A Narrow Escape

This short story won Third Place in the And The Story Starts contest, November, 2009.

The first sentence of the story was given, and the rest had to be written.

A Narrow Escape

Sensing impending danger, Sarah tried hiding behind a large oak tree. It happened almost every Friday, but she always got away. I tried to tell Mommy, Sarah thought, but she wouldn’t listen. The ground rumbled under her feet. Her hands hurt as she grabbed finger holds in the bark, and pulled herself in as far in as she could go. Her cheek scratched up against the gnarly wood, and pieces of dirt stuck in her hair.

A piercing squeal sent a jerky chill down Sarah's spine. She hated when the monster made that sound. It gave her the willies every time. Worse than when Miss Hastings writes on that old blackboard, Sarah thought. And it ain't even a black board. It’s some kind of dark green, anyway.

Sarah didn’t want to look. The squeal meant the monster was stopping. It was right down at the end of the driveway! She was lucky to have been playing near the biggest tree when it came. The gross sounds of eating and crunching and belching made her chest pound. Sometimes it felt like her heart was going to come right through her ribs. Sarah hugged the oak harder, and her arms shook with the vibrations of the monster. I tried to tell Mommy, I tried to tell Mommy, Sarah thought, over and over.

A deafening crash stung Sarah’s ears. She heard one of the family’s trash bins rolling on the asphalt. She squeezed her eyes shut so tight that she saw little stars and swirls of light. But suddenly, the noise stopped. What was the monster waiting for? Sarah hoped it didn’t see her run behind the tree.

A huge growling sigh huffed from the monster. It was like Uncle Harvey after eating half a turkey at Thanksgiving. Sarah knew the monster was satisfied, and decided it wasn’t coming after her. She let out her own sigh, relieved to have escaped once again.

Sarah peered around the large trunk, and brushed twigs out of her hair. She could see the back of the monster as it lumbered away, puffing smoke out of its tail, or whatever that was. It always went to eat the neighbors next, Sarah knew. Maybe if they’re lucky like I am, she thought, it’ll only eat their garbage.

376 words