Sometime in 1981....
"Tom Pierce! You are wanted in staff office." With
those words ringing in my ears, I headed for the door.
To an outside observer, I bristled with energy, my
eyes bright and fearless as I strode across the room.
Inside I was a very frightened 14 year old staff
trainee. A thousand thoughts per second raced through
my mind. Would I be started over? What have I done?
THINK!! What did you do? I must have done
something...was I being manipulative? Did my eyes
linger just a little too long on dennis dahl's
achingly beautiful sister at the dance last week?
The 5th phaser at the door raises his hand in a nazi
salute. mike edmondson is leading the rap. He sees
it's me and doesnt ask where i am going, just nods.
The door opens and I walk through. on the other side
the room is empty. I lean against the wall for a
moment, beginning to sweat. I had better hurry, get
it over with. I opened the door---almost the whole
staff in here! all the seniors...chris cassler...dr.
burns....they look mad....then ...someone speaks.
We've decided....that you are ready for Jr. Staff. I
am stunned. I try to look happy. It was a joke. Do
they believe I am happy? Relieved? I speak. "I'm
ready," I said solemnly. Someone hugs me. Inside I
can hear little but my heartbeat. "You are not to
tell anyone, until after you are 7th stepped at
tomorrow's open meeting." I just nod. I wish I were
a thousand, a million miles away. I wish I were a
wild animal knowing nothing but earth and sky and
prey..I wish I were 18 I wish I were someone else. I
wish I were dead.
Jr. Staff! Now I would have freedom. Now I would be
able to relax my guard a little. If I had known what
was to come...
part 2 to follow.
-Thomas
[ This Message was edited by: SilmarilOne on 2003-01-25 22:13 ]
