Midnight Blue Sky

Thunder rolled in the distance after lightning exploded in the sky.

“What was that?” She woke up with a jump. She grabbed her wrist watch from the bedside table. “Quarter to eight!” she exclaimed. Her breath became faster as her heartbeat rushed through her eardrums. ‘How come no one woke me up? I’m going to be late!’ she wondered.

She was dressed in a flash. A smattering of mascara and eyeliner was applied. “Where are my shoes?” she mumbled as she leopard-crawled across the carpet to peek beneath the bed. Dark objects caught her attention. ‘There they are.’

She stretched to reach the shoes in the farthest corner. ‘This is not working.’ She looked around for something to use to pull it closer. She grabbed a hanger hanging from the cupboard door handle and tried again. “Come on,” she whispered, pulling the shoes closer. Her fingertip brushed against the laces. “Finally!” she exclaimed, giving an exasperated sigh.

A quick glance in the mirror revealed that her attire was acceptable for the new office job, which she started the week before.
Another burst of thunder made her flinch as she stormed towards the voices coming from the lounge.

“Hi, sweetheart,” said Mom.
She opened her mouth and her frustration flared up like the lightning outside. “Why didn’t anyone wake me up?” she asked. “I’m so late for work!” It was only then that she noticed her uncle and aunt seated across from Mom.
The room was filled with puzzled looks. It erupted with laughter.

She muttered under her breath, “This is crazy.” “Being late for work isn’t amusing in the least.” Uncle Bob yanked up the curtain, just enough to let her see through. She looked up at the midnight blue sky. Her face was marked with a large frown. Her gaze followed the time on the clock on the wall. ‘Why is it dark out at eight o’clock?’ she puzzled.

In a fog, she gazed at Mom. Her mind refused to allow her to comprehend what she was seeing.
Mom chuckled, “Its eight o’clock in the evening!”