Stranger Danger
The neighbors you know and the neighbors you don't know.50 total reviews
Comment from jlsavell
Dear Sis Cat,
You are the master story teller. Your exoerience as a child tugged at the heart. No child, or no human being for that matter, should have had to experience the hate and the evil of downright ignorance. I wonder today, what these children, now adults remember and feel about the atrocity they comitted. It would be interesting to see if they have changed in heart and have remorse. You might find this hard to believe, but I was raised in th South in the t0s and I never knew what racism was until I watched the news about Alabama and MLK. I was raised off and on by my dear Grandmother who was as far from racist as Texas is from the moon. Only when I married in 1970 did I get the bitter taste of rascism in my mouth. Though my ex is and was not a rascist....because I think Viet Nam bought him to his knees, his family was big time. I was appalled at the venom spewed, appalled. In time many have changed their stance and I find that noteworthy to their credit, but not all. It saddens and baffles me. In my port, which I may repost for you is the story of my Grandmother called Rock of Ages. You will see. Thank you Sis Cat for sharing such a life altering story, but you know what? I think it has made you the beautiful and sensitive person you are today.Life has a way, no matter how unfair, of molding beautiful hearts and even opposite from trapped bitterness. You are the epitome of a beautiful heart and soul. Keep writing that strength and beauty. You are inspirational.
Forgive typos.. written from my cell phone... jimi
reply by the author on 08-Aug-2016
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Dear Sis Cat,
You are the master story teller. Your exoerience as a child tugged at the heart. No child, or no human being for that matter, should have had to experience the hate and the evil of downright ignorance. I wonder today, what these children, now adults remember and feel about the atrocity they comitted. It would be interesting to see if they have changed in heart and have remorse. You might find this hard to believe, but I was raised in th South in the t0s and I never knew what racism was until I watched the news about Alabama and MLK. I was raised off and on by my dear Grandmother who was as far from racist as Texas is from the moon. Only when I married in 1970 did I get the bitter taste of rascism in my mouth. Though my ex is and was not a rascist....because I think Viet Nam bought him to his knees, his family was big time. I was appalled at the venom spewed, appalled. In time many have changed their stance and I find that noteworthy to their credit, but not all. It saddens and baffles me. In my port, which I may repost for you is the story of my Grandmother called Rock of Ages. You will see. Thank you Sis Cat for sharing such a life altering story, but you know what? I think it has made you the beautiful and sensitive person you are today.Life has a way, no matter how unfair, of molding beautiful hearts and even opposite from trapped bitterness. You are the epitome of a beautiful heart and soul. Keep writing that strength and beauty. You are inspirational.
Forgive typos.. written from my cell phone... jimi
Comment Written 07-Aug-2016
reply by the author on 08-Aug-2016
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Wow, what an amazing cell phone review, typos and all. Jimi, I have worked on this story for thirty years. When I first tried to tackle it, I wrote fantasy, science fiction, and horror stories because I lacked the language and the ability to address this incident head one. Now that I am a "master storyteller" I can address the most difficult "life altering story" from my childhood.
Thank you for your review, your support, your encouraging words; "Life has a way, no matter how unfair, of molding beautiful hearts and even opposite from trapped bitterness."
I will keep an eye out for your story "Rock of Ages."
Comment from Kyanro
You tell a great story! What's that saying...
"The squeaky wheel get the oil"
I find it telling that you knew the Power's name but never mentioned the name of the neighbor behind you.
Isn't it sad the world works that way.
Keep telling stories!
reply by the author on 07-Aug-2016
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You tell a great story! What's that saying...
"The squeaky wheel get the oil"
I find it telling that you knew the Power's name but never mentioned the name of the neighbor behind you.
Isn't it sad the world works that way.
Keep telling stories!
Comment Written 07-Aug-2016
reply by the author on 07-Aug-2016
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Yes, Kyanro, it is sad that I knew the name of the neighbors who set the fire but not the name of the neighbors who put it out. The world works that way, but I want to acknowledge the unsung heroes among us. Thank you for your review. I will keep telling stories.
