Kill

Kill

Even on a cozy sofa with deep plush pillows, Catcher in the Rye feels like a rocky ride. Holden Caulfield’s descent into madness rings a familiar broken bell that echoes through the pages.

Scuffling noises from the kitchen jolt me back into the living room. Shrill voices I can’t quite make out raise the hair on the back of my neck.

I peer over the top of my book, hoping to catch a glimpse without getting up.

Nothing.

I tiptoe across the pine floor toward the wall beside the kitchen.

Ear to wall, I listen; motionless.

“He’s evil.”, she says.

“No, Linda. You’re wrong. That’s not true”, he says

I peer around the corner; our eyes lock.

“I’ll kill you,” she hisses.

I freeze.

“No, Linda. No. Just drop it,” he says.

I see the shaking knife; long and thick.

He dodges to reach her arm.

She lunges toward me, knife held high.

I stumble backward.

Dad grabs her wrist just as she steps forward.

He twists.

The knife clatters to the floor.

He kicks it away.

He holds her arms behind her back.

“Kill you,” she barks with teeth clenched.

“I must kill you.”

I scramble backward and hide behind the wall again.

She breaks free and dives for the knife

My father grabs her waist and pushes down to the floor,

Sitting on top of her, he looks at me.

“Don’t just stand there,” he shouts.

“Call 911.” he commands.

I run.

Hands shaking, I dial.

I run,

through the front door down the porch steps.

I sit on the curb and wait.

Staring into space, I know what’s coming next.

The ambulance, the hospital, the institution, then home again.
Trapped in time, cycling nowhere,
Just like the last time.

Just like every time."