Thursday, January 08, 2009

Entry #22

Escalating Fear
by Betty Gordon


Fear wrapped around my heart splintering into tremulous fingers that danced along my spine. It took all my courage to step on the menacing metallic jaw of transportation, a moving stairway to journey’s end. I planted one foot on the escalator followed by a second one while grasping the hard rubber support.

The escalator returned me to a large pyramid in Mexico where my fear was born. I was one of two people who foolishly climbed the pyramid in the midst of a thunderstorm against advice of a tour guide. By the time we reached the top, lightning crackled around our feet. We clung together for comfort. One thing was certain, we had to get the hell off the top of the pyramid and down to terra firm—not an easy task. By the time we sidestepped our way to the pyramid’s base, there were no heels on my shoes and I was left with formidable fears of heights that later transferred to escalators.

In spite of anxiety created by the Mexican monument and the ascending stairway I had now managed to get on, a smile flooded my face when a youngster pushed by me, jumped forward, and stood calmly with long blue jeans covering his shoes.

What a lure he offered this metallic beast. How easy it would be for blue jean threads to fall prey to its moving parts, but happily this didn’t happen. He unknowingly defeated this monster and as I stepped off, so did I.

16 comments:

Sameera Ansari said...

Wonderful imagery! :)

K.Lawson Gilbert said...

Like the way you explained her fear of escalators. Unique tale.

Sarah Hina said...

The support of another, even a stranger, can sometimes be enough. I liked her quiet observation calming those fears.

Strong writing, too. :)

laughingwolf said...

grand wee tale :)

Lena said...

wonderful narration... liked the imagery here too.

Anil Sawan said...

felt like being there right behind u!! good writing!

Ruinwen Dagorielle said...

Beautifully vivid writing. :)

Rachel Green said...

Well imagined :)

BernardL said...

Distinctive journey from fear to triumph.

JaneyV said...

I get terrible vertigo but for some reason escalators have never filled me with the same dread. I do always keep inside the yellow lines they paint - just in case.

I'm glad your character conquered her fear and defeated the monster.

JR's Thumbprints said...

You've written I nice narrative. It reads like a creative nonfiction piece.

Catherine Vibert said...

I'm glad she conquered her fear, even if it is because she saw another could do it. I liked the pyramid imagery. Nice piece.

ceedy said...

Interesting take.....fear and anxiety makes all of us remember the times when we have overcome something....its like a boost

Esther Avila said...

hooray for conquering the fear - nice imagery.

bluesugarpoet said...

Distraction leads the way to victory! Nicely done!

jana

Anonymous said...

Thanks for being a wonderful part of the contest!