"Mom's Echo" by Charlie Levesque (Franklin County Winner)
November 14th
I can hear my mom’s voice echoing through my head calling my siblings and I to have breakfast. I remember her asking my youngest sibling, Mya, if she wants more bacon. Bacon was her favorite. I remember Dad telling the twins, George and Myles, to hush up about who gets the last pancake.
And I remember our house, our town, and all my friends. I keep hoping, wishing, dreaming, all of that could happen again. Yet, I know it can't be because Dad’s at war. Mom died of a hit and run car accident right after Dad was shipped off. That was 6 months ago. Now, my siblings and I are at our aunt and uncle's house, being attacked every day.
Here's the thing, my Aunt Betty is really sweet and all but she's at work a lot. Whenever she's not around, my Uncle Joe attacks my siblings and I. He yells at us, especially at Mya, he hits us, and pushes us around. He acts nice around my aunt but crazy when he's alone with us. And we just don’t know why he hates us. We do know we can’t tell anyone because there is no where else for us to go. At least that's what it feels like.
November 20th
Mya comes complaining to me in the middle of the night. Whimpering, she whispers my name, “Brooke…Brooke…” I roll over and try to ignore her so I can get some sleep, but she won’t stop. “Brooke… Brooke, I want to go home. I don’t like it here,” she sobs. These words hit me hard tonight. Confidently I respond, “I’ll get us out of here,” knowing I have to get us out.
November 22nd
It’s midnight and I am certain my aunt and uncle are asleep. I shake my siblings to wake them up,“We're leaving. Now.” I say firmly.
No one asks questions. They let me lead and they trust me to get them to safety. Almost instantaneously, they all jump out of bed and follow me out the door and down the road. We walk north, following the Big Dipper all night. It’s cold but that’s better than being near our uncle.
November 23rd
We walk and walk. We are cold and hungry.
November 24th
Mya bursts into tears.”I want Daddy!” Mya sobs.
”Mya stay here. George and Myles come with me,” I say.
”What should we do?” Myles asks us, in a hushed voice, as we walk away from Mya. “We need to go to Dad.” George responds in a blank voice. ”You're right” Myles and I say at the same time.
“Mya we’re going to Dad!” I call, jogging back over to her.
“Yay, how do we get there?” she asks.
”Geez I haven't thought of that “ I say under my breath. “We haven’t slept yet, so let’s get some rest and figure it out in the morning.” At this, we find a nice spot to lay down, all snuggled close together, and fall asleep but wake up in horror…
[At Aunt Betty and Uncle Joe’s house]
The phone rings. “Hello?” Aunt Betty says.
”Hi it's Mike” Dad says, “I’m coming home tomorrow. I can’t wait to get the kids!” he says excitedly.
Aunt Betty hesitates for a second then stutters, “there’s a problem with that, they're gone.” Dad stays silent, not believing what was said.
Mya wakes us up with her single scream. As we open our eyes, we see a massive black bear hovering over Mya. None of us move, not a breath, not a blink. Not even Mya- she screamed that one time and then stays motionless and silent like the rest of us. Eventually, after what feels like hours, the bear must have thought we were dead because it slowly turns away and walks back into the deep woods. After it is clear the bear is gone, Mya starts silently crying. That's when I realize there is blood on her leg. The bear must have scratched her. I immediately take off my sweatshirt and wrap it around her leg. That will have to do for now.
[At Aunt Betty and Uncle Joe’s house]
”What do you mean my kids are gone!?” Dad shouts over the phone.
“It was only a couple days ago. We woke up in the morning and they were just gone. Disappeared. I assumed they had called and told you or something,” Aunt Betty replies.
Dad shouts into the phone,”I’m coming to your house. I’ll be there Sunday and I am getting my kids and getting them back to safety!”
November 25th
I know Mya needs a real doctor. ”Everybody… we’re going back to Aunt Betty and Uncle Joe’s house.”
It’s only a two- day walk to Aunt Betty and Uncle Joe’s. My siblings just shrug, knowing we need to turn around to help Mya. “I can’t walk,” Mya points out.
“You're right. George, Brooke and I will take turns carrying you,” Myles responds.
November 26th
We walk, we walk and we walk. Myles, Geroge, and I take turns carrying Mya. We walk until it gets dark. We are all exhausted and finally stop to get some rest. ”We need to take turns on lookout,” says Myles.
”I'll go first,” George offers. At that, the rest of us fall asleep instantly.
November 27th
We wake up early, each taking a few hours to be on lookout throughout the night. Without a word, we pack up our few belongings and start walking. By late afternoon, we can see our Aunt and Uncle’s house in the distance.
We never thought we would make it yet here we are. While we don’t want to be here, it does feel good to be back somewhere we know. We all look in the driveway to make sure Aunt Betty is home before we go in- we know better to go in if only Uncle Joe is there.
Then, we notice the unimaginable. Dad’s big red truck is in the driveway! We run, me-with Mya on my back, bursting into the house.
“Dad!” we scream as we run into his open arms.
“You worried me sick! I thought your aunt and uncle sent you off,” Dad said half jokingly- not really knowing why we had left.
At this, we all break down and tell him everything. From Uncle Joe attacking us, walking and walking to stay safe, then Mya’s cut and the bear, to turning around and coming back to the house. It felt so safe being able to be with Dad and to tell him everything.
Dad held us all close then said, “you are safe now. I don’t know what to do next but I promise you will never stay with Uncle Joe again.” And, at this, we all hold hands and walk into Dad’s truck finally.
We are finally safe.
Charlie Levesque, a student at Wayne Elementary School, is nine years old and lives in Farmington, Maine. She enjoys skiing and playing soccer with her friends. The idea of “Mom’s Echo” just came to her, and she really likes writing stories that include dialogue and adventure.