Everyday Canvas

Inside the Closet

prompt: A strange noise is coming from inside the closet. Should you open and explore?

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True Story: My son and daughter-in-law gave me one of those helium-filled Happy-Birthday balloons. Since the balloon had a clip at its end, I clipped it at the back of the chair I usually sit in. The balloon was moving as I moved, but I didn’t know that since it was in the back of me. Coco, my kids’ dog, saw it from a distance and thought the balloon was attacking me and she went berserk. As soon as we figured out what bothered Coco, I took the balloon into my closet, feeling like a million bucks because the dog stood up for me. Then, we went our merry way the rest of the day, and I forgot about the balloon.

That night, after a while of going to bed, I heard a bizarre noise coming from the closet. That closet is a walk-in closet and it has one door and no windows. “What’s that?” I asked. ”Must be a raccoon outside,” answered my husband. “No, it’s coming from the inside,” I said, “I think it is in the closet.” “Go back to sleep!” said my easy-going hubby in his usual stoical tone.

Heck, no! I couldn’t because the noise continued and in the still of the night, its tone became even harsher.

Was there an animal in there? A snake? One of those Florida creatures? A ghost? Heaven forbid if it were a few Palmetto Bugs having a party! I could handle a ghost, snake, or any other animal, but if it were Palmetto Bugs, I’d have to call the police, the armed forces, state troopers, and God to rescue…

So, armed with the bug spray, I opened the closet door and saw the heart-shaped helium balloon swaying from side to side and kissing my purses that were on the shelf over my shirts.