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The Dad That I Once Had
I hate you.
No, I wish that were
true.
I am just afraid
I'll turn out just like you.
Trying to wipe
you away
From the thoughts in my head,
It's almost as if you are
dead.
It has been ten years,
Bottled up fears,
Washed up
tears.
A lonely child
still resides inside,
Still wants to
hide.
Trying to forget,
The pain it's met.
"Innocent child" I
never got to be,
No memories of being "care-free".
Witnessed the
unleashing of a monster,
Slowly before my eyes,
Funny, I don't remember
being surprised.
I'd like to think that I am now grown,
The pain I
have carried not being shown.
I don't feel that I miss you,
But how
can that be?
You will forever be apart of me.
So selfish, you chose
that bottle over us,
Gave up your life, your children, your wife.
You
gave up your rights my "dearest dad"
I am angry, yes,
But more so
sad.
I don't believe you will ever realize
The wonderful life you could
have had.
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The Frog
A short story by Laura
R.
email: A5ftFreak@aol.com
"Ahh! Tara
screamed out loud as she leapt from her bed in a cold sweat..
"Tara! What's
the matter?" Jen, Tara's younger sister asked with alarm. "Oh, I
had the most
horrible dream!" Tara exclaimed. "I was a frog! But worst of all
I was Darren
Andrew's pet frog!"
We both knew who Darren Andrew's was. The
stereo-typical "geek" in our
high school. You know the one.. glasses, braces,
talks kinda funny. "Eww!
That's so gross!" Jen squealed, "Darren Andrew's!
What a nerd!"
"Forget Darren!" Tara said disgusted, "I was an ugly green
toad!" Tara
strolled towards her full length mirror. As she stood in front of
it, she
brushed her long silky blonde hair. "I wonder why I would dream that
I was a
frog? I am the most beautiful girl in our entire school! I think
people should
bow before me when I speak. Have you ever seen anyone as
beautiful as me?"
Tara batted her long eyelashes at her sister. "Sure I have"
Jen answered. "But
I have yet to meet someone as stuck up as you are!"
Rolling her eyes, Tara
walked out of the room. "You're just jealous" she
mumbled.
Later that day, while in school, Tara sat at the lunch table
daydreaming.
"Hey Tara, snap out of it!" Tara's best friend Julie stood next
to the table
snapping her finger's profusely. Julie and Tara were the exact
opposite of
one another. Julie was short, curly brown hair framing her chubby
face. Her
beady black eyes could bore a hole right through your skull. While
Tara was
tall, thin, with long honey blonde hair that framed her high
cheekbones. Eyes
were as blue as the sky. Julie and Tara had been friends
since grade school.
Tara liked having Julie around. She would do homework
assignments for her,
call guys on the phone for her, and best of all, Julie's
lack of good looks
made Tara feel ten times prettier. Tara felt as though she
was doing Julie a
favor by being her friend. Julie on the other hand, the
good natured person
that she is, just tried to see the best in Tara. Although
little by little,
all of the nice qualities she had found in Tara were
beginning to fade.
"Snap of it, Tara!" Julie snapped her finger's again.
"Would you quit it,
Julie!" Tara shouted. "I heard you the first time!"
"Sorry" Julie whispered as
she sat down beside her friend. "So," Julie
smiled, "are you going to Brian
Johnson's Halloween party?" "Of course!"
Tara exclaimed as she gazed across
the crowded cafeteria at Brian. Brian was
the captain of their high school
football team, and Tara had her eye on him
since the beginning of the year..
She knew she could have him if she wanted
him, so she figured that she would
make him wait.
"So, what are you
going as?" Julie asked anxiously. "Why, Julie, dear, a
beautiful princess of
course! You know, I think I was definitely a princess in
a past life. Just
look at me!" Tara said as she swung her hair from side to
side. "Right,
anyway, I was thinking of going as a wicked witch", Julie smiled
slyly. "I'll
be able to put a spell on everyone" "Right Julie, putting spells
on us? Tell
me another one!" Tara waved her friend away. "Please!" "Oh, I
won't put one
on you Tara!" Julie laughed. "Gee thanks, Julie. Why don't you
put a spell on
Brian? Make him follow me all over the school!" Tara said.. "Oh
I forgot, he
already does that!" "No, Tara, here comes the guy that already
does that."
