LEGEND: original text
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(FIRST DRAFT)
I am trapped on a desert island. I can see water the mainland where I want to be but
I have nothing to work with. The island is barren of thoughts & ideas, empty of everything
but a Jumble wild jungle of words. Humm. I must do something. I have only my pencil as a
machetti (??), but I begin anyway. I hack away at the jungle of words, and build myself a
rough looking canoe. Quickly I hurry to the shore and in shallow water I test my canoe, but
it sinks. I swim back to the shore clinging to the vines I was able to salvage from my canoe
With my pencil as a m______ and my vines to tie the wild words together. I enter again into
the jungle. The mosquitos and gnats of distraction are beginning to get to me. I can't
concentrate the work is slow & tedious but this time. I have gathered many words and I tie
them tightly together with my vines. I find a few paragraph hook flowers. I stuff the cracks
with them & then some finishing mood. Once again I hurry to the shore to try my canoe. this
time it floats, but has some leaky spots, so, before it can sink, I drag it back on shore & go
hacking through the jungle. I find some finishing touches growing in the shad. Quickly I take
them and put them over the leaks in my canoe. I hop in and off I go with my nicely finished,
leak-proof canoe, heading toward the mainland.
(REVISIONS ONE, TWO, AND THREE)
I am trapped on a desert deserted desert
island. I can see water the mainland where
I want to be but I have nothing to work with. The island is barren of thoughts & ideas,
empty of everything but a Jumble wild jungle of words. Humm. HMM. I must do
something. All I have only to work with is my pencil as a
machetti (??), machete but I begin
anyway. I it is full of incomplete thoughts & sentences, confused words & each
spotted lack of details, hiding, waiting, scheming to destroy and creeping Ands. in
There is a wild Finally I have enough to
hack away at the jungle of words, and build
myself a rough I enter the jungle, & hack madly, trying to get enough words that will
make sense. The jungle, Puctuation and spelling looms overhead in the spelling
trees, but I pay no attention build a rough looking canoe. Quickly I hurry to the shore
and in shallow water I test put my canoe in
the water and begin to paddle, but it sinks. I
swim back to the shore clinging I have gone only 30 feet from shore and my canoe
sinks. I salvage some of to the spelling vines that bound it together and SWIM back
to shore. I was able to salvage from my canoe. With my pencil as a m______ machete
and my vines
to tie the wild words together. I enter go back again into the jungle again.
The mosquitos and gnats of distraction are beginning to get to me. I can't concentrate the
work is slow & tedious seeming not to do any good. but this time. I have gathered many
words and I tie jumps, from the tree, I can hear punctuation prowling, so I am careful
of it. & stuff spelling leaves in between & over top. & I have the spelling tree.
making a better canoe. Finally them tightly together with my vines. I find a few
paragraph hook flowers. I stuff the cracks with them & then some finishing mood. Wrap
them around some of the words to keep them together. Once again I hurry to the shore
to try my canoe. this time it floats, but has some leaky spots, so, Bbefore it can sink, I drag it
back on shore and & go hacking once again into through the jungle. I find some finishing
touches growing in the shad. Quickly I take them and put them over the leaks in my canoe. I
hop in and off I go with my nicely finished, leak-proof canoe, heading toward the mainland,
"Instructoria."
(FINAL DRAFT)
I am trapped on a desert island. I can see the mainland where I want to be, but I have
nothing to work with. The island is barren of thought & ideas, empty of everything but a wild
jungle. HMM. I must do something. All I have to work with is my pencil as a machete, but
I begin anyway. I enter the jungle and hack away madly, trying to get enough words. The
jungle is full of incomplete thoughts and sentences, confused words, and creeping Ands
Punctuation looms overhead in the spelling trees, but I pay no attention. Finally I have enough
to build a rough looking canoe. Quickly I hurry to the shore, put my canoe in the water and
begin to paddle. I have gone only 30 feet from the shore and my canoe sinks. I salvage
some of the vines that bound it together and swim back to the shore.
With my pencil as a machete and my vines, I go back into the jungle again. The
mosquitoes and gnats of distraction are beginning to get to me. I can't concentrate. The work
is slow and tedious, seeming not to do any good.
