My parents were out when I got home. I ran to my room, dropped the backpack on my bed and ran into the bathroom. I fell to my knees and a wave of nausea and panic surged through me. I wretched, gagged and a thick sludge of vomit erupted from my stomach. Tears stung my eyes and snot clogged my nose. Again I heaved and felt my body rebel against the terror and the strain put on it by running so fast so long. I laid my head against the cold porcelain edge of the toilet, I didn't even give a fuck, and groaned softly. Soft hiccups and heaves went through me and slowly I reached a trembling hand up to flush the toilet. I peeled the thorn ripped day-glo Snoopy t-shirt off ( I had gotten it last summer in an Atlantic City head shop on holiday with my mom and her cousin and her two daughters.)1
"Fuck", I whispered in tired resignation. The shirt was a loss. I dropped in the trash and as the last whirls of the toilet and the clunk of water pipes stilled, I turned on the shower, yanked my muddy jeans off, tugged my dirty, stiff crew socks off and the Fruit-of-the-Loom jockeys. I balled them up and dumped them in the hamper. I stood under the hot water and leaned my head forward on the tile wall. To this day I don't feel clean unless I take a hot shower, even in, actually especially in the summer, no matter how hot and humid it is. Drives my wife crazy.2
"How can you stand that hot water when it's do sticky outside?"3
"I don't feel clean" I always say to her. God after 20 years of marriage you would think she'd know that by now.4
I started, was I day dreaming? I felt like I had lost time. I felt like I had just re-entered myself. had I fallen asleep standing in the shower?5
I thought I had heard a strange woman's voice asking me why I liked to take hot showers.6
The water was getting cooler, so I rinsed off and stepped out. As I dried off I went into my room and looked at the digital clock radio in my room. It was 3:25. This was one of the first digital clocks made as far as I knew. It was a series of metal flaps with numbers on them in what was similar to a Rolodex. A small tab rode up and at each new minute a flap dropped revealing the time. I thought it was as cool as hell. Especially since it also had a radio. AM and FM. But back then the only thing on FM was creepy soulless crap, later to be dubbed Muzak, Classical and Talk radio. Not slick talk, with DJ's like Howard Stern, but boring old guys and wacko callers. No, AOR (album oriented rock to you youngsters) FM rock was not there yet so we had two choices: 1460 WFEC or 1260 WKBO. Pop rock, lots of talk and cheesy DJs we all thought ruled the world. It was the early 1970's and you didn't get much better then Three Dog Night, Grand Funk, Deep Purple or Sly and The Family Stone. Clapton was Derrick, The Eagles were Takin' It easy and Jimmy Buffett was just Livin' and Dyin' in 3/4 Time. 7
I finished toweling off and dropped the wet towel on the floor. I pulled on a new T-shirt and my gym shorts. flopped on the bed and opened up the bag. I took a deep breath and reached in, taking out the card box. As I rolled on my back to examine it, I heard a small but heavy clink as something metal fell off the bed. I looked over the edge and saw the key laying in a pool of sunlight. I set the box down and reached to get the key. It seemed to jerk away from my fingers. I mus have tapped it with my finger. I reached down and picked it up. It was warm, heavy in my hands. It was one of the old keys that had a ring on the end and long rod for a shaft and then a block of teeth at the business end. 8
"Cool", I whispered as I looked over the blackened, aged metal. 9
I sat up and rested the key on my palm, looking at it, eyeing the workmanship. I felt a slight tingle in my palm and as I watched, slowly, it seemed to roll..No it was rolling. It must have been off balance, but then it stopped and started rolling the other way. 10
"What the fuck?" I whispered hoarsely and I dropped it as if it were a spider in my hand. The skin on my palm still felt electric, cold.11
I shock my head and laughed dryly. 12
"I'm seeing things. Over active imagination."13
I reached down and picked it up, but it felt normal. heavy, just an old key.14
"Sure, just like running from shadows. I mean who wouldn't have freaked in that old house? I can't believe I actually went inside that fucker" I laughed softly at my own bravery. 15
In fact, overtime the memory of that day seemed to evaporate like a half forgotten dream. The books lay forgotten in the mess under my bed. The key sat on my dresser and the card box just sat on my bedside table. All forgotten, but still lurking in memory.16
By the time my parents came back and announced we were going to Pierre's for dinner, all I remembered was chasing minnows and crayfish n the stream and racing home with Doug and Mike. In fact the only solid effect that seemed to linger after that day was the gradual deterioration of our friendship. We didn't become enemies or anything that dramatic, we just saw less and less of each other. By high school we were like casual acquaintances. It would have been hard to believe that a few years earlier we were inseparable.
Author notes
The saga continues.After discovering an old house three boys brave going in. One in an uncharacteristic act takes a bo of what are discribed as tarot cards found on old table. He also breaks into a book case and takes several old books that seem to be old grimoires. What is so odd about teh place that aside from being old and covered in dust it is, aside from some weathering seems to be in great condition. But there is also a sense of true emptyness, not even a squirrel runs in the rafters, no spiders have made webs in teh cornors. It is truely dead. I guess at this juncture I should say that alot of this is based on real events in my childhood. There was a house, it was rather hidden and I did go in it...the rest I leave to you
What did you think? Please comment!
