My First Novel: Chapter 2

Previous: Chapter 1

2

I was not able to sleep that night and soon enough the bright rays of the sun woke me up. I sat upon my bed still sleepy. Today won’t be an eventful day, I thought, as I knew the day would be fully dedicated to unpacking. So without thinking anymore I left my bed.

After getting dressed I trudged downstairs to the living room where a small table, along with three chairs, stood. That was our temporary dining table. Dad, as usual, was behind the newspaper, but, ‘fully’ unusually, he was ‘fully’ dressed in office clothes! As soon as I settled in a chair, Mom appeared from the kitchen with a plate full of sliced bread and a slab of butter, which was still unopened!

“Good morning, Jeet,” Mom greeted me as she hurried up to the table and placed the plate on it and again bustled back to the kitchen. Dad kept aside the paper (which was two weeks old as we hadn’t subscribed for the newspaper yet!) as soon as he heard the slam of the plate being kept. He picked up two slices of bread and stuffed it into his mouth along with a spoonful of butter after tearing the butter-cover into shreds, picked up his suitcase kept beside the table and ran towards the door yelling, “I’m going.”

I was stunned and rooted to the chair by the sudden change in my father’s character! Dad was usually a silent-type of person, who did not know the meaning of time, who took an hour to coat a single slice of bread with butter! The change was so incredible that it took some time for me to gather myself! I finished my breakfast and went inside the kitchen to help Mom.

“Mom, can I help you?” I asked. “No, I'm fine. Why don't you go and take a ride around the neighbourhood?” Mom suggested. I was thrilled by the suggestion and ran to the backyard, which was large and was dumped with a large number of unpacked boxes. After a lot of search I finally found my bicycle hidden behind two big boxes.

Next: Chapter 3

My First Novel: Chapter 1

1

The howl of the wolves, faraway in the valley of the distant hills, woke me up. It was still night. The silvery beams of the full moon flowed through the window of my bedroom.

I sat up on my bed staring out at the street beneath my window. The small cottages lined the streets on both sides. The streetlights were dim, flickering like a candle caught in a breeze. One end of the road rose up onto a hill while the other end sloped down towards the valley.

The howl was the only noise, which rent through the silent night. Soon the howling stopped and the soft gurgling of a rushing stream overtook it.

Everyone was asleep. But I could not get back to sleep again. The howl had really awoken me. I decided to go for a small walk; perhaps I would feel sleepy; better than sitting and doing nothing. I slowly crept out of the house unseen.

We were still new to the town; we had shifted there that day in the evening. I still hadn’t ‘inspected’ the town simply because I didn’t get anytime. I was busy helping my mother around in arranging the house for our very first night. That night was a result of a series of changes in my father’s office a few months back. We used to live in a far-off city. A new branch of the company had been opened here. My father, due to his competence, was selected as the officer-in-charge of this new branch. His main job was to start the work of the branch and to supervise its working till it had gained a suitable pace.

But leaving my city was not easy; I had lived there for thirteen years of my life. It was very difficult to leave my friends. My friends…my neighbourhood…my house…my city! I could feel the tears reappearing in my eyes as it had - when I saw my house for the last time from the departing car window - when I saw my city being hidden behind the clouds from the aeroplane. I brushed it off my eyes.

I walked up the road towards the hill until I reached a bridge, which joined the nearby hill and the town. Standing there, I looked around. Far away the full moon light illuminated the spooky hills. The distant hills enclosed a dark valley, which could be seen from the bridge. A swift-flowing stream cut across the valley, covered with a thick covering of green coniferous forests, and ran under the bridge to the other side where it got lost in between the surrounding hills.

The night was cool and pleasant. A breeze brushed against my face. It made me shiver for a while. Above my head the moon shone brightly and a halo could be seen encircling the silvery disc. I walked up and down the road wide-awake.

The summer breeze again brushed against my face only to ruffle my hair. It was the middle of May. The surrounding hills created a mysterious appearance. The far away valley looked even spookier than the hills. A cloud had suddenly appeared and hidden the moon behind itself. The breeze stopped. All this suddenly caused an eerie atmosphere. I felt a shiver run down my spine. I did not want to be outside now.

I ran down the road towards my house, which was distinguishable from other houses because of its bright blue door. I entered the living room carefully, trying my best not to make any noise. I was cordially invited by the grandfather clock, which struck three.

I slowly crept back to bed, still awake. The moon reappeared from behind the cloud again filling up my room with its eerie silvery light.

Next: Chapter 2

Imagine

We live in an era of competition. To make our dreams come true we have to work hard and take on huge amounts of risks and tensions because in this world the slow and steady never wins. But what happens after you reach your goal? Do you live happily ever after? Or do you look back and sigh at the futility of this rat race? Do you wish that you hadn't given up what you loved for what you wanted? Do you feel incomplete? I've been there and I know how it feels.

But it isn't over as yet. Of course, I've many more dreams and ambitions left to fulfill but I've decided that on my way I will keep on doing what I love - imagining.


According to me, life is full of misery. That is why I think there is a need for us to imagine and think beyond reality to free our minds, even if it is for a few minutes. Thats God's gift to us - the power of thought - and we should not only use this for the betterment of mankind but also for the betterment of our lives.


"Think of all the days you’ve wasted
Worrying, wondering
Hopelessly hoping
Think of all the time ahead
Don’t hesitate, contemplate
No it’s not too late

Have you ever wanted more?
Wanted more?
Don’t you know there’s so much more

You got to keep your mind wide open."

(from the song Keep Your Mind Wide Open by Annasophia Robb, OST Bridge to Terabithia)