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 Posted: Fri Jul 07, 2006 1:34 pm
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Posted: Fri Jul 07, 2006 1:40 pm
The soft sound of my feet on the flawless black pavement was the only sound I heard- save for the occasional passing car. I walked along to the sound of a song in my head, a nameless tune I had been humming all day. Crimson and golden leaves fell in a flurry like a soft rain as a biting autumn wind meandered slowly down the street.
The houses here were large and widely spaced. A maple tree or two dotted most of the people's yards, decorating the perfect green sprawling lawns that occupied the space between ridiculously large mansions with their fallen leaves. Thick layers of mulch covered the carefully manicured plants that were now dormant for the winter. Delicate roses, asters, lilac bushes and other small, bushy perennial plants were all that were seen in this community- nothing overly showy or large, and definately nothing that would look stringy or out of place. Only the tiniest delicate flowers were planted here, and cared for tediously each year in an effort to usurper the other neighbor's garden.
Pathetic.
That's all people cared about here was flaunting their money, and being better than the next idiot with more money than brains. They only bought the best of everything, and sent their children to fancy private schools in their fancy cars. Not that I didn't belong in one of these families, or go to one of these school. I did infact. My family was just as obsessed as everyone else. Just as mind-numbingly boring- following the same routine everyday: Wake up, eat, work, and then come home. Perhaps my mother and father would fight a bit, and then complain about being tired and repeat. It sounded like some shampoo instructions. Apply to hair- lather, rinse, and repeat. As if people didn't know how to wash their hair.
This was the RowanWood Community. Simple, straight, and flawless. I passed by the Carlson's house- everyone knew this was the Carlson's place. Disgustingly happy colours painted doll-house perfect shutters over large windows overlooking the streets. I never understood why people would want large windows in this place. What was there to look at other than the person-across-the-streets immaculate grass, and their large glass windows? There was nothing. However if at night you looked into the lavish-abyss that was their windows at night, you would likely see an uptight old man with his face pressed against the glass, looking to absorb the latest gossip into his mind. That was another thing.
Gossip.
Everyone knew everything about everyone else. Anything and everything about your life was public. You knew who was dating who, when your neighbor's aunt's 50th anniversary was, and they knew everything about you.
Almost everyone in this neighborhood went to the same school as well- the same stupid private school that your parents paid outrageous amounts of money each year to send you to. Alexander Private Academy. Me and my friends called it the 'Breeding Grounds'. And it was. The breeding grounds for stupidity, embarrassment, and more mindless sheep that would follow in their parents footsteps. You could hardly tell one person apart from the next- though the cliques were evident. Even with the horrible uncomfortable uniforms we were forced to wear you could see who belonged where in the school's picking order. The nerds, the preps, the jocks, and the sluts- they were all here.
The uniforms were a whole other story. As if the ridicule you received daily from the students with the parents who were even richer than your own wasn't enough, you were forced into these uniforms: A black skirt, or pants if we chose (which were even worse than the skirts), knee high socks that no one actually wore, a plain white t-shirt with the schools eagle behind the curly gold letters A.P.A, and a black jacket. We could wear a jean jacket- if we chose, but most people preferred the black cloak. It wasn't that bad at least. It was made of soft, black material, with a few silver fasteners. I wore it right now, infact, and I drew it closer around me as another chilling wind swirled the folds of black around me.
I jumped. I heard a sharp crack somewhere behind me, and as I whirled around I saw the branches of some pine tree- a rarity here- sway.
Was someone there? No. I was just being silly. Even though my steps sped up as I slowly approached the part of the street my house was on. I wondered if fear showed on my face- and as was a bad habit of insecurity, I shook my hair out from behind my ears and tried to shield my face. I could see the auburn strands blowing gently in the wind from the corner of my eye, and they obscured my view of the houses directly beside me. If anyone was there they wouldn't be able to see my face at least.
I slowly breathed out- I hadn't realized I was holding my breath. Calm down, I thought to myself, there's no one there, stupid. You're just being paranoid. I assured my self I was fine- though walking down the eerily silent RowanWood streets sometimes gave me the chills. The large houses seemed haunting and foreboding as night approached. And that was how it was now. The sun slowly sank behind the edge of the park's forest at the end of the street. My house was right before that- just on the left.
Crack.
Someone was following me. I could hear their breath behind me. Whoever it was they were horribly out of shape. Only a twenty minute walk and I could hear them panting, and their quick footsteps. They might have been fifteen feet away. I panicked.
My footsteps quickened and I broke into a slow jog back home. Eight houses away� Seven� Six� I could see my house clearly now- the porch light cast a dim glow upon our grass and I could count the shadows� of the pillars on the front veranda.
"Ambrynn." A voice rasped behind me. I couldn't help but utter a little gasp. Who was following me? I broke into a run. The person was closer now; they're approaching footsteps getting louder and louder.
Damnit, not again. I thought. A cold hand touched by shoulder and I spun around with my arm raised. I heard a scream, then harsh coughing for a moment.
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Childhood Dreams Vice Captain
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Posted: Fri Jul 07, 2006 1:50 pm
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Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2006 8:06 am
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