When I was a small child, I would always play by the docks on my grandparent's lake. I vividly recall dangling my feet off the docks and having the seaweed softly tickle my toes. Seeing my reflection is the cool dark water made me feel light and giddy, often resulting in me diving head first into the murky lake. It's been several months since I've last been there. My grandfather recently had some heart issues and has been resting in the neighboring hospital, seeing as though the lake house is far out of town. I've offered to help them maintain the house until grandpa recovered, my grandmother was exceedingly grateful. So that brings me here typing this story for whoever willing to read it. Looking out of the sliding glass door that borders …show more content…
I think nothing of it and reach my hand down and drum my fingers against the couch cushion. When she doesn't prance her way in my direction I look up. The calypso cat wasn't even focused on me or my wiggling fingers. She looks straight past me and concentrated on the glass door. I follow her eye line to see a shape on the bottom of the deck. It was a dog, a big beige colored dog. This hadn't struck me as odd at first, seeing as though a lot of the pets at my grandparent's house are allowed to run outside, mostly because the neighbors let their pets run wild as well. I could see it breathing, its ribs were expanding and contracting in a smoothly timed rhythm. Its bones looked explicit against its tight skin almost like it was too small for it. I felt my skin brush with goosebumps, I don't know why I felt terrified at the sight of this creature. Its back was faced towards me so I couldn't see its head, only its hunched back, broad shoulders and long canine legs. The thing that scared me the most was its' perfect way of breathing, every movement seemed exaggerated like it wasn't breathing just pretending to. I hear a low growl from behind me, a soft fear filled rumble that only can be heard from an animal fueled with pure terror. I saw its head twice and slowly rotate towards the window, that's when I shrieked. Its head rotated up, like to look at the sky but it kept going til I saw its wide wild
In the mornings, my cat often takes up a post on my chest. His presence is heralded by a chirpy meow and four quarter-sized points of pressure where his feet make contact; as he relaxes, he settles into a loud, rhythmic purr, and the pressure of his 16 pounds is more evenly distributed across my ventral torso. If I'm slow to open my eyes, he reaches out a paw and gently pricks my face with his claws enough to make an impression but not do real damage. When I do open my eyes, I see the triangles of his ears, the dense, velvety blackness of his fur and the sheen of his nose; his yellow irises are thin rings around his dilated pupils in the dim, early light. Suppose I experienced all of those sensations up to the point of opening my eyes the pressure of my cat's weight and the pricks of his claws, his meowing and his purr and then I opened my eyes to the absence of any visual evidence of a cat.
It was a beautiful summer day when it happened. I was enjoying the fresh air and the amazing view of Walden Pond. The sun was shining and a slight breeze blew across my face. I love standing still and listening to the swishing of the leaves and the soft feet of animals running through the grounds.
I try to walk faster so that I can finally get to my destination but the walked seem like it was taking years to go there. As if the walk through the dark valley would never end. The full moon was shining very bright and the stars were out as I heard the sound of the gust wind, I don’t know why my heart began to beat faster, faster and faster. So then I began to run because of how frightened I was, as I was running I tripped over that seemed to be hard almost as if it was a bone. I fell forward and landed on my face, having my face painted towards the grassy muddy ground. As soon as I tried to get myself up something was licking my ear and screamed so loud that my echo was heard in the valley. I looked to where it was licking my ear and noticed it was a black dog with grey eyes. I was trying to figure out if he was a wolf or a dog but then I noticed his tongue and teeth and knew it was a dog. The dog seemed to want to play with me he immediately continued to lick me as I was scared for my life. I finally got up and walked away because I just wanted to go home where I was safe. The dog continued to follow me right behind me every step of the way. I began to run so that he stopped following but I was wrong he ran with me and even faster than me. He continued to follow me until I was home, I stepped inside my house and he wanted to step inside too. At that point I felt really bad for the dog and let him in. Something about this dog brought my attention so I decided that I would keep him as my
One day when I was five years old I recall my grandfather asking "Steve, why don't, you go with us to Minnesota next week?" My grandfather was a very important person to me, until he died in 1986. I spent every possible moment of my life either with him or thinking about him. Everything he loved, I loved, and vice-versa. Being bored with my present lifestyle in Peoria and excited about traveling with my grandfather, I took up his offer. After a day long car ride with my father, uncle, and grandparents, I arrived at the location that would forever influence and inspire my life: Lost Lake, Minnesota.
“Failure isn’t fatal, but failure to change must be” – John Wooden. Wooden is trying to bring the positives out of failing rather than the negatives. For example, my championship little league baseball game, my team and I failed to win. After the game ended it affected me in a depressing way that made it a sad moment that we all worked so hard to get to, and give it up so easy to lose where I would never get a shot at redemption because it was my last year in the league. Almost like that year was a waste that we threw it away. Though I did not want to be negative about the situations, so I looked at the positives and I thought no matter how hard we all tired and all the effort we put it is was not a waste, the hard work and dedication brought us all so close that we learned how to work almost as if we were one.
