A Day in the Life
BY KARDELEN KALA (TRIN/I)
kala@ug.bilkent.edu.tr
Tick tock.
The clock is ticking. I hardly pay any attention to it. I don't care what time it is. I've been awake for hours, but I still feel drowsy. That's all I know. I also know that if I give in to this desire to sleep, I'll be up all night. Not something I want.
Tick tock.
I'm still in my pajamas. My hair is a mess. I wish someone would call me. Or maybe I don't. I won't know unless someone does call. Nobody does. Oh well. I already know what all my friends are doing today. I'm on my own. I actually like being on my own. It's this mood that gets me.
Tick tock.
I try to read a little. It doesn't work. (Note to self: My taste in literature isn't suitable for days like this.) Homework? The very idea seems laughable. I'm not feeling particularly academic at the moment. All the schoolwork I want to do has already been done!
Maybe I should watch a movie, except I would actually have to concentrate for two hours. That rules it out. I don't have the heart to watch movies these days, unless I'm with someone and can comment on everything. If I can't do that, I feel like I'm going to explode from being too full of unexpressed thoughts.
Tick tock.
What to do? I get hungry when I get bored. Now, that sounds like a plan! I open the fridge and…. Wait a minute, when was the last time I went shopping? What do you mean I have only a single apple left, and it doesn't even look that appetizing?
Uh oh. I guess I'll have to get dressed and go out. Wait. I'm not hungry anymore. Maybe I need to drink something. Coffee. Why not? Hmm, but even though I don't feel hungry anymore, my stomach is still empty, so maybe that's not the best idea. I guess I'll just drink some plain old water.
Tick tock.
What if I took a shower? Yes, I should do that. And maybe try to read a bit more? Vonnegut's doing this to me, so maybe I should read something else. A couple of Sherlock Holmes stories sound good. Yes, that's it.
Or maybe I should go online for a bit? You know, read a couple of news articles, talk to some people? Kill time on comedy sites, even? In the excellently dark book that has consumed my weekend, the writer laments the fact that his grandchildren spend more time reading from a screen than from a book.
Not me. I don't.
Or do I?
The clock strikes midnight. Oh.