deepundergroundpoetry.com

(working title only) Killing Your Own (added 02 Mar 2015)

Struggling to make my grades, deal with finals, taking care of the house and Daddy, and trying not to think about how much I was missing Momma, I was spending extra time at the public library after school to work on my term papers. Daddy stressed to me, over and over, not to worry about him or the house. He wanted better for me than this little hollow town, deep in coal mining county, could ever offer me. He didn't want me settling down for second best and marrying a local boy, liable to die of the same cancer that was starting to spread through Daddy's lungs. He didn't think I knew, but with paper thin walls, how could I not know the tale tell signs of the cough that kept me awake most nights.

It was on one of those late afternoons at the library that Stern Justice came upon me. I was so caught up in my studies that I never noticed the intent glare Stern had cast upon me, nor did I notice the "change" when it finally overtook him. Blindly going about my business, I finished up my book work and gathered my belongings to leave. Looking around, I noticed that besides the librarian, no one else seemed to be in the building and it was much later than I thought. The sun was slowly starting its decent behind the mountains and if I didn't hurry, it would be full dark before I reached the front porch. As I passed through the library doors and stepped outside, I never noticed Stern lurking in the corner, eyes still fixed upon me...

My mind was on getting home before dark and starting supper for me and Daddy. I had already stuffed the peppers with the venison meat from the buck Daddy had shot early in the hunting season. All I needed to do was open a couple cans of tomatoe sauce and pop the cassorole dish into the oven to cook. While thinking about all this and just plain hurrying home, I didn't hear Stern's footsteps approaching from behind me. Suddenly, I was being tackled from behind and before I knew what was happening, Stern dragged me into the bush along the pathway to my family's property. Covering my mouth with his large hands, I was unable to scream out. I struggled as best I could against Stern as he kept one hand over my mouth and with his other hand and arm, he was wrapping me so close and tight to his body that I knew I was about to pass out.