Loneliness

Watching TV  two nights ago I have been aware for some time of a dog barking nonstop. It is about 10:45pm. I decide to retire for the night, but go to my study at the front to my computer. Now the barking is louder.

Outside I pin it down to the aged labrador across the road. There  are no lights on but there is a downstairs light in the adjacent semi. I have lived here for fourteen years and never heard that dog doing this before. My imagination is rampant, but I try to rationalise and go to bed. But I can’t concentrate on reading because of the continued barking. It has now been going on for a couple of hours.

“Perhaps there has been a suicide pact, or they have all killed each other, bodies and blood lying all over?"

I can’t bear it any longer and arise and dress and go outside again not being sure what I am going to do.

The light is still on downstairs at the next door house. It is now 11:30pm. I hesitatingly cross the road and ring the bell. Even though this is only fifty yards from where I have lived all these years it is a sad reflection on me and society that I have no idea who lives there. An elderly gent answers. He confirms that this has happened occasionally before when the family are all out having left the dog alone. I  sympathise with the guy, but he seems fairly unconcerned,

“I’m a late owl since I lost my wife, don’t go to bed till late, been working in my workshop all night”.

My interest is aroused.

“What are you doing in the workshop?”

“Making a clock.”

“Oh!” - deliberately trying to express keen interest, which is true, but I’m now beginning to think how bizarre this all becoming.

I am invited in. There is a carriage clock, superbly crafted in a wooden case, and in the corner the empty oaken case for a grandfather clock, all fashioned by my neighbour. He tells me he has all the specialised cutting tools for making clock components and we have a good old chat about his hobby.

Back in bed my thriller book seems a bit tame after all this.