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 Posted: Tue May 29, 2007 6:27 pm
This was a Short Story I wrote in 10th grade. I was just wondering If I should submit it for publication... Please leave feedback on how I can improve it! Thank you! blaugh
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Posted: Tue May 29, 2007 6:28 pm
I.
6:00 am! The little black alarm clock switched on and blasted Louie Armstrong’s ‘Gone Fishin’. Stewart Littegash slid out of bed and turned it down. “Come on hon, gotta get the kids to school.” he said thickly, rubbing his temples. Tabetha Littegash rolled over sleepily and got out of bed. Just a regular Monday morning at 42 Mast Avenue.
10 minutes later the talk show host reminded viewers that they should’ve set their clocks for daylight savings time. Stewart didn’t have to be at work until 8:00 but the commute took half an hour. Everyone immediately sprang into a mad rush.
“Where’re my glasses?
“On your bureau.”
“My zipper broke!”
“Your turn to feed the dog.”
“No way!”
“I’ll do it when I get home… William! Socks are for feet not ears!”
Miraculously Stewart was out of the chaos and on the road at 6:40 or rather 7:40. I should be on time if there’s no traffic, he thought accelerating a little. He hit a rock and his doughnut went flying *splat* into his lap. “Oh ----!!!” He peeled the doughnut off his leg and placed it back in his napkin. He looked up and slammed on his brakes but too late. The speed he was driving at made his tires skid. The car filled with the smell of burning rubber and time slowed painfully. A man in a black suit on the curb… Crossing the street in front of him… Staring… Just staring as Stewarts car rolled straight for him. Stewart closed his eyes tightly and honked his horn. He waited horrified as the car came to a stop. Stewart took a deep breath and slowly opened his eyes to see… nothing. No blood, no man… nothing but his white knuckled hands that had the steering wheel in a death grip. The driver of the little red corvette behind him honked the horn impatiently. Stewart began driving again partly to clear his head, and partly to appease the impatient horn-honker. Did he get away? Did I just bump him? Was there any one there at all? “I gotta cut down on the caffeine,” Shaking off the shaky feeling. He took a bite of doughnut to erase the bad taste in his mouth that the fear and adrenaline had left.
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Posted: Tue May 29, 2007 6:31 pm
II.
Stewart went to work, as he always did and sat through 4 hours worth of board meetings. He took his half hour lunch break at the same time he always did 1:30. Maybe I’ll try that new Tai place on 8th , he thought. A sick feeling crept into his stomach, I wonder how that man is doing? I hope he’s all right. He went into the restaurant and ordered some food-to-go. Clutching the brown paper sack he returned to his car to find a note on his windshield. Curious, he slid into his car and unfolded it.
We know what you did this morning…
We know you have what we want…
We’ll be in touch…
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Posted: Tue May 29, 2007 6:32 pm
III.
“Hmm… that’s unnerving” Tabetha remarked after Stewart told her how his day went. “And that man this morning… you poor thing. I think you should stay home tomorrow… And no buts Stew, I mean it,” she said as he tried to protest, “You’ve been working too hard. I’ll ask Barbara to get in touch with the other hospitals in the area for your mystery man. You rest.”
“But the note,” he argued, “do you think it could’ve been from him?”
“I think it’s some kids idea of a joke”
“Maybe…but if…”
“If if’s and but’s were candied nuts we’d all have a wonderful Christmas. I told you, I’ll take care of you. Now you get your rest.”
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Posted: Tue May 29, 2007 6:33 pm
IV.
