Nightly Boarder Run (or was a bell)

In answer to Heather's Border. Memories from my youth.



The room was too small for its use. Two rectangles stuck together in an attempt to make two common living spaces it was hard to serve the twenty-one inhabitants on the tower. A large chunk of the space was taken up by a walled entry way.

Two couches a box shaped stuffed chair sat opposite the small TV. Behind this seating arrangement and to the left, a dining room table and six wooden chairs. One wall was covered with book cases another with a small kitchenette. The two window in one wall gave the room some fresh air when opened. The beige room spoke of institution and the smell of too many bodies and bad cooking. Thankfully the window was open.

The TV blared and the sixteen people sat snugly on the chairs the couches and the floor small whispered conversations occasional hushed by those watching TV or the lone reader at the table.

Scuffles and scraping noises came loudly from the hallway and a few of the room’s inhabitants looked towards the door. The door flew open and a large bell was thrust into the room.  Exclamations came from all that could see the door and others moved to see it. Two young men fell in after the bell laughing. “DONG! Bell Run!” yelled the taller man slapping the side of the bell and thrusting his hand out. There was rustling of wallets and purses and money appeared as the young men and women in the room called out their orders and thrust money at the young men.

The new flourish of the nightly routine was hardly mentioned and the Bell was tripped over for the rest of the night before disappearing before dawn.