I walked away from Montag and Mildred's front door as I wiped my wet cheeks with my silk sleeve. Mrs. Bowles drove away trying to avoid me. I rode with her to Mildred's but I didn't want to now after my emotional scene. My heels clamped the sidewalk as I sped up faster and faster. My heart beat sped up faster and faster. I sat on the lawn of a stranger's home but they would probably be consuming themselves with TV like the rest of our society. Why did I allow Montag to read me that poem? I'm a rule follower. It just makes me feel guilty about my marriages. I miss Pete. Retreating, to the breath of the night wind. What if he doesn't come home I will be all alone. I sobbed harder. This is the only marriage that has worked in a long time. I think I have happiness but what if it is all lies and I'm not seeing something. Mathew Arnold just was married to the love of his life and is already doubting that it will not last. I breathed heavily trying to catch it. Where do me and Pete stand? Retreating, to the breath of the night wind. For all I know he could be dead in combat. Maybe Montag is right: books are insightful pieces of information unlike television. What am I saying? I must be crazy. Books are illegal I am crazy. I closed my eyes and pictured Mathew in a movie of the poem as I recovered. The waves crashed against the sand as the tide brought them all back home. Dover Beach.
2 Weeks Later
"Hello Mildred! How are you?" I say hiding my letter behind my back.
"Good good. Are you okay? I haven't seen you since uh you cried after Montag read us that poem." Mildred sympathized.
"I'm okay. I had a little bit of a panic attack on a nice fellow's lawn but I have made some important decisions lately that I think will make me happy. I'm going to the post office now where are you headed?" I confessed while staring at the edge where the sidewalk and grass met each other.
"I am heading home. Soap Oprah Marathon is on in ten. Got to go! Hope to see you soon." Mildred yelled as she rushed away.
"You too!" I said processing the time of events. As long as the war doesn't get to us.
1 Week Later
My hands were brown from the rifle but I tore the letter open anyways. It was from my lady. It read:
Dear Pete,
I am sorry we are not together for me to explain this to you. Over the past three weeks I have put a lot of thought into are relationship and don't believe that it is right. I know I am not the expert on marriages and more on divorces but someone and something has taught me that we can never be happy and in love with someone because the world always brings pain and suffering just like waves moving pebbles. I will always love you.
-Mrs. Phelps
Loveee this. I really liked the time lapse that you gave in your narrative. You had a great choice of words and I enjoyed your perspective.
ReplyDeleteYou're the only person I've seen who has written a time lapse in your extension. I think that was a great addition, especially with the letter... I think you really had a good idea on how the poem Montag read changed her.
ReplyDeleteWow! I love how you used first person to put us farther into Mrs. Phelps' head. I think it was a great decision to help us understand the change going on inside her. I also found it very intriguing how you switched to Pete's point of view at the end. I think you did awesome especially since we know so little about him.
ReplyDelete