been guarding me for years. But at least it was over.
beep
Fuck. It wasn't the right one. It must be the one in the basement. I can hear the sound echoing off the walls. I hate the basement. It's where the spiders live. I hate spiders. I weigh the options in my head: Do nothing, and the beeps will haunt me for days to come. Venture into the basement, and a spider might land on my head. But at least the buzzing will stop.
beep
It taunts me. It seems to call out to me. You know you don't have the strength to stop me William. Your fear makes you weak. Powerless. Impotent. That's what you are, impotent. Turn around and walk away. I will rule, with a loud buzz and a blinking light over my kingdom of spiders. This is my house.
beep
This beep is different from the rest. It is like the buzzer that signals the opening of the gates at a horse race. I dash down the stairs flipping the light on as I go, in my mind's eye seeing the smoke detector hanging at the base of the stairs. Imagining the blinking red light in the center of a mass of clear webbing, giant mutant spiders with gleaming red eyes, wrapping up whole rats and mice in gooey clots of spinning thread. My heart thumping in my ears I reach the bottom of the steps, shifting my weight I reach for the detector, seeing no webs of course, no spiders, I strech my arms out and pull, pull, PULL-
bee...
I yank it so hard it pulls one side out of the ceiling. A small trickle of plaster floats to the floor. The casing of the detector hangs open, the battery lies on the floor, empty, useless, like a discarded snakeskin.
It's over. No more beeps. Ever. I know I will never buy a new 9 volt battery. It is the end. I stand there alone in the basement. The spiders are silent, hiding in the shadows, waiting... for their new king to lead them. I smile. It's only then I realize I have an erection. My teeth shine by the light of the bare lightbulb.
Even the smallest victory must be savored. For tomorrow may be your last day on earth. And for this night, at least, I am a God.
End.
VIEW 4 of 4 COMMENTS
thanks for letting me read your arms the other day.
welcome, welcome!!