The Intruder

Short Story Day 71 of 365

Delores lay on the bed with her eyes wide open. She tapped Tom and whispered, “Tom. Tom. Wake up! I hear something downstairs.”

Tom stirred but didn’t say anything, not even a murmur.

“Tom,” she whispered louder than a whisper should have been. “Wake up. Someone’s downstairs. I know it.”

Tom mumbled and rolled over on his side.

She shook him harder this time. “Thomas Wayne. Will you get up! There’s someone downstairs.” She was no longer whispering.

“Go back to sleep, Dear. It’s our friendly neighborhood burglar rummaging through our fridge. Maybe he’s hungry. Maybe it’s Santa Claus.”

“This is not a time to be making jokes. I’m serious. I hear someone clanking pans and dishes in the kitchen.”

“Hmm? I don’t hear a thing. Go back to sleep or get that baseball bat you keep in the corner and do something about it.”

“Thomas Wayne, you ARE worthless. Fine help you are!”

Delores threw off the covers, put on her robe, and grabbed the Louisville Slugger she put in the corner for situations just like that. Tom had his own weapon that he kept nearby but Delores never touched it. She didn’t know how to use it, nor did she want to learn.

She tiptoed to the edge of the stairs and peeked over the banister. The light was on in the kitchen.

“Get out of this house right now, whoever you are,” Delores shouted down the stairs. “We have no money or jewelry. My husband’s got a weapon and he’ll use it.”

Delores crept down the stairs. “I’m warning you for the last time. Get out of this house right now or…”

“Say, you got any ham in this house, Lady?” said the intruder.

Delores’ eyes widened. “Jimmy! James Allen Kendrick, is that you? What, what are you doing home?” She ran to the bottom of the stairs, dropped the bat, and ran into his arms.

“Who else you think it’d be? What’s this business about Dad having a weapon? Why would he use it on me after me being gone for only three years? He knew I was coming.”

Delores looked over at the stairs and there leaning on the bottom post was Tom, grinning from ear to ear.