At last I have many more words and I've gathered some leaves from the spelling trees.
I bind them tightly together with my vines, and I stuff the spelling leaves in between and on top
of the words. I find a few paragraph hook flowers and I wrap them around some of the
words to keep them together.
Once again I hurry to the shore to try my canoe, this time it floats, but has some leaky
spots. Before it can sink, I drag it back on shore and go again into the jungle. In the jungle I
find some finishing touches growing in the shade. Quickly I take them and put them over the
leaks in my canoe. I hop in and off I go with my nicely finished, leak-proof canoe, heading
toward the mainland, "Instructoria."
 |
(FIRST DRAFT)
It started out the same as every other day. My alarm went off and I sat up in bed.
"Kapow!" Pain hit me right behind my eyes and I hit the bed immediately. Sinus, the
sniper was upon me. I took a complete inventory of my body and found that I had been
invaded by the enemy, Virus, most likely funded by some communist country. the had
managed to capture my nasal canal and totally blocked any passage of oxygen through there.
"Alright, gentlemen, This mean war." Very slowly I rose from my bed, trying not to
attract any attention from Sinus, but it was no use. As soon as my head left the pillow,
another shot rang out and hit me. I fought off the pain and assumed a standing position.
Apparently the Virus had a squad positioned by outside my balance center and chose this
time to attack. I swayed a second, taken off guard by this guerrilla warfare tactic, but the
camp held and I headed downstairs. They must have anticipated a counterstrike on my part,
and took this opportunity to launch a full out attack. They called in a couple of choppers
from somewhere and they were soon buzzing my ears.
There was a valiant battle going on for control of my eyes. Sinus was relentless in his
attack, but Willpower was holding up courageously, giving me the opportunity to see my way
to the bathroom.
"Ok, you scum suckers. Now I'm going to fight your kind of war." I opened up the
medicine cabinet and grasped the aspirin. I had no reservations about using chemical warfare
in this case. I swallowed a couple of aspirin time bombs and hoped they hit the virus.
They must have been really ticked off because they started setting off some bombs of
their own in my head. They lined up all the tanks and helicopters and prepared for the final
assault. I decided to call on my last ally.
"Good night, guys. I'm going back to bed."
(SECOND AND THIRD DRAFTS)
It started out the same as every other day. My alarm went off and I sat up in bed.
The sneak attack caught me totally by surprise. I was just sitting up in bed when
they struck.
"Kapow!" Pain hit me right behind my eyes and I hit the bed sheets immediately.
Sinus, the sniper was upon me. In the area and I was the target. I took a complete quick
body inventory of my body and found and discovered that I had been invaded by the
enemy, nasty little suckers who attact when you least expect them. Virus, most likely
funded by some communist country. t
They had managed to already captured my nasal canal
and totally blocked any stopped all passage of oxygen through there.
"Alright, gentlemen, This mean war.!" Very I thought as I slowly I rose from my bed,
trying not to attract any attention from Sinus, but it was no use. As soon as my head left the
pillow, another multiple shots rang out and hit me in side my head. I fought off the pain
and assumed a standing position. Managed to get to my feet. Apparently the Virus had a
small squad
positioned by outside my balance center and chose this time to of guerrila
Virus took this opportunity to launch an attack on my unguarded balance center. I
swayed a second, taken off guard by this guerrilla warfare tactic, but the camp held and I
headed downstairs. I stumbled forward a few steps as the floor moved underneath me
before I regained control
. This was the second time I was taken by surprise and I
didn't like it one bit. And I headed downstairs in search of some foreign aid. They
must have anticipated a my counterstrike on my part, and took this opportunity to launch a
full out and attack. They called in a couple of choppers were called in and
from
somewhere and they were soon buzzing my ears. Their navy had set up mines in my
stomach, which were going off at an alarming rate. More and more troops were
being called in, trying occupy an already crowed area behind my eyes. There was a
valiant battle going on for control of my eyes. Sinus was relentless in his attack, but
Willpower was holding up courageously, giving me the opportunity to see my way to the
bathroom. Constantly putting pressure on my eyes, trying to gain more vision I need
to make it ground for his comrades. My eyes would close in an attempt to block out
the pain and clear my eyes of the smoke rising from the battlefield, while Willpower
courageously fought on, giving me the vision I need to make it to the bathroom.
