Running in Place by Kelly Nuttall (reading strategies book txt) 📕

Parking Lot

The first day of school is overwhelming; but the parking lot is a death sentence. I left thirty minutes early just to avoid any chance of having to walk in the heat from an out-in-space lot that only the cheapies park in. I quickly drive up and down the aisles though I know I am wasting my time. But then I see it. Third aisle into my search I see a white SUV with its red tail lights slowly backing out. No way! I think to myself. I pull closer. But the little Neon thinks he has me. We’ll see.

Minute by Minute

Nine minutes into it and I begin to feel the sweat gather along my forehead. By twelve minutes it trickles down my face and even falls into my wide and focused eyes. The faster I go, the faster it spills. At twenty minutes I use my long tattered t-shirt to wipe my face dry even though it is pointless; within a minute my skin is soaked again. This act that my body commands to cool itself only motivates me to push faster and harder. Some say I am crazy, but I say I am determined. Not all habits are bad.

Locked in Place

Tess walks at night. It is crazy quiet most of the time. That is how she likes it. But on this particular night, one peculiar sound catches her attention. It comes from the rambler across the street. She can’t see a thing; the staggered dragging sound against the pavement is loud enough to be heard by her, but uninteresting enough not to disturb the neighbor’s dog. She ducks behind an oak and hears the rattling of a set of keys, the pop of a trunk, and then a dense thud. Her heart races though her feet are locked in place.

Publication Date: 08-29-2010

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