Thursday, January 27, 2011

Closed Relations (a gothic short story I wrote for school)

I disregarded the nauseating odor of Clorox by remembering my task. I ambled numbly following the attendant, observing minuscule gaps in the walls and discolored splotches in the ceiling. Countless years have shepherded me to this expressionless building. Nevertheless I were no stranger. The weak sense of belonging has captured me since my mothers admission. In fact, the town of my youth had always expected I would be the next Lynn to be registered here. My father grew frail because of the mockery. His death was one of the reasons of my return. However the vision has becoming stronger. Every nightfall it comes to me, crowding my dreams. My life has illuminated every reason not to alert anyone with this vision. So I have come back to the bleak halls of my childhood, where my mother, my well known mother, has lived for twelve years. I wish I could take them back, for all the derision I have obtained in my short life has been her blame, her defect.
The beat of the attendant’s boots striking the tiled floor caused my swagger to become more pronounced. Many thoughts quickly flickered through my mind. “Has her appearance changed? Will she recognize me?” The last time I had visited her, with my father, I was a child of thirteen or so, at the time she was thirty-two. We’d visit her every Sunday when she was first registered here. As the years passed, the frequency of our visits diminished.  
The woman stopped in front of a solid wood door; the lettering on it was beginning to peal away. Seventy-four it read. The number was a subconscious reminder of all the past visits, especially the last one...
“Here we are Miss Lynn,” smiling in my presence. “It’s a pleasure to see you again.  All she does is talk about how much she misses you.” Her southern voice reminded me of my father’s.
“That’s just the delirium,” I said while trying to peak in the window of the room. The attendant’s smile faded.
“Sweetie, she loves you, don’t forget that. She regrets what she did during your last visit. Please just go talk to her.” With those last words she lightly pushes me into the door way.
The room was as small and plain just like I remembered. On the bed, a woman lay in the fetal position, like an infant waiting to be borne. The silence scared me, I needed to say something, but what? We haven’t talked in seven years, what does she expect me to say? But before I could speak a word, or even think of something to say, the woman sprang up on the bed creaking every old spring on the way. Her eyes, as green as ever stared into my soul, but her smile made them seem somewhat playful. So this is what I had been missing.
“I have been waiting for you my girl.” As creepy as the sentence sounded I remained calm. This was simply usual behavior on her part. I felt awkward to be standing, so I slid to the closest plastic chair. Were they always plastic?
“I’m sorry I haven’t visited in a while... I mean well...” I smirked. It really wasn’t my fault, all these years I’ve been afraid of her, how can a such a sweet woman turn into the monster that frightened me those many years ago?
“I’ve had company while you were gone.  They say hello as well.” Her smile died and was replaced by a serious look. It freaked me out.  She didn't even know I was coming!
“Mom, I have to talk to you, about something odd.” I began to shake in my heels. Why am I telling her!
“Darling? I’m all ears.” What would she do when I unfolded this secret?
“I have been...having these weird dreams, about this man. He takes young girls and tortures them.  Their screams haunt me every day, and his face, his horrid face, has left an impression in my head, I can’t forget it. And the story continues every night....” Her expression changed as she sat up and looked me in the eyes. A smile played on her lips.
“Why do you think I’m in here?” What? Is it true that through all these years I never knew why she was in here? It seemed confidential.  Dad never spoke of it and she seemed frightened by it.
“Why are you here?” I asked, regretting asking as soon as the words came out. Was I allowed to know?
“Child, those ‘dreams’ are not dreams, but visions. You have the same ability that sent me here. It’s genetic and inescapable. You’re special, God has grant you with a gift, be thankful.” Why was she so happy about such a frightening thing? I just wanted her to shut up! But I needed to know more...
“So... This man, this murderer, is somewhere out there? In the real world?” The thought made my stomach quiver. If this is true, what was I supposed to do?
“Yes, I am truly not crazy, but I do have a gift. Now you do, too. my daughter, we are equal.” said my mother, my completely sane mother. I have never felt closer to her in all my years. If only Dad were here...we would have been whole.
Two years later, my mother and I ate in the same cafeteria, and roomed on the same hallway. If I thought I was tired of this place back then, was I ever wrong.

