INNCounters that Go Bump In the Night

By Cheryle M. Touchton
Director – Pocket Full of Change Ministries

Terrors startle him on every side and dog his every step.
Calamity is hungry for him; disaster is ready for him when he falls. Job 18:11-12 NIV

Yes, I live in an INN. It is a nice one, as Inns go. However, when you share an INN filled with all of your stuff, a husband, dog, and cat, things do not always go as you hope. This blog is about a different kind of INNCounter – the kind that happens in the middle of the night - the kind that startles me on every side and dogs my every step – the kind that goes “bump” in the night.

I wake at least once each night to make my way quietly in the dark to the facility. I sleep next to the window. There is about 1.5 feet between the window and the bed, just enough room for Belle the Missionary Dog’s bed. As I make my way around the bed, I have to negotiate getting between the foot of the bed and the dresser, just wide enough to open the drawer – about a foot. Next, I have to cross into the closet and sink area where our giant noise-masking fan blocks the way. The tiny bathroom is crowded with pet food and water bowls, making the final steps of my obstacle course the most tricky.

As I stumbled sleepily out of bed, my first INNCounter was Belle, who yipped and ran when I stepped on her. I regained my footing, turned the corner, and I yelped when I hit my shin on a partially open drawer. Bob lay sleeping peacefully, undisturbed by my first two INNCounters.

The third INNCounter came when I tripped over Belle who was standing on the other side of the bed, waiting for me to move so she could get back to bed. I grabbed the bed to stabilize myself and Bob kept sleeping.

My fourth INNCounter was when I ran into the fan, sending it crashing to the ground. Bob began yelling, “What happened? What happened? Are you OK?”

“Go back to sleep Bob,” I urged, far from OK. My fifth and final INNCounter came when I inched my way into the tiny bathroom and stepped into the surprisingly cold bowl of water. Screaming, I sent water everywhere as I regained my footing and removed the soggy sock.

“Cheryle?” Bob hollered. “Do you need help?”

“Yes,” I said. “But not the kind you can give.” That must have satisfied him because I never heard another peep.

I wish I could tell you that those INNCounters happened only once, but alas, I’ve had similar INNCounters most nights. I have not stepped on Belle again because she jumps up and bolts every single time I move and I move a lot. While Bob still seems to be able to get a good night’s sleep, Belle does not.

Yes, my Inn has things that go bump in the night. Those things all involve Belle and me.

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