"Ok, you scum suckers. Parasites. Now I'm going to fight your kind of war." I
opened up the medicine cabinet and grasped the aspirin. Sinutab. I had no reservations
about using chemical warfare in this case.
Against these scum. My plan was simple: I
was going to attack on two fronts. The aspirin would go after the pain and Sinutab
would try to regain control of my nasal passages. I swallowed a couple capsule and
two of aspirin time bombs and hoped they hit the would be sufficient against the vVirus.
They must have been really ticked off because they were not pleased at my attempt
to roust them from my body and they started setting off some bombs of their own in my
head. They lined up all the tanks and helicopters and prepared for the final assault. I
carefully plotted my counterstrike, strategically altering my course in order to pick
up more weapons in my fight against this evil horde, namely a blanket and heating
pad, on my way to my true destination, the reclining chair in the living room.
The Virus amassed all the troops, helicopters and tanks in preparation for the
final assault. I plugged in the heading pad and placed it over the occupied area as I
assumed a reclining position. The battle was on.
After a few minutes, I began to notice that the Virus had begun to break up. I
had them on the run. I decided to call on my last ally.
"Good night, guys. I'm going back to bed sleep."
(FINAL DRAFT)
The sneak attack caught me totally by surprise. I was just sitting up in bed when they
struck.
"Kapow!" Pain hit me right behind my eyes and I hit the sheets . Sinus, the snipe
was In the area and I was the target. I took a quick body inventory and discovered that I
had been invaded by Virus, nasty little suckers who attack when you least expect them. They
had already captured my nasal canal and stopped all passage of oxygen through there. This
mean war!" I thought as I slowly rose from bed, trying not to attract any attention from
Sinus, but it was no use. As soon as my head left the pillow, multiple shots rang in side my
head. I fought off the pain and managed to get to my feet. A small squad of guerrilla Virus
took this opportunity to launch an attack on my unguarded balance center. I stumbled
forward a few steps as the floor moved underneath me before I regained control. This was
the second time I was taken by surprise And I headed downstairs in search of some foreign
aid.
They anticipated my counterstrike began an all out attack. Choppers were called in
and they were soon buzzing my ears. More and more troops were being called in, trying
occupy an already crowed area behind my eyes. There was a valiant battle going on for
control of my eyes. Sinus was relentless in his attack, constantly putting pressure on my eyes,
trying to gain more ground for his comrades. My eyes would close in an attempt to block out
the pain and to clear my eyes of the smoke rising from the battlefield, while Willpower
courageously fought on, giving me the vision I needed to make it to the bathroom.
"Ok, you parasites. Now I'm going to fight your kind of war." I opened up the
medicine cabinet and grasped the Sinutab and aspirins. I had no reservations about using
chemical warfare against these scum. My plan was simple: I was going to attack on two
fronts. The aspirin would go after Pain and Sinutab would confront Sinus and try to regain
control of my nasal passages. I swallowed a capsule and two of time bombs and hoped they
would be sufficient against the Virus they were not pleased at my attempt to roust them from
my body and they started setting off some bombs of their own in my head. I carefully plotted
my counterstrike, strategically altering my course in order to pick up more weapons in my
fight against this evil horde, namely a blanket and a heating pad, on my way to my true
destination, the reclining chair in the living room.
The Virus amassed troops, helicopters and tanks in preparation for the final assault. I
plugged in the heading pad and placed it over the occupied area as I assumed a reclining
position. The battle was on.
After a few minutes, I began to notice that the Virus had begun to break up. I had
them on the run. I decided to call on my last ally.
"Good night, guys. I'm going to sleep."
|
(FIRST DRAFT)
"The movie was great. I loved horror movies and this one really frightened me." I said
to my best friend as we walked side by side out of the theater. My heart was pounding and
my adrenalyn was "it definitely going to feel like a long walk home tonight" I told her.
"Why don't you come over and call you mom & dad from my house; maybe they'll
come and get you" Jane said.
