[ WP ] Be mindful of the things that go bump in the night , be scared of things that make no noise at all .

`` Be mindful of the things that go bump in the night, be scared of things that make no noise at all.'' The famous words of my bat-shit crazy grandfather. 
 
 
 My grandmother used to tell me he became that way after the war. I thought it was odd because he was a factory manager helping to make uniforms for the soldiers, which was n't exactly what I deemed to be traumatic in comparison to those with bullets whizzing by their soldier's heads and possibly into their friend's head. 
 
 
 To each their own? 
 
 Nah, something had to happen to make him that way. We got a call today that his condition was declining, so I'm going over to the hospital to spend the night with him. 
 
 
 & nbsp; 
 
 
 `` Hey granpaps, still playing that record, huh? Do n't you think the nurses are getting sick of listening to Do n't Fence Me In? It's not exactly the 1940's anymore.'' 
 
 
 `` Keeps me safe, in the night,'' he replied in coarse voice. It was hard to see him this way. He could weakly move his body and if he had to use the bathroom a nurse would have to come and assist him to the bathroom. 
 
 
 `` Well, I'll keep you safe tonight. I decided I'm going to stay here tonight. I have the weekend off and you know how I hate Friday nights,'' I told him. 
 
 
 `` Thank you,'' he said, looking a little more at ease. 
 
 
 `` I got ta ask, you know that saying you always say. What's the deal with that? Grandmama, says it's some PTSD from the war, but you never went over. Where'd you make up such a cooky thing?'' I asked. 
 
 
 `` When lights are low, and the factory... the factory stopped. You ca n't imagine how loud the silence is,'' he said it with a wide-eyed expression. `` You could see the uniforms fill. The uniforms of the dead, the dead... filling the voids. I drank a quart of whiskey that night. Nearly met the maker that night.'' He coughed roughly. 
 
 
 `` You know that sounds crazy, right?'' I said. 
 
 
 `` Then I'll die crazy. I have n't much time left anyway.'' He called the nurse to help him urinate. After she helped him to the toilet, she came in and adjusted the volume on the record player just a bit lower. I nodded to let her know it was okay. 
 
 
 `` Damn wenches, they do n't think I ca n't hear well any more and turn it down every damn time. Leo, will you go put it back up. It's the only thing that keeps them away.'' He began to tear up. `` I do n't want to see them again.'' 
 
 
 `` You wo n't granpaps,'' I said while I fixed the volume. `` He's really losing it,'' I thought. 
 
 
 `` You want to sleep granpaps? I snuck in some schnapps for a little drink before bed. They just came in, so I think we have some time to enjoy it,'' I told him. He nodded and we enjoyed a drink. 
 
 
 `` Thank you, Leo. I'm just going to rest my eyes now, but you want to talk, you start talking,'' he told me before closing his eyes. 
 
 
 I tried to sleep too, even had a few more drinks after a few nurses checked up on him. That music was so damn loud. I could n't take it any longer and turned it off. I fell asleep as soon as I sat back down. 
 
 & nbsp; 
 
 
 `` Sir, sir, I'm sorry.'' 
 
 
 `` What?'' I said, waking up. 
 
 
 `` Sir, your grandfather has passed. A heart attack took him in the night time. I'm sorry,'' the nurse said to me. 
 
 
 It was crushing to see him like that. His mouth was open and eyes were wide. I ca n't imagine the pain and fear that must be felt when your heart struggles to beat. 
 
 
 I left for the nearest bar. I could n't face my grandmama yet. Drink turned into another drink and before I knew it the daylight had faded. I made it back to my apartment and passed out. When I awoke it was still dark. 
 
 
 There was my grandfather's clothes, hanging in the air facing my bed. I was paralyzed with fear. The furniture had moved too. Everything was closer, it was closing in on me. I felt like I was going to be swallowed. Tears ran down my face until dawn, when the garbage trucks started making their morning runs. When I looked up again, everything was normal. 
 
 
 I do n't know what happened, but every night when I go to bed, I have Do n't Fence Me In playing. Ipod and speakers, every night, everywhere. It has n't happened since and I'll be damned if I ever relive that night again.
