March 02, 2013

No. 320B


The blue lamp went out abruptly.

“I’ve got it,” said Sarah, rising from the armchair in the corner of the room. She walked to the hall closet and began to rummage through the odds and ends that covered the top shelf.

“Do we have any more bulbs?” she asked her roommate Andrea.

Andrea yawned and looked up from her computer. “Did you look under the sink? As far as I know, if we have any, they’re there.”

Sarah redirected her search to the washroom. “Nope,” she confirmed after a brief survey.

“That was my best guess,” said Andrea. “You can take the one from the light in my bedroom. I never use that thing, anyway.”

“What time is it?” asked Sarah.

Andrea checked. “Just after seven.”

Sarah nodded and returned to the closet. She put on her coat and picked up her keys from a dish by the front door. “I might as well go to the store. Do you need anything?”

“Don’t think so. You could bring back some cookies if you’re feeling adventurous.”

Sarah left.

Andrea became aware of the rain hammering the window. She didn’t think anything of it for several minutes.

When she realized, she set her computer aside and crossed the empty apartment. Opening the bathroom cupboard door, the first thing she saw was a box of light bulbs.

 

When a soaking-wet Sarah returned home, she found Andrea waiting for her on the couch. “Did you get the cookies?” Andrea asked pointedly.

Sarah held up a bag. “Right here.”

“And the lights?”

“Uh huh.”

Andrea watched Sarah for some kind of reaction. Seeing none, she took a deep breath. “Good,” she said, deciding not to press the issue. “Good. Good.”

Andrea returned to her computer and Sarah fixed the lamp and went back to her book.

The rain continued to fall.

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