Comment from barbara.wilkey
I struggle understanding how people can treat others so horribly. I can't comprehend it. I know it happens but it should not.
"We will," my sister, my brother, and I lied behind (you don't need the second my)
ne of only two black families in our neighborhood, we knew that if we only visited the homes of families we knew, our trick-or-treating would end in ten minutes. (omit that, it's unnecessary.)
I recall my sister, my brother, and I--three black children--stood on the sidewalk in front of the Powers home on Halloween. (you don't need the second my)
Our neighbor, who lived behind us and who had pounded on our door, stood on something to look over the cinder block wall separating us and aim a water hose at our porch. "Turn it on!" he yelled to someone we couldn't see. (and AIMED a water)
reply by the author on 07-Aug-2016
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I struggle understanding how people can treat others so horribly. I can't comprehend it. I know it happens but it should not.
"We will," my sister, my brother, and I lied behind (you don't need the second my)
ne of only two black families in our neighborhood, we knew that if we only visited the homes of families we knew, our trick-or-treating would end in ten minutes. (omit that, it's unnecessary.)
I recall my sister, my brother, and I--three black children--stood on the sidewalk in front of the Powers home on Halloween. (you don't need the second my)
Our neighbor, who lived behind us and who had pounded on our door, stood on something to look over the cinder block wall separating us and aim a water hose at our porch. "Turn it on!" he yelled to someone we couldn't see. (and AIMED a water)
Comment Written 07-Aug-2016
reply by the author on 07-Aug-2016
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Thank you, Barbara, for your review and corrections. I employed two of them but retained the second "my" as I have written this story for me to perform from memory in front of audiences. What's unnecessary on the page is sometimes necessary on the stage to create a more rhythmic performance for the audience. One thing love about your suggestions is that they force me to examine my choices and make an argument for or against the corrections. I understand why I use poetic tools like repetitions in "my sister, my brother, and I" to create a musical sound for my voice. Thank you once again.
Comment from Spiritual Echo
Andre. I predict this will make it to SOM, and this time, you'll take the prize. Through my childhood years, I performed in at least a half-dozen 3-act plays. and as I think about you performing live story-telling, I'm struck by the thought of how important is when standing on stage. It's equally important to comedy as drama, and I wonder now as I read your footnotes how this mysterious quality has snick into both yours and my writing. It's there, and I can hear your voice as I read the story. An interesting epiphany.
This is indeed spellbinding. Your opening is superb. Just as soon as you say 'we lied behind our masks' the reader knows there's some danger brewing.
Magnificent job.
reply by the author on 07-Aug-2016
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Andre. I predict this will make it to SOM, and this time, you'll take the prize. Through my childhood years, I performed in at least a half-dozen 3-act plays. and as I think about you performing live story-telling, I'm struck by the thought of how important is when standing on stage. It's equally important to comedy as drama, and I wonder now as I read your footnotes how this mysterious quality has snick into both yours and my writing. It's there, and I can hear your voice as I read the story. An interesting epiphany.
This is indeed spellbinding. Your opening is superb. Just as soon as you say 'we lied behind our masks' the reader knows there's some danger brewing.
Magnificent job.
Comment Written 07-Aug-2016
reply by the author on 07-Aug-2016
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Yes, Ingrid, as soon as my story finishes with edits here on FanStory, I am going to commit it to memory so I can perform it. This is a spellbinding story of horror. I knew I had a good story when I spoke the first line in front of a thunderstruck crowd of 440 who wanted to know what happened next. Thank you for your generous, six star review and for predicting "this will make it to SOM, and this time, you'll take the prize."
Comment from Thomas Bowling
Elegant story about growing up black in a white neighborhood. When I was in my senior year of high school the first black girl was admitted to Perry High. I always wondered what that must have been like. Later when I worked in a factory in Canton Ohio the first black man was hired. He was barely out of high school. I think about the courage it took for him to come to work. Would I go to work in a factory where I was the only white man?
reply by the author on 07-Aug-2016
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Elegant story about growing up black in a white neighborhood. When I was in my senior year of high school the first black girl was admitted to Perry High. I always wondered what that must have been like. Later when I worked in a factory in Canton Ohio the first black man was hired. He was barely out of high school. I think about the courage it took for him to come to work. Would I go to work in a factory where I was the only white man?