Julie said as her eyes shifted across the room.
"Ugh, Darren Andrew's!" Tara
whined. "I wish he would just leave me alone!"
"He's a nice guy Tara, you
shouldn't be so hard on him, Julie said quietly.
"Hello ladies!" Julie
was cut off as Darren walked up to their table.
"Going to the Halloween party
tonight, Tara?" Darren asked smiling from ear to
ear. "Not if you're going to
be there." Tara sneered as Darren's smile slowly
faded. "He's such a nerd!"
Tara scoffed as Darren slipped into the shadows.
"You're so mean Tara!" Julie
scolded. "So, then don't be my friend anymore"
Tara laughed. Julie laughed
back, but deep inside she was thinking that exact
same thing.
"You look
great dear" Tara's mother exclaimed as Tara got herself ready to
leave for
the party. "I know mother, I will have the best costume there!" Tara
checked
herself in the mirror one last time. She was extremely proud of the
costume
she had bought. "I'm sure to have Brian following me all over the
party
tonight." Tara said to herself.
"Tara strutted around the party. She said
her "hello's" here and there,
stopped every once in a while to laugh at an
attractive boy's stupid jokes.
She stopped to talk to the senior
cheerleaders. They seemed to really like
her. They were, of course, the most
popular girls in school. While talking to
them, Tara felt a tap on her back.
Julie stood behind her, cackling. "Why,
hello my pretty!" Julie said in a
witch like voice. The senior cheerleaders
gave Julie an annoyed look and
turned away. "Julie!" Tara sneered. "Go away!
I'm trying to become friends
with these girls! I can become really popular
with these girls around."
Julie's eyes began to tear up. Her feelings were
hurt. She began to get
angry. She was so sick of Tara. Tara, Tara, Tara!. All
Tara cared about was
herself! "I don't need you Tara! You were never really my
friend. I'm going
to put a horrible spell on you! Julie cried out. "Please
Julie! Grow up,
would you?" You are so childish!" Tara smirked. "Now go away,
you are
cramping my style!" Julie stared at Tara so hard that her eyes burned.
Then
she turned and walked away. Never looking back.
Tara walked around the
party some more. She hadn't seen Brian all night.
She wasn't sure what
costume he had worn. Once again she felt a tap on her
back. "Julie! What do
you want?" Tara turned around and was startled to see a
googly eyed frog mask
in front of her. She burst out laughing, thinking of her
dream from the night
before.
"Kiss me, my beautiful princess, and I will turn into your
handsome prince"
, came from the tiny opening in the frog's mask. Assuming
that it was Brian,
Tara giggled, closed her eyes, and leaned forward waiting.
After he kissed
her, Tara opened her eyes and stood in horror as she stared
at Darren Andrews
standing face to face with her, holding the frog mask in
his right hand.
"Didn't realize that you were already taken" came a voice
from behind her.
Tara turned around to see Brian. A look of disappointment
spread over his
face. "Brian..it's not what you thi-" Tara started to tell
him, but he had
already begun to walk away. She squeezed her eyes shut and
before she had a
chance to get angry she was startled by the sound of an
alarm.
As she opened her eyes, she sighed with relief. "The alarm clock!
She
realized, "It was all just a terrible dream!" She opened her eyes wider
and
looked around the room. "Wait a minute. where am I?" Tara asked herself as
she
looked at her surroundings. In the distance she could see Darren
Andrews
rolling out of bed. "What in the world?" Tara asked herself. "How did
I get
here?" she questioned, as Darren began to walk towards her. "Tara! My
pet! I
had a dream about you last night!" You are the most beautiful creature
in the
world!" Tara was at a loss for words. Confused she turned and caught a
glimpse
of her reflection in the glass that she noticed was surrounding her.
Starring
back at her was a wide eyed, wart ridden toad. Frozen in horror,
Tara opened
her mouth and prepared to let out a curdling scream. But of
course, all that
came from her mouth was a loud "croak".
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Laura R.
Says: Go To The Writers
Forum? Awards?
