An Ode to Silence

For the briefest of moments this afternoon I panicked. There was no sound of running or playing, laughter or fighting, television or radio. As a matter of fact, there was no sound at all, save the soft humming of the refrigerator, the rhythmic tick-tock of Grandmother's clock on the wall, and a faint rumble of thunder in the distance. I quickly regained my senses, however, and had the sudden, strong urge to cry out, "GOD BLESS THIS FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!!!!"