Comment Written 07-Aug-2016
reply by the author on 07-Aug-2016
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Yes, Thomas, my story makes me think about the way things have changed and have not changed. Last Monday, the only black firefighter in a town in upstate New York received in his mailbox a letter that said "N-----s are not allowed to be firefighters. No one wants you in this city." On Friday, arsonists set his house on fire. When I read this I thought, "What? This is still happening? The arson attack on my family happened over forty years ago. Has anything changed?" This is disheartening.
Thank you for your generous, thoughtful, six star review.
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Things have changed but far to slowly and not enough. People like you can build a bridge.
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Yes, build bridge. I love that memory of neighbors bridging a wall to put out the fire. That has stuck with me. Thank you for your review.
Comment from wheels3657
I enjoyed your story. The flow, the intensity and the activation of my senses.
You woke up "smell" with those "aroma dried" designer perfumes on the leaves.
You woke up "visual" with those spooky and funny Jack-O-Lanterns.
You woke up "taste" with "sugared-breath" echoing with every exhale.
You brought forth a tear, because my heart heard your pain.
Thank you for sharing. Have a productive day!
reply by the author on 07-Aug-2016
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I enjoyed your story. The flow, the intensity and the activation of my senses.
You woke up "smell" with those "aroma dried" designer perfumes on the leaves.
You woke up "visual" with those spooky and funny Jack-O-Lanterns.
You woke up "taste" with "sugared-breath" echoing with every exhale.
You brought forth a tear, because my heart heard your pain.
Thank you for sharing. Have a productive day!
Comment Written 07-Aug-2016
reply by the author on 07-Aug-2016
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Yes, I am still pained by the event, but I try now to focus on gratitude for the neighbors who helped my family versus the neighbors who wanted to burn us out of the neighborhood. I love the sugared-breath line, too. Thank you for your generous, six star review.
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You are welcome. Yes, I understand your focus of gratitude. It would do you no good to harbor the terrible injustice placed upon your family. May you always exercise your freedom to write and to be. Looking forward to more of your work. wheels3657
Comment from royowen
I guess the story to treasure are the neighbours that raised the alarm, and helped put out out the fire, which is a plus. I think I would be inclined to name the neighbours who had been rubbishong you. Well done Cat. An excellently written story and quite definitely a deserving prize winner. Well done wonderful story. Well done. Blessings, Roy
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reply by the author on 07-Aug-2016
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I guess the story to treasure are the neighbours that raised the alarm, and helped put out out the fire, which is a plus. I think I would be inclined to name the neighbours who had been rubbishong you. Well done Cat. An excellently written story and quite definitely a deserving prize winner. Well done wonderful story. Well done. Blessings, Roy
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
Comment Written 07-Aug-2016
reply by the author on 07-Aug-2016
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Yes, Roy, I do cherish the neighbours that raised the alarm. It amazes that as I go through life different details emerge as important in this incident. The neighbours who helped is one of them. Thank you for your review. I look forward to performing this story.
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Most welcome
Comment from Mark Valentine
It's a compelling story made all the more compelling by the confluence of circumstances: it occurred at an innocent time in your lives, on a night that's supposed to be "magical", and at a time in our nation's history when th tide was beginning to turn, but when folks like the Powers family were still not uncommon.
Those circumstances make this story not only about the fire in your house, but a loss of innocence in general.
It's extremely well-written. Thanks for sharing this one.
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
reply by the author on 07-Aug-2016
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It's a compelling story made all the more compelling by the confluence of circumstances: it occurred at an innocent time in your lives, on a night that's supposed to be "magical", and at a time in our nation's history when th tide was beginning to turn, but when folks like the Powers family were still not uncommon.
Those circumstances make this story not only about the fire in your house, but a loss of innocence in general.
It's extremely well-written. Thanks for sharing this one.