Just as quickly as the being appears, it vanishes. Suddenly, flashing closer, I topple my chair when I jump up. The noise draws the animal’s attention and it looks at me, or tries to. The face is eerily similar to a human’s. Nose smushed into a grotesque feature, eyes white with the lids black like they are frostbitten. The mouth is yellow, cracked, and drooling bloody saliva. I grab my baseball bat from my desk. When I turn around, a split second later, it is gone. Slowly, I climb into bed, completely worn out. That whole night I do not find a wink of
“Come on, “ my counselor Emily screamed from shore. The quick rapids made it very difficult to dig our paddles into the river. My cabin was stopping to eat lunch on our Tuesday canoeing trip. On Saturday, we had traveled down to Brownstown, Indiana for a week full of friends, fun, and God. My church stayed at a retreat center called Pyoca. Every year on Tuesday, we would go on a canoeing or rafting trip depending on the water levels. Emily, Annabelle, my canoeing partner, and I sat along the sand bank waiting for other canoes to come in. Many other groups slowly went by, while we patiently waited for other groups to come in. I was so hungry, I couldn’t wait. Canoeing had zapped all of my energy, and had made me really hungry. I began to quickly wade out into the river, so I could help the other canoes come in faster. Someone screamed, “Be careful” from the bank. Nate Epple, a counselor of
I remember when summer was three months full of free time and having fun with your friends but as we grow up those days seem to thin out! This summer went by really fast for me. It seems like just yesterday we were finishing up the last day of my junior year. Although my summer was super busy I still had a pretty good time!
Have you ever had a moment in time that seems like minutes or hours even though it was only a few seconds? Have you ever seen everything before you play out in slow motion, where you are aware of everything around you, yet not knowing what was going on? I have, and as I look back on it, I feel very blessed and protected. On December 22, 01, I decided to take a little swim in our swimming pool and almost drowned. I still can remember it like yesterday. This incident almost cost me my life,
No place in my fifth-teen years have compared to it. The wonderful sound of the rippling water that is reflecting sunlight into my eyes on a warm day can’t be beat. Sitting on the deck balcony that could overlook the lake, the cool breeze could always enhance my mood. I could see and hear anything from here like the subtle buzz of the jet ski down in the lake. The jet ski created ripples of water behind it which created a v-shape. Branson, MO is a unique and meaningful place to me and my entire family.
What i saw was horrifying. this tall, bony creature had no eyes and it’s mouth was wide open like it’s jaw was broken. It had nothing on but the skin on it’s bones, long pointed fingers, and no hair on it’s head. I gasp in shock but quickly cover my mouth so it wouldn't hear me but it was too late, it heard me. I saw it stop and turn it’s head my way, oh god i think it saw me. I turn my head back and i can breath, my heart is pounding in my chest. The feeling of fear and adrenaline pumping through my veins. Then I heard it continue on to wherever it was heading, ok that was anticlimactic. As soon i heard it go out the door i quickly ran to the door and shut it before it had the chance to come back. Hopefully the door will hold ,whatever that
I awoke drenched sweat and my heart racing, I looked around the room frightened fearing that there is a monster hiding somewhere in my room. I wiped the sweat from my brow as I slowly and carefully get out of bed, shaking. I began walking down the darkened hallway towards the bathroom, turning on every light that I could find. As I got closer to the bathroom I began to see a creature with long arms and snake like hair. My heart began beating like a drum at a band concert, my eyes widened in fear. I so scared I couldn’t stop walking closer I couldn’t control myself. I finally snapped out of it and darted for the bathroom light. Once it was the thing that I thought was a creature is actually just our family hamper with socks and long shirts.
My cousin coerced me into getting into the water. I could see my toes as I stood in about a foot deep into the water. It was cold as ice at first but after a minute I was acclimated to it. A wave hurdled over me. As I raised my head above the water I used my strength and walked away from the tide hauling me into the Gulf of Mexico. I spit water from my mouth with revulsion. The taste of the water abated over time, and I did my best to not get more water in my mouth again. Something slimy brushed behind my back. As I looked over my shoulder I noticed it was just seaweed and I suddenly made a sigh of relief. I grasped it and threw it miles away from me. Well, I threw it as far as I could at least. My back laid on the water and birds were chirping above me. A wave tipped me off my back and quelled my peaceful moment. I had seen a car as I was walking back to shore that I didn’t recognize. I had set up a tent was a few cars down to the left of the car. The tide must have stirred me while I was in the
I feel nothing then everything at once. Everything goes black without a sudden notice i'm laying there numb trying to decipher what had just happened physically and mentally. Physically I was tingling everywhere my body was vibrating as if I was one with everything around me. A simplicity only the body can feel but the brain cannot explain. Why do I feel this? Is it because of my settle side effect of depression or is it because of the herb I solemnly inhaled and exhaled as if I have been practicing that patterned routine my whole life. Mentally I went from complete sobority to drowning. But not that kind of drowning where my lungs get filled with water and I choke for one last breath of air. No the kind of drowning that is within one. Drowning in my thoughts and feelings that have no meaning yet control every aspect of my pathetic uncontrollable reality tv show like life.
Swimming is a very competitive sport, and I was brought into it by my parents when they saw me at the very young age of 5 years showing incredible abilities towards swimming in the local pool. I went for my initial training through group learning. I learned all four strokes of swimming and was introduced to competitive swimming at the local YMCA.