Monday 29 October 2012

Bed Heads


As we ascend the staircase, it’s remarkable just how ordinary this house appears.  The stairs are carpeted in a nondescript shade of mauve.  The walls are lined with the usual family photos and school pictures.  Sandra, the mother of this household, wears an inoffensive cream sweater and black leggings.  There’s absolutely nothing abnormal about her.

As we reach the bedroom, she opens the door for us whispering “he’s in here”.  We politely scoot around her and into the shaded bedroom.  The curtains are drawn, but a singular ray of light illuminates a figure laid between the sheets of their marital bed.  Roused by our cameraman taking snapshots, the figure pulls back the bedspread to reveal a perfectly ordinary middle aged man.  He’s only wearing navy blue pyjama bottoms, but his lack of squint and neatly combed hair suggest that he hasn’t been asleep.

This is Kevin.  Up until two months ago, Kevin was a perfectly average functioning member of society.  For all intents and purposes, he still is.  He pays his taxes, kisses his children goodbye when they leave for school, and gets angry at the government when they fail to cater to his individual needs.  However, Kevin is part of a subsection of society which many people are not even aware of.  Kevin is a Person Who Stays In Bed.

For you and me, we wake up when our alarms go off and, after much cursing, we get out bed and start the day.  We take this for granted.  The whole getting out of bed experience is a natural and normal part of our daily routine.  However, Kevin goes against the fundamental laws of nature by not getting out of bed.  As a Person Who Stays In Bed, he simply just stays in bed, not beholden to breakfast radio nor the call of the cockerel.

“It all started a couple of months ago” Explains Kevin.  “I felt dissatisfied with life.  I felt there had to be more to life than just getting up in the morning.  I looked it up on the Internet and found there were thousands of people just like me, who just didn’t get up.”

Sandra places a loving hand on her husband.  She is surprisingly accepting of Kevin’s subversion, and is keen to show that a Person Who Stays In Bed can be as regular as you or me.

“Many people wouldn’t be as understanding, but I know that Kevin was born this way.  This isn’t a lifestyle choice; this is who he is on the inside.  It’d be like asking him to change his sexual preferences or stop liking his favourite breakfast cereal.”

It’s a difficult point to argue against.  Whilst this may seem slobbish to the point of eeriness, how can you force this man to get out of bed, without squashing his freedom of expression?

“I don’t want to be discriminated against” States Kevin as Sandra tenderly strokes his arm. “Last week some children came by the house and started throwing stones at my window.  I could hear them chanting ‘We’re peeing in your fish pond, and there’s nothing you can do about it’.  That’s why I agreed to do the interview, to be understood.  To raise awareness.”

I ask him if other People Who Stay In Bed have suffered from similar prejudices.  Kevin informs me of a man in Toronto who has been burgled three times in a week.  This is because the robbers know that he won’t leave his bed to stop them.

At this point, Kevin begins to feel emotional as a solitary tear rolls down his cheek.  He feels that being a Person Who Stays In Bed might make his family an easy target.

We break for tea and biscuits.  Kevin and Sandra are very accommodating, inviting us to tuck into their custard creams.  As we enjoy the downtime, it’s remarkable to see this husband and wife laughing and joking together after all that has changed recently.  These two are a natural fit; two people who are so effortlessly still in love with each other.

Once finished, I ask Kevin about how his new routine has affected his children.  He is a father to two young girls, Jasmine and Keira, both of which are in junior school.  How do they feel that their father no longer walks them to school?

“It was tough at first, but they both know that I love them.  I still give them a kiss goodbye in the morning and we sometimes do homework on the bed.  I have an active social life with my kids”

And what about the effects it has on them?

“Keira once spent three days sat on the couch without moving.  I suspect she could also be a Person Who Stays In Bed, but she hasn’t found a way to articulate it yet.”

“And if she is, we couldn’t be more proud” chimes in Sandra.

