Amanda's Story

The Edge

Amanda gathered her shoes, flashlight, slipped on her hooded sweater, and carefully picked up the pouch that sat on her desk. The moonlight streaming through her slightly opened window was the only light she had. Despite the curtains being drawn there was barely enough light to see. Nonetheless, with her gathered items, Amanda stepped out of her room and tiptoed down the hallway. She paused when her father suddenly stopped snoring. Maybe a minute went by, perhaps less ––the only sound she heard was her heartbeat.

A bead of sweat trickled from under her arm making her feel a sudden and strong itch. Once the snoring commenced, Amanda continued her journey down the hall to the stairs. She counted each step as she carefully placed one foot down followed by the other, concentrating to keep her balance. The thump, thump, thump, from her heart made her uneasy. When she reached the 12th stair she braced herself for what she had to do next. The last two stairs squeak and though her father would most likely sleep through it her mother would not. Which meant she had to use the railing and wall to skip the last two stairs without falling or landing too hard. She's done this a million times, despite her father's warnings, just for fun.

However, it was always during the day and not when sweat was dripping down her back. With a deep breath she placed her shoes and pouch on the stair next to her, making sure the pouch didn't roll. She gripped the railing tightly and placed her left hand on the wall. Concentrating on the ground in front of her she lifted herself up so that her feet dangled over the stair. Her only source of light came from the soft glow of the kitchen light that was beyond the wall on her left. Her mother would always say, a house should never be in complete darkness. So the last person always dims the kitchen lights before going to bed.

Amanda carefully swung herself forward straining her arms until her toes were just above the floor. She then dared to drop herself landing with a soft thud that caused her to land on all fours. The ten years of forced contemporary dance finally paid off. After staying in the position for 15 Mississippi's she very carefully straightened herself then gathered her shoes and pouch. She then made her way to the kitchen. Usually the soft glow is comforting when she came down for a cup of water or warm milk. But that night she felt like the wall clock, in the shape of a rooster, was watching her ––scrutinizing her.

As the last person to go up that night Amanda made sure to leave the kitchen door, leading to the yard, unlocked. Very slowly she turned the handle and opened the door letting in the chilly fall breeze that made her both shiver and giddy. Once the door was closed behind her she slipped on her Keds then quietly made her way down the four steps and towards the gate. So as to not make the latch squeak she decided it best to lift it fast then put a rock on either side of the gate so the wind wouldn't swing it wildly.

There are only two more houses before the road ends and the woods begin. The first house is dark except for the blue twinkle lights that hang on the veranda all year long. As for the last house Amanda was able to see the light of a television as images danced across the windowpane. Mr. Grey must have fallen asleep in the living room again. Mrs. Grey will complain about it as she always did while Amanda waits for the school bus. Once she reached the entrance of the forest she pulled out her flashlight, not that she needed it.

Most of the leaves had already fallen, which allowed the three moons to shine bright enough for her to see the trail. Fall is secretly her favorite season even though it only lasts for three months before transitioning into seven months of winter. The leaves crunch under her feet as she makes her way to the Edge. Eventually she reaches the white fog tree whose velvety white leaves lay around its base like a nest. Amanda decided to take a break and sit cross-legged under the large trunk of the fog tree. Her soles were throbbing due to the rocks and sticks she stepped on. She stared at her sack that sat next to her right leg. She really didn't want to, but a sudden urge made her open the sack. Inside a Gluby, the size of a melon, floated in shallow water. Its large gills opened and closed greedily. The Gluby had gotten too big for the septum tank and it was a matter of time before someone noticed it. Its eye was closed but she somehow felt it watching her. Its color, she noticed, was now a deep crimson instead of the orange-red it turned when she first put him into the septum tank. It has only been two months since she brought it home. They aren't usually kept as pets but Wendy had dared her to catch one.

Near her high school there is a lake named Ophelia. She remembered it being an unusually hot day during the last week of summer. Even in her school dress that brushed just above her knees it was still too hot. She had been waist deep in the lake, her dress moving with every ripple of the water. The boys were jumping off Old Dagger Rock into the lake, which made it more difficult for Amanda to catch a Gluby. Then, as if time stood still, hands submerged ­­––eyes focused, a yellow Gluby the size of a grape swam between her caged hands. In a swift motion Amanda clasped her hands together, then lifted her hands and quickly made her way back to shore. Her dress and waist length hair dripped water onto the pale blue sand turning it a darker blue. Children screamed and ran away in excitement. The only audible words she heard through the shouts and squeals were, 'figures, if anyone would be able to do it ­––it'd be a ginger.' She sometimes wondered if she misheard or imagined someone saying it. Shortly afterward she brought the Gluby home by sneaking through the basement door. It slept down there for three days before she was able to move it to the toilet's septum tank. Her parents would have never approved of keeping such a creature as a pet.

A sudden sharp breeze makes her shiver ––a couple of white leaves float along the breeze dancing to the howls. Amanda re-ties the pouch then stands to continue her journey. The trees begin to taper off the further she goes. Eventually trees clear way to crimson colored grass. The blades shine in the moons' light like a sea of blood. Purposefully she walks to the Edge. They say if you stare too long at the Edge you'll go mad. Some say it swallows you deeper into the underworld. Despite the fears and rumors, Amanda wonders what it would be like to stare into the Edge forever.