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Blog #9 - SOS

The day started with me finishing my zillionth book. I had been reading Song of Solomon for the past three days and was eager to hear the end of Milkman's story. He had felt trapped by his family, just as I feel trapped by mine, or by what is left of mine, or maybe even this town. I have always loved reading but every-since meeting Herman my love have grown exponentially. We meet every Wednesday and Sunday to report to each other what we've been reading and if we would recommend it. He actually recommended Song of Solomon. After finishing my book, I went to the kitchen to make my first coffee of the day. I sat by the window and watched the sun begin to rise. My gaze became fixated on all of the people franticly walking into town. It was odd that the streets were this populated on a Tuesday morning. While looking down, I saw Herman amidst the crowded sidewalk. He was walking alone, with a rather concerned look on his face. I don't know why but I had the sudden urge to foll...
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Blog #8 - Stranger to Savior

Ever since my son's return, it's been hard for me to sleep. I didn't speak to him the day of the newspaper crisis and I hadn't seen him since. I've come to wonder if he was just my imagination. As these persisting thoughts have continued to swell my brain, the 12 hours of sleep I had endured last night seemed surreal. I was elated to learn that I had slept through the night and when I looked out the window, my day became even better. White flurries swiftly glided through the air before they landed on the snow infested ground. I loved the cold. When it was cold outside I could cozy up in my battered lounge chair, next to the fire place, and read. And not feel guilty if that's the only thing I do all day. Before I got the free place ready, I wandered to the kitchen to make a cup of coffee, coming to the realization I had run out the day before. That's fine I thought to myself, I will go into town and grab some. There was only one cafe open in the whole town ...

Blog #6 - Hell's Come

I woke up this morning before my alarm clock could infringe upon my sleep. I remained burrowed in my sheets, staring out the window at the bleak grayness of the sky. I could barely see the town bell that stood outside my window, for it was surround by fog. Before my alarm clock had the opportunity to motion me out of bed, a knock on my door took its fortune. Before I could open the door, I knew I would find Daniel stoning on my door steps. He has become dependent on my presence solely for his entertainment. I opened the door and Daniel's voice infiltrated throughout the house, "Clara-jean! Clara-jean! Where have you been? This town is in an uproar! You must look at this now". He threw a newspaper down on the oak wood table in front of me. The headline read Ether Maitland Found Dead in What Appears To Be A Homicide. Followed by the date January 11, 2013. I could understand a typo in the paper, but for the whole paper to be issued amiss. "Clara-Jean you must come i...

Blog #5 - Pave Your Own Path

Daniel was finishing up his dinner at the other end of the dining room table. I watched him obnoxiously gnaw on the chicken I had prepared for dinner. He made sure he got every last scrap of meat off that bone, but in a savage-like way. I know that this newly acquainted company was good for me but sometimes I just wanted Daniel to leave me be in solitude.  Once Daniels plate was clean, we began making small talk which quickly evolved into a personal, even intimate conversation.  "Do you ever think you will find love again?", Daniel asked, without any hesitation. The question replayed over and over again in my head. I hadn't even considered remarrying. "I don't know, Daniel. I loved my husband more than anything in this world and the thought of replacing him nauseates me", I said, hoping that my husband had heard my words from above.  Daniel stood up and began walking toward the door. The man had as much manners as a 3 year-old child.  He began makin...

Blog #3 - Coming Together

This morning while I was sitting at the dining room table, drinking my black coffee and submerged deep into my thoughts, I heard an abrupt knock on my door. As I walked to the door, I heard the old wooden floors creak beneath my feet. I wondered who could be knocking at my door this early in the morning? Over the past couple years, most of my friendships slowly dwindled as they all became tired of my grieving. I opened the door to find Lamar standing in the hallway. I should have known with all the pestering he has been doing lately, of course it was him. Before I was able to get a word out, he precipitously said "Be at Alice's Diner tonight. 7 PM. Don't say anything, just come". Then he walked away. I suppose he knew that I would make up some fake excuse to get out of it and he didn't have the time to argue with me.  I guess that Lamar had told Daniel Richards too, because a couple minutes he called me. After my husband died, he began video chatted me ever...

Blog #2 - Just Smile

ClaraJean made her way down the Keller Boulevard, presenting a fake smile to all the people passing by. Many of the townspeople carried themselves wistfully down the side-walk and gave ClaraJean a forced smile in return. She knew that people were still shocked and mournful about Mr. Evans death, and while she wanted to comfort them, she couldn't bare to talk about death after her husband. She just continued walked. Her short gray hair was peeking out of the bottom of her hat, and her veiny hands stuffed in the pockets of her old, oversized jacket. She crossed the intersection of Keller Boulevard and Oakst Street and saw Lamar walking out of Larry's Gym - his hair matted to his head with sweat. He saw her and waved his hand in the air, screaming "Why if it isn't ClaraJean!" She greeted him and gave him a quick motherly hug, hoping she could be on her way before he started asking about Mr.Evans, as he always did. She gradually resumed her walk to the asylum but Lam...

Blog #1 - The Only Piece Left

The day started with ClaraJean staring at the empty space beside her, waiting for her alarm clock to sound. It had been two years since the death of her husband and she still wasn't used to sleeping alone. This morning, the sound of raindrops thumping against her window distracted her from the grief she felt each morning. "BEEP BEEP BEEP" blared the alarm, cueing ClaraJean to get out her bed and start her day. She slowly lifted her frail body out of bed and walked toward the closet to slip on one of her husband's old shirts. As she approached the kitchen, the smell of rotting garbage filled her nostrils, but she ignored it as usual. For breakfast she drank a cup of black coffee alongside a singe piece of toast. Sitting at the kitchen table alone, ClaraJean reminisced about her husband. They used to get up together and prepare a feast - both believing the breakfast was the most important meal of the day. Now ClaraJean could barely get finish a piece of toast. After ...