Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: DISGUISE (08/12/21)
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TITLE: Thwarted Disguise | Previous Challenge Entry
By Laura Manley
08/19/21 -
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“Anderson residence.” After all, I was just the babysitter. No response. “Anderson residence,” I said again, my heart picking up its beat. Still no answer. And then… C-L-I-C-K. I placed the receiver back and cautiously moved toward the sofa, puzzled, and scared. Who would be calling after midnight? Who would be calling and hanging up?
Listening intently to any unfamiliar sounds, I made my way back to the sofa. I pulled the blanket up around my neck. I wondered if mother would be up. This wouldn’t be the first time she had come over two doors down and sat with me. Before I could finish my thought, the phone blared out again.
Did I want to answer it? No! Should I answer it? Probably. My clammy hands reached for the phone once again. This time, I simply answered “Hello.” On the other end, a muffled voice said, “I know who you are, and I know where you are.” I gasped for air and immediately thrust the phone’s receiver into the air. It hit the floor with a crashing thud. Fear immobilized me but I managed to retrieve the phone and hang it up.
Had I checked the lock on the back door? Had I done my methodical check on all the windows before dark? Beads of sweat formed on my brow. I fought the urge to throw up. Should I call my mom? I said a silent prayer asking God to bring the Andersons home quickly and to protect me and the children in my care.
As I crept toward the well-worn sofa, motion at the dining room window sent chills through my entire body. I froze momentarily as I saw the outline of a man’s head on the window shade. Who was there? Why were they there? I needed to move but my feet felt like they were encased in a bucket of cement.
Finally, I forcibly moved my feet towards the phone. I dialed the familiar number and listened for an answer. My body shook like a blender crushing ice. I heard my mother’s sleepy-sounding voice. “Hello,” she answered. “Mom,” I whispered into the phone. “Someone’s outside the Anderson’s house. I’m afraid they’re going to break in.”
“Hang up. I’m going to call the police. We’ll be over as soon as we get dressed.” Tearing up, I hung up at my mother’s direction.
Sirens blared in the darkness, then stopped. My stomach in knots, and my feet protesting, I made my way to the front door when I heard several knocks.
“Police Department,” I heard a strong voice yell out. Just then I heard some rustling at the side of the house and voices becoming louder. “Get on the ground, NOW!” one voice demanded.
“Police Department,” I heard once again. I peered through the sheer at the front door window and spotted the officer standing on the porch. Behind him was another officer with someone in a face mask wearing a hat.
“Good evening, Miss. We’re responding to a call about someone lurking around this house. Do you recognize this young man?” They removed his hat and mask.
Suddenly, there was no fear, merely anger. Yes, I knew that young man. I identified him for the police. “Yes, sir, that’s my brother.”
I had lived with overwhelming fears for the good part of my life and my brother knew it. He had disguised himself in our dad’s dress hat and roamed around the outside where I was babysitting to scare me. Although I was sure he thought it was funny, he wasn’t laughing now.
“Do you want to press charges, Miss?” Just then, mom and dad showed up. Dad talked to one of the officers. Punishment would be left to my parents, but not before one of the officers gave my brother a good talking to. At the end of that thrashing. I was sure he had learned his lesson. If not, my parents would see that he had.
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AUTHOR’S NOTE: This is a true story. I continued experiencing my mostly unfounded fears until a special day in May 1980 when I accepted Jesus as my personal Lord and Saviour. My fears were the first thing he removed from me.
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