Bernice: A Narrative Fiction

“This is a rite of passage “her mom had told her. “You are a big girl now and no longer need me to wake you up” she continued with a smile. “This will get the job done just fine. It is the first clock your great grandfather ever made,

She had none of the brogue her father had, being just an infant when Column and his wife made the trip across the Atlantic in search of a new and better life. "Aye tis true. Now m'dear lass what say we look at books again then take lunch." Later in life and greater in girth Column rather enjoyed his meals. "As you wish, Da." They left the floor to his office, away from the noise, heat, and smell of the mill.

As I lay in bed, I can only think about the terror that’s going to occur tonight. My tooth is really loose, and my dad said he’s going to be pulling it out tonight when I’m sleeping. But how am I supposed to sleep, knowing this? I blindly grapple around my bed, searching for Mr. Giggles and my baby blanket. My hand closes around a small leg, and I pull Mr. Giggles into a tight embrace. With Mr. Giggles in my arms, I wrap myself into my blanket. The warmth of my blanket makes me feel drowsy, but I force my eyes to stay wide open. I have to stay up all night and brace myself; I cannot fall asleep!

“Good night mom,” I called as I closed the door to my room , flicked off the lights, and headed towards my bed. I glanced over at the tiny white screen of my alarm clock. It read 10:45 p.m. I laid down, closed my eyes, and let my mind wander until a dark veil draped over my eyes and I entered the world of sleep.

Lucinda continued, lowering her voice for dramatic effect. “So just as Nora got half way across the pond, the ice starts cracking. She panics and starts running back – not the smartest choice. The ice broke all at once, and little Nora fell straight in! But your father, Ben, immediately took off all his clothes, you know, because of hypothermia, and dove into the ice water. Seconds later, he came up with Lucinda in his arms. He carried her all the way back to the house in the snow. It was so dangerous. We were all so young.” Lucinda looked at my father and gently smiled. “Nora ended up fine, but we all had to pile into the pickup truck to take your father to a hospital over

I’m going to be so late for school.” With a hop, a skip, and a jump he made his way down the stairs; careful not to trip or scuff his new Jordan's. “How would you know what time it is? Don't you need this?”. He tossed me my watch, and I caught it hurriedly, suddenly very aware of the nakedness of my wrist. A quick glance at the clock face revealed that it was already 11:45; if I hurried I would barely make the second half of 5th period. “What is the matter with you? Why aren’t we at school? Mom is going to kill us!” I hissed at him through clenched teeth. “School? Oh yeah, it’s canceled today - something about a water main break on Cornell. Mom’s at work, so she doesn’t know a thing,” he sneered as he breezed past me out the door. “I’m going to meet Ben down at the club, thanks for being such easy prey!”, he called back when he saw my annoyed expression.

It was early morning when he returned to his room, Sara, still refusing to leave, trailed behind him like a dearthhound. He entered his room, while Sara made herself comfortable, planning to remain outside his door. Too weary to undress, and laying down on his bed, he fell asleep. When he awoke a few hours later, he

Finally, in the conclusion, the narrator shows Miss Brill in her way home, when she did not feel worthy enough to buy herself “a slice of honeycake” she was used to by at the barker’s on “her Sunday treat”. She went to her “little dark room – her room like a cupboard” and sat down on the red eiderdown for a long time, certainly thinking about what had happened that afternoon. Then she took off her fur “quickly” without looking at it, and while she put “the lid on she thought she heard something crying”.

She rose to her feet, pressed her hands into the small of her spine, smoothed her apron and tucked wisps of hair behind her ears. “You will do no such, everything’s ready. We’s just waiting for you to straggle

“ What are you doing” my mom said angrily. “Nothing, just walking around” I said trying to sound as calm as possible. “Ok” she said as she started walking away. I know she knew what I was doing but, she let me go. I stayed in my room for the rest of the night I only came out for some food. I packed most of my clothes and shoes and some things that will keep me entertained. I quickly fell asleep to be woken up by my alarm clock greeting me with its annoying tune. “Izzy get up it’s time to go” “ I’m coming mom.” I ran down the stairs with my suitcase and four other bags.

Tossing and turning, unable to sleep, remembering when she was a young girl, warm milk helped her fall asleep, Marlene went to the kitchen and prepared some, but tonight it didn’t help. Picking up her purse, she whispered, “I need some fresh air.”

Tossing and turning, unable to sleep, remembering when she was a young girl, warm milk helped her to fall asleep, Marlene went to the kitchen and prepared some, but tonight it didn’t help. Picking up her purse, she whispered, “I need some fresh air.”

“You two must go to sleep. It’s far too late for little girls like you to be up,” he whispered in attempts to keep our younger siblings asleep. We sighed, but obeyed. I jumped into bed and curled up with my blanket. Outside of my room, I could hear Mama speaking with Papa.

(Anna brushes her teeth before she goes to bed. Her grandma reads bedtime stories for her as what her grandma always does when she was a baby. After a while, she falls asleep and snores a little. She must be very tired. Lights off.)

I pull up a chair quietly, though it will not disturb her anyway, and sit beside her bed. I garb her hand and cling to it, for it is my raft in the Sea of Insanity I float on. Guilt makes a reappearance, and tears flow down my face in rivulets. I allow myself to sob over her sleeping form, clueless as to what else to do. What to say, even if she can hear me.