Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: War and Peace (not about the book) (07/07/11)
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TITLE: Tricky Trails | Previous Challenge Entry
By Kim Hamlin
07/14/11 -
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“Dr. Halcyon, I don’t think you appreciate what I’m trying to tell you. The noise in my house and my office is deafening. No one should be expected to live in these conditions. I just need a break. I don’t think you understand how important it is that I get away from here.”
Dr. Halcyon silently continued to write in his notebook, the sound of his pen scratching the paper, causing Irene’s neck muscles to creep even closer together and tighten. She wondered if he would ever stop writing and start talking. She had planned this for months. She had conveniently placed Dr. Halcyon’s advertisement in with the mail, the mail her husband always went through. After painstakingly exhibiting signs of mild psychosis for weeks, the advertisement was the ticket home. Tristan hesitantly suggested that Dr. Halcyon might be helpful to talk to, and offered to make an appointment for her. She pretended to grudgingly agree.
Irene wanted nothing more than to take a vacation away from Tristan, away from the kids, away from the noise. But, the only way to do that would be to convince them she was nuts. Dr. Halcyon had recommended a peaceful paradise for her friend, Lori, who had written to her about it. Tranquil Trails would be the perfect solution for her noise-addled mind. Nestled in the Albany Accord, the spa had rejuvenating waters, well-equipped cabins, walking trails and, most importantly, it had quiet.
That’s when she had begun her crusade. She began by not answering when Tristan was talking to her. She would stare into space, even after he repeated himself over and over again. She stopped having sex with him altogether. She deliberately placed groceries in the wrong place, like the peanut butter in the refrigerator. She stopped picking the kids up from school. She stopped having manicures and pedicures and she stopped eating. This was enough to get her husband to start showing concern for her and when she found the advertisements, she covertly placed them in his paper and in the mail. It finally worked.
Tristan was relieved when his wife agreed to see Dr. Halcyon. He hadn’t wanted to tell her he wanted a divorce when she seemed to be having such a difficult time, but he wanted to make sure that he ended their marriage cleanly before she found out about Lori. She didn’t seem to listen to anything he said, but the conversation regarding the doctor seemed to stir her senses. He felt that deep down she must know there was a problem and was now going to do something about it. He felt that at least she would be able to have a relationship with her kids someday.
When Irene got off the bus in Albany, there was a man with a white jacket and a clipboard that asked her for her name. She gave it to him, thinking he must be one of the camp counselors that Dr. Halcyon told her about.
“Well Ms. Irene, it’s nice to meet you, you can call me Doc, please join us over here.”
Irene followed Doc to a small group of people gathered next to a red mini-van.
“Alright people, we are going to load the van now. No pushing or shoving, there’s room for everyone. Single file please.”
Irene was mildly irritated by being talked to like a child, but pushed those thoughts away as she got into the mini-van and took a seat. Soon, even the noise of the van and the chatter of the other passengers didn’t bother her. She was soaking in the sight of the curvy road leading to Tranquil Trails, with wildlife and lush greenery. Finally, she would have peace.
Irene doesn’t remember arriving at Tranquil Trails, but she is realizing now that the shrill screaming she hears is coming from her own raspy throat, because a jacket is being fastened behind her.
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