"Naw" I answered, "it's only six block. I'm not scared to walk alone'" I lied.
"At eleven, I really was scared, but didn't want to let her know that. It was a dark
friday night in October of 1959. There wasn't alot to be afraid of in those days, but being
it was Friday, the older guys around town would be crusin. Even in those days we were
warned not to talk to strangers or get in a car with them. I didn't know what was supposed
to happen if I encountered someone, but I just knew enough to be afraid of the unknown
anyway.
She Jane headed in one direction and I the other. The wind was blowing causing the
shadows to dance of trees to dance. My mind was thinking all foolish sorts of thoughts
as every where I looked I could see someone lurking. I started to run, pass the library, pass
the swimming pool, and safely to the Robert Street Bridge. "Or is it safe," I said aloud to
myself.. "God, what if someone is hinding behind one of the girders?" "Oh shut up, you
gotta get home, just keep walking. I started across the bridge, hugging the rail.
Made it, only five blocks to go. Now I would be passing by houses, and if I
encountered anyone I would go to someone's house. But everywhere I looked it was dark.
there were trees on both sides of the street making more shadows than before. I was
trembling and trying no to think of the movie I'd just been too. But it lurked in my mind
anyway.
Up ahead, I saw a shadow coming toward me. I could see from the street light at the
end of the block that it was a large man. He was stumbling as he walked. Weaving as
though drunk.
Bile rose in my throat and real fear engulfed my entire being. What was I going to do.
I didn't want to cross the street, the railroad track was there and more often then not there
were hobos camping there. The houses were all dark. Oh what am I going to do, I kept
asking myself. he came got nearer and nearer and we both kept walking toward each
other. I was so scared I thought I would soil myself.
As I looked at the houses near me, I saw one with a long porch; that's it I thought,
I'll pretend I live here and just go wait on the porch till he walks by. I walked to the
house, shaking all over, I quickly opened the door to the screen enclosure, walked in,
found a chair, sat down, and waited.
I could see the man lurching and stumbling as he came closer & closer. Thank
goodness I thought, he's almost here and will walk by, and I swear I'll run the rest of the
way home without stopping.
The man stoppped! He turned and looked up at the house. I could see him, just
standing there. "What's he doing, I thought. "Did he see me come up here."
He started walking up the steps. He fell toward me. My mind was on a rampage.
He's going to rape me or kill me. "Oh God," I prayed, "Let me get home."
I got off the chair I'd been sitting on, being as quiet as I could and moved further
into the darkened shadows of the porch.
The hinges squeaked as he opened the door! "This is it" I thought. "I'm never
going to see my family again, they'll never know what happened to me."
The man came in, looked right at me and said, "Don't be afraid little girl, the house
you happed to hide in, is mine. Run along home. I won't hurt you." He moved away from
the door to let me pass.
I ran by him, down the stairs and continued to run all the way home. "Little girl where
are you?" Quaking from extreme fear I pressed myself even closer to the wall. I didn't
move, didn't breathe, just stood there. "Little girl?" he called a little more insistently.
I couldn't just stand there all night, so I answered in a squeaky hesitant voice. "Yes?"
"Don't be afraid, this house is mine. Just I won't hurt you. I know you are scared,
so you ran up here, but this is my house. He moved away from the door to let me pass, and
let out a loud billows of laughter.
I didn't hesitate another second, but ran past him and out the door. A I continued to
run all the way home.
"He little girl" he hollared after me. "Wanna know what's so funny? This is my
house!"
(CONDENSATION OF DRAFTS ONE, TWO, THREE, AND FOUR)
My writing seems to me to be still disjointed--have trouble getting a smooth
draft.
Walking along side by side While out of the movie theater with sidewith my
best fried, Jane Marie through the lobby of the theater I turned to my best friend,
Jane said I let out a nervous giggle. "That was one of the scariest movies I've even
seen." All that blood and gore really gave me the creeps." I said with a nervous
giggle. "I loved it."
"The movie was great, I loved horror movies and this one really frightened me" I said
to my best friend as we walked side by side out of the theater. My heart was slowing its
pounding and my with fear flow flowing slowing adrenalyn was "It definitely going to feel
like a long walk home tonight" I told her.
