Installment four of my book- a bit of background, if you please. Thanks for reading!I grew up in a small coastal town in New England. Sounds ideal, right? It was if you lived there for about three months out of the year known as June, July and August. The remaining months consisted of a picture poster card brilliance, that people travel to the Northeast to see each year like clockwork. It is all about the bright bursting colors of gold, rusts and vibrant reds. The light in the fall is some call spectacular but in fact, my friend Erika and I have always joked that it is a cheap on-sale light. A blue light special if you will. The harsh dimness of the afternoon fall light is abrasive and only serves to spell out the long winter that stretches out menacingly. Then just as quick, it … [Read more...]
My Book. Enough Said #3
It's the third installment of my work in progress. Thanks for reading! CHAPTER TWOI slid down the wall, hugging my notebook to my thin frame and feeling the hard books in my backpack dig into my back. I slump down beneath the front office window of my new school. “Who knew that Nathaniel Green High School was the gateway to hell.” I thought to myself. Certainly not my parents who had decided that public school would be a good change for me. “I have my doubts, but never thought it would be this bad.” I thought with a slightly defeated sigh.Earlier that morning my mother had sent me out the door saying cheerily, “Have a great day honey! You’ll be just fine. You know Peter and Sarah. I am sure Peter will show you around. You’ll be in the same homeroom together.” “Ok, sure.” I … [Read more...]
My Book. Enough Said #2
The latest piece of my book. Thanks for reading!In my mind though something different was going on, something dark was unfurling as I began to think back to my times with Rob. Hit me? No. Rob had never hit me. Sure, there was that time that he twisted my arm a bit. Sometimes he would force me to do things but that was not hitting. Besides, I am so small and he was so big. He did not know his own strength. He always said he was sorry afterwards too. “You are so weak and small! You need to be toughened up! I’m doing this for your own good.” He would say. It is true. I am small and weak. I want to be tough. That was not hitting though. That was not what Jess was asking, was it? Was it?I finished relaying this story to Marilyn, the words just matter of factly tumbling out as … [Read more...]
My Book. Enough Said.
I made a promise this summer that I would finish at least one chapter of my book so that I could send it off to a publisher this fall. The only way I seem to be able to get any of it done is if I hold myself accountable here. So here come the weekly doses of what I'm working on and bear with me each week as I post a bit of it. Here goes nothing....My knees are pulled in so tight to my chest it feels as if I might bruise my ribs. My arms grip my legs and my hands clutch at my ankles as if I am holding on for dear life. The skin on my knuckles is pulled tight and white. I rock on the dorm room floor of my friend Jessica’s room unable to stifle the sobs that sometimes become wails only to then crash into screams. If I were to look into a mirror now I would see my face is a mottled … [Read more...]