Micah Jennings

2.4.05 Friday [de ja vu]

The recollection of palpable fear overtook me as I returned to Mr. Seigel’s house today. The neighborhood is nice, but his place is a chaotic mess. I imagine that’s not the way he sees it, though. In his mind, it’s probably very organized: each item burrowed in its designated spot. In any case, I had to use parkour just to get to the back door. The entire property is littered with junk—unfinished projects, abandoned vehicles, etc.

It was in broad daylight that I clambered over the trash to his house, jimmying a window that stuck after budging only 8 inches. But I managed to slide in. As I did, a repulsive odor struck me, and I could remember that, too. It was obvious that I could put the money anywhere and leave assured that he’d find it, so I set it delicately atop a load of filthy laundry. Satisfied he’d locate it, I turned for the window, and then it happened.

As if held hostage by some horrific case of de ja vu, there stood all six and a half feet of Jed Seigel. He wasn’t wearing glasses, so his milky, twisted retinas were clearly visible. Like a zombie, he craned his head sickeningly, alert to my next movement. I watched him slowly lower himself to the ground, returning with a solid, wooden curtain rod. He gripped it tightly. This was very bad.

Nervously I glanced around the room, desperate for an escape. His body blocked the door, and the window was several paces behind me. Slowly I stepped backwards towards the open route, but as I did so my foot brushed against a plastic bag, and hearing it, he charged.

In an instant I changed my mind about the window, knowing I could never squeeze through such a space at speed. So, facing him, I curled into a ball and rolled past. Thinking he’d cornered me, he swung his weapon violently, sending a shower of items across the room. But he was quick to learn, and spun around instantly. I dodged his next swing by leaping towards a wall and running along it a few steps. The sound confused him, but he kept moving, and gradually I was being cornered.

In seconds I was against the wall, watching as his arms bent powerfully to deliver the first and final blow. Thinking quickly, I took two steps towards him, and turned back to the corner. As the rod tore through the air, I bounced from the wall and flew back over his shoulders, vaulting him in leap-frog fashion. As the momentum threw him off balance, I returned to the window, where I was able to slither through.

It sure is a lot of work giving people money…

-M.J.

posted by Mr. Linty @ 11:53 PM