Thousands of baby rats streamed out of the corners and cracks, their tiny pink bodies soon covering the dirty walls and floor.

He bolted awake onto an elbow, breathing heavily and blinking away the huddles of baby rats he saw lying on the carpet.

He lied back down onto the couch and wondered why it was still so dark, though the clock said it was 8:30 a.m. These after-work naps were usually the easiest to fall into, with his body and mind exhausted from another night of dull and pointless work.

Then he heard over the radio murmurings of the cattle and crop reports the quiet peal of thunder.

He closed his eyes and tried to make up his mind: try to sleep again or catch what may be the last good storm of the year?

Blindly he reached up and opened the window, feeling the cool fall breeze blow back the light curtains and fill the room.

He would lie there and wait for where the winds took him.

Allen Tesch

Allen Tesch lives and writes in Mankato, Minnesota, where he doesn’t drink or smoke nearly enough. Visit Mr. Tesch at http://allentesch.blogspot.com/ and read his work at Gloews.com.

Email Mr. Tesch at allentesch@secretlaboratory.org.