The next morning Stewart woke up sometime around noon Gee, I guess I really wasn’t getting enough sleep. All of a sudden a feeling hit him. Askew… not right… something’s wrong… He got out of bed and turned in the TV. The last time he had that feeling was on 9/11 when he lost his brother. He knew even before he got the phone call from their mom. He realized after the fourth try that the power was out. He sighed, “It’s probably nothing… What to you think Scoot?” Scooter the dachshund rolled over on her back and thumped her tail on the floor. Stewart reached out to scratch her stomach. Suddenly the radio switched on. *Screech* *Screech* *Screech* This is a test of the emergency broadcasting system *Screech* “Oh looks like the power’s back on,” he said getting up, “Okay I get it. Shut up!” “Why don’t you? Murderer.” The radio said. Stewart froze in his tracks. “I said we’d be in touch Stewart Littegash. Have a seat.” Warily Stewart sat on the edge of the bed farthest from the radio.
“What do you want with me?”
“Much, but first we’d like to know if you prefer steak or sushi”
“Wha… what?”
“The world would be so much simpler if that’s all there was. Variety is such a waste.”
“What do you want?!”
“You can learn a lot about someone just by listening to what kinds of things they prefer… but we already know everything about you Stewart and we are very displeased.”
“No, no you don’t”
“Oh why yes we do. For example: When you were 5 years old you fell out of a tree trying to keep up with your brother Jack. You received 30 stitches and still have the scar on your right inner thigh… by the way… how are Tabetha and the kids?”
“You leave them out of this!” Stewart leapt to his feet. Just then little 6-year-old Willy Littegash wandered in. “Oh why hello William. Did you sleep well?” the voice directed itself to the little boy. “You Shut up!” Stewart went to his son and directed him out of the bedroom.
“What are you doing home?”
“Gotta cold. *sniff* Who ya talk’n to da?”
“Go back to your room and stay there.”
“Charming child. It would certainly be a pity if anything happened to him.” The radio said nastily. “You keep away from my family.” Stewart was really afraid now. Scooter could smell it and began growling.
“Oh I’m afraid it’s far too late for that”
“What are you talking about?”
“We regret to inform you that your Son Andrew and Daughter Elizabeth will not be returning home from school”
“YOU’RE LYING YOU ----!!!!!!”
“If we’re lying then why are you shaking? Oh yes we can see you. We know you felt it this morning when you woke up. We know everything…”
Stewart had had enough. He threw on his shoes, grabbed his car keys and headed for the door. “This is your doing Stewart. This is revenge for one of Our own that you murdered yesterday. But more importantly for what you stole from us!” The voice laughed shrilly, evilly at Stewarts quickly retreating back. He jumped into the car and drove at top speed towards Q-89, the school his two eldest attended. He was halfway there when his cell phone rang. The screen identified the caller as Tabby, his wife. The next few moments were surreal. He heard sobs and then his wife told him that Liz and Andy were dead.
He had to pull over to the side of the road to keep himself from driving into something and stood outside on the sidewalk. At first he felt nothing. It’s a mistake, then his world slanted sharply and everything became surreal and Hitchcock-like. Dizzy he quickly returned to his car and that’s when the grief stabbed him. A white-hot knife twisted in his chest. Tears came with the pain. It became hard to breath. He cried there for most of the day when he decided that the voice was right. It was his fault and he should drive off the London Bridge. He got into his car and began driving. The cell phone rang and the caller this time was “Home”.
“Hello”
“Hey daddy, where are you? Are you okay?”
It was Willey’s voice on the line. Willey! Shock rushed through him clearing his mind, temporarily stilling the ache in his heart. It brought him to his senses. I can’t just die like this. I’ve gotta take care of Tabby. I’ve gotta be here for Willey. “I…I’m coming home son… d-don’t worry.” Stewart said shakily. “Okay daddy. Drive careful. Love you.” The dial tone sounded and the grief welled up again inside him. He cried as he drove home.
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Posted: Tue May 29, 2007 6:34 pm
V.
