Suddenly the hairs on the back of my neck were electrified. The rush of adrenalin flooded every nerve of my body. My arms and legs stiffened. A buried memory of terror, one of a time long past, was projected in my brain.

 I held my breath and wondered  how long I should hold it, and how long I could hold it. Was this a figment of my imagination, a remembrance of that long forgotten incident of terror? Was that really a movement I caught in my peripheral vision or was it an aberration due to my cataract or macular degeneration? You get older, you don't see as well, you don't hear as well, you forget things, you imagine things! Was this a symptom of old age or was this really happening?

 Fear washed over my body and the beads of perspiration became salty, burning rivulets that burned as they seeped into my eyes. I could smell the sour odor of fear in the perspiration being excreted by my pores. In minutes I felt cold and clammy. Again, a movement and this time no question about it.  I could see those well remembered beady eyes in that same gray-haired skull. I screamed as he quickly retreated into his hiding space. Shaking, I stood up, reached for the house phone and dialed  "0".  

My mouth was dry as I barely gasped, " Freddy, I need help. It's Zaphra in 5A. Send somebody right away. There's a mouse under my stove.

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