Attention

Wanted posters shout:

Looking for elusive 

Self Esteem -

Criminal Outlaw

Crusher of dreams

Destroyer of hope

No reward 

Middle

Neither loud nor silent

Not gorgeous or ugly 

That horrible in between

Where no one notices you

Lost in the moat of plainness 

That divides the extremes

Possible to drown 

Without fanfare 

Better to fade unnoticed

Don't worry the edges

TwitterShort Challenge 4

 

 

                After spending forty-five minutes in a high intensity workout on the treadmill, I thought I would reward myself with a cup of hot tea. Naturally. Because after working out your heart to near explosion and sweating your ass off, it only made sense to drink a scalding hot beverage. I was going to show those bathroom scales who the boss was. Afterward tea always seemed to be the right way to calm myself.

                I had just placed the teapot from the cupboard on the counter when I heard a noise from the front room. My roommate was visiting family in Peoria, and I knew she wasn’t supposed to be home for another day. My jacked up heart rate only went higher. I couldn’t remember if I had locked the front door or not. And someone was definitely in my brownstone.

                I looked all over my kitchen for some kind of weapon. A travel coffee cup wouldn’t amount to much. Neither would the staple gun I’d brought from school since it was empty. The only thing left to grab was the cast iron pan.

                I grabbed the heavy skillet and headed toward the living room, hoping the intruder was still in the hallway. My first floor made a circle with the front door hallway, dining room, kitchen, and living room. I didn’t dare peek from the dining room to see if he was there.

                I crept as quietly as I could. My naked feet were soft on the Persian rug that covered the threshold between the kitchen and living room. I saw a shadow of the man thrown on the wall by the front door. I clutched my pan with both hands and drew it back over my shoulder. My knees were shaky. I was so jacked up on adrenaline and fear that I felt like I had no bones. I was certain a rubber chicken would have more ability to stand upright.

                I summoned all the courage I could and charged the man. I swung the cast iron with every bit of strength I had. With that one swing I remembered why I never made the softball team. Total whiff.

                “Jayzus Krryss, Eleanerr! Whahter y’doon?” the figure shouted as he ducked.

                There was no mistaking the accent.

                “Holy fuck, Tommy. I’m so sorry.” My face turned scarlet as my neighbor turned to look at me.

                “I goht a piece a’ yerr mail. Saw th’ door wa’zohpun.”

                “The door was open?” I asked, fear one more grabbing my heart.

                Suddenly a crash came from the kitchen.

                Someone, or something, was definitely in my brownstone.

 

 

Stagnant

I've been here too long

My feet are itchy

And my legs want to stretch

The streets and winding roads that

Threaten to swallow me

In their familiarity 

Push me to seek 

Adventure

Newness

Something that makes me 

Feel once more

Something to finally break 

Monotony 

And allow me to grow

Something that says it's ok

To smile

Fades

Watching the time tick

Fumbling the lock pick

Lost in a small park

Crying in pitch dark

Making a small sound

Wishing to be found

Holding a rose fast

Praying it will last

Portal to a heart

Knowing it's false start 

Falling

Imagine courage 

Enough to jump but then not

Enough weight to die 

Share

When feeling becomes

Harder to bear alone

Everyone surrounding you 

Runs away

Everything is confusing

Architecture crumbles

Rivers run dry

Energy is stolen

You do your best to be

Optimistic however

Unsuccessful