"Me too," my best friend Jane Marie said, but now you gotta walk all the way
home alone. I bet I'll have nightmares all night."
"Why don't you come over to my house and call your folks mom & dad from my
house, maybe they;ll come and get you" Jane said. "Yeh," I agreed. "I bet I will too.
I still have the shakes."
"At least I don't have as far to walk as you do," she said while trying to hold
down here billowing skirt. "Why don't you walk home with me and call your folks for
a ride."
"Naw, I can't. Dad has the car at work, and anyway," I lied,
"Naw" I answered, It's not that far "it's only six blooks and besides I'm not scared
to walk alone anymore." I lied.
We stood outside the theater talking for awhile letting our pounding hearts
slow and our adrenaline levels calm down. Then she Jane Marie said, "Well,
I guess I'd better get going."home; It must be late," Jane said. O.K.,' she said.
"Suit yourself, but don't let the Boogyman get you on the way home."
As we headed in different direction, I called over my shoulder, "call me
tomorrow."
"O.K." she yecalled back.
"Thanks a lot," I groaned, watching Jane Marie walk away.
Glancing at my watch, I said "Ya, it's almost 11:30, I guess we had better get
going. Call me tomorrow, ok? Maybe we can do something."
It was a dark wind Friday night and I was thrilled to be able to stay out so late;
at age eleven, that didn't happen very often. But thrilled or not, I face the long
walk in home and I was scared. The movie wasn't the only reason.
"At age eleven, I really was scared, but didn't want to let her know that. I was a
dark friday night in October of 1959. There wasn't alot to be afraid of in those days, but
being it was Friday, the older guys around town would be crusin. Even in those days
we were warned not to talk to strangers or get in a car with them. That year of
In 1959, there wasn't much publicity about child molestations, but my parents
had warned me about talking to strangers, so I was always a little wary. I didn't know
what was suppose to happen if someone molested me, I encountered someone, but I just
knew
it mustn't be anything very good thought it sure couldn't be anything very
nice. enough to be afraid of the unknown anyway.
So with that thought in mind I headed for home.
The moon and stars were hidden by threatening clouds and the cool sharp air
heralded an the
the early onset of winter. My clothes flapped, danced, keeping time
to the beat of in the blowing wind and hugging my sweater more closely around me, I
started to run, my feet echoed echoing loudly, on the chill night.
The blowing wind caused shadows to dance. Everywhere I
She Jane in one direction and I the other. The blowing wind was blowing causined
shadows to dance of the trees to dance. My mind was thinking all foolish sorts of thoughts
as every where I looked I could see some envision saw a stranger lurking. I started to run,
My heart rose in my throat as I left the comforting lights of the theater behind me;
pass past the dark, silent library, pass past the deserted swimming pool now filled with ,
and safely to the Robert Street Bridge. "Or is it safe," I said aloud to myself. thought
"God, what if someone is hiding behind one of the girders?" "Oh shut up, stop it, I told
myself you gotta get home, just keep walking. I told myself
I stopped to catch my breath and stared at the expansive structure. The
shadows made by tall standing steel girders, crisscrossed every which way making a
lattice work pattern along its entire length.
I
started walked across the bridge, hugging the rail. side with nearest the railing,
I heard the rushing river as I bubbling beneath me sounding cold and lonely. With
eyes darting back and forth I. continuously watching for a shadow to move. the
slightest movement. I was
prepared to run should one of the shadows alter in shape
move.
My heart drumming I suppressed a shudder looking warily at the sidewalk
ahead. The trees on either side stood like giant sentinels keeping watch. The
skeletal branches handing down creaked and groaned as the wind whistled through
them. The looked to me
like hundreds of flailing arms reaching out trying to grab
at me. The leaves under my feet crunched loadly as I began to run, adding to the
crisp October sounds.
Made it, only five blocks to go. Now I would be passing by houses on the next
block, I felt a little safer. and if I encountered anyone I would go to someone's
approached me I could run to one of them houses and ask to be let in to call home.
