Caren Krutsinger Poet Free verse

Sleepwalking Is Nothing

I have a horrible secret my 13-year-old best friend confided to me one day at school.
We were between class, and we had two minutes to sprint to our next class, as per the rule.
In opposite directions off course.

I did not hear anything the teacher said that day, 
I had wanted to hear my friend, not hear him drool, or look at his hair of fuzz.
He called on me once, and everyone laughed. I had no idea what the question was.
Leukemia? Cancer?  My mind was in overdrive.

After school I caught up with her right before she dove into her mother’s car.
What is it? I demanded, eyes big and wide.    “Not here,” she told me. “Maybe inside.”
I tried again after I climbed in the car, but she shook her head ‘no’, hushing me.
My mind was going haywire, with the things it could be. Drugs? Her?  Could not be.

I telephoned her the second I got inside my house.
What is it? I hollered.  “Are you okay?” I was thinking thief, convict, killer, by now.
My imagination was going absolutely a hundred percent berserk as only it knows how.

“I’m a…..”
I pressed my ear harder to the phone. A what?
“A sleepwalker,” she whispered.
I thought I had heard wrong.
A what?
“A sleepwalker,” she hissed. 
And I began to laugh.

Sleepwalking is so common in my family, we thought we had invented it.
We sometimes bump heads in our family before we wake up, and I told her this too.
“Sleep walking is nothing,” I shared. “Wait until you have what I have, then you can really boo hoo.
I’m a sleep fighter.”

Ever since I was little if anyone tried to pick me up and carry me to bed,
I would come up swinging fists, straight toward their head.
My dad got a black eye once, when I was about eight,
Because he tried to pick me up in full sleep mode. 
Mom tried to signal him, give him a code.
But by the time he caught on, he had a shiner from me.
I have been sleep fighting since the age of three.

We began laughing hysterically, my friend and I.
Sleepwalking is nothing when you are a sleep fighter.
If you do not believe me, you should give it a try.

Written July 19, 2018
Entered Sleepwalking Poetry Contest
Sponsored by: John Hamilton

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Susan Gentry August 1, 2018 at 8:19 PM Congratulations on your win. A great storyteller you are. Caren Krutsinger August 1, 2018 at 10:23 PM Thank you. I do like to spin a yarn or two. Wink. Wink.

John Hamilton July 31, 2018 at 9:53 AM Congrats Caren! Caren Krutsinger July 31, 2018 at 10:35 AM Thank you John. Now I will go look at the contest.

Michelle Faulkner July 20, 2018 at 3:22 PM This has both drama and humor, especially the part about your dad getting a black eye! Best wishes for the contest- Caren Krutsinger July 20, 2018 at 9:25 PM Thank you Michelle. He asked Mom what to do, and she said, "let her sleep on the couch," and so they did. I never woke up.

Lyric Man July 20, 2018 at 7:56 AM Enjoyed your creative story telling this morning, Caren! Caren Krutsinger July 20, 2018 at 8:09 AM Thank you Lyric Man. It would be more creative it was not the absolute truth.

Ilene Bauer July 19, 2018 at 3:17 PM a delightfully told tale, caren! i very much enjoyed the read. best of luck in the contest... Caren Krutsinger July 19, 2018 at 3:18 PM Thank you Ilene. I truly had fun with this one!

Kelli White July 19, 2018 at 7:18 AM Lol. Sleepfighters are a tough crowd to beat. Well done Caren Krutsinger July 19, 2018 at 2:47 PM Thank you Kelli, and it better have the ring of truth because it is.

Joseph May July 19, 2018 at 6:58 AM A story well told Caren.. Best wishes in the contest Caren Krutsinger July 19, 2018 at 2:47 PM Thank you for the lovely comment and stop by Joseph.