Thursday, October 2, 2008

The persistant door knockers & a scared 7 year old.

It's that time again! To join in the fun please visit here! The writing prompt I chose for today is: Write about a time you hid from someone...

I grew up in Hattiesburg, Ms. My father surveyed land for Conoco Oil Company. My mother who had recently rejoined the work force, managed a local cleaners. My brother was in 6th grade and at the intermediate school. I was 7 years old and I went to Thames Elementary. I spent my days wishing I could be Mrs. Gill, my teacher. I loved her even though she said, ugly things about me. In her perfect penmanship she wrote, Becky is Bossy and talks non stop. Marring my straight S+ report card with all that RED ink. Oh, but that is a whole other story..

Now lets see, where was I? Oh, yeah- We lived in a nice middle class neighborhood. Newly built brick homes with neat manicured lawns. And a church on nearly every corner. It was a nice safe place to grow up. I rode the bus home from school and so did my brother but we each rode on a different bus. My bus dropped me off 5 minutes before my brothers bus dropped him off. 5 whole minutes of being home alone. I thought I was so big. Little did I know, the neighbor was purposefully checking her mail everyday when I got off the bus. Pretending to be reading through it as she made sure that I was safely inside my house.

I loved having 5 minutes to myself. I got the first snack and control of the television for 3 whole minutes, well until my brother arrived home @ 3:20 and my mother @ 3:30.One afternoon, I jumped off the bus, waved to the neighbor and headed into my home through the back door. Once inside I twirled around basking in the freedom of being home alone. Then the doorbell rang. My heart instantly beat faster. I tiptoed to the front room and peeked out the curtain. To bearded strangers stood at my door. They were dressed in black slacks and white button up shirts. I wished for them to go away. I was not going to open the door to the strangers. I was terrified. In my little active imagination they were going to break into my house and kill me. I grabbed my dog, Governor. A beagle /Datsun mix. Okay, he was a mutt but he was loved. I wanted Governor to growl so that he could send the strangers away running. So I pinched him and pulled his hair. He let out a little yelp and ran to another room. So much for his guard dog skills. I was so disappointed. I was leaning up against the door listening to the persistent pounding when all of a sudden it stopped. I turned to face the door and I could see the door knob turning. I instantly began to cry and I ran into my parents room and crawled under the bed.

While under the bed I cried for my parents. For my brother. For Governor. Even for that mean ole' Mrs. Gill. I just knew I was a goner. My dog joined me under the bed. A little relief until he bit me and ran off. I guess it was my pay back for pinching him just minutes before. Then I heard my brother. "Becky, where are you?" I didn't want to give myself away if the killers had him so I waited until I seen his feet. I jumped out from underneath the bed and hugged him so tightly.. He pushed me off and said, "Jeez, what is wrong with you." I told him how two strangers came to our house to kill me. He rolled his eyes and walked off. I crawled back under the bed and waited for my mom to get home. It wasn't long before I was telling her my story about the awful killers at the door. My mom listened intently and then proceeded to tell me that the church from down the road was having a revival and they were wanting to invite everyone in the neighborhood. They sent teams of people out to knock on doors inviting them to their church. Needless to say after that day, I didn't just wave to my neighbor. I checked her mail as I got off the bus and I took it into her. Where I would sit with a cold glass of milk and some warm cookies until my Mom came and got me.
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Please Check out the post below.. It was written late last night and many of you haven't had the chance to see it. I had both of these post all together but it was so long that I broke them into two blogs. I am silly .. I know.. but I didn't want to overwhelm anyone..

32 comments:

Unknown said...

you and i share so many passions! The Lord, our family and OU FOOTBALL! go sooners :)

jori-o said...

Awww, milk & cookies after school. Sweet!

Naturally Caffeinated Family said...

How scary! (and slightly amusing too because of the real identity of the men and your story telling) Pinching the dog you are so funny! Glad you were safe and "they" didn't kill you!

Jen said...

Thanks for sharing! I have had similar experiences with being left alone...

Stu Pidasso said...

cute story!! how are minds can got bonkers, sometimes, huh??

Claremont First Ward said...

Oh, I can imagine how terrified you were. Thank goodness for that great neighbor who watched out for you when you wanted your freedom and then invited you in for cookies when you didn't. And shame on Mrs. Gill. That was rude!

Brandy said...

That was a funny story and I can honestly say that I can see where you would be scared. I've seen some of the people that come to my house from the church and they may be great people but some of them look scary to me the mom so I can only imagine what my 8 year old thinks and if she was home alone I bet you she'd be trying to hide under my bed too!

