BarbL

I told Daddy that all I wanted was a new bike. It was silly because I knew that again I’d get some of Mary’s old clothes.

In the distance, a voice is calling me. It sounds so far away; I can barely hear it. I try to shout back, “I’m here!” but the only thing that comes out is a muffled cry.

I glanced up to the rearview mirror to see that the car had been replaced…with flashing red lights. Oh, no, I thought. An ambulance!

I wasn’t really happy that some people might have to be let go, but I could see that our group was too large and there were some who were not pulling their weight.

The hike had been grueling but we all knew there was no choice. It was what he would want.

“You aren’t going anywhere, you little tramp!” A hand grabbed me under my still sore chin and snapped my head up.

“Waahoooo!” shouted Danny excitedly as he neared the top of the hill. Sandy and I were right on his heels. Suddenly he just stopped. We nearly ran into the back of him.

What happens behind the doors of the Fourth Floor?

It took a while but finally the bleeding stopped. Momma cleaned my face up enough to assess the damage before she proclaimed, "You’re going to have quite a shiner in the morning!"