Dangerous delusion

Very little light spilled into the tack room.

We were silhouettes to each other.

The old man with the shaking gun

and Kathy and I

our peals of laughter cut short by his stooped shadow.

"Step away from him"

Voice echoing in the barn

Grim, and threatening,

Willing to kill if need be. Maybe killed before.

In a second's fraction I realized

Laughter misunderstood for screams.

Short hair distorting gender.

Finger on trigger trembling

No time to reason aging grey matter

So I stepped

quickly, smoothly

right in front of her.

Then I reasoned

Then sweat ran

until the man with the Klan

statue on his mantel

Lowered the gun.

Comments: 14

Dannielle S. Jul 18, 2009, 6:01pm EDT

Taut tension, Deb! Excellent!

Debbie G. Jul 18, 2009, 6:03pm EDT

Thanks Dannielle.

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Howard b. Jul 18, 2009, 6:56pm EDT

This is hard for me to follow. sorry. I gave it a 10. It's good writting .just not understood.

Debbie G. Jul 18, 2009, 7:48pm EDT

Appreciate your comment Howard. I wondered if it was hard to understand. This was something that happened years ago when I was a teenager.

Howard b. Jul 18, 2009, 8:03pm EDT

Thank you for explaining. I didn't mean to be rude or anything. You have a nice night.

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Verie Sandborg Jul 18, 2009, 8:27pm EDT

I'm glad you noted that it was from a real experience because I was wondering if that was the case. Thank heavens for your courage. Thank heavens you lived to tell about it.

Debbie G. Jul 18, 2009, 9:29pm EDT

Yes, Verie. I rented horse pasture from an elderly man. He had a Klan statue of horse and robed rider on his mantel. The story is true.

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Rosa See Ya Jul 19, 2009, 3:44am EDT

I like the way you wrote it, and didn't have a hard time following at all. That it's a real event doesn't surprise me either. Nothing much surprizes me anymore. I married a McCoy. Glad that trembling finger didn't squeeze one off.

Debbie G. Jul 20, 2009, 1:34pm EDT

Me too, Rosa. :)

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elizabeth e. Jul 28, 2009, 7:55am EDT

It's amazing how fast you understood the situation and was able to act with courage. Knowing me, I would have frozen on the spot.

Debbie G. Aug 20, 2009, 10:13am EDT

Sometimes during critical situations time actually seems to be moving in slow motion.

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Wesley W. Aug 20, 2009, 10:03am EDT

I was privileged to know Ms. Debbie for all to brief a time back then. Her courage was not a thought, it was the only way she could have reacted.

Debbie G. Aug 20, 2009, 10:15am EDT

Hmmm, I'm not sure why this is true, but I think it is true.

Wesley W. Aug 20, 2009, 10:32am EDT

I know why it is true Debbie. I have seen courage in those that have to think, that make the choice to go into harms way for whatever inspires them. Without that particular inspiration they would not be courageous. You are very much different, your courage is innate, to you there is no choice. It is part of why you became a nurse, the instinct to protect and relieve suffering is as much a part of you as breathing. The inspiration is irrelevant. A very beautiful and dangerous thing that.

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Dangerous delusion

Comments: 14

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