Dawson, David

English

Digital Commons @ Butler University

4 lVIANUSCRIPTSA QuarrelDavid DawsonTHE ONLY sounds I could hear were the loud voices. They wereangry and banged against my ears in the darkness of the 1'00111.I opened my eyes, but it was like I was still asleep. When Iclosed my eyes, it was dark. When I opened my eyes, it was stillblack. But the voices were still there with my eyes open or shut.They would not go away. Mother and Daddy were shouting at oneanother. I could not understand what they were saying, but theirvoices sounded angry as if they were trying to hurt each other.. I closed my eyes again. But I could not go back to sleep. Istill heard their voices. And I wanted to sleep, but I could not. Ipulled the pillow over my head and tried to shut out the sounds.It was as if they were talking inside a big barrel far, far away. Butthe pillow did not make any difference; I could still hear them. Icould also hear the sound of my own breath as I let it out throughmy nose. It sounded rough and wheezy against the pillow. I couldhear my heart beat loud and clear there in the night. It bumped andpounded loudly in my ears. I wondered how I could hear my heartwhen it was so far down inside of me. The sheets began to feelcold, then, all at once, they got hot, damp, and sticky. I was wet allover, and my pajamas stuck to my legs and arms. They felt alltwisted around me.I climbed out of bed slowly and carefully, and the floor wasdamp and hard against my bare feet. I walked very slowly so I wouldnot make any noise. I went through the living room. Everything wasdark as I touched the cold wood of tables, the stiff brush of clothon chairs, and the hard, rough plaster of walls. And I went closeto the kitchen. The voices became louder and clearer as I went.They seemed to grow more angry. The yellow light fell through theopen doorway on the dull grey of the floor. I slipped around theedge of the door to see.Mother and Daddy stood at the far end of the 1'00111 back ofthe white wooden table and chairs. The light on the ceiling madethe white on the table very bright to my eyes. Daddy was standingbehind a chair, holding on to it. His face was all drawn and whitelooking, and his black brows were drawn down in a knot. Motherwas beside him, her face in angry wrinkles. It was strange to see mymother standing next to Daddy. For when he talked, she usually satin a chair and listened to him. This time she was facing him inanger and had her fists clenched so tight that the knuckles lookedwhite.They did not see me at first. Then Daddy turned on her. Hesaw me in the doorway. He was quiet at first. Then his face wenttender and soft, and his eyes filled with tears. He said somethingsharp to Mother, ancl she sat down in the chair with her face in herMANUSCRIPTS 5hands. Her whole body shook ancl trembled. Father came over to me.r asked him what was wrong. I told him that they had woke me. rasked him what was making them shout. He only tenderly placedhis hands on my shoulders, looked back at Mother, and leaned downto me. He smelled of shaving lotion and tobacco. His face wasrough with whiskers like sandpaper when he kissed me. I-Ie whisperedsoftly in Illy ear about go to bed and everything will be all right inthe morning.I went to bed. I went through the dark in the living room againall by myself. The lights went off in the kitchen as I pulled thecovers up to my neck. Everything was quiet except for the littlecrickets outside. Crickets make a strange noise with their hind legs,especially in the dark. r lay a long time looking at the blackness andlistening to the crickets outside. I even pulled the cover over my head.It was hot and stuffy inside my little cave, but I lay that way. I wasscared; and even though the sheets got sticky and damp, I lay thereuntil I fell asleep.Frau PionMargaret HilesWHAT could be wrong? Every morning at exactly five o'c1?clcHan~ awakened his mas~er, the Herr Professor, by knockingon hIS door and announcing that the tea was prepared. Everymorning his master answered immediately by saying he would havea cup in exactly three minutes. This morning Hans knocked, an-nounced, but no answer. Hans knocked again, announced again,again no answer. He opened the door a crack and peeked in. Therewas the Herr Professor, nightcap in place on his head, sleeping likea baby.Hans walked toward the bed and touched the Herr Pro Iessoron the shoulder. The Herr Professor jumped, opened his eyes andbounded out of bed."This is horrible, oh, this is terrible.""Whatever is it, Herr Professor?""That I should sleep past my hour of arising. What a shame!What a scandal !""But why, Herr Professor? I'll tell no one.""Promise me, Hans, oh, I beg of you.""Certainly, sir, but tell me, are you well ?""Poor me, Hans. What a night I've had. It must have beensomething I ate.""What did you eat, sir?""Nothing unusual, that is except the strawberries and cream.""And what did you have for dinner, sir?""Delicious! I went to that restaurant right off Lime TreeAvenue. I had pickled pigs feet and sauerkraut with beer."

A Quarrell

https://digitalcommons.butler.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2556&amp;context=manuscripts

A Quarrell

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