He decided it would be better if Tabetha told Willie why his brother and sister didn’t come home that day. Stewart just didn’t have the heart to do it. He drove into the little redbrick parking garage across the street form his flat. Getting out of his car he noticed something moving in the dark. It stepped into the light and Stewart saw a man in a black suit. “Hello Mr. Littegash,” he said pleasantly his lips smirking. Stewart started for the man in anger. He took the man by the collar and lifted him up off his feet. He pulled his hand back and balled it into a fist. “Now, now,” came a smooth voice from his right. He looked to see another man in a black suit, “I don’t think you want anything to happen to your wife now do you?” Stewart was overcome with a blinding rage. He screamed and threw the man into a car. Panting, he turned and started for the other man.
“Stop” the smooth voice commanded. Stewart came up short, Try as he might he couldn’t move for the life of him. “Now listen carefully,” the man began again, “tomorrow, I want you to bring $400 to this address at exactly 1:00pm.” He placed a slip of paper into Stewart’s pocket. “Any later and your wife will die. Pleasure doing business with you.” He smirked and disappeared into the gloom.
Stewart looked at the slip of paper. It was the address of Winding Hills Mental Hospital. Huh fitting, he though grimly, this week’s been crazy.
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Posted: Tue May 29, 2007 6:35 pm
VI.
The next morning he put Willey in the car and drove to the bank. “How come we aren’t taking Mommy and Andy and Liz?” he asked from the back seat. “I’ll tell you later kiddo.” Stewart replied. He withdrew $400 and returned to his car to find that Willey was now gone. All that remained was Willey’s Spiderman action figure and a note that read.
We know you have what we want…
Hurry it’s almost 1:00…
Bring the money or your son will die too…
Panic stricken Stewart leapt into the car and drove as fast as he could. One minute to 1:00 he accelerated even more. 1:00! He was too late! He had failed… they were all dead. He saw movement in the corner of his eye… The world jumped, and he was no longer in his car. He was strapped to a table looking up into the face of the man with the smooth voice. Now he was dressed like a doctor and the nametag on his pocket read Dr. Phillip Summery. “NOOOOOOOO!!!!!” Stewart screamed, and began kicking, twisting, trying his hardest to get free. “Hines! Sedative now! Quick!” Dr. Summery threw himself on Stewart’s squirming figure, impairing his movement. The nurse injected Stewart with a sedative and he fell fast asleep.
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Posted: Tue May 29, 2007 6:43 pm
VII.
“It says here that you’re also a Nurse at the Red Cross Mrs. Littegash? Why don’t you tell me what happened.” Nurse Hines sat across from the disheveled Tabetha Littegash and her two eldest Elizabeth and Andrew. “Kids why don’t you go watch your brother,” Tabetha indicated the lone figure of Willey playing with a puzzle in the corner of the office. She waited until the three were out of earshot, “It started on Monday when he almost hit our neighbor with his car. Oh, Mr. Czech was all right but that’s when things started to go downhill for Stewart. He brought home a note that I later discovered he had written and claimed someone had left it on his car.
“I told him that he ought to stay home Tuesday and get some rest. I left Willey home to keep him company. Willey said that when he woke up Stew was shouting at the radio. He scared poor Scoot… our dog half to death. Then he just left Willie there alone. Willie called me and told me what happened and I got off work to come home and stay with him. I called Stew on my way home and asked what he was doing but he hung up. He got home around midnight and I got a phone call from Mrs. Czech telling me that my Stew had attacked her husband again, this time he’s thrown him into a car. That was the last straw I sent Liz and Andy to their grandma’s but Willey wanted to stay with me…”
Mrs. Littegash began to cry, “I was so foolish… I slept in Willey’s room that night and when I woke up the next morning he was gone. It took me hours to find them but I did finally. They were in the car outside the bank. Stew had just withdrawn $400 and passed out in the car.” The nurse offered Tabetha a box of tissues, which she took gratefully. “And that is when you brought him here?” She asked. Tabetha nodded. “It seems, Mrs. Littegash that your husband has created his own world. One in which men in suits threaten his family. One by one he shut each of you out of his world and made himself believe you all were dead. Mrs. Littegash…” she hesitated, “I’m afraid that Stewart is mentally insane. He’s going to be with us for a while.”
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