The railroad track across the deserted street glimmered eerily from the street lights
standing at each corner, and But as I continued walking, I noticed they were all the
houses along the way were. But everywhere I looked it was all the houses were dark.
Every one of them! I felt like the only person left on earth.
As I approached the next block there were trees on both sides of the street making
more shadows than before. and the street light on each end of the block made eerie
shadows to appear.I started to run again but what I saw coming towards me, made
me stop in my tracks. I was trembling and trying not to think of the movie I'd just been
too. But it lurked in my mind anyway.
I was cold, tired and scared, and with each step my mind matched the beat,
"Run faster, get home, run faster, get home." My chest ached, feeling as though
a vise was clamped around it. Tightening, ever tightening, squeezing off my
breath with each step. My heart beat matched the staccato rhythm of my feet,
skipping like a occasionaly faltering engine. and My breath came out in swhort
white puffs.
Needing to each the ache in my side, I slowed my pace, then stopped. I had to
rest, for just a few minutes. I stood there, shivering and panting, trying to catch my
breath when I heard a sound! Looking up I could see a shadowy figure in the
distance. Terror filled me as I realized it was between me and the security of home,
so I watched it rooted where I stood as it Coming toward me.
Up ahead, I saw a large shadow coming toward me. I could see from the street
light at the end of the block that it was the dark form of a a large man. He was stumbling
as he walked. he was back and forth across the sidewalk and the shape took form
under a street light ahead. the street light up ahead street the shape took form. It
was a man!
Weaving as though he were drunk.
Bile rose in my throat as and ral fear engulfed the most horrendous horror
overtook my entire being.
My brain screemed. "Oh What was I going to do." my mind screamed. "What
if he tried to rape me--or worse.
I didn't want to couldn't cross the street, the railroad track was there and more often
then not there were it was a favorite spot for hobos to camping there. The houses were
all dark. Oh what am I going to do, I kept asking myself. he came got nearer and nearer.
The man was getting closer and closer as and we both kept continued walking
toward each other. I was so scared I thought I would soil myself. What should I do, oh
god, what should I do?" my mind kept raging.
I looked at the silent house in indecision. "Should I go try to call home!
knock someone's door to ask for help? No geez I don't dare wake someone
anyone up. Should I cross the street? No! I can't do that either, there might
be Bum's by the tracks. What Should I do?"
As I looked at the houses nedar me,
I saw one a house with a long screened in
porch; "That's it," I thought, I'll pretend I live here and just go wait on the porch to up
there and hide inside untill he walks by.
I turned, walked up to the house steps, up the walk, shakingly climbed the steps
to the porch,shaking all over, I quickly and as quietly as I could opened the door to
I entered the screened enclosure haven, and silently breathed a sigh of relief walked
in, found a chair, sat down and waited. I sat on the ne stood in the darkened shadows
porch and watched as the
man came nearer man's staggering progress as he got
closer and closer.
I could see the man him lurching and stumbling as he came closer & closer was
nearly in front of my safe hiding place the house where I was watching. I breathed
a sigh of relief thinking he'd soon be by, and I could get out of there and get home.
Thank goodness I thought, he's almost here and will walk by, and I swear, I'll run the rest
of the way home without stopping.
My relief was short lived! When he reached the a point in front of the house
he The man stopped! He turned right in front of the house. He stood there for
minutes,
and looked up at the house. I could see hime, just standing there looking up
at the house. --it seemed--directly at me. "What's he doing" I thought. "Did he see me
come up in here." Then He started up the steps toward me! walk!
My mind reeled in panic
as I started to pray. "Oh God," I prayed. He started
walking up the steps. He fell toward me. My mind was went on a rampage. He's going
to rape molest me or kill me I just know it.. "Oh Dear God," I prayed, "please don't
let him hurt me. I promise to be good, just Please Let me get home. Please!
Please Go! Please!
As he came up the steps, I quietly silently I got off the chair I'd been sitting on,
being as quiet as I could and moved further along into into the darkened shadows deeper
darkest recesses of the porch. I felt a scream rising in my throat, but choked it back
as I slid--my back against the house wall--to the floor, my legs no longer willing to
support me.
The hinges squeaked screeched as he the man slowly and q umsily quickly pulled
opened the door and he came stumbed in!