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
Comment Written 07-Aug-2016
reply by the author on 07-Aug-2016
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Yes, Mark, this story is about the "loss of innocence in general on a night that's supposed to be 'magical.'" The contrast is why the incident has remained in my memory for four decades. Thank you for your review.
Comment from Nika2016
This is an excellent story and a travesty. Thanks to all of the bad behavior, Halloween has been ruined. Between the Powers family and the holy rollers, Halloween exists in a black hole...once a joyous holiday.
I am sorry that ugly people existed in your world...It happens to whites, too. Watch The War with Kevin Costner...his children were beaten by the Limnikkis for being poor.
Great writing.
reply by the author on 07-Aug-2016
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This is an excellent story and a travesty. Thanks to all of the bad behavior, Halloween has been ruined. Between the Powers family and the holy rollers, Halloween exists in a black hole...once a joyous holiday.
I am sorry that ugly people existed in your world...It happens to whites, too. Watch The War with Kevin Costner...his children were beaten by the Limnikkis for being poor.
Great writing.
Comment Written 07-Aug-2016
reply by the author on 07-Aug-2016
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Yes, Nika, Halloween has been ruined and has fallen into a black hole. I wrote my story with nostalgia for the way Halloweens used to be. Children were warned about stranger danger, but it never occurred to me that my very own neighbors--people I knew--would try to burn my family alive. Ugly people existed in my world but there were also good people, like the neighbors who lived behind us who put out the fire.
Thank you for your generous, six star review.
Comment from Walu Feral
G'day Andre. It seems so long since I've had the pleasure to read your work.
"We will," my sister, my brother, and I lied behind our masks." (lol. As kids do.)
"Like bandits with pillowcases, we raided the homes of families we knew." (Hahaha! Beautiful description.)
"dirty blond children spoke with a drawl when they called us the N-word every chance they got. We would yell back, "Well, you're white trash!" (It's a damn tragedy, but sadly, It still happens today.)
" I awoke from my paralysis and yelled, "Fire!" (WTF! What the hell have we got here? The KKK? Mongrels.)
"Our house was on fire and Mom told him to get back inside?" (Unwise, indeed.)
"as I(a) consolation prize I performed my story's first line"
Man, that is one heck of a yarn! It makes me so angry. I look back at how, mum and the other tribe members, were treated when they threw us off our land, so the bastards could mine it. What the hell is the matter with people? I can only apologise to you, with a great deal of pain and understanding, on behalf of the dirtbags that wear the same skin colour as me.
At least you and I can take heart from the common decency of the folks that came to your aid.
Anyway. Beautifully written and I wish you the best of luck with it, my friend. I love that striking picture as well.
Cheers Fez
reply by the author on 07-Aug-2016
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G'day Andre. It seems so long since I've had the pleasure to read your work.
"We will," my sister, my brother, and I lied behind our masks." (lol. As kids do.)
"Like bandits with pillowcases, we raided the homes of families we knew." (Hahaha! Beautiful description.)
"dirty blond children spoke with a drawl when they called us the N-word every chance they got. We would yell back, "Well, you're white trash!" (It's a damn tragedy, but sadly, It still happens today.)
" I awoke from my paralysis and yelled, "Fire!" (WTF! What the hell have we got here? The KKK? Mongrels.)
"Our house was on fire and Mom told him to get back inside?" (Unwise, indeed.)
"as I(a) consolation prize I performed my story's first line"
Man, that is one heck of a yarn! It makes me so angry. I look back at how, mum and the other tribe members, were treated when they threw us off our land, so the bastards could mine it. What the hell is the matter with people? I can only apologise to you, with a great deal of pain and understanding, on behalf of the dirtbags that wear the same skin colour as me.
At least you and I can take heart from the common decency of the folks that came to your aid.
Anyway. Beautifully written and I wish you the best of luck with it, my friend. I love that striking picture as well.
Cheers Fez
Comment Written 07-Aug-2016
reply by the author on 07-Aug-2016
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Yes, Fez, I can take heart in the common decency of the folks that came to my aid. it would be too easy to dwell on the evil of the few. Thank you for your generous, six star review. I corrected the author's notes. I am glad also that you loved those lines.