Angie said...

Aww, I feel so bad for that poor little scared girl. You did that right thing by not opening the door!
Totally cute that you stayed with your neighbor from then on out.
:0)

~angie~

Shanan Strange said...

Wow! I'm sure you were terrified! When I was in Pre-K, I attended a small, private school. Our school bus (actually a van) had the sweetest lady driver. Well, she would personally walk each child to their door and make sure they got in safely. One day, she was walking someone to their door and a 5th grader locked the van doors, sat in the drivers seat and said he was going to crash the van and kill all of us. I hid under the seat and started sobbing! The driver came back and was banging on the doors and windows and yelling for him to open the doors. Finally, after what seemed a lifetime, he did. I insisted that my mom drive me forever.. but they kicked the kid off the bus and things were happily ever after. This was almost 40 years ago and I can still remember every detail.. what I was wearing, where I was sitting, smells, etc.

Glad your visitors weren't the bad guys!!

Steph said...

That's funny - but I'm glad you survived and they really weren't kidnappers. :)

Michelle said...

Cute story, thanks for sharing. Little kids have the wildest imaginations....hahahah I still have mine.

larkswing said...

Sweet! Thank you - you are too kind!

Good Story!

Jen said...

how terrifying for a little girl, heck its scary for a big girl. I wouldn't open the door for ppl dressed like that today.

Los said...

I would've acted the same way if that happened to me! We were ALWAYS taught not to talk to strangers!

My mom was a stay-at-home mom, so I never really was "alone" at home.

Michelle said...

Oh, I had scary moments like what when I was a kid. Onetime I was home sick and our neighbor threw my brothers toy shot gun into our. I was so freaked out when I saw that gun sail over our fence. I thought for sure it was someone coming to kill me!!

Stu Pidasso said...

You hit my blog to early, I hadn't finished with my current post yet. If you visit again you will see the photo suggestions I was talking about. Thanks for stopping by, too!!

Megan said...

oh man.. I would have been scared too! I used to get sooo scared if someone would come to the door when I was home alone. The dog part of the story is funny though! ;)

Lex the mom said...

When we are young our imaginations are so very active! I think I'd have been with you on thinking they would kill me.

This is a fun post & well told. Thanks for sharing.

Kritta22 said...

No I totally didn't make it myself!! I'm soooo not that talented!!
I got it where you got yours, cutest blog on the block!

Jennifer Owens said...

What a cute story!! Isn't it funny what our imaginations come up with when we're so little? And that teacher of yours sounded horrid. What a meanie writing those things about you!! I would have sikked Governor on her!! (o:

jenn said...

Awww. Poor thing.

melissa ellen parker said...

I love your blog. You really make me smile. Loved the story - love the daily writing prompt idea too

Melissa said...

I would have been just like you, if I saw those guys. I did that when I was like 21. Ha!!

Rachel said...

Too cute!

Also; thanks for your kind words...I appreciate so much!

sassy stephanie said...

Oh man...scary!!! I love how the neighbor "happen" to do a mail check every day. That's funny.

Sometimes Sophia said...

Terrific story. Isn't it sad/funny when we scare ourselves to death? Hope for the best... imagine the worst. Thanks for visiting my blog.

Michelle said...

OH! I've been there. A neighbor called to warn me (when I was in 7th grade and should have known better, but I was an innocent) that Jehovah's Witnesses were in the neighborhood and not to answer the door. When they rang the doorbell, my friend and I grabbed knives and screwdrivers and hid behind the door. Ya. I so get it.

Jo-Jo said...

Oh I can remember being a little girl and scared. You have a fabulous way of telling a story! Congrats on the blog awards!

Smiling Shelly said...

I think we grew up in a time when the dangers of the world were not as publicised as they are today.

I know this was not one of those instances, but I am glad to hear that you pinched the dog and hid under that bed...SMART GIRL!

deb said...

Hey! Thanks for visiting my blog and leaving a comment. I really enjoy following yours. I love the way you tell a story,its inspires me to do a better job. I look foward to my daily visits.

Straight to Your Hart said...

Sounds like a big turning point in your life...aahh the price we pay for freedom sometimes...too much freedom with my brain that is!!lol..I freak myself out all the time..Did you just hear that?? tehe
Thanks for the post.

Amy said...

Sigh.

Bless your heart.

You are a terrific writer, Becky!

God Bless,
Amy:)