My Own Choice To Die Essays - Holocaust Literature, Night

My Own Choice To Die English Comp II February 4, 1999 One quiet summer afternoon I lay gazing into the big, blue sky watching the clouds form into immense moving objects that catch my eye for a second. I saw everything from birds to alligators and occasionally a car or bus. While staring at the sky in a world of my own I heard a clamor coming from the front of the house. I turned over on my stomach peering through the tall pampas grass that landscapes our backyard. I lay gazing through the grass as if I was a jungle cat searching for its next victim. I could not see anything so I faced the sky, once again, and enjoyed the sights and sounds of summer. I was in a daydream when I opened my eyes to see a young redheaded girl with skinned up and pig tails peering down upon me. Most of my friends would have run off yelling, girl alert or cooties but I just sat there in the soft turf grass in a daze. From that second on I believe that both of would be friends for a lifetime. April moved into the vacant house th at was two houses to the east of my house. It was a tall, two-story house in which I could see the entire house from my bedroom window. We spent our days together exploring the woods, riding bikes, and catching bugs. Our families were very close and often said that the two of us were like brother and sister. One calm summer night April and I climbed to the top of the garage and lay on our backs staring at the thousands of stars in the black summer sky. The garage wasn't tall; in fact, it was perfect because we could sit up there without worrying about sliding off. That night we talked about everything that was on our minds. I will never forget that night because it was so beautiful outside. The tree frogs and crickets were performing their evening melodies, and the man on the moon was looking down upon us. After talking for nearly an hour we decided that it was time we should head home. I walked April to her house because I she had to be home before I did. As I was leaving April gua ranteed me that she would be over first thing in the morning to start our day of fun. I was so excited that I ran home, chasing fireflies and skipping through the neighbor's yard. After getting 'tucked in,' the process where my mother wraps my blanket around me and tucks them under my body, I was ready for bed. The only thing I could think of that night was all of the fun things that we were going to do that next day. I left my window open so I could listen to the sounds of summer while trying to fall asleep. I awoke early that morning to hear loud sirens and to see flames towering above the elm trees that grew throughout our neighborhood. I jumped out of bed and ran through the living room bursting out of the front door to see that the flames were coming from April's house. I didnt even bother to put shirt or shoes on; I was just worried about April. The neighborhood was lit up by the fire trucks lights, and the flames emerging from her house. I sprinted towards her house to see th at it was totally engulfed by now. The fire fighters were trying their hardest to suffocate the flames but the water was not working. The heat was almost overpowering, but I knew I had to see if she was all right. When I started to run I as tackled from behind by someone. I started screaming out her name, April, April! The man who was holding me down said, There is nothing you can do son. I wiggled and squirmed to get free but it was no use. Between the powerful heat and his strength I slowly lost my energy. I lay in the grass watching the flames slowly decimate their two story house. The thick, dark smog coming from