Jordan Blue

CWL-202.S02
2/7/2015
All the Places Ive Lived
Four dater farm way; a small, homey culvasac. Sweeny used to live just down
the hill, the one that seemed so much steeper than it actually was. Climb the
carpeted stairs leading up, up to that mysterious door standing in front of my parents
room, refusing entry. Walking down the hall and you find my sister and my rooms
tucked away in a corner. Sharing the corner a bathroom, comforting carpet meets
cold hard tile. Down the stairs, a kitchen, living room, comfortable and snug. Yet
where I spent nearly all my time was still below, less snug, less pleasant. I eye the
door, realizing I must confront my fears again. The sounds of life are left behind and
replaced with the moans of the cracked wooded steps as my feet meet them. I reach
for the handrail, fearing my tiny 8 year old body may be enough to tease the cracks
into become more than just that. I slowly descend into the darkness squinting my eyes
as to see where the steps are. My hand runs along the jagged surface of the handrail
irritating the soft skin of my palm. I shudder at the memory of splinters and tweezers
and force my hand away from the handrail. As I slowly descend there is nothing but
darkness to the right or left of me, I try to picture the room as it would be in the
light, but all I see are the unfortunate byproducts of an 8 year olds active
imagination. Panic besets me as these horrors take shape in the darkness, and the
creaking of the fragile wooded stairs become their moans of anguish. I speed up my

advance and frantically scan the empty abyss ahead of me for the light switch which
will be my salvation. I cant take it any longer, the last eight or so steps are left
behind in 3 lunging bounds. My body slams into the wall, my hands immediately begin
sliding along the cold plaster in search of a switch. There it is. Light spreads
throughout the room, finding every dark corner and dispelling the demons which may
have been lying in wait. A wave of relief washes over me, but is quickly dispelled as I
remember where else my demes hide. I raise my head and glance across the room to
my right. My heart drops to my stomach, and my throat tightens as I see that not only
does the door stand slightly ajar, but it also slowly moves back and forth on its hinges,
creaking softly. Again one of the creatures that only exists in my mind manifests
itself. Long bony fingers ending in razor sharp claws creep around the edge of the
door frame, gently pushing it forwards and pulling it back, chuckling softly from the
other side. I brush these images away, and hurriedly walked across the room, my eyes
never once leaving the darkness of the doors slight opening. I quickly pull the door
shut, putting my back to it and breathing a long sigh of relief. I take a moment to
gather myself then walk back across the cold grey carpet to the couch sitting in front
of a large TV, my prize for braving the journey here. I flop onto the couch, turn on my
GameCube, and begin searching for the TV remote. I pull it from the couch cushions
and the TV screen flickers to life. The thought of clawed fingers floats to the front of
my mind and lean back and crane my neck to check the door. Closed tight, smiling I
turn back to the TV and enjoy my reward.
548 Englemore Rd, cold autumn wind blows though the trees which
surround the pavement we stand on. I stand before a castle of a house. I peer up at

my parents wondering what they were thinking. Our old house was just fine, why do
we have to move to this enormous fortress of a house. The initial sadness had worn
off hours ago when they told me, but upon entering the mudroom, I am overwhelmed
and feel a lump in my throat. So much open space, too much, this wasnt cozy at all.
We walk into the living room and entrance area, open space, unfamiliar and empty.
Out the front door I see the long winding driveway we only just drove down. On either
side of the stretch of pavement trees stand erect, creating a wall of green on either
side of the concrete. I frown, It looked exactly like something I had once seen in a
horror movie. Turning away from the door I trudge up the stairs behind these people I
who I once thought were my parents to see where I will be forced to sleep for the
next 7 years of my life. There it was at the end of a narrow hallway, the ceiling above
the door slants downwards at strange angle. Across from the door is a single storage
closet, more empty space, so much that couldnt possibly all be filled. I step into my
room-to-be, much bigger than my old one, much emptier than it was too. A new
school, a new house, there is no way I could ever be happy like this.
Heavy bass reverberates from the walls and causes the floor to vibrate softly.
Worried the music may be too loud, I grab my blue sneaks and walk out my front door,
closing it tightly behind me. The sound of music quickly fades away behind me as I
stroll slowly down my driveway. Once the music has been drowned out entirely by the
rustling of leaves and the howl of the wind, I turn to the dim lights of the neighboring
houses, gauging the distance from my house to them, and my house to me. Satisfied
that they shouldnt hear shit, I turn back to my house smiling and jog down the long
spiraling driveway. As I step through doorway I am blasted with music and the bass

shakes my bones. I am greeted by Cheers of approval from the whole lot as if I had
just accomplished some amazing feat. I laugh happily, and bounce into the living
room, grabbing the bubble gum red plastic cup from the banister as I go. Moving
bodies fill the living room where the lights are dimmed and the music is loudest. I
brush past Adam and Rissa, and head towards the kitchen. No light in the kitchen save
for the neon glow of the cups on either side of my dining table, set up in the shape of
pyramids. Coreys pyramid seemed to be missing a few glowing circles and I make sure
to patronize him for this. Laughing he assures me that its not over till its over. I pat
him on the back, sure thing buddy whatever you say. Moving past the table I plant
myself on a stool at the counter. I grab the bottle of water and pour myself a cup,
spilling more than I would have liked to. An arm makes its home on my shoulder and I
turn to see Dan smiling drunkenly at me. Dan Lemire, one of the funniest guys on the
team, one hell of a center defender. I always enjoyed playing alongside him. One
hell of a last season buddy. We fist bump and I agree with him commenting he better
not lose his spunk while he is away at college. He reaches for the bottle and I stop
him, remembering the last two times we drank together he broke a glass. I take his
cup and, concentrating, pour him half a cup. I not to myself, much better this time.
Dan thanks me, hobbling off in search of his girlfriend. I grab my cup taking a sip of
the cheap crap Im drinking and move back to the living room, slumping down onto
my couch. I throw some pillows aside and lean back, letting music wash over me. I
had lived in this house seven years now, and it was just about time for me to move off
to college. The thought fills me with both excitement and anguish. I glance up at
enormous TV on which So many Sci-Fi films had been watched with my family. Looks

like there wont be any more of those. I crane my neck to look at the side room which
is empty for time being. Once just another empty room, now turned into a board
game haven for my parents to clobber my sis and I at Settlers of Catan among various
other games. A wet nose presses itself into my hand and a soft warm tongue licks my
fingers. I ruffle his fur, how you doing buddy? I say smirking. His head plops down
into my lap, and his tail wag furiously. Sitting up I reach behind his and scratch him
the way only I know how to. He appreciates it and lets out a long happy groan of
approval. Satisfied, tank lifts his head and strolls off, intent on causing trouble
elsewhere. A lump forms in my throat. In just a few weeks Im going to be leaving him
too. I push these sad thoughts from my mind. Before I stand up to join my friends in
their game of beer pong I give one final look over the room. So many empty spaces,
now filled. Filled with good people, filled with memories, and filled with growth. I
rise, and walk onward to join my friends, ready to make a final few memories before I
move on to a new empty space I must furnish with my life.