Fifteen Minutes

The body lay on the floor. Threatening even in death.

His living room resembled the aftermath of a 6.2 earthquake. All of the lamps had been knocked over, bulbs shattered leaving sparkling trails that followed the path of destruction. Photographs and paintings that had been knocked from the wall were scattered about the room. The stereo lay on its side while only a low hum could be heard from the speakers. Plants that had once stood on the windowsill embracing the sunlight were overturned with soil, roots and leaves ground into the carpet.

He sat in his rocking chair near the window. His face was red and his shirt was soaked thru with sweat. His chest was heaving as he fought to gain control over his breathing. He looked about the room surveying the damage and reliving the past fifteen minutes of his life.

After several weeks of stress filled overtime he was taking a day off to recharge his batteries. He had slept in, taken a leisurely walk and planned on spending the afternoon on the couch napping and listening to music. He had just begun to slip off into dreamland when there was a knock on the door.

Answering the knock he found someone from Fed-Ex with a package for him. Perfect timing he thought to himself as he signed for the envelope, he couldn't have knocked five minutes ago he had to wait until I was almost asleep. Thanking the driver he tossed the envelope on the table and lay back down.

As he attempted to find his way back into nap land he found himself tossing and turning on the couch he just could not find his comfort zone. In frustration he threw his pillow across the room. That’s when he heard the sound, not very loud, but very clear. Nervously he looked around the room. There it was again. A trickle of fear ran down his spine. He was no longer alone. Somewhere in his house was an intruder.

Silently, he rose from the couch, removed the shovel from a set of fireplace tools and began his search. He stood quietly and was rewarded with that sound again, still not very loud but still clear.

He began his search in the kitchen. Everything was as it should be. He checked the downstairs bathroom. Nothing. He turned back into the living room and out of the corner of his eye he thought he detected movement. He swung the shovel and connected with nothing but a lamp that shattered on the floor. Spinning he swung again and swept a slew of family pictures off of the wall.

Calm down he thought to himself, keep your wits and you will survive, panic and who knows what the outcome will be.

He crept about the living room eyes darting to the corners looking for any movement. Again he thought he heard something behind him and in swinging the shovel he knocked over the stereo dislodging the cd he had been listening to. The sound was growing louder he could sense the intruder was near. Pretending indifference he neared the front window and let loose with a wild swing knocking all of his plants off the windowsill.

He twisted to his left and tripped over a footstool, knocking two more lamps over as he fell to the ground. He lay there on his back red in the face and fighting for air. He could hear the sound clearer now. Just over his shoulder and to his right. Gripping the shovel, he turned on to his stomach and swung with all his might. Smack! He connected killing his trespasser instantly.

He struggled to his feet and sat in his chair with sigh. Victory was his and a disaster was averted.

The body of the bee lay on the floor. Threatening even in death. Especially to him, he had a deadly allergy to bee stings and no bee sting kit in the house.