Friday, November 5, 2010

The Gauntlet (A local hayride in Mechanic Falls, Maine)

Established on Route 26 in Mechanic Falls is Harvest Hills Farm (owned by Peter Bolduc and his wife Kathie), notorious for their Corn Maze Adventure (which began in 2008), they have now constructed another trademark to fame: The Gauntlet. After buying Pumpkin Land from Chipman farms of Poland in 2009, Harvest Hills Farms created The Gauntlet, a hayride aimed to scare those whom fixate on being horror-stricken. Now out of season, the hayride was introduced to the public on September 18th, and closed on October 31. Numerous tourist and thrill seeking localists partook in The Gauntlet, and many found it to be as frightening as they had hoped, if not more.
The high end animatronics were marvelous and wicked all at once. At the entrance to the woodland, a mysterious aura illuminates from every shadow of tree and man alike.‘Will the gatekeeper let us in?’, and as soon as you ask your self, the doors separate, and the moon flickers down on the eerie trail the wagon must follow. Later on the course, in a dog house the size of a tool shed, a massive, 5 foot tall, animatronic junkyard dog named “Fluffy” greets you with growls and screeches. At the end of the ride, another rather huge, gatekeeper wishes you well as you leave them all behind in the dust.
Although the animatronics were amazingly realistic and creative, the actors whom performed during the haunted hayride were the stars. Jeff Strout, the creator of The Gauntlet, requested for our very own D’Arcy Robinson to employ local actors and actresses to be coached and taught a script for The Gauntlet. Bolduc also announced that he'd donate money to the drama departments. These entertainers were all given certain rolls to execute. The characters included in The Gauntlet ranged from killer clowns holding chain saws, spiders with screaming victims enveloped in their webbing, a butchering hog, stalker cannibals, and not to mention our own local legend: The Lady in White. This spirit is usually spotted alongside route 26 by passerby's, in the midst of night. Her story is a sorrowful one, as she was murdered on the night of her wedding many years ago. She walks the road searching for a motorist to assist her to her wedding. But in Jeff Strout’s scene found on the hayride, she is but a confused soul wondering in a graveyard, finally arriving to her church. All to find out she has been slaughtered by fellow hayride-ers.
Over all the Gauntlet was a intriqueging and startling enjoyment. Much business has been brought to the area because of it and Harvest Hills Farm’s many enjoyments. The owners have stated how essential it is to bring the 240 acre farm to life once again.
(Photo credits to me)

Monday, July 5, 2010

Twilight Obsession Must End!

I don’t know about anyone else but I’m growing quite tired of these vampires consuming our adolescence’s views. This may be based upon opinion but if you think about it, its becoming not only a long established argument obtaining to which of Bella’s lover shall be on top (Team Edward vs. Team Jacob). So through careful comparison may one choose the werewolf or vampire. Of course some may argue that “Edward has had a 100 years to learn how to love” or “You can pet Jacob” And both of those quotes can be found in the newest Burgerking commercial, which brings me to another example of this war: McDonalds and Burgerking, two of the largest fast food producers became embedded in this Twilight Saga madness too. They are both disclosing vampire and werewolf favoring toys for children. You’d think that it was worse enough for teenagers to be attracted to this scandal, but they are trying to allure children into it too!
So why are our generations becoming so fascinated with it? To me the characters are interesting but bland through all this drama. A young women who is quite fickle in love, a were wolf hottie who is bi-polar, and a pretty and sparkly  stalker vampire that is afraid to do anything in his relationship because of fear he’ll eat her. I mean come on, when were the good old days where children fought over whose Pokemon cards were better or whose Barbie was prettier? What has our society become?
~Photo credit to   http://api.ning.com/files/3UBDcNedXgkCc4DWOlMzdeXdACjmiDjgUWSo2ygWDQcAHEn2MJWywbwfwkNWKpE8mF0gdSgMZVr2cVa7AvIpJ*qrWU9MIEYd/JacobBellaEdward.jpg