While learing against the screen frame to
steadyh himself, he whispered, "Little girl, where are you.?"
"This is it" I thought. as I tried to keep from squeaking the swing and hold back
my sobs and still my trembling. My body shivered. I'm never going to see my
family again, they'll never know what happened to me."
The man cam in, looked right at me and said, "Don't be afraid little girl, the house
you hopped to hide in, is mine. Run along home. I won't hurt you" He moved away from
the door to let me pass.
I ran by hime, down the stairs and continued to run all the way home. "Little girl where
are you?" Quaking from supreme fear I pressed myself even closer to the wall. I didn't
move, didn't Qluaking Literally quaking in my shoes, I didn't dare make a sound,
didn't or move and didn't even or breathe, just stood there. Frozen like a statue
"Little girl?" he called a The man questioned a little more insistently this time. Where
are you?"
Sweat Fear rolling off me in waves, I didn't move. I didn't breathe! I sat
frozen, curled in a ball, my hands covering my face, my elbows propped me up on my
knees (which were) bent to me chin.
"Little girl," he said.
"Come out from there," he ordered. I know you're hiding
in here. I saw you. Now come out! Right this minute!" What are you doing here?"
I knew I couldn't just continue to stand there all the rest of the night, so I stepped
forward I slowly stood on rubbery legs and steeled myself to me my awful
unknown
fate knowing I had no choice I answered in a high squeaky hesitant voice. I said "Yes?
I answered.
"Come out from there, he ordered. Don't be afraid, this house is mine. Just I
won't hurt you.
Time stopped. To scared to say anything, I stood mute. Staring! Trembling!
I hesitantly advance moved toward him albeit hesistantly, and could see he was
smiling. what I thought was an evil sneer on his face.
The man just stood there too. He was tall and he was wearing some sort of
work uniform. I could smelled liquor whisky on his breath coming out of a his
whiskered mouth, and I back up a step as he continue staring back at me.
"I know you were scared, so you ran up here, but this is my house, when you saw
me coming toward you, but you picked the wrong house to hide in." He moved away
from the door to let me pass,and I took the opportunity to flee and as scared as I was
I was I didn't hesitate, As I lunged for the door, and pushed it open and run down
the step, the man. When I started out the door thought I wouldn't be able to stand
the tension between us an longer, suddenly he burst into let out a low billowss guffaws
an uproar of laughter.
I didn't hesitate another second, but ran past him and out the door. A I continued to
run all the way home. "Hey little girl" he hollared after me. "You Wanna know what's so
funny little girl? This is my house!"
A spark of hope ignited in my mind even though I didn't know then, what was
so funny. While continuing to chuckle, he said, "It's pretty late for little girls to be
out," he chuckled. I think you'd better go home."
Leaving me standing there, he crossed the porch in kind of lurching gait.
Mouth agape, I watched him open the door, walk into the house and close the door
behind him.
I continued standing there, stupefied. I can't believe it," I thought as relief
filled me. "This is his house! I picked his house to hide in.
I started to cry. The relief was so great as I said my thanks to Go. "Thank
you, God" The tears continued to fall as I ran home and I silently vowed that I
would never again walk home late at night alone.
(FINAL DRAFT)
Childhood
I let out a nervous giggle; "that was the scariest movie I've ever seen. All that blood
and guts really gave me the creeps."
"Me too," my best friend Jane Marie said, "I bet I'll have nightmares all night."
"Yeh," I agreed. "I bet I will too. I still have the shakes."
"At least I don't have as far to walk as you do," she said while trying to hold down
he billowing skirt. "Why don't you walk home with me and call your folks for a ride."
"Nah, I can't. Dad has the car at work, and anyway," I lied, "I'm not scared
anymore."
"Well, O.K.," she said. "Suit yourself, but don't let the Bogeyman get you on the
way home."
"Thanks a lot," I groaned, watching Jane Marie walk away.
It was a dark, windy night. The moon and stars were hidden by threatening clouds
and the cool sharp air heralded the early onset of winter. My clothes danced, keeping time
to the beat of the blowing wind. Hugging my sweater more closely around me, I started to
run, my footsteps echoing loudly.
