Welcome back, dear Parents

I woke up with a start.

Confused and groggy, I looked around, wondering what made me awaken so abruptly.

Rubbing my tired, aching eyes.

I slid out from my bed, scratching my itchy scalp as I proceeded to the parlor to find out what in the world made me wake up like that.

I was a light sleeper on some days.

The slightest sound, be it someone's quiet footsteps or brushing of their teeth or hair, or even mere whispers, could wake me up.

Other days, it would take the grace of God and my parents' hitting my body forcefully, to drag me out of the soothing and wonderful embrace of sleep.

 Glancing briefly at the wall clock in the living room, what I saw made me do a double-take.

How in the heavens did my thirty-minute nap turn into a two-hour deep slumber?

A loud honk from outside drew my attention away from the clock and to the front door.

That must have been what had woken me up.