Alone at Last (Toni)

The clouds turn from white to orange, red and purple as the sun says goodnight to the world surrounding it. The moon gently starts peaking over the horizon to light the way for those who roam at night. I've never cared much for sunsets. It's just the end of the day with a new day starting around the corner. I do like them though because it signals the end of the shift of working in the orchards. I've been working in the orchards since I was four. I would climb the tallest apple trees picking the best apples for the harvest, but now, I'm too tall to climb the trees. I'd probably end up falling and breaking something; instead, I stand at the bottom placing all the apples in the sack to haul to the shack after the work day is over. I would love to be small enough to climb to the tops of the trees again because my mother would still be part of my life. I catch the remaining few apples and place them in the sack.

I watch as the young children climb down from the trees searching frantically for their parents, and I'm immediately reminded of what it was like when I was younger. I remember what it was like being able to climb down the trees wondering where my mother was. I knew she had to work sacking the fruits, but I always knew which tree she was standing at the bottom of, but now I'm all alone working in this orchard. I don't have anyone to talk to. I'm not bothered by not talking to anyone though. I'd much rather be by myself away from everyone. I want to be alone. I can feel the anger building up inside of me as I watch the young children. It surges through my veins like hair spray feeding a fire. I'm not angry at these children or their mothers. I'm angry at my own mother. I can feel my hands start to form into fists, but I know acting out here wouldn't be the best idea. Relax. Calm down. The shift will be over with soon.

I drop my hands to the side and grab a sack of apples and throw it over my shoulder. I used to think they were heavy, but I gradually picked up the strength to carry them. These sacks could easily weigh more than I do. I wait until the last child climbs out of the tree I'm underneath before I haul the sack over to the barn. "Darius," I don't have to look to see who it is. I can tell by the sound of the voice. The voice is deep and hoarse. I only know one person in this district with this distinct sound. My uncle. I don't turn around to face him. I keep walking not wanting to talk to him. "Darius you better stop and listen to me now." I stop in my tracks not wanting to talk to him. I drop the sack of apples to the ground carefully not wanting to bust the sack. "Haven't you learned? I don't have to listen to you, and I won't listen to you. You aren't my mother." I don't have to look around to notice all eyes are on me and him.

"Oh, so you're going to play mister smart guy today? You know where that got you last time." I turn around and face him. The smile on his face makes me want to slap it off him, but with all the peacekeepers around, I would definitely get punished. I'll just wait until I can tie him up again and torture him like he did to me. I'll make him wish he never smarted off to me. I turn back around and pick up the sack of apples and carry them to the shack not listening to him shout obscenities behind me. "Uncle, how childish can you get? Don't you realize I'm just trying to do my job?" I ask as I continue walking. The anger surging through my veins becoming stronger with each breathe I take. My hands start trembling around the sack threatening to drop it at any minute. I fight myself to stay calm in front of others. It's not worth it. Just wait until you get home. It can wait until then. I drop the sack of apples off at the shack and turn to walk away.

I ignore my uncle. I can hear him running behind me. I can hear his voice getting full of anger as he gets closer to me, and it causes me to be filled with joy. I enjoy listening to him become angry. It's another way of saying I've won. I remember when I would stop when he was yelling at me, but it only caused me pain, so I realized if I kept going, he would become angry and eventually stop following me. This is the tactic I'm using now. "Darius stop right now!" I laugh at him because he's getting out of breath. I love it. I feel happy because it's tormenting him to know he has no control over me anymore. I broke free from him, and I'll never go back. "Might as well stop following me because I'm not stopping. Just go home!" My voice has risen to a scream, and I know it will piss him off. I chuckle to myself as I continue walking into the dim light not looking back once to see if he's following. He can follow if he wants. I'll allow the fun to begin.

I walk past the edge of the orchards to the housing areas. The houses aren't much. I think the shacks that hold the agriculture we harvest are better than these, and I'm sure most people would agree. I walk past the houses not stopping at one. I walk in front of some and behind some making my path hard to follow. I wouldn't be noticed unless someone was paying close attention unless someone was listening to the crunch of the grass with each step I tool. I walk to the last house in this area and beyond it. The candles are starting to be lit so people can see at night making the perfect opportunity for me to sneak by. I stop at the edge of the houses and sit down in the hard, crunchy, brown grass. I will sit here until it's late; then, I will go home to my uncle. I will show him not to boss me around in front of everyone. I will destroy him. I will make him beg for mercy like I did before. I get lost in thought blocking out the world around me.

Narration A2A283
Thoughts BBAA77
Hearing DDDD99
Speech FFFFDD
Other EEBB66