I'm Just Like You

Out past the sunken gully my mind often traveled. I wished I could follow with my feet, but father always said a boy like me was too fragile to go too far from home. That was his stance on all things that weren't chores and study. My childhood was almost over, and I’d never been past that mysterious gulch.            

                I could see other kids throwing rocks and singing songs with accompanied dance. Just because I almost died when I was born doesn’t mean I should go without living now. I’d already decided for myself that I would break the rule as soon as I turned 13. I marked the date on the calendar. The date that I would venture forth and see the world. A world just 5 miles away. 
                

                It wasn’t long for that to come. I already had my backpack ready for my adventure. I heaved it onto my shoulder reassuring myself that I had everything I needed. The sun was setting on the horizon of the orange and red speckled trees scattered over the crop fields of our neighbors. Many of the fields were bare. The only farm I saw that seemed very active was Mr. Finns gourd farm. 

                The final shadows cast over father’s tractor. I knew he’d be fast asleep by now. He always goes to bed early. I slung my leg out the second story window and dropped lightly onto the old mattress I had drug there the night before. This was it: my destiny to see what I had been missing. 

                It didn’t take long for me to reach my boundary. The line for which I had never crossed. It was a little pond at the end of our property. I quickly ran around to the other side. Pushed my way through the trees and shambled down and back up the gully and was astonished to discover a little cul-de-sac on the other side. Even with the night arriving the street seemed very bright and lively. Many houses had gourds and pumpkins that glowed from cut triangles in their skins. I approached a group of kids huddled around an open sack and awkwardly called to them, “Hey gu… gu… guys!” 

                The group of kids turned to me and giggled as I shouted with surprise. These kids were just like me. They had boils and discolored skin. One of them had a metallic face much like my implant. The biggest kid walked up to me and, oddly enough without moving his lips, asked, “What are you supposed to be?”
                

                “I’m Jimmy.” I replied, “I’m a kid just like you!”
                

                “That’s the freak boy from John’s farm!” All the boys began chattering. A few of them started shouting, “Freak!” I covered my face and ran back into the woods. My eyes started to tear up.

                  I slipped and rolled right into the center of the gully. The last thing I recall as my head hit a stone is thinking, “I am going to die.”