Workshop: An Introduction to Writing for Children and Young Adults
Attack
(2)
“Are you not
afraid of Balak? Sometimes I think he makes the boys throw things at me. No one
tries to hurt me except when he is there.” She felt a thin line of moisture
form along her forehead. Drops glistened against the thick, black hair pulled
back from her face exposing her hairline scar. She continued to tremble and her
hands shook.
Betta rested
her hand on Narah’s shoulder. Betta hesitated. “Narah, you have not fainted for
several months now.”
Narah’s
slight body still shook. “Will there…..will there be many people tomorrow,
Betta?”
“Yes,
but you need not speak to anyone, Narah, if you do not wish to. You can stay by
my side at all times. You may find that your fear of people has left you now
that you are eleven and there no one will know you. No one will bother to tease
you or try to frighten you. We are all going to hear the prophet. That is on
everyone’s mind. Remember we will spend time with Timon, too.” Betta chuckled.
“Won’t he be surprised to see us!”
Narah
clasped her hands together. “Oh Betta, I can’t wait to see his face. I shall
fix him his favorite flowers from the stream. Will there be room in the cart?”
“I’m
sure we can fit them in. Be careful, the bank is slippery.”
“How
do you know?” Narah asked. Then she pointed at her grandmother’s canes.
“There’s bits of mud on the bottoms. Betta, you are not supposed to go to the
stream without me.”
“I did not,”
Betta smiled. “I just hobbled along the top edge. It is such a pretty day. I do
need some of the tall willow grass near rock point. The large basket still has
to be edged, and if I can finish today, it will dry tomorrow while we are
gone.”
Narah
smiled and Elizabeth murmured a prayer of thanksgiving for protection, then she
hugged Narah. “Go now to pick your flowers for Timon and a handful of grass for
me.”
Narah
blinked at the bright sun as she stepped outside. First she looked toward the
village, but the pathway was empty. She glanced at the only other hut set apart
with theirs from the other villagers. Iscah, their friend, dozed in the shade
rocking her new baby. Her three year old, Jael, sucking her thumb, slept beside
her. Narah smiled. Even when asleep, Jael must dream of food.
Share: What positive or negative
personality trigger points do you identify for each character? Why?
Read deep, marcy
No comments:
Post a Comment