A Walk In The Woods | Previous Challenge Entry

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TITLE: A Walk In The Woods | Previous Challenge Entry
By Brenda Rice
07/27/16
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When I was six, I lived way out in the country in rural Alabama. My brother Ben was 11, and he was often left in charge of me when our parents were at work.

One day on my way to gather the eggs, I walked by Dad’s big thermometer hanging on the fence. It read 100 degrees. Welcome to summer in Alabama. My brother said we were going swimming at the creek when our chores were done.

While inside the chicken house, I heard a man talking to Ben. I continued to gather the warm eggs. I was ready to get my chores done. Shielding my eyes as I emerged from the hen house, I saw a tall man that I recognized as our neighbor Garry.

“Hey there Mandy. Ben told me y’all were going to the creek. I told him to go ahead. I’ll walk you through the woods when you finish your chores. Hurry up now. Ben will get worried if we don’t get there soon.”

As I recall, I thought it odd that Ben would leave me, but Garry was a close friend of my dad’s. I headed to the house being careful not to break the eggs. Once inside, I changed into my swimsuit, grabbed a towel, two bottles of water, then I headed to meet Garry.

“I got me and Ben some water. Do you need some?”

“Naw sweetie, I drink it right outa the creek. Let’s get going now.”

Smiling in anticipation of the cool water waiting for me, I hurried along the well-worn path ahead of Garry. I would never walk through the woods alone, but with big ole Garry, I felt perfectly safe.

As we got closer to the creek, I listened to see if I could hear Ben hoopin’ and hollerin’ as he swung from the rope into the deepest swimming hole in the creek. I didn’t hear him. Maybe he had taken a breather.

Excitement caused me to break into a trot. Still Garry was bringing up the rear. When I entered the clearing at the creek, I scanned for Ben. “Ben where are you?” I yelled.

The silence that answered my call confused me. Ben was anything but quiet. Where was he? I turned to Garry. He was staring at me with a strange look on his face. “Where’s Ben?” I demanded.

Why wasn’t Garry answering me? Why wasn’t he doing something to find Ben? Suddenly my heart started racing. A strange feeling I had never felt before was going all over me.

“He’s not here Mandy. It’s just you and me now. I’ve wanted to spend time with you for a while. Your dad said I could take you swimming. You know me. I’m a friend."

“But you said Ben would be here. I’m going to find him.”

In a sudden move, Garry’s hands rested on my shoulders. I pulled as hard as I could, but he was strong, real strong. I began kicking, biting, and yelling bloody murder. It was about that time I realized no one was coming to help me.

I can’t describe how I felt or what I knew deep inside. I was certain the fear I felt was because something bad was going to happen to me, and that something bad had already happened to Ben.

As a child, I had no understanding of the things Garry did to me. My pain was intense. I screamed until I could no longer make a sound. My voice was literally silenced that day.

After what seemed to be hours, Garry told me to get dressed and he did too. “Now listen carefully Mandy. We are going home before your parents come in from work. If you want your parents to live, you won’t tell ‘em anything except that I took you to the creek to meet Ben. Do you understand?”

I didn’t answer, because I didn’t understand. Garry was our friend. My dad let him take me swimming. Where was my brother? My mind raced through everything I thought I knew, but nothing made sense.

“Mandy do you want your parents to die?” His strong hands tightened on my trembling shoulders. “It’s up to you. If you tell our secret, they will die.”

My folks died a few years ago. I’m old, mute, and living in an assisted living home. They never knew what happened to Ben, but Garry knew.

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