By Cynthia Schuerr (October/Bad Luck/Compass)
Always upbeat and positive, Stacey found it difficult to be that way today. The electricity was knocked out by the storm last night and had given her an unwanted opportunity to sleep in. She had an early morning meeting, for which she was already late.
Stacey lit a candle to illuminate the bathroom for a quick shower, but no time for a cuppa and even worse, no time for her two mile walk. That walk was like breathing or brushing her teeth in the morning. Without it, her body stiffened up like the tin man without his oil can. Her daily walk kept her productive and pliable.
Her aging body needed all the help it could muster. Her day consisted of a desk job in front of a computer. That job paid the bills. Her night job also included a computer and way too much sitting. She wished that one would pay the bills. She was a writer and that was her passion. And she loved being able to do it from her home.
She deliberated with herself about taking her walk now or just skipping it until tomorrow morning. But, she knew she would never be able to move her body by then if she missed doing it.
Why did it have to get dark so early?
She never walked at night and it really did not please her one bit to do so. The cold October air exhilarated her, at least a little. Maybe it would serve to help her get through it.
The neighborhood was safe enough. The subdivision was a mile long from one end to the other with a cul-de-sac on either end. A very rural area, her morning walks were filled with beautiful sights and sounds. Not at night, however. It seemed almost unrecognizable.
Shoot! I forgot the mace……
She left it on the table near the front door. It was attached to her little compass key chain.
Jubilee State Park surrounded the area and while the colors were splendid this time of year in the Midwest, the crunch of the leaves as she took each step began to annoy her. With nothing but darkness around her, the crunching only sent shivers up her spine. At times it was as if there was an echo to the crunch as if someone was walking behind her.
She knew she was just letting her imagination get to her, but it was creepy and eerie, none the less. She knew nothing of any great danger ever happened in the little town of Brimfield.
There’s always that first time….
Geesh! Her mind was working overtime today. She told herself everything was fine and coming up to the one mile mark in just a few minutes, she’d be on her way back in no time. The walk back always seemed quicker.
The residents were all young families with grade school-aged children. She had been there longer than any of them. She thought it odd, though, how quiet it was tonight. There usually were kids playing basketball in their driveway……some until nine o’clock, at least. Not tonight, though. All seemed so quiet. Not even a passing car except for one squad car that seemed to be circling the neighborhood for the last fifteen minutes or so.
Well, there, you see…..nothing to worry about. Wouldn’t it just be my bad luck, though. Stop it! Stop scaring yourself, silly.
As the goose bumps accumulated on her arms, she decided to pick up her pace and get this walk over with. She tripped over a stone it seemed and just as she jolted forward, she could swear she felt something...a hand...on her shoulder.
Glancing back into the darkness, but moving forward at the same time, a light from her neighbors house came on. Mary Dennison letting the cat out for the night, no doubt. She no longer had to worry about walking into a dark house, now that the electricity was back on. She was so close to home and anticipated getting inside and out of the mist that had begun to fall.
A few more steps……she thought she heard heavy breathing...other than her own.
No matter! She reached for the door handle and turned on the hall light. She just wanted a shower, her warm robe, a cup of tea and a good book.
What a crazy day! She thought. The doorbell chimed.
“Who on earth…..” She hated answering the door at night, especially if she wasn’t expecting anyone.
“Hello Ma'am! I’m sorry for the disturbance, but this is a public service warning. There is an escapee from the Joliet prison, possibly in this area and we just want to make sure all windows and doors are locked up good and tight tonight.”
She immediately checked and locked all the windows and doors. She went to her bedroom, but not before she grabbed a butcher knife from the kitchen. With all the lights left on and all the shades and curtains drawn, Stacey curled up in her bed...eyes wide open.
“No need for alarm...just a public service warning,” echoed in her head…the rest of the night.
Always upbeat and positive, Stacey found it difficult to be that way today. The electricity was knocked out by the storm last night and had given her an unwanted opportunity to sleep in. She had an early morning meeting, for which she was already late.
Stacey lit a candle to illuminate the bathroom for a quick shower, but no time for a cuppa and even worse, no time for her two mile walk. That walk was like breathing or brushing her teeth in the morning. Without it, her body stiffened up like the tin man without his oil can. Her daily walk kept her productive and pliable.
Her aging body needed all the help it could muster. Her day consisted of a desk job in front of a computer. That job paid the bills. Her night job also included a computer and way too much sitting. She wished that one would pay the bills. She was a writer and that was her passion. And she loved being able to do it from her home.
She deliberated with herself about taking her walk now or just skipping it until tomorrow morning. But, she knew she would never be able to move her body by then if she missed doing it.
Why did it have to get dark so early?
She never walked at night and it really did not please her one bit to do so. The cold October air exhilarated her, at least a little. Maybe it would serve to help her get through it.
The neighborhood was safe enough. The subdivision was a mile long from one end to the other with a cul-de-sac on either end. A very rural area, her morning walks were filled with beautiful sights and sounds. Not at night, however. It seemed almost unrecognizable.
Shoot! I forgot the mace……
She left it on the table near the front door. It was attached to her little compass key chain.
Jubilee State Park surrounded the area and while the colors were splendid this time of year in the Midwest, the crunch of the leaves as she took each step began to annoy her. With nothing but darkness around her, the crunching only sent shivers up her spine. At times it was as if there was an echo to the crunch as if someone was walking behind her.
She knew she was just letting her imagination get to her, but it was creepy and eerie, none the less. She knew nothing of any great danger ever happened in the little town of Brimfield.
There’s always that first time….
Geesh! Her mind was working overtime today. She told herself everything was fine and coming up to the one mile mark in just a few minutes, she’d be on her way back in no time. The walk back always seemed quicker.
The residents were all young families with grade school-aged children. She had been there longer than any of them. She thought it odd, though, how quiet it was tonight. There usually were kids playing basketball in their driveway……some until nine o’clock, at least. Not tonight, though. All seemed so quiet. Not even a passing car except for one squad car that seemed to be circling the neighborhood for the last fifteen minutes or so.
Well, there, you see…..nothing to worry about. Wouldn’t it just be my bad luck, though. Stop it! Stop scaring yourself, silly.
As the goose bumps accumulated on her arms, she decided to pick up her pace and get this walk over with. She tripped over a stone it seemed and just as she jolted forward, she could swear she felt something...a hand...on her shoulder.
Glancing back into the darkness, but moving forward at the same time, a light from her neighbors house came on. Mary Dennison letting the cat out for the night, no doubt. She no longer had to worry about walking into a dark house, now that the electricity was back on. She was so close to home and anticipated getting inside and out of the mist that had begun to fall.
A few more steps……she thought she heard heavy breathing...other than her own.
No matter! She reached for the door handle and turned on the hall light. She just wanted a shower, her warm robe, a cup of tea and a good book.
What a crazy day! She thought. The doorbell chimed.
“Who on earth…..” She hated answering the door at night, especially if she wasn’t expecting anyone.
“Hello Ma'am! I’m sorry for the disturbance, but this is a public service warning. There is an escapee from the Joliet prison, possibly in this area and we just want to make sure all windows and doors are locked up good and tight tonight.”
She immediately checked and locked all the windows and doors. She went to her bedroom, but not before she grabbed a butcher knife from the kitchen. With all the lights left on and all the shades and curtains drawn, Stacey curled up in her bed...eyes wide open.
“No need for alarm...just a public service warning,” echoed in her head…the rest of the night.