Short Story-(Bloody Foot-Prints)
Johnny couldn't seem to fall asleep. He tossed and turned for what seemed hours. "Why cant you turn on the air conditioning mom", he said under his breath. Johnny was a very unique kid and his mom was well aware. When he was only six years old he was playing with someone in his bedroom but his mom knew it was only she and Johnny in the house. When she stepped into the room, he was chasing something, but whatever "it" was, she sure couldn't see it. "Johnny, who are you playing with?" she asked with hesitation. "I'm playing hide and seek with grampa Mike." Johnny's mom started sobbing, knowing full well, this was real. His mother missed her dad so much! It was hard to believe he'd already been gone for a year. She tried to compose herself so her son wouldn't feel the deep despair she had from losing her dad.Please, Please, let me wake up. Johnny was having one of his wierd dreams which he'd had ever since he could remember. He tried making out the face in the dream but it was just a dark, fuzzy profile. " Who are you?" What do you want from me?", he said to the dark shadowy man. "Just follow me and you will get the answer you need to help me." Johnny followed the man down a dark, dusty road. It was so isolated here. The roads were lined on both sides with thick brush and the tallest white oak tree's you'd ever seen. "Where are we going and who are you?". Johnny was beginning to feel light-headed, like he was ready to pass out. As he stopped to catch his breath he noticed. In front and behind him were bloody foot prints that marked the path that had been taken. The last thing Johnny remembered before waking up, was falling to the ground.
He woke up trying to catch his breath. The time on the alarm clock showed 8:18AM. Just then the door flew open and his mom was freaking out. "What's wrong mom?" "What do you mean what's wrong, you were the one that woke me up screaming." " Did you have a bad dream honey?" "Ya, actually I did and it was one of my Big Dreams." His mom layed there for about 30 minutes, holding him and caressing his face. Somehow Johnny's mom knew how to make everything ok.
Monday morning seemed to come so fast. Where did the weekend go? He hopped in the shower and let the water beat on his face and body. AAHH! Nothing like a cold shower on a humid day. He poured milk and his favorite cereal into a bowl. Froot Loops, he thought to himself, had to be created by a really smart kid. Johnny ran out of the house and down the steps. It was nice that he didn't have to walk far to wait for his bus. Some of his other thirteen year old buddies couldn't just stand at the end of their driveway to catch the bus. It might not be a big deal to other people but he thought it was pretty cool. Johnny was sweating beads waiting for the bus. The sun already warmed up to about 72 degrees at 7:30AM. Finally, the bus was approaching and he knew it would be cool in there. When he looked back at the house to say goodbye to his mom, he couldn't believe his eyes. Again, just like in the dream the other night, he saw bloody footprints from where he stood at the bus stop and back to the house. Past experience told him that his mom didn't see this terrifying vision and somehow that made him feel a little better about the whole thing.
Throughout the school day Johnny tried to figure out what this guy was trying to tell him. "Give me more clues and maybe I can help you," He thought to himself. It was about 1:30 now and Johnny was studying during his DS time. DS time stood for "designated study time" and gave kids time to catch up on projects and homework. A red headed girl he'd never seen before, was walking toward his desk. She introduced herself as "Margaret" and he nervously muttered back, "I'm Johnny." "I know who you are," she said. "What do you mean you know me. I have never seen you before." She sat down and explained that her father had sent her. She had lost her dad two years ago and the police knew it was a homicide. She said that they were having trouble solving the case. "My dad told me about you and how you see things." He said he's giving you clues as to who did this to him." "Can you help me?" she said through her choking tears. "Yes, Johnny said reassuradly, I know I can help you. Let's just go over everything I have seen and you can fill me in on what it all means."
Johnny turned on the t.v. after dinner and there she was. His new friend Margaret with the bright red hair. After piecing all the clues together, the police were able to find the man that murdered Mr. Murpy. It was a neighbor that lived next to the Murphy's cabin. The reporter that broke the story was standing outside the accused man's cabin. It was set back in an isolated location. It was a dark, dusty area, lined with the tallest white oaks you'd ever seen.....