It’s at this point we wrap up our interview with this charming family.  As we head out to leave, we notice Jasmine has firmly planted herself on a beanbag in the living room.  You can’t help but wonder if she will take after her father.  Who knows what the future may hold for the next generation of People Who Stay In Bed. 

24 comments:

  1. I believe "Bed Head" is a slur, sir. I'd argue more, but I'm going back to bed. Also, "tuck into their custard creams" sounds like a euphemism for having sex while the girl has a yeast infection.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I suppose it does sound like a euphemism. So what comes to mind when I mention Jammie Dodgers?

      Delete
  2. Well that's still more normal than a furry. Weird bastards. I get the feeling this really might be an actual condition. Or there might be people willing to argue it is.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There is a real condition called ME which is similar (extreme tiredness and lethargy), but some doctors don't recognise it as a genuine condition. Still, better than being a furry.

      Delete
  3. OMG! TFF! I shared this with family and friends. I do believe this is my 23-yr-old daughter's issue.

    Hugs and chocolate,
    Shelly

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. All teenagers get this illness for a short period of time, but there's no excuse when you're 23.

      Delete
  4. I sent this to my wife, because this is her to a T. I'd be worried about having to sleep on the couch, but once she falls asleep, she's out for a good 18 hours, so I'm good to just sneak in and grab a few Zs before daylight.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 18 hours? Is your wife a panda? If so, good luck with your breeding programme.

      Delete
  5. haha i love this, kind of reminiscent of john and yoko---dropping over from "whatever" :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I did have bed peace in mind when I wrote this. I tried bed peace once, but forgot to do it for peace.

      Delete
  6. Verrry funny. Although in truth, my immediate thought was, "what about using the bathroom?" Leave it to my stupid brain to not just roll with a hilarious premise.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Catheters always resolve these types of plot holes.

      Delete
  7. This reminds me of me sometimes. I've tried working things out, and I'm going strong, but there are some days where I just can't do it. Where I just can't get up in the morning.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You should link up an electric blanket to your alarm. An electric shock in the morning will stop the alarm going to snooze.

      Delete
  8. Thank you for handling this difficult subject matter with grace and dignity. No one should judge unless you've lain a mile on their mattress.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Which would take forever unless your mattress is on coasters.

      Delete
  9. Yes so glad to could shed "light" on this important issue. My boyfriend suffers from this condition and it's something I haven't been able to discuss with our friends. Maybe I should post it to his Facebook wall..

    ReplyDelete
  10. I am a Person Who Sleeps Anywhere, which is a branch of this condition. I fall asleep on trains, at my desk, and I've even fallen asleep behind the wheel of a car. I fear I may soon fall into this category given my increasing sleep patterns. Not that it's anything to fear like homosexuality or any race other than my own.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You should take up planking. I guarantee you'd be the sport's greatest hero.

      Delete
  11. I think as an interesting change of direction I will become for tonight only 'Disgusted of Swindon' although I must point out I have never been to Swindon.

    Dear Sir

    Your documentary/ article is a disgrace, these duvet huggers need to be dealt with, I spend most of my day moving about on my feet and it is very tiring, AND it is very annoying to find people lying in beds strewn about in their own bedrooms looking happy an relaxed. Don,t they realise several million ducks died to make those duvets and many nameless small children in places I have not been to, spend all their lives stuffing feathers into pillow cases. They never get to lie down ever as they are chained to walls in order to avoid the risk of them turning into idle duvet huggers themselves.

    Kevin and Sandra need to be made an example of make him lie on a bed of nails that will bring the point to him in a way that will focus his mind, he wont turn his back on that in a hurry.

    As for young Jasmine being firmly planted anywhere, I suspect pot myself only the other day that Mrs Jones at No 22 said she had a large pot for her Jasmine.

    Yours AMON

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No not AMON that's the home help I mean ANON.

      Delete
    2. Dear Amon Holmes,

      You are very insensitive. Anyone would think that you enjoy your waking life.

      Delete
    3. I am just glad you did not have any problems with the letter N when you wrote that . . . . .. . PHEW

      Delete

Leave me a nice comment or die trying.