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THE SLEEPER

by 

Vicki E S Biggs          

 

           "Honey."  A hand reached out to gently shake a bundle of covers and blankets.  Somewhere underneath that bundle was his wife, Aileen, and Harry needed to talk to her.  "Honey!"  His tone hardened and the shake was rougher this time.

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            This treatment got a response.  "Go away.  I'm SLEEPING!  Or trying to anyway."  came a mutter from somewhere beneath the pillows.

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             "Honey.  Aileen, please wake up.  I have to talk to you.  I have to get to work."

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             "I'm not stopping you."  Aileen pointed out quickly, still hidden under her covers and pillows.

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             "Aileen!"

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             Slowly, the pillows erupted and fell to the floor, leaving a tousled head of black hair and two dark blue eyes that gleamed malice in their wake.  "Beat it, Harry."  The head collapsed back onto the bed, spreading long black hair over the one pillow left, and was immediately covered by the blankets.

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            "Honey, wake up.  The buses are running late and I have an important meeting to get to."   Harry ran his fingers through his blond hair in agitation, uncaringly ruffling the smooth order of its styling.  "Aileen!"  he groaned urgently.

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             "Walk,” muttered his uncompromising wife.  "I... am... SLEEPING!"

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            With a patience that was fading fast, Harry continued to badger his wife awake.  He had known it would not be easy and had left the attempt until he had no other options, miracles were not his usual line of work, but he had to get to work.  "Honey.  Wake up, please."  His teeth gritted as his patience faltered again.  It would be so easy for to get him to work if she would just stop being stubborn about it.

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            Once again, the dark blue eyes were uncovered.  "WILL you GO away?"

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            "Yes!  I have to go to work.  I would love to go away, but I can't until you help.  You know the car is being repaired.  My ride is sick today and the bus… is… late!"  Harry’s voice rose to a crescendo as he practically shouted his final three words.

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            "All right!  All right."  Abruptly, the slim figure of his wife sat up.  Giving her face a brisk rub, she then put her right forefinger to her brow.  A frown of concentration briefly crossed her features and her husband suddenly popped out of sight, a huge grin of relief on his face.  Seconds later, he was teleported elsewhere to his office.

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            Releasing her control, Aileen sighed and snuggled back down under her blankets after rescuing her pillows from the floor.  "I really must teach him that trick someday,” she muttered. 

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           Then she closed her eyes and was soon fast asleep.