Life Lessons

   Dear readers, I have a story for you--one that involves tragedy, loss, and hardship. Read on with caution, as this may bring tears.
 
   Once upon a time, there was a girl named Lydia who got a ride home from an after school activity from a friend. This friend dropped her off at her house and promptly left. Lydia's parents weren't home, which she knew, so she wasn't worried.
   She climbed the steps to the front door and turned the known. But the door was locked. This didn't bother her too much, as she knew she had a key. But when she reached her hand into her backpack, she realized something.
   Her key was gone.
   Lydia tried all of the doors leading inside, but she had no luck. So sadly, she resigned to sitting on her front porch, waiting for her parents to get home. She was terrified. She kept thinking she heard footsteps and voices inside her house. None of her close neighbors were home, so she couldn't all anyone. At every sound she jumped, afraid someone was coming for her.

   This is a true story. About ME.  I was sitting on our porch, in the dark, for almost THREE HOURS.
 
   Seriously, though, let's be serious for a moment.
   I thought I was going to be kidnapped or killed or something, because right when it got dark, something came out of the woods and started crawling around under our porch. I had no idea what it was, and I was so scared to move. Then it came out from under our porch and started moving up our yard.
   You know how a person looks when they're walking on all fours? The thing seriously looked just like that. I thought someone was crawling around in our yard.
   It was big and white and had a dark spot on its back. Guys, I'm not kidding. I thought I was about to die. I was sitting there, on our porch, silently sobbing because I was so, so scared. Finally, it started moving down the street, but I was still rooted to the same spot when my parents got back, praying and crying and numb.

   Well, obviously I didn't die because here I am! Let's get back to the slightly entertaining part.

   While I was waiting on our porch, I got bored, so I started writing down what I was thinking at different times, you know, in the situation where I actually did die and people were wondering what my last thoughts were. All I can say is, I'm really glad I didn't die because some of my thoughts make me sound like I should be in an insane asylum. Near the end, I wasn't able to write anything because it got dark.

   Here's my porch journal:

6:42 pm-- Mosquitoes. So many mosquitoes. I want water!

6:51 pm-- I'm scared. Something just jumped out of a tree and I don't know what or where it is. I keep hearing noises.

6:55 pm-- I want water. And chocolate. Ooh, I just remembered, I have a granola bar in my lunchbox!

6:56 pm-- The granola bar is melted. I'm eating it anyway.

6:58 pm-- Those are some nice clouds.

7:01 pm-- I'm considering making an S.O.S. signal. A plane just flew overhead. I hate mosquitoes.

7:02 pm-- If that tree right there fell over, it would land on me. My nose itches.

7:03 pm-- Do you think Taylor Swift likes granola bars?

7:05 pm-- I need to find my house key. 23 minutes ago, I was complaining about mosquitoes. I'm still complaining about them.

7:07 pm-- I have a cold sore on the corner of my mouth! It's getting darker.

7:09 pm-- Darn it, I have to go to the bathroom. I wonder how many texts and emails I've missed... I can hear someone on a motorcycle. Unfortunately, Mama and Daddy don't ride motorcycles, so it's not them. :(

7:14 pm-- The sky is a really pretty color right now So are the clouds. How much longer?

7:18 pm-- I found a leaf His name is Joe. He is my new best friend. I can barely see anymore.

7:26 pm-- More planes. More noises. It's completely dark.

Time of rescue: 7:56 pm.

Life lessons to be learned from my experience:
1) Don't lose your house key.
2) Carry around food.
3) Carry around bug spray.

On much happier notes, NaNo is in four days! And Lodestar also comes out in four days! November first will be a happy day indeed.

Smiles,
Lydia