The Jumper
"Jump! Jump! Jump!"
Miriam heard the sound before she heard the words. A crowd of people in the street chanted, and gazed upward. Fire trucks and police cars were parked haphazardly. Miriam was less than a block from her wealthy father's high-rise apartment. A sad and cryptic voice-mail had prompted her to visit him, bringing with her his favorite deli sandwich for a quick lunch. The death of Miriam's mother several months earlier had left him lost and lonely, and she was hoping that her surprise visit would cheer him up a bit.
Her eyes followed those of the chanting crowd, up the side of the high-rise, to the twenty-second floor. There she saw her father, his legs dangling from the top of his balcony, and his snow white hair blowing in the Windy City breeze.
"Dad!" she screamed, in horror. The world suddenly became surreal, and her knees gave out. She dropped to the curb and vomited.
To be continued...
I'll bet you thought you'd have to wade through another of my political or religious rants for Alphabe-Thursday, the creation of Jenny Matlock, our fearless teacher. Well, I'm getting tired of the political process. It's just so predictable these days. I'd much rather watch re-runs while eating extra-dark chocolate squares. I'll show up when it's time to vote, though!! I made this extra short so you would have plenty of time to read the other students' lessons on Jenny's blog. HOWEVER, first please check out another Jumpers post. It will kind of take your mind off the sadness of this one.
Now, I'm off to be one of the "ladies who lunch" with my Best Friend Artist.
To be continued...
I'll bet you thought you'd have to wade through another of my political or religious rants for Alphabe-Thursday, the creation of Jenny Matlock, our fearless teacher. Well, I'm getting tired of the political process. It's just so predictable these days. I'd much rather watch re-runs while eating extra-dark chocolate squares. I'll show up when it's time to vote, though!! I made this extra short so you would have plenty of time to read the other students' lessons on Jenny's blog. HOWEVER, first please check out another Jumpers post. It will kind of take your mind off the sadness of this one.
Now, I'm off to be one of the "ladies who lunch" with my Best Friend Artist.
32 comments:
Oh how could you leave us dangling, if if our hair isn't touched by any wind,(at least not here)Who will eat her treat for dad? Will he, or won't he???? Right smack in the middle of a perfect afternoon, and you leave us with do I dare say this word, cliffhanger! Oh gee will it continue in K letter or later yet or ?????? I really never expected this! You caught us by complete surprise I'm guessing...well you're off to lunch and it's dinner time here...see you, well when ever you POST again!!1 ;)
Kind of tricky, aren't you? Miriam's dad is not the only one dangling, Judie!! :)
You did leave us hanging! Maybe you'll fill us in on the "K" post?
I can't wait to hear what happens next.
I know this is a work of fiction but it is really sad that people would chant jump. It makes you wonder what society has come too... A few weeks ago I watched a movie (The Ledge not the new one coming out though) and the character Gavin is standing on the ledge of a building about to jump. A cop is there to try to talk him out of it and then the movie switches back to the story of Gavin and Shana. It is quite sad You should watch it sometime
You lost me at puke....course, I been lost for almost two weeks so I guess I better take time to catch up on stuff here too since I don't have lunch dates with artist friends cause they live clear the hell in Arizona!! :)
Great read...far better than the political crap we're bombarded with 24x7...:)
Like eating dark chocolate before doing/listening to anything anyway! Oh, your poor doggie (in sidebar)! Now he/she has to go to therapy to get rid of that trauma!
Interesting J post, makes me want to come back for the next installment, btw love your little elf on the sidebar!
wonderful sky! :)
Ohh... I can't wait to hear the end of that story!!
Ooh! The suspense, Judie ...! (Can you give us all a little hint like they do on TV with new-season trailers!)
Great post - as always!
PS Re my post about airbrushing, little Lizzie won't ever need it as she's so cute (like moi?!)
XOXO Lola:)
Oh my, I want to know the rest.
No lunching.....get right back to the keyboard and finish that story!
and vomited what ??
My heart skip just reading a little bit of the story I want to know the rest too. Same as you I know who I am going to vote and will show at the voting place I can't even wait hehehe!
Thanks for the visit and I am a new follower!
Letter-J
Oh, no! Another cliffhanger!!
(You are a glutton for punishment, my friend...)
You've certainly got my interest, though!
=)
Gattina, half of a pastrami on rye. Miriam was just too hungry to wait until she got to her father's building. HAhahahahaha!!
Ugh! You left us hanging!
I laughed at the last part--my husband asked me why I have seemingly stopped following the campaign news. I am waiting for the fighting within one party to be over so we can have one candidate for each party!
Thanks for your comment. I have regretted a few posts as well.
This really happened in the city local to me... and he did jump. It was very sad that humans could behave so horribly. Good start to a story, I'll look forward to coming back!
Wow!! I love this! ;)
reminds me of a song lyric that says, "Wish you would step back from that ledge my friend"
~visiting from Mrs. Jenny's!
Girl, you are just the crafty master of leavin' me all white knuckled!
'Loosin' my grip here. Heehehehe!
God bless ya and have a great weekend!!! :o)
I guess I'll have to come back to find out what happens next. I do hope the deli sandwich does the trick! And, may I say, I can't imagine bystanders encouraging a fellow human being to jump to his/her death. They should be yelling stop! Stop! STOP! instead.
Wanda, unfortunately they don't. This is quite a common event, and I don't understand it, but it actually happens. Sad, but true!!
Judie, as to painting in the street - that was Beijing CHINA in 2007 - a young 20 something told me that - her sister was attending the art academy there (of course the occasional Western artists do not count:)) - also, she had a college degree, her English was almost flawless, and told me my oil was the first oil she saw. My son (he taught there for 5 years) has told me unbelievable stories that people may be educated, but be years behind in what happens around the world.
Good heavens. I'm on the edge of my seat already.
and I'm dazed myself too, and still hanging on the edge...help! :)
Sorry I'm late getting around to all the post. You know how it goes for me....
This was a great "J" post. I just hope she doesn't actually see her father jump.~Ames
I love this post because it is very very interesting.Thanks you very much for shearing this article
This was written very well...
The suspense is killing me...
I can't wait for the next part...
Thanks for this wonderful link to the letter "J"...
Fabulous Job,
A+
Well now....when I woke up this morning and decided on catching up on my blog reading, I didn't expect to read this! Talk about trauma and suspense all rolled into one! It does make me sick that so many spectators on the ground were chanting "jump jump" to the man about to commit suicide. I hope he doesn't though!
This story has intrigued me! And I can't wait for the ending to know how the things will turn out. Fascinating story! I wish he didn't jump...
Post a Comment