Just Resting My Eyes
Story
Linda Weaver Clarke
Martha glanced in the mirror at her reflection. Her graying hair was
pulled upon her head into a soft bun and all she needed now was just a
little color to her cheeks. She gazed at William pensively and asked,
You're going to try and stay awake this time, aren't you, my darling?
William looked at his wife in an offended manner. What are you talking
about? I don't sleep in church. I'm just resting my eyes. I can hear
everything that's being said, my dear.
Martha doubted it, but took his word for it as she watched him get
dressed for church. William was a member of the church choir and sang
tenor. He enjoyed singing and was a devoted member who supported the choir
by attending every practice. He was a short pudgy man with a gray
mustache and thin gray hair. He was in his late sixties and had a jovial
laugh that would make the most sober person break into a smile.
In the past, their young niece, Jenny, would always whisper to Martha,
"Is Uncle William sleeping?"
Then she would reply, No, dear. "He's just resting his eyes."
No one, except for Jenny, ever questioned the fact, but everyone seemed
to know otherwise and could not prove it. Many a time, young Jenny
would accuse him of sleeping in church and he would adamantly defend
himself by saying, "Oh no, I'm not sleeping. I'm just resting my eyes,
Sweetie. I can hear everything that's being said."
When they arrived at church, Jenny immediately claimed a seat beside
her Uncle William. Beside Jenny sat her little six-year-old brother,
John. Jenny was a quiet and serious young lady. She was a pretty teenager
with long blond hair, the color of wheat, and her eyes were as blue as
the lake.
After an hour and a half, the Bishop announced that the choir would
sing the closing song. Jenny looked at Uncle William and noticed that he
was resting his eyes and breathing deeply.
As Jenny watched the choir walk up to the choir seats behind the
pulpit, she nudged her uncle and said, "Uncle William, the choir's going up.
See?"
When Jenny nudged him, he was a little startled, but he quickly opened
his eyes and grabbed a hymnbook and stood up. Jenny watched Uncle
William as he slowly edged himself out from between the benches and
proceeded to walk up to the choir seats.
Martha's eyes widened as she asked, "Why is Uncle William going up to
the choir seats?"
Jenny giggled. "Don't know. I just told him that the Women's Choir was
going up because I thought he might want to open his eyes and listen.
Next thing I knew, he was standing up and he left in a hurry with the
hymn book in his hand."
Uncle William stood among the women with his hymnbook in hand. After a
moment, he quickly scanned the choir and noticed there was not a man
among this bunch of women...and then it dawned on him. His face quickly
reddened with embarrassment. It seemed to spread from his face down to
his neck. He took the edge of his shirt collar by two fingers and gently
pulled on it to let the heat from his neck escape. Humiliated beyond
words, he bowed his head and quickly walked back down to the bench where
his family was seated. His faced was flushed and he said nothing as he
sat down on the bench.
Everyone let out a burst of laughter that could be heard all through
the church and down the road for a block or two. He had been caught and he
had been caught good!
Jenny giggled and leaned over to her uncle and whispered, "Just resting your eyes, huh?"
Just Resting My Eyes© COPYRIGHT 2006 Linda Weaver Clarke.
Reproduction prohibited without permission from the author.
06/19/06
