continued…

I stepped through the previously hidden doorway and arrived at the foot of a set of stairs. The stairs belonged to an apartment building that had four floors. I knew I would have to go up those stairs eventually but I waited for a moment in order to take in my surroundings and get my bearings. I had never seen this particular apartment complex before. It looked similar to ones I have seen elsewhere but not yet in Sleepytown. That is fairly characteristic of many settings and objects that I encounter in Sleepytown. The staircase was constructed of steel rails painted a dull burgundy. The stairs themselves were composite concrete with small smooth stones visible in the mixture. Each stair was then welded onto the rail structure. There were no risers so I could easily see across the courtyard without looking around the staircase. The stairs led to balconies that hung off the building and ringed the inner courtyard. There was no one else in sight but I could hear people talking behind some of the doors and I could hear traffic out on the street that must be passing by the building although I couldn’t see it from where I was.

I climbed the stairs looking for the apartment I was supposed to enter. This is an interesting part of Sleepytown: I have a strange sense of certainty without immediately knowing from where it comes.

As I got to the third floor I stopped using the stairs and started walking down the balcony pathway. I stopped in front of one door that was open and looked in.

Twelve little children were playing on the floor of the room with an assortment of toys. They eventually looked up at me, smiled and yelled various greetings. A young girl said, “Hi! Are you here to feed us? We’re very hungry.”

A man staggered clumsily from another room in the apartment and grabbed my arm dragging me into to the place. He started talking very quickly and laughing nervously in between some of his words.

“I’ll be busy running around town for a while. I have to get the old leg prop checked on and then a few other errands. I’m glad you showed up. If you’ll just watch the kids for a little while I’m sure everything will turn out all right. I hope that isn’t a problem for you. If it is a problem, then consider paying me back by forwarding my address to some shifty-eyed pack of wild coked-out Chileans with suspicious looking mustaches, an ax to grind and a fake online mail order company that specializes in cheap ceramic knick knacks of voodoo gods that are overpriced and serve no practical purpose. I’ll understand. I’m an understanding type of guy…or something not quite entirely unlike that. In any event, we’ll be back later. Don’t forget to feed the children.” He turned and walked off before I could get a word out of my mouth.

I walked after him though the room I had entered into the kitchen. He kept going through the kitchen into the next room, a living room, and out the front door. I tried the door but it was locked. From the outside? I thought that was strange.

I walked back into the kitchen and had a look around. There was filth and trash everywhere. The counters were piled over with dirty and broken dishes and cooking wear. I opened the refrigerator and three dead rats fell out. The rest of the contents were ugly and unrecognizable. And I was supposed to make dinner with what? On the table I noticed a miniature skeleton. I picked it up and inspected it. It was about a foot long, made of plastic and a very good doll-style replica of a human skeleton. On one leg a worn and faded tag was attached. The tag read: “Press the button on the back of my skull and I’ll give you a recipe the little ones would love to eat!” I pressed the button but the voice that came out of the doll was slow and groggy as if it’s battery was worn out. I couldn’t even see a place to put a battery though, so I suppose what ever it used for power was running low.
Three of the kids came wandering in to the kitchen and asked me if dinner was ready yet because they were very hungry. I told them I hadn’t made anything yet and they looked at me dumbfounded. They were clearly perplexed and finally one came out of his stupor and said in an annoyed tone, “Well, what are you waiting for?”

The front door opened and all the children rushed out to the living room to see who had arrived. It was the father and this time the mother was with him. The children were very happy to see them and swarmed all around them as they waded their way in to the kitchen.

It didn’t take long for the children to inform their parents that I had not fed them and they were very hungry.