Hummy Hummy

Sweezus lies on the couch, which is not long enough.

Sleep evades him

Terence comes over.

Will you hum something? asks Terence.

What for? asks Sweezus.

Nothing, says Terence.

I'm not humming something for nothing, says Sweezus.

To make Gaius and Kant go to sleep, whispers Terence.

They are asleep, says Sweezus. 

Not asleep enough, whispers Terence.

So, a lullaby, says Sweezus. 

Why not? It might help him go to sleep too.

He hums Brahms's Lullaby. 

Hmm hmm hmmmm, etc.

What are you humming for? asks Gaius, from his side of the four poster.

Sorry, says Sweezus. Thought you were asleep.

I'm not, says Gaius. But I think Kant is.

I am not, says Kant, from his side of the bolster.

I may as well keep humming, says Sweezus.

Go ahead, says Gaius. 

Sweezus hums more of Brahms's Lullaby. Hmm hmm hmmm.

It is soothing, that lullaby.

Gaius drops off first, thinking of clouds of grey algae, and piles of dead fish....

Kant drops off next, puzzling about how it might be possible for a non-substantial person to wear a tasseled night cap and eat an orange....

They're asleep, whispers Terence.

Sweezus stops humming.

That leaves me, says Sweezus. Maybe you could hum something.

Okay, says Terence. Turn over and don't watch me.

Sweezus has his suspicions about the don't watch me.

But he turns over. His knees hit the back of the couch. 

He can't stay long in this position.

Hummy hummy, hums Terence.

He tiptoes to the end of the four poster bed, takes hold of the end of the bolster....

and PULLS.

It starts moving, and ends up on the floor.

Terence now has a horse, or something like it.

He stops humming, mounts the bolster, and starts clicking his tongue.