Snore

That reassuring sound
That, in night, gives me freedom
Is the snore of my Father
as I stand in the darkness
outside his room

I steal softly down creaking stairs
to reach the main floor
Praying that the CLICK
of the door unlocking
doesn't awaken him

I open it ever so slowly
as to prevent the noisy
whine of its hinges
Push softly on the screen door
Pulling the door behind me
so he won't hear the creak of the latch

I tiptoe down the stairs
leading to the street
slipping the key into the ignition
I hope he doesn't wake up

I slide the car out of the street
Look behind me
reassuring myself that he isn't awake
I drive to that night's fun
Only to feel guilty until, on my return
I find that he is still asleep