Everlasting-2

Instructions

Everlasting It was late December, a gloomy, dreary, time for all. In a little cottage next to some birch trees, a woman lived there with her husband and two babies, born just the night before. They were a joyful little family who banished all darkness from their lives. But that night, everything was different. As Mary Gates, their nosy neighbor’s daughter remembers, they were sitting stiffly, watching the clock. Not one of them made a sound. At exactly twelve pm, they drew the window blinds. There was a flash of green light, and little Mary Gates fell back on her little bottom in surprise. At one, she finally gathered the courage to walk into the house. It was empty. She searched the whole place, but all she found was a chair. One bed. Two cradles. A chair. Finally, tired and worn out, she gave up. Thirteen years later, Lauren Walker sat in a classroom waiting for the torture of history class to end. “Miss Walker, who discovered gold in California, and what year was it?” came the droning voice of Mr. Elector. “Um, Levi Strauss in 1865?” she guessed, just blurting out a name and a date. The classroom erupted in laughter. Mr. Elector sighed. “Anyone else?” The classroom suddenly became silent. “Ooh! I know!” Miranda Hollister waved her hand in the air. “Yes?” “James W. Marshall discovered gold on January 24th, 1848.” said Miranda with a perfect smile. “Congratulations, Ms. Perfect. The millionth time you got an answer right.” muttered Lauren. “Miss Walker. Levi Strauss manufactured jeans. You will write a five-hundred word report on Levi Strauss and the history of denim jeans.” The whole class burst into uncontrollable laughter again. Lauren’s face was as red as a tomato, causing them to laugh even harder. The bell rang, and everyone grabbed their backpacks and headed off. Lauren was leaning against her locker, texting her friends. They were going to meet at Cold Stone after school for ice cream. While she texted, she fingered the white stone on a string hanging from her neck. A hand grabbed her phone, and she looked up. There stood Mr. Elector. “No texting after first bell. You can retrieve your phone after school in my office.” “But, Mr.-” “Yes?” Mr. Elector asked, gazing at her sternly. “The first bell hasn’t rung yet.” Mr. Elector slapped her across her face. She gasped and clutched at her cheek. Fiery pins and needles danced across her face. “You must learn to not talk back. Now the tardy bell has rung. Off to class!” yelled Mr. Elector. She just stupidly gaped at him. “NOW!” he shouted, pointing down the hall. Lauren’s head spun as she walked toward math. Mr. Elector never lied, never shouted, and he even sent her off to class late, without a hall pass! She walked into math class and received a demerit and a dirty look from the teacher. She had never gotten a demerit before. She sat and stared into space, wondering how she was going to tell her parents. The rest of the day, she drifted from class to class like a ghost. After school, she went to get her phone. Mr. Elector was at his desk, her pink phone next to his hand. “Get your phone, then get out. You do not belong here.” said Mr. Elector. Lauren grabbed her phone and ran out of school. As she walked down the street, she noticed a man leaning against a doorway, pretending to read a newspaper. He was watching her. He dropped his newspaper, and suddenly she was in a dark alleyway. A bunch of kids surrounded her. She could tell they were the normal snobby type, pampered, spoiled, rich. “Look! It’s a little five-year-old, all lost and afraid.” a boy sneered. The rest snickered. Lauren’s heart was beating so fast, she thought it would explode. They were closing in on her. Suddenly, a girl with red streaks in her glossy black hair smacked the boy in the face. “Back off, Ralph.” “So what Dung Beetle? Ya gonna hurt me? Don’t think so.” he sneered. Seconds later, he was backing out of the alley, clutching his face. The rest followed. “Don’t you think this is over.” he growled. “Oh, I’m pretty sure it isn’t.” the girl replied calmly. She held out her hand. “I’m Neela. Nice to meet you.”