S O S

   I have a bedside digital alarm clock with big red illuminated numbers.  It makes a nice night light, and it is a delight to be able to tell the time when I stir at night.  Digital numerals can sometimes pass for letters.  For instance 5 looks just like S, and 8 looks like B, and of course zero looks like O.

   In the morning I am often amused to waken and find the clock sending out a distress message: S O S.  That happens at five minutes past five am.  It probably sends the same call for help in the PM, but I am at "early bird" supper, and never notice.

   A few minutes later it begins to SOB; at 5:08 exactly. Later in the morning it will ask for BOB, whoever he is.(8:08)/ BOB may be his SIS (5:15) which would make her a SIB (5:18), sibling with a masculine name, Bobbie, perhaps.

   If I stared at the clock the whole night through, I might find it spelling out other words too, but fortunately I usually drop off to sleep.  Clock watching has the same effect as counting sheep.

Tags: digital numerals, counting sheep, S O S