Friday, January 09, 2009

Entry #32

Moving On
by Kate Sandford


Concentrating on blotting her tears before they could trickle down her face, Cassie tripped onto the escalator leading to the train to her new boarding school. Regaining her balance, she mumbled, “One door closes, another opens,” although recently it seemed more like ‘One door closes, another shuts’.

Her best friend’s mum had kindly organized a leaving party, but she’d felt she was looking back at her friends carrying on the life she loved – without her.

Cassie had taken loads of photos at home; they’d help her remember. She’d snapped the rose garden, where she’d fallen off her bike and acquired her first scar; the tree swing where she’d gone to escape the arguing; the gap in the hedge where she first kissed Johnny-next-door. Then she’d photographed every aspect of her bedroom for a lasting image.

Just before leaving, she’d thrown her arms around her black labrador. “Bye, Jet, I’ll miss you so much. You be good in your new home, won’t you?” His dark eyes looked up as if he understood, but his tail remained lifeless.

Damn her horrible mother. Cassie had wondered why Dad’s friend Steve had been coming round so often.

They’d told her on a wet summer’s day; she’d watched raindrops run down the windowpanes while they explained. Her whole world had been upended. Determined not to let her mother’s actions ruin her life, she’d managed just one sentence, “I’ll go to Dad’s flat in the holidays.”

Smiling, she stepped off the escalator into the unknown.

17 comments:

Lena said...

i hope this unknown will be something good for her.
Well done!

Sameera Ansari said...

I can really empathize with her.Hope the new lease does her good :)

Anonymous said...

A believable character - I couldn't help hoping things would work out for her.

Patsy said...

A believable character - I couldn't help hoping things worked out for her.

Anil Sawan said...

thats a story well put. hope the escalator leads her to a whole new world of happiness for her!

Rachel Green said...

Sweet. Poor kid.

Sarah Hina said...

I really liked the subtle shift from despair to acceptance, and even hope. That smile means everything.

I'm glad she has those photographs to take with her--very nice descriptions there, Kate.

And a moving piece. :)

Anonymous said...

'the first scar' ...i think that is very profound. loved it.

JaneyV said...

I hate how children get to bear the brunt of the dishonestly of their parents. So sad that she was torn away. I love her defiance at the end, choosing her father and to embrace the future. Such a lot in so few words. Well done.

K.Lawson Gilbert said...

strong character - the story flowed beautifully - nice job!

laughingwolf said...

good one, kate :)

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the comments everyone, I've really enjoyed this exercise.
Kate Sandford

Catherine Vibert said...

Boarding school, ugh! Really nice piece here, the ripping apart of families is so hard on children. Nice writing!

bluesugarpoet said...

I found myself rooting for the little girl too - only to remember that she isn't real! Very true to life, this piece. Nicely written!

jana

Anonymous said...

Thanks, Catvibe and bluesugarpoet.
KS

Anonymous said...

Great job on entertainment value and voice!

Thanks for being a wonderful part of the contest!

Anonymous said...

Thank you, have thoroughly enjoyed it.
KS