Shape of the 'Thwump'

Well, my body was sending conflicting commands so rapidly I was also shaking. Not with the cold. The cold was contributing, but it was the cramping and the other muscles that were shaking my leg and my foot, which was starting to make sounds on the floor as it shook. The sound reminded me of the noise made by the feet of the small kits (baby rabbits) we had once tried to race on the kitchen floor (also linoleum), when several kits, were brought to our house by a neighbouring farmer. It was very funny to watch as we held them in a line and as we let them go, they would attempt to run. However, not able to gain any traction on the smooth floor they would ‘skitter’ sideways turning in circles, as the back feet were stronger than the front. The sound was a muffled accelerating ‘thwump, thwump, thwump’ on the kitchen floor as they struggled for purchase. Right now my muffled ‘thwump’ of my shaking leg on the floor of the bathroom was getting a little firmer. Surely my father would have heard that. I started pushing down even harder. Trying to quieten my leg before I woke up my sisters and brothers (Those who were not lying injured in a hospital at least). I was probably more concerned than I needed to be and hoped I was imagining how loud my thwumping actually was. You know how, in the still of the night (as it were), sound usually carries further or, at least stands out more. The clarity of the noise travels in the cool air of the night. You can stand at the end of a field and hear noises, which can often be miles away, far more clearly than you can in the day. I was frightened that the small rhythmic banging would wake my father. It must be carrying to his ears in the lounge room opposite. I was trying to stand exactly where he had told me I should, or I knew there would be consequences. I had no idea how long I had been here for. It had seemed for ages. Hours maybe (probably 30 mins) but it seemed to have dragged on and on. My gaze (in between the shakes) was fixed on the part head of my father I could just see due to the angle of where I was standing. I was watching for his anger at the sound of my leg. Any moment now I expected him to rise out of his chair and come and deal with me.

Then another sound began to establish itself over the ‘thwumping’ from my leg. It was definitely deeper, more rhythmic and was rapidly growing louder. Carrying easily through the still night. It arose from outside the bathroom. Deep, one could almost say with a reverberating resonance. The sound built in a wave and then fading out quickly before starting again. Yes, while I stood on the cold bathroom floor in fear, with my leg cramping, my father had actually fallen asleep and was now snoring loudly.

(Continued tomorrow)