I Was One of the Lucky Ones - Part II

Let me interject here that this was the time that the city was doing an 'Urban Renewal' project on the QA rec center and playfield. The playfield at that time was nothing more than a city block of dirt; even the young football players called their playoff games the Dirt Bowl (lol)(j/k). It was surrounded by a cyclone fence with several openings placed at two of the corners and two others at odd places. I was familiar with this field; I grew up playing softball there as a child. In the Summer I would to the rec center often. Also, the houses on the block between 2nd and 3rd West, Blaine and Howe streets were due to be razed, and most were uninhabited. And because the new Worth McClure Jr. High was built just north of the rec. center, there were several streets that didn't go straight through.



Okay, let's get back to my story.

The kids' voices I heard were the last few to leave the center when it closed and by the time I got to the field they were nearing the far end of it, a block away. I had to cross that field and then go from 2nd to 3rd past empty houses that were going to be razed. I heard his car come down the hill, following my lead, dare I say tracking me?

He turned, to his right! Had he only known his environment better all he had to do was turn left then sit behind the big corner concrete bleacher and wait. But he didn't do that. No, he raced to go around the block and that mistake bought me some precious time.

When I was in ninth grade, I was chubby and not in good shape and by now I've been running/speed-walking for a block and a half, and now I had to cross half the field and make it up one block from 2nd W. to 3rd W. This one block was uphill. Up to now I was either on the level or going slightly downhill. Already feeling that I had done my weekly exercise in the last 8 minutes, I now had to hoof it up one more block. I heard his car engine revving in the distance behind me, then the screech of brakes, then more revving. He was trying to get back... to. me. Spurring me on.

I had a 1/4 block and two houses to go to reach my potential rescuer. But would my heaving lungs hold out? Could I make it? Would I make it? As I am nearing the top, at 3rd West, I heard his car coming up Blaine St. behind me. By the revving of his engine, I could hear him getting closer, ever closer. At 3rd I turned right, and hoping they were home, I kept running to the second house. There were no lights on. I stumbled up the porch steps and started banging on the door.

The car stopped at the corner, he opened his door and stood to look up and down the block. Finally his eyes caught sight of his prey. He was looking right at me.


[insert dramatic pause here]


I was still not sure there was anyone home. Finally I heard some steps inside, and the porch light snapped on as the door opened. My friend's dad opened the door and I breathlessly said as I pointed, "He was following me" Her 6'3" dad stepped onto the porch as the man got back into his car and sped off.



To be continued...