english assingment

our own ending to contents of a dead mans pocket

 

Michael Rosenberger

English B/3

 

Finally all of the built up fear and range within Tom was released as he let go of the window pane above and reached for bottom of the window. He gripped the latch with all the strength he could muster and lifted up. The window shot up faster that Tom expected and the speed of it smashing into the top of the window pane caused the glass to shatter into what looked like thousands of tiny, sharp diamonds glittering in the artificial light created by his various lamps inside. With all of his upward momentum Tom rose off the ledge, and for what seemed like an eternity, floated there in mid-air watching inside his apartment. Watching for anything to happen within the apartment for him to remember as he plunges to his gruesome and embarrassing death below. All of this happened so quickly, that not even the glimmering shards of glass from his broken window has reached the floor inside. As he fell below the window he was looking at the ledge that was supporting him for the last ten minutes of his life, as if it was mocking him. An intense amount of disappointment now galvanized through him as he was staring back at the ledge. As these emotions ran through him, Tom remembered all of his accomplishments he’d worked hard for. Was he really going to just give up after a lifetime of hard work? At that moment he realized he wasn’t willing to except his fate that lies twelve stories below on that freshly paved side walk. So Tom quickly grabbed that ledge and swung through the window of the apartment directly below his. As soon as he hit the floor he was awe struck and amazed by what he had just done. He started rolling around and yelling at the top of his lungs. Not even caring about the cuts he is gaining from the sharp pieces of broken glass. He was just happy to be off that ledge that separated him from life and dead. Once he was done rejoicing, he searched the apartment for the owner to apologize and explain what had happened. But he looked everywhere and there was no occupant. So Tom left a note telling the owner to come and see Tom Benecke in room number 1205 on floor twelve. As Tom was about to leave the strangers apartment he remembered that yellow bitter sweet paper that he’d just risked his life for. Where was it, he thought and ran back to the room with the broken window he came through. After turning the room upside down looking for the yellow piece of paper he realized it wasn’t in there. Panicking, he ran out of the apartment and pressed the elevator button. After waiting 2 minutes he decided to run down the twelve flights of stairs because it would be faster. Each and every stair became another obstacle in Tom’s way of reaching success. But after 5 minutes he finally arrived in the lobby of his apartment building. While catching his breath, Tom started walking to the doors and stepped through them and was returned outside to the wrath of New York City in the winter. He immediately looked over to where he’d dropped his coins. And there was a hobo there crouched over picking them all up. Tom not caring that the hobo was taking his money he dropped and was about to walk away when he noticed his yellow piece of scratch paper in the hobo’s pocket. Tom walked over to the hobo, but the hobo saw him and darted for the theatre that Tom’s wife was in. Well Tom wasn’t going to give up now, after all the work he’d put into that paper, and not to mention going out on a limb to retrieve it. So Tom chased after the hobo in pursuit of his yellow piece of scratch paper. Still sprinting, the hobo entered the theatre and ran down in front of the screen and pulled out a gun. When Tom entered the theatre the hobo grabbed a hostage and pointed the gun to her head and yelled “let me go or I will shoot!” Tom not realizing who the hostage was ran towards the hobo yelling that all he wanted was his piece of paper. But his words were drowned out by the loud bang of the hobo’s gun. The hobo dropped the lifeless hostage and ran for the emergency exit. As Tom approached the victim he realized it was his wife Claire. Tom immediately broke into tears and started yelling about how sorry he was and that he should have went to the theatre with her. And then some guy tapped him on the back and asked him what he was talking about going to the theatre with Claire. Tom replied, she’s my wife and now I’m the cause of her death. And the guy responded, well that’s not possible because I’m her boyfriend. Tom was now seething with anger and stood up, turned around and punched the guy straight in the face and knocked him out. Then turned back around to Claire and broke into pieces. When the police came they had to pry Tom away from Claire as they drove her body off to the morgue for an autopsy. After Tom watched them drive away with Claire he went back up to the apartment to assess the damages. Feeling extremely depressed and worthless Tom entered his apartment to find the mess he had left and a subpoena on the welcome mat. As if his situation could get any worse he was walking down the hallway to get to his bedroom when he glanced into his study and remembered about the glass and how his wife had been here alive, only 30 minutes ago and how they had said their goodbyes to one another. And then he felt anger surge through him as he remembered that guy in the theatre and how he said he was Claire’s boyfriend. Would Claire really cheat on me, he thought. And then he remembered the satisfaction he felt when he punched that guy. But Tom realized he’d lost all the important things in his life in less than an hour of his life. He doesn’t know what to do or how to go on from this tragedy. Tom grabbed his wallet and started walking towards the broken window as he looked back at his life. Starting in High School when he had nothing to worry about, advancing to college when he met Claire for the first time, and then when he married Claire and bought this apartment. As he stepped out onto the fateful ledge again he remembered all of the moments that happened to him this evening. Sending Claire off to see her boyfriend, climbing out onto this vary ledge, crashing through his neighbor’s window, chasing the hobo into the theatre, Claire falling to the floor of the theatre, punching out Clair’s boyfriend, finding the subpoena and this mess in his apartment. He felt worthless and wanted to quit. Standing up Tom said a little prayer and jumped. As soon as he was in the air he realized he could salvage his life and start over, so he reached back for the ledge as he fell. He was just too far to reach the ledge and plunged down at an alarming speed. Thinking of what he could’ve done with his new life. He could do his research over again and find a new wife and even find a new place to… at that moment he hit the pavement on the sidewalk below his apartment window. He never even got a chance to finish his thought. This just shows how fast or slow a moment in time can be. And if u seize it correctly there will be change, for better or for worse.

Reviews

[Vee]

Wow Mica... its almost as good as mine was.... except mine was much more morbid.