Comments
1 - 7 of 7
-
Amethest, re-caps added, enjoy
-
This was once again very good Dark Prince... I especially love the part in this episode where you described the 70's.... oh, the memories!! You have a very gripping style of writing and I for one can't wait to read more. Keep going!
-
Well you do know how to write and keep some one intrested . Is that a turm do sticky or was that a typo so sticky ? I enjoyed the read so I will go and read the first 3 chapters now .
-
I didn't understand it very well because I only read this part perhaps if you did a quick recap would have helped. I'm confused about what happened in the house too.
-
very nice storybase. I li[new IM] dying2die: i'll go read it right now
[new System Message] Confused Crow (im) made a comment on Never Worry I Shalt Never Rush (reply):
'This was a good poem. Very loving. Nice! I'm glad your one of the ones who don't want to push anyone into anything. That's really good. Nice write. Keep it up!!! Thanks for sharing. L8erz
+!~Confused CRow~!+'.
Applaud this comment?
Won't you return the favor?
[new System Message] lady8 (im) applauded your poem Never Worry I Shalt Never Rush
Thanks for clicking! You get an extra 3 points if you critique this piece, plus the author would appreciate it!
The Key Part 4
by Dark Prince on Apr 08 (Story) (bookmark) (print) (next)
A story from Storywrite.com (focus on stories)
Author's Last Login: 8 minutes ago
In Category: Science Fiction. 11 views this week.
My parents were out when I got home. I ran to my room, dropped the backpack on my bed and ran into the bathroom. I fell to my knees and a wave of nausea and panic surged through me. I wretched, gagged and a thick sludge of vomit erupted from my stomach. Tears stung my eyes and snot clogged my nose. Again I heaved and felt my body rebel against the terror and the strain put on it by running so fast so long. I laid my head against the cold porcelain edge of the toilet, I didn't even give a fuck, and groaned softly. Soft hiccups and heaves went through me and slowly I reached a trembling hand up to flush the toilet. I peeled the thorn ripped day-glo Snoopy t-shirt off ( I had gotten it last summer in an Atlantic City head shop on holiday with my mom and her cousin and her two daughters.)
"Fuck", I whispered in tired resignation. The shirt was a loss. I dropped in the trash and as the last whirls of the toilet and the clunk of water pipes stilled, I turned on the shower, yanked my muddy jeans off, tugged my dirty, stiff crew socks off and the Fruit-of-the-Loom jockeys. I balled them up and dumped them in the hamper. I stood under the hot water and leaned my head forward on the tile wall. To this day I don't feel clean unless I take a hot shower, even in, actually especially in the summer, no matter how hot and humid it is. Drives my wife crazy.
"How can you stand that hot water when it's do sticky outside?"
"I don't feel clean" I always say to her. God after 20 years of marriage you would think she'd know that by now.
I started, was I day dreaming? I felt like I had lost time. I felt like I had just re-entered myself. had I fallen asleep standing in the shower?
I thought I had heard a strange woman's voice asking me why I liked to take hot showers.
The water was getting cooler, so I rinsed off and stepped out. As I dried off I went into my room and looked at the digital clock radio in my room. It was 3:25. This was one of the first digital clocks made as far as I knew. It was a series of metal flaps with numbers on them in what was similar to a Rolodex. A small tab rode up and at each new minute a flap dropped revealing the time. I thought it was as cool as hell. Especially since it also had a radio. AM and FM. But back then the only thing on FM was creepy soulless crap, later to be dubbed Muzak, Classical and Talk radio. Not slick talk, with DJ's like Howard Stern, but boring old guys and wacko callers. No, AOR (album oriented rock to you youngsters) FM rock was not there yet so we had two choices: 1460 WFEC or 1260 WKBO. Pop rock, lots of talk and cheesy DJs we all thought ruled the world. It was the early 1970's and you didn't get much better then Three Dog Night, Grand Funk, Deep Purple or Sly and The Family Stone. Clapton was Derrick, The Eagles were Takin' It easy and Jimmy Buffett was just Livin' and Dyin' in 3/4 Time.
I finished toweling off and dropped the wet towel on the floor. I pulled on a new T-shirt and my gym shorts. flopped on the bed and opened up the bag. I took a deep breath and reached in, taking out the card box. As I rolled on my back to examine it, I heard a small but heavy clink as something metal fell off the bed. I looked over the edge and saw the key laying in a pool of sunlight. I set the box down and reached to get the key. It seemed to jerk away from my fingers. I mus have tapped it with my finger. I reached down and picked it up. It was warm, heavy in my hands. It was one of the old keys that had a ring on the end and long rod for a shaft and then a block of teeth at the business end.
"Cool", I whispered as I looked over the blackened, aged metal.
I sat up and rested the key on my palm, looking at it, eyeing the workmanship. I felt a slight tingle in my palm and as I watched, slowly, it seemed to roll..No it was rolling. It must have been off balance, but then it stopped and started rolling the other way.
"What the fuck?" I whispered hoarsely and I dropped it as if it were a spider in my hand. The skin on my palm still felt electric, cold.
I shock my head and laughed dryly.
ke the way u did this part the best: -
Please do, I need some feed back. And inspiration to help me find out where it's headed
-
So far, so good. I think I'm going to have to read the other chapters and then comment on them.
Adding your comment:
1 - 7 of 7
