Monster
The sun is going down soon. I look to the west and see the hints of orange and red on the horizon. A bird sings in a tree nearby. It’ll be going to bed soon. I don’t want to go to bed, but I don’t have a choice. I’m only seven.
I smile. I don’t need to go inside yet, though. I have a little more time. Turning my back to the sun, I gaze down at the ground. My shadow stretches out in front of me, taller than two of me stacked on top of each other would be. I push myself onto my tiptoes to make it grow a little more.
With
a giggle, I hold my arms out over my head, curling my fingers so they look like
menacing claws on the grass. I let out a vicious snarl. “Rawr!” I stomp my feet,
hunching slightly so I look like a giant monster in an old movie.
Stomp.
Stomp. “Rawr!”
My
shadow keeps growing as the sun dips lower. The blades of grass become a forest
of trees. An ant skitters past one of my shoes. I wave my clawed hands, and the
shadow envelopes the tiny creature.
Run, little one,
run! I think as I continue to claw at the air.
The ant disappears under a fallen twig, and I move
on.
I’m large. I’m the biggest thing in the world. I pause
at a boulder that sits on one corner of a flower bed. It isn’t a boulder today,
though. No. It’s pointed top makes it a mountain. I stand beside it and
consider the possibilities.
“Rawr!” It takes little effort to climb it, and I balance
precariously on the tip. Raising my arms high over my head, I make my shadow
spread across as much of the yard as possible. I am gigantic. Cicadas drone in
the background as I savor my moment of triumph in the warm summer evening.
“Laura!”
My mom’s voice tears me from the moment, and I
scramble down from my perch. I can’t see her thanks to the hedge surrounding
the patio, but I know she’s waiting there by the door.
“It’s time to come inside!” she calls.
“I’m coming!” I reply.
I turn to make my way back to the house, my shadow
now invisible behind me.
1. SUBMIT your name to the list below on the publication of your entry. Add DL after your name. (DirectLink) We will no longer add your Direct Link.
| 1. | Olga Godim - DL | 10. | Elephant's Child -DL | 19. | Bernadette Braganza - DL | |
| 2. | Denise Covey - DL | 11. | Kalpana | 20. | Christopher Scott | |
| 3. | Yolanda Renee - DL | 12. | usanbauryrouchardifeinPoetryDPost | 21. | Naughty Netherworld Press - DL | |
| 4. | Nilanjana Bose - DL | 13. | Jemima Pett - DL | 22. | DM Hanton - DL | |
| 5. | L.G. Keltner - DL | 14. | Sally | 23. | Jamie of uniquely maladjusted but fun | |
| 6. | Sonia Dogra - DL | 15. | Pat Garcia DL | 24. | Toi Thomas - DL | |
| 7. | Hilary Melton Butcher - DL | 16. | Jemi Fraser - DL | 25. | Karen Sather | |
| 8. | Sanhita Mukherjee - DL | 17. | Dixie J Jarchow - DL | 26. | Carole Stolz DL | |
| 9. | C. Lee McKenzie - DL | 18. | Rebecca Douglass | 27. | Roland Clarke |
