I sat there, minding my own business, watching the season premier of a new show. It had been so long since I'd actually watched television. There were so many other things, more interesting things, I could be doing. Like going on the computer, talking to friends from all over the world. It makes me a little sad that no one else seems to see what a blessing that is. To meet new people, and talk about things I could never talk about here.

Mom came down the stairs. It's garbage night, so she came to empty the basket in the bathroom. I hear a cry of pain. Mom was always prone to exaggeration, so I still sat in my chair, gliding softly. I called to her, asking what happened and got no response other than some muttered expletives. I turned my attention back to the television. Only slightly better acting.

Dad came down stairs to see what was the matter. He got an only slightly more informative answer, which I didn't hear from my spot in the next room. Mom was still cursing. Why can't she watch where she's going?

The house was whispering. I ignore the house a lot. It probably doesn't like that, but what can I do? It's a house. Sane people don't hear whispering coming from the house. All I can do is ignore it. If it's mean, it'll go away, if it's not, I'll listen to the whispers. Sometimes I wonder what they are saying. I've tried to listen, but I can't quite make it out. So I ignore them again.

Mom is limping now. She must have stubbed her toe on something in the bathroom. I didn't leave anything out did I? I'll have to check that later, my memory isn't so good. Mom continues to collect the garbage in the lower part of the house. She can't be hurt too badly if she's still walking around.

There are the whispers again. They're much louder than normal.

Mom starts cursing under her breath even louder now. I look up at her and I lose it. I slam the remote down on the floor and think to myself, "I'm going to get in a lot of trouble for that, it might be broken." So I do the first thing that comes to mind. I jump up from the comfortable, gliding chair and start screaming at the top of my lungs. The whispers are louder now, so I cover my ears trying to block them out. I can't see much of what's around me. I'm sure mom is in shock. Then again, she's never noticed me much anyhow, so maybe not. With that thought, I run out of the house, my hands still covering my ears, and I dash into the back yard and sit in the middle of my circle. I close my eyes and rock myself gently, who else would? I try to hum a song. Music has always comforted me in the past. It sounds more like moans than humming because of my tears that are flowing freely at this point. None the less, I feel a trickle of power enter my body. The trickle escalates into a rush of power. My tears stop and I look up.

I am still sitting in the comfortable, gliding chair. Staring blankly at the screen. Mom is standing next to my chair and asks what I'm watching. I tell her about how it's a new show and that I'm glad I caught the premier. Mom tells me all about the songs they sang in choir earlier tonight. One of them is an old camp song, Shine Jesus Shine. Mom starts singing the song wrong, as usual. So, in an effort to speed things along, and get back to my show I tell her "that's not exactly right..." "How does it go?" "I don't want to sing it" Mom is indignant.

"You're going to get in trouble again." Who said that? "Us" It's the whispers. I can understand what they are saying, finally! I don't really like it though, I thought I might. I can hear myself singing the hymn with Mom. Why am I singing? I don't like this song! I can't understand the whispers anymore. I can feel them though. I'm being sucked in.

I cry out "I don't want to sing this song!" But no, mom is still singing, and when I listen carefully, I can hear me singing too.

Being insane isn't so bad once you get the hang of being two people...