My heart rose in my throat as I left the comforting lights of the theater behind me; past
the dark, silent library, past the deserted swimming pool and across the Robert Street Bridge.
I stopped to catch my breath and stared at the expansive structure. The shadows
made by tall steel girders crisscrossed every which way, making a lattice across its length. I
walked across, hugging the side nearest the railing as the rushing river bubbling beneath me
seems cold and lonely. With eyes darting back and forth, I watched for the slightest
movement, prepared to run should one of the shadows alter its shape.
My heart drumming wildly, sounding loud in my head, I suppressed a shudder. I looked
warily at the sidewalk ahead. The trees on either side stood like giant sentinels on watch. The
skeletal branches hanging down creaked and groaned as the wind whistled through them.
They looked to me like hundreds of flailing arms, gnarled and twisted, trying to reach out at
me.
As I began to run, fear tingled along my spine, and the leaves under my feet crunched
loudly, adding to the crisp October sounds.
The railroad tracks across the deserted street glimmered eerily from the lights stationed
at each corner, and the houses along the way were dark, everyone of them!
I was cold, tired, and scared, and with each step I took my mind matched the beat,
"run faster--get home--run faster--get home." My chest ached, feeling as though a vise was
clamped around it, tightening. My heart matched the staccato rhythm of my feet,
occasionally skipping like a faltering engine, and my breath came out in short white puffs.
Needing to ease the ache in my side, I slowed my pace, then stopped. I had to rest,
for just a minute. I stood there shivering and panting, trying to catch my breath when I heard
a sound! Looking up I could see a shadowy figure in the distance. I realized it was between
me and the security of home. I watched it, rooted where I stood. It weaved back and forth
across the sidewalk; then slowly, the shape took form under a street light ahead. It was a man!
"Oh what am I going to do," my mind screamed. "What if he tries to rape me . . . or
worse? Oh God, what should I do?"
I looked at the silent houses in indecision. "Should I knock on someone's door to ask
for help? No. Geez, I don't dare wake anyone up. Should I cross the street? No! I can't
do that either; there could be bums by the tracks. What should I do?"
As I stood there, trying to make up my mind, I noticed a house with a long screened-in
porch; "That's it. I'll go up there and hide until he goes away."
I turned up the walk, shakily climbed the steps, and quietly opened the door. I entered
the screened have, and stood in the darkened shadows. I watched the man's staggering
progress as he got closer and closer.
When he reached the front of the house he stopped! He stood there for minutes,
looking--it seemed--directly at me. Then he started up the walk.
My mind reeled as I started to pray. "Dear God, please don't let him hurt me. I
promise to be good; just let me get home. Please! Please God! Please!
As he came up the steps, I silently moved to the darkened recesses of the porch. I felt
a scream rising in my throat, but choked it back as I slid--my back against the house
wall--to the floor, my legs no longer willing to support me.
The hinges screeched as the man quickly pulled open the door and stumbled in! While
leaning against the screen frame to steady himself, he whispered, "Little girl, where are you?"
"This is it! I'm never going to see my family again. They'll never know what happened
to me."
"Little girl," he said a little more insistently, "where are you?"
I didn't move! I didn't breathe! I sat frozen, my hands covering my face, my elbows
propped me up on my knees which were bent to my chin.
"I know you're hiding in here. I saw you. Now come out! Right this minute! Little
girl."
I slowly stood on rubbery legs and steeled myself to meet fate.
"Little Girl," he said, "what are you doing here?"
Time stopped. Too scared to say anything, I stood mute. Staring! Trembling!
The man just stood there too, breathing heavily, staring back at me. I smelled whisky
coming out of his whiskered mouth, and I backed up a step, wrinkling my nose in distaste.
When I thought I wouldn't be able to stand the tension between us any longer,
suddenly he burst into loud guffaws of laughter. "It's pretty late for little girls to be out. I
think you'd better go home."
Leaving me standing here, he crossed the porch in a kind of lurching gait. Mouth
agape, I watched him open the door, walk into the house and close the door behind him.
I stood there, shocked. "I don't believe it! This is his house! I picked his house to
hide in."